Liana turned as the door opened and her face lit up. She rose to her feet from where she had been crouching on the ground beside Sofeigh’s lizard companion and ran to embrace me. “I’m so glad you’re alright. You took so long, I was starting to think something happened. Where’s Ma . . .?” 

“Mage?” I asked loudly, cutting her off, before she could say ‘Master’. “Where’s the dark mage, you mean? He’s safely imprisoned in the dungeon. You have nothing to fear from Errol,” I said, emphasizing the last word. 

I caught a glimpse of Janelle, looking anxiously between us. Midnight. Hopefully Liana hadn’t stirred any suspicion. 

“Yes, I see,” Liana answered, realizing her mistake. “Well, I should like to see him, just to be sure he’s safely restrained and all.” 

“You most certainly will not be visiting the dungeons,” Sienna interrupted from behind her stately desk. “I can assure you the bars of our cells neutralize magical energy, so he poses no risk to you. Even so, it’s best to exercise caution and keep dangerous criminals away from their victims.”

“I have to say, I agree with the Matron,” I said, facing Liana. “We don’t want you putting yourself in danger.” Or exposing your presence to Errol, or risking the plan. 

Liana did her best to hide her disappointment. “Alright, I suppose I can wait. It’s at least nice to see you again, Mira.”

“Sofeigh, Janelle, please see Ms. Liana to her room,” Sienna said tersely. “I would like to debrief Mira from her mission. Privately.”

“Um yes, of course. I can do that,” Sofeigh responded as she stood and straightened her cleric’s robes. “Come along, Su-ko-chu.” The small, green lizard scampered up her arm and perched on her shoulder. While familiars were more common for wizards, clerics would also take them on occasionally, and Sofeigh always had an easier time talking to So-ku-chu than to other people. 

Janelle gave Liana’s sleeve a short, but insistent tug. “Yes, let’s leave Mira alone for now,” she said, as she pulled her charge towards the door. “Mira, we should do something to celebrate later.”

Sienna waited for the chamber to clear before addressing me. “I was quite surprised when young Liana arrived here. Your charge was to deliver her back to the innkeeper.”

I flinched. “She must have just been grateful and wanted to thank me.”

“Yes, I thought similarly at first. In fact, I suspected she was in love with you. However,” she paused as she turned towards the window. “Don’t you find anything strange about Liana’s behaviour?” 

My heart practically shot through the cathedral ceiling. “Strange? No. What? Strange? No, nothing. She seems like a kind, sweet girl.” 

Sienna pursed her lips. “I see. I shouldn’t be surprised that you would miss it. You are still inexperienced, after all. Initially, I was quite annoyed when she turned up here, but her visit may prove fortuitous. That’s why I’ve been keeping her in my chamber for closer study.” 

“How so?” I asked, trying to sound calm. 

“I believe Liana is still under the effects of some manner of enchantment, though it’s not one that I have studied, which would make it ancient and extremely powerful.” 

“She seems perfectly normal to me.”

“Exactly. She seems far too normal, given the experience she’s been through. When I questioned her about her abduction, she hardly seemed bothered by it. She took it all perfectly in stride. In fact she seemed more frustrated by the prospect of waiting tables than she did by her own kidnapping.”

“Perhaps that is simply a coping mechanism?”

“Perhaps. But her responses were highly evasive when I inquired about the exact nature of the mage’s enchantments.” Sienna turned from the window and walked over to me. “I detected faint traces of magic from her, but none that spoke to an ongoing spell. So whatever he did to her, it had an effect that lasted beyond the magic itself. Most curious indeed.”

“Matron, I’m afraid these matters of arcane spellcraft are outside my knowledge.” 

“Yes, but you were there,” she said, eyes alighting with curiosity. “Liana wouldn’t speak to the nature of the magics used on her. Unsurprising, since they likely distorted her perceptions. But you saw those magics first hand, and clearly resisted them. So tell me, what did you see?”

Time froze. I knew I should lie, make up some excuse. But what would I say? A caster as powerful as Sienna would see through any lie I could devise with my limited knowledge. I had never witnessed another spell like the Aurora, yet I had to come up with something. “Well, as I said, I know little of magics.” I hesitated, as another thought stayed my tongue. Errol wouldn’t tell me of the Aurora or how to learn it, but maybe Sienna would let something slip. “But I can try to tell you. I believe he called it the Aurora.”

“The Aurora? Are you sure?”

“Indeed. A diaphanous curtain of purple light filled the cavern. It absolutely transfixed poor Liana.” I conveniently neglected to mention that it had ensnared me as well. “After that he could manipulate her perception however he pleased.” 

