"It should be just around this hill." Cetina's fingers trembled as she pointed forward. "I recognize this place. I remember these trees around that boulder. I used to come here when I was a child."

"Did you run or ride?" Anton asked.

"Ride." Cetina smiled as she stroked the neck of her horse. "But he was only a little horse back then. That wasn’t that long ago too, now was it?"

Beyond the hill a line of snowcapped mountains loomed, nearly identical to the mountain range to the north of Atros. The land beyond that belonged to the Deweth Clansmen, savage raiders that pillaged the lowlands for spoils and slaves. Anton knew they were not all monstrous raiders.

I wonder how Ivano and Brenna are doing. If they're still alive after their failure to invade Qaiviel. It would be a terrible shame if their heads were mounted on spikes for failing a...I guess it really wasn't foolish. They just didn't know we would interfere, let alone that we exist.

"Do you think they'll remember you?" Verona asked. "They should, you haven't been gone that long."

Cetina grimaced. "It certainly feels like it has." She ran a finger along the horizontal scar across her nose. "Maybe someone will remember me. If they're still there."

Anton did not want to unnecessarily raise her hopes only to have them dashed. Though the stone cobble road was in good condition they had passed many small homes and hamlets that looked abandoned. Smaller villages, roughly a hundred or more people, still operated with life as the cold crept further, but Anton could feel that everyone was living on edge, that they were ready to run at a moment’s notice.

"No word of any more of those Demons." Kal said. She adjusted her mask and hood. "We never found where their corpses went. Or those blades."

"I bet those would make some good blades." Verona mused. "They'd look pretty menacing too, just because of how red they are."

"Like you?" Anton said snidely.

Verona leant over and tried to kick his leg, only skimming the surface. She pouted, refusing his attempts to play back until it finally cracked and she smiled. Anton was glad the red tattoos had not covered more of her body. Already half was completely covered and he did want her back to the pale, smooth white skin from when they first met.

"Just over this ridge." Cetina gripped her reins nervously. "And then we'll see..."

Cetina stopped when she reached the summit. Her horse protested slightly but she did not care, all of her attention was focused forward.

At the base of the mountains, nestled between two mountains slightly shorter than the others of the ridgeline, lay a fortress. Thessos was larger than Anton expected, only slightly smaller than the Black Rider fortress in Qaiviel, with many tall spires and battlements, covered in slanted rooves and tiny slots to loose arrows from. Beyond the fortress walls large snow covered fields and plantations radiated onto the rolling hills below, sparsely broken up by small woods. Much to their collective relief small trailer of smoke rose from the fortress, not what one would expect from a fortress that had been destroyed.

"They're still alive." Sheso said happily. "Those Clansmen must really have been driven off."

Cetina pointed between the two mountains, where a harsh but traversable slope led deeper behind the mountain range.

"That's where they come from." Cetina softly sighed. "Charging down like a raging bull. That's also where the strongest defenses are."

Kal moved her mask away and focused her eyes on Thessos. "The outer walls have taken some serious damage, especially what I can see of the far side."

Cetina took a deep breath and exhaled sharply.

"But I can see movement within."

"How?" Cetina turned to Kal. "Oh. Right. You can do that enhanced vision thing too. I forget that sometimes."

Kal smiled as she scrunched her eyes tight. They darted about as she regained her bearing.

"It's not going to get any better just standing here." Cetina said loudly before ushering her horse forward. Anton did not know if it was for her or them, but he had a very good idea.

---[]---

“And who are you?” The Thessos guard asked loudly.

The men outside the small iron gate wore a selection of armour appropriate for the cold climate; thick linen gambeson over woollen clothes, the rough material jutted out around their neck. Their metal helmets were padded heavily and their halberds had strange handles along the shaft, Anton guessed so they could be gripped easily even slick with wet snow.

“I…” Cetina gripped the reins hard. “I am Cetina de Yascar. My father was Duran de Yascar. Is there anyone left from my family still alive in Thessos?”

The guards shared a glance then looked intently at Cetina.

“Maybe it’d be better if you remove your helmet,” Anton said softly. “You don’t have as many scars as you did when you left.”

Cetina still had the horizontal scar across her nose but, when they first met her face was covered in dozens of tiny nicks and old cuts. Her distinctive black and patchy blue hair was also hidden by her helmet. Apparently, her grey and purple flecked eye counted for nothing. She had both eyes when she had left.

