There hadn't been an Enforcer-Firestarter pair in more than a century, and Seras would know as he'd become something of the Firestarter scholar after riding for days on end to conduct patrols became less and less feasible. He could manage a week of hard riding but his bones would hate him thoroughly afterwards, meaning wherever he got too with that week of riding was going to have to wait a few days for him to be functional again.

So his ten-week patrol took more along the lines of twenty, and once he returned to Sunhame, he didn't leave. Let the younger ones go out when emergencies called, check on the Feasts of the Children, rotate through the longer-distance patrols. He'd take advantage of seniority and call the shortest route, in the district closest to Sunhame. Spending his days in the District, complaining about old bones with those few elder priests that would gripe with him, and splitting his time between restoring texts in the Firestarter records and teaching those District-bound acolytes and initiates was far more agreeable than riding in rain, sleet and sun.

Colbern was just under a decade younger than him, but had managed to age much better and still thought racing all over the country was a fine way to spend his days, whatever the weather. Just last year he'd finally spent more than twelve weeks in Sunhame, bitterly complaining that his joints didn't respond well to riding through freezing rainstorms.

Seras had no sympathy for his friend, none at all.

Especially when he refused to remember anything besides the barest of details about their Order's history, making him answer questions the man should know the answer to –

"So how long has it been since there was an instated Enforcer?"

Case in point.

"Over a century," Seras replied promptly, nevertheless – if he didn't, Colbern would just start taunting him about how he didn't know the answer and refuse to believe that he did.

Seras fully realized he was just falling into the man's trap with that, but his pride as a scholar was at stake here!

"And the circumstances around that selection were… entirely political," Seras snorted, "Some noble son, wanted authority without becoming a priest and somehow fell in with a Firestarter whilst in the Sunsguard – it was all on paper, I honestly don't recall if the two ever even came to Sunhame together."

"Not what the office was designed for," Colbern said, a weary sort of sorrow in his voice. That very sentiment could be applied to far too many positions within the priesthood, and had been applied long before Solaris ever came about.

"Not in the least," he echoed, letting Colbern open the door to the archives and following him through. He hoped to find records of the more recent changes in Firestarter policy and formalities, recorded in a charter that had expanded from its original page and some to a hefty text over the millennia. With any luck, it would give them somewhere to start, at the least. Give some sense of order to the massive undertaking the entirety of Karse was going to be entering soon enough.

It seemed, though, that he wasn't the first to have that idea.

"On Hallucinogens and the Unquiet Dead? Well doesn't that sound familiar," the Enforcer's voice carried through the stacks, their new leader's barked laughed echoing back with a sardonic, "Please, I told you – we do not drug our congregations, merely terrify them into compliance. Besides, that text is utterly useless, the man sought to commune with the dead through extensive use of hallucinogens and his writing style clearly reflects it."

"…Did you read this entire library?"

"I made a valiant effort."

"Sending Spirits to Rest: A Monograph, Crafting Bonds of Spirit and Soul, On Vows and their Forging… hey, would that have anything on what exactly an Oathbreaker rite does?"

"It would discuss what was meant by Oathbreaker in greater detail, and explain how he was harmed by our calling him Oathbreaker, but it won't have anything on the hunting rite – I assume that's what you're after?"

"I was curious about that… buzzing, for lack of a better word, that kicked in after the Hunt – I mean, it was there before, a bit, but that was when it really picked up. Also the whole riding day and night without tiring and without even really realizing it, I still don't clearly remember what happened those few days."

"I don't remember details, but who needs them?" a wry chuckle, Seras finally rounding a shelf and spotting their new, even younger leader. Faint traces of white in his hair aside, he was showing no true signs of aging and if Seras remembered even vaguely right, he had been at least two or three years younger than Jaina, who had already been one of their youngest recorded Incendiaries.

Brilliant crimson robes – a subtle miracle, one almost more impressive for its subtleness – were flung over the back of a chair, leaving Dinesh in what looked to be decent quality Sunsguard scouting armor. Seras was willing to admit he had little to no expertise on that, so would be asking Colbern for his assessments later, but the fact that he even bothered to wear armor – that he had been permitted within the District while bearing steel! – was something to take definite note of.

