Marie-Bell landed outside her old home, the massive fortress that blocked the only pass leading from the kingdom to the haunted lands. On the kingdom side the stone walls rose only thirty feet and measured fifteen feet thick. Formidable to be certain, but nothing beside the tiered triple walls that sealed off the pass. Those massive ramparts were twice as high and three times as thick. While the fortress was no barrier to flying demons, it did serve to stop everything else that tried to pass by. And should any demon try to fly anywhere in the area the paladins on duty would sense its presence and fly out to attack. Not that any demon powerful enough to fly would be so stupid that it would approach the fortress too closely.

The paladins manning the wall had spotted her and gathered above the portcullis. Marie-Bell dismounted and let the white horse fade away. She shouldered her pack, hefted her hammer, and walked the last few yards to the gate.

On the other side of the bars a severe woman glared at Marie-Bell with angry blue eyes. Approaching fifty, her blond hair shot with gray, she had three scars crisscrossing her face. She wore the familiar silver plate engraved with a stylized fortress that was the symbol of her office as commander. Considering that Marie-Bell snuck out in the night rather than asking permission she hadn’t expected a warm welcome.

“So you’ve come crawling back already,” Commander Kendy said. “I’m surprised you lasted this long on your own. Give me one good reason I should let you back into our sacred fortress.”

Marie-Bell fished the king’s message out of her pack and held it out. “I’m not crawling back, ma’am. The king himself asked me to deliver this message and fill you in on the current situation.”

Commander Kendy moved closer to the bars and studied the seal. Her jaw bunched. “Open the portcullis!”

A moment later the heavy iron barrier clanked up into the slot above. Marie-Bell ducked under the portcullis and handed the letter to her superior. The commander snatched it out of her hand.

“Come along.”

Marie-Bell followed Commander Kendy across the courtyard and into the main keep. Behind her she felt the glare of the wall guards burning into her back. Everyone was so regimented and orderly. They’d never understand the feelings that compelled her to leave the fortress and seek her destiny in the wider world. Marie-Bell didn’t fully understand it herself, but she knew she’d done the right thing.

Everything looked just like she remembered; the three-story fortress where the paladins and initiates lived and trained; the stone forge, quiet today, but ready to fire up at a moment’s notice. Unlike normal knights, the paladins had no use for ordinary mounts so there was no stable, which pleased the initiates as they would have been the ones to have to clean it. Deeper in, out of sight, was the spare armory where the paladins guarding the walls could have easy access to replacement weapons.

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The commander pushed the fortress doors open and led Marie-Bell through the entrance and past the chapel. Marie-Bell paused and glanced into the beautiful room. The light from the sun filtered through the stained glass windows sending multicolored lights dancing through the pews. The stone altar gleamed, its precious decorations polished to a high shine.

“I never should have let you go in there.”

Marie-Bell turned back to her former mistress. “It was fate. If it hadn’t been that day it would have been another. The angels had decided to make me their agent well before you sent me to clean the chapel.”

“Why? You were just a servant girl.” Commander Kendy almost pleaded for an explanation she could make sense of.

Unfortunately Marie-Bell had nothing to offer her. The will of the holy ones wasn’t shared with mortals. The angel that bonded with her offered her only the hints she’d already shared. “I’m sorry, Commander, I have no idea why they chose me. I like to imagine they wanted to send a message.”

“What message?”

“That goodness and honor belong to everyone, not just those who train for it. After all, if a serving girl has the potential to become a paladin, anyone does.” She offered a bright smile as she shared her personal theory. That theory was also the reason she decided to leave the fortress and explore the kingdom. If she couldn’t share her story it couldn’t inspire anyone.

Commander Kendy blew out a breath. “More likely you’re a prank the holy ones decided to play on us. Come on.”

They left the chapel, made a right, and stepped into the commander’s office. She closed the door and sat behind her ornate walnut desk. “All right, let’s hear it.”

There were no other chairs forcing Marie-Bell to stand before the commander. She briefed her on everything that had happened since she met Damien and Jen. When she reached the part about Damien banishing the demon Commander Kendy let out a disbelieving snort. Marie-Bell didn’t blame her. If she hadn’t seen Damien do it with her own eyes she wouldn’t have believed it either.

When she finished Marie-Bell said, “So do you know anything about the Kingdom of Alexious or The Harvest?”

The commander had a faraway look as she stared at the ceiling. Marie-Bell frowned, but held her peace.

Finally Commander Kendy shook her head as if to clear it. “The Kingdom of Alexious is the old name of the haunted lands. If a warlock is indeed active out there it would explain the strange energy we’ve been sensing. It was a weak new source of corruption until a day or so ago when the power spiked. That corresponds to the time your companion was captured.”

Marie-Bell grew excited. Maybe Damien was in the haunted lands. Jen would be so happy to hear he might still be alive.

Commander Kendy broke the seal on the king’s letter. Her frown grew as she read it and when she finished she crumpled it up and threw it in the basket beside her desk.

“Commander?”

“Just politics, nothing you need to concern yourself with. I will have someone look up The Harvest in the archives. When we know something you can take a message back to the king. Why don’t you go rest? Help yourself to one of the guest rooms.”

Marie-Bell bowed. “Thank you, Commander.”