Ashley listened to Kairu's story without blinking an eye; she only sighed heavily at the word "druids." She lay in a bed in a private ward of the Mages' Guild hospital. As a former magister and academic, she was entitled to especially attentive care. Rodrigo was in the next room, behind the wall. He was fast asleep under the effects of a barrage of medicines and spells. Amid all the fuss, time had crept past noon, and sunlight streamed brightly through the silk curtains, lighting up the room where the travelers had gathered.

  "Druids," Ashley repeated softly when Kairu finished. "How strange… I’ve met those beings. In fact, I got as close to them as anyone could. During our expedition, Petros and Saelin negotiated with warriors from one of the clans. I don’t remember which clan it was, but perhaps it was the Wolf Clan… I think that after Petros and I parted ways in Regerlim, the druids acted as his guides."

  Ashley sighed and sank briefly into memory.

  "This Ganstair of yours is certainly right about one thing: going to the druids is a sure death. Right now, I think there are only about two dozen clans left across all of Vaimar, constantly at war with each other. Those druids who still remembered Petros may no longer be alive, and their descendants may have become greedy killers. Druids are known for always seeking gain, and their morality allows them to treat people however they like. It’s no wonder they hobnob with all the smugglers of Derelz."

  "So what do we do?" asked Kairu. "Ganstair probably wasn’t lying about the clan wars, and about how we won’t make it to Ardrai without the Wolf Clan’s help."

  "Maybe…" Ashley began, uncertain, and fell silent.

  "What is it, Ashley?" Rita asked.

  "You were going to visit the Temple of Tornir first," she said quietly. "Maybe Konrad can guide you. If they remember anyone, it’ll be him. But he’s very old now, older than me. I’m not sure he can handle such a journey."

  "If he’s even still alive," Yuf said uncertainly and shivered, suddenly remembering that it was already quite cold outside. And if they were to seek out the druids, they’d have to spend both December and the bitter January far from civilization, deep in the dreadful Vaimar taiga… At the moment, in the warm, sunlit room, the problem seemed insignificant to the others—Kairu, Rita, and Joanna. But Yuf, older and more experienced than the rest, knew all too well what awaited them if they pushed farther north.

  "It’s also quite possible," Joanna remarked, "that Ganstair will just ditch us. The man’s a bastard. We’ll spend the whole winter in the taiga with the druids, while he winters comfortably in Vairad, and once the ice thaws, he’ll be off south. We’ve never even seen this 'Andromeda' of his. For all we know, it’s already anchored in Harkon, waiting for its captain."

  "That risk is real," Rita agreed after some thought. "But on the other hand…"

  "On the other hand," Kairu picked up the thread, "if we really do pay off his debt to the druids, he’ll owe us. His life will be in our hands."

  "And what about the goblins?" Yuf quietly reminded them. His companions instantly turned pale, as if suddenly remembering the storm on the horizon. "They’re hunting us. Kairu, you saw them closer than any of us—didn’t they chase you that night in the Citadel of the Wolf? And they’ve kidnapped our friends. Atgard. Norton. Anzerrat… Demetra."

  Kairu sighed heavily.

  "Rodrigo won’t abandon Demetra," he said. "The Fighters’ Guild is with him. I think this task should fall to professionals, then our friends won’t be in danger. On the contrary, they’ll avoid the dangers we’ll face if we go to Regerlim."

  "So what, we just abandon them?" Rita asked quietly.

  Kairu hesitated before answering.

  "The fewer people with us, the easier it is to move," he finally said reluctantly. "It’s not that I’m against Atgard, Anzerrat, Demetra, or my own brother, for that matter—but… I remember all too well what happened last summer, and I don’t want to risk lives again. We’re stepping into immense danger. Even though our goal seems clear—Darius Island—but between us and the island are thousands of miles and three months of winter. And our friends are in relative safety. I’m sure the goblins were ordered not to kill anyone. They’re needed alive in the Citadel."

  Yuf and Rita exchanged glances, and the girl was the first to understand.

  "You’re still haunted by Woody’s death, aren’t you? Come on. It wasn’t your fault, we’re not going over that again…"

  "Easy for you to say!" Kairu snapped. "I’m the one who dragged the whole company into the Eastern Province, I’m the one who suggested going to the Citadel and trying to steal the diamond! And I had it the worst, not you, because you were unconscious, damn it, while I dragged you out of that castle, thinking you were dead! Do you get that?! Do you even understand what it’s like—watching the people who followed your orders die in front of your eyes?!"

  Rita flinched. For the first time since that night, Kairu had lost control and brought it up again, and although he fell silent immediately, realizing he had touched the wrong nerve, the words couldn’t be taken back. He looked at her with anger and bitterness, and suddenly noticed a subtle change in her expression, something he couldn’t quite interpret. Rita, however, said nothing.

