When the big day came, Thane rose early and showed Rapina to a secret door with several locks hidden not far from the Southern end of the canyon that housed the cliff-side entrance to Thane's abode. The secret door led to a staircase and a cavern. Water filled the central strip of the cavern. There Thane kept his boats, two canoes, a longboat, the relatively new fishing boat that Drake and the boys had picked Rapina up in, and a black pinnace that looked distinctly like it was used for funerals. The watery part of the cavern was at lake level. If a huge stone slab door was opened, the boats could sail right out onto Grand lake. 

"Thankfully, the boats, save the nice fishing boat I gleaned from the pirates, were here when I took the post. I never could have afforded the large pinnnace." 

"How will you sail her?" Rapina asked.

"I will not, you will, 'pirate wench'," Thane smiled. "This little ship is not hard to handle, though I usually only use the mainsail. With you aboard, I expect we will be able to use the jib as well. I will have a few skeletons along in the coffins below in case of pirates. I also have two large sculling oars we can feed through holes in the stern. That way two, two-skeleton teams can scull from below. Rather appropriate, don't you think? 

Rapina groaned. 

That is on of the advantages of sailing a funereal ship, skeletons in the hold are not unusual. I am simply transferring them from another location on the lake where they were found, to Graveston Isle where they belong. In an emergency, they can help us crew. I have even got them dressed as sailors. The trip should be fun; it will give us a chance to go over the books you have been reading. 

The trip did prove to be fun, Thane had a great deal of insight into the nature of magic. For years, he had hunted through the musty bookstores and libraries of the city of Rosehaven. It was rare that he came up with a good find concerning magic, but he had read or bought anything about magic he could find, and thus had a broad magical background. With the tireless skeletons sculling and all sails raised, the little funeral ship made the fifteen or sixteen mile trip to Granville in something under four hours. 

Granville was odd in that it was shaped like a barbell. There were two major neighborhoods with a road and a narrow strip dotted with buildings joining them. One neighborhood was on the shore of Grand Lake and the other, larger one, was on the shore of the River Augustana. Both sat in a huge notch-like depression in the granite cliffs that separated the two bodies of water a mile west of their confluence. To the West of Granville were many acres of farmland and a herd of sheep grazed on the rough, clifftop terrain to the East of town. 

Thane was still impoverished, thus he and Rapina staid on the boat rather than renting a room at the inn. Sunday passed uneventfully, For most of the day, Rapina was locked in the boat while Thane went to visit mortician Hagston and his wife. When Thane neared the little ship that evening Rapina heard a mariner, and spied out one of the portals. 

"A priest o' Mortaebius, hey, you wouldn't happen to be that Guardian Thane fellow, would ye?" 

"Yes, I am Guardian Thane of Graveston Isle." 

"It's the priest that saved us all from Capn' Red Jack! Let me shake yer hand, Guardian. I had a friend who was killed by that scoundrel of a pirate an' his men, and I'd like ta thank ye personal fer bringin' 'im ta justice. 

Rapina stifled a snicker as mariners literally mobbed Thane. They then escorted him to the patio of a waterfront cafe where a bevy of grateful captains and sailors wined and dined him. 

Hours later Rapina heard unsteady footfalls on deck. After several minutes of fumbling with the key, Thane opened the hatch and came down. 

"Rabinda, I'm, I'm..." 

"...Drunk?" Rapina asked.

"Nonsenz, I've juzd 'ad a few allles," Thane slurred.

Rapina had, had experience with drunken pirates before, and Thane was reeling like the best of them. "Guardian Thane, it's obvious that you are loaded," Rapina whispered. 

Thane blinked. "Well therrre were so many of themmm, and alll of themm wanded to buy me a drinnk. I turnned many downnn, bud der were sooo many." 

Rapina looked askance at Thane and ran to get the chamber pot. "Why don't you sit down, you're making me dizzy." 

Thane sat down. "Really, I'll bee fine. Juzzd make sure weere ub for da hearing in da mornning." 

Rapina set the chamber pot in front of Thane. "Just in case." 

"You have exberience with dis?" Thane asked.

Rapina nodded, "Drunken pirates." 

"Ahhh. I'm sure they were nod very philosophical." 

"A few maybe, but most were rowdy, then clumsy, then sleepy, then passed out." 

