Tears slide freely down my cheeks as I let go of her hand. Let go of her. As Sofika smiles at me one last time, a light amongst lights.

‘It is,’ she says. ‘With such bright stars.’

Evangeline

EVANGELINE

I stand on the Contemplation looking out over the tiers of Dimmamar’s south-western cathedral quarter as it turns to gold, a little bit at a time, repainted by the sunset. It warms my skin. My scars, and my aching bones.

‘Sister Evangeline.’

I look away from the cathedral city to see Kati standing beside me on the Contemplation. She is being turned to gold by the sunset, just like the city. The girl is not wearing rags any more, but robes. Her hair is cut short in the way of the Sisterhood.

‘Have you been taken into the commandery?’ I ask her.

‘Wherever the Sisterhood goes, I will follow,’ Kati says, then she looks at me. The girl’s eyes are strange. Dark and intent. ‘Do you know where you will go?’ she asks.

‘The only way we can,’ I tell her. ‘Onwards. After all, I have not found my purpose, yet.’

‘You will,’ Kati says, her voice as intent as her eyes. ‘The God-Emperor loves you, Evangeline.’

I smile at Kati. ‘He loves all loyal souls,’ I tell her.

The girl nods and gives a shallow bow. Then she takes her leave and sets to lighting the Contemplation’s candles.

‘Eva.’

I turn at the sound of a second voice. One that makes me smile to hear it. It is the first time that I have seen Ashava standing in the weeks since the undercroft. She is clad in new scars. New armour and vestments, too. Her old suit was ruined beyond repair, just as mine was. Ashava bears no weapons, because I asked her to come without them.

‘How are you, Sister?’ I ask her.

‘Standing,’ she says, and she smiles. ‘They put me back together. Scars and wounds and weaknesses all.’

I nod. ‘And the others?’

Ashava looks back to the spire as if she can see them.

‘Joti, Haskia and Eugenia have returned to service. Sarita and Munari are well enough to bicker with one another.’ She pauses, and shakes her head, still smiling. ‘Qi-Oh has gone back to training, despite the hospitallers forbidding it.’

‘Of course she has,’ I say, and I shake my head in turn, smiling. ‘I am glad to hear it.’

Ashava looks back at me. ‘That cannot be the reason you called me here, Eva,’ she says. ‘So what is it that you really want to speak about?’

I take a breath, knowing that once I say it, it cannot be unsaid.

‘I called you here to speak about a sword,’ I say, unclipping my scabbard and drawing my blade. Like my Sisters, it has been rebuilt since the undercroft, the damage hidden.

‘Eva,’ Ashava says warily. ‘What is going on?’