Amanda listened as Francis talked. She didn't like what the human had to say. Nor did she like how Shiv was nodding vigorously as he spoke.

“So, let me get this straight.” The dragon rubbed her temples in an attempt to fight off the incoming migraine. “I went to the trouble of kidnapping the two best chefs in the kingdom, maybe even the world, and you want to use them to feed refugees.”

“Yes.” Francis confirmed, apparently not realizing or caring how close he was to becoming charcoal. “Shiv and Julia have agreed that the current crisis takes priority. So, Willow and I will be performing a quick ceremony for them, then it's all hands on deck.”

“And if I object to having my daughter's big day spoiled?” Amanda asked, bringing herself face to face with the Marine.

“Then maybe you shouldn't have burned that city.” Francis replied, meeting her gaze without blinking. “Speaking of which, after the ceremony I'm going to have to ask you to leave. I don't imagine the refugees are going to feel safe with the dragon who burned their city hanging around.”

Amanda looked at her daughter. “No, that's all wrong. This was supposed to be a celebration. This was supposed to be perfect.”

Shiv shrugged. “Shit happens. I'm just happy I'm getting to marry the woman I love.” She interlaced her fingers with Julia’s. “I'm sorry, Mom.”

The dragon let out a puff of hot air. While this was disappointing on a personal level, having Brexis back up and running was important to her professional goals. And they needed people for that. People who wouldn't come within a kilometer of the city while she was in it.

“Fine.” Amanda flicked her tail back and forth with frustration. “I suppose we will have to celebrate some other time. And while I personally don't care what happens to those people, it's apparent that you do.”

“Well, yeah.” Shiv frowned. “I'm an assassin, not an asshole.”

Amanda let the accidental slight pass. “Anyway, I have considerable resources at my disposal. So, if you would like, I can put in a request for Kobold & Kobold to come assist with the restoration of Brexis.”

Francis looked at Willow. “Do you know anything about these guys?”

“They're a big construction company.” She explained. “Kobold & Kobold specialize in custom built dungeons and lairs for… demanding clients. I've worked with them before. They're good.”

“Ok, yeah.” Francis nodded. “If Willow says they're good to go, I'd be happy to have the help.”

“Do you always defer to your High Priestess?” Amanda asked, surprised to see a god so openly relying on his followers.

“Yep.”

“Fascinating.” Amanda narrowed her eyes at Willow. “You seem to wield quite a lot of power and influence for one so young.”

Willow smiled, showing her fangs. “Thank you.”

“It wasn't a compliment.” Amanda got in close to the Death Cleric. “Perhaps you and I should have a little chat sometime.”

Francis went to step between them, but Willow waved him off. She looked up at the dragon with amusement. “You don't recognize me, do you?”

“No. Should I?” Amanda looked at the faun with confusion. “Have we met before?”

“Let me jog your memory.” Willow reached out and a hand made of white bone exploded from the ground, wrapping its fingers around the dragon's throat. It didn't apply any real pressure, but the message was clear. “Do you remember me now?”

“I believe I do.” Amanda tried to teleport away, but the spell failed. The dragon shuddered as the magical backlash tore through her body. “It’s been a while since I faced a practitioner of your caliber, Willow.”

“Wonderful. So, you do remember me.” The Death Cleric let her spell fade. “Perhaps now we can cut the bullshit and go back to fixing the problem at hand.”

Amanda cracked her neck side to side. “He must really be something if you're in his corner.”

“He is.” Willow confirmed. “Look, I’m guessing you have plans for Brexis. And that's fine, so long as they are mutually beneficial.”

The dragon swished her tail. “I'm not opposed to mutual benefit.” She turned to face Francis. “Do you know who she is?”

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“Yeah, she's Willow Wisp.” He replied. “And I trust her with my life.”

“You may come to regret that.” Amanda warned. “She has killed gods before.”

“Only ones that deserved it.” Willow smiled. “And I am old enough to remember what this place was called before it became Brexis.”

The dragon shuddered in disgust. “As am I.” She looked at her daughter. “Well, this is quite an interesting group you have allied yourself with. I hope it all ends well.”

“Me too.” Shiv walked over to her mother. “But it's my life, and my decision.”

“I suppose I did teach you the importance of finding powerful allies.” Amanda grumbled.