"That's the difference between pirates and civilized men. Even tipsy I can still make insidful conversation. Let us talk about what you were reading this evening..." 

Although, in his current condition, Thane seemed to believe his insights were vastly more profound than they actually were, he did make some interesting commentary on Rapina's readings. After a while she worked the conversation around to necromancy... "But how do the undead feel things? What sort of sensation do you get from a dead body?" 

Thane pulled back his left sleeve, took off a glove and peeled off a gross-looking red and flesh-colored rubbery thing that covered his hand. 

"Ick, what's that?" Rapina asked. 

Thane chuckled. "A fake burned and disfigured hand. When in towwn I wear it just in case I should ever be forced to take my glove off, and of course I claim it was burned horribly and is a hideous sight." 

"Was it burned?" Rapina asked?

"Nay, it waz gangreeen brought on by the wound of a grave robber's filllthy blade." 

"Oh, no wonder you hate grave robbers so much. Well, I mean other than being a priest of Mortaebius and all." 

"Thane sighed, "Yes, I do have a bone to pick with them." Thane laughed at his own joke but there was bitterness as well as mirth in his voice. 

Rapina groaned but giggled in spite of herself. 

"It waz a sad story, really. I waz protecting a graveyard in Rosehaven from a gang of thugs, and the tip of a knife sliced deep into my finger and hand. I do not know whad came over me. There were still four of them when my brother priest fell. I had already used what useful spells I had, and my brother priesd was just a mortician. He had never acquired priestly spells at all and had no interest in magic. I am not quite sure how I managed it. At first I was sure my modest training in the staff would prevail over a band of untrained street thugs, but the street provides its own training. I was lucky. I kept yelling about the wrath of Mortaebius and brained their leader. My wound may have saved me. My hand was bleeding profusely, and every time I swung my staff, blood flew everywhere. I think it scared the two that were left and they ran. 

The leech thad saw me was not so good, or the knife the thug stabbed me with was exceptionally filthy. Whatever the case, the wound developed gangrene and the leech said he would have to amputate. I knew something of necromancy even then. It was a hobby of mine to search the church library for references to it. Imangine this, I was a priest of the god of the dead and I did not even know if he could grant the power to animate the dead. Magicians could cast the spell of animation, as could clerics of certain gods. I was all I knew. 

I prayed for the power to animate just on the off chance - and Mortaebius answered my prayer and I knew I could cast the spell as a priest. I purchased the strongest spirits I could find and made a tourniquet that I could crank with a stick. I drank some spirits, and soaked my hand in the rest, then just kept cranking. It hurt. It hurt terribly. I carved the flesh away from the bone just behind the wrist. 

There was a crow, half tame that I sometimes threw scraps to. He... helped me remove the rest of the flesh. It was a grisly chore. I could not sleep. I was up for a night and a day and a night. I cast the animation spell before the second dawn... It worked, as you see, but," Thane's lip quivered. "It had horrible consequences. My wife to be was revolted and called off the wedding. She was just an ordinary woman, not something out of a man's fantasy." Thane looked at Rapina. "Yet I loved her, and she, she turned on me because of my hand. She told... *everyone*. The church had to hide me because of what I had 'become.'" The necromancer sobbed for several minutes, before he continued. 

Rapina pulled the necromancer close and he sobbed against her. 

"The, The Order of the Shroud heard of my heroism, and of the way I had treated the wound the leech had given up on. They hid me. They inducted me into the order shortly thereafter. For years, the church has been my only family. Every member of the order has his own story to tell. Most of us have distinguished ourselves in combat or faced bitter enemies of Mortaebius in one way or another." 

Rapina shook her head. "Now you're a hero in the eyes of the mariners." 

"An ironic turn for the, 'freak' from Rosehaven. I know it is unusual for us to be sleeping during the night, but our hearing is first thing in the morning. One of the mariners promised to knock loudly on my door at dawn. We had best get some sleep." 

Rapina nodded and prepared the berths for sleeping. "You had started to explain how the undead feel things," she said

"Ah, yes, so I did. I was going to say that my animated hand can feel pressure, though the sense of touch is not so accurate or intense as it is for my living hand. It is something like the sense of touch you would have if you held your hand in ice water for a time. On the other hand, I can feel life force with my bone hand. It is an additional sense that none of my living parts possess." Thane said. 