Sienna began to pace furiously. “That’s impossible. It’s just impossible. But what if she’s telling the truth? Could it really be?” she muttered, more to herself than me. 

“Matron, is something wrong?” 

“On the contrary, something may be very right. You’re saying this dark mage you captured, the one sitting in our cells right now, is a wielder of the Aurora?”

“Yes,” I said, a pit forming in my stomach. Perhaps I had made a mistake. I hadn’t meant to betray Errol. I only desired to learn the truth. “Is that of some special significance?” 

“Mira, the Aurora is a sacred art, passed down through the Stellastrum bloodline – the last known member of which was killed in the revolution. If we’ve captured a live Stellastrum, then that would warrant a commendation from the Queen and the Archmagus.”

“Queen Astoria herself?” I knew the Abbey worked directly with the crown, but as a mere acolyte, I had never dreamed of meeting the queen. Then another thought occurred to me. “So you’re saying, it’s hereditary? No one can learn it, unless they carry Stellastrum blood?” So I would never be able to learn it. 

Sienna stopped pacing and clapped a hand on my shoulder. “Fear not, Mira. That won’t stop the crown from using his gifts. The Archmagus will be able to compel his service. Our nation will be eternally grateful to you.” 

“They will?” Visions of medals and parades danced behind my eyes. I knew I should no longer care for such trappings of honor after all I had seen, but turning away from one's dreams isn’t so simple.

“Oh yes. And you defeated him by yourself,” Sienna beamed. “You are truly a credit to the order. I’m proud of you, Mira.” 

The words knocked the wind from my lungs. I had forgotten how desperately I longed to hear them, how hard I had worked for them, how long I had struggled just to hear those five little words. Of course, I was in fact a disgrace to my order, though Sienna didn’t know that, and finally earning her praise was stirring something in me.

Sienna raised a tender hand to my cheek. “I can see this is a lot for you. Go visit with Liana. Let her give you some well earned thanks. I’ll need to draft a letter to the Archmagus and think of the proper way to reward your efforts.” 

I nodded and turned to leave, my whole world spinning.

—-

I changed out of my armor and into simple robes before making my way to Liana’s modest bed chamber. “Liana, it’s so good to see you again.”

“Mira! It’s so good to see you too,” she said, rising from the bed and giving me a hug.

“How did you get here before us?”

“Oh, that was easy. Some merchants on their way to Strathmore stopped at the Inn and I got them to let me hitch a ride.” I saw a flicker of worry cross her face as she studied me. “But what about you? Is everything ok? You look worried.”

How to answer a question like that? Maybe I should tell her that I was finally getting the recognition I had craved for my whole life, but it had come at the cost of accidentally betraying Errol. Instead, I settled for, “Yes, everything is alright.”

“Good, good. So Master being imprisoned is all part of the plan, right?” Liana said with a tinge of worry. 

I hated seeing stress in those eyes. “Yes, it is. We’ve recruited Finnick, and he’ll free our Master when I give the signal.” 

“The rogue from the tavern? I thought we didn’t like him.” 

“Well, he’s um . . . really not so bad once you get to know him,” I said, casting my eyes downward.

Liana eyed me for a moment. “You slept with him!”

“What? No. I mean, yes. I mean, how did you know?!” 

“It’s written all over your face,” she said emphatically.

“What of it? I can sleep with whoever I want.” traitorous heat began creeping up my cheeks. 

“Mira, I’m not making fun of you. I’m just surprised, is all. I didn’t think he was your type.”

“Not my type?” With those eyes and those arms and that cocky grin? “Exactly what do you mean by that?”

She held up her hands defensively. “I don’t mean anything by it. But don’t you think you might just be forgetting about someone else?”

Someone else? So that morning had meant something to Liana. She really did have feelings for me. “Let us sit and talk about this mysterious person,” I said, sitting on the edge of the bed and patting the space beside me.

Liana sat, looking much more uneasy than usual. Her nervousness was adorable. “Well, don’t you think there’s maybe someone you’re not thinking of, who you’ve known longer, who maybe really likes you?”

I could feel the hunger stir within me, like a beast waking from slumber. I placed a tender hand on her leg and began slowly running it down the length of her thigh. “You know. . . perhaps I am overlooking someone.”

“Mira, what’s gotten into you?” she asked, blushing. “You’re stroking my leg.”  

“Oh, am I? Do you want me to stop?” I posed, innocently.

She shivered for a moment. “You know what your touch does to me. It still feels . . . captivating, ever since the cave. But this is important. I need to talk to you.”

“It’s ok, I understand exactly who you’re talking about.”

