8 Chapter VII - A Dragon’s Shadow among the Storm

Water...

As far as I could see, water, navy blue, reflecting the tranquil night sky with the thousands of stars sparkling on its canvas. Since when were there so many stars in the sky...? I never saw so many at once, or did I just never look properly? Strange, I enjoyed stargazing, so nothing up there should be that much of a surprise to me...

And the water... where did all that water come from? It spread from one corner of my vision to the other, with nothing in between. Did lakes that big even exist? Or was that... the sea I read about a few times? The books did say it was hundreds of times bigger than any lake, but this was just breathtaking... Nothing but water... no, wait. There were some sharp rocks right below me, dark grey fangs of rough stone, arranged into a shape of a huge, crescent moon, washed by waves that varied from ones that didn't rise from the surface of the water much, to ones that reached the very tips of those miniature ridges. But... hold on, I didn't even mean to look down...

I suddenly realized that I don't have control over my body. My neck turned my head left slightly and I saw the even darker line of what looked like land, one tiny light visible more or less in the middle of it, like a solitary star that fell from the sky and was now glimmering helplessly in the hope someone would notice and take it back home.

Then my muscles moved. I felt hard rocks underneath my feet and hands, but before I could start wondering why I was crouching there on all fours, my body suddenly leaped forward and I started falling...

No, not falling...

... flying...

How that was possible... I had no idea. But I didn't care much. It felt... intoxicating...

My back, especially my shoulder blades and along them my shoulders kept moving in a strange rhythm, causing me to heavily gain altitude, and once I reached just underneath a solitary, thin cloud, they stopped, letting me glide towards the faint gleam at the horizon that I assumed was the rising moon. I never before felt so... free... unrestrained... like I could go anywhere I wanted without caring... The air was pleasantly cool against my skin... it wasn't enough to make me feel cold, and yet, after a few moments, some shiver ran across my skin. It felt like those moments when I sometimes realized bad things, like forgetting something very important. And suddenly, that body wasn't mine anymore. I was still in the air, but I didn't feel anything, just saw.

It was then that I heard a quiet voice... quiet, but deeper than the water below: "You are not alone..."

I jolted up slightly, opening my eyes. My gaze met Shia's, her stare calm but curious why her owner had to wake up in such a violent manner. She then proceeded to licking her paw.

I sighed, sinking back into the pillow. It was a dream... but such a strange one. It didn't happen every night that I felt like I was really somewhere else entirely. Glancing to the window, I moaned quietly. The sky was still dark, just the faintest gleam of dawn on it.

Nevertheless, I sat up, rubbing the rest of sleep off my eyes. My heart was still racing a bit, the excitement feeding the curiosity and the other way around. I started wondering if it was the remnants of magic that once messed with my memory that made me see strange things that shouldn't exist, or if it was just my imagination, stimulated by too many emotions the previous day.

I quietly slipped out from under the blanket, wondering what to do since I didn't feel like I could fall asleep again. For a moment, I considered playing a prank on Elithia by sneaking through the tunnel connecting our homes, but decided against it. First - she didn't live alone, second - me shifting my bed would probably wake up my family, third - we were not kids anymore. Barging in while a lady was sleeping would be inappropriate at best.

I blinked a little. I don't think I would have been this considerate two years ago. I would have just went for it and wouldn't care until a proper scolding came down on my head. Those two years really did change a lot... but at least in this case, it seemed to be a positive one.

The first, shy chirp of some bird came from outside the window, so I decided to answer the call and start my day as well. Peeking out from my room, I listened for a moment, but there was nothing suggesting my parents or Lisiel could be awake. Only the faintest crackling of dying embers in the hearth filled the house with tranquil warmth.

Still, I decided to make sure. As slowly and quietly as possible, I opened the door opposite of mine to take a look at the big bed by the western wall. My breath got stuck in my throat for a moment when it hit me how long it's been since I last saw them like this. The grief and sorrow did leave their mark on them... I had a feeling they aged more than they should have during two years. Still, seeing them made me feel warm and safe just like before. And the little bundle of sweetness sleeping between them... I was grateful to her. She gave them hope and strength to go forward in a time when despair could have crushed them...

