“There’s one thing I want you to remember, Everie, when they send you out for the first time.”

Everie looked up from the knife she was polishing. She let the oil rag settle onto her skirt.

Her Sister didn’t often take this sort of tone when speaking to her. On the rare few occasions she did, Everie made sure to be a good girl and listen.

“They’ll probably tell you to kill one of the people in the big churches. They’re scum like any else, but they’re more likely to take you in as a child. You’ll want to leverage that.”

Everie tilted her head. “Is that it? They already told me that.”

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

Her Sister sighed. “Of course they did. But no, that’s not all. They’ll tell you to kill all your witnesses as well. To send a message.”

“Before you do so, I want you to do something for me.”

Everie slid her knife into the scabbard she had strapped to her thigh. She picked up her pistol next - a delicate, brass thing - and began cleaning it. With another rag, of course.

But her Sister reached out and grabbed her hands, and looked her deep into the eyes.

Everie dropped the gun. It fell to a clatter on the floor.

“Don’t kill any of the children,” she said. “They don’t deserve it.”

“Why?” Everie asked. “They’ll grow up to be worshipers or acolytes in the future, anyway.”

“But they’re not scum yet,” her Sister rebuked. “They’re the only innocent people in this wretched world.”

“Please. Do this for me, Everie.”