******

I was playing my flute when Lord Himmel visited me.

Or less of visiting, and more of barging straight into my cell after waving his hand at the door, making it swing open to make way for him.

I pulled myself onto my feet, ready to face the hurdles of the day—night. Whatever time it was. However, instead of invoking the trigger words of the blood oath like he usually did, he seized me by the arm and dragged me outside. I gasped, reflexively squirming in his grip, but he didn't relent.

He led me down the corridor and up a flight of steps. Confusion swam in me. He was actually letting me out? He wasn't going to use the blood oath on me?

When the first ray of natural light entered my eyes, I both savoured and recoiled at it. Then I felt the cool breeze kissing my skin, and it stung. I barely held back my tears as we continued to make our way up. I didn't know whether to feel relieved or fearful. At any rate, if I were going to die today, at least I'd die in the open, and not in the dungeons.

A full gust of wind blasted into my face, and the light blinded me. I was out of the dungeons.

I was out of the dungeons.

Now I was clinging onto Lord Himmel as much as he was clinging onto me. I relied on him for support, feeling my way about with his guidance. My knees were weak and untried after a long period of not walking long distances, and I kept stumbling every few seconds. Lord Himmel just released snarls of frustration and hauled me along.

Eventually, we burst into the outside. The first thing I noticed was the cold. It bit into me through my thin layer of clothing, worming its way into my bones. It was as though a thousand little goblins were sinking their teeth into me at once.

The second thing I noticed was the wind. Though it might be associated with the cold. It whipped my hair about and made my eyes water. It carried the promise of bitterness. Of frigid, lonesome nights. And of terrible, terrible creatures prowling the darkness.

Then I noticed the snow. It settled all over the ground in unceremonious heaps. All the plants had already shed their leaves, and they were covered in frost. Everything save the firs was touched by winter's ruthless hand.

It took me quite a while before I recognised that this was the entrance leading into the castle. It's winter, I realised with a shock. The last time I'd passed through here, it was autumn, the leaves just transcending into hues of golden-brown and red and yellow. The scenery was so different.

My feet felt unusually cold. I looked down, seeing that I was wearing boots. Unfortunately, these boots were holey and moth-eaten with disuse. Probably due to the fact that I didn't get much fresh air down there in the dungeons. Snow was slowly seeping through the material. I was also inappropriately dressed to face the weather. I wrapped my arms around myself, shivering and silently thinking that it was better that I freeze to death than be driven insane.

Someone started singing a song, and a heavy overcoat fell over me, while my soggy boots were replaced by new, sturdy ones. I looked to my side, noting the outline of Lord Himmel. My eyes had not quite adjusted to the light, but I could see that he was already dressed in the proper garments. I felt his look of disdain upon me, as if accusing me of not having the strength to conjure the necessary clothes for myself.

"Everything is ready and in order, milord," announced a low, gruff voice. "When shall we move out?"

Through bleary eyes, I squinted into the distance. My vision focused enough to let me see that the area was filled with sorcerers, all standing at ready, and horses, all saddled up and ready to go.

Go where? I thought hazily. The man who had addressed Lord Himmel looked like the leader. He was standing a few feet away from us, arms pinned down by his sides like any good soldier. He had a bristly moustache and several ribbons tied around his left wrist.

Ribbons. It was Kaiser, the leader of the sorcerers whom I'd travelled with for quite a while during my first and only cleansing ritual. What is he doing here?

Then I noticed the other sorcerers. Their faces, whether long or stout, sharp or soft, all struck to me as familiar. The elite guard. Now I felt frightened, cornered. What were they doing here? Where were we going?

A familiar black head caught my attention. My eyes widened in surprise when I recognised Elise. Josef, tall and slightly hunched, stood beside her. He had a stricken expression on his face, and even from the distance I saw a terrified look in his eye. Elise, meanwhile, seemed calm and collected, as always. She stood as tall as her small stature allowed her to, and her violet eyes were flicking around aimlessly. In fact, I might not have noticed anything wrong with her if she hadn't shook her head at me.

It wasn't a big gesture, just a quick snap of the head from left to right. But it was enough to make my palms sweat.

"Now. I have the prisoner. Get my horse for me, Kaiser," said Lord Himmel, snapping me to reality.

"Will do, milord."

Kaiser stuck two fingers in his mouth and whistled. A powerful horse which had a coat that matched the background came trotting towards us, led by a spindly-looking young man. Something didn't feel right. I was out of the dungeons, yes. But a chill creeping up my spine told me that there was something far more sinister awaiting me up ahead.

The horse lowered its head when it came for Lord Himmel, and he stroked its muzzle in return. The creature snorted, almost in delight. "That's a good girl," he said.

Then he turned around to look at me. His nose was upturned and his eyes were as hard as the ice crunching beneath me. "Get up," he said curtly.

I bowed my head, tucked my flute into my pouch and approached the horse. Strong arms circled my waist before I was hoisted up into the air and dumped onto the side saddle. I winced and bit back a curse when pain shot up my bad leg. I adjusted myself, besides checking that my flute was undamaged.