Something wet suddenly fell on the shirt on my chest and I quickly retreated, wiping my eyes.

I quietly left the house and took in the moist, morning air. It was nothing like what I experienced on the balcony of my room in the castle. The dew that clung to every surface made every scent clearer for me to enjoy. The wood of the houses, the freshly ploughed soil, the herbs hanging under a porch nearby... The sun, still lingering under the horizon, revealed more and more details to me, as if wanting to help me remember everything step by step, and not dump it all on my head at once.

My feet carried me on their own as I concentrated on watching the surroundings, revisiting what I already knew and learning what was new. In this peculiar trance, I wandered through a small part of the woodland at the north-eastern border of the village and ended up on a small hill surrounded by high forest, the long grass in the open space swaying peacefully in the morning breeze.

I smiled. I used to come here with Elithia a lot to look at the stars and watch them wander under the supervision of their huge, silvery-white shepherd. Even now, one of them was still glimmering shyly on the opposite side of the sky from the sun, fleeing from its brilliance into the embrace of darkness that lingered below the trees. I glanced back to where I came from. The hill wasn't big enough for me to see the village behind the tree crowns, but there already was one trail of smoke becoming stronger above one of the chimneys. Probably old Zaafiel. After a moment, I dared to look further to my left.

Somewhere over there, hidden by the oaks and the shifting shadows, stood the royal castle. My prison for two years. It felt bizarre to realize how close I was to the truth this entire time. And the king and whoever helped him were aware of it too. Otherwise they would have allowed me to leave the castle's premise sometimes. But if the prince came of age and the people still wouldn't get to see him... it would have raised questions. That's what doomed our ruler...

Where could his associate be right now? Will he come after me too? If so, would I be able to defend myself against someone who was even capable of tampering with memories...?

I sighed. It felt like seeing the thinnest crescent of the moon just one day past its rebirth, when you know there is so much more of it than is actually visible to you...

But for some reason, I was sure it would all fall into place someday. After all...

I am not alone...

⠀

Days started to pass quickly. The life in the village was slowly returning to normal after my surprising return. I spent every second I could with my family and with Elithia, going for walks and talking about all possible insignificant things, trying to regain the time we lost. Sometimes we helped the old herbalist with drying the fresh plants and organizing the old ones, sometimes she would watch me as I helped the lumberjack and his sons with firewood for the winter, as if not wanting to leave my side even if she couldn't help. My father and her uncle's hunting became more frequent, as food reserves had to be made before the biggest birds started leaving, and the other animals hiding. My dad even said it would be good if I started practicing with them, so I could support and take over the duty someday.

Kristya received a warm and hearty welcome among the villagers. The herbalist offered her a place in his hut, as he was in need of a helper and maybe apprentice, but when she learned that the village had a blacksmith, all debate was meaningless. And I knew she didn't make a mistake with her decision when I saw her beaming just three days after, and heard some rumors that the at first amused blacksmith was now completely bewildered by her talent and enthusiasm.

But even with the days being this busy, I couldn't get Tavris' words out of my mind. Sometimes I thought about it so much, that I felt like I started to believe him, and more than once wanted to visit the prophet and ask for details. Luckily, shortly after I would realize the ridiculousness of it all once more, and I inwardly scolded myself for reaching peaks of my stupidity.

One day I met him on the way back from one of the elder villagers' house, where I was helping to repair a broken window shutter.

„The winter will be exceptionally severe this year," he said, looking up at the sky.

„You think so?" I asked, deeming the question harmless.

I regretted it instantaneously.

„I told you, Yasenka is slowly regaining her powers and she will do anything to get to you. Maybe she thinks that if she puts the denizens of this country and the people dear to you in danger, you will surrender voluntarily? It's really hard to say."

