“Yes,” said Sandreena. “I need to depart on a mission today.”

“But who…?” he began, then saw her looking at him. “Me?”

“You’re in charge until I get back,” she said.

He was almost speechless, but nodded and said, “I’ll have your horse made ready, sister.”

She waited until he was gone then indulged herself in a low growl of frustration. “You bastard,” she said softly with Creegan in mind. “That kiss…” If she had mistaken it for some sort of signal of passion withheld over the years, reading the report and thinking of what Creegan had said rid her of that notion. It was a kiss of apology. Yes, she thought, he wouldn’t tell me what he would do if he was staying, because she was now doing exactly what he would do, which was send her out on a mission that would most likely get her killed.

Swearing at the curse in her life that was men, she moved out of his office and headed to the armory to see if her newfound rank would get her better armor and weapons.

CHAPTER 4

DEATH MAGIC

Pug held up his hand.

The two black-armored guardsmen at the door to the ancient temple were startled to see the three men appear apparently out of a grey void that had not been there moments before. Pug said, “We’re here to see the High Priest.”

Amirantha looked up at the sky and saw a dark, starry night, clear and dry. “We’re somewhere to the east, aren’t we?”

Jim said, “Rillanon. This is the temple of Lims-Kragma.”

Amirantha said, “That makes sense.”

No one on the world of Midkemia would have more knowledge of all aspects of death than the High Priest of the Goddess of Death. The two guards still appeared unsettled by the sudden arrival, but their duty was to defend the portal only if obvious attack was under way—most of the time they were merely there to see that those coming to offer prayers for the departed remained orderly. One finally indicated with a wave of his hand that they were free to enter.

They passed through a large antechamber, replete with frescoes of the Death Goddess showing her as a warm, welcoming figure who was the eventual judge of every mortal being. That led them into the vast hall that was the main cathedral of the Goddess. Along both side walls, tiered benches were erected for contemplation and prayer by the faithful, while along the back wall two rows of shelves held hundreds of votive candles, most of which were alight. A burning flame to light the way of a loved one into Lims-Kragma’s halls.