The outside of her home was nondescript, blending into the plants around it. The layered boards were gold, accented by stone and wood in shades of green and grey. It mostly looked like a cabin that had been claimed by nature. There was no visible entrance, at least not until Angel pressed her hands to a mass of intertwined vines on one wall.

Energy flowed through her fingertips, and the vines responded, twirling and slithering like snakes until there was an opening big enough for even Shadow to walk through without ducking his head.

Inside it was as I’d expected. Simple, practical, with a few select touches of Angel. A shimmery wall of armor, with many varied colors, including gold, bronze, silver, and a deep rich maroon set that looked ancient and heavy. “I can call this armor to me from any place in any of the worlds,” she told me when I stopped to stare at it. “Also, the weapons.”

Even Shadow was impressed when we reached the next wall in her main room, which was covered top to bottom in weapons. From swords to small blades, axes and other lethal chop-off-your-own-arm items, there were so many, I couldn’t take them all in. Each one was mounted upon what appeared to be bone, displayed to perfection. “They sit on the remnants of our enemies,” Angel explained.

Remnants of her enemies? Bone was correct.

“I remember some of these,” Shadow said, leaning in close, but not too close that there was any chance of him touching her items. If I knew anything about ancient Honor Meadow weapons, they did not like to be handled by those who were not family.

“When our bond is complete,” she told me, “you’ll be able to call any item from these walls.”

Now that was exciting. Except… “You don’t have to die first, right?”

She actually cracked a smile. “No, the wall can be called by more than one. Any who are in our bonded family are gifted with these ancient battle materials.”

Okay, then, sign me up.

When we were finally able to tear our eyes from the wall “art,” we moved farther into the cabin. Angel led us into a lounge room containing a few wooden chairs. “I like to carve in my spare time,” she said, gesturing for us to sit on the intricate pieces. “They’re stronger than they look.”

That was probably meant for Shadow because they looked plenty strong to me. I was the first to sit, and before Shadow could move to the bench beside me, Angel stepped in front of him.

“Free the rest of my memories,” she said in a rush. “I’ve been able to release some through my current awareness of the spell, but… the being who cast it is too strong for me to best their energy completely.”