Rebecca woke before dawn the next morning, groaning as she roused from her slumber. She had slept for almost a full day, as the protective spell she had cast had drained her almost entirely.

  Henry caught her up to the details, and she was thankfully far more understanding than Arthur regarding Praetorus' actions.

  "That little weasel," she growled. "If he were here, I'd wring his neck myself."

  "We won't need to worry about him anymore," Henry said, helping her to stand. "He and Arthur are off to face this dragon of theirs. Diana, the woman who saved you, is going with them, too."

  "Her? But why?" Rebecca frowned. "What reason could she possibly have to go with those two?"

  "I overheard her during the night. Something about reclaiming a relic within the Mountain of the Dead." Henry shook his head. "'The Chalice of Life,' or the sort."

  "Actually," Diana chimed in, startling the both of them, "Its proper name is The Hallowed Chalice of Life. Were you a cleric or healer here, you'd understand how important this is."

  Henry smiled sheepishly. "Sorry. We didn't mean to speak of you behind your back."

  "It's quite all right. And I understand your misgivings about your two companions as well." Diana motioned for Rebecca to approach her, and the mage did so; she placed a hand on Rebecca's forehead for a moment, her palm glowing, before she nodded and allowed Rebecca to step back. "Good. Your mana levels are back to normal."

  "You're a magic user as well?" Rebecca asked, curiosity plain on her face.

  "To an extent. My work uses magic to help along healing, but faith is my main source of power." Diana clasped her hands together in prayer. "Faith in Our Hallowed Lady."

  "I wish you would come with us, instead. I'd love to learn how you use magic in your healing."

  The cleric smiled warmly. "Fret not. I've a feeling we'll meet again, soon."

  Henry nodded. "We should prepare to move out. The Mines aren't too far, and I'm keen on getting back as soon as possible."

  "A moment, please." Diana held out her hand to Henry, holding something small and shiny. "Before you leave, your friend wanted you to have this. He said he wanted to return this to you."

  "Sir Gallant's coin!" Henry took the heraldic coin from her hand, feeling its familiar heft. "Thank you! And... please, let him know I wish him luck as well."

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  Diana smiled and bowed her head. "I will do so. May the Lady bless you both on your quest."

  Before the sun had risen, Henry and Rebecca slipped out of the chapel and resumed their journey, Henry taking his horse while Rebecca conjured her mount again. The mage recited an incantation under her breath and summoned a small ball of light that floated in front of them, acting as a lantern to light their way on the dark road.

  By then, the fierce blizzard that had raged the day before had died down to a steady breeze that whipped about their faces, no longer strong enough to stir the snow into a blinding flurry, but still biting enough to make them shiver and wrap their clothes more tightly around them.

  The Mines were about a day's ride away, and the town of Winterfrost would have to be their next stopping point; Henry had never been to the town himself, but Sir Gallant's tales of a rough-and-tumble settlement were enough to make him dread it.

  "Are you still feeling alright?" he asked Rebecca, pushing Winterfrost out of his mind. "You were out for most of yesterday!"

  "I'll manage," she replied, her cloak wrapped tightly around her; even in the brisk wind, she insisted on wearing her conical wide-brimmed hat, which somehow stayed on her head in spite of the breeze. Henry couldn't help but smile as he watched the hat slouch crazily in the wind, yet remain rooted atop her curls.

  "What do you suppose their chances are with that dragon?" Rebecca went on, ignoring her hat situation. "Assuming there is one, at that."

  Henry shook his head. "Three against a beast that size is unthinkable, let alone without a single trained knight between them. Diana I'm not sure about, Arthur I have little confidence in, and Praetorus is likely to use them again as he did with us."

  "That's what I was afraid of," she sighed. "How far away is the Mountain of the Dead from the Mines, anyhow?"

  "About a few hours. Why?"

  "I was thinking, once we gather our goods, we could maybe join them at the Mountain. Between your sword and my magic, it would certainly help their odds."

  "Out of the question. We're going right to the local Knight chapter and requesting their aid first. If they can't stop the others, they can at least be of better help than us."

  Rebecca gave him a look. "You trust the Knights that much?"

  "You know me by now. Of course I do." Henry raised his brow. "You said so yourself. We've only my sword and your magic, and we're novices. Even one experienced Knight is of more help than ten of us."

  "For their sake, I hope so," she said. "I still think that-"

  A faint shape ahead cut her off mid-sentence. "Wait. What's that up ahead?"

  Henry squinted, trying to peer into the dark ahead. "I'm not sure. Can you make the light brighter?"

  Rebecca waved her hand, and the orb of light that illuminated the path increased its luminosity; for a split second, Henry could see a humanoid shape flinch at the light, before darting away into the darkness again.

  "Did you see what it was?" the mage asked.

  Henry paused for a moment, before shaking his head. "No. It must've been nothing, just a trick of the eyes."

  Rebecca decreased the light back down to its previous brightness, and Henry took the lead as they continued on. Maybe it was the lack of sleep over the past few days, or maybe his eyes were playing tricks on him; either way, Henry could have sworn he saw the bandit leader Praetorus had killed ahead of them.

  But he was dead, and far away in the forest no less. He didn't want to worry Rebecca over nothing, so he kept his silence; still, he was almost positive it was the bandit leader that was ahead of them.