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timid; they did not realise that she was constantly suppressing the urge to bite. ‘I merely serve my god’s will.’
    â€˜I see a wilful arrogance in your subservience,’ said Hildy. ‘You seizeon every duty, no matter how painful or demeaning, and never rest until it is done to perfection. You take pride in your suffering.’
    â€˜I offer it to my god. I merely serve my god —’
    â€˜You seek to eliminate your self, because the world is so painful to you that you can only think of escaping it.’
    â€˜I don’t belong there,’ Astatine said plaintively. ‘Even here, I feel as though I’m living in the wrong body. The sickness I carry inside me has infected all Hightspall.’
    Hildy slapped her face. ‘Curb your presumptuous tongue, Novice.’
    Astatine clutched the abbess’s wrist. ‘Tell me that our land is not sick and the common folk despairing. Tell me that the nobility aren’t wasting their lives in debauchery because they no longer have hope. Tell me that our gods are strong, and love us.’
    After a long pause, Hildy said gently, ‘I cannot tell you any of those things. Hightspall is sick, the people despairing, our gods dwindling — but it has nothing to do with you.’
    â€˜Please, Abbess. If I go outside, I will surely break my vows.’
    â€˜Your first vow, and the greatest, is obedience,’ said Hildy inexorably.
    Astatine lowered her eyes. ‘And I obey. But —’
    â€˜The vision I saw may also have gone to the Carnal Cardinal, Fistus.’
    â€˜He is a holy man of god,’ said Astatine. ‘He will protect the Graven Casket.’
    â€˜If the casket is opened, our beloved K’nacka will be in peril; he may fall.’
    â€˜ Fall? ’ whispered Astatine. ‘But the gods are almighty and everlasting.’
    â€˜Then fly! Stop this obscenity before it is too late.’
    â€˜Abbess … The Margrave Greave is a powerful man, a warrior who has never lost a fight. How can I stop him?’
    The abbess thought for a while, then said, ‘At the fifth hour after midday, on the day after tomorrow, you must duel with him and win.’
    â€˜He would kill me at the first blow.’
    The abbess’s eyes rested on Astatine’s creamy, almost unblemished skin, her curvaceous form outlined against the bed bindings designed to prevent sins of the night. ‘You will duel him with your weapons, not his.’
    â€˜I don’t understand.’
    â€˜Surely you can’t be that unworldly …’
    A flush crept up Astatine’s throat and blossomed into crimson. ‘But my second vow —’
    â€˜Your vow of obedience comes first. If it is the only way to stop this dreadful sacrilege, you will break your second vow.’
    â€˜But … if I were unchaste, how could I come back?’
    â€˜Break that vow and you cannot come back.’
    â€˜And if I refuse?’
    â€˜Those who will not obey have no place here.’
    â€˜I’m doomed, either way.’
    â€˜You will be serving your god; what more can you ask?’
    Astatine was silent.
    â€˜Swear that you will stop the margrave,’ said Hildy.
    â€˜I’ll try to stop him.’
    â€˜Swear that you will stop him, no matter what.’
    The task was impossible, but Astatine had no choice. ‘I swear that I will stop him. I will serve my god, no matter what it costs me. My life has no other worth.’
    â€˜Take this gown, and go at once,’ said the abbess.
    After Astatine had ridden out on one of the abbey’s mules, Hildy said, ‘And I pray you do break your vows for, devout though you are, you do carry corruption with you. You never belonged in this House of God.’
    Â 
    Roget came back from the bar with a flagon and poured a hefty slug into a glass. ‘Get this down, before you fall down.’
    Greave clutched his groin, wincing.
    â€˜What’s