– K Á R A –

We were close. On a winding rocky path directly to the gates of Vargos. 

The winds had kept us all in peaceful silence for many slithers but I knew Tayah's eyes had not left my back since we had trained on the Black Fang cliffs. It was not a brooding silence but more a concerned one. I knew she wanted to say something about her actions. But I kept my eyes ahead and focused on leading us into the city.

"Hold here." I said over my shoulder, casting a hand up.

We crouched against the rock face in the snow drift. We looked up at the towering walls of the capital built into the mountain. It went up in different levels, none richer or poorer but more for defensive purpose if anyone was mad enough to try a siege.

Only an occasional few carts or groups of horsemen went in and out of the main gate. This entrance was watched by pikeman and overlooking watchtowers with siege grade crossbows along it. The men came to my other shoulder and rubbed their leather gloves together. Yanu's face was buried in Kaden's furs somewhere. Tayah kept a few feet apart silently and stared up at the main gates.

"I want this to be very simple." I told them loud enough over the winds. "I will shadow a group of hunters as they leave and take their horses and bows. We will enter as a hunting party and find the boy's compound soon after."

Kaden and John threw Tayah glances before shrugging. "Aye."

"I'll join you." She murmured quietly beside me. I caught her eye briefly and dropped her a nod before she deliberately looked back to the city walls.

"Stay out of sight. We will return with the gear." I rose to my feet and adjusted Thanatos and my spear. Tayah dropped into step behind me and we set off on a brisk jog at the edge of the perimeter in the snow. I was careful to keep us between high rocks and lower ground but it was not too important in the heavy snow fall–the watch towers would be lucky to see a few metres out.

We sank into a sheltered rocky outcrop that was perfect to watch traffic pass the snow packed path down. Now we waited for our moment. Tayah sighed lightly beside me. I kept my eyes fixed on the road and not on the drifting thoughts that surrounded her power.

"About earlier..."

I kept watching the blanket of white silently. She readjusted her crouch and it made the snow crack and crunch.

"I'm sorry I made you do that."

I flicked my gaze onto her and she was already watching me closely. I couldn't form anything on my features but I listened.

"I know you hate it. I know especially more so when it needs to be me." She murmured, shifting again and tightened her hands in front of her. I watched her a moment longer before dropping her a minute nod.

"Are you not going to say anything?" She asked.

"There is not much to discuss." I responded calmly.

She huffed out a breath and dumped herself back in the snow watching me with more impatience. "Just speak your mind. I cannot bare this feeling of distance between us. We have already been apart long enough."

"Tayah, we can discuss this later." I breathed, noticing the distant sound of something.

"We are not ambushing anyone now." She hissed low. "You can tell me what is really bothering you Valkyrie."

I rolled my eyes and let a breath go through my nose. "Stop giving in to your anger. I should have come alone." But the moment the words left me, I regretted them. For the look of hurt that flashed across her made me ache as painfully. "Wait–"

She shoved my arm away and broke out of cover the moment the sound of hooves came rushing down the snow path. I tried to pull her back again but her knives were already drawn. Only two riders galloped down through the snow and she already made her decision. She let them fly in lethal speed and accuracy. The thick leathers and fur never stood a chance from the strength and anger she threw them with.

The heavy set men crashed off their saddles and hit the snow heavily as the horses reared. I stared at the sharp red that splashed across the blanket of white and frowned. One was still alive and struggling under his horse.

"We had no need to kill them!" I called with a slight growl.

"Does it matter?" She stated in a bitter tone far from herself. She dropped before the writhing rider and silenced him. I stared at her. Felt her rage. She grabbed two black fur cloaks off the unmoving mortals. Then moved to calm the horses that whinnied in confusion.

I turned and quickly picked the bodies off from the path and hid them to the side as she hushed the horses. But my thoughts were clouding. Churning at the thought that much of Ares emotion was still in her–but now it drove her action.

She was already in the saddle and trotting off back up the path to the men when I had covered the bloody snow. I stared after her and loosed a heavy breath. I had seen this before. Long ago in myself and others. But I knew her strength of mind too. This would not consume what she was–I would not allow it.

When I reached the meet point John already shared a horse with Tayah. Yanu was hidden carefully on Kaden's back under the new black fur cloak. Tayah had hidden her stark red beneath the other cloak and John drew his hood low.

"Take my horse, mortal." I said, pulling up beside Kaden and dropping off quickly. "I will walk ahead and do the talking if required."

He nodded in thanks and carefully gripped the saddle before throwing his leg over with Yanu still clinging on his back.

"So they didn't put up much fight?" John quipped, nudging Tayah. "Where did you leave them?"

"Under the snow." She stated emotionless, nudging their horse forward.

John wisely did not follow up on that, though I could see the shock on his face from here. Even the mortal sensed the darkness in her. I paced past them and led the way up the tracks to the main gates. The sooner we could deliver the child the sooner I could focus on helping Tayah control this power. It was her fear of losing control that drove this.

