Corrupting a Daughter of Light

Author notes:

First off, thank you for reading this story. I'll make this quick, as I know many of us are busy and even more of us are horney. This story is broken up into three chapters. I recommend chapter one for people who want the whole experience and can afford the time. Chapter two is for those who want some action with their erotica. If you fit my previous description of busy and horney, skip to chapter three. That's where you'll find what you're looking for. This story has series potential, so if you want more, engagement helps me to stay motivated. I'm a sucker for compliments and constructive feedback. If there are any mistakes you see in the text, I would also be happy to correct them with an update. Enjoy!

Corrupting a daughter of light

Chapter one

First Rights

In the distance, I heard a roster crow, heralding Mara's light as it crested over the horizon. Though dawn's first light was only now starting to spread over Haven, exhaustion washed over me in a wave. I hadn't slept the night before. How could I, knowing that the morning brought with it my twentieth birthday, the day I would be asked to act in the stead of my queen and high priestess.

Already dressed, I stood up from my humble cot and strode to the mirror. A small part of me hoped that seeing my reflection would assure me that the time had truly come. That I was ready. That I would be able to fill my role as a Daughter of Light. It was my duty to bring safety and prosperity to Haven.

I was to begin my first journey as one of the daughters that day, a task that had been assigned to me by the High priestess just the week before. I knew it was going to be dangerous. I had not been deaf to the reports that had come in these past few months as many of the younger sisters had been. Orc, Goblins, and Ogres had begun attacking travelers throughout Haven more frequently than normal. There was some rumbling that their movements were organized, but all the senior sisters dismissed it. Beasts like those hadn't the cunning nor the willpower for such things.

More than likely, it meant that they had had a particularly voracious breeding season, but that was by no means any reason to downplay the danger that came from taking to the Queen's road these days. I just had to trust that my Miracles would protect me. After all, I was now getting to the point where they came almost every time I called. Last week's combat training had just been a fluke. I had lost my cool and had panicked. That was all.

Quickly banishing the memory of that less-than-ideal training session, I focused on my reflection as it stared back at me and my otherwise austere room. Sleepy sun beams shone off the mirror in a shimmering, refracted rainbow, casting an iridescent glow onto the holy robe of Mara I wore.

As I stared at my reflection, I couldn't help but think that the term robe might have been a slight misnomer. The soft, white cloth clung to me like a cobra everywhere it touched my skin, showing off far more of the toned physic that my two years of training had caved into me, as well as the few curves no amount of training could ever take away.

The part of the robe covering my torso was far more open than the term robe would imply. My torso was covered by a tunic that was slit open at the sides, its front and back similarly altered so that they were shaped into triangles, Mara's holy sign. Though the tunic was zealously embroidered in golden thread to form Mara's watchful eye, the tunic itself, despite its holy imagery, left me more exposed than I had hoped. From the sides, my humble priestess wraps were clearly visible.

That might have been fine if it weren't for the fact that not even tucking the tips of the two triangles that covered my front and back did not stop them from whipping away from me whenever I moved too freely.

Supposedly, this was meant to keep me from being impeded should my hand-to-hand training ever be needed, but it was far from the most modest garb I had ever worn.

Making it worse was how my tights clung to me like a second skin. Though my ankles were adorned with glittering bands of gold to match the ones I wore on my wrists, symbols of my holy status, I worried they would not draw everyone's eyes away from the curve of my waist. Despite my best efforts, my training had not lessened that particular mark of womanhood since I had accepted the High Priestess's call and joined the Daughters.

"It will be fine," I told my reflection, "You're one of the Daughters. No man would dare to ignore that holy calling, lest he risk the wrath of Mara herself."

"Perhaps no man," A voice behind me said, causing me to jump, "But a fellow Daughter can't help but admire how dashing her mentee looks when adorned with holy raiment."

