Jen had a good fire going by the time Marie-Bell came skipping across the field, a bulging pack over her shoulder, a battered tin kettle in one hand, and her huge hammer in the other. The damn thing was bigger than the one Edward used, but the girl wielded it with skill. She had talent, but what sort of warrior skipped? Jen hadn’t skipped anywhere since she was five.

Marie-Bell plopped down beside the fire, filled her kettle with water from a skin in her pack, and set it over the heat. She sighed. “Nothing like a hot cup of tea to go with a conversation with new friends.”

“Friends?” Jen couldn’t believe this girl. “We just met and you attacked us.”

“I admit it wasn’t the best first impression I’ve ever made, but I did apologize and since you’re not evil there’s no reason we can’t be friends now, right?” She offered a bright smile.

Jen scowled in return. “Did the other paladins train you in the warrior arts, Marie-Bell?”

She coughed. “No, not exactly. I wasn’t a trainee before I was chosen. Any skill I have is totally due to the holy one that bonded with me.”

“If you weren’t a trainee, how did you get selected to become a paladin?”

“Pure chance.” Marie-Bell looked away, her cheeks flushed. “I was a maid to the fortress commander. One day the boy that usually cleaned the chapel fell ill and the commander ordered me to do his chores. I didn’t mind since the chapel is the only beautiful room in the fortress. Have you ever seen it?”

Jen shook her head. “I don’t think they let outsiders stop in for a tour. In fact I’ve never even seen the fortress itself, though I was in the area once back in the spring.”

“If you get the chance you really should visit. The walls are filled with stained glass images of the archangels. When the sun is bright the floor and ceiling resemble a kaleidoscope. The altar is polished white marble chased with gold and all the hardware, candleholders and the like are platinum. Row after row of polished oak benches sit facing the altar.” Marie-Bell sighed. “Anyway when I was cleaning I paused a moment and thought how wonderful it must be to go out and fight evil. To be able to help people. One of the holy ones must have been listening, because the next thing I knew a white glow filled the chapel and a voice asked me if I truly wished to battle evil. I said I did. The light entered me and filled me with a strength I never imagined.” Tears gleamed in the corners of her eyes.

“What did the other paladins think about a maid joining their ranks?” If they were anything like any other exclusive group Jen doubted they were thrilled to have someone join that they didn’t pick themselves.

“There were a few that got angry, but since the holy one chose me, what could they do? To criticize me would be to criticize the angel that bonded with me. Whatever they might have thought, none of them would ever say anything against a holy one. Is your brother okay?”

Jen glanced at Damien. He held the flask in his lap, a golden glow surrounding both the flask and his hands. He hadn't so much as looked their way since the conversation began. His gaze focused solely on the flask. From the grim set of his jaw she would have thought he was fighting a battle. And maybe he was, just not one visible to her.

“He’s working on destroying the demon. My brother can be single minded when he’s working on something important.”

Marie-Bell looked over at Damien and her eyes took on that white glow. “He really is. The black aura is weaker now. Imagine a mortal sorcerer capable of purifying a demon. There are those among the Order that would claim such a thing was impossible.”

Jen smiled. “Damien does a lot of things people claim are impossible.”

“Why were the two of you hunting a demon in the first place? That is more properly a task for paladins.”

Jen’s jaw tightened. “That demon killed our father. This is family business and no outsider is necessary for us to take care of it.”

Marie-Bell flinched away from her then reached for the steaming kettle. She poured the hot water into a tea pot with an infuser inside. “It’ll just be a few more minutes.”

“Do you always travel with a full tea service?”

“Of course. No matter how rough the territory there’s no reason to abandon all civilization. A cup of tea is a reminder that we’re better than mere beasts.”