June was lying in the air, basking in the sparse sunshine, and reflecting on the nature of religion.

  The 'lying in the air’ part was literal. She was practicing her skills and air-related spells. As she’d found, flying wasn’t that complicated, as long as it was more like hovering and you didn’t make any sudden movements. Or any movement, really.

  She’d bullied some servants into laying out spare mattresses below her, so it didn’t really matter if she fell. Worst case, she could always heal herself. Healing magic was still one field she was quite confident in. Because doing it in her room would have seemed kind of pointless and to enjoy the suddenly nice weather, for winter, she was outside. To keep from being laughed at, she wasn’t in the gardens, but instead hovering over the roof. This part of the palace had a rather flat roof, and it was nestled somewhat in between two different wings. Flying drones would still see her, and a few others, but it was better than nothing.

  It wasn’t really the right season for sunbathing, but the sun was finally visible after a week of nothing but dark clouds, snow and hail, and she was determined to enjoy it.

  Winter had arrived suddenly. They’d been preparing to move to the new capital, but the sudden cold snap and heavy snows had made it infeasible, according to a number of officials. Reluctantly, Regina had postponed the move to after winter, instead. June wasn’t sure how to feel about that. She would miss Cera — it had grown on her, after all — but she was also curious about the new city. And she understood that Regina wanted to make this change happen and settle in before the political situation got any worse.

  Today, June trawled through the surface minds of the people in the palace, then extended her range to look at people in the city. She was doing little more than get a vague temperature of their moods, but that was enough. She wanted to know if there was any change. The recent religious trouble, if you could call it that, might have left traces. And she could certainly see those. People appeared more uncertain and troubled, although she wasn’t sure if she might not just be projecting what she expected to find.

  Like many Cernlians, June had never been very religious. She found what she had heard from Regina and Galatea about the old world religion — well, religions — more compelling than what she’d learned before, if she was honest. Of course, occasionally visiting a temple and praying or giving a sacrifice was no hardship, but she didn’t really understand people who talked about the gods judging their actions. Wouldn’t every god judge them differently? Or maybe want you to act in a certain way, even if it wasn’t best for you?

  Apparently, there were at least some people in Cernlia who did believe that doing the will of the gods was the most important thing — and who believed those who said they knew what the gods wanted from them, she supposed. The incident where Regina had been accosted on the street had shown that. When June had heard about it, she’d honestly been a bit shocked. Not that she was very worried for her — the idea of her master falling to some stones and malcontents in the street seemed too ridiculous to credit — but because she hadn’t expected it. And it wasn’t the last incident, although it was the most concerning. There had been some insults hurled at drones, the occasional obstruction of patrols or officials, loud and obnoxious ceremonies performed in public before a temple, instead of inside, and even ‘questions’ and complaints about Kiara’s stance and why she wasn’t showing proper piety or similar. Or building temples like the Confederationists did.

  It was pretty harmless right now, if annoying, and easily dealt with individually. Still, June misliked the trend it showed. She hoped that things might calm down with the execution of the ringleader of the group who’d attacked Regina. As expected, the court had sentenced him to death for a list of crimes. While she knew the Empress was more conflicted about it than she seemed, June didn’t see why. She was just disappointed the others hadn’t gotten the noose, too. But they’d gotten off with lesser, if still harsh, punishments. Perhaps it was for the best, the government needed to demonstrate the capacity for mercy and reasoned reaction as well as strength.

  “June!” someone called, interrupting her musings.

  With a sigh, June turned. Unfortunately, she put a bit too much mana into it, and now wobbled in the air dangerously, the world swaying up and down around her. June instinctively spread her arms, which disrupted her spell a bit more, and she started falling. She tried to counter it, but again used a bit too much force. The air spell holding her up buckled, it felt like someone punched her left torso, and she spun around once while rising up a bit before she dropped again. June managed to bring her knees under her and bounced off the mattress once before unceremoniously falling forward. She managed to catch herself on her hands, then let herself fall down, breathing heavily.

  “June! Are you alright?”

  She rolled over, then climbed to her knees and stood up, righting her clothes. “I’m fine, Mother. Never better.”

  Florance Lyns, who had just come up so she was standing on the veranda below her, looked skeptical. She was all but wringing her hands. “Don’t scare me like that, June! Do you want to turn my hair entirely gray? Your health is still delicate, must you insist on being outside for hours in this weather, daughter? And then do foolhardy magic tricks?”

