After they cleared the quarry, word about Ceileigh and Leandor started spreading throughout the city and jobs came pouring in. Many were requests to clear out monsters that were getting too close to roads or houses, or to escort people across Gransys. They got requests to fight bandits too but Ceileigh always referred those jobs to the soldiers. She still tried not to engage humans unless they ran into each other in the field and had no choice but to fight. Soon almost everyone knew who Ceileigh was and many called her Arisen, though some still doubted. Some of those doubts were due to lies spread by Mercedes, and others were skeptical about the entire Arisen cycle to begin with. Some admired her as a brave protector of the people but weren't convinced she was anything more. She found out some thought the Duke was the previous Arisen, but again there were just as many who didn't. Ceileigh was sure it couldn't be true since the last dragon appeared hundreds of years ago and no human lived that long, but she was even more determined to meet him, figuring if rumors about the Arisen surrounded him, perhaps he knew something that could help her.

Ceileigh continued to appear at Arsmith's every couple of weeks to buy a round for whoever was there. Months passed but her routine never faltered. Nobody knew exactly when she would show up, but the alehouse brought in a lot more business as people gathered there, hoping they would get a free drink and meet the Arisen. In appreciation, Arsmith provided her with jobs and became one of her regular contacts.

One rainy spring night, Ceileigh and Leandor sat across from each other at the alehouse, waiting for Madeleine to meet them. Ceileigh wrapped her new ebon scarf tighter around her neck to ward off the wind and leaned her head out over the low wall beside her to look up at the dark sky.

"Hey," she said, turning to address whoever was sitting behind her. "Does it hail here very often?"

The man, who had been laughing uproariously at something his friend said, turned toward her unsteadily. "Oh, 'ello Arisen!" he said, raising his cup with a grin. "Thank ye kindly fer this 'ere ale!"

"You're welcome. So does it hail here often? It's so cold tonight I'm wondering if this rain will turn."

"Hail, ye say? Oh, no, not-" he hiccupped loudly "-very often. Just this rain, mostly. Reeeal 'eavy sometimes. Hail usually stays-" he hiccupped again, gesturing with his cup "-up north where I'm from. Little village called-" he cut off, eyes bulging as he realized he'd spilled ale all over Ceileigh's shirt. She looked down at it and back up at him with a disbelieving expression, then laughed.

"Guess this drink's on me – in more ways than one!" she exclaimed, laughing at her own joke.

Leandor got up with a pronounced sigh, walked around the table and hauled the man up over the bench, causing the remainder of his drink to drop and splash all over the table. Resigned irritation showed in the fighter pawn's eyes as he led the drunken man out of the alehouse by his upper arm. He shook his head as he sat back down and handed Ceileigh his napkin. Her own had already been used up trying to dry her shirt.

"I will never understand this need humans have to consume a liquid that so debilitates them," he grumbled.

Ceileigh shrugged. "It's not 'debilitating' in moderation. But it's also no fun that way," she smiled, taking a long drink from her own cup. At that moment Madeleine sashayed in the door, swaying her hips as usual, and Ceileigh rolled her eyes as half the men in the room swiveled to follow her. She somehow seemed to have a smile and wink for all of them personally. She is such a flirt! Ceileigh though, shaking her head. Madeleine plunked down next to Leandor and accepted the cup Ceileigh poured for her.

"Can't you do anything without trying to attract attention? " Ceileigh ribbed her.

"Doubtful, "she replied airily, waving the thought away as she sipped her drink with a smirk.

As much as their personalities differed, Ceileigh now looked upon the woman with fondness and considered her to be her closest friend in Gran Soren other than Leandor. Some time ago they'd had a friendly argument about Madeleine's behavior, wherein the woman tried to convince Ceileigh that flirting and sexuality were just as useful as Ceileigh's own fighting prowess. Madeleine used it to persuade people and distract them from the fact that she was really a shrewd businesswoman. She made merchants feel special and they gave her better deals when selling. Her quick smile, pretty face and revealing dresses made them underestimate her and she used it to her advantage.

"The Pawn here doesn't understand why we like to drink," Ceileigh informed her friend. 'The Pawn' was what they sometimes jokingly called Leandor, a secret way to elevate him above other pawns due to Ceileigh's feelings for him. She had admitted said feelings to Madeleine a while back but as far as she could tell Leandor still had no suspicions.

