"Ladybird you must get up."

"I can't Pa, my knees hurt, and I'm tired!"

"But, little darling, you'll never learn to ice skate that way."

Ladybird opened her eyes and the scene before her vanished. Instead she was staring at a coniferous forest filling with snow. She raised herself up on her arms and looked around. Suddenly remembering what happened she searched for Philemon. There was no sign of him and the cold was starting to affect her body.

Wrapping her arms around herself she got to her feet and started through the forest. It was a miracle she had survived the fall. Born on wings of angels she had been. Her boot hit a root and she stumbled forward, catching herself on a tree.

"Ladybird!"

She turned in the direction of the voice but saw nothing but pines and falling snow. She knew wild animals lived in this area and that she, frightened and distressed, stood out like a sore thumb.

"Ladybird, can you hear me!"

"Hello?" Ladybird said as she looked through the trees. When she heard a horse her head shot up and she ran in the direction of the animal. The voices calling her name became louder as she stumbled through the snow covered ground.

"Here I am!" she shouted as she rounded some small pines growing close together. No one. She stood panting for a second confused. She was sure she heard someone.

"Ladybird!"

She turned around slowly and saw Wysteria standing in the forest, glowing in her periwinkle coat.

"Wysteria!" Ladybird cried and they ran toward each other.

"I found her!" Wysteria shouted over her shoulder.

Ladybird fell onto her sister's neck and hugged her. "I thought he killed you!" she wept. "Why did you do that? Why did you come after me you crazy girl, you could have been killed."

"I left you once," Wysteria said. "I couldn't do it again."

"But I could have lost you!" Ladybird lamented.

"We're sisters, Ladybird," Wysteria said. "It's what we do. Besides, someone has to look out for you every once in a while."

Ladybird hugged her again. "I love you, Wysteria!"

"Ladybird, you're safe!" Beatrice shouted as she raced through the forest ahead of the men with the horses. She wrapped her arms around both her sisters. "Perfect!"

"We don't mean to interrupt your reunion but we really need to get off this mountain if we don't want to run into any Windstalkers," Julian said.

"Ladybird, this is Julian, he knew Pa and he says he knows you," Beatrice said as they started back towards the men.

"We'll get reacquainted later," Julian said. The sisters divided themselves among the horses. Wysteria put Sacha between her and the rider and they started down the mountain. A sharp wind blew down the slope and a tune passed through the rocks and the forest very faint but clear to the familiar ears.

/

Tennessee turned to Napoleon who stood among the stone dancers. If there're plan failed then they would be slaughtered without a doubt.

"Ting Ting would have loved to have seen this," he sighed as he ran his hand over one of the dancers.

Tennessee raised his head when he heard the shouts of angry men approaching. The rest of the Red Herrings had gone ahead, and waited in hiding for the signal to ambush. Judging by the sound of the Windstalkers he'd say they were approaching the frozen lake by now.

"Napoleon, we should go."

Napoleon shook his head. "This won't stop them," he said. "What about the ones who are not here. Reports say January Frost is not among them."

"We'll fight with you," Tennessee said. "I'll talk to Aster and to Brigit and we'll get justice for Andre and China Doll."

Napoleon looked at him doubtfully.

"Don't you know?" Tennessee said. "That's what the End After Knights are all about. We will fight with you. Kincaid and the Richmonds are gone now. January Frost leads the last faction besides the two of us. You said so yourself. This is our battle as much as it is yours."

Napoleon was about to speak when a loud crack and the screaming of men and horses rend the air. Exchanging glances they raced out of the cave, across the courtyard and to the top of the stairs. Down below the stone, wolves, swans and deer was chaos on the lake as the men plunged through the ice into the smiting cold water below.

Some men were struck by the hooves of the flailing horses who were the only ones strong enough to free themselves from the deep icy pit. Men fought the cold, the ice and each other but none could prevail against the elements.

It was as though the mountain had opened its mouth and swallowed a great feast of angry men. It didn't take long for the splashing and screaming of the men to subside as they where swallowed up forever in the lake. As soon as it was stilled it began to freeze over again.

