Ashes of Innocence

Petro and Suzanne journey to Westminster with Sir Martin. Suzanne vows to make herself useful. In Westminster, Petro trains as a squire while Suzanne excels in academics under Father Aldric. Sir Martin shares his conflicted philosophy about the Church and fighting evil.

Years of hunts across the Empire: Millbrook girl, Willem the farmer, compressed hunts (Annis, healer, fortune-teller), Tomas and blue fire connection. Suzanne infiltrates sealed vault. Elena moments. Petro's doubt deepens toward breaking point.

Suzanne's investigation into Church corruption using archive records. New scene shows how Petro and Suzanne's childhood friendship evolved into romance during Westminster years - wall-tapping ritual, rampart conversations, first kiss at fifteen, sharing quarters by sixteen.

Petro is dubbed a Knight of the Realm at sixteen. His first weeks bring mundane assignments that reveal how common false accusations are. Then comes Thornfield: a hedge healer named Elara accused of witchcraft by a jealous priest.

Petro at 14 witnesses a Spontaneous Manifestation in Westminster market - a seamstress erupts with uncontrolled magic, destroying the fountain and killing eleven. He rescues a child from the crater. The incident crystallizes his beliefs about magic.

Petro and Suzanne flee through burning streets witnessing horrific violence. They hide in an alley as rain falls and fighting continues. Morning reveals Ashwick destroyed. Petro finds the priest's golden sun pendant. Sir Martin of Westminster appears and takes them away from Ashwick.

Executions begin: Duke Aldric, Duchess, and innocent citizens are brought to the guillotine. When the Guard Captain is executed, his son Hank erupts in magical blue fire that consumes the priest and spreads through the square. The town descends into chaos.

Petro Marok, a ten-year-old orphan in Ashwick mining town, endures abuse from his drunken miner father and bullying from Hank, the Guard Captain's son. The Church of the Lord of Light controls the mines and ignores the suffering of the poor.