Dana took their new outfits and went up a flight of carpeted stairs to the hotel’s second floor. The hallway was brightly lit by lamps on the walls, and the carpeting dulled the sound of her feet on the floor.

Then she felt a chill run up her back before a door to her left burst open and a man made of water lunged at her. A serving girl farther down the hallway screamed as the water man hit Dana hard enough to knock her into the wall. She dropped the clothes and pressed both hands against him, and pushed hard enough to shove him against the opposite wall. The two struggled, and in the bright light she had no trouble recognizing the face of her attacker.

“Ghost Hunter!”

“I said I’d get you!”

Dana pushed him away and drew her sword. Chain Cutter lit up the hallway even brighter than before, and she slashed Ghost Hunter across the chest. Her sword sliced through his body and came out with no effect. Ghost Hunter gave her a sadistic grin before he swung a fist at her face. She ducked under it and stabbed Ghost Hunter through the stomach no more effect than her first attack.

Doors across the hallway opened up as frightened men and women ran out. They screamed when they saw Ghost Hunter and many ran away. One man tried to grab Ghost Hunter from behind, but his hands went through the watery man.

Ghost Hunter pushed aside two men to come after Dana again. She gave up trying to stab him and punched him hard in the jaw. Her fist went into him and came out feeling wet, but without doing any damage. He swung at her again, hitting her in the stomach. Dana pushed into him, shoving him back a few feet to give herself room to move. When she stepped back, she found her blouse soaking wet.

That’s when she knew how to beat him. He could hold himself together, but not completely if he’d left water on her. She needed to make him lose more.

Dana ran from Ghost Hunter as fast as she could, heading down the stairs and to the lobby. He raced after her, screaming, “You can’t get away from me!”

Jayden saw her coming and drew his magic sword. She waved for him to move aside and called out, “I’ve got this!”

Jayden got out of her way and Ghost Hunter came charging down the stairs. Ghost Hunter went another ten feet toward her before he collapsed to the floor, and looked down to find he was missing his feet. There were wet spots on the carpeting everywhere he’d run, for he’d left behind part of his body with every step he took. Even now water he’d used to make a body was being absorbed into the carpeting.

Dana saw a terrified serving girl carrying a stack of towels with her back up against a wall. Dana took the towels from her and ran at Ghost Hunter. She tackled him and pressed the towels against his body. Ghost hunter thrashed about, trying to escape her, but in seconds so much of him soaked into the towels that he came apart entirely. With his body destroyed, Ghost hunter rose up as a translucent young man. He balled up his fists and scowled at her before fading out.

An older woman wearing furs stepped up beside Dana. “What was that?”

“A guy who won’t take no for an answer.”

The woman clucked her tongue. “Oh, aren’t they the worst.”

“Are you hurt?” Jayden asked.

Dana handed the wet towels to a servant. “It was scary more than anything else. How did he get in here, and where did he get the water to do that?”

“A good question.” Jayden led her up to the room Ghost Hunter had come out of. They found a large tin bathtub, and a woman wearing a nightgown curled up in the corner and shivering.

“I, he,” the woman began before falling silent.

Dana kneeled down and put an arm around her. “Shh, he’s gone now.”

“She must have had the servants draw her a bath,” Jayden said. “That was enough material for Ghost Hunter to create a body to attack you.

“I thought he gave up after we beat him.”

Jayden frowned. “As did I. I’m going to make sure he can’t try that again. We have to assume he will try.”

* * * * *
Dana didn’t sleep well after the attack even though their room was wonderful. She wasn’t used to being hunted, and having someone so hateful after her was disturbing. Jayden had spent the night asleep against the door. Dana frowned when she saw a shimmering shape in the air, almost impossible to see except for the dust in the air it pushed out of its way. It floated close to her, made loops around her head and then drifted off.

“Allow me to introduce Stanley,” Jayden said. “I learned how to summon him from the second spell tablet you received from Brasten the Unbeaten. I haven’t used it before, as the spell takes a considerable amount of time to cast and requires him to stay in one location. But today he is essential and will guard our room faithfully.”

“How tough is he?”

“Exceedingly.”

The shape drifted closer to Dana again. “What is he?”

“Stanley is a nature spirit that favors shadows. Long ago he served the Sorcerer Lords and was delighted to do so again. He quite literally works for a song.”

Dana sat at the edge of her bed. She was glad to have another friend, and was embarrassed to need one. “I’ve never heard you sing. Do you mind if I do it for you? I’d feel better about it if I did.”