Though my heart felt like it had leaped into my throat, its erratic pounding couldn't keep the smile from my lips. "Dani!" I exclaimed, rushing to my mentor's side and embracing her eagerly. My enthusiastic greeting was met with an equally ecstatic hug. It was good to see her again. She had been gone from the monastery for a month. When she had first left, I had worried she would not be back in time to see me appointed as a full daughter. This past week, as I had started to fear for what my own assignment would bring, I had also begun to worry for her for other reasons. Word from outside the monastery seemed to grow darker with each raven that carried word from around Haven.

"It's good to see you too, Luna, my seedling" Dani said, the timber of her voice calming me. Since leaving my family two years before, Dani had become the closest thing I had to a family in the monastery. Though my parents continued to write to me, their letters grew less and less frequent the longer I had been away. It was Dani alone who had kept the sting of change at bay.

Pulling away from me, she shot me a wry smile as she said, "I have a surprise for you, Future Daughter."

"Brought something back from your travels for me," I said, peeking at her hands to see if she had something hidden in them.

Occasionally, when Dani had left on other missions, she had come back with gifts of scrolls and books. Usually, they were religious texts or Miracle instructions, but the last one had been a romance story that I had read thrice through already. The small collection of works she had given me sat beneath my cot like a meager treasure trove, though to me there was nothing meager about it

"Better, seedling," She said, an impish grin spreading across her face in earnest, "Guess again."

"You're finally going to tell me about the passionate nights you spent with your old flame before you accepted the High Priestess's call?" I asked, hoping to catch her off guard and finally spill her secrets to me.

"How many times must I tell you that we are not to discuss our worldly desires prior to heeding the call, especially when they were sinful?" Dani asked, rolling her eyes.

"How many times are you going to refuse to answer?" I countered.

She ran a hand through my golden hair affectionately, laughing at herself when one of her fingers got stuck as it wandered down to where I had formed a braid. It was a change on my part that I am sure Dani was not expecting. She was surely used to how I wore my hair down, leaving it free for the wind to dance through.

"Silly girl. Fine, Luna, I'll come right out and say it. I got permission from our Monasteries Blessed Mother to bless you with your First Rights."

I couldn't help myself. I let out a small squeal of excitement. I had looked up to Dani practically from the day I had come to the monastery as an initiate, and that bond had only grown deeper since. For the better part of a year, I had held a quiet hope in my heart that she would be allowed to bless me with my First Rights. It wasn't often that someone other than the Blessed Mother of a monastery welcomed a Future daughter as a full-fledged daughter, but exceptions were occasionally made for certain mentors and mentees.

"That's amazing, Dani!" I said, my eyes starting to water at the thought of this dream come true.

"I thought you'd be glad," She said with a gentle smile.

Though she seemed to be happy, I couldn't help but notice there seemed to be something else in her voice as she said it. Fatigue perhaps?

"Dani, are you well?" I asked hesitantly.

"Yes," Dani replied, her response automatic.

"Truly?"

"Yes," Dani replied, this time more earnestly. She let out a lengthy sigh as she said, "It's merely been a long journey." Concern must have still clearly been etched into my face, because she gave me a bright smile as she said, "Don't worry yourself on my account. Finish making yourself ready, Luna. The Blessed Mother told me that you are to be on the road before morning meal."

"So soon?" I asked, panic returning to me like a buzzing fly.

"Yes, seedling," Dani said, her voice managing to still some of that panic yet again, "You have an important duty, do you not? Are you not the one that was entrusted to act as an envoy to Ranthe in the farm town's time of need after that horde of goblins raided their food stores? Can you really afford to delay?"

"Of course not, dear Future Sister. I shall make myself ready at once."

"That is well. Your travel companion has been curious to meet you. A relatively new holy knight to our glorious High Priestess and Queen." She leaned in ever so slightly and whispered conspiratorially, "Between you and me, he's a bit of a looker."

"Dani!" I said with a gasp that was equal parts aghast and gleeful, "We aren't to be tethered to the things of this world. Shouldn't you be setting a better example for your pupil?"

