~Hope

There’s any number of tricks to weathering the snow, but all of them come down to the simple concept of getting warm and staying warm. A hot fire will get you warm while a good woollen blanket will keep you that way.

When in the wilds trying to weather the snow, you do anything you can to stay warm, so it’s no surprise that Fate and I are huddled up together in the back of the wagon under as many blankets as we could find.

After much struggling we were able to solidify the position of the cloth tent over the back of the cart, but that achieves little more than keeping the snow off of us. The cold wind cuts right through it.

This morning, even though the sun is clearly rising on the horizon, I can’t find the inspiration to rise from my warm position, and from Fate’s shifting about, I can tell she’s in the same mindset, only pretending to be asleep.

Over the past many nights which we spent crossing the mountain pass, I’ve grown somewhat used to her company. Which essentially means that I’m not stiffening up at her every touch, and that sleeping beside her has become a slightly less awkward affair.

Her wandering hands are a little more difficult to get used to.

“I’m hungry.” She moans, shifting about and giving up her act. Her stomach growls proving her admission is no lie.

“Then eat something.” I say, still clinging to her warm back. When one of us moves, we’re going to be stuck dealing with the cold for the rest of the miserable day.

“I want something warm.” She says, groaning. “A warm breakfast soup, or a hot loaf of bread with butter melting over it.”

“If you sit on your biscuit, it’ll defrost a little.” I say.

“That’s gross. I’m not going to do that.” She says.

“Then warm it up in your hands.” I say.

“Then my hands will get cold.” She replies.

“Then give it to Shadow, I’m sure he’ll eat it.”

“Then I’ll still be hungry.” She moans.

Sufficed to say neither of us has bothered to move yet, the biscuits we’re speaking of are purely hypothetical. A thing beyond reach, the other side of a freezing cold abyss, where fingers turn blue and numbness consumes all feeling.

“We should get up.” Fate says, her voice muffled.

“We should.” I agree, remaining still, waiting for her to make the first move. I’m not going to be blamed for this, she’s going to be the one ruining our morning by getting up, not me.

“Argh, fine.” Fate groans, pulling away. “Time to get to work. We have a world to save, and an adventure ahead of us.”

“Sounds fun. Perhaps we can dance with the gods and travel among the stars after we’re done.” I say, stifling a yawn.

“Are you speaking more than usual this morning?” She asks, pausing as she glares at the frozen biscuit. I’ve heard it called hardtack before, though this one is laced with nuts of a rock-like consistency, and fruits that no one can recognise. Everything you need in a breakfast, but not a thing more.

“You think?” I ask, touching my bag before I start dressing in my winter clothes now that their stint as a winter blanket is done. It’s not that we don’t have a proper blanket, but there is no such thing as too many.

“Yeah, am I finally growing on you?” She asks. “You’re becoming more than just a stoic travel companion, you’re a friend, someone to confide in. We can joke around with each other.”

“Growing on me? Would that make you my first wart?” I say, turning to the door of the tent. Pulling back the leather flaps, and letting the wind blow in.

It’s not too terribly cold, there’s only a fine layer of snow over the road, and only a few clumps remain here and there on the roadside and at the bases of trees. Spending so much time in the deserts has ruined my constitution, if this weather feels numbing.

“You think the town will have any hot food?” Fate asks, pulling down the tent, shivering as she lays the poles down. I fold the canvas, shaking out the little snow that clings to the uneven, moth eaten material.

“Maybe, but do you really want to waste the money?” I ask. I’ve rarely spent more than I have to since I started my life on this side of the world, and even then I’ve barely been scraping by.

“Waste?” Fate asks. “I want hot food. I’m willing to pay for hot food. That is called a transaction, not a waste.”

“It’ll be waste when it’s clogging up a latrine on the ‘morrow.” I say.

“That’s disgusting.” Fate replies, “And it’s still not a waste. We’re both going to have a nice meal, and I don’t want any of that potty talk at the table.”

“What table?” I ask, waving out at the vast landscape. We’re moving downhill, and I can vaguely make out something that might be a town a long way down the road from here, but it’ll be lunch at the earliest before we arrive.

“It’s waiting for us, Hope. Just believe.” Fate says, meeting my eyes, her own glimmering bright enough that I can almost make out my own reflection.

“I’ll leave that to you.” I say, brushing the snow off of my part of the bench. Shadow has his head down, snuggled into his oversized horse blanket like a kid hiding under layers of bedding. Or like me and Fate a few minutes ago.

“Shadow, we’re moving.” Fate says, “Do you want the blanket on or off?”

