Damien blinked bleary eyes. The sun hadn’t set yet so the process of banishing the demon hadn’t taken anywhere near as long as he feared it might. His shoulders ached and his back popped when he straightened up. He didn’t know how long he’d been pouring energy into the flask, but the last bit of corruption vanished seconds ago. In his lap the flask that had been his whole world for the past however many hours had blackened and the silver flaked off. The container had lasted just long enough and not a moment more.

A fire burned not far away, bacon sizzling over it in a cast iron pan. His mouth watered at the savory scent.

“Welcome back to the land of the living,” Jen said. Damien turned his stiff neck and found his sister standing a little ways away, arms crossed, a skinned rabbit hanging from one hand.

“Thanks. Rabbit for dinner?”

“Breakfast.” Jen put the rabbit in the pan along with the bacon to fry it in the fat.

“Breakfast, how long have I been working? One rabbit’s probably not enough for all three of us.”

“This is for you. We ate a while ago. You’ve been working for about fourteen hours. I was getting a little worried.” She nodded toward the flask. “Is it done?”

“Yeah.” Fourteen hours, no wonder he was so stiff. “Where’s the paladin?”

“Marie-Bell is watering the flowers.” Jen flipped the rabbit over. “How are you?”

“Tired, but fine. Marie-Bell?”

Jen rolled her eyes. “Long story. She’s a nice girl, but a little innocent for her chosen line of work.”

“Good morning,” Marie-Bell said in a bright, piping voice. She’d traded her mail hauberk for a soft cotton dress that ended just above her knees. One look at her soft, petite figure and you knew her strength came from a supernatural source. She looked about as much like a warrior as Jen did a handmaiden. She turned her attention to the flask and her eyes turned white. “You did it!”

“I was pretty sure I did, but I wanted you to check before I removed the final seals.” Damien reclaimed the last of his soul force and the flask disintegrated. “By the way, you owe me a royal, sis.”

“How do you figure?” Jen put the rabbit on a plate and handed it to him with a mug of warm water.

“That flask cost two royals. You said you wanted to be partners in hunting the demon so you owe me half the cost.”

Jen sat beside him. “Gah. You’re even cheaper than Dad. Besides, sorcerers get better pay than warlords. You should be good for it.”

“Next time we go out to dinner you’re picking up the tab.”

“Deal.”

Marie-Bell laughed. “I wish I had a brother to argue with. You two are adorable.”

Damien and Jen shared a look. No one had ever called them adorable. The little group fell silent while Damien finished his food. He tossed the bones away and stood up, his knees protesting as loudly as his shoulders had.

Marie-Bell’s soft hands touched his back and warmth flooded into him. The aches and pains vanished along with his fatigue. She stepped back and smiled. “Better?”

“Much, thank you. I’ve never been healed by a paladin before. It’s much more effective than sorcery.”

“Healing is one of our primary skills, along with banishing demons.”

“Speaking of demons,” Jen said. “I think it’s time we go have a talk with Farmer Smyth.”

“I don’t suppose you know where to find him,” Damien said.

I do. I overheard his conversation with Fredric. He lives twenty miles south of The Citadel.

Lizzy’s voice startled him for a moment. He still wasn’t used to having her with him. “That should be easy enough to find.”

Jen nodded. “Let’s go.”

“Excuse me,” Marie-Bell said. “Would it be all right if I came along? This is just the sort of thing I wanted to do when I left the fortress. I don’t really want to start over with a new mission.”

“I don’t care. Sis?”

“Sure, her skills might come in handy.”

Marie-Bell clapped and hopped around. “Just let me put my gear on.”

Damien said a silent prayer that he wouldn’t regret inviting her along. If they ended up in a fight, her healing power would be useful. Not to mention she went toe to toe with Jen, even if it was just for half a minute. At the very least she was strong enough not to get in their way.