Aurora awoke when it was still dark. The songstresses had stopped, and the wind was whipping against her tent with a meaningful force. The moon was gone and the sky through the tent's canvas was dark. A storm was rolling in, just as Phoca had predicted. The Empress wondered how long she had been asleep. Her mind was groggy, so she was not able to think clearly. She felt a light tickle on her arm. Aurora initially dismissed it as a piece of stray hair brushing against her skin. But then she felt a similar tickle on her leg and face also. Something was wrong, very wrong. A streak of lightning lit the sky like day, and Aurora could see that the interior of her tent was completely covered in ants. They were crawling on her body, tickling her skin and getting tangled in her hair. The Empress froze, panic taking full hold of her body. Another crack of lightning galvanized the Empress into action. She fled her tent and shook her body vigorously. The wind helped clear her ha

Phoca, Luna and a few other of the selkies took turns pushing the boat for a time. Eventually the boat slowed, and Phoca peeked her head up over the side. "This is as far as we go, dearies." "I understand. You have helped us so much! Thank you." Aurora bowed her head to the selkie. "I will watch for your friends and lead them to the boatman also." Phoca told them. "I hope they can rejoin you on your journey soon." "Is there some way we can repay you?" The Empress asked. "If you are indeed Favored of the Fates, mention our service to you when you arrive. If you are not favored, please forget forget that we helped." Phoca said. "We will," Devrim confirmed. "One more thing: you are entering the waters where the merfolk roam. They are just as likely to drown you as help you. They are highly unpredictable. Stay on your guard, my dears." Phoca smiled at them as if they were her children. Aurora reached out of the boat and hugged the selkie a

When morning broke over the lake, Junayd and Nurlan were already awake and packing up their camp. "Best night ever!" Junayd said without hesitation. "I guess we know what kind of man you are." Nurlan joked. "What? I can't enjoy a good song?" The younger soldier asked. "As long as the song is all you enjoyed…" Phoca came up on the beach. Her wet, smooth skin and seal-like whiskers glistened in the morning light. "Good morning! I trust you slept well," she said amicably to Nurlan. "I did, ma'am, but I think we should be on our way. Could you lead us, please?" Nurlan asked with a politeness that was unusual for him. Phoca smiled, "A straightforward gentleman: how rare! I should like to know you better." She turned to Junayd, "My sisters think you are quite handsome. They would like to know if you have a lady back at home." Junayd straightened his shirt and puffed out his chest. "I am pleased to tell them I do not."

Aurora opened her eyes wide. After sitting up and trying to move around the evening before, she had collapsed on the beach in a heap. Now, the rays of the morning sun woke her, and she willed herself to rise. Every part of her ached from trying to swim and then being deprived of oxygen as she was tossed about unconscious in the waves.  When the Empress finally managed to sit up, she took stock of her situation. She was alone on the beach with the ice barrier towering behind her. It was cold, but beneath the Guardian's cloak, Aurora was protected from the chill. Devrim! She had no idea where Devrim was. The last time that she had seen him was when they were washed out of the boat by the merfolk's tidal wave. What could have happened to him? Had he drown? Was he freezing somewhere? She needed to find him. Struggling against her body, Aurora rose to her feet. 'This is how a toddler learning to walk must feel,' she thought as she took an awkward step. It was like he

Zan had been questioning the prisoner for hours. Gandr sat tied to a wooden chair with his feet off the ground. Thanks to some persuasion from one of the prison guards, the gnome had a gash over his left eye that allowed blood to trickle down his face. Now only Zan, Gandr and a couple of members of the Council were in the room. Cafer was noticeably absent. "Tell us who sent you to murder the Empress," Zan said coldly. "I told you it was the King of the Gnomes," Gandr reminded him. "Who from the palace alerted you to the Empress's whereabouts?" Zan continued his questions. "No one. I got lucky," Gandr shrugged. He had no interest in cooperating. "I appreciate your loyalty, but we will find out who the traitor is and your suffering will have been in vain." Zan said sympathetically. "You may as well tell us now." Gandr spat on the floor. His eyes stared daggers at the Chief. Zan sighed. He hated this, but the safety of the Empress and the