In the east, the horizon glimmered with soft pastel colors. The dawn approached, concealing the fading sparkle of cold stars. The edge of the icy wasteland was behind the travelers. Pine and cedar trees grew in straight columns all around, and the snow was scattered with dry needles. The stallions calmly clicked their hooves on the icy road, flicked their ears, sniffing the new and unfamiliar scents of the Vaimar Forest. Startled by so many travelers on this usually deserted road, squirrels dashed through the treetops, keeping a wary eye on the massive horses trotting steadily forward toward the nearest border town.

  The fugitives from Petista had passed this way—there was no doubt. Clear tracks could be seen in places along the road. Lainter recognized them at a glance. His sharp eyes missed nothing: not the scraps of fabric snagged on the thorny bushes, nor the hastily abandoned bags, nor the drops of blood on the snow. The people had fled in panic, desperate to escape the cursed pass and reach the safety of city walls, where human civilization awaited, and where they could be safe from ugly, hulking goblins.

  The travelers found the Nielders’ carts along the way. Miraculously, nothing had fallen out when the terrified animals bolted. Remiz, Kairu, and Viggo climbed onto the driver’s seats and took the reins, while the Hellsteeds trotted nearby, once their usual riders snapped their whips and forced the tired horses to move again.

  They saw the city from afar as they climbed a trail up a rise. Two bearded Kalds ambled down the road, leading a massive beast. It was twice the size of a regular ram, with long shaggy fur and giant horns that curled nearly to the ground. Behind the trees loomed fortress walls with welcomingly open gates, and beside them stood a small stone chapel tower. Merchants, riders, and foot travelers clustered near the gate, arguing with the guards. From inside came the sounds of a bustling city.

  They were let through. Evidently, the refugees had made it, and word had already reached the city about what had happened in Petista. The guards eyed the Alvens and Nocturns with suspicion, thoroughly inspecting the wagons and checking the documents several times after the travelers had waited through a long line. Viggo’s papers helped. The Kald smiled, led the customs officer into his booth, and a few minutes later, they were waved through without another question.

  As they passed under the gate arch, Kairu couldn’t help but think how tired he was of all this: of the wartime conditions, the guards at the gates scrutinizing every piece of luggage and demanding documentation. Come to think of it, the last time he had entered a city freely was over two years ago—in Petista, before the war began.

  But Vairad was relatively calm. The city guard and army regulars either lingered near the gates or relaxed in local taverns. Carriages moved along the streets, and children ran about freely. No one was even considering evacuation, though the city stood on the very border of troubled Aktida. And the storm clouds, which had been gathering for a year and a half beyond the Olmaer Ridge, could now reach Vaimar at any moment. The threat was less than fifty miles away, a two-day march for a heavily armed army. After the fall of Petista, danger had crept right up to them.

  "What’s our plan?" Joanna asked, riding up beside Kairu. Rita confidently guided her horse ahead, easily navigating the maze of streets. "We’ll drop Ashley and Rodrigo at the hospital, and then what? If we want to rescue everyone captured by the goblins, we have to hurry."

  Kairu shook his head wearily.

  "We haven’t slept all night. We need to rest, even a little. They won’t get far. They’ve been ordered to find me and the Lake of Aktida. I’ll bet they’ll be lurking in the forests around Vairad, waiting for us to hit the road again. And they won’t kill the hostages. They’ll want to trade them for the diamond."

  "Those bastards are ruthless," Yuf said grimly. "They might start killing or maiming the prisoners one by one to pressure us. But you’re right, we shouldn’t charge headlong. We need to think it through. We may need more people."

  "I’ll find people at the Fighters’ Guild," Viggo said firmly. "That won’t be a problem."

  "By the way, maybe we should stop by the Mages’ Guild too?" Rita pointed to the towers of a tall building rising above the nearby houses. "We’ll leave the carts there, Remiz will get Rodrigo and Ashley settled, go to the bank to withdraw some of the Nielders’ money, and rent a house. We can’t drag these carts around forever. Plus, sooner or later, Roger will arrive here, and he’ll need a place to stay."

  "Good idea," Kairu agreed after a moment. "We’ll start with the Mages’ Guild."