After all the trouble it was hardly worth it.

The guards on duty were more concerned keeping themselves warm against the fire cages to stop a few horses and similarly black furred 'hunters'. I released a breath once we passed under the thick dark walls. At least one thing this span could go correctly.

"Where is the boy's compound?" Kaden asked quietly as he stared down several large citizens in dark furs that lumbered past.

"Near the centre. We keep our heads down and send him to the gates once we are within range."

Kaden's face cracked and he hefted his shoulders as if to check Yanu was still close to him. "But what if we too could–"

"This is not the time for sentiment, mortal." I said carefully as we passed more citizens in the frozen streets. I noted that the women tended to wear white and the men black–already a mistake on our part. "We must not cause a scene. It will be hard to escape."

Kaden looked down from his horse with sadness. I ignored him and kept leading the two horses through the streets making sure my face was low beneath my dark hood. A few cast curious glances our way but thanks to Kaden's stature and the two sets of black hunting cloaks the glances were just that.

The city was as sprawling as I remembered. Many districts. Many tiled and thatched houses built of sturdy stone and many, many cobbled streets. It was a city for hard wintered folk. Markets were conducted under cover in big sprawling stone arches and people only lingered outside if there was a fire pit at hand. Tayah kept her hooded head down but occasionally her curiosity got the better of her and I saw her stare longingly at a bakery with sweet smelling rolls.

A small smile cracked my face and I made a note of it when we were finished here.

The sun was darkening behind the heavy clouds on high and more lanterns were being lit around the city when we arrived outside the walls of the war lord's compound. I tied up the horses to a street side post and led the group into the shadows between two houses.

Yanu dropped to his small legs and squinted around. His wide eyes grew wider still and he was about to squeak out when I covered his mouth.

"Hush boy. We cannot be seen." I told him in Kanton. He instantly stilled and nodded solemnly under my glove. I removed it carefully. "You are to return home now, we cannot follow." He stared in confusion between me and the others jutting out his jaw.

"But you are my guests, Ma and Da will welcome–"

I shook my head and dropped to a knee before him as the others held back and watched the streets. But I could tell Kaden was conflicted and ready to speak out.

"Yanu. It is very important that your family do not know outsiders are inside the city. Do you understand this?" I pressed in a low voice. "Your people will react strongly to your return."

"But how will I see you again? Teayah?"

At the sound of her name Tayah turned and I finally saw the look of aching sadness in her face–not the rage of the gods. It cracked at my being again and I fought the urge to wrap her body in my arms and take away the feelings. She moved from the shadows and dropped low to meet his wide eyes that had started watering.

"Now, now. If you start crying I fear I may and no one wishes to see that." She quipped in a thicker voice. "It is time you were with your true family."

I watched her a moment before translating her words for him. He shook his head and wrapped his small arms around her neck tightly. "I won't go!" He pressed a bit too loudly.

The men glanced out at the streets quickly. Tayah seemed to understand because she pried him carefully off her and set him on his feet. "You are strong. A warrior. You will be strong like your parents. You do not want to let them think you dead to some cowardly slavers do you?"

I repeated her words to him and he shook his head furiously and wiped at his trailing tears. I imagine they felt colder in the city. Kaden then came up beside him and pulled something from his pocket. It was another wooden carving. Only this time it was a tiny wooden tree.

"Something to remember me by." He said in a low voice that cracked.

I again translated and Yanu stared at the wooden tree in his giant hand with a loose lip. "Tell them they can come. Please magical lady."

"This is the way boy. Be strong for them and for your family. You must." I stated simply, rising to my feet and looking down to him with a stern face. If we all broke before him there would be no convincing the child. Sometimes a cold hand was needed to guide.

He finally moved and took the tree from Kaden before wrapping his arms around his neck tightly. Kaden closed his eyes and lifted him off the ground in a careful big hug. When he finally set him down John too approached and gave the child a light punch on the shoulder.

"Enough from the melted tree. Here. This should entertain you for a few blinks." He said pushing a small leather pouch into his other hand. "Only use it on your parents." He winked.

I frowned shaking my head before I spoke the Kanton equivalent and Yanu returned it with a small giggle. He gripped his gifts tightly before Tayah took his hand and led him past the men. She did not ask me to follow so I assumed she needed no translation. I watched them walk to the edge of the shadows before flame torches lit the street. She dropped before him and hugged him closely which the boy eagerly returned then passed him something that winked in the dark. A dagger hilt. Sheathed.

He took it in solemn acceptance and attached it to his belt. Tayah finally stood and nodded to him. He was not ready to move I could see as much. But with a quick glance to the familiar street of his parents compound he had new resolve. It had been two summers for the boy after all.

With a final tight embrace he looked back to the men concealed in the shadows and pressed a little fist to his chest in the Uccellon custom I had taught. The men returned it in the darkness as did I. Kaden sniffed.

Then the small boy at the edge of darkness walked back into the light.