The sun was setting over the village in a splash of orange and pink. The cool of the evening was setting in. As Aurie rubbed her crossed arms, she wondered if it was going to frost. It would kill half of her autumn harvest if it did. She shook her head at herself. She could see Maud’s shadow breaking the light glow of the hearth through the garden window of her house down the hill.

  “He was alive when I got to him,” Enya was sitting on the edge of the porch with a hand on her head.

  Aurie knew how she felt after healing Morin’s family. But everything she had been told about resurrections and Paladins always revolved around the advice of not trying. Judging by how Enya looked, she knew why. It had made a woman who looked strong enough to break a horse in two become feeble in seconds.

  Enya’s eyes were still struggling to stay open. “I laid hands, but he was dead when the Holy Spirit went through me. I wasn’t prepared. Did I hit the table?”

  Adrian nodded to her from where he sat in the doorway, one eye constantly watching over Draka, and tucking his lips to snicker when Draka snored. Aurie noticed that about him and Enya. Neither of them felt the need to hover over Draka, to keep at his side, hold his hand, to worry over whether or not he would live through the night. Aurie was terrified of the thought. It took every bit of her self-control not to be in there. The little redhead that paced in front of her and Enya seemed less controlled for the same reason. Little, pretty faced, mousy, redheaded, long-legged, tight-lipped, big-eyed bitch. Enya had told her to sit on the broken chair that was in front of the shack, but the mouse wanted to scurry on the road.

  “I just—is he going to be alright?” Nina asked no one in particular.

  “Yes!” Enya and Aurie said at the same time and with the same inflection for Nina to stop asking.

  “Maybe I should go in and check,” Nina took a step towards the porch. Adrian curled his legs to make room for her through the doorway.

  “NO!” Enya and Aurie matched again. Adrian blocked the door with his legs and shrugged.

  Aurie tried to concentrate. Adrian had told them about Philip. About the name, Sophia. That’s what made Draka collapse. His heart gave when he heard that name. And Nina showed them the letter she had found and told her about the Order of Holy Sepulcher being hunted.

  “You’re bait,” Aurie meant to say it matter-of-factly, as an explanation. She didn’t mean for it to sound so harsh that Adrian hung his head. “How strong are we against what he faced in Al’Constantine?”

  Enya winced, “They’re constantly fighting. We have Alcalia pretty sealed up.” She pointed toward the Abbey where Father Hagen’s camp was. “That’s the problem, right there. It’s a giant hole punched through our armor. Ask Draka how that works out if it isn’t repaired quick enough.”

  “Why hasn’t it been?” Aurie narrowed her eyes. Her skin was crawling. Partly because it was getting cold, fast.

  “How far away is this ‘hole’ you’re talking about?” Nina stopped pacing. “If he isn’t safe here, we need to bring him to Strasbourg or Nancy, somewhere else, far away…”

  “Shut up until your spoken to,” Aurie didn’t growl or grit her teeth. Nina took a step back. To Enya, “Why hasn’t it been taken care of already? I remember Draka sending word—”

  “Draka?” Nina gasped. “Who’s Draka?”

  This time, Aurie’s jaw had tightened. “I won’t ask again. Shut. Up. Adults are talking.”

  Nina’s mouth pinched to one side, a tongue pressed in her cheek.

  “They’ve been stalling,” Enya huffed with disappointment. “No one knew what to expect. It was abandoned, we thought. Just some old castle that was turned into an abbey after the Great Fires that gave up on converting your people, that was the story. When the King sent for reinforcements, specifically of the Paladinate, he was put in the long list of other needs-based calls to arms. King Philip,” she whipped the hand not holding her head at Adrian, “had priority with his campaign to take Jerusalem back.”

  “He retook Aviv,” Adrian piped in. “They were routed near Nazareth. Never made it further.”

  “It’s a long list. We’re not just fighting demons,” Enya eyed Aurie. “Every pagan prayer, ritual, or even whispered spell, empowers them. And there are millions of pagans beyond our reach. Even among my people.”

  “We’ve held them on the Black Sea,” Adrian nodded. “My mother’s cousin commands the Paladinate there.”

  Nina held up a hand. “May I speak, your worship?”

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  “Don’t make me regret it,” Aurie glared.

