“- and before Kos and our lightful Kofanarch, we welcome Agnes Elizabeth Jamesin known to our Church as Agnes Goodlight, child of Alaric, Templar of the Second Order and her mother, Viva Elizabeth. May she work hard beneath an Everlasting Sun and reap sweet rewards.”

“Thank you Templar Jonesson, that was lovely. May I now return to the childmothers of the Church, they are anxiously attending- yes Jared what is it?” says he, turning to a tugging on his overcoat.

“Da, whassat in the blanket?” Jared blinked his pale brown eyes up balefully at the bearded man. His father sighed with slight impatience, and upon taking the swaddled infant from his colleague, sat down upon a wooden bench, and lifted his other child onto his knee.

“Well Jared, this is your little baby sister. Your childmother had another babe by me, and so she’s your proper sister, moreso than the other children.” With a quizzical look, Jared poked at the squishy flesh of the baby in his father’s arms. “Hmmm no I’ve a baby brother.”

At this, his stony faced father finally cracked a smile. “No, mine light, she’s a little baby sister. A little light”

“Oh. Ok then.”

“This is very important, Jared. You’re her big brother now. Will you keep her good and living well in the light, according to the ways of our Church and its teachings?”

Though not really knowing what was being asked of him, Jared nodded solemnly, and poked at the bundle again, brushing a tuft of red hair. A tiny pale hand gripped tight around his little finger.

“Hullo Agnes.”

A balmy warm day, following service sees ten or so children sitting in a field at some point in the middle of spring. The pastoral contentment bubbled; the childhood cheer pulsed in time with the beating sun. Despite her age, Agnes had outpaced her brother in the ribbon dancing footrace they had, and was now rolling in the long grass giggling about it. The long red fabric twirled from both her fingers and her hair. Even as some of the older boys teased him lightly over it, he never would’ve not let her win.

Faithkept Christopher’s voice was both grating and dull.

“- and so it came to pass among all Kofanists that after Kos resolved the civil war in the North, he faded into obscurity,

“Jared, I’m bored”

“having worked himself into tinderwood to provide light and warmth for all to come after. Now while so-called undevout Kofanists would’ve allowed him to remain in obscurity, favouring to become generalised under the Church of Lathander,”

“Jared. Jar. Redred. I’m really bored. When can we go?”

“Shhh. Mister Christopher will give you extra service hours in the church kitchen.”

“Us devotees of The Church of the Everlasting Sun know that he is what all strive to be, and is the cause for which our people dedicate themself, all to his shining example. Those who preach as Kofanists but are more than willing to cast their lot in with the indolent and slovenly”

“Jared!”

“Fine! Braid these threads into my hair and shut up. You heard the Faithkept, you don’t want to be indolent meaning you have to pay attention. Father would be most disappointed.” And with that, he carefully, quietly lifted her onto his knee, passed her some strings, and slipped a barley sweet in her mouth. She smiled a bright gummy smile at him, and he could not find it in himself to be angered.

“And of course we seek in death to be cast into flame so we may rest at one with the light, but that is a privilege only granted in infinite mercy to those who dedicate themselves to our church.”

He found her sat forlorn in the corner of her room, flame hair slightly damp, and blue pinafore dirt stained.

“‘Lo Jared.”

“Sister, whatever is the matter with you? We get out of lessons today, and our service is darning, which is so easy even you can manage it without complaint. Thought you’d be pleased, by the light of Kos.”

“It isn’t fair though.”

“What’s not fair?”

“The only reason we aren’t attending readings is because we’d have to walk through the village out to church, and the Karsen family are hosting a tiefling.”

“Yes, and?”

“Well that isn’t fair! That we are confined to the house simply because there is a stranger in someone else’s kitchen!”

“Tieflings are borne of sin. They can influence you into indolence and lead you astray. And I am to protect you from that. They are creatures of darkness, not for us, the people of light, to, to cavort with!”

“Still not fair.”

“Well. Well, don’t let father hear you say that.”