A/N: So... this was originally tacked on to Chapter 9 by mistake, it's NOT A NEW CHAPTER, if you read the Chapter 9 before, it's just the latter half of it put in. It was always intended to be Chapter 10. So sorry about that, chapter 11 is in the works.

Now, to the story!

Kir stepped into the chapel with a sigh, the entire day had been spent distributing and getting ready to implement the latest orders from Sunhame, interspersed with rounds of sparring with Anur. He was getting better at incorporating his Gift in close quarters combat but there were still some errors – meaning someone who could knock back any flying blades or recover from invisibly deflected strikes was needed for practice.

He had his suspicions as to the accuracy of that claim, he was fairly certain Greich just found their spars entertaining to watch. When the two of them went at it, flying objects and spurts of flame made for a flashy show, he could easily see that, and it also doubled as desensitization training for the men. Hopefully when they saw that Anur had no problems going near his flames, they might recover from their hesitance and he could take a bit more of an active role in the coming plans.

He shook head to clear it – right now he needed to focus on preparing for the Descending Service. Anur was off working with the archers, apparently Heralds had a few tricks that didn't require Gifts, which left him some time for simple meditation.

And it seemed he wasn't the only one who needed time and quiet to think – if he wasn't mistaken, Lieutenant Korisho was sitting in the back, head bowed. If he was still there when Kir had finished the preparations he'd go and speak with him. Though they had only ridden out on the one – technically two – truly odd jobs, he had been invaluable in getting Anur up to speed on being a lieutenant in the Sunsguard and on life in the Sunsguard in general. While the twins were helpful in that respect as well, the fact that Anur and Devek had the same rank, technically speaking, made it a bit easier.

He was also simply a very good officer, and an honest pleasure to work with.

Setting things up for the Descending service was a matter of minutes, so Kir was unsurprised that Korisho had yet to move. Walking towards the back, lighting the candles along the walls on the way, he stopped by the pew the lieutenant had claimed and asked, "What troubles you?"

It was clear that something was troubling him, expression alone gave that away, while white-knuckles around high-quality paper indicated more official reasons for his woe.

"I've been promoted," the Lieutenant said quietly.

"Then I believe congratulations are in order," Kir smiled, resting his weight on the side of the pew in front of Devek. "To Senior Lieutenant then? You will make a good one, an honor to your unit."

"Thank you, Father," he gave a small smile, pride gleaming in his eyes for a moment before it subsided.

"But that is the problem," Kir guessed, "You are being transferred, as there is no room for promotion within the 62nd."

Some tension left the lieutenant's shoulders and he sat back, looking up at Kir with a rueful sort of amusement, "Exactly, sir. I want this promotion, am glad I received it, but I don't want to leave. Things here – the 62nd is unique sir, you of all people know that, and I just – I don't want to lose that," he shrugged helplessly.

Kir hummed thoughtfully, it was a problem he had considered, if in the opposite direction. They were to receive replacements for their losses this year and for the transfers within the ranks, though the only one of those he had dealt with extensively was Lieutenant Korisho. The new arrivals were due in a week's time, giving them that long to figure out an introduction that wouldn't result in Lief Gero's fate being repeated or in their entire unit being condemned for heresy.

"What will you miss the most?" he asked finally, "Is it something that you can build your next unit into? You will have authority, as a Senior Lieutenant – there is no reason you cannot try to bring those qualities you like in the 62nd to your next posting. Well – excepting the Valdemaran lessons, that might be best left for later," Kir finished wryly.

Devek laughed, as he'd intended, agreeing, "For the best to forget I even speak some Valdemaran for a few years, I'm thinking."

"More than some, you're very close to fluency," Kir assured him, "But aside from our more 'heretical' tendencies, is there anything you could safely bring with you?"

"I guess what I'll miss the most is the feeling of being in the center of things," Korisho finally admitted, shrugging, "I just – there's so much potential here, sir. For change for making a difference – it feels like – like everything we do here has the potential to change everything and it's… it's a powerful feeling. And the camaraderie – here I feel entirely comfortable bringing my concerns to the Captain, my scouts have been giving blunt assessments to me for near my whole service here – well, and to be frank, not having to look over my shoulder for a priest lurking is nice."

"You mentioned your former posting had a more… militant priest," Kir commented, Korisho nodding and saying, "It was awful sir, there was just this – choking fear whenever he walked by. I don't know if it's like that elsewhere, not all chaplains are so authoritative, but to go from there to here – I'm just worried I'll end up in one like that again."

Kir sighed, it was a definite problem, and one that more than one was facing with the new orders they'd received. But maybe – maybe he could do something about it.

"How common are letters between old unit mates?" Kir asked abruptly, an idea starting to form but still tenuous.

"Ah – fairly, sir. Easy enough to communicate between Sunsguard units," Devek shrugged.

"Then if you have any troubles, send a letter to Anur," Kir suggested, "With regards to a particularly militant priest – I would probably have them on my list anyway, so it would be no great burden to come and see if things can be dealt with without leaving it on the unit's shoulders."

"As for staying in the center of things," Kir continued, smiling wryly, "You saw the list of names I need to look into. I need to send letters to old contacts of mine and subtly – if they reach out to me it is nowhere near as suspicious as myself reaching out to them. I can also give you some of the names that come through your next unit's region, if you are agreeable."

Judging by the gleam in the Senior Lieutenant's eyes, that sort of arrangement sounded very agreeable indeed.

"That sounds perfect sir, what sort of information would you be looking for?"

"Well to start with – "

The conversation went until the Sun Descending service began, and continued well into the night – and by the end of the week, he'd had similar conversations with every single one of the transfers. For the most part, he simply reassured them that they were welcome to write to those remaining in the 62nd if they needed aid, and he would do his best to help. Simply having more soldiers with knowledge of Solaris' calling and Valdemar's non-demonic nature was valuable enough, he felt no need to push anyone into a similar arrangement as that with Senior Lieutenant Korisho.

Nevertheless, he had a few volunteers and after a more lengthy discussion as to risks and the sorts of things they needed to be especially careful of, there were five soldiers going out into Karse with two or three names apiece and a few unsigned letters to deliver. They would gather more rumors and if possible meet with the priests in question, then pass on their observations through letters to their fellows in the 62nd.

Thankfully, letters between Sunsguard weren't censored much, and with them aware of the censorship, they would be careful enough to get by. Censorship was taken care of within the unit by one of the officers and talking about the latest priestly encounter, so long as done without disrespect, was nothing suspicious. As the men were scattered to different units across the country, it was highly unlikely anyone would even manage to put together the fact that former members of the 62nd Cavalry were sending assessments of priests back to their old unit, much less that they would then become suspicious of it.

Around ten names off a list more than ten times that length. It did not seem like much – but he could see the way they straightened, gleam entering their eyes and a confidence entering their tone – they had a mission now, a mission that they could believe in, and that was more valuable than any information they might send him.

And if he'd slipped an extra knotwork piece in every transfer's packs – well, it was simply a more concrete form of the blessing he'd given them before they left.