shoulders. Her legs and feet were bare and her hair hung in damp curls. A fresh bandage wrapped her left arm, but the sling was gone.
“ Hi! ” Garrett said, more than a little startled. He hastily wiped his finger clean , leaving a long glowing streak on his robe .
“ I’m sorry about what happened to you, ” she said, “ The Templars can be rather... zealous at times. ”
“ Oh, ” Garrett said. He tried to push t he image of the Templar sergeant standing over him with a cudgel out of his mind. “ It’s all right. I’m not really hurt or anything. ”
“ I’m glad, ” she said.
“ Just... they took my fairy, and my zombie, ” Garrett said, “ Do you think they will give them back? ”
“ You have a fairy? ” Serepheni asked.
Garrett felt suddenly embarrassed . “ Yeah, ” he said, “ It was a gift. ”
She smiled. “ I give you my word, ” she said, “ I will set things straight when we return. You will have your fairy back. ”
“ Thanks, ” Garrett said. For the first time since fleeing the city, he felt as though someone might really be able to make things right again.
“ For now, ” she said, “ we must make the best of things. Max found this place for us. I will admit I was impressed. Only he could find a hot bath in the middle of a swamp. ”
“ Yeah, ” Garrett laughed.
“ Would you like to bathe? ” Serepheni asked. I have more towels, if you’d like to borrow one. ”
Garrett’s face suddenly grew very hot. “ No, ” he said, “ I mean, thank you, but... I’d like to have breakfast first, if there is any. ”
“ Of course . ” she said, offering her hand, “ C ome with me. ”
Garret t hesitated a moment and then took her hand. Her fingers were warm and soft, and he realized he had lost his gloves. He pulled his hand back, covering the scars with his other hand.
“ Is something wrong? ” She asked.
“ No... I just. ”
“ It’s all right, ” she said, “ We’re not really poisonous, you know. ”
“ What? No! I didn’t mean that! ” Garrett said.
Serepheni nodded. “ People think such strange things about us, ” she said, “ You know, I even heard one rumor that, if you look a priestess directly in the eye, you’ll be turned to stone! ”
Garrett laughed. “ I didn’t mean there was anything wrong with you, I just usually wear gloves... ”
“ To hide your burns? ” Serepheni asked.
“ Yeah. ”
Serepheni placed her hand on his shoulder. “ Max told me what happened, ” she said, “ You know, I didn’t really believe the stories about the dragon, until I saw him. ” She looked away. “ We misjudged the Chadiri, and it nearly cost me my life. If it weren’t for Max... ”
“ You know, if you say my name too many times, I’ll appear, ” Max said. They turned to see him leaning against the archway. He wore a black doublet and leggings and looked much more comfortable and rested than before.
“ It’s not the summoning that’s the problem, ” Serepheni sighed, “ it’s finding a way to banish you again once called. ”
“ Hah! ” Max said, “ I’m afraid you’re stuck with me now... a sort of eternal doom. ” H e raised his dark eyebrows dramatically.
“ Hi, Max, ” Garrett laughed .
“ Good afternoon, Garrett, ” Max said, “ I take it you’ll be joining us for lunch, or supper, or whatever we’re having now. Gods know I’ve tried to get everyone on the same schedule, but it seems too much to ask. At least the dead still listen to me. ”
“ How are the new recruits? ” Serepheni asked, rising to her feet.
“ Splendid! ” Max said, “ I’ve taken a liking to that Chadiri captain. He shows real promise. I believe he has his eyes on a major-general’s rank. I’ve named him Lord Dandypants . I think it suits him. ”
“ Max, ” she chided, “ did we have enough essence to animate them all? ”
“ Of course, dear, with plenty to spare. ”
She frowned. “ You know you can’t lie to me,