The Baron stood at the top of the stairs looking down at us. Slowly his men backed up and we made our way through them. Amanda followed me up the stairs and we walked into the Baron's office. He sat behind his desk, licking his lips in anticipation of our delivery. We stepped further into the room and I shut the door behind my companion.

"I knew you were the right man for the job," the Baron chuckled, rubbing his hands together. "Of course, I have trouble understanding why you came back once you had the Sarcophagus safely in your possession."

"My friends," I reminded him. "You made it very clear that they would meet a rather nasty ending if I didn't retrieve this for you."

"But with the power contained in that box, you could have made new friends," he explained, still mystified. "What is so important about the friends from your past?"

"They're good friends," I replied, " and I wouldn't trade them for the world."

"But you would literally go to the ends of the world for them? An admirable quality. I did choose wisely when I picked you for this job," he said, a glint in his eyes. "Now, if you don't mind, I would like what's coming to me."

"Not at all," I smiled and stepped aside.

Amanda came forward and deposited the Sarcophagus on the desk in front of the Baron. I could see him admiring her arms and the way her cloak clung to her body. Again, he licked his lips.

"One moment, my darling," he said as she prepared to step away. He put a hand on her arm and pulled it away just as fast. "My dear, you're chilled to the bone. Let me get something to warm you up." The Baron arose and came back with a bottle in one hand and three glasses in the other. "Let us toast the success of the mission and a safe return of all." He handed me a glass filled with amber liquid.

"Not a safe return for all," I said to him. "Your crew didn't make it back."

He dismissed my comment with a wave of his hand. "Just a triviality," he chuckled, "the important thing is, I got what's mine."

"Yes you did," I smiled and raised my glass to him.

"Aren't you going to join us, my dear?" the Baron smiled at my companion. He placed a drink in her hand and her head came up, throwing the cloak back to reveal her face. "YOU?!" the Baron screamed.

"Beloved," said Amanda, a light in her eyes for the first time since I had seen her. "I'm back. Did you miss me?" The Baron stumbled back, muttering the word "No" over and over. He tripped over his chair and fell back in it as Amanda stepped around the desk and stood in front of him. "I came back for you darling," she said sweetly, "just as I said I would. I'm sorry it took me so long, but I've been away for a while. I feel like our marriage was only just yesterday. Why did you have me murdered?" she asked sweetly.

The Baron continued to cringe in his chair as Amanda knelt by his feet, her cheek resting on his knee. I backed out of the room, shutting the door so they could have some privacy. As the door latched, I could hear the Baron's howl of fear. I walked down the stairs, the Baron's men looking up at me.

"The Baron is occupied with the young lady," I told them, "I think it would be unwise to disturb them." Grinning at their knowing smiles and winks, I walked out of the bar. I had gone about half a block when the building exploded, sending shards of wood and glass all over the street and leaving a gaping hole where the tavern had once stood. "Yep, definitely unwise to disturb them," I commented to myself as I walked away.