  ***

  They left the wagons and belongings in a designated lot at the Mages’ Guild, where, thanks to Remiz’s petition, they managed to secure a free space. Ashley and Rodrigo were immediately taken to the hospital. They were not only wounded and bruised but suffering from severe frostbite. Once those matters were handled, the group set out in search of an inn.

  Just around the corner from the Guild began the back alleys of the trade district and warehouse area. There, they found a squat, two-story building made of rough-hewn logs, leaning tiredly against the city’s stone wall, with small darkened windows and a rotting door. The roof was crooked, buried under a thick layer of snow, and a blackened chimney pipe released faint wisps of smoke into the pale morning sky. A sign above the door swayed gently, with faded letters reading: "Club of Staunch Adventurers." Below the words were crossed swords and a mug of beer.

  The tavern was surrounded by a fence, beyond which the rooftops of neighboring shops were visible.

  "What a dump," Joanna grimaced.

  "I think I’ve heard of this place," Yuf laughed. "Rita, didn’t Petros mention it?"

  "He did," Rita confirmed. "He lived in Vairad for a while before heading to Petista. Maybe they even know him here. Judging by the name, this is just the place for a company like ours. Or do you want to look for a noble inn with featherbeds, Joanna?"

  "No, no, I don’t care," the Nocturn sighed. "I’m starving and dead tired. Let’s just go inside."

  The dim tavern hall was nearly empty, though it held plenty of tables. In one corner, a drunk wrapped in rags dozed. The innkeeper, a stocky, muscular Kald with a graying mane and a receding hairline, eyed them suspiciously at first, but as usual, Viggo took on the role of negotiator. Within minutes, he and the innkeeper, whose name was Stan, were fast friends. Stan quickly brought them each a steaming bowl of meat stew and a thick slice of fresh bread, which the hungry travelers devoured in seconds. After that, all of them felt the overwhelming need to sleep. Viggo, gathering his strength, headed off to the Fighters’ Guild to organize the rescue expedition, while the others went to their rooms.

  Kairu’s room was small, dark, dusty, and cold, but he could not care less. He collapsed fully clothed onto the straw mattress, wrapped himself in a thin blanket, gratefully thought that even such a humble luxury would soon be beyond reach. Then he fell asleep.

  When he woke up, the short winter day had already faded into blue twilight, and snow was falling quietly outside the tiny, dirty window. Viggo was snoring next to him on another mattress. The mattresses of Yuf and Remiz were empty. From the tavern’s lower floor, muffled music and the uneven murmur of voices came through the wooden ceiling.

  "Viggo!" Kairu shook the Kald awake.

  "Mmm?"

  "Wake up. What's the deal with the Fighters’ Guild? Are they going to help us?"

  "Yeah," Viggo mumbled, yawning desperately. "They promised… uh, promised to find people by tomorrow morning. It’s important to them, they don’t want a goblin gang roaming the outskirts of the city. So we’ll stop by there tomorrow, and if we want, we can go with them."

  "Good," said Kairu. "Let’s find the others. We need to discuss what to do next."

  It was evening, and the tavern hall had transformed. Now it was lit by several chandeliers, and a cheerful fire crackled in the hearth in the center of the room. At several tables and near the bar sat no fewer than fifty people, and each table had gathered a group of a particular kind. Some were occupied by shaven drunkards, red-faced from booze and warmth; others by swashbucklers in ornate clothes, hats, and with rapiers; and farther off, mercenaries and poachers with bows and crossbows. On a small stage, musicians with lutes, flutes, and violins sat on stools, playing cheerful folk tunes that many in the room seemed to know, as the patrons frequently broke into drunken choruses, clapped along, and banged their mugs on the tables in rhythm.

  At one of the tables already sat Yuf, Rita, Remiz, and Joanna, eagerly devouring fried eggs and bacon. Yuf waved to them.

  "Dinner! We ordered for you, too," he said, pushing the plates forward as Kairu and Viggo joined them.