Cetina unfastened her helmet. “Will this be enough to prove it?”

The guards were taken aback when they saw her hair. They quickly whispered amongst themselves before the leader coughed loudly.

“Forgive me, Cetina de Yascar, but I am not originally from Thessos. Most of us aren’t.” The guard sighed. “Many people died when the Clansmen attacked. Many more were wounded and still require healing.”

Anton looked to the wooden roof on top of the stone wall. Almost all was burned black, little more than charred sticks, with repairs only having just started. The buildings beyond were obscured by the wall but Anton guessed they too were in ruin.

“But…” The guard scratched his neck, pulling away the wool rubbing against his skin. “But less than we feared. Just a few days ago nearly all of the captives were freed.”

“Allowed to walk back from the edge of the winter snow.” Another guard said softly.

“Well, everyone except for one.” The first guard said. “It’d be best if you spoke with Ines de Yascar. She’ll be able to tell you more.”

Cetina’s eye widened, a slight smile crept up her lips. “That’s my aunt.”

“Was she…” Verona rolled her hand. “Corrupted, like your father?”

“Not the most elegant way to put it.” Kal murmured. Verona shrugged, delicacy wasn’t her strong point.

“No.” Cetina smiled. “She was always nice. So was Gavriel. Is he alive?”

“Best you ask Ines.” The guard whistled and the iron gate began to open. “She’ll explain everything.”

Anton understood the implication, so too did Cetina. The guards stepped to the side and allowed them in. Cetina took a deep breath, her shoulders tensed as they slowly trotted inside. She whimpered as the devastation within the city became clear. Just like the roof the buildings were burned black and nothing less than spindly remains. Some stone buildings were still standing but they too were heavily damaged. Large sheets of cloth were strung between the stronger surviving beams to shield those beneath from the ever-present snow. They huddled in groups around tiny fires, piles of ruined lay beside for kindling, but didn’t hold the eyes of the defeated. People that were on the edge of despair would not laugh and make jokes.

“It actually doesn’t look that bad.” Sheso said softly. Cetina looked at her. “Our Clan was much worse when you found us.”

“I remember the looks of the children.” Anton continued. “They smiled, but the moment the adults looked away it all faded, like they knew it was the end.”

Calo laughed. “If only they knew what, who rather, was coming?”

“Yeah…” Cetina caught the attention of a patrolling group of guards. “Where can we find Ines de Yascar?”

The guards directed them to the highest point of Thessos, a tall castle rising high above the city. The mountain range beyond, the border with the Deweth Clans, loomed over the castle, their white caps almost blindingly bright in the winter sun.

“I never thought I’d be heading back.” Cetina whispered. Anton reached out and held her hand. Her resolve hardened as she returned a squeeze. “It’s just a building. It’s not my home anymore.”

As they neared the central castle the situation of the people of Thessos began to improve dramatically. People were rebuilding, food distributed from guarded supplies and tents were filled with the wounded being heavily tended to. Anton wanted to stop and help but there would be time for such things later. The medical staff wouldn’t allow some stranger to cast magic upon the wounded anyway, what if he was some sort of twisted necromancer?

Thessos soldiers watched them like a hawk as they waited at the final gate. These were better equipped than those at the perimeter, far more complete armour with a small bow on their backs. Unlike normal soldiers these could fight competently at range and in melee. Anton remembered the Deweth Clansmen were lacking in ranged weaponry and the few they had were javelins.

“It’s a good idea.” Anton murmured. He received an odd look from Verona. “Fighting at range. But I don’t know how they would compare to the Clansmen in fighting in the snow.”

“They don’t do that well either.” Cetina replied. She studied the soldiers intently as they too watched them. “But they have more experience.”

“Camouflage…” Anton held his chin. “Ulyaa’s silk has a very light colour. Wouldn’t be too difficult to dye it completely white. Then we’d be extremely hard to find.”

Cetina smiled faintly as she noticed movement behind the iron gate. A large cadre of soldiers escorted a single woman, draped in thick furs and a cap made from some sort of white fox pelt. For a terrible moment Anton thought Eluria was standing before them, her location was still unknown, but he quickly remembered that Cetina was the odd one of their original group. Like the majority of the guards and soldiers their faces were rounded, more so than most of the Bebbezzarians he’d seen, along with a dusty red hair.

