Esme did not sleep that night. She went to her room and changed into her combat gear. As the whole house slept she tip toed from her room and out into the garden. She had gotten into the habit of training at night almost immediately after leaving Moon Blood. Her dreams haunted her. She either had night terrors controlled by Marxus, or dreams sent by the Goddess like the one in which her meeting with Christian was shown to her. She found a good way to avoid sleep was to spar until dawn.
When she got there Derrick already sat waiting on one of the ornately carved stone benches. He was tapping his foot anxiously against the cobble stone path. When he heard her approaching he stood quickly straightening himself.
"Are you ready?" he asked her.
"Born ready." she replied.
"Good." he said dr