  A heavy silence fell. Sunlight streamed brightly through the windows of the chamber.

  "So what are you going to tell Ganstair?" Ashley asked suddenly, breaking the tension. "Will you go looking for his druids or not?"

  "We’re going to the Temple, regardless," said Kairu. "We’ll find Konrad. As for the rest… You know, I think telling the captain that we’ll search for the druids won’t hurt anyone. Natall can spend the winter comfortably in the ‘Club of Staunch Adventurers,’ convinced we’re handling his debts in the taiga, and probably won’t dare to take off on his own. If we find the Wolf Clan, there’s a fair chance that Natall won’t double-cross us and will uphold his end of the deal. And well, taking risks isn’t new to us," he added with a weary smile.

  "What’s this I’m hearing?" Yuffilis said mockingly, eyeing him. "We finally have a clear plan of action. What a breakthrough."

  "Yuf!" Rita snapped at him angrily.

  "You once said that after Petros’ death, command passed to me," Kairu said coldly. "Well then: I’ve given the order, and orders aren’t up for discussion. Tomorrow morning, we’ll go to the Fighters’ Guild and make sure they have things under control, that they can track down the goblins and rescue our friends alive. We’ll rent a house for Ashley and Roger, and then we'll set out. That’s it. No time to waste. We’ll rest when we return from Darius Island."

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  They parted in silence, and an air of unresolved tension lingered, as though everyone had left their darkest thoughts buried deep inside. Kairu avoided looking at Yuf. And in his mind, a bitter thought pounded like a giant hammer:

  "Why isn’t Petros with us? Wise, decisive Petros, who would’ve known exactly what to do… Why did all of this fall on me?.. Why am I the one who has to drag this wretched business forward, carrying the burden of the ‘Lake of Aktida’ on my back every single day?"

  There were no answers. Petros was dead and couldn’t give advice.

  ***

  Rodrigo Antan expressed his position clearly and unequivocally. As long as Demetra’s and Kairu’s paths aligned, he didn’t mind traveling together, but as soon as their ways parted, he immediately decided to follow his charge. Kairu didn’t blame him in the least—on the contrary, he was ready to help in any way he could. After all, his own brother was also taken captive by goblins. But he could see in the Kald’s eyes that Rodrigo, in a way, blamed him for Demetra’s abduction. The goblins had been after Kairu, not Demetra. That explained everything.

  As Viggo had promised, a rescue team of the Guild’s best warriors was ready by morning. The refugees from Petista had found shelter and a roof over their heads in specially arranged asylums; some had been taken eastward to the capital with supply wagons, others set out west on their own, toward the ocean, intending to sail to the Islands. Word had already reached Vairad that the Archipelago had declared neutrality in the war.

  A squad of twenty bearded Kalds with halberds and bows left the city later that same day, near evening—despite all of Viggo’s efforts, departure couldn’t be hastened. Kairu, Rita, Viggo, and Yuf escorted them to the city gates and then stood watching for a long time as the figures of the warriors faded into the deepening twilight.

  "They’ll manage," Viggo said confidently, placing a hand on Kairu’s shoulder. "I trust my men. I served in Vairad for a long time and know these guys. And Rodrigo would turn the earth upside down to get Demetra back."

  Yuf looked grim. One fleeting glance was enough for Kairu to realize: in some way, Yuf regretted not joining the group heading east.

  For the first time, Kairu wondered: in truth, what did Yuf have to gain from traveling with him and trying to uncover the mystery of the Lake of Aktida? Moreover, Lainter couldn’t care less about the fate of the diamond, he was far more interested in revolutionary matters. What Kairu had accused him of a year ago in the tavern on the way to Asternia—a lack of patriotism—now applied to Kairu himself. It was as if they had swapped roles: now Kairu and Rita were chasing an illusory dream, and Yuf was tagging along like an unnecessary appendage.

  And he had clearly liked Demetra, Kairu suddenly thought. What a mess this all was.

  That night, they stayed in a small but cozy house on the outskirts of the city, rented by Remiz after he visited the local bank that day, with Ashley’s blessing and her promissory note. They brought all their things there. It took the entire evening to unload the three wagons, and they collapsed into bed hungry and exhausted, well past midnight, after all the neighbors had long since put out their lights. But the horses were safe in a locked stable, the wagons stowed in a shed, firewood stacked in the living room, the most important books already on shelves, and the once-filthy floors gleamed with cleanliness.

  "Roger will like it," Ashley said confidently once the work was done. "Though I doubt he’ll want to stay long—he’ll probably head straight to Harkon… if we go there."

