I remember singing with Isidora as first light turned the convent’s towers to gold. Then I remember watching her burn to death on the Contemplation.

O God-Emperor, who is grace. I devote this life to you.

I remember training with Ashava, as she clattered my sword aside and laughed good-naturedly. I remember the splintering crack of her bones breaking.

O God-Emperor, who is valour. I devote this life to you.

I remember Gytha smiling as she recited scripture to me when I could not sleep. Then I remember the smell and sight of her changing, and that single tear on Adelynn’s face as she lowered her smoking bolter.

O God-Emperor, who is light. I devote this life to you.

I remember standing on the high parapets of the Convent Sanctorum with Adelynn, the evening before my first war. The wind was so cold as to take my breath away. So cold there was snow in it. I remember asking her how I would know that the training was enough. How I would know I was ready. She had turned to me and smiled, a rare expression on a face as stern as hers. I remember what she said.

You already have the answer, Evangeline.

Then I remember a flare of light. A broken sword. I remember watching Adelynn fall, her blood scattering across the marble.

Just like snow.

‘Eva.’

I am so caught up in the memory that I scarcely hear Ashava saying my name. Everyone else is getting to their feet around us. I nod, and stand with her. I try not to think about the sound of her bones breaking.

With the hymnal over, each member of Elivia’s commandery is called one at a time to the chancel to be sanctified. It begins with Elivia herself. The Canoness climbs the steps to stand before DiCrimio. She is marked with blessed ashes by a devotee who wears a veil of prayer scrolls. The scrolls rustle like whispers as the devotee reaches up to trail her ash-covered fingers over Elivia’s face, painting stripes of grey over her closed eyes and down her cheeks. Once that is done, the arch-cardinal speaks.

‘And under His sight you take this oath,’ he says.

And Elivia answers, ‘To remain unbroken, even unto death.’

Elivia moves to stand beside DiCrimio, and the rite continues. First Elivia’s Celestians, Beatris and Radah, are called up, bearing their longswords and cloaks. They are marked and blessed, and then they leave through a gilded doorway that sits underneath the vast, golden statue of the God-Emperor at the head of the hall. Sister Wilemina and her Seraphim are next. Then the Dominions, under Sister Mikah. On and on, until only my squad and I remain. Then my Sisters are called up in turn, as the others were. They are painted with ashes and they speak the words, and then they, too, leave the worship hall and DiCrimio turns to look at me.