Vera’s life with the Eternal Order had been filled with tests. THE TEST, however, had been something else, and still filled her nightmares. Right after she “passed,” she imagined her life would be forever divided into before and after. And it was, to an extent. She would always bear the weight of her choice. But as far as the impact of the test on her daily life, her expectations were promptly smashed – she had immediately been sent back to an Order facility for more training, almost as though nothing had happened. The only difference – aside from the terrible burden of what she had done, which she was ordered to never discuss – was that they ordered her to study specific areas, and sent her from facility to facility to learn. Always combat training, but at every stop, additional, seemingly random, subjects had been added. Ancient history. Caving. Dead languages.

The stone-faced examiner had promised her answers. He lied. Oh, he told her his name – Aspirant Iolo – and that there was no conspiracy. According to Iolo, every future Aspirant, meaning the entire leadership of the Order, went through a similar test. He claimed that the Order’s “true purpose” was something that they knew she could believe in, but wouldn’t tell her what it was.

The conversation – if you could call it that – had been maddening. Iolo said “We believe in you. You have been watched. Tested in ways you never realized. Complete your training. Come to Carelon, take the Oath, join us, and you will learn our secrets.” She had scoffed asking, “the Order trained me to question, and now expects me to swear an Oath to goals unknown?” Iolo smiled briefly, one of the first expressions she had seen him make, and explained, “the Oath is not like that. You swear to uphold certain values, not to us. Values we know you believe in, but you will hear the words. You will think. You will chose.”

A year later, here she stood. An antechamber far beneath Carelon, in a ceremonial robe with inlaid symbols she didn’t recognize. Two others, Kenjin and Leonidas, young men seemingly near her age, waited with her decked in matching robes. She had seen them over the last year in several of the courses she was ordered to take, and certainly suspected, but not known; like her, they did not initiate conversations, told no stories and exhibited no particular interest in the subjects they pursued, but this was hardly unique.

Kenjin was built like a boulder – short, broad and impossibly solid – and had a disposition to match; his every move was slow and considered. When he fought, he was impossibly calm and still until he wasn’t, suddenly moving with overwhelming force. Leonidas was an opposite in many ways; tall, handsome, muscular with a seemingly free and easy smile that none of the ordinary students seemed to realize was painted on. Like Kenjin, he was far beyond her in the combat arts, leading her thoughts in extremely distasteful directions. If combat skill was somehow important to Aspirants – something which would seem impossible to the rank and file of the Order – there had to be a separate reason why a slight girl with average physical abilities was selected. There had never been a hint that the reason was tied to her beauty, but seeing Kenjin and Leonidas here with her, the concern loomed large. She neither knew nor trusted the Aspirants. If they weren’t what people believed, where was the limit of what they could and couldn’t be?

The three candidate-aspirants greeted each other, of course, but said little. The wait seemed interminable, but neither showed it, and she strove to match their stoicism. Finally, after an eternity, the door opened, and a robed man she didn’t recognize gestured for them to come.

They entered a grand chamber, with a wealth of painted images, carvings and metal inserts on the walls, especially at the front of the room. Vera had little time to study the intricate art, for the High Aspirant stood behind a podium on a raised floor at the front of the room, and perhaps forty robed others, presumably Aspirants, were gathered in audience. The three were directed to a spot next to the High Aspirant.

The High Aspirant turned to them and spoke, his voice cutting through the chamber like a bell through a clear day. “Welcome Candidate Aspirants. Be at ease. I know that can’t be easy, and am truly sorry for what we put you through, but you will understand the need for it in time. The Aspirants aren’t just the leaders of the Order you see; we are the guardians of the past and the future for all of humanity. The procedure for today is simple. I will call you to the podium one at a time, and instruct you on the words of the Oath. You should take as long as you need to make sure you believe in the words before you repeat them. Five seconds, five minutes, it doesn’t matter, as long as you are sure. If you can’t complete the Oath, you will be sent back to wherever you chose within the Order, free to take the test to become a scholar, guard or any of our other roles. We will trust you to remain silent on what you have seen and done; no one would believe you in any event.” He paused, smiled and said simply “Vera” gesturing with his arm for her to stand beside him at the podium.

Vera tried not to gulp as she took her place. She had given presentations to groups to be sure, but this was another matter. The High Aspirant turned to audience and said, “Please rise brothers and sisters. I remind you that this is a sacred part of our link to the past and our responsibility to the future; remain silent as long as it takes, and hold your applause until we are done. Now Vera. Listen. Consider. When you are ready, repeat my words if you truly believe them. The Oath has three vows, we will go one by one:”

The High Aspirant looked down at the scroll in front of him and intoned, “I vow to seek and preserve knowledge, no matter how hidden, even at risk to myself, and to teach others when it is wise to do so.” The High Aspirant paused and looked to Vera. That’s it? Is this some kind of joke? Do they want me delving ancient ruins? That is what the combat training was for? Vera thought back to the nature of the Order she knew, and wondered how much applied here. She was sick of how they had treated her, and decided not to hold back.

