The High Priestess gestured for Leela to walk the stairs that led to the chancel. Leela had never seen the room from this vantage point before—it spread out before her, endless yet also close, as if she could reach her arms out and wrap them around the entire space. The pulpit was made of nebula tree wood, silver as the moon and studded with crystal-clear stargems. Leela had never seen behind it; a single shelf lined its insides, empty now, but Leela guessed it would hold the sacred bowls the High Priestess would use for various ceremonies.

Acolyte Endaria led her to a space at the very back of the chancel that Leela had always thought was just wall but slid aside to reveal a narrow hallway curving along the outer edge of the temple. The walls glowed, lighting their way, and Leela followed the acolyte to a small room with yet another door. The only doors Leela had ever seen were the ones on the temple and those on the birthing houses, both made of copper. The door Acolyte Endaria opened was made of soft gray wood and inlaid with lacquered golden polaris leaves.

The room was round, simply furnished with a bed and gossamer blanket, and a dresser with a basin and pitcher. A lone, circular window was set in the wall too high above the bed for Leela to see out of.

“Novices will be stationed outside, to bring your meals and see to your needs,” Acolyte Endaria said, but Leela knew that what she really meant was, “You are not allowed to leave this room.”

“Yes, Acolyte,” she said. It was only for one night, though Leela hated any amount of time that took her away from the world beneath the City, from the cone of moonstone that had shown her Sera’s face.

And she had never once slept anywhere but in her own bed in her own dwelling.

Acolyte Endaria left, closing the door behind her. Leela curled up on the bed and rested her chin on her knees. The room felt even smaller with the door closed; she was not used to being so confined.

She wondered how her mothers were doing, and felt shame creep up the back of her throat. She would tell them everything one day, she vowed. She would make them understand why she was changing and breaking rules and sneaking around. She hoped they would not be disappointed in her. It had never been her intent to cause them pain. But she had come too far down this path to turn back now. She must find out what the High Priestess was doing with all those trapped Cerulean and right the wrongs her lies had caused. She must bring Sera home.