„And here we are, Solane, at the end of the road,” the old man slowly murmured, talking to himself while standing in front of the Yeomna Bridge that was crossing over the Styx and which was badly shaking controlled by the unmanageable Whirlpool of the River.

To his left was Gosmel, looking down in the mouth while staring at the same bridge which he saw for millennia, but on which he had never stepped, for if he had put at least one foot on it, he would have been lost forever, thrown into the waters because those who hadn't written in fate to die also hadn’t the right to step onto it, being it considered as a big sin and betrayal of the fate.

„What’s beyond those waters?” the old man asked his guide, without even one of them looking at the other.

„You’ll find this out after crossing over this bridge,” Gosmel told him dryly, and he turned his back to the old man, intending to leave, for his mission was ending there: Samargo were only bringing the souls till the bridge, but they had never stayed to check if the souls were crossing over Yeomna or not - it was the humans’decision, for if they were crossing over it, they still had a chance to be reborn; if they were staying on that side of the bridge instead, they were first changing into ghosts, restlessly wandering through the world, later to transform into bad spirits. But it was also a problem with crossing over it: if the one, who has decided to take the chance to a new life, was stopped on the bridge for more than 13 seconds, he was right away thrown into the turbulent waters that were swallowing him completely and nobody ever knew what happened with those poor souls after being swallowed in the paunch of Styx.

However, Gosmel has violated his own rules eventually and he turned back, to the old man’s left, looking insistently at him and he did not take his eyes off him until Solan didn't look at him. But Solan looked confused at his guide, not understanding why a Samargo was still next to him, although he should have left, according to tradition. „Why did you sacrifice for another one, Solan?” Gosmel asked him thunderstruck. „That boy, he hadn't even your blood and it wasn’t also your turn to die. It was his turn.”

„But he was from my People, a soul that I’ve been watching first growing up inside of his mother’s belly, then becoming a handsome little man how we saw him before leaving Earth from a simple seed born in this world. How could I have remained indifferent, seeing his doom?”

„Others, in your place, would have chosen first to save their lives.”

„That’s not about me! Let him live because he’s still so young. Me instead, I’ve seen 84 springs with trees in bloom, with butterflies crossing over the green fields for 84 summers, seeing the reddish-yellow of the autumn leaves for the same number of years, but I’ve seen only 83 times the white of the snow of the winters. But I still don’t regret that for I’m taking with me thus the desire to be reborn and for seeing again the pure white of the winters with harsh snow and cold.”

Gosmel smiled. „People are so complicated and so simple at the same time.”

„Complicated? Why?”

„Because you’re not the first soul I’ve brought to this bridge, but you are the first one who doesn’t propose me money for a longer life.”

„And… would have served for something offering you that richness?”

„Of course not, because no matter if you are poor or rich, we are all equal in front of death.”

„Then?! Why offer you money if it’s useless?! But, to be honest: I don’t have that money either. I’m even poorer than the misery itself, for if it sees me one day, it will feel sorrow for me. But, even so, I'm as rich as Croessus: with beautiful memories about my people, with beautiful feelings I’m taking with me because Fate and Maranam invented death, but they never invented a trick to take that richness from me: the inner one, I mean.”

„And they won’t ever invent this, for they don’t know how to do that. But… I’m glad I’ve been your guide, old man: I’ve learned something from you and I understood that not all humans are poor inside. Take care of yourself, old Solan, especially while crossing over the river! Go straight and never look back because if you do that, then you’ll cry bitter tears for eternity and you’ll lose forever the possibility of a new life on Earth! And … there’s one more terrifying thing there: the memories about your past life, the regrets that you’ll carry on with you, and the desire for turning back time, but never having that power in your hands. And, if you feel that you are tired and if you feel the necessity to take a rest, then don’t stay in place more than 13 seconds, or you’ll be thrown off the Yeomna Bridge into those black and turbulent waters which are devouring others’souls, all the time, and which are known by you as River Styx.”

„I’ll do as you told me, Gosmel, and … I hope to see you at least once again, guiding my steps toward the edge of this bridge, and if it’s true what others say, that a soul lives 7 cycles of life, then you still have six times to see me here, at these footbridge leads, saying goodbye to one life and crossing over Yeomna with the hope in my soul to feel at least one more time the sweet taste of a new life.”

Saying this, old Solan turned his back to Gosmel, after bending in front of him, and he took his first step onto the bridge.

