"No more than can be averted by a hot bath," Solomon said. Though warrior-type sorcerers tended to disdain necromancers as being something close to conventional wizards because their magic required less strenuous training than other forms of magic, that perception overlooked the fact that the use of necromancy in a battle was still akin to an art or a dance.

Of course, Solomon was also one of the few who habitually used it to fight. For most necromancers, it was an excuse to not. Either way, it did mean Solomon had a tendency to need soothing hot baths on a more regular basis than most ... that and he enjoyed flouting that ridiculous rule about self-denial.

"You've picked it up well," Solomon added after a moment, raising his hand gingerly above his head so Raine would be able to feel where the muscle still caught, and then lowering it again when his back still twinged. Less than it had, much less, but it was still tender and Solomon wasn't inclined to suggest that Raine stop just yet.