"Oh?" Madeleine replied, raising her eyebrows at him. "'Tis very simple – it relaxes our minds, lets us escape from our troubles every now and again. Even if there are no troubles to escape from, it lets people who are normally too serious have a good time. It makes everything fun." She poked Leandor's arm teasingly. "You should try it sometime, we might see expressions on that handsome face other than scowls and worry. Who knows, you might even laugh!"

Leandor's brow wrinkled. "I do laugh," he protested over the women's own laughter.

"It's true, I've heard it," said Ceileigh, smiling at him. "Only once around other people so far, though."

"Leandor, would you be a dear and bring us another pitcher? " Madeleine smiled sweetly, holding out a few coins for him to buy it with. As soon as he left the table, she turned to Ceileigh with that look in her eye, the one Ceileigh had come to dread.

"Speaking of attracting attention, why have you not tried anything with him yet?!" Madeleine demanded. Over time she had trained herself to speak like a resident of Gran Soren to fit in better and be taken seriously, since city people tended to question the know-how of those with country accents. Ceileigh didn't have that trouble since becoming known as the Arisen, and frankly she didn't care enough to change the way she spoke or deny her roots for anyone.

"What are you suggesting I try?" Ceileigh said with a laugh.

Madeleine gave her a look. "Oh, I feel certain you can think of something, sharing the same room night after night."

"He doesn't think that way, he's a pawn!"

"He may be a pawn, but he is still a man," Madeleine argued. "'Tis obvious pawns are not devoid of all emotion or personality."

"He's never shown any interest in me beyond his duty and a kind of friendship," Ceileigh replied dismissively.

"Perhaps he needs encouragement," her friend said pointedly. "He may not 'think that way' on his own, but he will if you put forth a little effort. Show the poor man what he is missing, for Maker's sake!"

"First of all, I would want more than just sex," Ceileigh told her, dropping her voice a little. "Secondly, don't you think that would be taking advantage?"

"Only if you commanded him to lie with you-"

"Lower your voice, for Maker's sake!"

"-but you would not do that," Madeleine continued in a near whisper. "And if you want a relationship, just drop hints, maybe dress like a woman for once, and see if he responds. It would be up to him to make a move."

Ceileigh snorted derisively, then giggled after a moment. "I can just picture asking for sex. He would probably be aghast that I was thinking about anything other than our mission."

"'That is a distraction, master'," Madeleine said with a blank stare, mimicking Leandor's serious voice, and they both laughed.

"I bet he feels something for you already," Madeleine continued.

"Friendship."

"He does everything for you."

"Duty," Ceileigh said again. "And that's the exact reason I don't want to ask about a relationship or anything else. I don't want him to do it just because I want him to."

"If he has not already thought of it at least once after all this time with you, he is not -"

"Human?" Ceileigh said, giving her friend a pointed look. Madeleine sighed and rolled her eyes. "Now shhh!" Ceileigh pleaded as Leandor returned to the table. She quickly took a drink to hide her discomfort, looking away as he sat down and placed the pitcher between them all.

"Did you bring all the items on the list?" Madeleine asked brightly to cover the awkward silence.

"Yes! Here they are," Ceileigh joined in quickly. "Finally found the last three yesterday when we were coming back from Bloodwater Beach with that merchant Fournival. You wouldn't think a place with a name like that would be such a popular destination, but everyone wants to go there! " She pulled a large sack from under the table and set it in front of her friend, who began rummaging through it.

"Ah yes, I know Fournival. It seems strange that he has such a young daughter at his age. You have my thanks, I can always count on you to keep my shelves stocked with rare items," she said, handing Ceileigh a pouch of money in return.

"I'll keep doing what I can," Ceileigh smiled. "You know, I'm quite disappointed that we haven't been called to meet the Duke yet. We haven't heard from him at all since he rewarded us for the quarry."

"If you ever do go, I heard pawns are not allowed in the castle," Madeleine said, glancing at Leandor.

"Really? I wouldn't mind leaving hired pawns outside but surely he would let me bring Leandor," she said.

"We must remain together," Leandor said, looking displeased at the prospect of someone trying to part them. As he took a drink of water, Madeleine batted her eyes at Ceileigh, who threw her a look that told her to drop it.