Pale grey eyes looked up from the texts he was skimming, white archivist's gloves on his hands, and some of the man's ease fled, effortless posture stiffening, faint amusement falling away and leaving bland attentiveness behind.

"Brothers," he said, inclining his head shortly, "Seras and Colbern, Second Order, if I am not mistaken?"

"You are not," Seras replied, returning the nod, "My apologies for disturbing you, but I simply sought to consult the Charter so we might have a starting point for policy reforms."

Any response – by that expression, by that tension, an equally formal and politely disinterested one – was interrupted by the Enforcer coming around with a stack of books in his arms, saying, "Kir, if you keep acting like this the entire time we're in Sunhame, you're going to hate this city all the more."

The twist on the word acting, the glance they exchanged, spoke to an undercurrent of communication that Seras and Colbern were missing. The fact that such a communication was even possible spoke volumes as to their actual relationship with one another. He fairly itched to get his hands on some of the old histories and examine the tales of Enforcers; maybe he'd even manage to unearth those rare journals again, being hidden in the stacks as they were.

The impact of that unspoken message was clear to see, their new leader losing some of his tension and allowing a wry smile to cross his face as he nodded towards his Enforcer, before turning to them and waving his hand to the seats across from him, "Join me, if you would. I will not keep you if you simply want to obtain your text and leave, but if you are truly disinclined to rest, I could use some information. My times in these stacks were far too long ago."

By the time they settled in the seats indicated, the Enforcer was leaning against the back of Dinesh's chair, to all appearances just peering over his shoulder at the book he was examining. Seras, however, while not as knowledgable about physical violence as Colbern, could see very clearly what would happen if either of them tried to eliminate their Order's new leader.

And that was without taking into account the fact the last person blocking the way of Solaris' regime changes had been struck by lightning.

He doubted either of them truly anticipated an attack here, but to act as if they did was entirely understandable and even a commendable example of caution.

"As far as the Charter goes," Dinesh was saying, still skimming his book and glancing up only occasionally, "I was honestly planning to simply find the oldest recorded version and start with it, working our way forward as things came up again. With a basic code to abide by, we can start dealing with more complex cases as they come – assuming, of course, that everyone is willing to abide by that basic code and the logical extensions of it."

"Do you two anticipate any problems with that?" the Enforcer asked – Bellamy, he recalled. A strange name, though Anur was normal enough, he supposed.

"With people following the reforms?" Colbern asked cautiously, glancing between the two. He apparently didn't quite know how to deal with the Enforcer, and Seras was fairly certain it had entirely to do with his unfamiliarity with exactly where an Enforcer stood on a ranking scale. He honestly didn't know if Colbern's proclivity for protocol predated his involvement with the Sunsguard, but he would guess that at least some of that preference for rigid ranks had prompted his request for a chaplain posting.

"Anur speaks for me," Dinesh said absently, gloved finger tracing a line of fading ink, "If you were to be truly technical, as I am Incediary he stands at a similar rank to Jaina."

Interesting that he had answered Colbern's confusion, rather than the question itself, at least at first.

"As for the actual question," he continued with a wry smile, "The one we're most concerned about is the announcement of the witch-powered's innocence. The Firestarting Order and the priesthood as a whole derived a lot of power from that practice – is there anyone you suspect may find it hard to remember the new ruling? If we are to be sent out, I can't afford to send someone out that may very well try to fall back on old habits. It will just end in deaths."

He was careful to step around the issue of just who would be dying, but none of them had any doubt that it wouldn't be the witch-powered.

"I don't – " Colbern paused, lips narrowing and he continued frankly, "I can't make any assessment like that. It's too – the issue is too new. If I were to give you names now, what would your response be?"

"I'd pay a bit more attention to their reactions as we discuss our Order's future, maybe spend a bit more time ensuring that they were heard, any questions they had answered," Dinesh replied, finally looking up from his book and turning the whole of his attention to them. As much as Seras felt his own age, knew Colbern was feeling his years, something in this new Incendiary's gaze made him feel a bare stripling again.

