The Sanctum of Zigildrazia rose high over the entire city with many domes and gargoyles. When you stood on top of a rooftop, you could see it from anywhere between the three gates of Zigilus. But it had never dawned on Narcissa how huge it was when she came beneath the shadow of the immense cathedral. The enormous black double doors were more than three times her height. Dozens of statues were on the steeples and towers. They were shaped like posing succubi with huge breasts and wide hips.

Just looking at the temple made Narcissa's heart flutter. What kind of untold depravities and horrors occurred in a world like this? Narcissa had a mental picture of herself and Alkela being bound to an altar in Zigildrazia's name. Maybe ritually sacrificed. Would she look better hanging from chains? "Look at this, Alkela. It is huge!"

"Have you never been here?" asked Garacel.

"Zarana always kept us on a close leash," said Narcissa. "And after we ran away, we were kept out of this district. We weren't well dressed enough."

"It isn't the dressing by which it is determined who can enter," said Garacel. "In any case, stay quiet. And stay close. The Sanctum of Zigildrazia could be dangerous for you. At least, if you were separated from me before, you are well known.

"We'll take the back door." And he began to walk.

Narcissa and Alkela walked behind him, feeling a bit disappointed. She'd wanted to make a grand entrance, but that wouldn't happen now. "Why the back?"

"Mass is in session, I believe," said Garacel. "Though Her Radiance often changes the times and days on a whim."

"Mass?" asked Narcissa. "I remember Zarana never took us there. She said it was for degenerates."

"Yes, well, that remains a matter of perspective," said Garacel as they approached a side door. "I will admit that including exotic dancers may have been going too far.

"Come."

And he rapped on the door. For a moment, he waited. Then the door slid open, and a thin old man looked through. He wore concealing black robes and had wispy, graying hair. Garacel somehow looked surprised, even if he had no facial expressions. "Illaryus, I see you still live."

Illaryus cracked a smile that revealed crooked teeth. "Yes, for the moment. However, I'm afraid my days as Battleluster of Zigildrazia are far behind me. Who are these you bring with you?"

"They are Narcissa and Alkela, twin sisters," said Garacel. "These are those I sought. The temple did receive my message, did you not?"

"I did, of course," said Illaryus. "It a pleasure to meet the two of you. I'm Illaryus, the Head Battleluster of Zigildrazia."

"I'm Narcissa, um, aren't you a bit... uh... old?" asked Narcissa. She'd always been told Battlelusters were immensely handsome and beautiful without flaw.

"Yes, well, time catches up with all save Her Radiance," said Illaryus. He turned and motioned for them to follow. "My glory days are behind me, but I can still drive a sword home. As for my age, there are spells to make one's features appear younger, but they are superficial.

"My joints still hurt like anyone else. And the spell left me feeling... stretched. Given a choice between the truth and a lie, I decided to take the truth. I can't exactly attract young maidens anymore, but that is all the moot point at this stage."

"You seem to have settled into your duties well," said Garacel. "It has been... seventy years, I believe?"

"Sixty-three," said Illaryus as they walked.

"You handled yourself very well against the Kalthakians then," said Garacel. "I don't believe I ever had the chance to tell you that."

"It was my pleasure, Lord Garacel," said Illaryus.

The halls they walked through were of black stone. And something about their dimensions seemed wrong. First, their angles were jagged; then, when you looked hard, they went smooth. Narcissa hoped they would have to spend less time in here.

"Of that, I am sure," said Garacel. "I remembered you laughed as you cleft a bloody swath through their ranks. It was a memorable event.

"Do you feel capable of instructing these two in battle?"

"It would be my honor, of course," said Illaryus. "We've had precious few Battleluster potentials of late, I'm afraid. The order is aging."

"But why are there so few?" asked Narcissa.

"Zigilus isn't quite the same as it once was," admitted Illaryus. "There isn't as much enthusiasm. And since we became part of the Dinis Empire, people prefer the stability of the legions. At least to the bloodcurdling fury of axes and swords."

They came to a large hall. There were long tables of brown wood with many stools by it. A large stone stage was at the far end of the table, with poles rising from it.

"This is where our meals are eaten," said Illlaryus. "There is usually entertainment provided."

"Excellent, then I will take my leave for now," said Garacel. "I have much work to do here and must go." He turned to walk away.

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"Lord Garacel," said Illaryuys.

Garacel halted and glanced back. "Yes?"

"There is still the matter of the paperwork to fill out," said Illaryus.

"Could not you deal with it?" asked Garacel.

"I'm afraid not. You will have to fill it out yourself," said Illaryus. "Those are the rules."

"My hands are metal gauntlets," said Garacel. "Clutching a quill usually breaks it. And the spikes on my gauntlets usually knock over the inkwells."

"I could write it for you," said Narcissa, wanting to be helpful. "Zarana taught me how."

"I'm afraid you aren't of sufficient rank for that, young Narcissa," said Illaryus, smiling.

"No, but I mean, Garacel could dictate, and I could write down what he says," said Narcissa.

"I would greatly appreciate that," said Garacel.

Garacel and Narcissa went to a dark room where paper and a quill were provided. Garacel stated a long paragraph of elaborate words. Narcissa did her best to keep up, but several times, she had to ask him for the spelling. Alkela merely watched. She had never learned to write.

Suddenly, the hairs on the back of Narcissa's neck stood up. Her pen stopped, and she looked up to the door. There, leaning against the doorframe, was a man. He wore a long tan cloak and black boots. His skin was as black as night, and a broad-brimmed hat was on his head. "The Seeker of Garacel in action. It is always a pleasure to observe such valiant feats of arms. And done through a child?"

