“If it is to guard this tomb, I have done it for so long…yet all I have guarded it from is mice. I truly thought you were the invader I waited so long to place myself against. Now? If my resurrection were not some sign, some duty. If it were just chance—”

He stopped himself. Cara glanced at Dalius’ hand, still on the hilt of the greatsword.

It was trembling. She spoke, pretending she hadn’t seen it.

“I’m grateful you’re here, Ser Dalius. Who knows? Perhaps that terrible monster is coming.

Maybe…you’ll leave the tomb one day?”

His head lowered, but there was a hungry look in Dalius’ eyes when he turned his head to her.

“Maybe. There are stories of Noelictus, Miss Cara. It was said that in days before even my grandparents were young, the dead did guard our sacred resting places. They would rise and do great battle when the tombs were unsealed. To protect land and country. To vanquish evil. Hundreds, thousands of them. An army of the dead.”

Cara’s skin prickled at his tone and the image he described.

“It sounds like something out of a movie…a story from my world. So that’s why you thought there was some keeper of this place. You never saw any.”

Dalius’ face fell.

“No. So they truly were legends, or the great magic or Skill ended. Perhaps the last of it summoned me.

In which case, I am a [Knight] alone. And a poor one at that.”

“You seem strong enough to me.”

He ducked his head humbly, and rubbed at the back of his head, looking quite pleased.

“Ah, well, you did not see the best of my Order. Not that I was a poor warrior…but there are far braver and more valorous souls buried here.”

Cara had a sudden thought.

“Like…Arteis?”

“Who?”

Dalius looked honestly blank. So Cara told him.

“Arteis Ladel. She had a special…grave. She was an, um, [Paladin]? Crusader of the Dawn Patrol?”

He actually flew back a bit before realizing it was too far away for a quick trip. Dalius returned, looking fascinated.

“Dawn Patrol. It is no group I have ever heard of. How did you find her grave? What else did it say?

What was her level? I have read thousands of tombs, but that is only a drop in the bucket…”

Dalius looked truly interested, so Cara recited what she could remember.

“Arteis Ladel. She survived a Goblin Lord, fought in the Dawn Patrol…her grave was marked with glowing text.”

“Ah! One of those graves! Of course!”

Dalius’ eyes widened. Cara stopped to put her feet up. She sat on a coffin, much to his chagrin, but she had to. Cara had blisters, and she removed her socks to pour some water he procured over them.

“It hurts.”

“I could…find a chunk of stone and freeze it?”

“That might work. Thank you.”