“Cetina?” The woman rushed to the iron gate. “Is that you?”

“Ines!” Cetina jumped from her horse. “You’re alive!”

The guards moved to bar Cetina’s way but Ines waved them aside. She ordered the gate opened as Anton signalled for them to dismount. Verona dismounted the loudest, the Dark Elf twins landed like a feather and with just as much noise. Strangely the two hadn’t drawn too much attention despite having such dark skin.

“I thought you would be dead by now.” The guards tried to bar Cetina’s way but Ines again waved them aside. “How long has it been?”

Cetina stopped a mere foot from her aunt. “A long time.” Cetina broke out a tiny smile. “I thought that I’d never see Thessos again. Although…” Cetin weakly nodded to the destroyed buildings. “I never thought I’d see Thessos in such a state.”

Ines smiled. “I...There is much to talk about.” She looked around Cetina to Anton, her eyes narrowed on him. “And who are your...Companions? And why are you travelling with two Dark Elves? And only one man?”

“I have found employment after…” Cetina sighed. “Things turned for the worst. I am currently acting as Anton’s bodyguard, helping him with his mission.”

“Among other things.” Verona said softly, keeping her face perfectly straight.

“And the Dark…” Ines closed her eyes and shook her head. “I’m sure there’s a good reason. Please, come in. All of you. I would like to speak with all of you.”

---[]---

"That is quite a tale." Ines said softly. A cool wind blew down from the mountain, Ines pulled her fur scarf tight around her neck. "To think that you've made a trip around the continent. And visited the Dwarven Isles too."

Cetina smiled. "It wasn't what I planned...I didn't have one at the beginning. But it's all worked out."

Anton was glad she had omitted Atros and the Beastkin but she had told her aunt of their involvement in the Qaiviel Civil War. She was not happy the only living member of her husband's brother’s side of the family would risk her life in something that didn't involve her but Cetina had been adamant it was the right thing to do.

"And what's happened to Thessos?" Cetina looked towards the mountain range. "I heard it was a Clansmen attack."

Ines bit her lip as she looked to the mountains. They currently sat in a small pavilion built high in the castle. It was clearly made for summer use, there was too much open spaces and several braziers had been brought out so they wouldn't freeze. However it offered an unparalleled view of the mountains and the thick forests that extended to the gentle snow covered slope into the mountains themselves.

"Must have been a lot." Verona murmured. She held her hands close to the fire while sitting next to Anton. "Thessos is not a small fortress city."

"It has been built over many generations of our family." Ines bit her lip hard enough to almost draw blood. "But I'm not a true de Yascar. My two children are..."

"Where is Gerin?" Cetina, sitting next to a silent Kal, lent forward and rest her hands on the table. "None of the guards would say a thing."

"He was taken." Ines hands shook, she clasped them tight in an attempt to stop it. "Kidnapped. A large Clansmen force attacked us before winter began, they burned most of the city and took my husband as a prisoner."

"But they were returned." Anton said. "That's what the guards said. Just not your husband."

"I don't know why..." Ines frowned lightly. "They say it was the same Clansman that took him in the first place."

"Strange." Anton murmured.

"Some Clansmen of the Blood Axe clan, or whatever it was called. Ivano I think he was called." Ines shrugged. "He had them returned without a ransom. I never thought I'd live to see the day when that happened."

"Ivano?" Anton leant forward. "What did he look like?"

Ines gave a vague description, she claimed it was night and she was utterly terrified they would be captured or killed, but Anton was sure he was the same Ivano he met in Qaiviel.

"So he survived." Anton leant back into his chair. "He was so worried that he would be killed by his chieftain. I wonder how he managed to get out of that?"

"You know this Clansman?" Ines frowned. The guards, waiting patiently at the back of the room, gripped their weapons in readiness.

"Not that well." Anton raised his hand. "We've only met him once and he was a captive then."

"How?" Cetina asked, a slight frown formed on her face.

During some of their longer journeys Anton had recounted his story since arriving in this world. He was certain he had covered their time in Qaiviel but apparently he had omitted the aftermath of the battle in Nonbur’n.