“Go ahead.”

Dana took a deep breath and sang a song she’d last heard in church many years ago. It was an ode to loyalty and seemed appropriate. The barely seen thing flew slowly around her, and she heard a faint humming in time with her song. When she finished, the spirit gently pressed against her forehead before drifting off.

“How soon until Ghost Hunter attacks us again?” she asked.

“I’m not sure. Most ghosts are tied to specific locations, and are nowhere near as strong or dangerous. Their deaths were painful or they left work undone so they couldn’t depart, but that’s not the only way one can become a ghost. I fear Ghost Hunter is among the second group and made dark sacrifices to stay on this world. What little I’ve heard of such ghosts is that they need time to regain their strength after battles. How long that will take is unknown.”

Jayden was silent for a moment before he spoke again. “I accept that men seek to kill me. It’s the logical consequence of the life I’ve chosen for myself. One reason I have been reluctant to have friends or allies is what happened to you last night. For me to have a friend means risking losing them, possibly violently. I am having difficulty dealing with that possibility. You are a good woman, better than most, and morally my superior. You should know that the thought of you coming to harm is making me a tad murderous.”

“We beat him twice and he’s still not gone. If we’re going to stop this, I need you to think and not be stabby.” Jayden’s expression showed how unlikely that was, so she tried to focus his attention. “Can your magic hurt Ghost Hunter?”

He shook his head. “While Ghost Hunter hovers between life and death, he isn’t the product of necromancy. This means my spells are not more effective against him than normal, and if anything are woefully inadequate when so little hurts him.”

Dana watched the faint image of Stanley float around her. “If he’s a soul that won’t leave, this sounds more like a religious matter than a magic one. We need a priest.”

“You may be right. Bascal has many, some refugees from when King Tyros evicted the Brotherhood of the Righteous from Meadowland. We’ll see about finding one before meeting King Rascan.”

There was a knock at the door, and Jayden got up off the floor to open it. He waved for Stanley to move aside and let in Stillman.

“I understand there was an attack against you last night,” Stillman said to Jayden.

“Against her,” Jayden replied. “She dealt with him, but our foe is a ghost and I fully expect him to attack again.”

“I’ll have guards assigned to you both to prevent further attacks.” Stillman looked at Dana, his expression betraying concern mixed with pity. “You live a violent life, but I refuse to see a woman put in danger on my watch. This ghost faces the wrath of all of Bascal.”

“That’s only one matter we need to discuss,” Jayden said. “I take it you’ve spoken with your king?”

Stillman turned his attention back to Jayden. “I informed my superiors who spoke with him. Word reached me this morning that King Rascan is indeed interested in acquiring your services. There will be some delay as tomorrow’s ball must occupy his full attention, but he will send word to you through trusted servants as soon as he can.”

“So we’re not going to get to speak with him,” Dana said.

“Not in person, but be assured that any words you hear from me or my superiors come directly from him without alteration.” Stillman headed for the door. “I’ll return shortly with your guards.”

Once Stillman was gone, Jayden drove his fist into the mattress. “This trip is wasted if we only speak with bureaucrats. There’s no way they’d give one of their king’s treasures to a foreigner, especially when they are so disgustingly subservient to the man. It would be like pawning your father’s wedding ring.”

“They probably couldn’t pay us either, not when they need money for the army.”

“You’re certainly right. The best we could expect would be delayed payment, cash or gifts once the fighting is over.” Jayden scowled. “Yet I feel confident they will expect us to take considerable risks on their behalf.”

“Which is not a bad thing,” she reminded him. “If we save Bascal then that’s one kingdom Tyros and Amvicta don’t get.”

“That’s little reward for great personal expense. While this isn’t the worst possible outcome, it draws close to it.”

Dana frowned. “We can’t see anyone with Ghost hunter coming after us. Can you imagine what would happen if he attacked while we were meeting someone important?”

“Then we need God on our side in a very personal and direct way.” Jayden headed for the door. “Come, let us find a Brotherhood church and seek an audience with its priest.”

They found the hotel less occupied than last night and the guests jittery. Dana didn’t blame them when there had been an attack last night, and she heard whispers that King Tyros had been responsible for it. Sadly, they were right. Staff members gave them a wide berth except for a single woman who curtsied to Dana.