As if feeling a tremendous enemy jumping on his back or as if it had a soul, the bridge started to move so fast that it was about to throw the old man into the water of Styx.

But the old man was tough and he didn’t scare: he grabbed with both hands the edge of the bridge made from cord and, carefully advancing at a slow step, he headed toward the Gates, half darken, which were separating the world of the living souls from that of the dead ones, without watching back even for a second or to take a moment to breathe in or out because old Solan has loved so much his life and the desire to live it once again was bigger than the regret about what he was leaving behind him.

After the big Gates closed behind the old Solan, Gosmel turned his back to the bridge and, at a slow, but a sure step, he headed toward his Palace. And he was smiling inside because he had finally met a person who had been really happy in life. And there was one more secret to be revealed there: the fact that Gosmel has never brought to Yeomna every single person who ever died. He was the guide only of the chosen souls, that were exempted from the comb-out in the castle Piṟaku, for being pure and happy souls, and they were getting right in front of the bridge that was crossing them to the world of Happiness, called Aeon.

Then, the bridge stopped its turbulent movement and looked as frozen, and the water of Styx started to slowly flow. On the bridge could be seen lotus and jasmine flowers while all around the song of Angels has been heard.

***

When Island and the others of the Siar People got to the Palace of Ice, it was already dusk, and the sky, that has been black and full of mad clouds till that moment, suddenly became clear while the sun started to slowly „slither” on it, hurrying up to the bed and leaving behind him, on the celestial vault, a big stain of blood.

On the shoulders of each of the Siars was seen a cloak of a bright blue like the people that were living on the Realms of Ice used to wear, a cloak simply called Veppam, which in the ancient language of the white Kingdom meant warmth and this name hasn’t been randomly chosen, for even if the material of the cloak seemed extremely thin and easy to be broken by a mad wind, it was still magic and was protecting the body from cold winds, low temperature, and even from burning heat, for having that special power of absorbing the warmth of the sky and the ground, and then if the master of the cloak was getting to the Realms of the Eternal Ice, he was protected to being frozen to death even in the coldest winters.

The first one in descending off the horse has been Island, after stopping in front of the palace, and, after giving the bridle of his horse to one of the servants, he approached Inlan Diar and helped her to descend too, a gesture made more out of courtesy than out of the old age because despite her age, the queen was still quick of foot and enough beautiful to be compared with a young lady and she would have been capable enough in descending alone, but the kindness of her son was something she was so proud of and she was so eager to allow him to help her even in small details.

„Did everybody arrive safely?” Inlan Diar inquired, carefully arranging the skirts of her dress and cloak.

„Yes. I’ve ordered our people to lead them in the Eastern part of the town where we have empty houses and which is in fact the most protected from cold winds and of an eventual attack,” Island told her and he first moved toward the entrance in the palace.

Inlan Diar looked around for a moment and she saw her servants approaching each of the Siars and offering them bread islanded with salt and boiled wine, as it was the tradition of receiving guests in the Realms of Ice. After this, the Siars have been accompanied by the locals toward the part of the town that has been reserved for their homes.

Only when the last wanderer has been accompanied toward his new home, has the queen dared to enter the palace.

Right at the entrance, one of the servants helped her to take off the cloak and she also took the sword from her girdle, leaving to the queen only a small dagger that Inlan Diar used to wear all the time with her, even when she was sleeping, keeping it under the pillow. After this, she headed toward the throne and sat down on it, feeling for the first time in so long time how much the tiredness was overwhelming her.

Island was standing at that time in front of a small stream that was flowing from the beak of a swan carved in ice. The water was falling then in a kind of streambed made from lotus flowers carved in white stone. On the water surface were also seen yellow lotus flowers and white jasmine flowers as the people of Ice was used to keep those kinds of flowers thus, especially when someone died in that house because not all of Island and Inlan Diar’s people were immortal: there were also wanderers between them or people born from the union of the People of Ice with the mortals because they didn’t use to keep their blood pure, and if some of them was falling in love, his decision was accepted and respected.

Touching one of the yellow lotus flowers, Island made the water whirl in circles in front of his eyes and he saw the same image of the Yeomna Bridge on which were spread the same lotus and jasmine flowers as on the stream seemed in his Palace.

When or how Island started to see that image of the Yeomna Bridge in the stream, he also didn’t know. But there were moments when he was seeing it, especially after losing someone he loved or cared about as if his soul was splitting into many parts and a small one was also passing through the Gates of the Underworld.