Rapina nodded as she got into her berth. "So your undead hand has the senses of an undead creature." 

"Yes, I believe so. We must sleep. Goodnight Rapina." 

"Goodnight Guardian Thane." 

Thane was a perfect gentleman, but after two weeks of celibacy, Rapina had begun to wish he were not. In spite of the creepiness of his bone hand and the horrors he had committed against her former friends, the pirates, she saw that he was a good man in some ways. Rapina concentrated on the present, and in the present Thane had begun a thorough job teaching her magic. Rapina tossed in her berth. She thought several times about trying to sneak outside and find a drunken sailor. Going without a lover was driving her batty. 
----

A loud knock sounded from above. "It be dawn Guardian Thane!" The voice of a mariner said. 

Thane woke and put his hand to his temple. "Uhhh, oh, Thank you Jimmy, I'm getting up now." 

Rapina looked up from her book. She had given up on sleeping after a few hours and had been reading instead. She fixed breakfast and then got ready for the hearing. The green dress was as hideous as she remembered it. 
--- 

"Serina, please approach the bench. For the crimes of unlawful trespassing, grave robbing, and aiding and abetting known criminals, how do you plead?" 

Rapina looked at the floor, "Guilty, your honor." 

The judge pounded his gavel. Serina, for the crimes of grave robbing, unlawful trespassing, and aiding and abetting known criminals you are sentenced to seven years of indentured servitude to Guardian Thane. I understand the pirates killed your family. Guardian Thane will serve as your legal guardian until your indenture expires. You understand that if you have committed any other crimes, Serina, you can be tried and sentenced, that sentence to begin at the end of your indenture." 

Rapina nodded. 

"Guardian Thane, you are to supervise this young woman's rectitude and rehabilitation. You are to make sure she works hard and makes up for her trespasses, Understood?" The judge asked.

"Yes your honor." Thane said solemnly.

"Good. On behalf of the royal judiciary, I thank you, Guardian Thane for ridding us of the scourge of Captain Red Jack and his men. The crown has seen fit to reward you with a large sum of bounty money. The bailif will take you to the Augustana harbor where you may collect your reward. Case closed." The judge pounded his gavel. 

Thane hid a smile as he and his new servant left the court. 

The court was not far from Granville's Augustana river harbor, across town from where Thane's ship was moored in the Grand Lake harbor. The bailiff took Thane and Rapina via wagon to the river harbor where two ships stood out. One was a sleek navy vessel, and the other was a large black ship. 

As Thane approached a delegation from the black ship came forward. 

"Guardian Thane?" A priest from the delegation asked.

Guardian Thane nodded. 

"This is Guardian Calvin Rames, Guardian Rittle, Mortician Galveston, Mortician Wellman, and I'm Mortican Abraham." 

"Good to meet you all, this is bailiff Vance. I hope we can save more lengthy introductions until after the bailiff performs his duties," Thane smiled. 

"Of course," Morician Abraham replied. 

"Bailiff, I'm captain Seawall of the royal navy, is this Guardian Thane?" 

"The bailiff put his hand on Thane's shoulder. This is Thane, sir." 

"The Captain heartily shook Thane's hand. "It is an honor and a pleasure to meet you Guardian. It will be my honor to transmit the bounty money to you. I will take it from here, bailiff, thank you." 

"Might you take my new servant back to my ship in the Grand Lake harbor, bailiff? I will be lingering aboard the black ship with my fellow priests after we transfer the money there, so I do not wish you to stay here on my account." 

"I would be glad to, Guardian Thane," the bailiff said. 

Thane handed the key to his ship to the bailiff. I will drop by the court and pick up my key on the way back if that is okay."

"Of course guardian." The bailiff nodded. I will see that a deputy is posted to prevent her escape. He will have the key for you when you return, Guardian. This way Serina." 

"Thank you Bailiff."

The bailiff took Rapina back to Thane's ship where he posted a deputy to ensure that she did not get away. She read and waited for several hours before she spotted Thane and two other priests approaching Thane's little ship. After thanking the guard, They unloaded a wagon full of supplies onto the ship and then said their goodbyes. 

"Goodbye Mortician Hagston, and thank you for helping Guardian Rames and I with these supplies." 

"It is always a pleasure to help you Guardian Thane, especially now that you're quite a hero, and it was a pleasure to meet you Guardian Rames." 

