Cody appeared speechless. Fox crossed his arms over his chest, his face stormy.

“I think,” the Pawnee said, finally, “That it is a very good thing this place is in ruins. Or I would be tempted to take scalps.”

“I would be tempted to let you,” Rosamund agreed. “But by the look of things, whatever happened to end this place was over two hundred years ago, perhaps even more than that. Whatever punishment was due to those who kept the Magdalenes in such misery has long since been meted out.” She paused. “And we cannot have a place of such danger where anyone can wander into it. I shall send a report to the Brotherhood when we reach Reichenbach. They will come here and lay the spirits to rest.”

“Speakin’ of . . . I need some rest of my own, only not so permanent,” Cody said. “Only—am I like to get called out there again?”

“Not tonight, and we’ll be gone in the morning,” Rosamund assured him. “It has been a long night for all of us,” she added, giving a pointed glance to Fox, who took her meaning—and Cody’s elbow—and led him off.

“I should reward my ‘army’ . . .” Giselle said, looking back in the direction of the graveyard. But there was no sign of her Elementals, and the night was silent once more.

But Rosamund shook her head, and motioned with her hand, suggesting that they both go to their wagons. “As you diminished those spirits, the Elementals took in their energy,” she said, as Giselle followed her. “Which in turn, was life-energy they stole from the Captain. They have been well rewarded, and by the same person they rescued, which is why they are not here begging from you.”

“Just as well. I think that all I could manage right now would be poor fare for them.” Giselle mounted the steps into her vardo and paused. “What was in the coach gun? It was momentarily effective.”

“Blessed salt. It disperses spirits, at least temporarily. I had brought my crossbows because their wooden arrows are good against vampir, and I was not sure which we would encounter until I heard the music.” Rosamund reached for the door of her vardo to close it. “Good night to you, Giselle. You did very well in your first engagement.”

Giselle retreated into her own vardo, shutting and latching the door securely. Once again, she thought that she would likely not be able to sleep at all, but once again, she was mistaken. The next thing she knew, the sun was streaming in through the window above her bed, and the camp was awake.

And only then did it occur to her to wonder why Rosamund might have expected vampir in the ruins of a convent. . . .

The engagement at Reichenbach was a resounding success. When she wasn’t performing, practicing, or trying to master the card-splitting shot, Giselle studied the book that Rosamund had given her.