“Does he actually understand you, or…?”

Shadow lifts his head and gives her a big snort.

“On?” Fate asks, “You’re going to change your mind in an hour when you get all sweaty, aren’t you?”

Shadow nods, uncaring about Fates frustration as she gives up and starts hooking him back up to the cart. The blanket has been designed to allow for it, which just makes me wonder what is with this horse, and just what was Fate using him for before all of this.

We’re off and rolling in a few minutes, slowly making our way down the snowy slopes towards the town below.

While a warm meal sounds tempting, I’m already loathing our arrival at town. It’s sure to be filled with people.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~Fate

The town is bright and lively, all sorts of folks young and old are out on the streets as they brush away the last vestiges of winter. A few kids playing with the last of the white snow left, as the adults busy themselves with small talk and rumours.

Whatever work this town prides itself on, it seems that today is an off day. It doesn’t seem to be a celebration or a party, but I can hardly see a single person working. The markets have only a few goods on show and it seems more a place for common folks to gather and talk, rather than a place for merchants.

I suppose when traders are so rare the markets are just this sort of affair. I haven’t visited too many towns like this so I can’t really say I have the experience to know.

A young man approaches our wagon, a bright smile on his face.

“You’re a merchant?” He asks. “A little late, most those that are coming through for the season are already long gone.”

“I’m Fate and this is Hope, we’re new to the area.” I say, “We’re heading a long way and I thought it would do me good to trade a few things on the way through.”

“I’m Jake, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” He says. “Are you after anyone or anything?”

“I have a delivery for a Missy Nulens, if you know where she is?” I say.

“A delivery for Missy? From her mother I’m guessing.” He nods knowingly. “She’s been waiting for that, we were worried that her mother might’ve… well it’s good to know she’s still well. Missy’s just over that way, the prettiest woman in town, the one with red hair.”

“Thank you.” I say, “Is there a place here that sells hot food this time of day?”

“Taverns always got something hot, and a barrel of ale tapped.” He says happily. “Can’t weather the cold otherwise.”

“Is there some celebration going on?” I ask, “The town’s rather, well, not busy.”

“That.” He says with a laugh. “Years ago we all agreed to store up enough food and goods to last us through. Is there a celebration? This is the last year, we’ll celebrate until the end, only working when we have to.”

“Huh, that sounds like some fine planning.” I say. “Well, I’ll be out looking for trade tomorrow. So come find us if you have something for trade.

He says an easy goodbye as I head out towards Missy. I look over at Hope but she’s been rather quiet ever since we’ve come to town. Over the past couple of weeks, she’s really warmed up to me, but it seems she’s still the same person she was before.

It makes me wonder who she is. Sometimes she holds herself the way a noble would, but then she’s sitting there complaining about wasting money on hot food. Her stiff back and distant gaze certainly matches that of a noble taken to the wrong part of town, trying to pretend that they don’t see the stinking peasants.

“What is it?” she asks, noticing my gaze.

“Just thought you looked pretty today.” I say, compliments are always a nice thing to say when you have nothing better to say.

She turns away from me, subtly hiding her face from me. She really is rather innocent at the strangest times.

“Missy.” I say calling out to the red headed girl. She is rather pretty, but even then that young man was clearly going a little overboard. “I have a delivery from your mother.”

“From mother?” she asks, turning to face us. “I was worried when nothing came with the usual merchants that came through. Did something happen?”

“If it did she didn’t say.” I reply, pulling out a soft scarf, with a letter on top. “There was a bit of a fuss with the fairies taking children, but that was already after most of the merchants left.”

“Thank you for bringing news then. It’s relieving to know she’s well.” She says. “I can spare you a coin for the delivery.”

“Your mother already paid.” I say, gently refusing. She nods her head gratefully, hesitantly opening her mouth to say something more, but pausing.

She finds the courage to speak as I’m about to beg away so I can get something to eat.

“Do you… do you have any Fenris leaf?” She asks, the words forced out through great effort. “I… I can pay.”

“I’m afraid I don’t have any, nor anything that would work as substitute.” I say, hesitantly. “You don’t have a local herbalist?”

“No… he passed not long ago.” She says, shaking her head sadly, before her expression brightens again as the young man from earlier comes over.

“My lovely, your mother is still well, then?” He asks.

“She is.” Missy says, pulling the scarf out to show him. “She even made this for me. She said she was making it for winter, but it must’ve taken her a little longer to see it finished.”

“It looks lovely.” He says, “Not the best gift for spring, but it’ll be nice for when the next winter comes.”