There was an old ache there, an old guilt. Any doubt he may have held about Dinesh's claim to have near always doubted the witch-powers' condemnation died at the healed-over and scarred guilt-stricken grief he could find there.

"We're too few for immediate eliminations to be feasible," the younger man said tiredly, holding his hands out in an expansive gesture, "There are eleven of us, with, what, a bare few acolytes and Rodri? None ready to serve before another year is out, otherwise they would have been promoted by now. And we're going to be dealing with a witach fueled war, along with our own internal messes? If I know who may view Solaris with suspicion, may not agree with her reforms – I can hammer it down their throats along with the consequences for making those doubts public before sending them to deal with Ancar. I wouldn't want to put someone with extensive doubts or even full on disdain within reach of those they can no longer call prey."

"You think it is coming that soon?" Colbern asked.

"I hope not," Dinesh sighed, slumping slightly, "I genuinely hope not, but we can't count on that. We need Firestarters at the border by the spring equinox; they may not be needed for another year but at the least they need to be there. Just in case."

"It will also get them out of reach of any troubles," the Enforcer spoke up, gaze sympathetic as he looked up from his Firestarter, "You already know you'll be targeted by those who are bitter at what the priesthood has done – giving you a duty out where it's known you're in danger – not how much danger, just danger – against an enemy no one can claim is innocent, is in some way under Solaris' new decrees – that will give you a measure of safety. Of usefulness that may at the very least give some of those that would bother you pause."

"And will give those of us who may tend towards the self-immolation path something to focus on," Seras pointed out, grimacing because he knew there were some who were already wavering towards that path. These, though, he felt no compunctions about naming.

"Jaina," he sighed, continuing, "Jaina is one of those who is leaning that direction. She always took the burnings within the District hard, very hard – she viewed it as a necessary duty, an honor, but never liked it – and to know it was all unnecessary? No, she is – she is not taking it well. Henrik and Tristan watched a dorm-mate burn when they were initiates, but that was well before they even came to the attention of the Firestarting Order so I'm not sure that they'll be so attached to that memory. Laskaris and Fabron are the other two I'd watch for that, if only because Laskaris is so bloody quiet that half the time I forget he's there. Fabron is new, no burnings, but… he's a very dramatic person, and very young."

"Young enough that his entire existence was defined by the priesthood, and it's been shaken severely," the Incendiary understood what he was getting at and grimaced, "He'll either recover easiest or lose the way entirely. Fantastic."

:I cannot speak for their states of mind, not entirely, but for now we will need to focus on keeping them busy,: Kari appeared in a flash of flame and Seras was interested to note (after his heart-rate slowed down) that neither Dinesh nor Bellamy flinched at the mental voice – or at the flames so close to their pile of precious books!

"Keeping them busy will only work for so long," Dinesh retorted, clearly speaking from experience, "I would prefer to give them tasks to focus on that keep us somewhat isolated for a few days, at least until they are a little steadier – it will also allow them to counsel one another, I won't be trusted enough to serve as confidant for all, if any, of them."

The Cat gave a rolling sort of shrug, :You have more experience than I with that sort of thing. But in the meantime, I've obtained the compendium of the Charters – it was in the main library.:

A tap of his paw on the table and a leather-bound tome, clearly old, appeared in a curl of fire. Seras flinched – the paper! – but the Enforcer's reaction went the other way, a gleam of excitement appearing in his eyes as he said, "Kir - !"

"No, Anur, I can't do that," the Incendiary cut him off, rolling his eyes even as he picked up the book with a nod of thanks to Kari.

"But - !"

"Just because it involves fire doesn't mean I can do it," Dinesh snorted, running his fingers across the text's bindings before opening it to the first pages. If Seras remembered right, the first pages were a recounting of Ari's story, mentioning that it had first been an oral tale, recorded at long last some centuries after its occurrence. Then there was a brief explanation of the Order as it stood when the Charter text was started, before a copy of the first written Charter was finally put in – one side containing the original ancient Karsite, the other containing old Karsite that, at the time of the writing, was the modern translation.

