Teldryn squinted through the spyglass, scoffing at himself at the futility of such an action. He pulled it away from his eye, flipping it around to wipe the snow that had begun to build up.

He cast a disdainful look up at the clouds that had unleashed on them as soon as they'd reached the Water Stone. "Couldn't ask for better weather," he groused as he peered once more through the spyglass, sweeping along the shore for his target. It was difficult enough to discern anything in this frozen landscape without the gods-damned weather stunting visibility.

Through the blowing sheets of white, he was able to pick out the form of some of the abandoned reikling hovels of Bristleback Cave and thought perhaps he could see some movement. Whether it was human or animal he couldn't say, though he suspected the former. This was most likely where the wolves had been displaced from and while the sheer cliffs did not provide many entrances to higher ground, it seemed to him unusual they would choose to go the opposite way on their own. He scanned along the ridgeline above the cave, hoping to spot any signs of life among the jutting rocks and thinning forest. His vision was obscured once more and he gave up. "I fucking hate this place." He tossed the spyglass back to the guard next to him and stalked away from the ledge toward the trees.

The snowfall was lessened within the canopy, bursts of flakes breaking through as the wind stalked around the swaying branches, thrumming with restless energy. Teldryn looked to each man before speaking.

"We continue blindly so keep on alert. These Imperials may be foolish, but likely not foolish enough to not have posted sentries. When we find them, we need to figure out their signal for alarm and then we eliminate them. Is that clear?"

The guards nodded and Teldryn turned his eyes on the old man who stood completely unresponsive within the layers of fabric he was encased in. "Fethis, any objections?" Teldryn asked sardonically, mostly to make sure he hadn't frozen in place while he waited.

"None from me," came the muffled reply.

Teldryn gazed over the group once more, resenting that he was to trust in men who were unproven to him. He decided, if nothing else, he would put his trust in Modyn's judgment of them. These men would follow orders. They were Redoran, after all.

"Let's move."


She brushes a low-hanging branch out of the way, following what sounds like someone taking a leisurely stroll. Just as she glimpses the tall figure it disappears within the thick foliage of the grove.

"Sam?"

She knows she's dreaming as she presses forward, ducking through the trees, remembering doing this before though it still feels new as she does not know her way. She has to catch him this time.

"Sam, stop!"

She trots into a clearing at the base of a steep, rocky incline, searching for any sign of movement. She sees nothing, sighing in defeat. She's lost him again. Her eyes snap up the hill as she hears rustling somewhere ahead among the rocks and shrubbery. She begins to climb, stepping carefully to not trip over the jagged rocks, pushing through clusters of flowering bushes that she vaguely recognizes. The shroud of the forest sinks away as she nears the top, opening up a vast blue sky that her eyes struggle to comprehend as it continues to grow until it's all she can see.

Blue sky and him, standing at the precipice of a cliff that seems to her the edge of the world.

His blue jeans and white t-shirt look so out of place to her as she approaches him, carefully as if not to spook a wild animal.

"Sam, why are you running from me?"

He tilts his head, still facing away. "I would never run from you, Vee." She quails a little upon reaching the edge, looking down at a misty gorge so deep the river that cuts through seems no more than a brook. Tall trees are silhouetted by the clouds that rest on the top of the canyon that runs into an interminable distance. Her skin prickles as a gust of wind whirls around them, making her feel as if she might take flight.

"What is this place?" she asks as she brings her eyes up to a more familiar landscape. The high, straight profile of his nose, those brows whose shape she had always envied, his smooth chin that he'd often complained did not grow enough hair. His cheek creases with his grin as he answers.

"Dunno, I've never been here before." He finally looks at her, his hazel eyes giving her a quick once over. "You look different."

She doesn't even look down at herself, she doesn't think she has time. Whether this is all in her head or something real she has no idea; either way, she wants to ask her questions while she has the chance.

"You said we came here together, Sam. Where did you go?" That look again, like he's not quite grasping her words. Maybe if she tells him where she is instead. "I'm..." She stops suddenly, inexplicably unable to recall the place. "I'm..." It's on the tip of her tongue, a spark of panic lighting as she trawls her mind fruitlessly. Why can't she remember?

"Please, Sam." Tears line her eyes as she begs. "Please, tell me where you are."

"Where?" He looks back into the canyon, as if the winds howling through it will bring him the answer. Suddenly he turns toward her, searching her face with an intensity that sets her skin alight. "I'm with you."

"What?" she breathes out, despairing. "What does that mean? Are you really dead?"

"Dead..."He squints at her. "I don't...feel dead."

He steps closer, her knees going weak as his shadow envelops her, concern taking over his features. She can't look away.

