Stathis woke up slowly, head fuzzy. Duvet, pillow. A bed, sunlight, bright and warm, through an open window, birdsong from close by. Then memories surged, bitter ice by moonlight, frantic combat, and Pajaran… She sat upright, remembering Pajaran’s face, frozen beneath the ice, locked into an expression of fear. She pulled herself out of bed, ignoring the pain lancing through her body as she stumbled towards the door.

She staggered outwards, then down the stairs, heading for the bar. The rogue, Semari, was there, curled up in a chair again, still wounded. She opened an eye as Stathis approached, flipping to her feet.

‘Hey! You’re up. You doing OK? You went all, like, scary and stuff back then. Half-elf’s dead though, we made sure of that, burnt what was left. Smelt gross.’

‘Where is she?’ Was she OK? The ice, creeping over her body, her face frozen in fear as the ice covered her.

‘Uh, we dragged her back here. That wizard did some, like, wizard stuff?’

‘Where. Show me.’ This wasn’t how it should have been! She couldn’t be dead, she had to have survived.

‘Whoa, your eyes are, like, on fire. That’s pretty, but also creepy.’

‘Show me. Now.’ Power crept into her voice, a commanding tone cracking the morning quiet.

‘OK, chill. Drink this, calm down.’ She twisted open a beer and handed it over. ‘You doing OK? You look rough as shit. Whoa, no need to glare! Down this way.’

She went behind the bar, stepping down into the cellar, Stathis following without drinking. There was a chill in the air, far more than normal. In the darkness ahead of her, ice glinted, Stathis’ breath steaming. She could see Pajaran, still frozen in pain and fear inside the block. She put a hand on it, the cold stinging her hand.

‘Might want to maybe not do that? Unless you want to lose your hand.’

Stathis tried to draw her hand back, finding it stuck fast to the ice. She tugged harder, feeling pain as her skin peeled off, leaving a thin layer of blood and skin on the ice.

‘I think she’s probably OK in there? Dunno about getting her out though.’

Stathis drew her shattered remnants of her blade, now only a foot long. With the stump of the weapon she swung at it, half-blade burning with light. It hit the ice with a screech, her arms aching from the impact. She didn’t even mar the ice with a scratch, swinging again and again, the block of ice refracting the sunlight from her blade into mazed rainbows.

Semari was keeping a safe distance. ‘Guess you were friends? Sorry, it sucks. Might want to get her moved somewhere safe, I guess?’ The light faded away as pain surged up in Stathis’ body, injuries catching up with her.

‘What did the wizard do?’ Stathis looked down, where something had been drawn onto the floor, strange magical symbols drawn onto the flagstones with charcoal. She stepped back, hoping she hadn’t disrupted the spell. ‘What is this?’

‘Dunno, think it’s to keep the ice or something? She made, like, lights and things.’

There was a commotion from above, indignant tones penetrating into the cellar, followed by rumbling disagreement. Stathis looked regretfully at Pajaran – the ice seemed secure enough, and wasn’t melting, but there must be some way to get her out. She headed back upstairs, Semari trailing behind.

‘…appear most ungrateful, I must say, considering the quite considerable effort we were put to.’ Janaxia’s tone was strident, the sort of thing Stathis generally associated with a noble upset at some minor breach of etiquette dressing down a retainer. ‘You should really be paying us for the honour of our visit, to be frank.’

She was arguing with an elderly man, a heavy ornamental necklace around his neck, probably the mayor or headman or similar.

‘Jermiah’s cottage was burnt down. Now, I don’t mind the occasional favour for Cothay, but that’s really not acceptable! Everything is going to need replacing, and that won’t come cheap, miss.’

Janaxia’s tone was pure frost. ‘Lady. Lady Janaxia Seyroon Falmeth Uth…’

From the look in his eyes, this wasn’t the full time Janaxia had introduced herself, and probably wouldn’t be the last. Did anyone really need that many names? Still, it was probably better someone else deal with it, before Janaxia decided to annex the village for her family, or demand to speak to the local lord, whoever that might be.

‘What’s the problem here?’

They both turned to look at her – she knew she looked rough, unwashed from yesterday, armour battered.