"Likewise Mortician," Rames said.

"Serina, you will stay below until we leave the harbor. I will call you then." Thane said. 

"Have you done any sailing, Calvin?" Thane asked Guardian Rames. 

"I'm afraid not, Guardian Thane." 

It took quite some time for the two priests to get the ship out of the harbor and into the open water of Grand lake. When they had, Thane called to Rapina as he unlocked the hatch. 

"Come on up Rapina," he said.

"Didn't you call her Serina before?" Rames asked. 

"Yes, I did," Thane smiled. 

Rapina put a marker in her book and came up on deck. Unsure of how to act, she played the roll she had played for the court. 

"Hello Guardians," Rapina said

Thane chuckled. "Rapina, be yourself. This is Guardian Calvin Rames. The church has seen fit to assign an additional priest of the order to the isle." 

"Good to meet you Guardian." Rapina looked at the new priest. He was a tall, rugged, blue-eyed, black-haired man in his early thirties. He held himself like a soldier, and Rapina could not help but stand up straight in his presence. She could see how he must have been able to inspire the men when he was a chaplain in Avengene's military. 

"Guardian Rames is a member of the Order Death's Peace as am I. We are also members of a secret order, The Order of the Shroud. You shall keep no secrets from him or me, do you understand?" Thane asked.

"Yes Guardian Thane," Rapina replied.

"Good then, you can start by telling us how you became a criminal. Do not lie to us, Rapina, tell us everything." Thane smiled.

Rapina swallowed and froze for the longest time. She realized that now that Thane had secured the sentence of indenture. Rapina could no longer hold the threat of being uncooperative at the trial over his head. Would he now betray her if she revealed her secrets; or would he instead punish her if she did not? 

Thane dug Rapina's dreamstone pendant from his pocket and held it up. "Be sure to include this, as well." 

Rapina cringed. Thane wore the look of the chess master, and Rapina was suddenly terrified of him. What did the necromancer know? 

Rapina started the story with the truth, her name, her hometown, everything... 
"...So when daddy caught me with Raymond Thompson, he used his belt on me, but... It never did any good. Mom talked to Thelma Thompson. She was very religious, and they decided to send me to reverend Evangeline. He was a priest of the vindicator - supposedly celibate. However, I knew about the reverend from my friend Avaine whom he had raped and Auntie who sold curses against him to women he abused back before he had her killed for it. I tried to run but constable Grayton caught me. 

He put me in a cell under the church. I took the dreamstone out and tried to call the lust spirit. I had been looking at the statue of the vindicator at the time, and the silver work that holds the stone, it makes the symbol of the vindicator several times. The reverend was spying on me from above. He thought I was praying to the vindicator. When he came down to gloat over me and strip me of my clothes, I asked him to bless the dreamstone. I thought it was the only way he would let me keep it.

He blessed it and went on with my, "purification," which consisted of whipping me everywhere it wouldn't show with a willow switch. I was striped, and bleeding, because he'd broke the skin in several areas. He made it clear while he was beating me that if I told on him I would be in much worse pain. He said if I didn't obey him I could wind up like Sarah Brailings. She had told what he did to her and she had sickened and died. The townspeople had taken it as a punishment from the vindicator for her telling wicked lies about the reverend. 

Later the reverend told me he had arranged an accident for Brenda Dawes too, because she was uncooperative. The reverend told me I had sullied my body and that I was to lie only with the man the vindicator joined me to in matrimony, but then he said I could be purified. He would lie with me and lend me his purity. Then he raped me the first time. It was horrible. I hurt everywhere from the beating and he took me roughly. I would have done anything to escape, anything. 

All during my early teens the lust spirit within the pendant I found buried in Autie's hut's dirt floor had begged me to let it into my mind. Rapina pointed at the pendant Thane held. I always refused it, but when the reverend came, what was left of the spirit in the stone stirred and I tried to escape into the stone and to take the spirit's power.

I woke up later in the cell. The reverend was gone. I was unsure if the magic I had experienced when he climaxed was from the reverend or the dreamstone, but it was the stone. There was not much left of the spirit, something had happened to it in the nether world - a war. I drew what there was of the lust spirit into me. I knew something was different because when the constable came to collect the decanter and chamber pot, something made my nose tingle. It was his lust.