"How do you feel?" His fingers ghost her cheek, the contact jolting her like an electric shock and she backs away, gasping.

His face twists with confusion. "Wait, Vee..."

She wants to go to him, to take that hurt look from his face but her body won't obey, her feet shuffling backward as she tries to makes sense of..something...anything. She doesn't know what to do.

"Wait!" He rushes forward as her foot is met with air, her heart in her throat, pushing out her breath as her body follows the gale down into the valley.


Her eyes snapped open with a sharp gasp, staring up at the ceiling while her mind caught up to the fact that she was lying flat, on a solid surface, not falling. Her eyelids fluttered shut again as she let herself sink into the chaise, her breaths shuddering along with her heart. What the hell is happening?

She had never had dreams like this before, where she felt lucid, in control and not at the same. Did it mean something or was she having fever dreams? Tears seeped through her lashes, running down the sides of her face into her hair. She didn't want to think about it, about him, to face the reality of his death. And now, a seed of doubt had been planted in her mind through these episodes and the resulting questions shamed her unbearably. Could he have lived as she had? Had he landed elsewhere? Could he have been looking for her while she behaved as if his death was a foregone conclusion? But how could she possibly have known?

But you never even tried.

You just gave in.

And even if he lived, she was not the same person as before, a revenant clutching at the splintered pieces of herself. She did not even try to stifle her sob.

"I'm sorry, Sam." Her words came out thick and disjointed. She heard someone shushing, a soft touch on her face as she repeated the words like a mantra. "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry..."

"Shh, Vanya," Niyya soothed as she had so many times before. "Are you in pain?"

Only then did Vanya remember her injuries, shaking her head as they merely registered in dull aches. She pulled her eyes open, the blur of her tears clearing to reveal Niyya's caring face, etched with worry.

"I'm sorry," Vanya said again, this time to her friend, for being such an awful one in return. Always taking, ungrateful, irritable.

Niyya frowned. "Stop that now. Are you hungry?"

Vanya whimpered her refusal, hating how much she sounded like a fussy child.

"Yes, you are," Niyya responded in a tone that was appropriately motherly. "You've not eaten for two days. Geldis has been scolding us constantly to wake you and make you eat. I'm sure he'd be happy to bring you whatever you like, so what do you want?"

She wanted to say something incomprehensible, like spaghetti or alfredo, anything to stop the pestering. She held her tongue and looked away toward the wall. No more. Niyya does not deserve that. She's only trying to help.

"Bread," she said finally. "I just want bread."

"I'll be back in a little bit."

Vanya waited until she heard the door close before she rolled her head over to take in the room. The house looked empty. Where is Llero?

Her body felt stiff as she pushed herself up to lean on her good arm. She wanted to get up and find someone who would tell her he was alright but when she tried, her wounded leg would not obey, feeling like a thousand needles were pricking it at once.

Sitting up, she looked over her left arm. The upper part was wrapped in bandages and besides feeling incredibly bruised, she could lift and bend it fine, her fingers flexing easily. Her eyes drifted to her leg, fearing what lay under the thin blanket. She leaned forward, tugging the cloth toward her revealing a swollen foot that did not look like it belonged to her. She took a breath as she unveiled more, whatever amazement she may have had for its mended state quickly vanishing as her eyes widened in horror at the disfigured appendage. It was as if someone had bound her calf with a rope, leaving deep purple indentations and discoloration from the prolonged starvation of blood. She tried to wiggle her toes, regretting it as the burning sensation returned. Panting from the discomfort, she reached out tentatively to brush her fingertips along the unfamiliar skin, figuring since it was already hurting now would be the time to touch it. To her further astonishment, the surface was numb, though in some places she could feel a faint sensation as she began running her fingers up and down her unsightly leg. A sudden wave of panic gripped her. Would she even be able to walk?

She fell back onto the chaise, trying to keep her breathing from getting out of control. Had she even saved him? She had to know. She had to know if he lived. If she'd become an invalid for nothing.

The door opened and she called out before she even knew who it was. "Where is Llero? Does he live?"

Niyya came trotting across the room. "What? Yes, yes of course. He lives, Vanya. Don't worry."

Vanya sighed in relief. "Thank the gods."

"Not the gods, thank you," Geldis said as he deposited a basket on the floor. Vanya reached for him and he nearly threw himself on her as he sat on the edge of the chaise. "Oh, it does me good to see you awake, child." He held her tightly for a long moment, then pressed a kiss to her cheek as he sat up. "I've brought the bread you asked for," he said, leaning over to the basket. "jelly, some boiled eggs, cheese..." His voice trailed off as he pulled out a segment of bread and offered it to her. "Here, eat."