I didn't want to be impolite, so I just kept quiet. Luckily, Tavris just turned around and walked towards his house before I could show my capability of being a jerk.

The feared winter came a few weeks later. The village and the surrounding forest were suddenly covered by a pure white blanket, which innocently decorated the region. The younger inhabitants of the village, including me, Elithia and Kristya, often used these circumstances for silly games out in the open. But the beauty of the season was soon stifled by its cruelty. Due to the blizzards, even simply getting firewood was becoming a difficult task, and leaving the house for longer was out of the question.

It lasted three days, before the snow and wind finally stopped, giving way to a freezing, but sunny morning. I put on the thickest clothing I could find and left the house, wanting to visit Elithia. Other, relieved villagers were coming outside as well, the air was frosty, clear and scentless.

In front of my childhood friend's house I spotted her uncle. I greeted him and asked if she was home.

„She isn't," I thought I sensed a hint of worry in Adriael's voice. „She left very early..."

„To where?" I raised my eyebrows. I didn't recall Elithia telling me about any planned trips recently.

He gave me a gentle and distressed smile. „It seems you do have some memory problems still..." he said, handing me a little note.

It was written in my friend's handwriting:

⠀

I'm going to visit my parents. Please don't worry, I will be back by evening.

⠀

„Oh..." I said softly. That's right...

Elithia's parents died in an avalanche in the nearby mountains when she was only two years old. My father was with them at that time and was the only one to survive. Since then Elithia was brought up by her uncle, and my parents helped him to take care of the child. Which was why me and Elithia were almost like siblings, together almost from the cradle.

When she grew up, she started visiting their makeshift graves in the mountains. The bodies were never found, it was suspected that animals 'took care' of them before the villagers could go on a search when the snow melted.

But she never before went alone... someone always accompanied her.

„What was she thinking..." I mumbled to myself. „The weather could change again any moment, it's dangerous..."

„Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I dislocated my ankle when I went with her last year."

„But then she could have asked me. If she left in secret, then she must have been aware that I wouldn't let her go alone, so why?"

„I really don't know..."

I glanced towards the low line of mountains, perfectly visible from this slightly elevated spot in the village, where we were standing. Where could she be right now? Did she already cross the Elladar Plains that separated us from the ridge? If not, maybe I could still catch up to her...?

I looked at the snow at my feet, lost in thought, and then, I don't really know why, towards the little house some distance away.

In the small window stood Tavris, his eyes squinted a bit, looking somewhere towards the north. Something cold touched the base of my spine.

„I'll go after her," I said suddenly. „I couldn't bear it if something happened to her."

Adriael nodded. „Thank you, but be careful. I would go with you, but I would probably just be slowing you down. I'm not the youngest anymore..."

„It's alright, I'll handle this," I smiled and darted back home.

Upon returning, I quickly took out a haversack from the closet in my room. I made it out of boredom during the blizzard, from remnants of material that my mother sew me new clothes from. I started collecting everything that could be useful for this trip.

„Are you going somewhere?" I heard my father's voice, when I finished rolling a thick blanket together.

„To the mountains dad."

He peeked into my room. „Are you crazy? Why?"

„Elithia went there. Alone."

„To visit her parents?"

„Yes. I have no idea why she didn't tell anyone and I have a bad feeling... I will do everything I can to make sure she returns home safely."

He just watched me in silence for a moment, and I was sure that he will try to stop me. But then he sighed softly and despite the obvious worry on his face, smiled with what seemed to be pride. „Go, but be careful."

My hand, holding a little waterskin, froze just above the haversack.

„What?" my father raised an eyebrow.

„Nothing, it's just... I thought you wouldn't want me to go. I was sure you will try to hold me here in safety at all costs."

„Some time ago, I would have. But you are almost an adult now, and I trust that you know what you're doing."

I smiled thankfully. „Tell mom not to worry, I promise I will be careful."

„I take you at your word," we hugged shortly, I slung the haversack over my shoulder and went out into the cold again.

