Marie-Bell lay on the unfamiliar bed, in the dark, staring up at the unseen ceiling. The guest room was for visiting officials so it was far bigger than the little cell she used to sleep in when she served the commander. It felt strange having so much space all to herself. It also smelled stale and musty from disuse. The fortress didn’t even have visitors annually, much less often enough to justify regular cleaning of the room.

She sighed and rolled over on her side. Hopefully tomorrow Commander Kendy would have the information she needed and Marie-Bell could return to the capital and share the possible good news with Jen.

It surprised Marie-Bell how quickly she’d come to think of the warlord as a dear friend, especially considering how they’d first met. While Marie-Bell didn’t have a great deal of combat experience, she’d been taught that paladins were the strongest warriors in the kingdom. The fact that even a strong warlord could not only go toe to toe with her, but put her on the defensive had shocked Marie-Bell and forced her to wonder what else she’d taken as truth that actually wasn’t. Watching Damien banish the demon had really driven her inexperience home. She had so much to learn and she wasn’t going to do it here.

A noise outside her door drew Marie-Bell’s attention across the room just as the door burst open and four figures rushed in. She couldn’t make out any detail, just dark silhouettes against the light coming through the door.

How had enemies gotten inside the fortress?

She scrambled for her hammer.

White light burst from the intruders and bound her in place.

Holy energy? Marie-Bell tried to call on her own power, but found the path blocked. Her heart raced and sweat broke out on her back under her shift.

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“What are you doing?” she asked, her thoughts going fuzzy.

“We’ve decided you’re to be punished for the means you chose to leave us,” Commander Kendy said. “The vote was unanimous. Do not fear and please don’t resist. Several days in the punishment chamber meditating on your mistakes will benefit you a great deal. Just relax.”

Marie-Bell didn’t relax. She fought the lethargy flooding her body with everything she had. Her efforts were in vain. Eyelids drooping, she flopped to the bed, conscious, but unable to move. Muddy thoughts tried to piece together what had been done to her, but she couldn’t concentrate.

She groaned when strong arms lifted her up. Vague, broken images of walls and ceiling, movement, bouncing down the hall.

The light hurt her eyes. She tried to call for help, but no words emerged.

Time passed, how long she couldn’t say. Marie-Bell lay on a hard floor. Everywhere she looked was white tile engraved with holy symbols.

Weak, wobbly arms tried to push herself up and after three tries succeeded. She rubbed still-blurry eyes. When she tried to draw on her power she ran into a barrier between her will and her core.

Marie-Bell staggered to her feet and stumbled over to the wall. A thin line indicated the door’s location. She pounded on it, feeble blows that wouldn’t have broken glass much less the heavy, tile-covered door.

She spun around and slumped down in front of the sealed door. Why had the commander locked her in here? She said it was punishment for leaving the fortress at night, but as far as Marie-Bell knew that wasn’t an offense. She knew the commander didn’t like her and resented the fact that she was chosen as a paladin in the first place, but Marie-Bell couldn’t believe Commander Kendy would go so far as to punish her for following her convictions.

As her mind cleared she realized where they’d taken her: the punishment cell. Everyone in the fortress had heard of the chamber where paladins couldn’t access their powers. The creators of the Order had built the room as a place where members they felt had fallen from the path of light could meditate on what it meant to lose their powers as that’s what would happen if they didn’t get back on the proper course.

Marie-Bell didn’t think she was on the wrong path, but that didn’t matter. Once a paladin had been locked in the chamber the only way to escape was to be released from the outside. She just had to hope the commander came to her senses. At least the sorcery that prevented her from using her soul force also provided for her physical needs. Now she just had to hope she didn’t go insane before they let her out.