“You do? That’s such a relief. She’ll be really happy,” Liana said, muscles relaxing a little. “But what about your rogue?”  

My hand froze. I did feel a pang of guilt at pursuing Liana after everything I had shared with Finnick. Then I thought of Errol and his many conquests. Why should I limit myself to one person, when he could have whoever he wanted? Before I knew it my hand was moving again, caressing the soft skin of her thigh. “Don’t worry about that. It’s just you and me right now.”

“Mmm, ok,” she whispered softly. “So, you’ll talk to her?”

“Oh, I intend to do more than talk to her,” I said, as I slipped my hand under the fabric of her skirt.

“Good, good. She’ll like that,” Liana said, as she melted into my touch. Feeling her tension dissolve only intensified my hunger.

“Tell me, do you think this mysterious admirer would like being touched like this?” I began rubbing over her undergarments, doing my best to recreate the motions Finnick had used on me.

“Oooh,” she let out a sharp exhale. “I think so.”

“You were very brave, telling me about this woman who cares for me so much. It pleases me a great deal.”

“I’m glad,” Liana answered, further leaning into my touch. 

“You like pleasing me, don’t you?”

“I do. I really do.”

“Then feel pleasure for me,” I said, as I sidled closer and began removing her underwear.

“Mira, I don’t know if I should,” she started to protest.

Her hesitation only intensified my hunger. I could see how close she was to giving in. It would just take the right push. “You did so well to tell me all this. Don’t you think you deserve a reward?”

“That . . . that would be nice. . .” Liana said as she squirmed. For a moment it looked like she wanted to say something more but thought better of it.

“Just feel pleasure for me.” I prodded as I gradually accelerated my rhythm. 

“Oh, yes, Mira,” she repeated dutifully. 

“Say that again,” I commanded, voice growing more firm. I began teasing her moist folds. 

“Yes, Mira,” I could feel her body tensing under my touch, getting closer to the edge already.

“Again.”

“Yes, Mira,” she said, voice shaking. Her whole body was trembling. 

“You’re getting close. I can feel your body tensing,” I said, echoing what she had said to me. “What do you want?”  

Liana whimpered before she spoke, “I want. . . I want . . . pleasure.”

Every shudder and shiver only emboldened the beast within me. “Good girl. Now obey and cum for me.”

Liana broke instantly, collapsing against me in a heaving mess of whimpers and moans. “Ohh yess. Yessss. Fuck. I want it. I want, I want, I oohhoohh.”

I held her close, slowly running a hand through her blonde locks. She was practically mine, I could feel her giving in.  “Now, tell me, what do you want to do, Liana?”

“I want to please you,” she sighed contentedly into my chest. 

“Then kneel before me.”

“Yes, Mira.” Liana sank to her knees on the ground before the bed. 

I drank in the sight of her, face shining in the afterglow of her release, eyes drowsy with surrender. Just the sight of it was already making me wet, but I still craved more. I thought of having her touch me again, but that felt . . . insufficient. Then it came to me. “Now, I want you to taste me.”

“Yes, Mira,” Liana said, as she crawled to the opening of my robes and burrowed underneath. A moment later, she had removed my panties and flung them across the small chamber. Sunbeams, the sight of her crawling did something to me. Although that paled in comparison to the feeling of her tongue against me.  

I leaned back on the bed, savoring the feeling of her submission. “Tell me you love to please me,” I commanded.

She paused her work long enough to say, “I love to please you,” before resuming. 

I delighted in the sound of her words as much as the feeling of her tongue. “Tell me you love to obey me.”

“I love to obey you.”

“You serve me.”

“I serve you.”

“You obey me.”

“I obey you.”

“Oh, Midnight. I’m getting close,” I murmured through strained breaths. “Tell me, who do you belong to, Liana?”

“I belong to Master,” she said with no hesitation at all. 

Her answer dampened the fire inside me, but didn’t extinguish it. I had come too far to quit now. “But you’re serving me, and obeying me, and you love it. Your Master threw you aside. He doesn’t care about you the way that I do. So who do you belong to? Errol or me?”

The steady kisses and licks had stopped. I could feel her trembling under my robe. “I . . I . . .” she stammered. 

“Yes, you’re so close, Liana. Don’t you want to please me? You know the answer that will do that.”

“I . . . I . . . belong . . . to . . .to . . .”

BANG, BANG, BANG. 

The loud knocking on the door caught us both off guard. Liana barely had time to scramble out from under my robes before the door flew open. 

