“Did I lie to you?"

“Well, no."

“Then you really need to stop saying ‘seriously’. The others, and Quinten don't react until I've finished explaining this, the others are a circle of hedge witches."

Quinten gasped and stepped back.

“Quinten! Focus! They are good witches. Just hedge witches. They formed a circle naturally.”

Quinten seemed to relax and took several breaths. “You don't lie.

Okay. Okay. Hedge witches. We haven't had any witches pass through in a long time."

“Probably because people keep killing them.

"Ah, well, yes. You can't trust a witch, they say. Ha-ha! Never suffer one to live! Ha!"

The girls moved closer to Daniel and stared at Quinten.

“There's more. They are already bonded with Daniel here."

“Oh, dear me. Really?"

"You can add ‘really’ to ‘seriously’. Now you know why my friends here need to be in the same room. And they need to train together.

I need this set up right fucking now so I can go see the fucking King."

“Language, my dear."

“Yeah, well. He blames me for something I didn't do. So-plug your ears, Quinten-fuck him. I need you to take care of this personally.

If you do it, others won't question it. This is really important, Quinten. I know it."

Quinten looked long and hard at Grace. "You know it?"

"Yes, just like those other things."

Quinten paled. "Done."

Grace came up to each of them in turn and kissed them deeply. Daniel could see Quinten looking away and blushing. "Be safe, my friends.

Don't trust anyone. I mean it. No one. Stay together. Fight together.

I'll be back when I can to check up on you, okay?"

Daniel held the back of her head and kissed her once more. "Who are you really, Grace, to order a paladin about?"