Morning dawned bright and beautiful, flooding the sky with a pale golden light. Ayana threw back her hood and sighed, letting the warm light wash over her numb face, a comforting respite from the never ending cold.

Droplets of morning dew hung from the sodden leaves, set to fall at the slightest touch. The serene lake glittered and swayed, an endless expanse inlaid with diamonds and crystals. Ayana did not let herself enjoy the weather too much. Her fortune would not hold long enough for it to last.

Iezabel rode beside her, flowing gracefully with the movement of her horse. The contours of her face revealed no emotion, coal-black eyes fixed on the trail. Her short glossy hair reflected the dawning sunlight, which flushed out the brown in them.

"Iezabel? Is everything alright?"

"I feel like crushing her skull with my own hands." Iezabel gritted her teeth, barely paying her heed. "She has given us enough grief to last a lifetime."

Ayana cringed. "Not the most subtle way to end someone's life," she said, giving her a perplexed look. "Who is the unfortunate one?"

"The infernal witch from the Imperial Guard," Iezabel said, seething in her saddle. "She is the reason for everything. She always has been."

Iezabel gave her a long look, and something stirred in her eyes. "I'm grateful, my lady," she said.

Ayana raised her eyebrows, surprised by the change in her tone. "What for?"

"For letting me escort you," Iezabel replied.

"Who else would I want by my side when the 'infernal witch' comes for me?" Ayana smiled.

Iezabel turned her eyes toward the horizon, lost in her own thoughts.

Ayana maintained her silence, for she understood her anger toward the sorceress. Iezabel's past was not so different from her own. She had lost her comrades to the vlarik during the incursion of Isouvien. Their present condition was the last straw to the fire within her.

As the day wore on, white clouds blanketed the sky, concealing the sun in their silvery folds. A flock of pine grosbeaks flitted overhead, chirping at each other-the only sound in those tranquil woods. Their progress was slow, since they could not move faster than a steady trot, not in her condition.

They continued along the lake shore, traversing the carpet of sand and pebbles, often adorned with clumps of crocuses and tangles of honeysuckle. Ayana breathed in the intoxicating fragrance of nature-the scent of blooming shrubs mixed with the smell of wet grass.

Around midday, the chill returned with a blizzard in tow, each gust of frigid wind depositing a fresh layer of powdery snow. The steeds snorted their irritation, sensing the change in atmosphere. With another whistling squall, the callous winter devoured the brief spring fantasy with its icy fangs.

A shiver traveled down Ayana's spine as winter's frosty nails bit into her skin, pulling her into its stark embrace. "Isei Ilvi returns to torment us again."

Iezabel sighed. "So he does."

"Are we moving in circles?" Ayana asked. The lake shore stretched as far as her eyes could see.

"How long has it been since you last glimpsed a map of Aria?"

"A year or two."

Iezabel sighed. "Go through it again before questioning my skills."

"I am sorry, Iezabel." Ayana's lips pulled up in a smile. "You don't have to be cold about it."

A sudden pang shot through her abdomen as she shifted in her saddle, forcing a gasp through her clenched jaw. The shock racked through her core and she almost slid off her horse, when Iezabel's firm hand closed around her arm. She helped Ayana dismount her saddle and led her to the shade of a huge hornbeam.

Iezabel's concerned face floated before her eyes. "What happened?" she asked, before uncorking a water-skin and handing it to her.

Ayana wanted to shout that very question at her body. She shrugged instead, chugging the cool water to the trickling drops. It brought back some feeling in her limbs. "A moment of weakness," she managed. "I am fine now."

Unconvinced, Iezabel insisted she rest for some time, ignoring all of her protests. It was almost half an hour before they were back on their way.

The landscape began to change-cedars and pines giving way to rocky hillocks, before stunted oaks and devons sprouted from the grass covered ground as they entered the Woodlands of Kilkrei. They traveled for the remainder of the day, taking very short breaks in between.

At dusk, a mighty roar filled the air-the roar of Kil falls, where the lake plunged down the mossy cliffs into the ravine below. The air hummed like a swarm of bees as the tumbling water saturated it with a pale mist. As their horses trudged on, trees materialized from the fog like ghouls around them, before disappearing again into the smoky whiteness.

Ayana barely kept awake as the rocking motion of her horse tried to pull her into a dizzy lull. The saddle dug into her bruised thighs. She ached all over, and her nose stung from the stench of horse sweat. How she longed for a hot bath, and the snug fireside couches in the castle, and the warm beds...anything to alleviate the torturous hurts and throbs wrecking her body.

"It's getting dark, my lady," Iezabel said. "We'll make the descent tomorrow."

Ayana nodded, too exhausted to answer.

They set up camp some distance away from the falls, so as to escape its thunderous din. Only a faint buzz reached them now, barely perceivable. Ayana stared at the winter sky, scarce except for the pale silver crescent of a moon. Even the hunter and the phoenix had fled the black expanse-or maybe the endless void had swallowed them.

Ayana felt a twinge of guilt for bringing Iezabel with her, not that she would have it any other way. But was she repaying Iezabel's kindness by putting her in harm's way? She had never thought of it that way.

Ayana shot her a furtive glance. Iezabel must have felt her gaze, for she turned her head and beamed.

Ayana returned the smile, warmth spreading through her chest. She scoffed at herself. Iezabel would have accompanied her one way or the other. They weren't just friends. They were family.

The guards set about preparing food. A stream tinkled nearby, filling the air with its soothing music. The snowfall had stopped, replaced by a cool breeze which stirred the boughs overhead. Ayana thanked Isei Ilvi for his fleeting mercy and prayed for his prolonged grace.

The flames threw a shower of sparks into the air-a minuscule sprinkle of burning stardust. Ayana waited with barely subdued impatience as the rabbit stew simmered and spread its rich aroma across the clearing. Mixed with the odor of grilled meat, it took all her will to contain her hunger.
Iezabel handed her a bowl of steaming stew and a wide leaf laden with boiled carrots. "Here, my lady."

Ayana eagerly accepted the food, wasting no time to dig in. "What about you? Are you not thirsty?"

"Now that you mention it." Iezabel unclasped a steel flask from her belt and took a sip. "I am."

Ayana raised her eyebrows.

She grinned, revealing her fangs. "Reindeer."

"Of course it was." Ayana shuddered.

She ate in silence. Though a bit undercooked, the meat was fairly warm, a comfort in the bone chilling climate. Iezabel rose to her feet and went over to the horses, brushing their mane and whispering into their ears. They immediately recognized her and nuzzled at her face.

A few spans later, dinner was over and Iezabel helped Ayana to her tent. "Sleep well, my lady."

"Thank you, Iezabel."

Ayana snuggled into her blankets, waiting for the warmth to creep in. The night remained silent, except for the faint buzz of crickets and the crackle of flames. Claws of loneliness clutched at her chest as she lay there, all alone. Her hand instinctively moved to her stomach. She gingerly pressed her belly and began to hum a soft Azerian lullaby from her childhood.

Ayana gasped as a nudge bumped against her hand, all her woes washing away in a wave of tender love. Her face broke into a beautiful smile of contentment-a smile to light up the darkest of nights. "I love you too, little one. More than you know."

~•~•~•~•~

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