Jayden spoke briefly to a manservant and returned to Dana. “There are a number of churches we can choose from. The largest and oldest is a mile away and the most likely to have a holy man strong enough to help us or knowledgeable enough to answer our questions. They may be as busy as the king now that Bascal is at war, but if one can’t see us the others might.”

They left the hotel to the obvious relief of the staff and guests. The streets were as busy as before, and it took considerable effort to slip between crowds, wagons and draft animals. People looked determined rather than worried by the threat they faced, and work went on without complaint.

“A lot of people are staring at us,” Dana said.

“We’re strangers in their city during a time of war. I imagine many wonder who we are, why we’ve come and if we are dangerous. Try to look friendly, and easier task for you than me, and don’t stare back.”

They hadn’t gone five steps when a fashionably dressed man stared at them in horror and screamed, “Guards! Call the guards!”

Panic spread through the crowd until an older guardsman dressed in gold and red came with a sword. “Sir, what’s the matter?”

“I imagine it’s us,” Jayden said casually. “It generally is.”

“That’s a wanted man!” the fashionably dressed man cried out. People on the street backed away from Jayden and Dana. “He’s accused of arson, assault and horse stealing!”

“He missed a lot,” Dana told Jayden.

“True, but he got his point across.”

The guardsman took the fashionably dressed man by the arm and pulled him aside. “Sir, the authorities were informed of the Sorcerer Lord’s presence last night. He’s come to help.”

“B-but he’s a criminal!” the fashionably dressed man protested. “Have we sunk so low that we’ll take help from anyone? Is Bascal to become home to renegades and vagabonds?”

Jayden looked bored with the accusations and insults made against him, but Dana was worried. The bounty on Jayden’s head was massive and might convince people that he was as monstrous as Tyros claimed. What if these people turned against them? She and Jayden were armed, but she didn’t want to hurt these people.

Speaking louder, the guardsman announced, “King Rascan has accepted the Sorcerer Lord’s offer and expects the people to do the same, sir. I trust you won’t question his decision during a time of crisis.”

Dana watched the crowd’s mood go from fear to acceptance in a matter of seconds. Most moved on as if little had happened. A few stayed long enough to offer a thank you or shake his hand. An elderly man told Jayden, “A drowning man doesn’t ask who’s saving him.”

The fashionably dressed man stood confused as others moved on. He obviously didn’t like what was going on, but with no support from the authorities or his peers he couldn’t do anything. He ended up walking away, looking back every few steps at Jayden.

“That was strange,” Dana told Jayden as they walked again. “It’s like they were under a spell.”

“They’ve been taught loyalty and conformity from birth,” Jayden told her. “Don’t rock the boat, don’t stand out, don’t ask questions. Privately they might have doubts, but they won’t want to look like troublemakers in front of their peers. It’s common enough behavior, and surprisingly works to our benefit.”

Dana frowned. “My father taught me to always ask questions. I mean, technically he was right about you, he just left out the part where you did those things to the country they’re at war with. Someone should have asked him for proof or to explain himself better. Instead they just followed orders.”

“It’s common enough behavior in any kingdom,” he told her.

“It shouldn’t be.”

“I won’t argue the point with you, but we have other matters that demand our attention,” Jayden said as they walked by an open air cafe. “Once Ghost Hunter is gone, we need a way to meet the king without intermediaries. That will be a difficult task when he has so many concerns.”

“Would getting into the ball help?”

Jayden shrugged. “If nothing else it would make a meeting with him possible, but the odds of that happening are low.”

Dana smiled when she saw a familiar face moving through the crowd. It was easy to spot him when everyone bowed or curtsied when he approached. “We could ask.”

“I doubt Stillman or his fellow officers would respond well to a request.”

“I wasn’t going to ask them.” Dana broke away from Jayden and headed for someone who could help. “Prince Onus!”

Prince Onus of Kaleoth stopped in mid step when he heard her call his name. The handsome, dark haired prince wore expertly tailored linen clothes and a sword. Nearby people looked surprised by how friendly she greeted him, and a man said, “She doesn’t bow to a prince?”

Prince Onus glanced at the man and said, “She doesn’t have to. Miss Illwind, it pleases me beyond words to see you. I owe you a great debt, and an apology.”

“Don’t talk like that,” she said playfully.

“It’s true, I do. I sent you to destroy the bridges that would have allowed the invasion of my homeland, a dangerous enough task, but I never intended for you and the Sorcerer Lord to attack Wall Wolf, much less kill the iron golem. You were placed in grave peril on account of my people, and I will never forgive myself for that.” Prince Onus looked around the crowd. “Ah, there’s your friend. Greetings, Sorcerer Lord.”