She nods happily, leaning in and hugging the young man.

“We’ll be taking our leave then.” I say, trying to keep my smile up as I turn away.

A cold wind still runs through the streets, stirring up the little snow that’s drifting from the skies. High up in the mountains, I see dark clouds stirring. It seems a storm is coming.

“What’s Fenris leaf?” Hope asks quietly. She’s still overcautious of the villagers that we pass.

“Herbalists use it for a number of concoctions, but it’s most common to brew it as tea. Even those not knowledgeable in medicines know what to do with it.” I say. “If you’re carrying a child, it can help in… taking away the burden.”

“Ah…” Hope looks back at the woman, happily flirting with the young man that seems to be her lover. The pair look so happy.

“Let’s get shadow into the inn’s stable and something warm to eat.” I suggest, getting us rolling towards the inn.

“That’s… okay.” She nods quietly, huddling up from the cold wind.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~Hope

“There’s wood by the fireplace, feel free to use it as you want.” The innkeeper says, leading us around his inn.

“Yes, but what’s the charge for staying the night?”

“Think nothing of it.” He says with a smile, sipping the last of his tea. “There’s a storm coming down from the mountains, you might have to stay longer than a day so it’s best to show you where everything is.”

He shows us to his food cellar that is surprisingly full considering winters just ended. There’s plenty of firewood beside the fireplace. Shadow is being kept in a rather nice stable with more feed than a horse should probably be fed.

The innkeeper is suspiciously nice. I’ll have to keep an eye on him. We don’t know what he’s really up to.

“We’re heading out to the tavern, then.” Fate says offering the man a friendly wave.

“Say hello to Freddy for me, he’s usually around those parts.” The old innkeeper says, waving us away. “I’ll probably be asleep by the time you girls get back, so just leave me napping in my chair, and a good evening to you both.”

“Enjoy your rest.” Fate says with a laugh, “A man of your age deserves some uninterrupted sleep.”

“Finally, some of you young folk that actually understand.” He says with a laugh and a final wave goodbye as he heads over to the fireplace and the rather nice leather chair beside it.

“Now, we’ve waited long enough, let’s get something to eat.” Fate says, pulling me out the door and towards the tavern.

The dark clouds on the distant horizon threaten the calm that currently fills town, and the cold only worsens as the afternoon drifts closer towards night.

The food is warm and pleasant, and the owner is rather happy to accept coins, adding them to a tall tower that she’s making in a corner of the room. By the look of it she’s making a game out of it, building the tower of gold and silver as tall as she can without letting it fall.

“Quite the storm rolling in. Looks to be a blizzard, a late one considering the season.” The old man named Freddy says wriggling his mustache cheerfully. “Even the weather wants to try something different this close to the end.”

“A blizzard?” Fate asks, ever the socialising type.

“A nasty one, I think. The town will be snowed in for a week if pains in my hip aren’t lying to me.”

“Your hip can tell the weather?” She asks, taken aback.

“That it can.” He chuckles at her while downing another ale. “You’re staying at the inn? You might want to make sure the fire stays hot tonight, that rickety old building can’t keep out the cold quite like it used to.”

“We’ll take note of that.” She says, directing the conversation back towards empty pointless chatter. I don’t understand how people like her can always find something to talk about, and I understand even less as to why they bother.

Putting away the warm meal, I wait patiently for Fate to be done. There are too many people crammed into this room, stinking up the air with their sweat, and odour, but it’s still better than the cold outside.

We head back to the inn before the storm fully makes itself known, darkening the sunset.

The inn is quiet when we arrive, the crackling of the fireplace the only sound to be heard. The old man is sleeping in his chair by the fire, a blanket warming his lap.

We leave him be, as per his request, but I don’t take my eyes off of him. He doesn’t seem to be trying to trick us, at least.

Missy and Jake come in a little after us, apparently staying in the inn tonight to take care of things that the old man running it can’t handle. They offer us smiles and polite words, but Missy is rather more subdued through it all and we quickly retire to our rooms.

The building is engineered such that the warmth from the fireplace heats our room, but it’s still rather cold inside. Between the blankets and the company it’s only just better than sleeping in the wagon.

The blizzard rolls in through the night and has settled itself over this little town come morning. The outside world seems filled with snow, and frigid cold has seeped into this old building.

The fire has died overnight, but the old man still slumbers, indifferent to the cold.

“He’s gone.” Missy says, leaning over the fires and trying to stoke a flame. “He passed away through the night.”

The blizzard roars outside, the snow blinding, and the cold leaching the warmth from the world.