I guess I didn't realise just how harsh the terrain was until we stepped beyond the Shield. Our brief taste when we arrived the day before did nothing to prepare us for what was potentially going to be our 'home' for a few days.

Our two aides, each shouldering their sledge-worth of supplies, led the way. Araellor and his sledge were at the rear of the party.

Felenn and I stayed side by side, shouldering only our concerns and pitiful knap-sacks. I pulled my scarf tightly around my neck covering my nose and mouth with its soft material. It kept a little of the cold at bay, but before we'd travelled half a click, my hot breath was transformed into minuscule ice beads on my scarf. Other than that, I was wrapped up well enough that I didn't feel the effects of the freezing temperatures. At least not this early into the journey.

I looked askance at Felenn in her pretty robe and wondered how she wasn't shivering like jelly. She did say her clothes were deceptively warm, but my head was having a hard time believing it. Still, she showed no outward signs of being cold other than her scarf displaying the same crystallisation as mine.

She caught me looking and her eyes twinkled. "I'm fine. Honestly!" she said as if she knew what I was thinking.

"Good," I replied. "I just didn't want to have to stop every few steps and chip you free from where you stood."

Felenn laughed out loud. The sound was musical, colourfully light and buoyant, a welcome contrast to our bleak, wintry surroundings.

"Enjoy it while you can," came Araellor's voice from behind.

I stopped and turned. He drew up in front of me, his bulk looming over my smaller and much weaker frame. I'd instinctively reacted to his sarcasm and was ready to challenge him, but as we made eye contact, I found I was at a loss for words.

Those willowy eyebrows twitched, whether due to the wind or as a query, I wasn't sure. I just knew I had to say something. Anything. "Why are you not at the front? You're our guide after all." Challenge enough, I thought.

"Because, Miss Elmsworth, from this position I can spot any threats to the company and act accordingly."

His answer was not his usual smart-ass response, it was, in fact, logical and unassuming.

"Of course," I replied. "I take it they know where they're going?" I jerked my head to the front of the group.

Araellor laughed, light. "I think they'll be able to locate that rather large imposing structure we can see from here, yes."

I cringed. What a dumb question that was. Why the hell did I even ask? But not to be left feeling completely stupid, I added, "Yes, but what of the pitfalls, the hidden crevices and other unsafe places to walk? Is Aden and Garret well versed in those locations?"

Another eyebrow twitch. "Good point, Miss Elmsworth. There are some risks underfoot certainly, but I trust our colleagues know what to look out for. They've been traversing this environment for several months now."

I had no comeback to that one. I just nodded, turned and continued to follow the magi without further questions.

An unearthly ululation echoed across the plains. I looked up and saw the underbelly of one of the dragon watchers pass overhead. Not close enough that I feared being eaten or roasted, but it was, nonetheless, a daunting sight. I watched as its massive wings beat twice, lifting the creature higher, allowing it a better view of the white expanse that was Coldarra.

"Don't worry," Felenn's voice soothed. "They won't attack unless you unleash magic."

"How can you be so sure?"

She smiled, enigmatic. "Dragons are greatly misunderstood. Like all species, they have good and bad, but mostly they are wonderful creatures who strive to maintain the equilibrium of our world."

"I see you have done your research."

She looked at me, almost caringly, and, after a moment, returned her gaze to the watchers overhead. "Yes. I know some things about dragons. Come, let us continue. Although they will not attack, other things will if we stay still for too long."

I heeded her advice and quickly fell into step beside her. We focused on our journey, refraining from more conversation primarily to save our energy but also to save our scarves from becoming laden with more icy deposits. After trudging our way through snow for about an hour, we spied a cave, just big enough to accommodate the party and our supplies. Araellor scouted ahead to make sure there were no unfriendly residents that might object to our sharing their home.

Much to our relief, it was vacant, and we all headed towards the stony shelter.

The magi quickly set about making a fire, and before long, the small enclosure was warm enough for us to shed some outer layers.

I realised we hadn't made much progress, but it was hard going. Navigating our way through deep snow and treacherous ice, was tiring, not to mention our mindfulness of some of the beasts that roamed the area. Those with fangs and claws that would make short work of us given the chance. The most frustrating thing about stopping this early, was that we could clearly see the fortress, but getting there the hard way, that is, no magic, was no simple feat. The magi and Araellor told us it would take us at least another two to three hours, allowing for rest periods in between.

Felenn engaged the magi in conversation, and I merely listened.

"Do you visit the Nexus often?" she asked.

The red-haired one, called Garret, answered. "We make regular treks, but usually only in twos. It makes the journey quicker."

"What do you learn from your visits?"

"We survey the area for traces of arcane activity while also trying to locate those who went missing..." That little morsel came from the second mage, Aden.