  "I just hope he doesn’t rush off after us to Regerlim," Rita sighed, wiping sweat from her brow.

  "I’ll leave him a note at the Fighters’ Guild, he’ll definitely stop by. And he won’t do anything foolish because he knows I’m with you."

  "Which is exactly why he might come charging to rescue you," Viggo said darkly, joking. "He knows what kinds of things our brave and reckless company is capable of. Especially when Ashley’s involved."

  "No jokes—Ashley, are you seriously planning to come with us?" Kairu asked.

  "What’s the problem?" The sorceress lifted her chin and put her hands on her hips.

  "I…" Kairu faltered. Ashley gave him a cheeky grin, as if she were a twenty-year-old girl, and a long list of her past exploits flashed through his mind—deeds she had accomplished in her stormy youth. "Look," he finally managed, "I have no right to stop you from anything. I just want to remind you that… Damn it…"

  "That I’m a sixty-year-old crone? Come on, Kairu, don’t be shy, call things by their names. That it’s time I settled down and stopped making rash decisions, out of respect for my age and status? But I’ve thought it through, while lying in that hospital bed. And I believe I’ve been stuck in my alchemical tower too long, letting all this devilish energy go to waste. So why not have a bit of fun before I retire for good, shake off the dust, and relive my youth one last time? I say it’s worth it. Case closed."

  Kairu nodded, feeling like a complete idiot.

  They left the city two days later, having wrapped up all their affairs, bought a sleigh, stocked up on provisions, and fur coats. They exited through the western gate, traveling along the Derelz Road, passing refugee carts making their way to the sea. Ashley and Remiz took turns driving from the front seat, while the others rode alongside, eyes on the endless snowy road. A long journey lay ahead through the forest and the mountains.

  Looking back after three weeks of slow westward travel, Kairu might have said it had been fairly monotonous, a steady trot through an endless forest occasionally broken by clearings and small mountain streams. But the forest was full of surprises. Packs of wolves approached their camp, Viggo disturbed a sleeping bear while gathering firewood, and Rita, while hunting, wandered too far from camp and nearly got lost in the cold Vaimar taiga. At night, they were awakened by the cries of wild beasts and strange creatures flying through the sky; by day, tiny dots—birds, perhaps, or bats—moved across the clear, glassy sky.

  Gradually, the road began turning south, and one day, at the end of November, the sleigh sped past a post standing in the middle of the forest with a sign: "Derelzfjord" to the left, heading south; "Harkon" to the right, to the north.

  "Finally," Ashley murmured. "I remember this place like I passed it just yesterday… Of course, that was when I was returning from the expedition. Thirty years ago, we took a slightly different route to the temple. But the road’s still here. Left, Rita."

  Ahead, mountain outlines began to emerge from the milky-white mist.

  To the Vaimarites, who endured five months of winter each year, Derelz was a sort of resort, a vacation spot. Surrounded on all sides by mountains that blocked the continental winds and warmed by ocean currents, Derelz blossomed from March to September, turning into a paradise ripped straight from the heat of Aktida.

  After the signpost, the mountains quickly approached, and in just two days, the travelers dismounted and began leading the horses in harness along a trail winding through rocks covered in reddish moss. Gradually, the forest was left far below, and the trail now skirted a tall stone wall whose peak was lost in the clouds. Somewhere up there, in the unreachable heights, birds cried out and giant eagles circled; down below, on the snow-covered trail where the travelers walked, silence reigned, and there was no sign of life. Only here and there did stunted shrubs poke through the snow.

  The Olmaer Ridge suddenly appeared very close. From the pass, the travelers could see, to the south, a majestic, endless range stretching southeast and cutting Derelz off from Aktida and Central Vaimar like a wall.

  The gentle slope below had somehow imperceptibly dropped away, turning into a sheer cliff, and when the trail suddenly twisted and passed along a narrow ledge to the pass above the chasm, Kairu saw that the ground was far below. Two massive mountain ranges met at this point, pressing together to form an archway for the road leading to the other side. Above the pass, the peaks came so close that the trail lay in shadow.

  The bright light of the setting sun blinded Kairu when, after several hours of strenuous climbing, he emerged onto a winding road descending along a reddish slope into a valley shrouded in mist and enclosed by mountain ridges. There, far below, lay the endless icy expanse of the Derelzfjord Bay, its end fading into the horizon. On the right, a wide beach was visible, now covered in snow, and beyond it forested mountains; on the left, the Olmaer Ridge stretched farther westward to the very edge of the continent, and on the slope of one of the mountains sat a building. It was a three-story pagoda surrounded by low walls, open to all the winds on its ledge.

  "Temple of Tornir," Ashley said.