A thought struck Ceileigh. "If the Duke doesn't allow pawns into the castle, there's no way he could be the last Arisen," she said, folding her arms confidently. "An Arisen wouldn't have prejudice against pawns like some people do."

I wonder what people would think if they knew I was interested in one? Ceileigh thought. Would they think less of me? Would soldiers still work with me?

"How do you like your store's new layout?" she said aloud to Madeleine. "Sorry I couldn't help you rearrange, but that rampaging cyclops said a different day just wouldn't work for him," she joked.

"It went well, I enlisted plenty of muscle and barely had to do any work at all," she said, sounding very satisfied with herself. Ceileigh snorted again and rolled her eyes, making Leandor smile. That expression never failed to amuse him, it was just so odd.

"I worry about you sometimes, the Venery isn't the best part of the city," Ceileigh said. "Maybe you should hire some of that muscle for protection."

"Well, I am right at the edge of it, so it could be worse. Although I do have to shoo away the occasional prostitute from the storefront," Madeleine replied with a raised eyebrow.

Ceileigh laughed. "Could be worse indeed!"

Madeleine shrugged. "No matter, someday I will be right alongside the best in the city, in Fountain Square. Sooner than later, I hope."

Ceileigh continued to visit Barnaby from time to time with questions about the Rift, pawns and Grigori.

"I haven't thought about this in a while, but if pawns can't approach me to make a contract, why did Rook ever start talking to me?" she asked him late one afternoon.

"Every new Arisen is found by one pawn who serves as a guide to start them in the right direction."

"I see. I've been wondering about something else. Do pawns have the same life span as humans? I see pawns who look like teenagers and some who look to be in their sixties, yet they all fight just as vigorously."

"A pawn will hold their original form forever, unless they acquire scars from improper healing. However they look when you see them, is most likely how they looked when they first exited the Rift."

"Leandor was always an adult, then? And…as I continue to age, he will stay the same?" she asked.

Barnaby nodded and Ceileigh turned to her pawn. "How old are you right now, anyway?"

"I do not know, master," he said. "I have never wondered about my age. I have no memory of…growing up, and according to Barnaby I indeed had no childhood as is standard in this world."

"What do you remember of your previous life?"

"I remember nothing before joining you at the encampment," he told her.

"Nothing at all? I didn't realize that, does it bother you?"

Her pawn shrugged slightly. "The question of my past, indeed my very existence to some extent, fills me with…I do not know. Curiosity, perhaps." And something else, he realized. Emptiness and…longing for a foundation. Thinking of the Rift evokes a comfortable, safe feeling, but why? I remember no life or happiness there. Yet this world is also foreign to me. I am adrift…I feel as if I belong nowhere, except with my Arisen.

They headed back to the inn soon after that, and Ceileigh was unsettled to see Mason again, sitting in the square on the edge of the fountain. When she frowned at him, he smiled and nodded at her calmly as if bidding her a good afternoon. Leandor shot him a glare and hurried Ceileigh through the inn door with a hand at her waist.

"Are you okay?" she asked him once they got into their room. It was hard for most people to notice much of a difference in his expressions but she could tell that in addition to his serious look, he was upset.

"I am considering our earlier conversation with Barnaby. The more I think about my past, the more uneasy I am about knowing nothing. I do not even know if I existed before this, or where I was if I did. Perhaps I was made just for you." He sat on the edge of his bed and took off his gloves.

Those words might be romantic in other circumstances, Ceileigh though wistfully. "I see," she said aloud. "Well, you knew things about monsters when I first met you, so you must have had experiences somewhere before that, right?" She sat beside him. "Unless pawns somehow have that knowledge right from the start."

"I do not know. I do not even know my own age, which I have learned is a basic part of ones' identity."

"We might never know your real age, but we can pick one," Ceileigh smiled. "From what you've seen in this world, what age do you think you're most like?"

"I am not sure, master. Older than you."

"How much older?" Ceileigh asked, cringing a little inwardly in case he was actually ancient. She hoped she wasn't attracted to an old man, despite his looks.

He shrugged one shoulder, looking uncertain. "Less than a decade. Maybe…five years?"

Ceileigh let out the breath she was holding as nonchalantly as possible, thankful for that assessment. "Then that would make you - wait, how can you measure it that way if you don't know how old I am in the first place?" She narrowed her eyes. "How old do you think I am?"