“Prince,” Jayden said. “You’re a long way from home, and have nowhere near the protection a man of your status requires.”

“It’s unavoidable,” he said. “King Rascan asked me to come to coordinate our efforts to repel Meadowland’s attacks. He refused offers to speak with court ministers and insisted I come in person so any deals made would be binding. Regarding my light guard detail, Rascan made it clear that bringing bodyguards would be insulting when I’m in his capital. Klim brought me here on a magic cloud, but I had to send him back at once. He is needed back home to repel fresh attacks from Meadowland.”

Prince Onus waved at the crowd and explained, “Do not fear for my safety, though, for I have armed men in the crowd following me. Bascal maintains an effective and stealthy security team for my protection.”

“It’s still a big risk walking in the open like this,” Dana told him.

“If I hide, I send the message that I’m afraid, and that Kaleoth is weak willed.” Prince Onus smiled and said, “But enough of my troubles. Seeing you greatly eases my mind. I thought I’d never get the chance to thank you in person. Fate smiles on me for a change. What brings you here?”

Dana smiled back. “Jayden’s looking for spell tablets that belong to King Rascan. We’re supposed to meet someone who will meet someone who might get them for us, but it’s a long shot. Say, I bet you’re going to tomorrow’s ball. Any way you could get us in?”

Prince Onus looked around like someone about to confess a secret. He stepped closer before asking, “Would you? I feel foolish for asking, but Bascal’s noblewomen have made the most improper requests of me since I arrived. They might be more discreet if I’m in the company of a woman.”

Puzzled, she asked, “What sort of request?” Prince Onus blushed, and Dana blushed too when she realized what he meant. “Oh!”

“It wouldn’t hurt to have known heroes in my company, either,” Prince Onus added. “Most of the people I’ve met have been polite, but a few question my kingdom’s commitment to fighting the war, and our capacity to do so.”

“That’s rude! Isn’t that rude, Jayden?”

“Barbaric,” Jayden said dryly. “We’d be most pleased to chaperone you and keep scandalous women at arm’s length.”

The meeting was interrupted when Stillman came upon them with four knights. “Why did you leave the hotel when I told you I was bringing guards?”

“Because your guards can’t hurt a ghost and we need someone who can,” Jayden replied. “Kind of you to make the effort, though. Have you met the prince? Charming fellow.”

Stillman glanced at Prince Onus. “Oh dear. Royal security is going to have my head over this. If we can continue this discussion in private, please?”

A chill ran down Dana’s back, and she saw everyone on the street suddenly look surprised. She drew her sword and said, “He’s back.”

Ghost Hunter hit Stillman from behind hard enough to send him to the ground. People screamed and ran as Ghost Hunter’s new body made from dirt, dung and garbage grabbed a knight and shoved him into the wall of a tavern. The other knights drew their swords and attacked, doing little to a body made of solids and water in equal parts. Their weapons struck to little effect when there were no organs to pierce or veins to cut. He pushed them aside and strode after Dana.

Dana raised Chain Cutter to strike, and was surprised to see Prince Onus step alongside her with his own blade drawn. Men across the street drew hidden weapons and ran to the prince’s defense, welcome help. They should be able to hurt this body more easily than the water one Ghost Hunter had made, but he’d come back twice now. How many more times could he do this?

“Where’s my sickle, wench?” Ghost Hunter demanded. “Give it back or I’ll—”

There was a flash of red at Ghost Hunter’s knees, and he fell to the street with his right leg severed. Jayden held up the red sickle with its glowing blade. “What, this old thing? Hello, Ghost Hunter. I see you’ve built yourself a body that matches your soul.”

“You dog!” Ghost Hunter yelled as he struggled to get up. That ended when Jayden swept the sickle down and took off Ghost Hunter’s right arm at the shoulder. Jayden grabbed what was left of his enemy and shoved him against the tavern wall.

“This is the third time you’ve lost to us,” Jayden said through gritted teeth. “We can and will kill you as many times as it takes to get it through your head that you’ll never win. Do you hear me, you petty, pathetic excuse for a man? You will never win!”

Ghost Hunter scowled back with a face made of filth. “I can lose a hundred times. You only have to lose once.”

