Here Shines the Sun by M. David White Page A

once again? Nuriel scowled. If the Goddess was awakened, she would take Holy Father away from her.
    A coldness suddenly gripped Nuriel. She found herself again wondering why Holy Father had fallen into a depression, and feared she might have done something to anger him. In her mind she promised him she would do anything to please him; that she would do whatever he asked of her. And then she wondered if she might want the world to end. Holy Father, if the end came, would you hold me as you held the Goddess?
    The avenue with its tall buildings and shops began to give way to smaller homes and narrower streets as Nuriel escorted the Bishops along a route they somehow already knew. Ahead were a pair of Clerical Guard and they parted as Nuriel and the Bishops strode past. Beyond them, at the end of a brick road, stood a modest home of timber and plaster guarded by a dozen Clerical Guard. More Clerical Guard were stationed in the surrounding streets and alleys.
    Nuriel could see the ones stationed in front of the house talking amongst themselves. As Nuriel and the Bishops approached they took notice and came to attention. One of them pointed at the home’s doorway and said, “It’s in there. It’s… It’s a miracle.” From the window there was an eerie, sapphire glow coming through a drawn curtain. “What do you mean to do with it?” asked the same guardsman, and Nuriel raised a hand encompassed with golden Caliber light. She couldn’t let the man say anymore; she didn’t want to allow herself to hear anymore. “Is it truly the reborn—”
    Caught in the unseen grasp of Nuriel’s Caliber, the man was lifted off his feet and Nuriel twisted her hand. Like so many twigs his body was broken and he fell to the street, limbs without any structure crumpling in a heap. “Speak nothing!” shouted Nuriel to the others. “Say nothing of what you’ve seen here!”
    “Y-y-yes, Milady.” said one of the other Clerical Guard.
    “Clear all the homes! Leave no building unsearched! Leave nobody alive!” ordered Nuriel. “Move out!”
    The Clerical Guard began to break off into small teams. Three ran up the steps to a home and kicked in the door. There were screams. JINK! The metallic blast of a bolt-thrower resounded from the house. Another scream, this one more intense. JINK! JINK! Blood splattered across the window. The Clerical Guard came from the house and hopped down the stairs and over to the next. The same thing began to play out down every street and alleyway.
    The Bishops strode up to the house the guardsmen had been stationed at. From within Nuriel could hear a baby crying. The Bishops seemed to float up the steps and glide into the house. Through the opened door more of that otherworldly blue light poured out and Nuriel turned her head away. A mother screamed. Nuriel heard a father shouting. And then there was silence but for the wailing of the baby.
    Nuriel waited outside in the street, watching down the avenues as teams of Clerical Guard went from home to home. Throughout the city she could hear screams and bolt-throwers firing. Down the long avenue she had come she could see the white forms of Sin Eaters, their swords and boots leaving trails of crimson upon the flagstone.
    From within the house Nuriel now heard the droning chant of the Bishops spoken in their strange tongue. The baby’s cries intensified into pained howls and Nuriel felt the flesh on her back crawl. From the corner of her eye she could see the sapphire glow in the curtains begin to waver. And then there was silence and the glow was gone, like a candle had been snuffed.
    Nuriel knew it was over and she turned around. Through the windows she could see flames licking up the walls. The Bishops always burned the home before they left. They had the ability to disappear into shadows and would not return via the Celestial Gateway. Whatever their duty here was, it was done. It was now up to Nuriel to see her own duty fulfilled.
    Nuriel watched for a while