“He was the leader of the Deweth Clansmen forces that attacked Qaiviel during the summer.” Anton began. “But it seemed that he had little choice in the matter; if it wasn’t him it would be someone else. Talked...He talked about not wanting to raid and pillage anymore, that it was destroying his people.”

Ines almost chuckled. “Our soldiers followed them far into the mountains, killing hundreds as they retreated. We’ve learnt from them. Soon the snow and mountains will offer them no sanctuary.”

“That’s why I find it so odd that he led...Well, after his defeat I doubt he was leading the attack, but I find it strange that he was a part of the assault of Thessos.”

“Excuse me.” A voice spoke softly from the far side of the room, a maid. She was young and quite pretty, her meek demeanour only added to her allure.

“Right...” Ines waved the maid forward. “Mila was inside our room when this Ivano, and another Clansmen, killed our guard and began searching for my husband.”

“He told me to run.” Mila spoke louder and with more authority. “That he would let me go but if I was caught by anyone else they would take me back, or just rape and kill me.”

“Sounds a bit like him.” Anton mused. “He wanted to surrender when we had them trapped in the Governor's mansion.”

“I wouldn’t know.” Verona leant forward and caught Kal’s attention. “We had other things to discuss. Making sure we understood the rules.”

“Just an excuse for you to laze about.” Kal said snidely. Verona laughed but did not deny it.

“All this talk though.” Cetina reached for Anton’s hand. She stopped and let it drop, she was supposed to just be his bodyguard, and not a concubine that shared his bed every night. “It doesn’t get my uncle back.”

“I don’t think there’s much we can do.” Anton looked to the snow covered mountains. “We’ll be killed if we try to go there, if the weather doesn’t get us first.”

“I might be able to.” Verona played with her hair. “But they’re going to wonder why I’m so far from home, and on my own.”

“I thought you were from there.” Ines said softly. “There isn’t anywhere else that you can find silver hair like that.”

Verona shrugged and returned to heating her hands

"I'm afraid there isn't much for you here, Cetina." Ines smiled. "You are always welcome to stay, as are your companions, but..."

Cetina meekly nodded. "I know. I just wanted to see it one last time, to know that everyone is safe."

"I'm just glad that Sancha's dead." Ines whispered something to the maid as she scuttled away. "Never liked that girl. Or her mother."

"Do you know anything about my mother?" Cetina leant forward. "We left shortly after she was gone..." Cetina slumped into her chair. "I should have gone..." She smiled at Anton. "If I hadn't I wouldn't have met any of you."

"I didn't want you gone." Ines shook her head. "But with that whispering bitch poisoning your father's mind we had little choice but to throw them out."

If only you knew how literal you actually were.

"You..." Ines sighed softly, a warm smile crept over her lips. "Doesn't matter now. We can spend all day saying what we should or should not have done."

The maid returned with a steaming plate of food and drinks. Before she could even place it down Verona was already trying to grab some. She was shocked when the maid blocked her and ensured everyone else was offered a portion before her.

Someone's not putting up with your antics.

When she realised that she would have to behave Verona pouted and leant into Anton's shoulder.

Ines picked up a steaming cup of a light brown tea. "Your mother isn't dead. At least she wasn't when she left here."

"How?" The wooden seat groaned under Cetina's grip. "She...Did you help her escape?"

"I don't know how she did it but that Eluria woman convinced some of the guards that she was a threat to the de Yascar's and Thessos. They were going to kill her in her sleep, but she managed to escape." Ines frowned. "She and Duran were having some problems."

Just when there's a Strega Witch in the city.

"She escaped and I gave her everything I could." Ines took a sip of the hot beverage, her body relaxed as the warmth spread. "We were never close but she must have been truly desperate to come to me. I told her to go back to Mycea. And...And that was the last I ever saw of her."

Cetina turned to Anton. "Mycea is a place Wilford is heading to. Right?"

"It is." Anton shuffled upright as Ines's eyes narrowed slightly. "But he's going the wrong way for that. After stopping at the Holy Kingsland he can head straight for Mycea. That’s where he was going anyway but we’ll see what we can find. Maybe someone knows your mother’s family.”

“You speak as if you can travel to Frindal to Mycea in but a few days.” Ines laughed. “That would be incredible.”

“Actually just a few seconds.” Anton said. “But we can.”

“I…” Ines looked to Cetina. She gently shook her head when Cetina did nothing to refute Anton’s claims.

