It was far harder than he had thought it would be, and it hand only been a week or so. But it could have been a life time to Daymin. He had barely slept; tossing and turning, reaching out for the person who wasn’t there. The silence in his room crippling and no longer comfortable. Like part of him was gone.

The days brought their distractions, training and service, but his mind drifted once again during prayers, like there was nothing anchoring him to the words or ceremony. Daymin tired to hide it, his struggle not having Baz here, but even he could see that the cracks were starting to show.

“Your form is off Brother Brightstar.” Master Geriel told him about a week after Baz had left.

“Sorry Master.” He blinked, he knowing he was slow and his parrying off.

“You cannot let Bezaliel’s absence trouble you so.” His master replied. “A sword should still work without it’s shield.”

“Yes Master…”. He hung his head in shame “it will not happen again.”

They went back to sparring without another word. Daymin shook his head a did his best to get his head back in it. But he was still off. They both knew it but the old angel blood didn’t say another word on the matter.

They called it early and Daymin went back to his room defeated, stripping off his armour and undershirt. Letting the bitterness of the winter air hit his bare flesh as it came in through the open window. His skin prickled and he shivered as he lay back on Baz bed looking up at the stone ceiling.

What was wrong with him?

Baz would be back soon. And would chastise him if he knew, he’d let himself slip this much. Daymin was better than this. He Blade could cut down three men in a single swipe but now it felt like his blade was made of wet paper. Like he couldn’t grip it right in his hand.

No wonder Baz had moved passed him if he let this little bit of distance eat at him so. He was out there doing their goddess work and Daymin was still stuck here. He was better than this.

He kicked off his boots and socks and brought his toes up onto the cool blankets. They never should have started sharing a bed again. Now he could barely make it though the night, with all the tossing and turning he’d been doing. Stupid childish things.

He had to stop.

He stat back up and looked over at the table beside Baz’s bed. At all the little trinkets and books he’d left there. Nice rocks, or small beads, random little things his partner grabbed like a magpie. He never really took notice of them until Baz wasn’t here did he? All those little things he did that Daymin’s mind glanced over, like these items, now shone bright in their owners absence.

He picked up a small carved whistle from the nightstand and turned it in his hand. Baz got this from a caravan of Catfolk they had slayed; robbing traveller on the road. Like a memory of the event. He’d blown in once. The sound clear and sharp as it hit their ears. A moment a pleasure before it went in his bag to join the other treasures. Why was he thinking only this now?

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There was no past, no future… just the here and now of their service. At yet Baz kept these things. Memories and touchstones of times past. He who was a greater servant than Daymin ever thought he could be. Couldn’t let it all go either.

Daymin held the whistle a moment longer before setting it back on the table. He could do this, he resolved himself. Baz wouldn’t come back and find him a mess. He’d have his own story to tell this time.

****

“Pack your things Daymin,” Master Geriel woke him with those words the next morning.

“What?” Daymin sat up. “I’m sorry Master Geriel, I’ll do better. Please don’t sent me away.”

“Your not going away Brother.” His master calmed him. “You and I leave for the High Temple in The Capital today. The next part of your service begins today.”

“But was about…”

“Bezaliel is not your concern anymore Daymin.” His master cut him off. “He’s carrying out his will as you are and if she wills it he will return someday. But today is not that day and you will not be wasted here.”

“Yes Master.” He bowed his head and rose from the bed. “I will be packed quickly.”

“The Caspital is a city of sin and ill repute. We are going to purge it.”

“Yes Master.” Daymin threw on his shirt and began to collect his things.

“Meet me in the temple once you were ready.”

Daymin nodded as Master Geriel left him, packing his few belongings and readied his armour. He really wasn’t going to see him again for a while was he? Leaving this place, this second home, without Baz. Their lives moving ever farther apart. Daymin couldn’t bare the thought of it. Yet that’s what their service meant, giving up their own wants and desires in the name of their goddess.

He hated it.

Daymin punched the pillow on his bed, he didn’t know what else to do with the feeling. He had to let this anger go somewhere. Hadn’t he just resolved himself to being better for Baz, no more crumbling. Yet leaving this place terrified him. How was he supposed to purge a great city like The Capital? He was one man, even if Master Geriel was with him. Baz would be so excited for this opportunity, while all Daymin could think of was all the ways he was going to mess it up.

He finished packing, looked once more at the room, remembering the excitement the two of them had felt the first time they had seen it. What felt like a life time ago now. All the times they’d crawl into bed with each other for that little bit of extra comfort. His eyes falling on Baz’s bed, looking once more at the trinkets on the night stand.

It wouldn’t hurt…

Daymin took the little whistle from the collection and shoved in in his bag. It was something at least.

**************

It was almost two weeks worth of traveling before the great city came into view. But the first thing that caught Daymin’s eye was the sea. The vast open expanse of azure blue water stretching far beyond his field of vision. He had never see something so beautiful.

“Admire it from afar Brother Brightstar, the sea is the most fowl of temptresses. Like all women, it takes men from a righteous path and leads them to sin.” Master Geriel said as they road.

“Yes Master.” Daymin put his eyes back to the road.

“The Capital will be full of them Daymin.”

“Full of what Master?”

“Women lad, and other temptations. I trust you remember you’re vows.”

“Of course Master. No sins of the flesh, nor coin, or drink of wine. I shall not want for any of it.” Daymin repeated the mantra.

“Good but in a place like this, that is easier said then done. You will be allowed among people Daymin, and a man your age can be easily drawn into such pleasurable things if he is not careful.”

“People?” Daymin was surprised he’d never talked to someone who wasn’t from the temple.

“Yes Daymin. You will come to know the souls here and why the need to be purged. Their extravagance will try and pull you away from the mission, make you question our truth.”

“I will not be tempted Master.” Daymin said.

“Keep your resolve lad, for it is easier said than done.”

*****

The city was more overwhelming than the site of the sea had been. This was nothing like the village. Tall stone buildings, cobbled streets, people everywhere; all the sights and smells it was almost too much for Daymin to take in. How people walked around so carefree and oblivious to the others around them, like they were the only ones who mattered. So different than the place he’s called home for that past seven years, simple people like that would get trampled here.

He understood quickly what Master Geriel had meant by temptation. Drink could be found every ten paces or so, the same with someone wanting to take your money, by force or legitimate means. Daymin’s keen eyes caught it all as they walked, the cutpurses and vendors only steps from each other. Women and men parading themselves around in bright fashion, like mating birds looking to attract attention. No wonder the goddess had called him here.

This place was dirty and sick, Daymin could tell just by this surface look as they made their way through the streets. What sort of filth lay under if this was the surface? Daymin couldn’t fathom it. Thieves’ dens and whorehouses, gambling dens and taverns all the things Master Geriel had told him of on the road.