Jen, Kat, and Amanda walked toward the massive main gate built into the wall that guarded the kingdom side of the fortress. The sun had barely risen and, despite the softness of the inn’s bed she had awoken in, Jen hadn’t wanted to waste a moment more than necessary. They’d decided to spend the night in the village of Knight’s Rest rather than risk approaching the fortress after dark. It would have been rather embarrassing to be knocked from the air by mistake.

After they left the ruins they’d flown east through the late afternoon sky. They’d only been underground for a few hours, but it felt like longer. Jen had ached everywhere, but at least her midriff had healed. They’d offered to give Professor Dorius a ride back to King’s College, but he insisted on continuing his research. Now that he knew what to watch out for he wouldn’t accidentally release any more goblins, or so he insisted. Next time he’d probably release something worse, Jen had thought but didn’t say. Whatever the risks, the professor seemed content to remain underground and putter about the ruins and they were too busy to waste time worrying about him. Whatever happened to Dorius was someone else’s problem.

“What sort of greeting should we expect?” Amanda asked.

“Beats me.” Jen eyed the empty battlement. There ought to be someone keeping watch on this side. A queasy feeling twisted her stomach. “I’ve never been to the fortress before. I have a friend that’s a paladin, but she’s not on the best terms with those stationed here.”

“I was warned during training to give the place a wide berth,” Kat said.

“Who told you that?” Amanda asked. “I don’t remember my masters giving it more than a passing mention.”

“It wasn’t the masters, it was my mentor. You wouldn’t know her, she died years ago. In truth I think she had a grudge of some sort against the paladins so anything she told me should be taken with a grain of salt. How do you want to approach them?”

Jen planned to go straight up to the doors and demand to speak to the commander. “I think I’ll just knock and see what happens. There must be someone inside.”

“I don’t know,” Kat said. “I can’t sense anyone. Paladins are strong enough that I should be able to detect even one.”

Jen shrugged and marched up to the portcullis. “Hello!”

She waited, straining to hear any sign of life. The twist in her stomach got worse. Had they arrived too late? No, Kat would have sensed the presence of demons just as well as paladins.

She drew her sword and hammered the iron cross-guard on the portcullis bars. The hideous clamor would have woken the dead much less any guard.

“Nobody’s home,” Amanda said. She moved up beside Jen and peered inside. “I don’t see anything.”

The dirt yard was empty and the keep door closed, nothing moved behind any of the arrow slits. Where was everybody?

“Let’s go have a look around,” Jen said.

She sent soul force into her legs and leapt straight up and over the battlements. She landed lightly on the opposite side and waited for someone to challenge her. Kat and Amanda landed beside her a moment later.

“This is foolish,” Kat said. “If they find us wandering around the paladins will attack on sight. We should just return to the capital and let them know what’s happening.”

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“We don’t know what’s happening.” Jen started toward the fortress. “And even if there is someone here they won’t attack without using their soul sight.”

Hopefully.

“What makes you so sure?” Kat’s head swung left and right, trying to look everywhere at once.

“Nothing. The only thing I’m sure of is that I’m not going anywhere until I find out what happened to my friend. If you two want to wait outside I don’t mind. I can search the whole place in an hour, maybe two. Something happened here. Why would the paladins leave this place totally unprotected?”

“I’ll help you search,” Amanda said. “We’ve come all this way. I want to see what’s inside.”

“Thanks.” Jen looked over at Kat and raised an eyebrow.

“Fine, someone has to keep you two out of trouble. Let’s get this over with.”

They reached the keep doors and Jen shoved them open. She shook her head. They hadn’t even sealed up the keep. How careless could you be? Did they really expect their reputation to keep the fortress safe?

Inside everything was gray stone with little in the way of decoration. They walked down the empty halls, pushing doors open as they went. Jen’s breath caught when she opened the chapel door. It was every bit as beautiful as Marie-Bell had said. Some of the archangels depicted in the windows she recognized and others were new to her.

On the altar rested enough gold and platinum for a thief to retire on for the rest of his life. Amanda took three steps through the door before Kat grabbed her collar and yanked her back.

“What?”

“I think we can say no one is in there without touching anything. Let’s keep moving.” Kat nudged Amanda further down the hall.

“Come on. When are we going to have another chance to poke around this place? This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. You don’t want to waste it.”

“No.” Kat pointed down the hall. “What I don’t want is for a paladin to come home and find us mucking about in their chapel.”

“Fine.” Amanda stomped down the hall to the next door. She thrust it open with a good deal more energy than necessary. “Hey, this is an office. Maybe we can find something useful in here.”

She ducked into the room before Kat could snag her collar again.

“That girl will be the death of me,” Kat muttered as they hurried after Amanda.

“Look at this.” Amanda had the trash bin in one hand and a crumpled-up scroll in the other. “Isn’t that the royal seal?”

Jen took it and examined the broken seal. “Yes. This is the scroll the king gave to Marie-Bell. She made it this far at least. Whoever she gave it to didn’t like what it said. Maybe this will tell us where the paladins went.”

She set to reading, growing more confused rather than less as she worked her way down the page. When she finished Jen looked up. “The king ordered the paladins to stand fast and await the arrival of the eastern army whereupon the combined force would be placed under the command of General Gauge.”

Kat winced.

“What?”

“Paladins tend to be very proud,” Kat said. “I doubt they took the news that they’d be under the command of an ordinary man very well.”

“Even if they didn’t like it I can’t imagine they’d abandon their post.” Jen tossed the scroll back in the bin and Amanda set it back beside the desk. “Let’s continue searching.”

An hour later they’d completed the first floor and the basement. Jen led the way up a narrow staircase to the second floor. When they reached the landing Kat stopped and cocked her head.

“I sense something. It’s weak, but definitely there.”

Jen reached for her sword, but Kat stopped her. “It’s nothing dark. In fact I’m pretty sure it’s a paladin.”

“Finally. Maybe we’ll get some answers. Lead the way.” Jen pushed the door open and motioned Kat through.

As Kat led the way through the equally empty second floor, her head turned this way and that trying to hone in on whatever she sensed.

Amanda asked. “So who are we looking for, the night watchman?”

Jen didn’t know and Kat was too focused to bother replying. Kat slowed then stopped in front of a closed door with a heavy wooden bar holding it shut.

“I sense it now,” Amanda said. “Must be someone really weak.”

Jen grabbed the bar but before she could lift it free Kat put a hand on her arm. “Are you sure this is a good idea? The paladins locked up whoever’s in there for a reason.”

“There’s three of us and one of whoever’s in there. I’ll take my chances.” Jen removed the bar, tossed it aside, and yanked the door open.

Seated lotus style in a white-tiled room was Marie-Bell. She looked up at Jen and tears ran down her face. “Thank you.”