  Kairu polished off his portion, leaned back in his chair, and looked around. At the next table sat a rather extravagant company in leather jackets, colorful scarves, ragged gloves, canvas trousers, and boots with spurs. In the center, slouched in a chair with his hat pulled over his eyes, dozed a middle-aged Alven—tanned, clean-shaven, with an aquiline nose and neatly trimmed mustache. A thick black belt with a massive buckle and a side dagger cinched his jacket, and a striped undershirt peeked out from the unbuttoned collar.

  Next to him sat a shirtless, bald-headed Nocturn covered head to toe in black tattoos. Even his cheekbones, forehead, and the back of his head were inked with intricate patterns, and his eyes gleamed in the lamplight like two gold coins. He was a deep brown color, with huge protruding lips, a ring in his nose, and a necklace of fangs around his neck. He was armed only with a katana, but had half a dozen daggers hanging from his belt.

  The third was a Kald with pale, almost white skin, a thick beard braided into pigtails, enormous ears adorned with huge earrings, and slanted eyes. He was wrapped in a fur coat, repeatedly taking swigs from a dusty bottle in front of him.

  "So," said Yuf. "Kairu, don’t you think we’ve ended up in the perfect place to find a guide?"

  "I think so," Kairu nodded. "It’s worth asking around here."

  "A guide?" Joanna asked.

  "If we want to follow Petros’ route and find Octarus, we’ll have to travel north from the Temple of Tornir into the Regerlim Forest, and beyond that to the ruins of Ardrai," Kairu explained. "That road isn’t safe."

  "Why not?"

  "Druids," Viggo said darkly.

  Joanna raised an eyebrow.

  "They’ve inhabited northwest Vaimar since ancient times, long before the Kalds conquered these lands," Yuf explained. "It’s similar to what happened with the centaurs in Aktida. After the Conquest, they withdrew into the Enchanted Forest. The druids mainly live in Regerlim. But while the centaurs chose proud isolation and avoid interaction with people, the druids took a different route..."

  "Put bluntly, they’re the local mafia," Viggo sighed. "They live in clans, divide the territory into spheres of influence, and do, well, let’s say… not exactly legal business. They come to human towns and demand innkeepers or other craftsmen pay them tribute, and in return, they promise to protect their shop from other clans. They get hired for robberies, assassinations. They run gambling dens and brothels. They smuggle goods, grow banned herbs to brew illegal elixirs, trade in runes..."

  Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

  "What’s wrong with runes?" Kairu asked. "The centaurs once gave me a few, and the Runes of Fire saved my and Rita’s lives..."

  "Great, but you’d better not blab about that just anywhere," Viggo said. "Runes are a very powerful source of magic accessible to anyone, even someone who’s never studied at a magic academy. That’s why their use is strictly regulated, and if you’re caught with runes and don’t have a license permitting their possession, you’re looking at prison. But the druids have turned this into a profitable business. Most of the illegal runes circulating in Laugdeil are made in Regerlim."

  "And the Vaimar Fighters’ Guild tolerates all that?" Rita asked mockingly.

  "Ah, na?ve young lady! If it were up to me, I’d have cracked down on them ages ago. But here in the west, they’re powerful, wealthy, and in many towns and villages, Guild officials take bribes from them. What can you do, one hand washes the other. The way the druids operate—it’s a damned hydra: cut off one head, and ten more grow. No, the only way to deal with them would be to send an army into Regerlim, but even then, success isn’t guaranteed. See, people are afraid of that forest."

  "But during the First Derelz Expedition, Petros hired a druid guide to find the shrine," Kairu said. "Ashley told me that. He might even still be alive. Either way, if we want to search the north of Regerlim, we’ll have to negotiate with the druids. Unless we pay tribute to some clan that will offer us protection, it’s deadly to be in those parts."

  "Yep," Viggo agreed. "I’ve heard some of them burn people alive. Others… eat them."

  Joanna shuddered.

  "I hope we won’t have to deal with those kinds..."

  "I hope so too," Kairu said. "Honestly, I have no idea what druids even look like, and if they were in this very room, I probably wouldn’t recognize them. How are we supposed to search?"

  "They’re not here, I can tell you that right away," said Viggo. "Trust me, if they were, you’d know. And how to search? Well, looks like we’ll have to talk to people, my dear fellow. I know that’s not your strongest suit, so to ease the process, I suggest we start with a mug of beer. Who knows, maybe we’ll find some interesting drinking companions."