“I’m legitimately sorry this won’t hurt,” Jayden said. He stepped back and cast a spell to form his shield of spinning black blades, and diced Ghost Hunter’s body to pieces. Bits of him flew across the street before the spell failed. Ghost Hunter reappeared as a translucent young man, enraged and snarling before he faded away.

“You have problems of your own,” Prince Onus said. He sheathed his blade and said, “They are now my problems, too.”

Jayden helped up Stillman. “Not long ago we fought Ghost Hunter and won, a victory he is intent on contesting. We need him dealt with permanently before dusk.”

“I’ve heard of this fiend,” Stillman said. “He’s said to have fought countless battles over thirty years. What can we do to hurt him that others didn’t?”

“We get holy,” Jayden told them. “Only hours passed since his last attack, so we must assume he won’t need long to regain his strength. Hurry, for time is not an ally.”

“Prince, you must leave,” Stillman told Prince Onus.

That request didn’t go over well. “I have no intention of running when a woman’s life is in danger.”

Stillman didn’t give up. “You have responsibilities to your people and your kingdom.”

“I don’t run from threats, and every second spent arguing is time our enemy can come back again.” Prince Onus looked to Jayden. “If you know our destination, lead on.”

Dana and Jayden led Prince Onus, Stillman, four knights and ten secret agents assigned to Onus down the street. Bystanders got out of their way when they saw so many armed men, and a few called out for the city watch. Dana was worried that every second they traveled gave Ghost Hunter time to come after her again. This was putting other lives in danger, too, including the prince and sole heir of Kaleoth.

Jayden followed directions he’d gotten from the hotel’s staff until they reached a Brotherhood of the Righteous church at the edge of the city. The building was majestic, tall and built of granite blocks to protect it from attacks and the fury of the elements. Large wood doors were open to admit worshipers and stained glass windows let in light and showed saints and angels.

The church took up a large section of the city block, but it wasn’t the only building. Storekeepers beckoned pedestrians to come and buy goods, trying to get attention of worshipers on their way to service. One called out, “War’s not the time to be undefended. Don’t let your children be orphaned when a blade could save you.”

“Selling weapons outside a church,” Dana said. “That’s tacky.”

“What about you, sir?” the storekeeper asked Jayden as he marched up to the church. “A man can never be too well armed.”

Jayden tossed the glowing sickle into the air and caught it. “I agree wholeheartedly.”

The storekeeper gazed longingly at the magic weapon. “Ooh, how much did that put you back?”

A sudden chill ran across Dana, and she grabbed her sword.

“It cost him his life,” Ghost Hunter said as he rebuilt his body. Daggers flew up from the storekeeper’s stall to make a man of blades. Knights and secret agents cried out in shock as their swords were pulled from their sheaths and drawn into the horrible mass of weapons. Jayden and Prince Onus lost both their swords as they were pulled from their scabbards and flew into the air. Chain Cutter nearly flew from Dana’s hands, but she held the handle tightly until the force pulling it stopped.

Ghost Hunter’s new body stood seven feet tall, with swords for hands and more swords sticking out of his back and legs. A malignant sight, the swords and daggers that made up his body glittered in the sunlight. He took a step toward them, stretching his arms and legs before going into a run straight for Dana.

“Scatter!” Jayden ordered as he grabbed Dana and Prince Onus by the hand. He ran into the church with Ghost Hunter only steps behind them. Once they were inside, he pushed the two of them forward while he went to the right.

Inside the church was much like Dana remembered from her youth. There were rows of benches leading to a marble altar. Bowls of holy water were next to the doors and a baptismal font stood to the left of altar, and a huge pipe organ to the altar’s right. Well-worn carpeting covered the floor. Dana spotted eight men and women seated at the benches in prayer, although they looked up as she and Prince Onus ran by.

An elderly brotherhood priest standing by the altar saw them coming and stepped toward them. The black clad priest brushed white hair from his brow and asked, “Sir, madam, people are screaming outside. What is the cause of this disturbance?”

“Angry ghost!” Dana yelled as she ran to the priest.

“Angry?” Ghost Hunter asked as he marched after them, his body of daggers and swords cutting up the carpeting with each step. Worshippers screamed and ran from the walking weapon. “Try murderous, you stupid cow. I’m going to fillet you both!”

The priest’s eyes opened wide and his mouth opened, but surprise was quickly replaced by resolve. He saw Chain Cutter in Dana’s hand and pointed at it. “Place it on the altar, hurry!”

“God’s not going to save you!” Ghost Hunter snarled, and he broke into a run. “No one’s going to save you!”