His voice was smooth, and there was something slimy about him. Narcissa did not like how he looked at her and Alkela. It was more like a hungry animal than a person admiring a prostitute. Narcissa didn't think it was appropriate.

Garacel glanced up. "Dakan. What are you doing here?"

"Observing," said Dakan with a smile. "As always. And also fulfilling the mission you sent me on..." He drew out a letter and opened it before handing it to Garacel.

Garacel scanned over it. His light burned paler. "So, the Blade of Chaos has begun to manifest. This is precisely what we needed."

"Shall I-" began Dakan with a smile.

"No," said Garacel. "Not yet. In time, the sword will call out to us. When the call arrives, we will heed it. But for now, it is too weak."

"Very well then," said Dakan. "I shall ask the Emperor to postpone his invasion."

"Don't be a fool, Dakan," said Garacel. "Even Dinis cannot muster an army in a few days. And the Emperor is still working to consolidate his hold over the church."

"What church?" asked Narcissa.

"Missionaries from Elranor arrived some time ago," said Garacel. "They've been working on the Emperor for some time."

"But Zarana is from the capital," said Narcissa. "She said that Elranor has been worshipped there for fifty years."

"Yes, of course," said Garacel thoughtfully. "That is a considerable amount of time for you. But, in any case, they and other foreign gods have been working to undermine Her Radiance's power. They've even gone so far as to outlaw Her Radiance's most sacred rites in all cities save Zigilus.

"We suspect he intends to bring his 'reforms' to Zigilus soon. And we are taking measures against such a possibility. That is all you need to know." He folded the letter and rose to his feet. "Come, we will bring these to Illaryus. Then we will part ways for a time."

"Yes, Master Garacel," said Narcissa.

She and Alkela followed Garacal past Dakan. As they did so, Dakan's eyes narrowed at them. He licked his lip and then looked to Garacel. "A pair of beautiful young girls you have there. I'm sure Zigildrazia will appreciate them."

"They are not for that," snapped Garacel, voice holding a note of fury.

"Then what are they for?" asked Dakan.

"You already know or suspect the answer," said Garacel. "Get out of this place before I find occasion to have you arrested."

Dakan shrugged. Then he faded into the shadows and emerged down the hall. He bowed with sarcasm. "As you command, Lover Eternal."

As he went away, Narcissa looked to Garacel. "Lover Eternal?"

"A relic of a past best forgotten," said Garacel.

He said no more as they walked. They found Illaryus reading a book in a library. The priest glanced up as Garacel approached and gave him Narcissa's work. "Illaryus, I have the documents you requested."

Illaryus took it. "Thank you, Lord Garacel. I have made provisions for these two. If you follow me, I'll take you to your quarters."

So they parted ways with Garacel. Illaryus led the twins through the halls. As they did, his eyes narrowed. They were passing a door with two statues of succubi on either side. "Stay close. Do not wander off or take any side passages. Things go on in this place, which could result in your life taking a less-than-ideal path."

"What do you mean?" asked Narcissa.

"Do you see that door?" asked Illaryus. "That leads to the east wing. Never go there. That is where mortals are transformed into slave succubi."

"You mean... you mean those mindless pets they transform criminals into?" asked Narcissa.

"Yes," said Illaryus. "Their creation was arranged after the fall of the Demon King Diabolus. As the succubi grew in power, demon lords began to desire consorts who were less likely to betray them. To this end, Zigildrazia created the slave succubi ritual.

"It transforms ordinary mortals into ideal consort material. They have the pleasures and appearance of an ordinary demoness. But with none of the dangers."

"Why are they less dangerous?" asked Narcissa.

"To ascend to become a demon, one must grow in power. Your spirit must increase. It must grow to the point where your spirit breaks free of mortal bonds," said Illaryus. "The mortals who become slave succubi never reached that point. Instead, the process stretches their spirits and bodies, breaking their will.

"It is a process similar to that of creating raishans. But with a very different end.

"In any case, the point I was coming to is that you want to avoid being caught in the wrong place. Some of the demons here may take advantage of you."

"But Zigildrazia has outlawed taking advantage of anyone not of age," said Narcissa.

"Why should that matter?" asked Illaryus bitterly.

"Well, this is her sanctum," said Narcissa. "Shouldn't the demons here follow her rules?"

"Child, let this be your first lesson," said Illaryus. "Rules are something that is applied to the lower classes. The more powerful you become, the fewer rules that apply to you. That is the secret of true power."

"That... that doesn't seem right," said Narcissa.

Illaryus looked bitter. "Right and wrong are but words. There is no real truth to them. Now come, your training will take place in the eastern wing. That area is set aside to protect potentials, and the rules are enforced there."

"Why enforce the law in one place but not another?" asked Narcissa.

"If we didn't enforce the law anywhere, we would never get anything done. And if we enforced the law everywhere. Her Radiance wouldn't be a demon," said Illaryus, smile returning. "Would she?"

Narcissa shifted nervously. That did make sense. Her Radiance couldn't do anything wrong, after all. "...Fair enough."

They would be with the temple for two more years before the legions came.

"That... that doesn't seem right," said Narcissa.

Illaryus looked bitter. "Right and wrong are but words. There is no real truth to them. Now come, your training will take place in the eastern wing. That area is set aside to protect potentials, and the rules are enforced there."

"Why enforce the law in one place but not another?" asked Narcissa.

"If we didn't enforce the law anywhere, we would never get anything done. And if we enforced the law everywhere. Her Radiance wouldn't be a demon," said Illaryus, smile returning. "Would she?"

Narcissa shifted nervously. That did make sense. Her Radiance couldn't do anything wrong, after all. "...Fair enough."

They would be with the temple for two more years before the legions came.