Jane had always been one to tease, or flatter, or both at once. She saw Kovac shift uncomfortably out of the corner of her eye, his chainmail clinking.
“This is Kovac,” Cinzia said. “My Goddessguard.”
Kovac had remained silent by her side since they had entered her home, apart from introducing himself quietly when asked. Cinzia noted the slight red tinge to his cheeks. Her sister’s comment must have struck a chord; Kovac had passed his fortieth summer. His graying beard was close-cropped, and the beginnings of wrinkles creased around his blue eyes.
“A pleasure to meet you,” Jane said, grinning at Kovac. He bowed his head in return.
“I cannot believe our daughter is home,” Pascia said. She was still teary-eyed from her first emotional encounter with Cinzia.
“Home at last,” her father said. Then he cleared his throat, and Cinzia was surprised again at how easily she fell into the old habits of home. When Ehram cleared his throat like that, it was time to listen. Cinzia faced him, and she felt Jane’s fingers entwine around her own. Tension pulsed through the room, and Cinzia wondered if the rest of her family could feel it as well. Nevertheless, she squeezed Jane’s hand in return. There was friction between them, but more besides.
“Cinzia, having you back in our home makes us happier than we could have imagined,” her father said. “To see that you have done so well, that you are successful, makes us truly proud. But priestesses do not just up and leave their congregations, and as much as we know of your love for us, your arrival here cannot be due to simple affection.” He paused before continuing, glancing quickly at Kovac.
Cinzia caught the meaning. “Do not worry, Father,” she said. “Kovac is trustworthy.”
Ehram nodded. “We assume you have heard something of the happenings here in Navone?”
Cinzia nodded, and she felt Jane’s grip tighten around her fingers. “Word has spread. The High Camarilla is taking action, I do not know how soon.” She stopped. Breaking this news to her family was more difficult than she had anticipated. She had debated coming here at all; her faith was her faith. She
believed
in Canta, in the Denomination. Hearing rumors of heresy from her hometown had been agonizing.
“I do not know the details of what has been going on here, but rumors say some of you might be involved. I have come here for two reasons. The first is to discover what
really
is going on.” She paused, not sure what to say next. Best to be honest. Blunt, even.
“The second reason is to warn you. It appears the High Camarilla have enough information to send a Holy Crucible to Navone. A full company of the Goddessguard and the Sons of Canta escort her.”
Some of the younger children gasped. Cinzia’s parents, Jane, and Eward remained straight-faced. They did not even nod. Cinzia tried not to think about what that meant. Usually the mere
mention
of a Holy Crucible sent shivers down a person’s spine.
Cinzia sighed. Whatever her family’s reaction, she was glad to have said what had weighed on her for so long. But saying it did not change much. She looked around at her family. Jane still squeezed her hand tightly.
Finally Ehram spoke. “We knew this day would come,” he said. Cinzia felt her cheeks flush, this time from anger. Could it be true? Was her family truly at the center of this?
“We have spoken about what we would do, about our plans when this day came. Now we must put them into motion.” Cinzia was aware of her family nodding. Eward’s jaw was set. Even the children, eyes wide, watched their father with resolve.
Goddess
, she thought,
it is true. There really
is
something happening here.
Did she belong to a family of heretics?
Or, if these people were heretics, were they still truly her family?
“Jane,” Ehram said, “this is your decision, but I think now would be a good time to let your sister in on what you have been doing for the last few
“This is Kovac,” Cinzia said. “My Goddessguard.”
Kovac had remained silent by her side since they had entered her home, apart from introducing himself quietly when asked. Cinzia noted the slight red tinge to his cheeks. Her sister’s comment must have struck a chord; Kovac had passed his fortieth summer. His graying beard was close-cropped, and the beginnings of wrinkles creased around his blue eyes.
“A pleasure to meet you,” Jane said, grinning at Kovac. He bowed his head in return.
“I cannot believe our daughter is home,” Pascia said. She was still teary-eyed from her first emotional encounter with Cinzia.
“Home at last,” her father said. Then he cleared his throat, and Cinzia was surprised again at how easily she fell into the old habits of home. When Ehram cleared his throat like that, it was time to listen. Cinzia faced him, and she felt Jane’s fingers entwine around her own. Tension pulsed through the room, and Cinzia wondered if the rest of her family could feel it as well. Nevertheless, she squeezed Jane’s hand in return. There was friction between them, but more besides.
“Cinzia, having you back in our home makes us happier than we could have imagined,” her father said. “To see that you have done so well, that you are successful, makes us truly proud. But priestesses do not just up and leave their congregations, and as much as we know of your love for us, your arrival here cannot be due to simple affection.” He paused before continuing, glancing quickly at Kovac.
Cinzia caught the meaning. “Do not worry, Father,” she said. “Kovac is trustworthy.”
Ehram nodded. “We assume you have heard something of the happenings here in Navone?”
Cinzia nodded, and she felt Jane’s grip tighten around her fingers. “Word has spread. The High Camarilla is taking action, I do not know how soon.” She stopped. Breaking this news to her family was more difficult than she had anticipated. She had debated coming here at all; her faith was her faith. She
believed
in Canta, in the Denomination. Hearing rumors of heresy from her hometown had been agonizing.
“I do not know the details of what has been going on here, but rumors say some of you might be involved. I have come here for two reasons. The first is to discover what
really
is going on.” She paused, not sure what to say next. Best to be honest. Blunt, even.
“The second reason is to warn you. It appears the High Camarilla have enough information to send a Holy Crucible to Navone. A full company of the Goddessguard and the Sons of Canta escort her.”
Some of the younger children gasped. Cinzia’s parents, Jane, and Eward remained straight-faced. They did not even nod. Cinzia tried not to think about what that meant. Usually the mere
mention
of a Holy Crucible sent shivers down a person’s spine.
Cinzia sighed. Whatever her family’s reaction, she was glad to have said what had weighed on her for so long. But saying it did not change much. She looked around at her family. Jane still squeezed her hand tightly.
Finally Ehram spoke. “We knew this day would come,” he said. Cinzia felt her cheeks flush, this time from anger. Could it be true? Was her family truly at the center of this?
“We have spoken about what we would do, about our plans when this day came. Now we must put them into motion.” Cinzia was aware of her family nodding. Eward’s jaw was set. Even the children, eyes wide, watched their father with resolve.
Goddess
, she thought,
it is true. There really
is
something happening here.
Did she belong to a family of heretics?
Or, if these people were heretics, were they still truly her family?
“Jane,” Ehram said, “this is your decision, but I think now would be a good time to let your sister in on what you have been doing for the last few
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