When I left the village's premise, I started to think about that strange sensation that infested me upon seeing Tavris. Why did I feel like something bad was going to happen? Maybe he really was telling the truth and the situation really was about to get worse if I didn't decide to take some steps? After all, he did somehow foretell that I wasn't dead and he told Elithia where she could find me...

I stopped.

I suddenly got the feeling of being observed, like I wasn't alone... I looked around but saw no one. I scanned the fresh snow, but on the narrow paths, that I could only assume were there, weren't any tracks other than my own. The forest was silent, only once or twice I picked up the cry of some bird in the distance. I came to the conclusion that my imagination is beginning to play tricks on me, and started moving again, shaking my head.

Shortly after, the trees thinned out and I saw the vast plain that separated me from the now very clearly visible mountains. In the eastern part of it the undulating snowy carpet melted with the depression of a lake, now completely invisible. I could see a flock of crows lazily wandering around above its frozen surface. The sight was gorgeous, almost too bright to look at, but the worry for Elithia didn't allow me to enjoy it to the fullest. I finally spotted the vague trail she left in pristine white, which was becoming more and more indistinguishable due to the wind mercilessly blurring it away. But I didn't spot Elithia herself. Which meant that she must have already reached the line of spruces that were casting a shadow on the foot of the ridge...

I shielded my eyes with my hand and looked up. The sun was already reaching its zenith, and in the far east I spotted what I feared the most. Clouds. Massive clouds. Not wanting to lose any more time I set off, inwardly praying that I would meet Elithia on her way back.

The passage across the plain took longer than I anticipated. When I arrived at the border of the forest, the sky was already covered completely. The wind picked up and each moment threatened with the beginning of a blizzard, but there was still no sign of my friend. On top of that, upon walking between the trees, I once again felt like I was being watched. I tried to ignore that sensation though, Elithia was far more important at this moment. I started calling her, unsuccessfully trying to remember the way to her parent's symbolic graves.

After a few more minutes, when the snow was already cruelly blowing into my eyes, I was at the brink of being furious. I scolded myself over and over for forgetting the way after just two years, and for whatever I might have done that caused Elithia to go alone in secret.

Suddenly a ghastly thought crossed my mind. What if we missed each other...? Maybe Elithia was already on her way home, not even knowing that someone went after her? I came to a stop in the middle of the forest and looked back, hesitant and torn.

It was then, that I spotted a kneeled down figure through the curtain of snow to my left. „Elithia?!" I called out, unbelievably relieved.

The silhouette rose and faced me, a long coat tail flapped in the wind... the hair was shorter and darker, the figure a little taller than Elithia's... I took a step back, but then the shadow turned around and disappeared among the blizzard.

I quickly darted after it, and after just a few steps I stumbled over something and landed face-first in the beautiful whiteness.

I propped myself on my hands, cursing fancifully at the innocent snow, which covered me from head to toe now. I quickly brushed it off, so it wouldn't melt from the warmth of my body and soak the clothes. I glanced over my shoulder, wanting to know what I so brilliantly tripped over, and was bewildered to see a human figure lying on the ground.

I quickly turned around, kneeled down and pushed the hood back. Golden locks slipped through my fingers... „Elithia!"

I immediately looked around. If that figure I just saw really wasn't Elithia, then who just ran off into the depths of the forest? I was sure I saw the shadow, but... I shook my head, blaming it all on the blizzard and concentrated on Elithia. I didn't manage to get to waking her up, when I noticed something that convinced me that I didn't hallucinate after all.

There was a small leather pouch in the snow at Elithia's side, the thin straps tied around a little piece of parchment that was flapping wildly in the wind. I carefully took it out and unrolled it.

⠀

Dear Sigrian,

Keep it safe. It belongs to you.

You might find it useful when you won't be sure, whom to trust.

⠀

There was no signature. I once again scanned the surroundings, and stuck the pouch into my pocket without even taking a look inside.