  "You’re just looking for an excuse to drink, Viggo," Yuf said, laughing.

  "And what if I am!" the Kald replied proudly. "I’m in my homeland, Yuffilis, for the first time in gods know how many years. Don’t I have the right to use this one free evening that fate’s given me to remember the taste of Vaimarian beer? And I recommend it to all of you, too. You won’t find anything like it in Aktida."

  "All right, all right, you’ve convinced me... Stan, be a dear and bring us a round," Yuf said kindly, calling the innkeeper over.

  Kairu blew off the foam and took a sip of beer, grimacing at the sharp hoppy aroma that hit his nostrils. They finished the first mugs in one go, and Yuf dropped a few gold coins into the innkeeper’s palm and got more beer. He glanced mockingly at Kairu.

  "Taking a break?"

  "For now, yeah," Kairu muttered, looking around. That condescending tone—meaning "What are your orders, commander?"—really annoyed him, especially in those moments when he truly didn’t know what to do. "Let’s finish the beer, and then I suggest we start by chatting with the innkeeper."

  "You know what?" Rita gave the travelers a scrutinizing look. "While you’re finishing your beers, I’m going to dance."

  "Go ahead," Viggo mumbled, bringing the mug to his lips again.

  "Ah…" Lainter sighed, caught in his own somber thoughts. "Alright, let’s go. Let’s say I’m asking you to dance."

  As soon as they stepped away from the table and vanished into the crowd, Viggo turned to Kairu with a puzzled expression. Joanna was also looking at him, her sultry eyes smiling.

  "What about you?"

  "I don’t dance," Kairu explained wearily. "Never learned how, and I’m not about to make a fool of myself now."

  Joanna snorted into her fist. Remiz smirked, stood up, and with a dignified gesture offered her his hand, which she immediately took, and the two of them disappeared into the crowd.

  "Well then." Viggo sighed with resignation, trying to find solace in his beer mug. "Just the two of us left here, like a couple of idiots... Man, I’m sick of all this. You know what I want most right now? To go back to Arctarium… There was this girl who served with me there… oh, Kairu, was she fire! Her name was Gudrun. Long blonde braid down to her waist, huge blue eyes like two lakes in Eastern Vaimar, and could she fight with a sword! One time, we... ah, never mind! As soon as we’re done here, I’m heading back to marry her."

  "Great plan, Viggo," Kairu smiled.

  Kald sprawled out in his chair, gazing dreamily at the ceiling. Then he looked slyly at Kairu.

  "And you should marry Rita," he said. "It’d be a sin to let a woman like that slip away."

  Kairu choked on his beer, coughing violently, but managed to lift his gaze to meet Viggo’s laughing eyes. Once again, he was forced to think about his own future. This time, with a question he always tried to avoid, though he knew he'd have to face it someday. He clearly remembered carrying Rita in his arms that summer out of the burning Citadel, the thoughts that swarmed his mind as he healed her with a Fire Rune, and how, that very night, he’d unintentionally compared Rita and Joanna… But even now, he didn’t want to think about it. Maybe later.

  "But I thought you didn’t like her?" Kairu said, turning his head. Rita was dancing with Yuffilis just a few steps away from the table… No way he’d steal her from right under Kairu’s nose.

  "That was at first. But once I got to know her better, I got jealous, brother. Take care of her, she’d follow you through fire and water."

  Kairu pondered. The alcohol hit his head, and he felt his thoughts slow down, moving sluggishly. Somewhere in the back of his mind, a sharp sting reminded him that his brother, along with a few others, was now in captivity and needed to be rescued—and he felt guilty for sitting here drinking beer. But rationally, he knew that venturing into the woods at night, with no reinforcements and no knowledge of the area, chasing after heavily armed goblins, was a terrible idea. That thought quickly drifted away, and, lulled by warmth and alcohol, he simply watched the dancing crowd, listened to the music, and let himself rest, surrendering to the weariness that had built up in his body and mind over years of wandering.

  "Hey, lad! Alven!"