Leandor wasn't sure why but he felt his answer was very important and possibly dangerous. "Four and twenty?" he guessed carefully, watching her face.

She made an extremely affronted sound and jumped up with her hands on her hips. "For your information, I am two and twenty," she huffed. "Which would make you seven and twenty. Is that the age you want to go with?"

"Yes, master," he said simply, not sure if he should apologize for offending her or just not bring it up again. Apparently age was a sensitive matter for her. Was it so with all humans? He decided to ask Madeleine what exactly he had done wrong so he could avoid it in the future. At least his master calmed quickly.

"We could make today your birthday," she smiled, sitting back down and looping her arm through his. "Congratulations, you're a spring baby. Oh, this means you need a present!"

Leandor looked at her quizzically and she spent the next several minutes explaining birthday customs while she searched for something in their stockpile of goods. "Ah! Here they are! Don't look, I'm going to make you something. It won't take long," she smiled, climbing onto her bed and sitting cross-legged with her back to him. His curiosity grew when she lifted her current breastplate onto the bed with her. After another moment she turned to show him. It was a thin braided band of leather strips, colored green, red and brown. She'd taken three scale-shaped pieces of metal from her bronze breastplate and woven them into the band.

"This is a protection amulet. It's tradition in Cassardis to make them for fishermen and women, to keep them safe in storms, or prevent them from running into rocks and things like that. Or in this case, to keep you safe in battle. Whoever makes it weaves something into the band that signifies safety. I don't necessarily believe in luck, but I like that the bands show your family or loved ones that you wish them well."

"You wear it like this," she told him, tying it around his upper arm with the metal bits facing outward. "It always goes on the left so it's close to heart." She could feel herself turn bright red when she said that, and she babbled nervously, adjusting the band needlessly so she didn't have to look up at him. "Not all of them look like this, they're made in many different styles and colors. Some are made of rope, some of leather, some of fabric, it just depends. So I hope you like it."

"I like it very much, master," he said, turning his arm to look at it. She was caught off guard when he pulled her into a brief hug. "You have my thanks," he said, his voice vibrating through her before he let her go.

"I'm glad you like it," she smiled. And I liked that hug with no armor in the way, she thought, willing herself not to blush again or giggle like an idiot. "My birthday is in two months, so you better get me something good," she joked with a wink.

That night Leandor lay awake a while, thinking about birthdays and human aging, before turning his head toward Ceileigh in the darkness. "Master?"

Ceileigh opened her eyes, groggy from being woken up. "Hmm?"

"As I said before, it is an honor to serve you, no matter what we are doing. After the dragon is defeated, I will stay at your side. I have seen the old people of this world, and you will need a helper."

Ceileigh burst out laughing, causing Leandor to sit up in confusion. "Thank you," she said, wiping away tears of mirth. "I will take that as a compliment!"

The Duke's soldiers started approaching Ceileigh for extra help on missions, and after getting to know and respect her in the field, many began to train with her as well. Ceileigh, Leandor and Jenner had begun training in the countryside after she bought her first magick bow. She wanted plenty of room to test out her new weapon, and after that it just stuck. They could practice a bigger variety of things in the unlimited room, and they really needed it as their group grew. It also helped them stay used to combat on different terrains and footing, from grassy slopes to the stairs of old ruins to slippery mud.

By summer, Ceileigh was an expert at focusing and controlling her magick. She was able to create magick bolts, which her bow held in shape and sent flying. The bow tracked enemies with a magick ring, giving her almost perfect accuracy with minimal effort. As long as she fired while the enemy was within the ring's sights, the bow guided the bolt to it even if it moved away. The hardest enemies to hit were flying creatures, since they could whirl out of the ring's way very quickly, especially at close range. Large and slow creatures, or ones who were standing about unaware of her presence, were sitting ducks. Even though the magick bow was a great tool, Ceileigh was careful to always use a regular bow for hunting game so she didn't lose all aiming ability.

One morning a soldier named Garret approached her where she and Jenner were sparring among several soldiers.

"Hail, Arisen!" he called as he jogged up. "Would you care to join us on a rescue mission? I know you like to stay in practice."

"Sure, what is it?" she asked.

"We have reports that a woman has been taken by a large goblin pack to the north," he told her.

"They take hostages?" she asked in surprise.