In the past I could usually tell when a boy was interested, but not like that. I could smell it. It made me tingle. The reverend stayed away. I was feeling rebellious and curious, and I realized the constable was as much under the reverend's thumb as I was. I never wore clothes when the constable came in the morning, and I begged him for food although the reverend had me on a water-only fast to keep me weak and compliant. 

On Saturday the reverend was out of town doing a service for the farmers. Constable Grayton brought me a bottle of milk, and I rewarded him. There was something different within my loins. My muscles, they were stronger and I had more power and control of them. The constable really enjoyed it, and so did I, but there was something more to it than before. I came and I briefly felt my mind touch his, and I could feel the energy he was giving me as he thrust into me. I drew on it, and when he came, he had an intense orgasm. When he left, I realized that the scabs had dropped off from the worst of my willow-whip sores. The constable had... healed me. 

After the Sunday service, the reverend was full of himself and ready to rape me again. He shaved me, and cut my nether lips so it would hurt when he raped me. He made me dress in a harlot's clothes, and act the part. He wanted to prove he was greater than normal men were. He said he had converted the original wearer of the clothes, but the look in his eyes... He was not a sane man. I think he killed her, and I was afraid he would do the same to me." 

"He raped me again. My new senses made it a little easier. I hated him, but my senses liked his lust. When he took me, the cut hurt horribly. The sensations were very intense, pain, pleasure, he tortured me for as long as he could, so long that he made me come. I was desperate to escape. He terrified me. As I came, I touched his mind and tried to fill him with lust. I knew that was already what was in his mind. I thought if I could just intensify it, he would not suspect anything. Then maybe he would be less likely to leave with the keys after he used me, and more likely to continue until he fell asleep in the cell. If he fell asleep I thought I could try to find the keys he used to get in, and escape.

Finally he came and that healed me. He raped me repeatedly. I tried desperately to draw his energy with everything I had. I pulled so hard when he came that it hurt and I saw lights behind my eyelids. He fell asleep a couple of times but woke up and punished me when he discovered me trying to escape. I didn't know what else to do, I just kept him lusting. As long as he was thrusting he was not beating me, and he was not looking at me with that crazed look he got when he talked about the harlot who originally wore the clothes I was wearing. He was at it for hour after hour, and when he became exhausted he made me do the work, but he never passed out for long enough for me to get away until..."

"Until?" Thane asked.

"He died." Rapina grimaced.

Thane raised an eyebrow. 

"... I," Rapina began. "The skin of his erection was gray when I got off him. I had a bad feeling because I had been desperately drawing for so long and suddenly he exploded inside me; there was a rush of energy and... then there was nothing there to take. Drawing just seemed to cost me energy rather than giving it to me. I - It was confusing. I stopped and checked his breath. He was dead. 

I slept for a few minutes after that. I was energized but physically exhausted. I dreamed Auntie came and talked to me. She said that the lust spirit was supposed to have possessed me and killed the reverend, but that the church could have exorcised the spirit. Her plan did not come out as she'd expected. I was much more stubborn than she had realized, and had not let the spirit into my mind. In addition, the spirit's home was torn by war. Its body was killed, I think, and it tried to store its soul in the dreamstone. Auntie apologized for using me in her revenge against reverend Evangeline, and for the fact that her plan had gone awry due to unforeseen circumstances. She told me I was still a woman, and not limited to what the lust spirit had given me. She said that I was limited only by what I could learn.

I took the reverend's robe and mine, his money, his holy symbol, his signet, his mage light, his razor, everything that was in the room that seemed like it might be useful, then I found the keys and ran. I made it to the river, but by then the constable was hot on my trail. I found a log in the river, freed it and rode it South. I was very lucky. The constable almost caught me before I found the log, and I knew if he had that Evangelene's family would have executed me. Later I found out from Captain Red Jack that the reverend was a son of the Marquis. His real name was Evangeline Avengene." 

Rames gasped. 

Rapina continued, "I rode the river, and eventually I fell over a big waterfall. Three young men in a stolen fishing boat fished me out of the water. I was passed out draped over a log. I was in very bad shape. I regained consciousness occasionally. One time I was half-conscious, I asked one of the boys to take me one last time before I died. I really was sure I was going to die, too. He took me, and another of them took me roughly right after. It saved my life. The boys didn't know that's what they were doing, but over the next week, they nursed me back to health.

