The next morning, Brand went to check on Kayla. She seemed to be enjoying the warm stable and its company. The storm hadn’t subsided yet, so he left her to regain her strength. Brand used the time he had to connect with the people of this town. Fol’Klor was the most northern city, only a hundred-fifty miles away from The Shield. The Shield was a mountain range that protected the lands south to north from the icy winds of the ocean, much like a shield would.

Helga often came to him to talk, or say nothing. Her grieving process had only just begun. Words did little to ease her pain.

The days passed and as people heard of Brand’s arrival, many braved the icy winds to meet him in the Frozen Lantern. The people were excited and bought him drinks and asked for stories. Some asked for a favour, others for someone to listen to him. But Brand didn’t feel like attending to their needs. He had his own thing to do, his gut told him someone was here that he needed to meet. So he met everyone with a friendly smile and listened, or pretended to do so. In reality, he was eying for the one. It would be late in the evening when he realised who that one was, and it couldn’t be more different than he imagined.

It was late and the citizens had left the tavern. Bianca poked the fire and went to the basement to get more wood. Brand was back at staring into the flames.

“It’s a wonder you didn’t turn blind yet.” Brand broke his gaze and turned around. Helga stood there at the doorpost. She had changed somehow like she shed her old skin. His keen eyes immediately noticed some softness around her. But that’s not what surprised him the most, it was his instinct. His gut told him she was the one.

“What happened?” he said aloud. He hadn’t seen her in days. The one he was looking for was right under his nose the whole time.

“I didn’t tell you my whole story,” she said. “Come.”

She went to the stairs, the second floor was where the rooms were. Brand inspected her closely and followed.

One in his room, she closed the door. In the dimmed lights she looked younger, finer. He felt the need to protect her, like when she was crying outside, only different. You’re a married man, Brand. Calm your senses.

She lay on the bed and turned towards him. “Sit with me.”

Brand sat down next to her, the mattress gave way, which made her lean against his shoulder.

“Do you remember I said I didn’t want adventures after seeing my sister’s wounds?” she whispered. Brand nodded. “It’s not entirely true. I did crave adventure, excitement. But I didn’t crave for blood.”

Her eyes were crystal blue. Her lips pale. She had an aquiline nose and thin eyebrows. “I had different kinds of adventures. And I experienced them here. Not on the battlefield, but in the warmth of the bed.”

She took Brand’s hand and placed it on her chest. He tried to gently pull his hand away, but she pressed it firmly against her. “There is fear and excitement, too. And just as lively, is it not?”

“Helga… I… I am a married man.” Brand said. His willpower was barely enough to resist her words. He felt it in the depths of his being. A longing for heat and intimacy. An escape from the bitterness and the coldness. He peered into her eyes and she stared into his. He felt the irresistible desire to press her lips against hers. Still, he hesitated.

“No.” He said.

“Is it the idea that I’ve had many men over the years? Does it bother you? Or does it excite you that in this very bed, I-”

“Enough.” Brand turned away. “I need to tell you something as well.”

She sat on the bed and massaged his shoulders. “You can tell me anything.”

“I came here with a mission. To find the one who will replace me. I feel it in my bones that my time is nearing the end. And I feel that the person is you.”

“Me?” her hands hesitated, her face turned pensive. “You wish to recruit me?”

“I feel it’s you.” He whispered.

“You don’t understand. I don’t want to do what you do. I don’t want these kinds of adventures. I told you what I want.”

“I can’t give you what you want.” Brand said. “It’s against what -”

“You are stuck in this narrow path of overrated principles, keeping you from what makes life worth living.” She said. “Duties and obligations until the very end. I don’t want it. I want to be free.”

“I see.” Brand thought he was too late. “Fine. But I will offer you one adventure. Though not the one you have in mind.”

“It’s giving and receiving.” She said. “Are you ready, and willing to receive?”

“I want to find your sister.” Brand said.

“And I want to sleep with you.”

The wind was biting at their very bones. Helga’s eyelashes were white and she shivered visibly.

“Not far now.” Brand said. The cold didn’t bother him yet, but he felt weird. “There,” he pointed. He was back at the cliff, but it was impossible to know where Kayla had laid on the snow. The wind had scattered all the traces, and the fresh show had covered all tracks.

“I don’t think we’ll ever find them like that!” Helga yelled. “They will come!” Brand said.

“I have tried myself!” Helga yelled. “Nobody came!”

“They will come for us!” As he yelled back to Helga, she fell through her knees. He picked her up and brushed off the snow. Her legs were to the point of breaking. Brand picked her up like she was a kid. In a flash he saw his daughter with her bow, climbing on him like he was a monster. They rolled around in the grass and he feigned a long and painful death. I got you!

He blinked as he was thrown back in the storm. For what seemed forever, he waded through the thick snow with Helga on his back. Following the cliff.

“Are you ready?” he asked. “Are you ready to find your sister?” He felt tingling in his spine, something was about to happen.

Three individuals appeared from the storm. “We are being hunted.” They said. “We almost made it to Fol’Klor. Follow us!”

Helga climbed off Brand’s back and walked towards them. “Amandine?”

“Helga? What are you doing in this storm? Follow me, I will bring you to the town.”

“You won’t, Amandine… You’re dead.” Helga tried to touch her cheek, but before she did, they disappeared. The storm cleared and Brand noticed a crevasse in the rocks. He took her arm and pulled her. “Amandine!” Helga yelled.

The entrance was large enough for them both to pass through. Their footsteps echoed against the cold stone. Brand took out his sword and held it in the air. Flames engulfed the steel. Their shadows danced on the walls of the cave. The cave was about a hundred feet deep and fifteen feet wide. Slowly they searched it. Until. In the end, there were three skeletons. Whilst Hilda rushed towards them, Brand noticed scratches, like deep scars, all across the walls. “It seems they were indeed attacked by a Shadowbeast.” His hand went over them.”But I think they did manage to slay it.” The corpses were still there, that said it all. He just didn’t want to burden Helga even more.

“Oh, Amandine.” She sobbed. Of a sudden, Brand felt the same gust of wind and tingly feeling over his back. He turned towards the exit, in the corner of his eyes, he saw that Helga did the same.

“I travelled around the world, just to be homesick,” Amandine said.

“You’re home now,” Helga said. Just like that, the three ghosts disappeared, leaving the sweet smell of widowbranch.

It ended up taking more than a week for the storm to subside enough for them to return. They mustered up some volunteers to recover the bodies and buried them together with their broken swords and rotting shields in the graveyard. That evening, they held a giant feast in their honour. The three unknown heroes who'd saved the village from the Shadowbeasts.

Brand was in his room, staring at the fire while the feast continued in the common room. The door opened without a sound and in came Helga. “I kept my side of the bargain.” She said. “Now it’s time you held yours.”

She was wearing a thick pelt, but Brand had a feeling there was nothing underneath. Helga didn’t wait for him, instead, she placed herself on the bed with her face in the soft duvet. Her pelt fell off her soft skin, she was indeed naked. “I want you to take me like this,” she said. Brand stared at the arc of her back. Her long blonde hair, messy on the fabric.

“Do it,” she said. Brand thought about his family. What would his wife think of him? What would his daughter say? But he couldn’t control his beastly instincts any longer. With all coherent thoughts erased from his mind, he grabbed her flank.

Exhausted they untangled themselves and stared at the ceiling. The whole room reeked of them. They shuddered as the cold air touched their sweaty limbs. “Thank you for everything, Brand.” Helga said with a sleepy voice. “Not this, but… you know.” She yawned and curled up against his flank. Brand pulled the duvet over her, placed his hands underneath his head and listened to her breath.