Other girls of her age might have said the chimes echoing off the walls sounded like faeries, but to Kendall the sweet music sounded like celestial beings singing their praise to lord Darou. She closed her eyes briefly to listen to the last roundelay, picturing the heavenly messengers standing around the walls of the inner sanctuary singing to the god that they surely could see. As the music stopped, she opened her eyes and focused on the back of the initiate in front of her.

They were waiting to enter the inner sanctuary of the temple of Darou. Inside sat all the members of the temple who had already passed their own initiation ceremony from all the previous years. Kendall knew that as she entered the room not only would the eyes of those loyal followers be trained on the six new initiates, but so would the eyes of the high priestess and high priest, and through them the god Darou.

The short line of girls was led into the inner sanctuary. Kendall kept her focus on the girl in front of her, resisting the temptation to stare at the ornate decoration she noticed from the corner of her eye. Being the youngest initiate, Kendall was at the end of the line.

Most of the other girls in the line were between ten and twelve years old, the normal age for such an initiation to take place. The eldest was fifteen. Kendall was six, the youngest initiate ever in the temple of Darou.

There had been some concern whether she was old enough to understand the commitment being asked of her, and more than a few brothers of the temple questioned the wisdom of honoring her request, but the high priestess had stepped in on her behalf. Since she had arrived at the temple, which was as far back as her memories went, Kendall knew that she wanted to be a part of the loyal followers of Darou. She was not content to simple live and serve in the temple, but even at that young age, she was no more than three, she started learning what it was that made these followers who dedicated their lives to their god so special. Every ritual they performed, she snuck in to watch, until one of the brothers told her that only sanctioned followers could attend them. She had never be caught, but was so afraid that her action would cause her to be ineligible for becoming an initiate, that she immediately confessed, and begged to know what she could do to atone for her actions.

Since then she followed all the practices true sanctioned followers did, though it was not required of those simply living and serving in the temple. Her actions caught the attention of the high priestess, as did her request to become ingrained in the temple. The priestess had pulled Kendall aside and after a lengthy interview determined her desire was sincere. "It could be that Darou has great plans for you," she said, and granted her permission to be initiated.

The high priestess now stood at the top of the stairs, and called forth before those present, and before Darou, the names of the initiates. "These loyal followers now offer up their name to the gracious lord Darou, who will hold it dear to his heart. Let no one outside Darou's home utter these names henceforth: Janelle, Mia, Rachelle, Leighton, Tamara, Kendall."

As their names were called, each initiate turned to face the high priestess, their toes brushing the first step. Next a row of followers, the boys who had been raised into the rank of the brotherhood in the ceremony prior to this, brought forth shallow basins of water, and set them on low pedestals in two steps up from each initiate.

"Let now each young woman who is ready to dedicate her life to the service of lord Darou step forward to the reflection pools." Tamara, the girl next to Kendall, climbed to the next step as quickly as she could. The other girls ascended, a step behind. Kendall held back for a moment. She had waited for three years to be here, on these stairs, but she wanted to make sure that Darou wanted her. The moment seemed to drag on, and Kendall though she could hear murmuring from those gathered. She breathed in, and out, and then heard her name, softly, like the echo of a chime. At that moment she knew she was wanted, and climbed the step.

At the instruction of the high priestess, each girl gazed into the water and their own image, to reflect on this moment. It was a this time each girl also looked into themselves and reflected on how life as a servant of Darou would be. "When you are certain you are equal to this task, and your self-reflection is finished, remove your reflection from the water, and wash clean your vanity, for you are made by lord Darou, and it toward him you should look for further reflection."

This time Kendall was the first initiate to make her dedication clear. She gazed but momentarily in the water, seeing her own reflection for the first time in two years. Again she could feel her name being called, and she scooped her hand through the water, distilling her face into the ripples. She wiped her face with the water, and looked at the high priestess. The young brothers who had carried out her reflection bowl quietly took it away. When all the girls had finished their reflections, the high priestess asked them to ascend another step.

"Initiates, each step you take brings you closer to service with lord Darou. Unless you are called to a greater purpose by our god, this service will take place in his temple. Darou would not have his servants threatened by the outside world, and thus your identify is secret. You have already given your names to our lord, and it is for use only in the temple. So too will Darou hold your face."

The high priestess beckoned Janelle to ascend another step. As she did so, the young brothers pulled her hood up and over her head so it cloaked her face in shadows. "Only those followers of Darou who ascend to his high favor will see your face henceforth. Look not to yourself in times of trouble, but to Darou." The high priestess beckoned each of the initiates forward, and performed the same ritual. The hooded robe was a big on Kendall, and when the hood was lowered, she could not see anything above her knee level. Her heart was pounding, but she was strangely calm. Just one more step and she would be in full service of her god, Darou, whose temple had taken her in and shown her kindness and love. She could hardly wait to return that love in service to the god.

"The final thing you offer to lord Darou today is your voice. Once in service of Darou, the brothers and High Priestess and High Priest become your voice in all things, even prayers to our god. Step forth now and vow your service to our lord with your last words."

Each of the initiates ascended the final step. As one they kneeled, and their vow was in unison. "To lord Darou, I pledge myself, and will do his will" Kendall's voice was strong, though she had not used since she had learned followers accepted a vow of silence. As she finished her own vow, making her servitude to her god official, the chimes started to ring again. In the echoes she could hear her name, and felt like she was finally welcomed home.