I spotted a tiny hill nearby, a young cedar growing on it. The earth underneath its roots on one side crumbled away somehow, creating a cavity deep enough to shield us at least from the wind. The roots even still held some dirt and rocks in place, creating a kind of small roofing, so I assumed the snow wouldn't be as bothersome there.

I carefully lifted my still motionless friend. She was lighter than I thought. I placed her in the most shielded spot under the tree and started to shift the snow away. I unintentionally created some snowdrifts, and an idea to make them bigger to protect our hideout popped up in my mind. But there was something more important to take care of first.

I was incredibly glad that I took the thick blanket with me, even though it was an irritating weight on the way here. I placed it on the now snow-free part of ground and freed Elithia from the little bag she was carrying. I carefully placed her on one side of the blanket and then wrapped her up in the loose side. She was pale, but her breathing was even. I tried to wake her up again, but unsuccessfully, then checked for injuries just in case. When I didn't find anything, I decided to let her come to her senses on her own, and started to make the snowdrifts bigger.

After some time the wind in our little hideout got much less nasty and fresh snow almost didn't come in at all. Pleased with my work, I sat down at Elithia's side, leaned my back against the wall of the cavity and took the little pouch out. I hesitantly peeked inside and raised my eyebrows.

There was a small, irregularly cut, semi-transparent stone, its beautiful deep green shape not quite a triangle, more like a fang, slightly curved at the tip. A long leather band was attached to it, as if it was meant to be some sort of necklace. I apprehensively took it out, wondering if maybe I was seeing things. Who would leave something so beautiful and obviously valuable to me? And how was this stone supposed to help me with anything? Was someone just playing pranks on me...?

I suddenly heard Elithia's silent moan, and she finally started to show signs of life other than breathing. I quickly hid the stone in my pocket and leaned over her slightly. „Hey," I greeted her with relief, when the two azure orbs blinked at me in confusion. „You're a master in finding the most inappropriate places for naps..."

„Sigrian...?" she whispered finally.

„Yes, it's me."

„But how did you... what happened?"

„I followed you. And the second question is what I wanted to ask you. Why didn't you tell me that you were going?"

She kept quiet for a few moments, as if gathering her thoughts. „I... I thought you still needed your peace... that you didn't want to leave your parents for longer, that you wanted to make up for those two years..."

„You're so silly..." I sighed. „I was separated from you for equally long, I would also like to regain what I lost with you..."

She smiled apologetically and looked around a bit. „Where are we...?"

„In a makeshift hideout I made for us, unfortunately still in the mountains. I didn't have much time or possibility to think of something better to prevent us from being buried alive..."

„What happened to me?"

„Why don't you tell me? I found you knocked out in the snow."

„I don't remember anything... I was on my way back, when it started snowing... the blizzard was so intense that I must have lost my way. And I was feeling a bit odd for quite a while... but what happened then...?"

„Then why did you even come here? You saw what was happening over the past few days."

„Tavris told me that the weather won't change throughout the entire day. He must have been mistaken... it's strange, normally his prophecies concerning weather are always right..."

I raised my eyebrows. A strange thought suddenly sparked in my mind. I recalled Tavris, standing in the window of his house... He wasn't mistaken... I thought. He lied to her!

I must have made quite a weird face, because Elithia spoke up with concern: „Is something wrong?"

„No no, I was just wondering... did you meet anyone else here?" I was glad to find a way out of this line of thought.

„No... should I have?"

„Right before I found you, I thought I saw a shadow in the snow."

„You must have been seeing things."

„Maybe..."

For some time, we remained silent, listening to the howling wind. After a few minutes Elithia looked at me again. „What are we going to do now?" she asked, curling up into a ball under the blanket.

„Just wait I guess... unless you have the strength to go back under these circumstances, although I don't think that would be the best idea."

„Not the best indeed..."

„How are you feeling by the way?"

„It's not bad, but I've been better..." she seemed to suddenly notice something. „Are you not cold?"

Fair enough, I was sitting on frozen ground, while she cuddled with a thick blanket. „I'm fine, don't worry," I reassured her.