  Kairu turned around. The mustached rogue he’d noticed earlier, dozing at a nearby table, was now awake and, half-lying in his chair, still hadn’t changed position but looked at Kairu from under the wide brim of his hat with black, amused eyes.

  "Hello," Kairu answered cautiously.

  "By the tentacles of the kraken, it’s not often you see an Alven around here, much less a Nocturn," the man said lazily. His companions remained silent, their faces expressionless.

  "I understand," said Kairu. "But we’re here, and we’ve got business. My name is Kairu, this is my friend Viggo..."

  "Natall Ganstair, at your service," the man lifted his hat slightly in a half-mocking greeting. Kairu said nothing, sensing that Ganstair hadn’t started the conversation without reason. He was right.

  "I happened to overhear your very interesting conversation," Ganstair said, suddenly shifting in his seat and leaning forward. "About druids. And that you’re looking for a guide through Regerlim."

  "That’s right," said Kairu. "Do you know someone?"

  "If I were looking for a guide around the Ardrai ruins, I’d go to the Wolf Clan. Of all the northern clans, they’re the most reasonable. At least you can talk to them before they burn you alive in some ritual. But they rarely show up here in Vairad. The best way to find them is to head east from here, past Regerlim, then north to Stailing—they control half the town there. But I’m afraid finding them this winter won’t be easy. The clans are at war. The Wolf Clan is fighting the Lynx Clan. It’s their turf war, but regular folks should avoid getting caught in the middle. North of Steiling is damn dangerous now, especially around Ardrai."

  "You seem well-informed about druid affairs," Viggo noted.

  Ganstair smirked.

  "I work with them often. Or, well, I used to."

  "What do you do?"

  "You’re not with the Fighters’ Guild, are you?" The adventurer lowered his voice.

  Viggo shook his head with the most sincere expression.

  "Smuggling, of course. What else?" Ganstair said, visibly relaxed. "I’ve got my own little ship in Harkon. I run goods from Derelz to Aktida and the Isles—Runes, dreamweed, druid moonshine, mink and bear pelts, turand tusks, malachite, jasper. All druid stuff."

  "So you’re a captain!" said Kairu.

  "That I am, damn it all. Captain Natall Ganstair."

  "Wouldn’t happen to be looking for work, would you? After we return from Regerlim, we’re heading to Harkon, and we’ll need to hire a ship there."

  Ganstair grinned.

  "Work? Why the hell would I want work? I need money, by all the kraken’s tentacles, so I can get back to a familiar and profitable trade!"

  "Then here’s a way to earn some," Kairu said. "In spring, we’ll need to take a few passengers to an island in the Western Ocean. Six people, no luggage. What’s your price?"

  For a few seconds, Natall looked at him, then exchanged glances with his companions, and all three burst into loud, raspy laughter.

  "You gentlemen will have to head to Harkon, or any other port in Derelz, and look for some fool with a ship there," he said after catching his breath. "Right now, I couldn’t take anyone, even a couple of yards offshore. My ship has been anchored in Harkon for a month without half its rigging, and I owe so much money that not only can’t I repair the damn thing, but I’ve been forced to hide across all of Vaimar from bounty hunters. So, sorry. You’ll have to wait for the war to end, when the sea is clear of pirates, and regular merchants can sail the ocean freely again. I’m beached."

  Kairu said nothing, watching him. Natall sighed sadly, took a puff from his pipe, and exhaled, enveloping himself in clouds of tobacco smoke.

  "Who do you owe?" Viggo asked as calmly as he could.

  Natall took another puff and replied:

  "The druids. The damned Lynx Clan."

  "Owing druids?" Viggo groaned. "That’s just about the worst thing that can happen to you in this part of Vaimar..."

  "That’s right," the captain confirmed. "That’s why I’m damn glad that clan never comes to Vairad. But I heard my portraits are hanging all over Regerlim with a bounty notice. So I try not to show my face too much. I know that Stan"—he nodded toward the bar—"won’t turn me in, and he has no dealings with druids in his reputable establishment. So in Vairad, I feel safe. But you should understand. Druids are the kind who’ll slit your throat in your sleep or burn you at the stake for some ritual before they even ask who you are or why you’re there."