  June grimaced. She used another bit of mana for an air spell she had mastered much better, jumping to join her mother. Although she made sure to land a short distance away. “Don’t exaggerate, Mother. I was perfectly fine the whole time. And my health is fine. You might not have noticed, but I’m rather good at healing magic.”

  Florance visibly had to restrain the urge to say something cutting. Instead, after a second her face softened slightly. “I know you are much better, dear,” she said. “But a mother worries.”

  June shrugged. It was probably a testament to how they’d managed to improve their relationship that she didn’t say anything snide in reply, either. “I know,” she simply replied instead. “Was there a reason you came to find me, besides me being outside?” Which she hadn’t been doing for hours. At least not today.

  Florance frowned slightly. “Yes, two reasons, actually. For one, I was trying to see who would join us for the procession at the winter solstice in a few days. With recent events, it seemed prudent to showcase some piety.”

  June hesitated, and had to stop herself from scowling. “I wasn’t planning to. But out of curiosity, who else did you ask and who said they would go?”

  “Not many. Kiara will join, so will several of her most important courtiers and supporters like Lady Margaret. None of the drones liked to give me a straight answer. I asked your psychics, Lady Madris, Lady Galatea …”

  “Really? What did she say?” June asked, curious.

  “Lady Madris was unable to because of prior engagements, or so she said. Or if you mean Lady Galatea, her answer was a rather firm negative. When I tried to ask, out of curiosity, she only said something about other gods before, I think she might have been quoting something.”

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  “There shouldn’t have been ‘other gods’ before, what exactly did she say?”

  Her mother gave her a look. “If I recall, ’You shall have no other gods before me.’”

  June hummed, tapping her fingers together. “Interesting, that does sound like scripture, it sounds familiar. Galatea did say exclusive monotheism was firmly established before the Cataclysm. I take it Regina didn’t agree either?”

  “I haven’t asked her yet, but I suppose she’s not likely to agree, then?”

  “Probably not. She always said she wouldn’t worship any of the gods.”

  June wasn’t very clear on Regina’s religious feelings, but she suspected that was because Regina’s own feelings on the matter weren’t very clear. It made sense, since she had lost her entire personal history and anything she would have grown up with. Besides, firmly committing either way would risk betraying her previous self’s convictions, and June suspected Regina was subconsciously trying to avoid that. Which made staying in a vague, ‘agnostic’ mindset more attractive. That’s what Janis seemed to think, anyway, when they’d had a late-night talk in the garden a while ago.

  Still, the options for Regina — and Galatea, obviously — seemed to be either monotheism or believing no god existed, never worship of any of the existing ones. Regina had said once that they were nothing worth worshiping and she saw nothing worth worshiping them for. At the time, June had considered the mindset strange, but she was coming around to the idea.

  Florance sighed. “That can’t be helped, then. But you must be there, even if the Empress isn’t. Perhaps especially if she isn’t. It will show that the rulers of the Empire do not ignore the matter. I am still hoping Kiara can convince Princess Janis to join.”

  June made a face. “Must I?”

  “Yes. Do it for Kiara if you won’t do it for me, daughter. You have a duty to support your sister. Her rule may still be questioned and we cannot let that stand, reassuring the people is the least we can do. You are in a unique position and you must support the family, even if you would rather laze around and use magic.”

  June started walking, not waiting for her mother to fall into step with her, although she knew she must. “You used to tell me I had a duty to support my father and our family,” she noted quietly.

  Her mother stayed silent for a moment. “Be that as it may, it is no less true. Kiara is your queen, our queen.”

  Now June was starting to get slightly angry. “You speak as if I don’t know that, Mother. I have never given anyone cause to hurt or disrespect my sister. I will always, always be on Kiara’s side. How could I not?”

  Florance’s step faltered slightly. “Even if it would mean going against your mentor?” she asked quietly.

  June frowned. “Let’s hope it never comes to that. But I meant what I said. And Regina is aware, I’m sure. My first duty is to Kiara, as you like to remind me. And I have never wavered in my support.”

  She was the only one who had always been on her side, after all.

  “I see — is that why you declined the chance to join the Starlit Hive?” her mother asked, as if she was realizing something.

  June just gave her a look. Is she just thinking about that now? “Maybe. Regardless, I’m both Her Imperial Majesty’s apprentice and the crown princess of Cernlia. I’m aware of my status. And if it means that much to you, I’ll join the stupid ceremony. But I still need to find Christmas gifts for my friends.”

  Her mother clearly decided to take her wins where she could get them and didn’t keep nagging her. Instead, they parted ways, and Janis returned to her rooms to get ready to go out. She wasn’t lying about the gifts, although she’d already commissioned most of them.