"I never said to become attached," Dani said defensively, "I merely said he was good-looking. I have not read any doctrine that suggests that merely looking at the world around us creates attachments deep enough to keep us from following Mara's chosen path."

As it turned out, Dani had not been wrong about the young holy knight. Though his given name was Tashek, it might as well have been dashing, for that was the only word that came to mind when I caught myself looking his way. His skin was sun-kissed to the point of being bronze. His hair was dark and cast a shadow over otherwise cool blue eyes. Though his plated armor hid it well, I could tell that his body was bulging with the kind of muscle that comes from hours of training with sword and spear, both of which he wore fastened to him with a board shield completing his arsenal. From the minute I saw him, I knew I could trust my life in his hands. I just wished that he hadn't made it so hard for me to pay attention to Dani as she blessed me with my First Rights.

"...And so, under the dawn of Mara's light, we bless this daughter as she accepts the role of Daughter and Priest to the goddess of light. May her service to Mara and the High Priestess and Queen bring continued peace and prosperity to our glorious Haven. Let her work miracles and bring joy in the safety of Mara's love."

Even as Dani spoke, I stole yet another look over at Tashek. This time, the knight met my eye. For a split second, neither of us seemed to be able to see anything outside of the other. Then the spell that was cast between us was broken by a sudden and unexpected guesser. The young knight, with a role and status equal to the one I was entering, shot me the slightest wink, right in the middle of my First Rights. I felt a small shiver run up my spine and immediately turned back toward my mentor, refusing to look back at the handsome knight as Dani continued her blessing. I tried my best to focus on what Dani said next, which was made particularly difficult because of the burning sensation I now felt in my cheeks. Already, I could tell that this was going to be an envoy mission I would not soon forget.

It was at this moment that Dani cleared her throat. Whether it was from a particularly dry throat or because she had noticed the small exchange that had occurred before her, I couldn't tell. All I could do was feign innocence as she said, "May her fellow sisters and all who she deals will aid her in her pursuit to bring renewed light to this world. To this end is this blessing given. Anew to light."

With that, Dani raised her hands over her head before bowing her neck in the light of the morning sun, Finishing the prayer, she raised her head once more before stooping to pick up the two tools each new Daughter was given after being read her First Rights, a golden scepter blessed by the Blessed Mother herself and a golden dagger meant to protect when all other defenses had failed. Dani handed both to me, hugging me one last time. When she pulled away, there were tears of pride streaking her face. Her voice broke as she said, "Go, brave daughter. Bring light and love to the people of Ranthe. May these gifts serve to aid in your Miracle work and your defense should you need."

She then hugged me once more, her voice shaking even harder as she whispered, "Above all else, come back to me save, seedling. You are incredibly talented and capable of so much. Promise me your safe return, that I will see your shining face once more. Only then will I trust your safety, Luna."

"I promise you, sister," I said, pride flooding me now that I was able to finally greet her as an equal, "I will work Miracles among the people of Ranthe, then I shall return to be reunited with you once more. You have nothing to fear."

Dani broke away and turned her back, emotions clearly getting the better of her now. "Go, my dear sister. May Mara watch over you. We will meet again soon." With that, she departed, leaving me alone with Tashek who came over to offer me a rather reserved congratulations before going to get our wagon ready. Though he had been completely professional in his words, his eyes had held a different story as he had spoken to me. There was a fire in the otherwise cool blue of his irises. Perhaps Dani had been wrong about sight giving rise to worldly attachments.

Chapter two

The Queen's Road

Over the next three days, I was fortunate enough to steal several conversations with the holy knight as we made our way on the Queen's road to Ranthe. With nothing but the two of us, Tashek's trusty horse LightSoul, and the empty road, there was little to stop the two of us from testing the quiet tension between us other than my own bashfulness. Despite the unspoken connection I felt to the knight, I did not want to break the trust of Dani or any of my other newfound sisters. I had been given a station above the worldly pursuits, even the more noble ones such as love. I would hate to break the trust of my sisters and lose my new position in the church of Mara so soon after my First Rights, even for a man as worthy of love as Tashek.

