Wernh'An created killers of wind by a mere motion of his hand. Transparent figures holding daggers of ice surrounded Nortze when they came to existence. The old Calajhan windmilled his sword and swiveled to a dance of death, breaking the daggers and drifting away those lifeless beings. A light hit Nortze which felt like a wall on his face. He held his sword tight during the fall but doing so he made a landing by his shoulder-blade. Nortze's hand became numb to the extent where he couldn’t feel the sword.

He bore the pain with eyes closed. Even with his eyelids drawn together he could see the illumination coming towards him. He deflected it too with a slice of his sword to his own surprise.

Nortze was taken aback to see himself countering Wernh'An. Last time they had squared against each other, Nortze's skills hadn’t helped him at all. Another painful wave on Nortze's body made him think Wernh'Am had managed to do it again though it had taken more time.

He saw Wernh'An catching his breath. It was when he noticed how thin the Wutke's worshipper had become. Had his shoulders been wide as tehey used to be, they would have obscured Saer.

"You are done, Wernh'An!" Saer removed lid of the vessel.

Nothing happened. Saer turned the vessel to see whether it had a crack on it.

The thing was fine. It simply wasn’t working against the lord of Hilcastle. Wernh'An turned at him with a grin and a closed fist. He loosened his fingers and stalactites soared in direction of Saer. Those stalactites went in an invisible wall Nortze had created to guard Saer.

Nortze circled his arm and the same icicles surrounded Wernh'An from every side. Seeing no way, Wernh'An turned into dust with a mild blast. The icicles collided with each other and fragmented. Those particles of Wernh'An revolved around a core to reshape himself but could not get assembled in a human form. They got pulled in the vessel like a demon swallowing the ocean.

Saer had considered Nortze resilient when confined until he had Wernh'An in the same place. Vessel moved in Saer's hand like a big fish. And it slipped too.

Ready to break in halves vessel descended towards the floor. Breaking its fall, Nortze rolled on floor with his hand pressed against the lid. He placed the vessel on floor and pressed its lid by his both palms while keeping it stable with his both thighs.

"Careful. Don’t break it." Saer said.

"Where is my daughter?" Nortze glared at him.

"She is here, safe, but she won't be if wedding happens tomorrow." Saer said.

Nortze listened to every word he said then after. At some point he looked like he would ridicule it whereas in some occasions he appeared to have the seriousness of a saint. Every time Nortze felt he was full of Saer's explanation, the shaking vessel kept him in his place. When Saer had stopped speaking Nortze looked at him. There was no gratitude in his eyes but Saer was glad as Nortze hadn’t showed signs of anger.

"I will tell Rikilda everything after she wakes." Nortze breathed.

"Braden is not your son, is he?" Saer asked.

Nortze shook his head sideways.

"So where is your real son?"

"You should be in palace instead of asking questions." Nortze stood up, "Guards may already be in the palace because of the storm. I will come there when this doppelganger gets conscious."

"Teleport me then."

"Be careful of it. Teleportation without any metal is harmful for low bloods."

"I made you aware of the evils. I don’t need much strength from here on."

Nortze rubbed his palms.