The boys were going to give me to Captain Red Jack as a gift when they asked to join his crew. For the first part of the trip I staid with them because I was too ill to leave. After that, I decided that, thanks to reverend Evangeline, I was now an outlaw whether I liked it or not. When we met Jack, I talked before the boys could gather their wits and asked if the boys and I could join his crew. 

I hid my powers from Jack. I was afraid the pirates would fear me as a witch. I had to learn how not to let sex magic cure my wounds. I got good at healing the deep parts of my wounds and leaving the skin still bruised. It got me through combat training with the pirates in spite of the arms master trying to wash me out. Captain Red Jack had a few books on magic. I have always been very interested in magic, and I also thought that if I could learn some, I could pretend I had also learned the sex magic that I have from the dreamstone's spirit." 

"The pirates, did you ever harm any of them?" Thane asked.

Rapina shook her head. "I never tried to draw on anyone like I had on Evangeline. I took only a little more from the pirates I was with than a man naturally gives - just enough to enhance their pleasure. I was hiding my magic, so it would have been unwise to draw on them hard. Besides, it would not have been nice. When you sent the shadows after us, I found out what it was like to give more than you could afford. It was a horrible realization that I was doing something very like what a shadow does. I could feel the energy with my lust sense when I bumped the arm of a shadow who was draining Logan." Rapina grimaced. 

Thane chuckled evilly, "Your story is most interesting and meshes well with two facts I discovered magically. The dreamstone carries certain sorcerous residues, and now that I have had a chance to look at other young women with my mage-sight, I have noticed your aura is subtly different. I was considering turning you into a common kitchen drudge now that I no longer needed your cooperation to secure you in my service. However, I believe that, whether you like it or not, you are more kindred to Mortaebius than I had previously imagined. I also believe that given the lust spirit was dead at the time you took its power, you have a connection with Mortaebius. In addition, our church has been having trouble with the church of the vindicator. In our eyes Evangeline's death was the justice of the gods and you are a hero, Rapina. Thus if you are willing to learn about our god, and you do not disconfirm certain elements of your story, I am willing to continue your apprenticeship." 

Rapina smiled. "Hail Mortaebius, guardian of the dead. Hallow my soul with thy mighty power as thou hast hallowed the ground wherein my ancestors lie, and let me serve thee well, before you draw me nigh, to rest in honor beside those who've died." 

"Astonishing, where did you learn that?" Thane asked.

"It's not such a great mystery. Priests always put their holy books in your room when they capture you," Rapina replied.

Rames laughed.

"Ah," Thane grabbed his forehead; "I should have known. I had thought you never cracked that book, but I see that I have underestimated you once again. The sharpness of your wit never ceases to please me, Rapina. There was a time when I might have been tempted to believe women incapable of such a degree of intelligence. I see that I was wrong in your case. I do believe your considerable talents and unique past will make you a fine apprentice. That reminds me, while we are on the topic of unique pasts, unseen talents and dark personal secrets..." 

Thane removed the glove from his left hand, and then the fake burned and disfigured rubber skin. 

Thane flexed the boney fingers. "I lost this hand to gangrene from the blade of a grave-robbing thug. The way I 'cured' it with the blessing of Mortaebius cost me my fiancÚe's love and very nearly got me lynched. The Order of the Shroud working through The Order of Death's Peace, hid me and gave me the option to join. When I joined, they stationed me on Graveston isle, a nice out-of-the way assignment. Its only drawback was poverty. Currently I believe Captain Red Jack has quite soundly remedied that problem for me. Now that you realize you're sailing with a woman who may be able to kill you with your own lust and a man who is partly undead, do you have any dark secrets you wish to share, Guardian Rames?" 

Rames shook his head, "Nothing to compare with what I just heard. I have a fascination with death, it's like a religion." 

"Literally," Thane chuckled. "You are a killer then. Be certain of one thing, you will curb any blood lust you may have while on my isle. We three will be the only living people on Graveston island, and if I am to increase my study of magic, you and Rapina are both essential. Is that clear?" 

Rames nodded. 