My interest was piqued, instantly. "Missing?" I sat up straight. "Who went missing? When?"

Garret tried to fob off the discussion and started talking about the readings they collected from orbs set at checkpoints around the Nexus. But I wasn't having it. "Garret! Shut up! Tell us about the ones who went missing."

I heard Araellor suck air in through his teeth.

"I take it you know about these missing people too?" I accused, staring at him hard, unforgiving.

He unbuttoned his fur-lined coat and shrugged it from his broad shoulders. "I know a little about the disappearances, yes," he replied, giving me his full attention. "They were magi, just like our two friends here. And both of you."

"Araellor!" Garret intervened.

But the hunter held his hand up to silence him. "Listen, the Kirin Tor may have their own way of handling matters while they're all huddled safe and sound under the Shield, but out here in the wilderness, this is my domain, and these women have the right to know what has been going on."

That was unexpected! While Araellor was loyal to the Kirin Tor for employment, he obviously did not agree with certain practices. And I didn't understand why Berinand would have kept Felenn and me in the dark. Again.

At that precise moment, I was torn. Here sat an elf, unlike any I'd met before, one who had seemed as offended by me as I was by him, and yet he was showing us a degree of respect which our own faction evidently lacked.

"Tell us what you know," I demanded. Then, an afterthought. "Please."

The hunter threw some small sticks onto the fire. I suspected the flames would only ward off the winter chill, and not the one created by whatever detail he was about to impart.

His eyes locked with mine. "Over recent months, six magi have set out from the Shield to carry out tasks such as our esteemed colleagues here do." He gestured to Garret and Aden. "But, they never returned. I've searched for them, the length and breadth of the island and even as far as I could venture inside the Nexus. But all to no avail."

I swallowed. This news was unnerving. "Do you think they may have fallen victim to some animals out here?" My tone was tentative.

Araellor held my gaze. "It's possible, though I reckon I'd have found some remains if that were the case."

I glanced around the company. Garret and Aden seemed subdued. Perhaps they agreed with what the hunter had implied; that Berinand had no right to set us out on the exploratory exercise without first having ensured we fully understood the risks. I had to agree entirely with Araellor on that point. The fact their colleagues had vanished without a trace must surely, concern them. To the point that they'd be reluctant to venture out from the Shield, perhaps? Yet here they were. I couldn't help but wonder if they had come along voluntarily or if they were simply ordered. I felt a little sympathy for them. But still...

And Felenn. Being the dainty little thing she was, I'd expected her to be trembling uncontrollably with fear by now. But she was surprisingly calm, albeit with a little wariness reflecting in her eyes.

And as for Araellor. There was no hint of his smugness now. Just a serious face, with deep green eyes, behind which some sense of decency and concern clearly lay for his charges.

"Do you have any other possible explanation?" I ventured.

The hunter purposefully scanned the party before staring into the flames that danced between us.

"I believe they were subjected to the very thing in which all of you are experts. Magic!"

"What do you mean – subjected?"

Once more, Araellor met my eyes. I could have sworn there was a little trepidation in them this time. "I've heard rumours that Malygos transformed people into dragonkin. As most of his people were slaughtered a very long time ago, he is creating an army of magic users; but all according to his rules."

"Wait!" Felenn intervened. She seemed alarmed and strangely indignant. "Are you suggesting the missing magi are now under the influence of Malygos?"

The hunter sighed. "I am. Yes."

Garret and Aden shifted in their seats throwing each other uneasy looks.

"Where have these rumours come from?" Felenn demanded.

Araellor didn't answer, but his eyes gave away the source.

"You two?" Felenn now turned to Garret and Aden.

Garret quickly defended himself. "It's an understanding by all at the Shield, Miss."

"Yet more we have not been told!" Felenn directed her statement to me. I could only nod in agreement. It seemed our esteemed betters at the Shield had been very conservative with the truth.

"I cannot comment on why they've withheld information from you," Araellor said, his voice a deep whisper. "But I've been assigned to escort you, and I don't want you ignorant of what is happening out here. In this environment, ignorance could be your worst enemy."

"It is speculation though, surely! You have no proof that has been the fate of the missing magi." Felenn was clearly unsettled. Can't say I blamed her; the reality of our predicament had just sunk in – if this supposition was true, we could be the next potential targets.

Araellor glanced at me, then back at Felenn. "No proof, no. But as I said, no evidence of an animal attack exists."

The heat from the fire did little to stem the chill which now filled the cave. 

__________________________________________________________________________

Don't think I'd be too happy either if my superiors had withheld such information. Would you?

But, at least Araellor is stepping up to the mark. Could this be a potential ice-breaker between him and Klara?

Please feel free to click on that wee star and leave a comment. They would be greatly appreciated.