Spring and summer fleeted by after the bastard lamb’s birth. Now autumn's last leaves cling to nearly-bare trees outside as the air gradually turns frigid.

Annissa sits straightened in her velvet-cushioned chair, dithering about what she must do. She watches from the study’s window as an orange, shriveled leaf disconnects from its branch and settles out of view. Yet another indicator of winter to come. Not just winter, but a new year—which Annissa can either bring forth change or allow to become worse than the last.

She shifts her gaze back to the desk and looks down at the scripture before her. Hidden in the book is a thin, little pouch. Months ago, Annissa had placed the pouch conveniently between two pages, one of which contains a verse that will hopefully push her into action.

“Those who are not with Me are against Me, and those who are against Me must perish.”

For the Goddess and Her empire, Aries must perish.

Before Annissa can bring herself to take the pouch, a wave of hesitation washes over her, as it has many times these past few months. Time and time again, Annissa put her plans aside, leaving the pouch of poison sitting in the scripture, in her private study, unused when she was certain then would be the day.

I must stop doing this, she thinks to herself with a grumble. Yet something in her still refuses to kill her sibling, no matter how necessary it is.

Her ears twitch when a shrill noise emits from outside the study door. Annissa slams the book shut and places it back on the shelf before she even has a chance to register where the noise came from. It was from the bastard lamb, she realizes. Harmless for now, even if the thing is a scourge to the empire’s sanctity.

The bastard, a tottering female named Agnes, babbles incessantly as little hoof-steps clip unsteadily against the marble tile outside the door. The lamb figured out how to walk several weeks ago, and has been determined to explore every inch of the Holy Flock’s quarters since. At least the quarters are just one small section of the palace, and the most private one at that, but Annissa has a feeling that the lamb will eventually want to explore beyond this place. And once that lamb wanders anywhere the public will see her, where they will be reminded of her… the Holy Flock will undergo far more scrutiny than it already does.

“Stay where I can see you, little lamb!” another voice says as their feet follows after the bastard. It is Aries. They sweep the lamb off her feet and say a much-dreaded, “Why don’t we say hello to your matron?”

Annissa grits her teeth as Aries knocks on the door. “Come in,” she says, suppressing her disdain, but not before grabbing another book and opening it on the desk.

Aries opens the door, bringing in the lamb, who is hoisted in one of their arms. The lamb’s pale-blue eyes are wide with wonder as she looks around at the towering bookshelves with glass panels that line the room. Then she looks at Annissa and her face scrunches up in a smile.

Annissa’s mouth twitches in response. She must be honest that the lamb is darling and, in ideal circumstances, would be a much-adored princess. Annissa’s face falls again while she frowns up at Aries. “You should leave the caretaking for the ewes and ram, my wether.”

“They are my children as much as they are yours, dear matron,” Aries quips back. They set the lamb down, who proceeds to clamber on one of the couches. “The children deserve my attention and Anita deserves a break.”

Annissa’s ears perk at the mention of Anita. Anita has been the lambs’ primary caretaker ever since the other subordinate ewe, Anya, began atonement. As punishment for giving birth to a bastard, Anya has been forbidden from interacting with the rest of the flock, including the lamb she’s brought into the world. That left Anita to doing most of the caretaking in Anya’s stead.

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

“Shouldn’t you be focusing on your divination?”

“The divination is in two hours,” Aries says. They glance at her book, a species index of mammals, randomly turned to a page regarding rodent culture when that does not pertain to the event. “I do not see you fussing over it at this moment either.”

Annissa breathes deep while pinching the bridge of her muzzle. “My mistake as much as yours, then.”

“I actually have a question for you before I get prepared.”

Annissa cocks a brow.

“What if we have Anya watch the children this evening? She is missing out on Agnes’ milestones and surely would want to see—“

Annissa slams a hand on the desk to stop them. “Absolutely not.”

Aries narrows their red eyes, glaring at Annissa the same way they had when she tried sending back the lamb. “It has been almost a year since you punished our myr,” they say, referring to Anya’s title within the flock—the most subordinate position a ewe can have. “How long do you intend on doing this to her?”

Annissa’s foot stamps under the desk at the notion that she’s “doing this” to Anya, as if Anya is no more than an innocent victim. “Are you implying she should be indulging in the luxury of her sin, my wether?”

“What I’m implying is that she deserves to see her offspring at least once,” Aries retorts, their dodging of the subject not going unnoticed.

But Annissa will entertain their little game. “Elaborate on why she ‘deserves’ it.”

“Grace, my matron.”

Annissa falls silent, leaning back in her chair. She gives herself time to muse for a moment, not about Aries’ words, but about how drastically forgiving they are trying to be. The empire cannot be ruled with such a weak hoof, yet here Their Majesty stands, trying to waive an act of defamation against the very flock who represents the Goddess. “Must I remind you that grace needs to be earned? You should know better than this, Your Majesty.”

“The Goddess would not condone such cruelty.”

“You don’t know anything about the Goddess!" Annissa snaps.

“Excuse me?” Aries’ voice grows cold and dangerous.

Blood drains from Annissa’s face as the realization of her words comes crashing down. Her muscles tighten with dread as her wether leans forward.

“Are you saying I’m not the Goddess’ anointed prophet, Annissa?” they hiss in her ear, as if sparing her from any eavesdroppers. The only one in earshot is the bastard, who seems oblivious to their argument, too enamored by the couch’s floral embroidery which she traces with a hoofed finger.

“No, Your Majesty—“

“Then I suggest you do not speak such blasphemy again,” Aries finishes. They pull away and straighten, folding their hands together. “But very well. I would prefer not to argue any further around this child, so I will respect your orders as matron. I should get ready for the divination.” They lift the lamb off the couch. “Come on, Agnes.”

As Aries carries the lamb away, the lamb waves goodbye to Annissa. Annissa gives a halfhearted wave back, and once the door closes, she slumps in her seat, catching a breath she didn’t realize she was holding.

And as if the Goddess had come down to show why Aries must die, Annissa is finally filled with motivation.

Without any hesitation, she stands up from her chair and grabs the scripture. She takes the pouch and reads the verse again.

“Those who are not with Me are against Me…” she whispers along with it. She slips the pouch in her sleeve and shuts the book. “…and those who are against Me must perish.”

To save the empire and retain the Goddess’s glory, she must destroy the one who claims to be a prophet, the one who allows sin to overtake this rapidly declining, heretical empire.

There is no way Aries deserves to be a prophet. They may be a wether who was born in the purest lineage, but they are as much of a disgrace as Anya and the bastard are. There is no doubt that Aries is the Goddess’ most unworthy vessel; a prison She must be liberated from.

As the divination approaches, Annissa prepares the altar for the ceremony. She pours the powder from its pouch into Aries’ holy drink, carefully drawing a rune into the liquid as she does; one that will release Her divine power from Aries’ clutches once drunk. Aries won’t just be receiving a prophecy. They will also receive the Goddess’ judgment… in hell.

A sinful tear leaks from one of Annissa’s damp eyes, but she disregards it. Aries' death must come, and the Goddess must reign true again.