I stood and turned towards the figure, and was faced by a symbol of Solaris, complete with five resplendent sun beams. The insignia on her breastplate was practically at eye level. My gaze trailed upwards to see the stern face of Amara, The Dawnblade, the highest ranking knight in the order. “Did I interrupt something, cadet?” she asked, looking at Liana still panting on the floor. 

I always hated the way she called me that. She referred to the others by their surnames, but since I was an orphan, she simply branded me ‘cadet’. “No ma’am, nothing at all. To what do we owe the unexpected pleasure of your visit?”

She studied me with dark eyes from an inscrutable mask of olive skin. “The Matron sent me to retrieve you.”

“Pardon my confusion, Dawnblade,” I said, bowing my head. “But why not send Sofeigh or Averi? This seems like a lowly task for someone of your stature.” 

“It is customary for the highest ranking member of the order to escort new initiates to their Daybreak Ceremony,” she answered flatly. 

“Daybreak Ceremony?” I balked. “But I only returned today and it’s not even sunrise. Shouldn’t we wait for tomorrow?” And give me more time to think.  

Amara raised a single eyebrow. “The Ceremony can be performed at sunset in special circumstances. Are you questioning the wisdom of the Matron?”

“No, no of course not. I’ll come with you now.” 

“You may take a moment to collect yourself,” she said in the same calm, flat voice. 

“I’m ready to go now.”

Amara strode further inside. “Are you sure you aren’t missing these?” She said, as she picked up my panties between her thumb and forefinger and offered them to me.

I snatched them, turning bright crimson. “Um, yes. Perhaps a moment to collect myself would be wise.”

Amara nodded and left the room, warning me not to keep her waiting. 

I turned to Liana, as I slipped my underwear back on. She had remained on the ground and looked uneasy. “I hadn’t expected that interruption.”

“Yeah,” she answered quietly, looking at the ground. 

“Are you alright?” 

“Huh, yeah, yeah I’m ok. It’s just, I maybe screwed up. I think I need a second.” She quietly stood up and left the room without ever looking at me. 

“Did I do something wrong?” I asked the empty room. 

—-

“You’re certain you wish to keep that sword? We’ve prepared a new one for you of the finest craftsmanship,” Amara said as we approached the grand cathedral. 

I studied the gleaming hilt of the weapon she offered. Ornate carvings of sun beams and clouds covered the golden surface. The blade, the balance, the grip were all perfect. Yet I wouldn’t dream of abandoning Oathbreaker. “Yes, I’m certain,” I said, clutching my old blade protectively. 

“Suit yourself,” Amara said with a dismissive shrug. 

I had, however, accepted the new armor she had offered. It felt practically weightless compared to the dented training set I used to wear. With all this regalia, I looked like a perfect Knight of the Dawnbringer, and I had never felt like more of a fraud. 

My sisters thought me some conquering hero. If they knew the truth, I would be sitting in a cell beside Errol. And yet, wearing the freshly minted symbol of Solaris felt so good. I had dreamed of this day all my life, and now that it had arrived I felt equal parts ecstatic and ashamed. 

“Stand up straight,” Amara chided. “Your slouching is unbecoming of a knight.”

“My apologies I just have a great deal on my mind.”

“I can imagine,” she said with a quiet scoff. 

“I truly do not think that you can,” I shot back, pondering the immense weight of my imminent betrayal. 

“Regardless, see to it your little blonde distraction doesn’t cause you to lose your composure, cadet. The Daybreak Ceremony is an important tradition. You’re not just representing yourself anymore. You represent the whole order now.” 

My mouth fell open, but before I could think of a retort about my ‘little blonde distraction’, she had already opened the doors to the main cathedral. 

A row of clerestory skylights cast pools of light down onto the stone floor. A raised stage stood at the far end, with a sculpture of Solaris in white marble before three massive windows. The rays of light danced off the elegant figure. I couldn’t help but think this gentle depiction didn’t capture the blazing judgement of the Solaris I knew. 

The entirety of the order had been assembled, save for those out on missions, meaning about twenty clerics and thirty knights had gathered here, all of them women. I had always been taught that Solaris would not bless men with her powers. Most of these women were high-born, hailing from the most prestigious families in Elysia, and yet here they were, assembled to honor me, an orphan who nobody wanted. 

Despite the guilt that sat in my stomach like a stone, I still felt touched. It was all I could do to hold back my tears. Sienna stood to one side of the dais while Janelle occupied the center position. She looked resplendent in her finest robes, lines of shimmering gold paint marking holy symbols against the dark skin of her smiling face. They were going to let Janelle conduct my ceremony. 

Seeing that, a single tear rolled down my cheek. 

“Composure, cadet,” Amara whispered as we proceeded down the aisle. 

