Ashava smiles absently. ‘I could not tell you the number of times that Adelynn said those words to me.’

I nod, remembering.

‘So do you have it?’ Ashava asks. ‘The answer?’

I shake my head. ‘No. All that I know is all anyone knows. That the Shield will be found where the light began.’

‘The answer will come to you, Eva,’ Ashava says. ‘I am sure of it.’

‘How can you be so certain?’

‘Because He chose you,’ she says. ‘And because she did, too.’

I smile, then, despite myself. Despite everything. ‘Thank you for listening to me,’ I say to her.

Ashava nods her head. ‘It is as I said. It is what we both need.’

We get to our feet, and step on to the chancel to make our devotions. The altar is a wide slab of white marble, inlaid with gold. Arrayed on it are three candles, surrounded by scraps of oath paper and coins of different metals. Offerings, from souls of every standing.

I pick up the candle lighter, and touch it to the wick of the tallest candle. It catches easily, burning strong. A bright arrow of flame, pointing to the heavens. But I am no longer looking at the candle. I am looking beyond it.

‘The light,’ I say. ‘Where the light began.’

‘What?’ Ashava asks. ‘Eva, what is it?’

I put down the candle lighter and walk around behind the altar and all of the devotions left there to look up at the fresco behind it. The image is almost five times my height, and depicts a number of things. At the top is the God-Emperor in the moment of His Sacrifice, taking his place on the Holy Throne. Beneath it are the martyrs. Alicia Dominica, Lucia, Silvana, Mina, Arabella. Katherine. Those once known as the Daughters of the Emperor. At their backs, Holy Terra. Beneath them, a golden arrow parting the darkness, trailing fire in its wake as it soars towards the Throneworld. I put out my hand, stopping just short of actually touching the fresco, and follow the tail of the arrow down to its origin point. A circle of silver, dulled and cracked from age.

‘I already had the answer,’ I say, breathlessly. ‘It is Dimmamar. The Shield is on Dimmamar.’

‘Where the light began,’ Ashava says, and I hear her get to her feet too, slowly. ‘The Confederation of Light.’

‘Yes,’ I say, my fingertips hovering over the silver circle. My scars prickle on my skin. ‘The birth world of Sebastian Thor.’

‘You must speak with the Canoness immediately,’ Ashava says.

I nod and let my hand fall away from the silver disc. I turn from the fresco to see Ashava looking up at me. She is not keeping her fervour in check, now. I can see it clearly in her eyes.

‘What made you want to meet here?’ she asks. ‘Before this image, under Katherine’s eyes?’