‘What’s the problem here?’

The mayor looked thankful to be talking to anyone else. ‘Well, it’s the cottage. Jermiah’s cottage was burnt down. Now, it might not seem much to you folk, but it was all he had.’

‘You’re renting out the village to Cothay, to use for, what, fake adventures? We had to fight skeletons. We could have died because of you! And what’s with that stone altar on the edge of town?’

‘Ah, well. That’s an ancient part of the village. But of no concern to yourselves.’

Janaxia drew herself up to her full height, managing the impressive trick of looking down at someone taller than herself. ‘It scarcely seemed so last night! Now, while I am sure this Jermiah may encounter some passing hardship, that really does seem to fall upon you, for allowing your village to be used for such activities. I am quite sure that no blame could be attached to ourselves.’ Her hair started to glow slightly.

‘A word, mayor? In private? Now.’ Stathis gestured at Janaxia, hoping she wouldn’t do anything else to cause trouble, as she walked away with the mayor. ‘While I appreciate the problems this has caused, you were using your village to stage fake adventures. What the hell did you think would happen? You’re lucky this place is still standing, you gods-damned idiot! And that altar is, or was, still active, dedicated to something old and evil.’

‘Ah, well, you see the crops have been a little short this year, and normally Lord Cothay sends Krethik to settle for anything. Where is he?’

‘He turned into a demon-monster and needed putting down. So won’t be settling up. He also sealed one of my friends into magical ice. Because of you. So what’s going to happen is that you are going to arrange for a message to be sent to Iristari lands.’

He was looking offended, the sort of expression that normally presaged a lecture on rank and position. Stathis tugged on the chain around her neck, pulling out a signet ring, holding it up.

‘I’m sure you recognise this symbol? Now, I’m sure you’re aware that the Iristari have a certain opinion regarding ancient and powerful items of darkness left lying around? Namely to destroy them, and to take a rather dim attitude towards those that don’t report them. While these aren’t Iristari lands, I’m sure they would be delighted to hear an explanation as to why you have done nothing about such a thing? So, unless you wish to have that conversation with a likely irritated member of the Silver Guard, this is what you’re going to do. There’s a woman frozen in ice in your beer cellar. Don’t gawp, listen to me. You will send a message, and have her transported there. Wrapped in straw, kept in shadow.’

‘But, but…’

She let power well up inside her, light filling her eyes. He went silent, managing to get even paler. ‘If any harm comes to her, I will hold you responsible. Personally responsible. Am I understood?’

He didn’t even speak, shaking his head in wild nods.

‘Good.’ She took a firm grip of the ring and twisted it against itself, bending, then snapping, the soft metal. A golden sphere blinked into being.

‘I’m at…’ She turned back to the mayor. ‘Where the hell is this place?’

‘Land’s End, your grace.’ He made a clumsy attempt at a bow, Stathis not bothering to get him to stop.

‘I’m at Land’s End. There’s been an accident, I need you to get Pajaran and keep her safe at home. And don’t cause…’ The light blinked again, then shot off, passing through a wall, before she could finish the sentence. ‘Now, someone from the Silver Guard will be here. If Pajaran has been harmed or disturbed in any way, then there will be consequences. So, do you know anything about what that thing was?’

He shook his head, Stathis looking at him until he remembered how to speak. ‘An ancient tomb, Lady Iristari. We keep it sealed, we never meant to harm anyone.’

‘Then you should have purged it with fire and silver, you damn fool! Now, what are you going to do?’

‘I’ll lead some men, go and dig it up right now!’ He turned, as if to leave, as Stathis grabbed his shoulder. ‘Not about that!’

‘Oh. I will keep the frozen woman safe, worry not. I will protect her as if she were my own blood, my heart on it.’

‘See that you do. Oh, and take this.’ She reached into her belt pouch, pulling out a handful of coin. They hadn’t drunk that much, even taking Janaxia’s wine into account, so it should cover their bills. He raised his hands.

‘I wouldn’t dream of accepting your money. You’ve done us enough service.’