Vanya still didn't feel like eating but the concerned way Geldis was looking at her made her accept the bread, bringing it to her mouth for a small bite. His whole body seemed to relax as she chewed and she paused for a moment when her mouth began to water, commanding her to give it more. She took another bite, larger this time. She was famished.

Geldis chuckled and reached back into the basket, apparently reading her mind as he brought up a dish of comberry jelly. She snatched it from him, wasting no time scooping some out with the bread and shoving it in with the rest still in her mouth.

Once her cheeks were hopelessly stuffed it occurred to her that both Niyya and Geldis were here. Who is working in the Netch?

She tried to mash everything around to make room to speak as Geldis crossed the room with a bottle of Jazbay wine to set on Milore's worktable and Niyya began righting the blanket over her leg.

"It's looking better," Niyya said. "You should have seen it yesterday."

She swallowed a portion of the bread, muttering. "It doesn't matter how it looks if I can't even move it."

"Milore insists you will be able to use it normally. It will just take time." Niyya's expression did not seem incredibly confident. "Better than losing it."

It was true, she supposed, but was of little comfort as the painful reality of what had occurred sat impotently in front of her. Fragmented memories flashed like a damaged movie reel. Red and white, the dagger in her hand that moved of its own accord as her mind had been centered on one thing.

"How is Llero doing then?" she asked suddenly. The wolf had torn into him terribly, surely he was in more pain than she was and she ached at the thought.

A cup appeared before her and she looked up at Geldis, whose mouth twitched as a twinkle passed through his eye. "Considering I was just shooing him away from the sweetrolls, I'd say he's just fine."

Niyya tutted, "Again? The little fiend."

Vanya took the cup with a confused look, glancing between them as she took a sip of water. Oh my God... She downed the remainder as if she'd die of thirst should she miss a drop.

"Llero and Sadesi are staying in our room in the Netch to be close to Milore," Niyya answered, anticipating Vanya's question as she handed the cup back to Geldis. "His arm was beyond saving and though he's far from healed, he was getting rather restless here. Poor Milore was having quite a time of it trying to keep his little remaining hand out of her ingredients."

Vanya stared at nothing in particular as she processed the information, speechless. She should have been faster, she should have stopped the children on the path when she had the chance.

"Ah, I had better get back," Geldis said. "I left Sadesi to keep an eye on things." He caressed his hand along the top of her head and down to her shoulder, giving a squeeze. When she looked up at him, the tenderness behind his grin tugged at her heart. "Don't you worry about anything, Vanya. Just focus on getting better."

Once he'd gone, Niyya sat down next to her, motioning to the bread still in her hand. "You should finish that."

Vanya pressed the bread into the jelly sullenly, her ravenous appetite fading.

"Do you want something else?"

She shook her head, taking a bite to prove it.

"Are you feeling alright? No pain? Feverish?" Niyya reached out to touch her forehead and she flinched away.

"Niyya..." Vanya said with her eyes closed to keep them from rolling, annoyed with her own reaction as much as the questioning. She didn't want to talk about herself any longer. She was alive, that was enough. With a calming breath she looked at Niyya, replying as graciously as she could muster. "You've given me everything I need. I'm just tired."

Niyya rubbed her arm affectionately. "Alright then, I'm going to help Geldis with supper. Milore is probably fussing with Llero but I'll let her know you're up."

Alone again, Vanya concentrated on finishing the bread, chewing for too long, swallowing whenever she finally remembered she should. It only added to the weight in her stomach. With her distraction consumed, she fell back against the pillow, regretting that she hadn't asked Niyya to bring her a book to flip through. The last thing she wanted to do right now was sleep. She pushed back up to her elbow, trying to twist enough to look around for something within reach. Her heart fluttered when she saw her dagger on the side table sitting on top of a folded paper. Tugging it from under the blade, she read her name written in small, square-looking letters, knowing the author despite never before seeing his handwriting. Suddenly, reading didn't sound so good either.

Her eyes burned as she laid down again, pressing the letter to her chest, feeling her heartbeat through the parchment. Teldryn. He had still gone if this letter was any indication, the realization bringing a troubling sense of relief that churned underneath her longing to see him. She had absolutely no clue what he might think of what she had done. Was he upset with her? Disappointed? And even if he wasn't, she was now more broken than ever. Crippled due to her own decisions. Whatever his opinion, she would never regret saving Llero's life, but how would those crimson eyes change toward her when he saw the truth? She could scarcely breathe as a thought surfaced. Maybe it's for the best.

With trembling fingers, she lifted the letter and broke the seal.