Outside the storm grew stronger. The wind came moaning through the holes in the wall, making the whole ruin feel like it was alive. The party picked their way through the bodies from one end to the other. All the way to the grand entrance hall where they entered. In the gaps of the walls they could see nothing but white, in between the pillars to the fort's courtyard was nothing but more screaming wind and walls of pure white.

“A storm like this… it has to pass eventually. Right?” Shaynen theorized. “That’s what storms do. They come then once they’ve run their course they vanish.”

“Uh…” Cleatus started but shook his head as he thought better of it. “Something like that, sure.”

“Then we should camp out here until the storm passes.” Shaynen said. Looking at the wall of snowy white with dread.

“I wouldn’t mind a break.” Odelia admitted.

“Okay. Let’s find a room that can hold some kind of heat in it.” Haagut said. “Think one over this way is decent enough,” The party migrated to a room where the ceiling corner was missing the but the room’s structure was sturdy and the cold wasn’t able to creep in as much. Together they worked to barricade the door so nothing could surprise them and they set up in the warmest corner of the room. Odelia used her ever-burning torch as a fire and the party huddled around it. They watched the fire crackling in silence. A giant crash on the front doors made them all jump and reach for their weapons. - The next crash made them relax slightly.

“Oh hey, the ogres are back.” Cleatus said. Settling his bow back in its place.

“How long do you think it’ll take for them to break through?” Shaynen asked.

“A damned miracle,” Odelia scoffed.

“Why are they trying to get in here so bad?” Shaynen followed up.

“There must be something in the courtyard,” Cleatus said. He rummaged around in his cloak and brought out a fist-sized green gem. He lifted it up and it began to glow from inside, the tiny imperfections were highlighted and twisted into a projection of the stars along the walls.

“What’s that?” Haagut asked, his eyes going as wide as full moons at the size of it.

“This? Oh uh… remember that dragon grave we found?” Cleatus laughed. “Well, I found this in it.”

“I think that’s the thing Edwin, the blood map guy? I think that’s what he was looking for.” Shaynen said with a smile. “The dragon heart? That might be it.” Cleatus laughed.

“Yeah, that’s what it is.” He snickered. “I was just gonna sell it. It’s a good sized emerald, mostly flawless. But then it attuned to me. Now it’s all starry.”

“Can’t believe you got away with that!” Shaynen laughed.

“You sneaky bastard,” Haagut jokingly smacked Cleatus’ shoulder harmlessly.

“You’re kinda collecting hearts,” Shaynen said thoughtfully. “Like you have the dragon heart and the tree’s heart. You got a little collection going.”

“I guess,” Cleatus said unconvinced. He suddenly lit up and bared his sharp teeth in an excited smile. “You wanna see something cool I can do with it?”

“Yeah!” Shaynen leaned forward matching Cleatus’ excitement. Cleatus barked a laugh without a second of hesitation he slammed the gem into the stone ground. Shattering it into a million shards. Shaynen recoiled with a shrill noise of raw surprise. Shaynen stared at Cleatus like he’d lost his mind. Cleatus laughed again.

“Just wait,” Cleatus promised. Haagut mumbled beside him, staring intently at the fire.

“Haagut? Are you okay?” Shaynen asked. He didn’t respond at all. Continuing to mumble to himself. Shaynen and Cleatus shared a look. Haagut dug blindly into his bag and pulled free a strip of cloth. He tied it around his eyes and leaned back. Speaking quietly to himself in a one-sided conversation. His head snapped towards the wall and he went silent. Hardly moving or breathing. Suddenly he ripped his blindfold off.

“We need to leave,” He said sternly. “Now,”

“Why?” Shaynen asked.

“There was a voice.. It allowed me to see… no hear. No.. I don’t know what I.” Haagut struggled to find the right words. “It doesn’t matter. We need to leave this place. I could see something in the courtyard, something huge, breathing.”

“What the ogres are looking for?” Shaynen asked quietly. Looking around the walls and ceiling of the room.

“Maybe? It’s big, very big.” Haagut got to his feet nervously. “Big enough to be…”

“A dragon,” Odelia said silently. The party again went silent.

“No, it couldn’t be.” Haagut broke the silence. “I mean. Just. Cleatus.”

“Huh!” Cleatus looked up startled.

“You speak giant. You could speak to the ogres. Ask them what’s in the courtyard.” Haagut said.

“Oh, yeah. Sure. In a minute,” Cleatus said. Turning back to the broken gem and concentrating,

“What happens in a minute?” Haagut asked incredulously.

“I’ll show you a magic trick.” Cleatus grinned.