“- 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.”

“Agnes Goodfaith, what on the light-touched EARTH were you thinking?!”

“Argh! Do not yell at me brother, I knew full well what I was doing and I stand by it.”

“You climbed up upon a bench and yelled at the Faithkept some dirty foreigner’s prayer!”

““Lathander to light,

Selûne to guide,

Kelemvor to judge, And passage provide” Is a very well known prayer, Jared. Just because that dusty moth bitten old man has never been outside the village-”

“You’ve never been outside the village-”

“- doesn’t mean us young girls can’t be well read.”

“‘Well read’ has gotten you no meal for all today, was that worth it?! You must learn to control your temper!”

“Two and a half days, and yes, it was worth it, and yes, I know I do!”

A breath passed between them.

“Oh. Want a bread roll?”

“Yes please.”

He sat down next to her. The sun set. And rose again

Litha Day. known also as the day of Kos to those belonging to Jared’s church, was the most lightful day in the solar cycle.

Additionally, it was one of the few days in the calendar that asked of Jared nothing but that he ‘thoughtfully contemplate’ his devotion to Kos and the Kofanarch. This made it in kind his most favourite day. Not even his name-day, this upcoming Friday, was close to being as enjoyable.

In truth, his name-day was decidedly unenjoyable, uncelebrated as it was. But that was the way of things; it is selfish to be idle for a day simply because it marks a year older for yourself. That never stopped Jared privately treating Litha Day as his day in the privacy of his own mind (when, of course, his father was not present, as whether he truly could or not, Alaric seemed to know exactly what you were thinking. No privacy of mind before the templar. No indulgent thoughts under the light of Kos) alone in his bedroom.

Or else, in the pottery barn. It was cold out there, especially alone, which was horrid during the darker months, but on the dawn of Litha Day, before the morning bells had rung out, when the sun’s light just began to creep in, the chill was blissful.

And the Litha Day festivities this year across the day were glad, bright, and full of fun: ribbons braided around every tree, bread dipped in honey, tree climbing competitions, creek jumping with the village kids - for this was one of few days that the children of the church were permitted to play with their peers from beyond the church's iron fence - across the wayside brook, and a bonfire in the evening. It was maybe 5 chimes past midday, and Jared had indulged himself in all but the bonfire which was not yet lit. He sipped on Old Man Peter's yardberry cordial and let the warm air idle through his hair as he turned his face to a sun in no danger of setting.

There was only one small part of the day causing grievance. Small. Really very insignificant. Should not in any way interrupt his fun.

Agnes had cried.

That his sister had cried was not his fault. Truly speaking it was no one's fault. Nothing had even happened. She wasn't even crying anymore. Probably. He hadn't actually seen her in some three chimes.