Crito sat in the barroom drinking a cup of coffee before going on duty. Prince Tolin had woken and he was to be one of his bodyguards while he recovered. The barroom was one place in the palace servants and guards were allowed to use. Few servants did. Shunati and Thailyn both did. There were a few others who’d come in on occasion But none were there now. Crito didn’t mind sitting alone but he’d hoped for company. He was half done with his coffee and thinking of leaving when Chapado walked in. “Good evening.” She smiled as she poured herself some whiskey. “Mind some company?” Crito shook his head. “Not at all.” He always enjoyed talking with her when she came in. She came and sat by him. “Coffee, at this hour? Are you still on the night shift?” “I’ve always been on night shift, probably always will. I don’t mind.” “I worked nights for a while. Never could get used to it.” “Coffee helps until you get used to it. But I imagine the caffeine wouldn’t be good for you.” Most of the mages he knew didn’t drink it. “Oh, that’s not it. Caffeine doesn’t mix with immortal magic. I just don’t like the taste.” “It’s an acquired one. The coffee here is better than the barracks, especially this late in the day.” “You need to have Jo teach you guys. I’m told she makes it quite well.” Crito nodded. “She does, but it’s a bit strong for my taste. I can always tell when she’s refilled the pot here.” “She’s lucky she’s not a mage.” Chapado chuckled. Crito nodded. “Have you ever been to her homeland?” Chapado asked. Crito shook his head. “I haven’t had the pleasure.” “I’d hardly call it a pleasure. I hate when I have to go there. I wasn’t happy to see Ann had taken us back there when we escaped Cramda.” “Not that she’d had much choice. Though it was foolhardy for the rescue team to be so small.” “There was a limit to how many they could transport. And what would a bunch of soldiers have done against immortals?” “Act as a distraction. The immortals would have been busy killing us and given the dragons a fighting chance.” “You talk about dying so calmly.” Crito shrugged. “I’m a soldier. It’s part of the job. It’s not like we’ll live forever anyhow. We all die, well us mortals do.” “Immortals die too, just not as easily. Most mortals aren’t as accepting about it as you. I once thought about doing a study on how different races viewed death. Kritalla talked me out of it.” “Is studying your addiction?” Crito guessed. Chapado shook her head. “Immortals don’t need addictions. Our magic doesn’t give us excess energy.” She grinned. “I think we’d explode.” Crito laughed. “We don’t have addictions, but we do have a tendency towards obsessions. Studying and learning is fascinating to me.” “How many studies have you had going at once?” “Four, I think. If I do too many, they get in the way of each other.” “How long do they take?” “Some a few decades, others centuries.” “Centuries?” Crito raised an eyebrow. “I’m sure they’re all informative but I can’t imagine taking that long to learn something.” Except maybe sums. He still struggled with numbers but he didn’t bring that up. “How long have you studied fighting?” “About thirty years or so.” “Over half your life?” Crito nodded. He wasn’t sure, but he’d take her word for it. “And you don’t think that’s long?” “I study it to stay alive, not just for the sake of learning.” “I thought you didn’t mind death.” Crito shook his head. “I’ve accepted that I’m going to die. I’d rather it didn’t happen soon.” “I’m sorry. There’s something I just have to do.” She leaned in and kissed him. He kissed her back. He smiled as she ended the kiss. He’d imagined that for a while but had been hesitant. She looked like she would apologize again. “I’m glad you did that,’ he told her and kissed her again. “Perhaps we should take this somewhere more private,” she suggested after a moment. “I can’t have women in my room,” he told her. “Besides, I have three roommates, not very private.” “My room is in the south wing,” she offered. He hesitated. He wanted to, but was it a good idea, him and her? Was him and any woman a good idea? Maybe she’d be a better choice. He’d been trying to convince himself of that for months, that his curse wouldn’t affect her. He nodded and followed her to her room.