Icicle was about the same size as Bika, but bore a very different look to it. Besides being inhabited, the town was composed of old-fashioned wooden houses rather than packed earth, and it was set on a rolling hill instead of the level ground of Bika. A number of men were outside, attempting to reattach a large sign to the front of a larger building, and a few kids were riding sleds down the hill.

Looks like a nice place, Jay observed.

Hey, Jay? Tycho said. Tiana's disappeared again.

Jay's hand instinctively want to his needle sword. All your gear still there?

Tycho and Jiri nodded.

She'll be back, then. Let's just check out the city.

Before long, one of the men over by the sign noticed their approach. he called, running over. You guys are SeeDs?

Jay looked down at his uniform. Really should have changed out of these.

You're here after that other girl, right?

Jay asked.

She's here? Jiri asked.

Tycho asked.

Came in about a week ago, the man was saying. She's in the hotel, if you want to see her. Pretty bad shape, though —

Where's the hotel? Jay snapped.


Kailie lay on one of the hotel beds, asleep. Sweat plastered her hair to her scalp, and her breathing was labored. A man and woman were there tending to her. Her gunblade, the Ares, was propped up against the wall.

What happened? demanded Jay.

Looks like an infection, the man said. We called a doctor from Trabia City, but haven't got any response.

She seems to be fighting her way through it, the woman said. She was delirious last night; she's just resting now.

Tycho moaned. That's bad.

I hope she'll be okay, Jiri agreed.

What happened? Jay demanded.

I don't know, the man admitted. She was unconscious when she was brought in.

Tycho glanced at Jiri. Brought in? By who?

The man sighed. Ah...that would be Darian. He's a strange lad, but nice enough. He didn't say anything about where he found her.

Where can I find him? Jay asked, forcing his eyes off Kailie.


Half-buried in a snowdrift at the bottom of a hill, it was instantly apparent why the house would have been abandoned. Nonetheless, a column of smoke was rising from the chimney, and Jay could see lights through the windows.

This must be it, Tycho observed.

Nodding, Jay walked up to the door, thankfully on the lee side of the snowdrift, and knocked.

It's not locked, came a voice from inside.

With a shrug, Jay slid the door open and stepped through. The inside of the house was bare, with no furniture, only an oddly shaped brown sheet spread out in front of the fireplace. A wooden mug with some dark liquid rested on the sheet. There was no light save from the fire and the half-covered windows.

Crouched on the sheet was a young man dressed entirely in black. His long, dark hair nearly blended with the indistinguishable fabric of his clothing, and a short-barreled automatic shotgun was attached to his metal-link belt. He was facing away from them, and had not moved at all when they had entered.

Are you Darian? Jay asked.

That's right, the man replied, without seeming to move at all. Is there something you need?

That's right, Tycho said. What do you know about Kailie?

Hmm. Is that what her name is?

The girl you brought in a few days ago, Jay prodded. Where did you find her? Was anyone else with her?

She was being taken by the raiders, Darian said calmly, still refusing to move. I managed to convince them to leave her. There were a number of bodies nearby. Two wore clothes like hers, the rest were raiders.

Joa and Medri are dead. Jay closed his eyes. How did this happen...? Do you know anything about the raiders themselves? He forced the words past a growing lump in his throat.

Yes. I could show you if you like.

Tycho raised his eyebrows. Oh, no way, man! he hissed. Tiana's bad enough!

It's up to you, of course, Darian said in the same calm, flat tone he had been using all along. But I can show you where the raiders will strike next.

What the hell. All right, Jay conceded.

Darian nodded. Then, picking up the cup, he stood and turned to face them. Jay realized that he was tall, though he didn't look much older than Jay himself. When will you want to leave?

Not just yet. Jay started to turn, but then he noticed something odd. The liquid in the mug, held firmly in Darian's gloved left hand, was boiling. He was certain it hadn't been before.

Jiri exclaimed. What's going on with...that?

Darian glanced calmly down at the mug. he said, and a moment later the boiling stopped. One of my more useful curses, he explained, with a small smile, before taking a drink from the mug.

There were about a dozen questions Jay felt like asking. Instead, he headed for the door.


Kailie was laying in bed, exactly as she had been when Jay had last seen her. The man — supposedly the hotel owner — had been downstairs, but the woman was still there, tending to her.

This is one of those things I thought I'd never see. Garden's best student, taken down on her first mission. How could this have happened? What kind of a force could have done this?

What's to prevent us from being next?

She should be fine, the woman said. She's already been through the worst of it; she could wake up in a couple days.

I can't wait a couple of days. Thanks for all your help, he said, and turned for the door.

Jiri, Tycho, and Darian — who now wore his dinner mat as a long cape — were all waiting for him outside.

One of us should stay here, he said. In case Kailie —

I will! Jiri said immediately.

Only a little surprised at her action, Jay looked at Tycho, who merely shrugged. All right. When Kailie's well enough to travel, you should report to Trabia Garden.

Got it! By the way, where's Tiana? Jiri looked around if the question would cause her to emerge. It wasn't such an unreasonable idea, he thought.

Nonetheless, she did not show herself.

Who cares? Tycho asked impatiently. Let's go!

Jay looked at Darian. So where are we going?