Still, the few times I dared to engage the man in conversation, I found more and more to admire. Born a second son to a smith in a distant village, he had dreamed of serving the Queen and High Priestess his whole life. He had trained hard and apprenticed under his local Blessed Mother in addition to helping out his father just for the chance of seeking out a momentary that would take him on his eighteenth birthday.

Even as he told me this, I couldn't think that his motives had been more pure than my own. My family had endured a hard winter the year of my eighteen birthday, and my family knew they would not survive the winter with our harvest. Everyone knew that the Queen and High Priestess gave a Fifty trelling offering to the family of anyone who offered their lives to Mara's church. My family knew the money would be just what they needed to get by until spring. Though it pained them, they knew there was only one child they could send. My older sister was already married, and thus ineligible. They needed my two brothers to work the farm, knowing they were strong enough to work the fields.

Then there was me, an unmarried woman who had already been told by our local Blessed Mother that I had the gift to work Miracles and had been encouraged to join a monastery when I came of age. They saw this as a sign that Mara wanted me more than they needed me. That hadn't stopped me from holding their decision against them for years. I had not gone to the monastery willingly. It was only after two years of being away from them that I was finally starting to forgive the hurt they had caused me that winter, and even then, it often flared whenever they had gone too long without a letter. Reliving these memories had kept me from asking Tashek any other questions our first day on the road.

In the days that followed, however, Tashek had regaled me with some of his stories after joining the monastery. I had returned in kind when I thought it appropriate. I never asked him about anything before his life at the monastery apart from what had led him there, and he never broached the topic with me either. Despite the quiet tension that always seemed to make up the undertone of our scattered conversations, I got the sense that both of us recognized the tenuous positions our roles placed us in. As a result, we were careful to avoid crossing lines that many members of the church of Mara would see as morale-ambiguous at best.

Still, I noticed that didn't stop Tashek from showing off where he could without feeling like he was recounting these details solely to impress me. He made it no secret that he was among the best fighters of the newly accepted holy knights and recounted how he had handily beaten many of his peers. Though he would always say he told me these stories to assure me he would keep me safe on the road, I also saw how he always watched me with those deep blue eyes, looking for my reactions with each word. It was as if he were searching for some sign that I saw him as more than just a boy who had become a holy knight, and more than the plate he now adorned because of that fateful decision.

He was also quite eager to tell me of some of the missions he had helped to escort. I was particularly fascinated when he let slip that he had accompanied Dani for his first mission six months ago, the only other time she had been absent during my two years of training. It had been a very brief assignment, one that had only lasted five days total, but it had not been without its excitement. The pair had been held up by a highwayman when they were returning from delivering a shipment of lumber to a town that had suffered from a termite infestation.

"What did you two do when he held you up?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me, "Did you try to outrun him with LightSoul?"

Tashek blanched at this before sheepishly admitting, "That wouldn't have been possible for two reasons. First, LightSoul and I were not mount and rider back then. Second, the horse I had trusted as my steed at the time had had its throat torn apart by the thief's axe."

"That's horrible! I'm sorry! I had no idea."

"Not your fault," Tashek said, though his face looked pained all the same, "That's what desperation does to even the best men. I am not one to judge another without knowing another man's life. For all I know, this rogue only tried what he did because of hungry mouths at home, or perhaps even his own growling belly."

"But surely you couldn't just let him steal from you. Anything he would be taking would be stolen from the church and from all those the church supports."

"You're right, noble priestess, neither I nor your mentor could allow the ruffian to take whatever he demanded, regardless of his reasons. Particularly not when he came offering nothing but violence. I was quick to dismount from the wagon, and eagerly met the man head-on, testing his defenses with my spear. The man was somewhat skilled, but it wouldn't have been long before I had broken through his guard and wounded his sword arm to ensure a peaceable victory."