Apparently she didn't believe me, because she snuck one of her pale hands from beneath the blanket and grabbed mine. She raised her eyebrows. „Your hands are so warm... how are you doing this?"

I didn't even notice until she actually pointed it out. I spent the last few hours in freezing cold air, and just a few minutes ago I was building snow walls. Despite all that, I didn't feel cold at all. On the contrary... „I have no idea..." I whispered.

„Maybe you have a fever?"

„Nonsense, I feel great."

Still, something was off. I usually avoided cold and was pretty sensitive in that aspect. And now I didn't feel anything at all. I bit my lip. Something was incredibly wrong...

Wanting to drive these thoughts away, I left our hideout for a few moments to find a birch, as I remembered seeing a few solitary ones in the vicinity. My father taught me once, that their bark, even if wet, burned quite well. From it, and a few shreds of fabric I managed to strike a tiny fire that could later feed on some twigs. The hideout became a little cozier.

I wasn't sure, but I assumed we spent a good few hours there, listening to the blizzard passing through the approaching dusk. I was busy thinking about everything that was happening around me, slowly turning the stone in my pocket between my fingers. Meanwhile Elithia practically took a nap in the blanket.

When the storm died down at last, night shrouded the forest already. We rolled the blanket together again and emerged from our hideout. We walked in silence almost all the way home, guided by the coruscating constellation of the Guardian Stag. The fresh snow made our journey harder, so we arrived at the village shortly before dawn.

Adriael, although sleepy, was immensely happy and thankful for bringing his niece back safely. I quickly freed myself from the flood of gratitude under pretence of being tired and wanting to soothe my for sure worried parents. But when their door closed behind me, I didn't go to my own.

I was thinking about this the whole way back and came to the conclusion, that Tavris was behaving very weirdly towards me ever since I came back after these two years. Not that he wasn't always strange, and I didn't mean just his weird 'prophecies'... I didn't want to evade him anymore, I wanted to hear what he had to say after almost sending Elithia to her death.

I knocked on the door of the small house, not even caring that he could be asleep. I soon heard the silent 'Come in' though, and entered.

„Oh, it's you," the young prophet looked at me from behind the table he was writing something on.

„I didn't think that would be a surprise to you," I closed the door and came closer, just slightly. "You can see the future after all..."

He squinted a little and put the feather down next to the parchment. „What are you driving at?" he asked calmly.

I took a deep breath. „Why did you lie to Elithia?"

He just stared me in the eyes attentively for a few moments, before leaning back in the chair. „I didn't lie to her," he finally said. „Even I can be wrong sometimes."

I belatedly realized that I had no plan for this outcome. I just wanted to press him for answers, I was too tired to think about what to do should he deny it. I was about to capitulate, when I suddenly felt something warm on my thigh... in my pocket... I sneaked my hand inside and my fingers found the smooth surface of the stone left to me by the shadow among the blizzard. The crystal was radiating an unnatural heat...

And I got a sudden feeling of understanding.

„You're lying," I said, hoping that my conclusions didn't go too far.

Tavris sighed, sounding like someone who's given up. „It seems that trying deceit in front of you is meaningless by now... You are starting to wake up..."

„What are you talking about? Does that mean that your previous words were a lie as well?"

„Partially..."

I was starting to lose my patience. „Stop wriggling and tell me what's going on!"

„What, they didn't tell you?"

„Who?"

„You didn't meet you companions? How come you have your stone then?"

„'My' stone?" I took the crystal out, it's surface cold again. „You mean this one?"

The prophet's eyes flashed at the sight of the gem. „Yes, this one..." he whispered.

„It's not mine. I found it."

„Even if that's true, it wasn't a coincidence. This is your sirath."

The chaos in my head was getting unmanageable. „Listen, would it hurt you to explain something clearly for once? Who are you really and don't lie to me!"

„I'm a spy in Sharish's service..." he answered casually, but his voice was so full of venom that I thought a completely different person just appeared in front of me.

„So... the part about Sharish was true?" I stammered.

