Lila had been considered a once-in-a-lifetime talent as a combat alchemist. She’d joined the crusades of the Eternal Flame at fifteen, travelling the continent, investigating rumours of necromancy. Her life had revolved around becoming a paladin and serving the Principate.
People used to call Lila the embodiment of Lumithia, the warrior goddess of alchemy.
Helena couldn’t imagine how anyone could have killed Lila, especially not after Luc had been killed. Lila would have died a thousand times over before she’d live to see Luc captured. She had lived and breathed her vows of protection.
Helena blinked as they stopped at a checkpoint.
The trees along the road were all skeletal, bare-limbed. The motorcar drove a few miles farther and turned off the main road.
A building loomed through th