"Unfortunately, your particular quirk is common to my undead servitors, thus you will have to share any killing chores that we are fortunate enough to acquire with my ghouls. Once I have worked on a few spells, I may be able to give you special killing assignments. Of late, the church has enemies on whom you can practice. I will have need for a supply of bodies for magical purposes, after all," Thane said.

"That would be fine, Guardian Thane. In the past, there have always been foe-men, orcs, enemies of the church, creatures and people I could kill with a certain degree of pride. I prefer it that way. I am a trained soldier who found he enjoyed what others dreaded. Had it not been for the church of the vindicator, I would have gone far in the military." 

"Heheheh, the perfect soldier and Avengene threw you out because his son was seduced by the vindicator. You are an executioner. It is fitting that you are of the shroud," Thane observed.

"Guardian Rames smiled shyly and looked at Rapina, "Uh, other than that I was a simple military chaplain until the man you killed turned his father against all gods but the vindicator. It was sad too, Avengene and his first born were fine generals and honorable men, but the worship of the vindicator infected them like a plague. Eventually it tainted their entire army and I had to leave before someone stabbed me in the back as a heretic." 

"After discharge from Avengene's service I went to seminary and became a full priest of Mortaebius instead of just a chaplain. The church enlisted me to fight the dishonest faithful of the vindicator. The vindicator's minions were posing as grave robbers or bandits and destroying the churches of Mortaebius and other gods within the Marquisate of Avengene. I've led combat, and fought beside the unliving soldiers of our god, but otherwise I'm a professional soldier who... enjoys his work." Rames said.

"How were the conflicts with the vindicator's secret forces going when you left active service under the order of the Shroud?" 

"We had knocked out a major group of their "bandits" thanks to the magic of men like you, Guardian Thane. There was a lull in the combat while the church of the vindicator regrouped and after seeing the power of necromancy, I inquired after training. I take it the Order of the Shroud expects a drawn-out conflict because they tested my intellect and sent me out here to learn magic." 

Thane nodded. "It is usual for the order to take only those who are naturally drawn to necromancy and learn it on their own. Things change in times of war. Evidently, this conflict with the church of the vindicator is being taken quite seriously." 

"It is deadly serious," Rames said. "When the church of the vindicator managed to get the son of a notable war lord, an Avengine, to join it was only a matter of time before the churches of other gods felt the torch. Rapina, I never would have guessed a modest-looking girl like you could have killed the famous reverend Evangeline, but I'd like to shake your hand just the same." Rames held out his hand. 

Rapina shook Calvin Rames' hand and smirked. 

Thane chuckled. 

"Am I missing something?" Rames asked.

"Why don't you get into one of your boyish sailor's outfits, Rapina, we're going to have to teach this land lubber to handle the ship, and you'll be of little help in that courtroom dress," Thane grimaced. 

Rapina nodded and left to put something else on, and to take off the ugly courtroom make-up that Thane had put on her as well. While she was at it, she would free her hair from the spinster's bun Thane had set it in. She could hear Thane talking to Rames through the portholes as she dressed. 

"Calvin, I will feed you and provide magical supplies for you, but that is all. If you would like to make spending money, you can assist Mortician Hagston when he comes to bury the deceased and take the burial commission he used to give me. Now that I can afford to, I intend to spend every moment I can on the study of magic. I will also be teaching you and Rapina the basics of the magical arts, of course, but that will be a good review for me as well." 

When she reemerged from below, Rapina smiled conspiratorially. She was wearing a v-neck sail-cloth tunic and her sail-cloth miniskirt. 

When he saw Rapina, Calvin Rames' jaw dropped and he stared open-mouthed. 

There was a moment of surprise and then Guardian Rames' lust caressed her like a million tiny fingers. As starved as she was, it didn't take much. Rapina's face flushed as her body responded. 

Thane watched with an amused grin on his face. 

Rames licked his lips as he saw Rapina's nipples grow to dent the fabric of her tunic. His eyes kept moving. He couldn't seem to decide whether to look at Rapina's long shapely legs, her curvaceous torso, her ripe breasts or her stunning face. 

Rames cleared his throat, "Uh, please forgive that 'modest' remark; you're magnificent, and any man would be happy to do much more than shake your hand," Gaurdian Rames grinned like a pirate.
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This ends Granville, Chapter 20 of The Chronicles of Rapina.
The story continues in, Chapter 21, Death Takes a Holiday.

Copyright 2001 by Rapina