  In the end, Janis didn’t join them either, although June wasn’t quite sure why. Maybe she thought Regina would disapprove. It ended up being a procession of mostly Cernlian notables. The conversation with her mother in the back of her mind, June found herself thinking about Kiara and her own position and didn’t pay too much attention to the details of the ceremony, just smiling at the crowds.

  The winter procession was a very Cernlian ceremony, although it wasn’t usually celebrated as much as this. June suspected they’d made an extra point of it this year, because of the situation. It was cold, but the streets had been cleared of snow and it didn’t snow or hail just now, so at least she wasn’t wet as they walked. Her mother hovered a bit too close to her, probably still concerned about her health. June didn’t care about that, though, and instead she looked at the other people. This ceremony was in principle for all the gods, which already made it unusual, but it meant there were quite a few temples represented.

  For some reason, the local high priests of Deirianon and Alianais were never at the same position or within a few paces of each other. Funny how that worked.

  Still, June didn’t pay it much attention, at least until the current high priest of Alianais slowed his steps until he drew even with her. She raised her head, glancing around. They were in the longest stretch of the procession right now and people moving around wasn’t unusual. Their conversation would also be isolated from the spectators since they were still relatively deep inside the group.

  “A blessed evening to you, Your Highness,” he greeted.

  “I’m sure it is,” June responded. After all, that was what they were here for, right? “Shouldn’t you be leading the procession?”

  “My colleagues can certainly handle themselves for a while. Though I will let you walk in silent contemplation if you prefer?”

  “No, that’s fine,” June said as expected. “I was not complaining, merely asking.”

  “Of course. We have not had the opportunity to speak previously, unfortunately.”

  “Yes, I’m not much for visiting the temples.”

  He blinked, apparently a bit taken aback at her blunt admission. “You are always welcome in my temple, my Princess, although of course I wouldn’t presume to dictate your actions.”

  “Good, thank you.”

  “While you may not pray at the temples much, it has not escaped our notice that you act with valor and virtue, Princess June. Especially speaking for my own temple. You seem a dedicated follower of my goddess’ creed, for which I can only commend you. I know you will bring much progress to the Empire.”

  June smiled slightly. “Why, thank you. I do as my master instructs and my sister requires.” She paused for a moment. “Not that I don’t appreciate your words, but we are in the middle of a ceremony, so I’d think both of us would prefer to dispense with pointless words? Given that, what is it that you want, High Priest?”

  He took that question in stride. “As you say. You might know that Her Imperial Majesty has visited the temple several times in recent weeks. As such, I had the opportunity to talk to her. I emphasized the threat posed by certain other elements, the discontent they are sowing, guiding people from the true path onto a hypocritical path to conflict.”

  “I think I know what you mean,” she acknowledged.

  “There would be much less such temptation, much less agitation, if they were simply forbidden and thus unable to do so.”

  June frowned slightly. “There are laws against inciting people to violence,” she noted. “I take it you mean to increase them?”

  “I was thinking of something a little bigger in scope, Your Highness.”

  June almost stopped walking. “You want to forbid Deirianon’s temple in the Empire?”

  The priest inclined his head. “It would certainly lead to an increase in safety and stability in the country.”

  At least it would lead to a bit of a vacuum you could fill, June thought. And I’m not sure about that part. “It could cause riots instead,” she said after a moment. “And certain foreign powers would be incensed.”

  “Riots could be weathered, unlikely as they are. And forgive me, but aren’t certain nations already hostile to the Empire?”

  June chewed on her lip for a moment. Maybe he had a point. “I take it you suggested this to Empress Regina?”

  “Yes. She did not agree, although she did not dismiss the idea, either. But if you were to prevail on her …”

  June shook her head after a moment. “I’ll think on it. It’s certainly an idea worth considering.” She paused, looking behind them. “For now, I think it’s best you intervene there, High Priest.”

  If she didn’t miss her guess, it seemed like several of the younger priests had gotten into a fight. As June watched, carefully getting a sense of their minds from a distance, the heated argument devolved into fists.

  The high priest bit off a curse, gave her a quick bow and strode to the back of the procession to separate them. He was beaten there by Deirianon’s chief priestess, who none too gently shoved them apart. Raised voices floated over after that.

  June had to swallow down a laugh as she listened. At lest this procession wouldn’t be entirely boring.

  Galatea: … Unfortunately this is against my religion, terribly sorry

  June: Wow, I guess she really takes that (strange and cool) ‘exclusive monotheism’ thing seriously