The Temple of Healing received news of Meredith Baer's impending arrival as as matter-of-factly as everything else. Forms were updated. Burial arrangements were modified from "unclaimed" to "claimed by spouse." The ledger column for "next of kin notified" received a satisfying checkmark that made Erma sigh in contentment.

  ?She'll be here tomorrow morning,? Erma informed them, making notes in yet another ledger large enough to spill over the wooden table. ?We'll have the body prepared properly. Full rites and all.?

  ?Thank you,? Venn said, though her mind was clearly elsewhere.

  The sun was setting, painting the Temple's stone walls in shades of gold and shadow. The time for second attempts had arrived, and this time Venn was determined.

  ?I should go,? Venn said, already moving toward the Trial chamber.

  Erma shook her head, looking up from her ledger. ?You should get some rest.?

  Venn shook her head back. ?The sooner I start, the sooner... well.?

  ?You'll pass,? Reyn said, because of course.

  Venn paused at the doorway. ?How do you know??

  ?Because you'll do.? Reyn yawned, a jaw-cracking display that reminded everyone she'd been awake for far too long. ?Now go. I'm going to sleep.?

  ?Sleep? Now??

  ?A good Barbarian sleeps when she can,? Reyn said with a grin, already heading for the guest quarters. ?Battles are won by those who are well-rested. Also, I'm exhausted after that bunny.?

  She couldn’t help but frown as she said it. There was a certain pride to being a Barbarian, that didn’t take well to getting wounded by a rabbit, no matter how ferocious it had been.

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  Venn nodded, then turned toward the Trial chamber without another word. No ceremony this time. No lengthy prayers or mental preparation. She simply walked in and closed the door behind her.

  Reyn felt a sense ld pride and went for her quarters, a massive benefit of travelling with a Mage-to-be. She found her bed and was asleep before her head properly hit the pillow.

  Bormecian warriors learned to sleep anywhere, anytime, storing rest like weapons in an armory. Dreams, when they came, were brief and surprisingly useful: Good Deeds needed sharpening. The star-filled sword still needed a name. The rabbit was still out there somewhere, presumably terrorizing vegetables, farmer’s and the occasional would-be beastslayer.

  She woke to the sound of commotion in the hallway. Not alarm, exactly, but the kind of interested murmuring that followed something unexpected happening. The kind that tended to grow into extraordinary tales over time.

  Reyn rolled out of bed, noted that the moon outside had barely moved, and made her way to the source of the noise.

  Venn stood in the Trial chamber's doorway, swaying slightly. Her face was pale but triumphant, the expression of someone who'd answered an impossible question by refusing to accept its premise.

  ?Done,? she said, and collapsed.

  Reyn caught her before she hit the floor, lifting the smaller woman easily. Around them, Temple healers buzzed with questions and amazement.

  ?An hour?? someone whispered. ?The Trial takes all night!?

  ?There have been some who’ve been quick,? Erma said, though she looked as surprised as everyone else. ?The Trial only lasts as long as indecision does.?

  ?What happened?? Marcus asked, still recovering from their necromantic adventure with Jarek.

  Erma shook her head. ?That is for the acolyte to know.?

  ?She needs to sleep,? Reyn said as she shifted the weight of her friend, already carrying Venn toward the guest quarters. ?Real sleep, not this magic stuff.?

  ?She's completed her trial,? Erma called after them. ?When she wakes, she'll get her ring of proof.?

  ?When she wakes,? Reyn agreed. ?Not before.?

  She tucked Venn into bed with the care of someone who'd done this for wounded comrades before. The mage-to-be murmured something about vegetables and rabbits, then fell into deeper sleep.

  Reyn sat in the chair beside the bed, ostensibly keeping watch but really just thinking. Tomorrow they'd bury Jarek properly, with his wife present. Then they'd visit Skyrise Tower and whatever wizard lurked there. Eventually they'd have to deal with the Beast of Valemark again, and find a tournament.

  ?The child,? Reyn said, smiling slightly at the sleeping Venn. ?Of course you chose the child.?

  Outside, the Temple settled into night routines. Forms were filed. Prayers were said. An acolyte slept deeply, dreaming of choices made and choices to make.

  And somewhere in the darkness beyond the Temple walls, a murderous rabbit was probably and plotting revenge, or just ravaging whatever a murderous rabbit could find to ravage.

  Reyn dozed in her chair, one hand on Good Deeds' hilt out of habit. Tomorrow would bring wizards and funerals and whatever else the universe threw at them, for them to throw back.

  She yawned. A good Barbarian knew when to fight and when to sleep.

  This was definitely time for the latter.