"That all seems simple enough," the Enforcer mused, now truly reading the pages over his Firestarter's head – apparently he could read archaic Karsite. Something else to be laid at their Incendiary's feet, Seras suspected.

"Yes, the first few were very simple, straightforward," Dinesh grimaced, "Then it somehow became policy to rewrite the Charter with each new Incendiary and they started growing until we get to today's."

He flipped to the back of the book and found the current Charter – of much greater length than their initial page or two. "The rewriting due to Jaina's promotion," he explained, holding the chunk of pages carefully, before he chuckled, "I don't think I've ever actually read that one."

"Why bother starting?" the Enforcer stared at the book askance, "If you're going to scrap it all anyway."

"The initial Charter didn't take into account a lot of things that we're going to face as a matter of course – it's going to work as a basis, but I'm going to have to go through this latest one just to see where we stand as far as changes to be made," the man sighed heavily, before eyeing the two of them and asking, "When this was rewritten, was there a full Conclave held on it, or was it more of a restating with different words due to custom?"

"The latter," Colbern grumbled, "Utter waste of time and paper if you ask me."

"It's going to be a lot to get through – and it might serve as a good way to go over the reforms and their implications in depth," their superior mused, looking up from his contemplation of the Charter compendium again and saying, "We'll be devoting at least a mark per day just to going through the Charter and redesigning it – the first Charter to start with, then we'll work on the latest one and paring it down."

"As a full group? And do you want the acolytes involved?"

"Acolytes and Rodri, both," Dinesh nodded, "They are the future of our Order, we can't very well leave them out. Were they bid for or did they display a preference?"

"Rodri was simply claimed," Colbern replied, Seras working through mental calculations as to how many days it would take to get through a reconstructed Charter if they stuck to the mark per day schedule. Depending on length of discussion, it could be a years' long process – they'd have to develop a rough guideline quickly for practicality purposes, a fully reworked and pared down Charter could wait.

Perhaps he could craft a text on that? Reconstructing their Order would be a book-worthy enterprise, and it would give him something to do that would be uniquely his – and give him plenty of opportunities to conduct research without riding around like a crazy young person to set real witches on fire.

"There are two acolytes at the moment, only recently taken from the initiates; one was bid for, the other works with Seras – mostly a scholar, to be honest," Colbern shrugged, "We have some of the older records, after all. I think that was the appeal for him."

"There is nothing wrong with having a Firestarter scholar," Seras said defensively, he had fought very hard to have Etrius brought in as a Firestarter and to be frank it had probably only been the fact that Jaina viewed him as something of an elder uncle that had gotten the boy in. He had very little talent or patience for flames, seeing them as distractions from his true work – preserving history and knowledge.

"Nothing wrong at all," the Incendiary agreed, interrupting what had promised to be a rehash of an argument he and Colbern had been having off and on for years now, "So long as he is willing to at least learn the basics necessary to qualify for Third Order trials."

"He knows that is necessary," Seras snapped, "And he is fully capable he simply doesn't see the need to rush things!"

His mind caught up with his mouth at that point and he paled, realizing who he'd snapped at only to be relieved at the younger mens' amused expressions. "I understand," Dinesh said, "To be perfectly frank, having someone fully devoted to preserving our archives sounds like a fantastic idea. There is knowledge here that I think people have forgotten – old stories previous regimes would rather no one know existed. Having someone to protect that would be invaluable."

"However, I will need to meet with both acolytes and Rodri to explain the new direction the Order is going to be going in, as it is possible they may no longer wish to be a part of the Order – and, as they have given no vows, it is more than possible for them to switch now," he continued seriously, focusing on Seras as he said, "I understand that your scholar acolyte will probably want to stay, but I will still want to speak with him, without you present."

"I understand," Seras said stiffly, and he did, truly, but that didn't mean he wasn't going to be somewhat offended by the whole issue for a while. It was too touchy a topic, and one that was easier for him to dwell on than the current matter of the witch-powered.

"Will there be trouble with asking Rodri?" Colbern raised an eyebrow, "You are the one who was involved in his awakening, after all."