„Partially. To be honest, truth entwined with lie so smoothly that I almost believed in my own words..." he gave me an innocent smile.

„I want the full and pure truth then. What do you want from me?"

„If I told you, you could become a too serious threat to us... you probably will anyway... so I really don't feel like I need to enlighten you about your own significance in all this."

„Why did you waste so much time then?! You've been living in this village ever since I can remember, you had so many occasions to get rid of me, so why didn't you?!"

„I don't feel the obligation to tell you."

"And Elithia? Why didn't you hold back from sending her to her doom?"

"I figured if something happened to a person close to you because of the weather, you would eventually start believing my stories..."

I tried to stay calm, but it wasn't easy. The thought that I once trusted this man made me feel nauseous. And the realization that he was capable of stabbing anyone in this village in the back this entire time almost froze the blood in my veins. I opened my mouth, but before I could lash out on him again, I heard a faint rustle somewhere behind my back...

„If you don't wish to tell him, would you allow me to do it?" came a gentle voice that almost made me jump. I turned around quickly, stumbled over something (I didn't even want to know what) and almost fell to the floor, had the pillar supporting the roof not been so conveniently close.

A dark figure stood in the shadows by the door, its features covered by a hood. Tavris jumped to his feet, probably seriously surprised for the first time in his life. It felt to me like the stranger had just entered the house along with the darkness that instilled inside through the fogged window.

„Who are you?!" demanded the young prophet.

The silhouette calmly pulled the hood back with one hand. It was a boy... no, rather a young man, probably just slightly above my age. His shoulder-length hair, black like best quality ink, was tied in a little ponytail and resting on his shoulder. There was intelligence and nobility in his eyes, that were not exactly green, but held a note of blue when looked at from a certain angle. A familiar looking crystal hung at his neck, but it was sky-blue, and the hilt of a sword poked out from underneath his coat.

I immediately associated those few details in his appearance.

„It was you... it was you who I saw in the mountains. You were following me the entire day!"

The stranger smiled gently. „Yes, it was me," his voice was almost palpably warm, his tone kind and apologetic.

„And you left me this stone..."

„Yes."

„But... who in the world are you?"

„My name is Siaril..." it sounded like he wanted to say more, but in that moment Tavris slumped back into his chair.

„You are...?" he stammered.

I've really had enough by now. Nothing I heard over the past ten minutes made the chaos in my mind any better. „Listen..."

„Don't worry Sigrian," the stranger interrupted me softly. „I will answer all of your questions in a moment, but please allow me to clarify something first..." he turned to the prophet again. „If you know who I am, then you must also be aware of what I can do to convince you that helping Sharish is a mistake."

Tavris just sat there motionless for a moment. I don't think I've ever seen him this disturbed before. The cold composure of the stranger's words seemed to work better than any argument. Finally, he hung his head and sighed heavily.

„You win..." he said silently. „I would rather try to escape from him, than face you here..."

„I'm glad you understand. You should be aware that truth can't be killed... you can change its shape, try to stifle it, but even if you bury a spring, it will continue to spurt under the earth. And someday it will find its way to the surface in another place and reach the ones it's destined for." The guest paused shortly and a small smile played across his lips. „You should flee from here as soon as you can. Don't worry, I won't spread any word about you to anyone. Maybe Sharish won't even care about pursuing you."

What? He was willing to forgive that swindler? And not just that, he was practically ready to offer him help? This guy must be out of his mind...

Before I could raise my voice in the matter, the stranger looked at me again. „Do you know any place nearby, where we could talk in peace?"

It took me almost a minute to gather my thoughts in all my confusion. „Yes but... that would be outside. And it's cold..."

„I thought that shouldn't bother you anymore?"

I didn't even ask.

„Well then... I know a place."

He nodded and opened the door, making an inviting gesture for me to go first. I glanced at Tavris, still sitting by the hearth. I hesitated for just a moment, but finally turned away and left the house. The mysterious stranger followed me soundlessly.