She grabbed his hand and forced it open, pushing the coin into his chubby palm. ‘Take it. Now, sod off and don’t come back for a few hours.’ He looked around, to see Janaxia opening up another bottle of wine, Semari helping herself to more beer. ‘I’m sure you have other things to deal with? Leave.’

He didn’t quite scuttle off, but it wasn’t a very dignified exit, as he left as rapidly as he could. That done, Stathis looked away, taking a deep breath and trying to calm herself, banishing the glow from her eyes.

‘Well, that was admirably forceful. I tried to reason with him, but his sort rarely listen to the calm sense of their betters.’ Janaxia managed to look stylish, despite their travails of the night before, as she sat down in one of the chairs, wine close at hand. ‘I did what I could with your friend – my family has some knowledge of Everfrost, although the manufacture of such we leave to those willing to toil. I believe the ice will preserve her, although only the most potent magic is capable of breaking it, and even then, it is often less than hospitable to the contents.’ She sipped the wine, wincing slightly. ‘Eugh. Clearly mislabelled. Regardless, I believe that you are now in command? Perhaps a few refinements, to better look the part?’ Dark energy trailed out from one of her hands, brushing against Stathis and cleaning her slightly. Stathis waved her hand through the magic, disrupting it.

‘That really doesn’t seem that important right now.’

The look she received was chilly. ‘Such things are always important. One never knows when one might make a chance encounter and need to look one’s best. Although I do hope that you will have a word with that one.’ She gestured at Semari. ‘A vagabond, in dire need of rework. At least fresher clothing! It looks as though she’s slept in those rags, and bloodstains are very rarely in fashion.’

Stathis attempted to divert her from the subject of fashion. ‘Any idea about the archer? I guess they must have been hired as well.’

‘Ah, yes. Parthenelle came during the night, I believe she is resting upstairs.’

‘Parthenelle?’

‘Parthenelle.’ Janaxia spoke the name again, with some barely perceptible alteration in pronunciation. ‘She appears a touch withdrawn, and perhaps not the most sociable. But those of the elven persuasion are often a bit unusual, at least when judged by normal standards.’

That would explain the name, at least. Although elven adventurers were rare, most keeping to their own lands, or the elven quarters in the biggest cities. As if on cue, there was movement down the stairs; dull green trousers, coloured to blend into woods and grasslands appearing, then well-crafted leather armour, a quiver at her hip, brass bands around her arms, and sturdy leather bracers. Around her neck was a chain necklace, bearing a number of finger-rings, metal sliding and clacking together.

She approached Stathis, amber eyes catching the light, then made a gesture, probably an elven greeting. ‘Hauleni. Honour.’

‘Sure. You would be Parthenelle?’

‘Parthenelle.’

‘Parthenelle.’

‘Parthenelle.’

‘Parth?’

There was a long pause before she nodded, accepting the shortened name. ‘Parth.’

‘Thanks for the save yesterday. Would have been nice if you’d introduced yourself earlier, but at least you helped in the end.’

‘Unsure of purity. Seek alliance.’ She squinted at Stathis, then looked away as though dazzled by bright light. ‘Employment and wealth.’

‘We could do with help getting away from here, at least. And it seems you’re pretty good with that bow. Can you do anything else?’

Parth raised a closed hand, whispering a spell, scent of amber and moss wafting out. When she opened her hand, there was a bright red berry there. She offered it to Stathis, who took it and ate it. Sweetness filled her mouth, a faint rush of energy revitalising her.

‘Neat. And I guess you know tracking and hunting and stuff?’

Parth nodded. ‘Wood-born, wood-fang.’

Semari wandered over, slowly sipping her beer. ‘Hey, neat trick! Make me a berry as well, that looked tasty.’

The spell was repeated, another berry appearing, Semari grabbing it. ‘Tasty! She’s definitely allowed to join.’

‘Seeking gold.’

Unusually mercenary for an elf, but at least she was honest. ‘Sure, who isn’t? Equal shares, and a share for the company to cover costs and stuff.’

Parth nodded. ‘Sign.’

‘Sorry, the charter’s frozen in Everfrost. If you can get it out, then you’re free to sign, but we’ll have to count you as a member without formally signing on otherwise. These guys are new as well, so I guess it’s all equal.’ From the look on Parth’s face, she didn’t entirely agree, then got distracted as Semari tweaked one of her pointed ears, trying to bat her away.