"If you wish, you can sit in on the discussion and let me know if you think the matter needs to be pursued," the Incendiary allowed, but the implication that it wouldn't be necessary was clear. Colbern would still probably take him up on it – if only because Seras would pester him into it so he could keep an eye on Etrius.

"Will that be taken care of tomorrow as well?" Seras asked finally, "Also, is the Conclave concluded?"

"I am not going to enforce Conclave penalties, but I see no need to force people out into the District either," Dinesh replied with a shrug, "Personally I will not be remaining within the Hall at all times, but I see no need for anyone else to leave if they don't want to."

"Very well," Seras nodded, tiredness from the past few days finally catching up with him and not helped at all by the odd signals he was getting from their new leader. He needed space – space and time to think. "In that case, I will see you tomorrow, Your Incandescence, Lieutenant-Enforcer," he bowed slightly as he got to his feet before departing, Colbern echoing his farewells and following.

Before they exited the archives, they heard the Enforcer cackle, "Your Incandescence?"

"Oh shut up, Anur."

***===***pagebreak***===***

Kir rolled his eyes at Anur's laughter, the Enforcer draping himself over the back of his chair and wheezing helplessly. He was fully aware that the title, amongst others, was ridiculous, but that didn't mean Anur had to lose all composure over it!

A chuckle escaped his own lips though, so he didn't have much of a leg to stand on. Shaking his head ruefully he shut the Charter compendium after marking the page with one of his half-finished knotwork projects. Who knew that having a stash of those lurking in his pockets for moments when he didn't have anything to do would come in handy?

"Come on Anur, let's get this tour out of the way, I assume, Kari, since you are here, everyone is at least somewhat settled and if not sleeping, resting?" he spoke directly to the Cat and there was no need for Anur to relay a response – his nod was enough.

"Leave the books out?"

"Might as well," Kir sighed, removing the archivist's gloves he'd found, "We'll be coming back to go through them again soon enough."

Standing, he grabbed his robes and pulled them on, absentmindedly tucking them around his blades so he could access his long-knives without getting them snagged. A habit that yet again marked him as different from his fellow Firestarters, though in this, at least, he might be joined by other chaplains.

Not that he could be truly counted as one of them either. But he had Anur and the 62nd now, and that was more than enough.

"The Firestarter Hall is fairly simple in layout," Kir began, leading the way out the northern doors to the library – on the other side from the ones they'd entered through. "The front is the Hall itself, and is something of a gateway; traditionally speaking, non-Firestarters aren't allowed past that Hall without express invitation of a full Firestarter and preferably at least the knowledge and approval of the Incendiary. Not exactly enforced, but that's the tradition."

"When you say non-Firestarters, are you referring to full priests or all members of the Order? Like Enforcers and acolytes and such?" Anur asked, letting Kari pass into the hall first.

"The latter," Kir replied, shutting the door behind them and waving his hand towards the southern wall of the corridor they'd entered, occasional windows revealing the inner courtyard and garden. "Inner courtyard and garden – across the way is the kitchen we were in, you can see its windows right there. Mostly herbs and the like, a few decorative plants but not many. Basic meditation garden, with the clear area in the middle used for fire-based training, at least the beginning exercises."

"No water features?" Anur frowned, examining the garden before his expression cleared, "Never mind, I see the pump now. Right. And there's a second floor?"

"Correct – the front hall and the archives take up two stories in themselves, while the halls connecting them have two separate levels. The upper levels aren't accessible from the front hall, the stairs are in the middle of the connecting corridors – along the inner wall of the archives there's a narrow passage connecting to the two sides, but nothing like that along the front. It would block the windows."

"I'm assuming the second level has living quarters?" Anur raised an eyebrow, "Just guessing, understand."

"Good guess," Kir snorted, inclining his head towards the stairs and quickly ascending, Anur on his heels and Kari still tagging along behind, to all appearances looking around with just as much interest as Anur.

