Jeanne sat the edge of her bed. Looking at her hands, opening and closing them slowly. She felt Leonidas’s hand touch her shoulder. “Everything all right?” he asked her.

“I honestly don’t know,” she replied. “A lot of this just feels unreal.”

“At least we have a place to hunker down and plan our next move.”

“Hopefully it’ll stay that way.”

“Yeah, I think that’s on everyone’s mind, honestly.”

“What do you think about Gareth?”

Leonidas let out a long sigh. “That’s a tough one. I’ve known a few people who appeared trust worthy and were turn on you before a second thought. While you had those who thought were beyond untrustworthy and their word was their bond.”

“Part of me just thinks he’s trying to use me, that he’s just like his brothers, only he knows how to play the game better. But …”

“But what?”

“There’s something about him that seems … genuine. And saying that about a Kolville makes me feel dirty.”

“I can’t say that’s an unfamiliar feeling, though my case was vastly different from what you’re going through.”

“What made you feel dirty?”

“Helping the woman who ousted me as a rat and then beat me to a pulp shortly afterwards.”

“Remind to give her some payback when we’re done with this whole mess.”

“Jeanne, she’s a head taller than Ben.”

“Don’t care, she’s getting her ass handed to her.”

“Oh god,” Leonidas said, running his hand over his face. “This won’t end well.”

“Not for her,” Jeanne said confidently.

She noted her lover smiling at her. “What?”

“I haven’t seen this part of you since we got here, and I was starting to miss it.”

“Some people would think themselves lucky to be free of this part of me.”

“Not when it’s what I love most about you,” he said caressing her cheek.

Jeanne was wide eyed at the statement.

“What, what I say?” Leonidas said, concerned.

“You … you said you love me,” she said breathlessly. “I mean you meant regarding a personality trait but, I mean …”

“Well, I do love you,” said holding his hands gently on both of her cheeks. “And I want to be with you wherever this road takes us.”

“I can’t tell you how much it means to hear you say that,” Jeanne said, placing her hand on his face.

“Well I’d like to think I have some use other than my medical hands and devilish smile,” he said to her.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

She smiled. “I do love that smile of yours,” she said kissing his lips softly.

“Mother said it get me in trouble.”

“She did have that one right.”

Jeanne smile began to fade. “I wish mine were here, honestly.”

“I know, it’s nice to have family in your corner in times like this.”

“You think they’d be happy to see me again if they were here?”

Leonidas gave her a reassuring smile. “I know they would. Seeing their little girl growing up into a woman who her hometown admires and writes songs for.”

“I’d like to hear these songs before I decide if this is a good thing or not.”

“That’s fair. I’ve heard a few odes that were supposed to be flattering and … well … not so much.”

“Outlands?”

“No, that was before the Outlands. Back at the university.”

“This feels like a story,” Jeanne said, laying down on the bed.

Leonidas next to Jeanne, holding her close. “It is, and I don’t feel like sitting to tell it all.”

***

Jeanne watched from front of the inn as the itinerant farmers guided their cattle as they ploughed the nearby field. She stuck her thumbs behind her belt as she strolled around the town. Passing the main hall of the monastery and other adjoining buildings she saw several teenagers huddling around one of the big trees near the corner of the building.

She was passing them by when one noticed her and began whispering excitedly to the others. One turned quick to her. “Excuse me,” they said, “are you Lady Marais?”

They all turned and looked at her with mesmerized gazed.

“I’m Jeanne Marais, if that’s what you mean.”

“Was it true you fought a coal bear with only your hands?”

“No,” she said with a chuckle, “and even with my stone scales I’d probably give it a second thought.”

“Stone scale?” one of the teenagers asked.

“It’s a spell I learned when I was in The Cold Company,” she said, holding out her hand and changing the skin from into a stone cover.

The teenagers gasped and looked at the hand with great interest.

“Does it hurt?” one of them asked.

Jeanne shook her head. “No, it comes in handy in a fight, it can take a lot of damage and can deal it out, too.”

“Can I touch it?” another asked.

“You can, gently,” she said.

The boy reached out, looking back at his friends a couple of times before quickly pulling his hand back. “Have you used that in a battle before?” he asked.

“I have, a few times. Though it can take a lot out of you if you’re not careful.”

“You’ve fought in battles? Like big battles?”

“Battles, sieges, skirmishes, duels, raids, and all that stuff.”

“Were ever scared?” one teen asked.

“All the time.”

“Did you kill a man?”

Jeanne paused. “Many.”

“What was it like?” one of the girls asked.

Jeanne looked at her with a firm gaze. “It was nothing like what you’ve probably heard in the songs sung about such things. No sense of glory, not even a sense of accomplishment, other than you lived to see the next day and the other person didn’t.”

“What about the Kolville boy?” one of the boys asked. “Was that any different?”

“You have rob you of a sibling and get back to me on that.”

The teens recoiled at the comment, trading looks with each other.

“This is all fun, games and whatever you want to call it until you start losing friends, family, and everyone else you care for. Then life and death take on a very different meaning entirely, and you realize you’re on borrowed time and if your lucky you haven’t spent most of it wasting on things that have nothing to do with the greater scheme of things. And being the one to deny someone the chance to see another sunrise isn’t a weight you should take on lightly. Because that’s a weight you can never rid yourself of. And to answer the one question no one’s asked. The biggest thing I wanted when was out there was to just come home, where something or someone wasn’t trying to kill me. Appreciate was you’ve got while its there, because it won’t be forever.”

The teenagers looked at each other uncomfortably. Jeanne rolled her eyes before letting out a short growl.

“That being said,” she followed, “I did pick up a trick or two in my travels.”

The teenagers looked back at her with curiosity as she held out both hands.

“I’d stand back a bit, cause this can get a little hot,” she said as she conjured a fireball in each hand.

The teens’ eyes widened as they stared at the flames.

“These come in real handy when you’re in a pinch, or if you’re in a dark place and a torch isn’t handy.”

“You wouldn’t just rely on that?” one of the boys asked.

“Like I said, if you’re not careful these spells can catch up with you and you can be in a worse spot than before.”

“Can you teach us to use that?” one of the girls asked.

“If I had the time to do so, I’d consider it. But I’m not here for leisurely pursuits. In any case, I should get going. You all have a good one,” Jeanne said as she waved them good bye and moved on.