“Yeah, you were a good mom.”

Amanda looked back at Willow. “I'm choosing to trust you.” The dragon almost followed the statement up with a threat, but thought better of it. “Look after my daughter, and I'll be sure to find a way for us to work together that's mutually beneficial.”

“I will,” she said, gesturing towards Julia and Shiv, “Now, let's get you two married properly before Amanda and I get in another fight.”

“Yeah,” Francis nodded, “That would probably be a really good idea.”

Amanda glared at the Marine. “You really don't know who she is, do you?”

“She's my woman. Who she is to you is none of my concern, unless you make it my concern.” He waved his hand, summoning Relativity. “She's got my back, and I've got hers. That's all that matters.”

“It must be nice to view things so simply.”

“Yeah, it really is.” Francis replied, dismissing his weapon. “You should try it sometime.”

***

After the ceremony was over and Amanda had departed Francis pulled Willow aside. “Are you going to tell me what that was all about?”

The Death Cleric pulled out a slim panetella and lit it, perfuming the air with funerary incense. “I thought you didn't care.”

“Rule number one of dealing with shit heads like Amanda, always show a unified front.” The Marine held out his hand. “Mind if I get a puff off that?”

“Sure.” Willow handed over the thin cigar.

He took a puff and handed it back. Francis wasn't sure he liked how it made his lips tingle. But he had already chewed through most of his tobacco leaves and it was better than nothing. “So, what's the story?”

Willow examined his face. He didn't seem judgmental, or angry. “Well, long story short I may have lost my temper and killed some people.”

“It happens to the best of us.” Francis shrugged.

“Well, those people happened to be gods.” The Death Cleric looked around to make sure nobody else was in earshot. “And I was married to one of them.”

The Marine took a second to process that particular bombshell. “I take it there is a story behind that.”

“Yeah.” She looked at her cigar and sighed. “This is really more of a whiskey conversation, but whatever.”

“Tulon was an asshole that never listened to any of my advice. But I was young and dumb, so I ignored all the warning signs. I think I was just happy that someone so important was paying attention to me.”

Willow winced at the memory. “Yeah, I was pretty fucking stupid. But I was young and I thought I was in love. Later I found out that Tulon had no interest in an actual relationship.”

“So what was the point? Why marry you in the first place?” Francis asked, trying to wrap his head around it.

The Death Cleric gritted her teeth. “Gods like to make bets. It's how they settle disputes and keep things interesting. Tulon wanted something valuable to wager.”

“Oh fuck that.”

“Yep.” Willow shook her head. “Thankfully he only bet my life. So when I died and came back I made it my mission to destroy him and his shitty friends. It took a while and I died a few more times. In the end, I got what I was after.”

“But Tulon got the last laugh because I screwed myself over in the process. Nobody would trust me after that, and since I'm native to Vahnis I can't ascend.”

She looked at Francis, searching for any signs of disappointment or distrust. “So, yeah. I kind of bounced from cult to cult after that, moving on when they found out who I was. And that's my story. I'm Willow Wisp, the god killer.”

Francis didn't know how to respond. So he said the first thing that came to mind, “Fuck those guys. You're one hell of a woman and they don't deserve you.”

“You're sweet.” Willow leaned in and kissed him gently on the cheek, relieved that he didn't seem to care. “Thank you, Francis.”

“It's all good.” He smiled. “You're my girl. Ain't nothing going to change that. And if people don't like it, they can go fuck themselves.”

“You really aren't like the other gods. You know that, right?” She took his hand and squeezed it three times. “They're so afraid of losing what they have, that the first thing they do is find a way to hide from us mortals.”

He squeezed her hand back three times. “I’m not afraid of dying. If it happens, it happens. And when your time is up, it's up.”

She pressed her head against his chest, not speaking. So Francis wrapped his arms around Willow and held her. He held her like he might never see her again. He held her like he might die tomorrow. Because that was a distinct possibility.

They were living in a bullshit magical world with gods and dragons. Francis didn't understand half of what was going on, and he knew that eventually he would pay the price for his ignorance. Some tomfuckery would get him eventually.

But not today, the Marine promised as he held his woman close. I'll fight like hell and come home. I'll keep my honor clean. And maybe I'll die tomorrow, or the next day. But not today. Never today.