"The first level along the northern side contains storage rooms, a laundry, and a small lounge-office area meant for small group discussions or something along those lines – doubles as a classroom, when there's actually enough acolytes or initiates to justify it. We'll probably be there tomorrow to meet with the acolytes and Rodri. Along the southern side there's the kitchen, storage associated with that and a small chapel for when the full Hall isn't really necessary – meaning most of the time. Depending on demand, a few of the residences would be converted to storage or offices or things along those lines – at capacity, there's room for twenty-four of us – more if we doubled up in rooms."

"Wow," Anur blinked, "Has there ever been that many?"

"I don't think so," Kir smiled ruefully, "And when the Order was at its peak, it was a part-time position, so most of the Corps' members didn't actually live within the Hall. With eleven of us, we'll be rattling around for the most part – well, twelve, I suppose, counting you."

"So do the acolytes not live here then?" Anur asked, Kir counting doors back towards the archives until he hit the room he'd used during the cumulative few moons he'd actually lived within the Hall. He hesitated to open it – it may have been assigned since he'd last been here after all – but Anur spoke up again, saying, "Kari says it's unoccupied."

"Thank you," he said to both, opening the door and looking around with a bemused curiosity. It seemed much smaller now.

"And no," he continued, answering Anur's question, "There are acolyte dormitories, along with initiate dorms – they stay there. Depending on the response of the rest of the priesthood, that may change. It's not like we don't have the room here."

Anur gave an absent hum to indicate he'd been listening, already poking around the room and checking the furniture. Kir followed his example, idly wondering when the desk had been re-sanded and just why that scorch mark on the wall had never been taken care of. Small, pointless things really. Distractions, at best.

"Huh – private bathing room," Anur commented, opening the room's other door and Kir chuckled, "Not quite, another room on the other side has access – two rooms share one privy."

"Well then, I'll lay claim to that one and it'll basically boil down to the same thing," Anur replied cheerfully, shutting the door before pausing and looking over at Kir with an odd hesitance, "I mean – I could stay over there too, really…"

Kir shook his head, leaning against the desk and saying wryly, "At this point, I think separating would do more harm than good. I certainly wouldn't sleep soundly. Besides, why mess up two rooms when it's not necessary?"

It had become a habit, a soothing reminder of how things had changed, to wake up from nightmares, to jolt awake from some half-remembered horror, and just listen to his brother breathe. If occasionally he woke near the midnight hour to find Anur was no longer sprawled in sleep, but lay near motionless in some moody contemplation, then it simply meant that companionship flowed both ways. He didn't doubt that before this stay in Sunhame was through, they'd find they needed that sort of mute reassurance.

If he were being truly honest, he doubted he'd ever be able to truly rest without Anur at his side anymore. He'd spend the entire time fretting about what idiocy he was getting up to now.

They'd done it occasionally over these years, and the silence was always deafening.

Anur settled against the desk next to him and they stared at the far wall, shoulders pressed together. "So," Anur finally murmured, "Here we are. In Sunhame."

"Here we are," Kir echoed, exhaling slowly. It seemed much more permanent, more of a trap, now that there was a place for them to sleep. Ridiculous, perhaps, but there it was.

"Shall we get our bags from Solaris' rooms?"

"Yes, let's."


A/N: World-building - such fun! Hope the priesthood structure works for you, had a heck of a time figuring it out and trying to slot it in with ML's explanations. Thankfully, most of the references were lay-people until we hit Karal, and then the focus was more on post-Solaris structure and even then only briefly. Let me know either way, please!

Now more importantly, I've finally finished my survey of the anthology stories featuring Karse and have determined that the following stories are going to be/have already been treated as canon, full-stop:

"A Brand from the Burning" by Rosemary Edghill and Rebecca Fox, published in No True Way
"Vkandis' Own" by Ben Ohlander, published in Sword of Ice
"Sun in Glory" by Mercedes Lackey, published in Sun in Glory

The other stories concerning Karse within the anthologies are probably going to be treated as canon with the exception of Ohlander's "Strength and Honor" published in Crossroads (timeline troubles, things from the story will be recrafted so they work because idea is good/interesting, but clearly written before ML had a solid grasp on how Solaris came to power) (or knew previous Son of Sun's name – in that story, he's Laskaris)