I had half a mind to try and strike her, but instead I just sucked in a breath and tried to walk with dignity. 

The knights had been arrayed directly adjacent to the walkway, and they each raised their weapon straight in the air as we passed, the traditional salute of The Dawnbringer. I recognized Arryn, the gatekeeper, among them, and even Belle had been called up from guarding the dungeons. They both nodded as I passed. I had never been close to any of my sisters, save for Janelle. Nonetheless, I couldn’t help but feel some level of respect from them as they saluted. Well, respect from everyone besides Amara. 

The Dawnblade knelt as we reached the dais and I quickly followed suit. 

“We are gathered here today to baptize a new member of the Knights of The Dawn Bringer,” Janelle proclaimed, being careful to speak slowly and clearly. No one but me would have caught the nervous flutter in her voice. “Dawnblade, who do you present for this sacred rite?” 

“I present Mira,” she paused when she would normally say a surname. “Of the Abbey, for this rite,” she finally finished. 

“Very well. Then stand and take your place of honor at the side of the goddess.”Amara did as she was told and took up a position flanking Sienna on Janelle’s other side. 

“Mira, stand and take your place before the goddess,” Janelle directed. I rose and stood in the center before my oldest friend. I looked up at the massive statue of Solaris, but it showed no reaction, no signs of the fiery gaze of judgement. A part of me thought I might burn just from setting foot on this stage. Perhaps she hadn’t forsaken me after all.  

As I ascended, Amara drew her blade and raised it in the air. Sienna raised her hand as well. As she did, it shone with the light of the goddess. A moment later, the light spread to Amara’s sword, forming a glowing arch above my head and sending shining rays cascading through the massive chamber. Sienna looked towards me with a kind smile and mouthed the word, “Congratulations”.

I thought I might throw up. 

“Mira, you have served Solaris with strength and honor,” Janelle said, pulling everyone’s focus away from the light show. “For your young life of unwavering dedication and your exceptional valor in the line of duty, I welcome you to The Knights of The Dawn Bringer. Please kneel to receive your anointments.” 

I obeyed.

As she leaned in to paint the holy markings on my face, she whispered. “You’ve worked so hard for this Mira. I’m in awe of you. I can’t think of anyone more deserving.” 

I couldn’t take it anymore. I had to say something. “You’re wrong about me, Janelle. I’m not who you think. I don’t deserve this.”

Her hand landed delicately on my face. She painted a symbol of a sunrise. “This represents Solaris’s blessing of hope for the future. There is always a new day,” she announced loudly to the congregation. Then quietly to just me, she said. “That’s just it, Mira. You’ve never been able to see how special you are, but I always could.”

A tear rolled down my cheek. “I don’t deserve you,” I said, barely audible. 

“You deserve the world. Maybe after this, I can finally show you that,” Janelle answered, beaming. Then she raised her voice again as she drew the second symbol, this one of a flame. “This mark represents the fire of Solaris’s judgement. All deeds of men and women stand equal before the fire of the divine,” she announced sternly. 

I couldn’t hold back the tears. If Solaris’s wisdom was so great, then why did she not strike me down? I could see Amara’s sneer in the corner of my vision, but I could contain my emotions no longer. 

“And finally, I will add to the holy sigil on your armor, the mark of your station,” Janelle said, dipping her fingers once more in the golden liquid. She drew a long line down the swell of my chest, painting my first sunbeam on my insignia, the symbol of a Knight of the first rank. Her hand lingered on my chest for a moment and I stared down in wonder at the honor I had fought so hard for. Then Janelle’s fingers began to move again and she painted a second golden line beside the first. 

“Two?” I gasped. “This has to be a mistake.” 

Janelle’s smile only grew. “For your distinguished service and incredible performance on your first mission, the Matron has seen fit to grant you the special commendation of Second Rank.” 

Two. Two Sunbeams! I couldn’t believe it. Not only had I been granted the full privileges of a Knight of the order, but I had been elevated straight to second rank. 

“Now rise, Mira of the Abbey, and turn to face your sisters in arms,” Janelle commanded. 

I did my best to wipe the tears from my eye without disturbing the symbols Janelle had so carefully drawn. Then I rose and turned to face my sisters. They all held their holy symbols high, Knights and clerics alike, fifty faces all smiling at me, welcoming me, accepting me. 

I knew in that moment, I couldn’t betray these people. They may not have always been kind to me, but they were the only family I had ever known. Finally, I felt the weight of guilt lift from my shoulders. At last the world felt whole. 

I didn’t even notice the one person missing from the assembly: Liana. Nor did I realize that, for the briefest of moments for my ceremony, Errol’s cell had been left unguarded.