“But I’m glad to know that you are alive.” Cetina looked to Anton again. “But there’s not much that we can do to help. We have our own problems...And I don’t think money is an issue. If my memory isn’t wrong.”

“Money isn’t the issue. Only time.” Ines nodded to the piles of snow. “And the winter isn’t helping. Keeping people moving helps, and helps them forget they are living in the shadow of the Clansmen.”

“This actually is the end of our journey into Bebbezzar.” Anton said. “For now, at least. Maybe we could head to the capital...Tell me, Ines. What is the situation in Bebbezzar? Everyone has something different to say.”

Ines lightly shrugged. “Chaos. These Liberators at the border, rogue Merchant Princes to the south, the centre’s a big mess and the old capital can barely control the nearby cities.” Ines sighed. “It’s a complete mess.”

“Didn’t seem so bad when we passed.” Verona smiled awkwardly. “Not that I’m saying it’s not bad. But no battlefields or destroyed farms and forests.”

“Once the snows melt it will begin in earnest again.” Ines had Mila pour her another cup of tea. There were steaming cups for them but they hadn’t reached for them, Kal, obviously, could not. “Then it will be war and death. Again. But Thessos is a strong city. And, for all their desire to take land, they know that should we fall the Clansmen will simply pour into our lands. They leave us border cities alone. And for good reason. We know how to fight.”

Just not against several thousand Clansmen at once.

“I would like to give you something.” Anton signalled Cetina to get something from one of their packs. “A magical artefact. They may look like stones, but I can assure you that they are extremely useful.”

Cetina returned with a small bad. Ines held a marked stone aloft, frowning as she could not understand what it was.

“Allow me.” Cetina laid out the stones and the portal flashed into life. Ines and the guards were shocked, Mila stood completely stunned.

“With this we can buy and sell materials.” Anton nodded to the forest beyond Thessos’s walls. “I think we could buy a lot of wood and game from you. And we can offer the skill of the Dwarves to build your fortress city even better.”

“Dwarves?” Mila said softly, tilting her heard. She shied back a step when she realised she had spoken out of turn.

“For a reasonable price.” Anton smiled. “We aren’t a charity, you see.”

“I...I will need to consult my council.” Ines frowned at the shimmering white portal. “Must it stay here? When it snows tonight this whole area will be covered.”

“Easy.” Cetina removed a stone and the portal vanished.

“And I want to give Cetina the opportunity to return to Thessos if she wishes.”

Cetina smiled. “Thank you. I think I might return here from time to time. Though, since I’m travelling with you, I don’t think I’ll get much of a chance.”

“We will also help Thessos as much as we can.” Anton said. “Do not hesitate to call upon us if the Clansmen decide to attack. Or one of these renegade forces roaming about.”

“Why would you help us?” Ines frowned. “I understand that Cetina is your...But what do you have to gain?”

“I need allies. And safe places to places my portals. It will help keep you safe, and should you need any resources from anywhere in the world we can facilitate it. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.”

Cetina raised her hand. “That’s...Actually that’s true. Anton needs all the help he can get and by helping Thessos we can get it.”

Ines leant back into her chair. “This has been an interesting day. I need time to think this over. The implications…Well, all of you can stay the night, if you wish. It is too late for you to try and travel any further in Bebbezzar, the roads are not particularly safe at night…Especially after Thessos was attacked. Bandits and raiders think it’s the perfect time to attack the few people willing to travel the roads. Regardless, that isn’t your problem. Your old room has been repurposed, but we can find you another one. I do wish to hear how two Dark Elves arrived in your company.”

Calo and Sheso, standing behind Anton, smiled. They had the darkest skin out of everyone present by far, so there was no way they would not be noticed. As the twins began to recount how their entire clan was brought to the brink of extinction Anton focused his attention towards the snowy mountains.

Some could call this whole trip a wasted effort. Thessos is doing fine rebuilding, they want to keep to themselves and there’s nothing we can do for her uncle…At least we’ve established another portal location. I wonder how Ivano is doing. If he managed to survive a second ‘failure’. Maybe we could barter passage through Seocuria...Pretend we’re bringing Verona home? That would be incredibly risky for almost no gain. Shame. He seemed like a good man. Hopefully we can meet him again. And not in the battlefield.