"They're...gone," Tennessee said in bewilderment.

"Amos Winters," Napoleon shook his head. "You know, we at the Red Herrings nicknamed him the Ice Prince. I think this fits now. Don't harm his family." He shook Tennessee's hand. "Talk to Aster," he said. "I want to wipe out the Windstalkers once and for all." He looked across the lake. "Looks like I'll have some horses to carry my wounded."

"Napoleon," Tennessee said. "I'm sorry for you losses."

Napoleon nodded. "You certainly deserve to be more than a messenger, Tennessee Wellbeloved," he said. "You are a knight in the best sense." He dropped to one knee and took a bow.

Hearing a sound behind him, Tennessee turned to see the Red Herring clan assembled on the steps. They all took deep bows to him filling his heart with appreciation. He drew his sword and thrust it into the air. "For justice!" he shouted and Red Herrings followed suit sending the cry rolling down the mountain.

/

Elizabeth Winters climbed the stairs of her home with a book under her arm. It was a cold night but her thoughts stirred her heart to the warmth of a hearth when she thought of how much of a victorious year it had been. There was of course that issue with the mines but with a little determination and lawlessness she could have that solved and smack Philemon Yewtree's face.

She entered her bedroom and her smile faded from her face at the sight of the white clad figure perched like an owl on her footboard.

"What do you want, January?" she hissed slamming the bedroom door.

"I came to see you," January said jumping to the floor. "Weren't you worried about me having a spy in my camp?"

"Have you not found them out?"

"I did and she's dead."

"She?" Elizabeth winters snorted. "Well, now I see how it happened so easily. You could never control women, January that's why Amos was the better son. I raised you to be strong but you run here cowed."

"But you couldn't control, Amos," January said. "If you could then he would have been on my side. You raised him and you spoiled him, both of us—your stolen boys, but in the end he was our enemy and nothing you think can change that."

"He loved me."

"You have a strange concept of love," January said. "My mother loved me because she said it and showed it in a common way. You use your money to buy hearts and then you shoot them through with ice sickles to keep them ever loyal. Amos dodged the bullet. He learned to love on the outside and this 'bout killed you."

"Silence, you ungrateful urchin!"

"But, Mama," January said dabbing his eye. "I am loyal to you. I'm not the Ice Prince Amos. I'm January Frost, a true subject of winter."

Elizabeth scoffed.

"That's why I've come to you," January said. "Not cowed as you say but to warn you." He folded his hands behind his back. "Word is on the wind that you killed Napoleon's comrade Andre and that you're to blame because for the untimely death of his beloved wife. After all it was you who sent Philemon. The blame is piled against you like an avalanche and Napoleon and Lazarus want vengeance. They are coming this way."

Elizabeth turned her nose up. "Where is Philemon Yewtree?"

"Dead," January said. "Hanged in the ice forest on Amos' mountain. But your granddaughters are alive and well. I would hate to think what would happen when they realize it was you who fought so strongly against them all these years."

Elizabeth felt an explosion inside of her. This was what losing felt like, what it tasted like. She shook her head but January nodded his. "What do you propose I do? Maul them down when they step off the train. Do what you please with them, January I deliver them into your hands." She turned her back.

"That won't be enough," January said. "They have allies to protect them and with the joint forces of the EAK and the Red Herrings I have a battle to fight and no time to worry about some silly girls. I came to Narrow Lake for you. If you want to live and keep your reputation you must leave."

Elizabeth spun away and went over to the balcony window. Stepping out she looked down at the town. This was her city, her realm. She was queen of this realm. She turned slowly to January when she heard him step out behind her.

"I suppose I could use a holiday." Was how she worded it. "I would like to look into the volcanoes, Mauna Loa and Hualalai."

"Volcanoes sound contrary to what you prefer."

"Well it wouldn't hurt to have a little winter on top of them would it? We will call it a vacation and no one shall be the wiser. Not my granddaughters and not Chadwick Yewtree or anyone else that might wonder where I am. And when you win your battle with the Red Herrings and the EAK I shall be back to finish the job."

January nodded his head. The battle had begun.