‘Hey, neat!’

Parth tried to brush her off, before swirling magical energy appeared in front of her face, distracting her.

Stathis sighed. ‘Don’t poke her ears, at least ask first!’

‘Never seen pink ones before, only purple. Cool. What’s this?’ Semari was now poking the arcane energy, waving her hand through it.

‘Gods, sorry about that. So, I’m Stathis, the wizard is Janaxia and a load of other names,’ that earnt her a nasty look, ‘that’s Semari, she seems very, uh, curious.’

Janaxia gestured and sent the magical lights to the other side of the room, Semari trailing after the dark patterns. ‘You certainly put the alderman in his place, how… impressively forceful of you. Despite your lack of arcane knowledge, you may have what it takes to be a leader, if you can be so dominant the rest of the time. Although you certainly have the physique for it, I suppose swinging a blade all the time helps with the muscle tone.’ Janaxia’s own arms were noticeably weaker, more suited to elegant parties rather than violence. Still, if she was mostly at the back, then her frailty shouldn’t be a problem, as long as she had the stamina to walk.

‘Thanks. I’ve arranged for a message to be sent to some allies of mine, to get Pajaran transported to safety.’

‘Ah, your unfortunate friend? Yes, she should be safe within the Everfrost, although getting her out may be something of a trial. I have heard of it being penetrated, but such is a deed of legend, and highly expensive. At least she will not age within its embrace, so there are some benefits, although I suppose she may disagree as and when she is released, some centuries hence.’

‘It won’t be that long. I’ll get her out. I swear it.’

‘Were the two of you close? This seems more than the lengths you would go to for a passing acquaintance.’

‘We were friends.’ It was hard to keep hostility from her tone, the woman’s tone far too light and breezy, as though discussing simple, empty matters.

‘Ah, of course. I hope that you will be as driven to defend me, should events turn against us.’ She gave an awkward smile, long-nailed hand (that Stathis tried not to think of as talons) reaching out to gingerly pat Stathis on the shoulder, looking almost as uncomfortable doing it as Stathis was receiving it. ‘She will endure, although I hope your allies have a large cellar or suchlike – Everfrost does grow over time, swallowing up it’s environs. If she were to be left here, in a few years much of the cellar would be encased along with her. A useful cooling mechanism, one supposes.’

Anger must have shown in Stathis’ eyes, as Janaxia looked away. ‘Of course, I’m sure she will be safe and looked after. Releasing her is possible though, I assure you. Why, the founder of my line was himself trapped within Everfrost.’

‘How did he get free?’

She tossed her hair, her red lash now quiescent and barely visible. ‘Oh, he was sufficiently powerful to do so by himself, and facing a far weaker opponent. Some elven sorcerer, according to the stories, scarcely a fitting opponent for one of his might. Ah, no offense to your people, Parthenelle.’

‘Parth, you know anything about Krathik? Were you here to deal with him? He seemed to know about the altar and that orb.’

‘Blessed fortune. Ending an ill-fated birth.’

‘That seems harsh, not his fault he was a half-elf. Thanks for your help though, that was good shooting. Would’ve been better if you’d introduced yourself first though!’

‘Ill-timed. Safer to observe.’

‘A heads-up you weren’t trying to shoot us would have been appreciated. Although we’re miles away from elven lands, aren’t we? How did you manage to get here?’

‘Lengthy. Legendary.’

Apparently that was all the detail Parth felt like sharing, as Semari drifted back, now the magical lights had vanished. She flicked Stathis’ breastplate, listening to the metal chime. ‘So, we getting drunk here, or leaving? There’s some people outside, look a bit pissy.’

Stathis glanced outside – there was a group poking at the smoking ruins of the burnt cottage, the mayor talking to them. From their sudden change in behaviour, from anger to grudging acceptance, it looked like he was spreading the message Stathis had given him. Unless they were really, really stupid, then Pajaran would be safe, it seemed that mother’s reputation had spread even out to wherever the hell this place was. It probably meant a hell of a trip back to anywhere else though, given that Janaxia clearly couldn’t teleport herself, never mind anyone else. And Semari seemed likely to get distracted by anything shiny, while Parth would probably vanish into the forests at the first chance.