My hands were abruptly grabbed and yanked downwards, almost making me fall down. Lord Himmel deftly tied a rope around my wrists, making sure that it was wound unnecessarily tight. The coarse, fibrous material chaffed my skin, and I could feel some sort of magic radiating from it, clamping down on my Core. Just when I thought that I would be free to use magic, the privilege was taken away from me. Again.

Once he was satisfied with his handiwork, Lord Himmel mounted atop the horse, easily sliding himself before me. I looked about; everyone was ready to leave. To wherever, I didn't know.

And like what we'd done last spring, Lord Himmel kicked the horse in the ribs, and shouted, "Move along!"

The horse began to trot at a comfortable pace. Lord Himmel didn't even ask me to hold onto him. I had to keep balance by myself, swaying along with every step the horse took. I could hear the rest of the group following after us, the steady rhythm of hooves clopping on the ground keeping me awake.

We marched on into the unknown.

******

Ride. Stop. Eat. Rest. Ride again till nightfall. Set up camp. Sleep. Ride at dawn.

That was our routine for a good three days. It was monotonous, but it beat being trapped in the dungeons. I found myself marvelling at every little sight: the snow-capped mountains to our left, the sun hanging over head, the trees heavily laden with snow. An occasional wind would blow in and send us all chattering, and sometimes if I was careless enough to expose the tiniest part of my face when sleeping, frost would form over my nose.

Lord Himmel still hadn't removed the ropes. Not even once; not even when I had to use the privy. He made sure Elise attended to me whenever I was susceptible to nature's call.

Meanwhile, Elise had barely spoken to me throughout the whole journey, only daring to give me quick side-glances and murmured 'Are you all right?'-s. Josef wasn't much better of a companion either. The terror in his eyes never faded, even when the sorcerers were relaxing around the campfire and over a meal of horseradish stew. Every time I tried to approach him, he would mumble excuses and scurry away. Strangely enough, it hurt. There was something they weren't telling me, either because they feared for me or didn't trust me enough. I hoped it wasn't the latter.

Three days, and I still had no idea where we were heading for. I had some vague idea that we were moving along the beaten western road. I'd travelled down this path when I was going to Starkfurt. There would be a junction up ahead, where one path led to the great stronghold, and the other to the north, where the plague-ridden provinces lay.

Currently, I was sitting behind Lord Himmel on his mare. I had gotten somewhat used to the fact that I had to balance myself with my limited mobility. Still, it didn't help that this particular horse was jerky, and I kept swinging precariously on the saddle. More than once, I actually fell off and crashed onto the ground. Lord Himmel had replaced me onto the steed's back accordingly each time, but with a haughty scowl on his face. It was hard work helping me up with my hands bound, and I felt a flush of embarrassment when the sorcerers stopped for my sake.

Trying to distract myself from such humiliating thoughts, I looked about, observing my surroundings. A dry, barren forest sprawled on our right, somehow less menacing during winter. No monsters attacked us so far. Apparently the cold forced most of them into hibernation. That was one good thing that came out from travelling during this season. The only good thing.

It took approximately an hour of hard riding before we finally came to the junction. My rump was battered and sore, and I thought that we were finally going to take a rest, since we'd been riding nonstop since daybreak. It was near noon now.

But two horses were steered away from the group instead, and onto the path leading to Starkfurt. The rest were heading for the other path. With surprise, I saw that the two riders were Elise and Josef, their faces grim and determined.

"Now I shall fulfil my end of the blood oath, Klaudia," said Lord Himmel, tugging on the horse reins till we came to a stop. He craned his neck around to look at me. "Josef shall be leaving for Starkfurt, and Elise will accompany him. She will re-join us once it's ensured that their own circle of sorcerers takes Josef in."

My eyes flicked between him, Elise and Josef uncertainly. "I see," was all I could say.

"I expect you to fulfil your end of the bargain later," he said.

"I'll try to."

"You'd better, my dear Klaudia."

I pushed down a shiver at his menacing tone, focusing upon the only two people I could completely trust in this brutal world. And now they were going away. A lump rose in my throat, and tears threatened to spill out from my eyes. No, don't cry, I told myself. Be strong—stay strong. For their sakes and yours.

"Farewell, then, Elise, Josef," I finally choked the words out. I sounded much calmer than I felt, and I was pleased with myself.

They nodded at me. In their gazes I saw steel and fire. They weren't going to give up this fight just yet. And I wouldn't either.

"When can I expect you, Elise?" Lord Himmel cut in.

"Depends on how fast we can make the journey. I shall contact you in four days' time in the least," she replied, ever the loyal Magus.

"Very well." Lord Himmel steered his horse so that our backs faced the duo. "We move on," he barked.

The remainder of the sorcerers quickly followed suit as Lord Himmel urged his horse into a canter. I looked back, wanting to see until Elise and Josef went out of sight.

Then I caught Elise mouthing words: Do not give up.

She gave me a look before kicking her horse into the ribs and riding down the path she'd taken. Josef waved a tentative hand at me and joined Elise.

I watched until they were no more than two black spots disappearing into the snow.

******