  Nina blinked an acknowledgement of that. “The Celestes are on the move, too. They infiltrated some circles in Geneva. I had been keeping catalogue of them for Paladin Commander Schwartz.”

  “Who are the Celestes?” Aurie asked.

  “Angel worshipers,” Nina said as if it were something as common as using a spoon. “I know it’s hard, but try to keep up. Adults are talking.”

  Aurie bit her lower lip to calm herself.

  “Wonder how many might have infiltrated to here,” Enya finally let her hand down from her head. “Did you ever learn of their efforts here?”

  “They haven’t been able to,” Nina cocked a brow aimed at Aurie. “I was having them intercepted.”

  “People worshiping angels? I can see how that would be…blasphemy?...heresy?...but they’d still want to fight on behalf of God, wouldn’t they?” Aurie wished she had kept quiet instead of saying that by the looks all three of them gave her.

  “They don’t worship those angels,” Adrian said, looking up to her. “They worship the fallen ones. Talkro’s gods are just people who did great deeds in history. Bonaparte was an Emperor and a conqueror. Liberte was a symbol of freedom used by the old nations. But Celestes worship the Enemy and his fellow Fallen Angels.”

  “How is she a Pally and not know this?” Nina asked Enya, sounding offended.

  “Because I haven’t gotten there, yet. And I don’t answer to you. You’re not supposed to be here, remember?” Enya jabbed a finger at her. “Are you certain none of them have infiltrated Talkro or any other part of Alcalia?”

  “Yes,” Nina sounded even more offended. “I had them send the brands to their Paladin Commanders for verification. I didn’t go through the Church or governments, I went through the Paladinate. The only thing you people have going for you in the world of men is that you’re generally incorruptible. The Holy Spirit tends to be a good deterrent.”

  “Glad we have your approval,” Enya snapped. “I know what I have to do. What are you going to do about all this?”

  “What can I do? A demon is trying to use a Prince as bait for our King.”

  “My King,” Nina said under her breath, which was met by three very different expressions. Aurie shot her a tight-lipped glare. Enya winced at her in disgust. And Adrian tilted his head like a confused puppy at her.

  Aurie stepped off of the porch to sit on the edge. “If we’re protected, we need to stay that way. He needs to be protected. And I know he’ll fight me on it, but he’s still recovering from that meat grinder in Berone. I’m not even sure he’ll be able to use his sword ever again if he doesn’t actually take the time to heal.”

  “He planned on wintering here,” Enya shrugged. Hopeful. “I’ll get us what we need to plug that hole.” She stood with a snap of her fingers at Nina.

  “I’m not your dog,” Nina made certain to meet Aurie’s eyes on her way to answering Enya.

  “Careful now, I just might put a leash on you anyway,” Enya motioned for her to follow. “Come on. You’re not staying at the King’s house.”

  One last glare over her shoulder and Nina was following Enya down the hill toward the ferry. Aurie shook her head. That one is going to be a bigger problem than they need right now. She turned away with a long sigh. The first stars were beginning to rise over the forest.

  “This wouldn’t be the first time I guarded him while he recovered,” Adrian grinned up at her. “Go. Have your supper with your family.”

  “This is my family,” Aurie shrugged at him. She nodded toward Draka, “That man swore an oath to my husband on his dying breath that he would protect my daughter and me. And he’s kept that oath.” She put her hands on her hips. “Can you start a fire?”

  “Sure,” Adrian pushed onto his feet.

  “In a hearth? Without catching the house on fire?”

  He shrugged, “So, when the flames start to touch the ceiling…don’t blow on them?”

  Aurie chuckled, “I’m sorry, I just…you’re a lot younger than you look. Get the hearth started and try to wake him so he’s coherent when supper’s ready. I’m going to gather the rest of them.”

  Something about the table held her attention for a moment. Her brows pressed together. They were a chair short. She turned to the chair she had noticed at the shed. Draka, she shook with a long breath.

  “Yeah, big redheaded spider,” Adrian nodded. When Aurie turned her frown on him, he held up his hands. “Long legs. Bites like a…”

  Aurie already knew. She finished his sentence for him, “Bitch.”

  “Spider,” Adrian grinned. “I was going to say spider.”