As such you are to receive an honour.’

For the briefest moment Kaira felt her heart leap. This was a mission, perhaps an opportunity for them both to leave the city and act in defence of the country.

‘Word has reached us from the Temple of Winter in Ironhold. The High Abbot is making his way to Steelhaven to visit us and attend the Feast of Arlor at the royal palace. He will require a bodyguard while he is here – the finest warriors we have to offer.’

As quickly as it had soared, Kaira’s heart sank. Though guarding the High Abbot was a great honour, fighting at the front with the armies of the Free States was all she had ever trained for. She wanted to protest, but knew the decision had been made. Nothing she could say would change it. Samina, however, was not above complaining.

‘Surely the High Abbot has his own guard of honour, the Sons of Malleus?’ she said, her voice doing nothing to mask her disappointment. ‘Why does he need us? We have duties within the temple. Our recruits are at a crucial stage of their training.’

‘Your students will still be waiting once this duty has been fulfilled. It is unlikely the High Abbot will be staying long.’

‘But surely the Exarch would rather we concentrated on our training than guarding visitors?’

If the Matron Mother was shocked by Samina’s petulant question she didn’t show it. ‘The Exarch agrees with me, that the High Abbot must be protected by our best. It is a great honour, one you should both relish.’

‘We shall, Matron Mother,’ Kaira said, before Samina could say anything further. The Matron Mother’s placid mood could change without warning, and the last thing Kaira needed was Samina landing them in trouble.

The Matron Mother smiled. ‘I realise this must come as something of a disappointment to you both. Menial duties within the Temple are beneath the pair of you. You want nothing more than to head north with our armies, that much is clear, and so you should. You are warriors born. To fight in defence of your nation and religion is what you were raised for.’

‘We live to serve,’ Kaira answered, though she agreed with everything the Matron Mother said.

‘I know you do. And we are grateful. It is how I know I can trust you with this duty. And fear not – when it is fulfilled there will be more for you to do. Things more suited to your skills. If King Cael’s army cannot stem the flood from the north you may well be called upon to aid his forces.’

‘We only wish to fight in defence of the Free States,’ Samina said. ‘To do what we were trained for.’

The Matron Mother nodded wryly. ‘You should be careful what you wish for, Shieldmaiden. The High Abbot will be here within three days. I expect you to be ready and waiting for his every command.’

‘We shall, Matron Mother,’ Kaira said. She bowed, as did Samina.

‘Very good,’ the Matron Mother replied, before turning back to her parchments. The Shieldmaidens took this as their signal to leave.

As the two warriors retraced their steps through the corridors of the temple it was clear the Coldeye could keep her peace no longer.

‘Guard duty?’ she said furiously, scattering a group of Arlor’s Daughters who had been unlucky enough to cross her path.