-- Lilith POV --

  A flame bath. She was having a flame bath!

  She looked over the bedding of coal. A wood-turned-stone promise of fire, the real fire. John had told her so. Many plants, trees even had died for this coal to become. It was the essence of life past.

  A bedding, a promise of fire, large enough for her to lay upon comfortably. The coal still was black and cold, dead, but it wouldn't be so for much longer.

  She carved a flame rune into a piece of coal and infused it with the desire to burn. Pure unadulterated desire to burn. Her very own desire to burn.

  The piece of coal caught fire in an instant, burning almost white for a moment, then more coal ignited and fire spread through the bedding. It was so beautiful to see the fire spread, the embers glow. Some coal pieces were a bit reluctant to burn, but friends nearby encouraged them and soon they joined in.

  She ran her hands over the burning coal. She had felt coal fire before. The true fire. Not the mere trickle that wood fire was, no, coal fire was strong. She could feel the heat flowing between her fingers, around her hands.

  If wood fire was a soft breeze, this was a storm of fire. It felt almost liquid how the heat was flowing. But like water ran through fingers, it was impossible to hold the liquid heat. It came and passed. The thought passed, like the flowing fire. She closed her eyes and bowed over the bed of burning coal. She spread her arms and took in the heat. This was good fire. The real fire.

  She swiftly laid down and swung her legs up onto the bedding. She felt heated, she felt the flow of the flame all around her now. Finally, a real flame bath.

  But then the fire sputtered, burning coal pieces came afloat and were fleeing from her. She tried to catch them, hold them, gather them again, but they crumbled to ash under her touch each time she caught one.

  She blinked. It was dark around her but there was light. A campfire. She could hear the crackling of the burning wood. Yet it was too far to feel much of the warmth, just a faint impression on her face.

  "Bad dreams, demon?" It was of the soldiers. She tried to look up, stuck in a sleeping bag as she was. The man must have noticed her stirring. They were always watchful.

  He sat not even a step away from her, spear rested against his shoulder, the shield put down but ready to pick it up at the first sign of danger. In the flickering light of the campfire it was hard to see his face, to examine his expression.

  "I've been dreaming of a flame bath", she remembered.

  She couldn't move much in the sleeping bag with the restraints they had put on her, but it was still a lot better than laying on the bare ground. And she could see the campfire, which gave a little comfort.

  She saw him shift his position a little. They were not outright unfriendly, just very wary of her. "I heard you like fire", he spoke again.

  She nodded but realized it was probably better to speak, "Yes, it was a nice dream while it lasted."

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  Now the mans voice sounded almost friendly, "I think you'll like it then where we bring you."

  "Where?" So far they always had refused to tell her, and tried to give her no clues at all.

  "You'll work at a forge again. Can't tell you more", his voice returned to the distant and factual tone.

  "How long does it take before we are there?" She still couldn't make out his facial expression, he sat with his back to the campfire.

  "I'm not allowed to tell you. But expect weeks rather than days. If there is someone you can pray to, pray for dry weather. We'll be out here a long time. Even if you can hide under a tarp, the wet always gets you in the end", he spoke in a serious manner.

  She tried to roll more onto her back, now looking upwards to the sky. Stars were sparkling, but she couldn't see the moon right now. Tree silhouettes bounded the area of the sky that she could see. That had stopped at a clearing for the night.

  "Hey soldier", she tried to sound friendly.

  "What is it demon?", he inquired.

  "Ask your weather god if they play cards or dice. I'm good at games. I can win dry weather for you. For us", she offered.

  He chuckled, "Nah, you won't do that demon. An angry weather god is the worst enemy you can have."

  Now she had to laugh too, "Yeah, I guess that's true. But, hey soldier, want to see a trick? I've just learned a new one."

  He shook his head, "Nope demon, can't let you lose."

  "That's alright. Do you have a coin on you? Best a small one, a light one. I've not done this often yet, and only ever with my own hands free", she asked him.

  He searched a few pockets and produced something that probably was a coin. Now she had to make it a game, "Good, hold it in the air so I can see it."

  He stretched his arm somewhat and held the coin between his fingers, "See it?"

  "Yes, that's good enough", hopefully this would work. Heads or tails, but with a twist. She felt the coin there, ready for the game. That was good.

  "Now, drop the coin", she asked the soldier. She had to get the moment right. Maybe he'd allow her a second attempt? No, better get this one right.

  His fingers let the coin go and she stopped it in the air. Suspended game. Now the challenge.

  "Choose head or tail. If I get it right, I'll get seconds for breakfast next morning", she set up the rules.

  He stared at the coin, which was now floating upright in the air, just slightly wobbling, undecided, "How do you do that?"

  "Demon stuff. Tell me head or tail and if the coin drops right, I get seconds for breakfast. Deal?" An easy win for her if he agreed.

  "Head", he said. She held the coin exactly where it was.

  "Put a hand below. Don't close your fingers. Just let the coin drop into your hand." She couldn't let him flip the coin after it dropped.

  He put his hand below the coin and she let the coin spin and drop.

  "Head. You're a real trickster!" He exclaimed.

  "Want me to try a game with your weather god now?" She offered with a grin.

  She felt gently shaken by a horn. That was something she really didn't like but was willing to accept in the interest of better relations.

  "No games with the weather god. Try to get some more sleep demon. We'll be riding all day. The faster we travel, the sooner you'll have a proper home again." There seemed to be promise in his voice.

  "And seconds for breakfast?" She wanted to cash in her reward.

  "We'll see about that demon. Now get some sleep", he let her know.