Ghost Hunter’s hateful taunts ended when a black whip wrapped around his waist. He cried out in surprise, then anger as the whip began to burn through his newest body. Dana saw Jayden behind Ghost Hunter, pulling hard on the whip and trying to stop his enemy. It wasn’t enough, Ghost Hunter was too big this time, too strong, and he forced his way forward. He was slowed, not stopped.

The priest seized a large silver bowl from inside the baptismal font and hurried to the altar. He poured it onto Dana’s sword, and to her shock Chain Cutter absorbed the holy water like a dry sponge. The priest set aside the bowl and called out prayers and benedictions. Chain Cutter glowed white as it took up everything the priest could give it.

“I can make a hundred bodies after this!” Ghost Hunter vowed. “You will die! I’ll kill you, your friends, your family, everyone you love!”

Jayden’s whip cut through one of the daggers that made up Ghost Hunter’s body. Another dagger came apart and fell to the floor, then a sword. He was destroying Ghost Hunter, but not fast enough. Ghost Hunter would be on them before he was gone again.

“It’s ready!” the priest called out.

Dana grabbed her sword and nearly dropped it in surprise. Chain Cutter was warm to the touch, and it glowed a pure white light. She heard voices when she held it, prayers she remembered from childhood.

“You think that will stop me?” Ghost Hunter said contemptuously as he reached the altar. He raised his right arm high and swung it down with two stolen swords aimed at her head.

“Yes,” she told him, hacked off his arm in a shower of sparks before plunging Chain Cutter through his chest.

Dana had seen Ghost Hunter lose three bodies, two to her and one to Jayden, but she’d never heard him scream as he did now. His body of weapons shook, and dropped daggers and swords cut in half as Chain Cutter sliced through it. He staggered under the attack, crying out in agony until his body of blades fell apart. Dana saw Ghost Hunter’s translucent body with her sword driven through his heart. He grabbed it and tried to pull the sword out, and cried out louder as her sword cut his hands.

“You have done great evil,” the priest said as he strode up to Ghost Hunter. “You separated yourself from God and His love when you tied yourself to darkness. You sacrificed everything that truly mattered to hurt others. Even in the throes of evil you had the chance to repent, to be redeemed, and refused it. You will have no more chances.”

“No!” Ghost Hunter cried out. “No!”

“Name yourself,” the priest ordered.

“T-Tellmet Skies,” Ghost Hunter whispered.

The priest’s eyes narrowed, and he pointed a finger at Ghost Hunter. “Tellmet Skies, that sword has severed the bonds that held you to this world. I finish what it started. In His name I order you to leave. Face the judgement you have avoided for so long, and never return.”

Dana couldn’t understand what the priest said next. His words were like thunder that filled the church, echoing between its walls. Ghost Hunter’s panicked screaming was lost in the sound. She saw hands take hold of the ghost and pull him away, but couldn’t see who they were. Ghost Hunter’s rage and spite were replaced with terror as he reached to her for help mere moments after trying to kill her. There was a flash as he disappeared, and the thunderous voice fell silent.

“Wow,” Dana said. She lowered her sword and stared at the mass of weapons on the church floor.

Stillman walked up alongside Jayden. “Is he dead?”

“Tellmet Skies has been dead for some time,” the priest said. “His soul has moved on despite his best efforts to remain.”

“Where did he go?” Dana asked.

“Heaven is an unlikely answer,” the priest told her. He bent down to comfort a frightened woman who’d come here to worship and found her place of refuge turned into a battlefield. “I can’t imagine why he was so foolish as to enter a house of God.”

Jayden retrieved his sword and handed Prince Onus back his blade. “It was a toxic blend of rage and stupidity, aggravated by recent losses to Dana and myself.”

Prince Onus walked up next to Dana. “You killed a ghost. That’s amazing.”

“Oh, ah, it was a group effort,” she told him. Dana was about to sheath Chain Cutter when she noticed it was still glowing. The voices she’d heard praying when she touched it were whispers, but not entirely silent. “Exactly what did you do to my sword?”

The priest looked over at Chain Cutter. “I imagine you’ve never seen that ceremony before. I sanctified your blade so it could hurt him. It now carries within it an infinitesimally small portion of heaven’s glory, enough to put an end to those who immerse themselves in darkness. It’s been quite some time since I had to sanctify a weapon, but thankfully my request for aid was answered.”

“When will the effect wear off?” she asked him.

“It won’t.”