As soon as we crossed the threshold into Albrecht’s keep, Jaime gasped and doubled over. I ran over to her. “You okay?” I asked. It’s a stupid question when someone’s obviously in pain. Why do we ask it? “What is it?”

“I… don’t… know,” she said, trying to catch her breath. “I just… felt a… sudden pain. But… not physical. It’s like… someone just… walked on… my grave.” She looked me in the eye. She was terrified!

I ran over anything from the game that could explain this. Her goddess, Cassia, represented all that was good and natural in this world. All that was pure. That purity gave them a natural ability to feel the presence of anything _un_natural. Like…

Oh, my god!

“Can you stand?” I asked.

She nodded. “I’m feeling better.”

“Good,” I told her. “Because we’re really going to need you. If Tanitha has any favour coming from Cassia, better ask for them.”

“Why?” she asked me. “What is it? What did this?”

“Demon,” was all I said.

And her fear was replaced by a deep, burning rage.