  "How much do you owe them?" Kairu asked.

  "Twenty thousand gold," Ganstair said grimly.

  Kairu exchanged glances with Viggo. That was the exact amount they had planned to spend on the journey to Darius Island. A plan formed in Kairu’s head instantly.

  "Then how about this," he said, locking eyes with Ganstair. "We’re heading into Regerlim—we need to hire the Wolf Clan to escort us to Ardrai anyway. We can pay your debt at the same time and get the bounty on your head lifted. In exchange, you’ll take us wherever we need to go, for free. A favor for a favor. Deal?"

  The captain studied him intently.

  "By the tentacles of the Kraken, if you pull that off, I’ll take you to the ends of the earth—or straight to the devil himself!" he said. "But I’ll still need some money to fix the ship. Once she’s seaworthy again, I swear, you won’t find a better man in all of Derelz for the job. Do you seriously think anyone else would dare take to sea right now, with Orwell Cassander’s pirates everywhere? It’s hopeless, believe me. Even the most hardened scoundrels would rather keep their skins and go broke."

  "And you?" Viggo asked. "Why are you agreeing so easily?"

  Ganstair raised his eyebrows.

  "Want the truth? I’m almost certain this is a suicide mission. You’re not coming back from Regerlim alive."

  Kairu said nothing. Ganstair went quiet for a moment, then continued:

  "There’s another reason. Have you ever heard of Andromeda?"

  Viggo and Kairu shook their heads simultaneously.

  "Well then," said Natall, "with that ship, I can sail past a hundred of Cassander’s ships and not be noticed. Any smuggler would sell their soul to get their hands on that corvette. On her, I feel safe, and she’s the reason I’ve survived this dirty business so long. So about our deal? I’m very interested, gentlemen. I doubt I’ll meet another pair of lunatics anytime soon willing to walk into druid territory with twenty thousand gold in their pockets."

  "We’ll need to think it over," said Kairu.

  "Think away," agreed Ganstair. "I won’t be going anywhere for a while. If you return from Regerlim in one piece, bring something to prove the druids won’t touch me. Only then will I agree to leave Vairad."

  He stood, knocked the ashes from his pipe onto the floor, and tipped his hat again. His two silent companions also stood, nodded gloomily, and followed their captain toward the exit, weaving between the closely packed tables. Kairu watched them go.

  "Who was that turkey?" asked Rita, flushed and cheerful from dancing, as she returned to the table. Yuf, Remiz, and Joanna followed close behind.

  Kairu briefly recounted the conversation with Ganstair.

  "Slippery guy," he concluded. "I’m not sure we should trust him."

  "He wasn’t lying about one thing. During wartime, it’ll be damn hard to hire a ship for a western voyage," said Viggo. "Talaska lies northwest of Derelz, and pirates prowl that area constantly. If he really knows a way to sneak past them... Hey, Stan!"

  The innkeeper approached.

  "More beer, good sirs?"

  "Stan, do you know that guy? Natall Ganstair? What can you tell us about him?"

  Stan chuckled.

  "If you’re looking for someone trustworthy, that guy’s at the end of the line. His reliability barely depends on the money you offer. He’s got his own code, and he might double-cross you anyway. Whether he helps you or not depends more on whether he likes you. But—he’s braver than a thousand devils, strong as a lion, and cunning as a fox... oh, and I almost forgot: crazy as any smuggler. He got into some trouble, and now he and his crew are loitering around here. If you need a man with an empty purse and a fast ship, go to Natall Ganstair. And his Andromeda—it’s a legendary vessel. Everyone in the business knows that ship."

  "Thanks," said Kairu. Once the innkeeper left, he added quietly:

  "We could try. After the Temple of Tornir, we’ll head to that... Steiling. If we need the Clan anyway, we might as well kill two birds with one stone."

  "What about the goblins? And freeing the captives?" asked Yuf.

  Kairu stood up.

  "To the Mages’ Guild," he said resolutely. "We need to consult with Rodrigo and Ashley. Then we’ll decide how to rescue them. But one thing you can be sure of: we’re not leaving them in trouble."