"No, they are most likely going to eat her," he replied with a grimace. "So time is of the utmost importance. The woman's young son just arrived asking for help, but it took him close to an hour to get here at a run, which means they have already had her for a while."

"Let's hope we make it on time, then," Ceileigh said. She grabbed her pack and checked to make sure she had some healing items with her, because she had no hiree pawns at the moment. Satisfied, she apologized to Jenner and the soldiers, then she and Leandor left with Garret's group.

The mission took her farther north than she had been so far. To her left were rolling hills with sparse trees and cliffs dropped away to the ocean on her right. They came upon a crude cemetery where they killed a handful of goblin scouts, and found the pack a ways down the same road. Ceileigh estimated about thirty goblins altogether. Some were stoking a large fire while others danced around it, waving torches and swords. Another several were gathered around a large metal cage hanging from a curved metal post, poking sharp sticks at the woman inside and yelling taunts at her. Ceileigh was relieved to see her still in one piece.

She started firing as soon as her bow's ring could register the goblins' presence, and had five of them dead before Leandor, Garret and the other four soldiers charged. After taking out a few more with bolts, she pulled her daggers.

"Adficio profanus anima!" she intoned, sending waves of holy light through the pack. Any goblins hit by the waves were instantly weakened and fell more easily. Leandor and the soldiers were more than enough to handle the remaining monsters, so Ceileigh worked on freeing their prisoner. As she pushed her way through the pack, she was slashed on the cheek by a goblin she dispatched in the next instant. Wiping blood from her face, she searched the carcasses closest to the cage but didn't find a key. Instead she wedged the spike of one dagger into the latch of the rusty lock and snapped it open. The old door shrieked when Ceileigh opened it, causing a few goblins to run at her.

She climbed into the doorway and kicked the first goblin in the face. The second started climbing up but she stuck her dagger through the top of its head. The third skidded to a stop and turned to run away, only to be beheaded by Leandor. He helped the woman to the ground, who rushed to the nearest soldier, weeping and thanking him, then helped Ceileigh down. He turned her face, looking at the gash on her cheek, which was pouring blood by now.

"Don't worry, I'm taking care of it," she told him, struggling to look down into her pack while he continued to turn her head this way and that.

"I can't shee," she said, her lips smushing together as she tilted her head and held her pack at arm's length to see it better. "Leanduh!" she laughed, knowing he was messing with her now. They both laughed at the way she sounded and she finally pried his hand off of her.

"Look at the cute couple!" one of the soldiers cooed in a high-pitched voice, batting his eyes at them.

"Shut it, Remy!" Ceileigh retorted good-naturedly, but turned away to hide her blush as she popped some matured greenwarish leaves into her mouth.

"C'mon Arisen, I was only kiddin'," Remy whined jokingly, slinging his arm around her shoulder as they started back toward the city.

Leandor frowned slightly and caught Remy by the back collar of his armor, pulling the soldier away from his Arisen. Remy snickered as he watched the two of them walk away.

That evening a small group of soldiers joined her and Leandor at the alehouse. They laughed with Ceileigh and told tales of their adventures to anyone who would listen, especially pretty barmaids. Jenner had shown up, and Madeleine was there too, of course. While Jenner was talking to Leandor – talking at him mostly, since Leandor only replied sporadically and usually with one word at a time – Madeleine leaned close to Ceileigh.

"He has been watching you all night," she whispered, glancing around furtively.

"Who?" Ceileigh asked. She looked around casually but didn't see any of the men staring.

"The Pawn!" her friend hissed excitedly, then giggled.

"Please, you've clearly had too much to drink," Ceileigh laughed, snatching her friend's cup and draining it despite her protests. Leandor's attention was on Jenner for the moment and she studied his face thoughtfully. Was it possible? Just then his eyes flickered toward and over her, making her look away quickly. She turned away and rested her chin in her hand, striking up a conversation with the nearest soldier, but she barely heard what he said over the thoughts racing through her head. She so wanted to believe that he could be looking at her with desire or love. Perhaps it was time she put Madeleine's theory to the test.

Author's Note: As usual, please review! :) Let me know what you think of the relationship stuff, hopefully I'm doing okay with it. Hopefully what I picture for them is coming through clearly. And the spells for the three levels of scension are "deficio profanus anima" (weaken wicked life), "adficio profanus anima" (drain wicked life), and "annullo profanus anima" (destroy/obliterate/annihilate wicked life).