Vera gathered her confidence and said what was in her heart. “You’ve hidden everything from us. Who you are. What you are. Why you are. How am I supposed to swear to this? I’m not willing to die to learn whether some group of Ancients elected their Kings on Tuesdays or Thursdays if that is what you mean. Hells, it has been a year and I didn’t try and sneak into some hidden archive to learn what this is about. I didn’t try to hold a knife to Aspirant Iolo’s throat. As far as teaching goes, what do you mean by ‘when it is wise to do so?’ You decide and I have to bury knowledge on your say so? Yes, I believe in seeking and preserving knowledge of all kinds, and that this is important. Hells, I even believe that some knowledge, like necromancy, should not be shared, that there is a time and a place for knowledge, but I want to be the one…”

Vera stopped short in shock as a section of her robes blazed to life. The High Aspirant beamed at her with amusement. “These robes are ancient relics. They read the truths that are in your heart. The exact words of the Oath don’t matter. You believe. You share our values. That is enough. Your vow was certainly far more memorable than most, but you aren’t the first to ask questions or even the first to vary the words. Maybe the first to invoke the Hells. In any event, our traditions are ancient and have served us well, but yes, certainly they are not perfect. Are you ready to proceed to the next vow Vera?” Vera reeled, but ultimately, if she need only vow what she believed, how could there be any harm? “Yes, High Aspirant. I am sorry for…” He cut her off with a laugh. “Don’t apologize. We picked you for a reason. Now, back to the vow, which is a sacred tradition. Ask questions if you need to. But don't swear.”

The High Aspirant looked back down at his scroll and read, “I vow to seek the strength to protect the future from darkness, and to guide us towards the light.” Vera thought deeply. What does THAT mean? Do they seek strength to kill people behind the scenes like they made me . . . No! I won’t be a part of that. Let them reject me. “I’m not interested in training in weapons so I can drag some rapist down into a cave and pressure a child into killing them, no. I understand there are some people in the world that need killing, but I don’t feel pressure to solve all the evils of the world myself. I like combat training, and I like being strong enough to defend myself. If need be, I’ll stand up for others when I decide it’s right, but I won’t . . .”

Another section of her robes blazed to life. This time, laughter was widespread and Vera had to join in. The High Aspirant raised his hands for silence, and took on a serious expression. “Yes, I understand Vera. The test . . . I know you can’t understand why we would ask you to do such a thing. You killed a child rapist and murder, protected because of his father. That was just, have no doubt. But you are right, we can’t prevent all the evils of the world, and obviously we don’t even try. But we needed to know that you Candidates had the courage and conviction to take a stand against the darkness when it matters, when we are the only ones who can. When there is no choice. The test is . . . imperfect, but it has served us well over the centuries. Well. You seem determined to stomp on our traditions a bit, but so be it. Your robe read what is your heart. What we already knew. You will stand against the dark when there is need. I think the third vow will be easier for you.” He winked at her and continued, “at least we can hope.”

The High Aspirant looked down and read the final vow. “I vow to marshal the Will to make the hardest of choices, to ignore the judgment of others, to do what is necessary and right, no matter the consequences, that we may protect and secure the future of mankind.”

Vera paused; there were issues, but she understood how this went at this point. She couldn’t resist a smile at the absurdity of it all, but pulled it back and began her vow. “If I believe that the future of humankind, not just mankind thank you, is truly at stake then yes, I will make whatever choices necessary to protect the future.” Vera waited, but the robe didn’t light up. Neither the High Aspirant nor anyone in the audience looked panicked, but she didn’t know what to do. He smiled. “I’m sure you have more words in your heart Vera. I think we all know that about you by now! Let them out. Share your thoughts and concerns about the oath.”

Vera paused to reflect. “Well, I understand the Order serves as advisors to Kings. That we have influence. Maybe prevent wars with a few words. That is important. But the notion that this group has decided that the entire future needs changing, frankly that sounds a little deluded. Self-important. Frightening even.” Vera noticed that the High Aspirant was frowning. Screw him. “But I meant the Oath. If I, not anyone else, believe that the future is at stake, then I will stand up for what I believe is right.” Even if that means opposing a bunch of self-righteous bastards with delusions of grandeur.

Vera’s robes lit up.