All in all, not a very good start. Even with Janaxia’s assurances that Pajaran would be alright, that she was frozen into ice was alarming. At least the magical sphere had been destroyed, so it wouldn’t be a problem again.

A light touch on her arm broke her from her reverie, as Janaxia moved close, too close. Had she scented her hair as well? ‘These bumpkins lack the force required to break through Everfrost – even if this place were to burn to the ground, then she would endure, although would be inconvenient to retrieve. But it may be best to retreat, before the mob grows restive. The rabble often take ill to the destruction of their local objects of reverence, and having to flee a mob with torches and pitchforks is decidedly inelegant. And I am not correctly attired for such swift movement.’

Semari seemed to have the same idea, stuffing a beer bottle into each pocket, popping open another one for the road. Stathis pulled another coin from her pouch and hid it behind the bar, making a mental note to deduct it from Semari’s share later; she probably wouldn’t notice.

‘Bloody villagers. Yeah, you’ve got a point. Parth, you need anything else? Janaxia, have you got any shoes that won’t break your ankles?’ She was probably more used to being ferried by carriage, rather than foot-slogging it the hard way. Janaxia sighed, removing her shoes and holding them out, staring at Stathis until she took them and stowed them in her pack. Then she did something magical, lifting first one foot and then the other, arcane energies shimmering and slightly more practical shoes appearing – still a far cry from everyone else’s battered travellers boots (hers were gleaming black leather, still with heels, stretching to mid-thigh, a fetching band of lace visible at the top), but at least slightly protective.

‘I do hope you will prove yourself worthy of leadership, I would not want my family name to be sullied by failure. After all, I am descended from…’

Stathis tuned her out, having heard far too many other nobles brag about ceaseless lines of ancestors and their deeds. Janaxia at least seemed to have some talents and could be useful if they got any bodyguard gigs, as she’d probably welcome the chance to hang around with nobility. Semari was already gone, having chosen to clamber out of a window for some reason, while Parth was scrutinising the drinks on offer, helping herself to a shot of something. It seemed far too early, but maybe elven etiquette was different? Or she’d had as shitty a previous day as the rest of them. She gestured at her and Janaxia to leave, before heading back down to the cellar.

Pajaran was still there, frozen in fear and pain. Stathis carefully placed her hand on the ice, feeling it sear her flesh before she healed herself in a burst of sunlight and pulled away, leaving the blood frozen in place. ‘Sorry, Pajaran. This isn’t how it should be, you should be with me, laughing and smashing things with your mace. I’ll get you free, don’t worry.’ She scribbled a note down, turning it against the ice and holding it in place until it froze there. Then she paused, picking up two bottles of beer and pressing them close against the block – Janaxia had said the stuff grew, so with any luck it would absorb the bottles, and give her something to wake up to. Then she placed her palms together and uttered a quick prayer.

With a last look of regret, she left, joining the others outside. Janaxia was already gathering herself up in indignation and threatening to wag a finger at an alarmed looking villager, as Semari glared at a stray goat, fists balled up and ready to fight. It bleated at her, lowering its own head and readying to butt her, before Stathis pulled her away.

‘Stop fighting the animals, let’s go.’

‘But it’s evil! I think it’s in league with that guy from last night.’

‘It’s a goat, leave it alone. Janaxia, come on, before they burn you as a witch.’ Parth, at least, was still moving without having gotten distracted. As she walked past the mayor, she pulled him inside. ‘Remember what we spoke of.’ He nodded, growing pale. ‘Good.’ Parth had now stopped, apparently distracted by a tree. ‘We’ll leave now, and I’m sorry for the damage. But if anyone else asks you to use your village for fake adventuring, tell them to go fuck themselves, OK?’

She left him, hopefully unlikely to do anything quite so stupid again, tapping Parth’s arm as they passed, breaking her from her reverie. They started walking down the road (or, in Semari’s case, running ahead and the coming back), heading towards the next village.