„Are you seeing Yeomna again?” Inlan Diar asked, being behind her son, only one step from him.

Island only turned his head toward her and smiled, saying nothing. But there weren’t necessary words between them, for both of them were so closely tied by fate that they could feel well what the other one was feeling, without the necessity of explaining it in long and senseless phrases.

„He lived a beautiful life,” Inlan Diar told him eventually, resting one hand on her son’s shoulder. „And he died doing a good deed also for his people. So, we don’t have why to be so sad, son. We only need to raise our head, to stretch our back, and move on.”

„That’s so, mother because harsh times are waiting for us.”

„This means you’ll follow Boor and the others to the Rophion Forest.”

„Mmm. I will. Actually, I already told Āṇmai to prepare the army. We’ll set forth tomorrow, at dawn. But… I’m preoccupied knowing you alone here, especially after bringing the Siars here too.”

„Don’t worry for us, son. We aren’t weak, and… anyway, there will still be left enough soldiers from my army, even if you take with you Āṇmai’s legion. We’ll be just fine! No matter if harsh times or good times come because if the need is required, then we’ll fight for our safety and for our land, till the last breath.”

„Don’t talk like this, mother! You know that this realm preoccupies me, just as you are so important to me and I'm thinking if you are safe, each time I’m far away from home!”

„However, son, you must go there! There are three of ours there, facing the war, and they need you more than we do now.”

„But we’ll be four there, relying on each other. You instead… you’ll be forced to face everything alone and if my father decides to attack these lands while I and Boor are far away from here…”

„He won’t do that. For him is more important to find Mannar and to take out that devilish diamond off his forehead. Coallar will do that first, and only after that, he’ll think if to attack these lands or not, for while he’s relying only on the foxes of his daughter and on Ahi, we still have a lot of trustful soldiers and friends from the neighbors' kingdoms who’ll help us, if necessary.”

„This is true, but … mother, since when do you know about Inmar?”

Inlan Diar turned her back to him and approached the table, on which the servants already laid on it several dishes and fruits. „I always knew that. Since Coallar started to show his madness, calling a 15-years-old girl in his den. I knew how that madness will end, but… I didn't have the power to impede that,” she said, sitting down at the table.

„And all this because of the damn game of fate, set up by Parca,” Island said, barely heard, approaching his mother and pouring some wine in her goblet.

When Island left the pitcher on the table and intended to sit down at the same table, in front of his mother, Inlan Diar grabbed his arm, stopping him, and deeply looking into his eyes, she whispered: „never blame fate, Island! Even if we dislike this, we must accept it. At least for the moment.”

„Why? Is this because of fear?” Island furiously hissed through the teeth.

„No. It’s for precaution. It’s for survival, for while we are still alive and safe, we'll still have a chance to change something. Dead instead… we serve for nothing.”

„But, mother… you forgot how many of us we lost already.”

„Just as you have forgotten what we won: Sephir, Bestla, Zeal, Boor, and the rest of our servants that are still breathing, that are still able to fight, and to protect our beloved kingdom. And… you, Island. And you… or, did you already forget that you’ve been only one step from falling into that abyss? Yes, Gosmel is a titan, but not one that keeps his promises. He gave up today only because he considered it risky to continue his madness, even if this means he’ll be kneeled in front of Parca and forced to ask for forgiveness. But… there’s still a long day tomorrow and we don’t know what waits for us then.”

„That’s why it’s so difficult for hitting the road. Leaving everything behind when there’s so an uncertain future in front of us…”

„…nothing will happen to us, grandpa Island! Not while Zeal and her cobras are around. If they rush at us, there’s necessary only one hiss and our forked tongue thrown over them will taste from their stinky meat, and this means death for all of them,” Zeal made a joke, approaching them and she right away threw two berries in her mouth, that she took from the grape. Then, she looked in amazement at her grandparents who were staring at her while she had started to eat as if a big army was already fighting for her meal and she had to rush to eat if she wanted not to be hungry, in the end. „What? Will I be again scolded for eating so much and not thinking about my silhouette?” she joked again.

„No. You’ll be scolded for sticking your nose in others’businesses,” Island told her upset while he continued to stare at her, for he wanted to know at least her away from the battlefield. That’s why he sent her away when they’ve decided to split up the Siars. He thought that she’ll find a comfortable bed somewhere and she’ll be safe. But Zeal came namely there: in the place considered by Island as being the most dangerous.

„Tell me something new! I love to poke my nose in someone else’s business. Especially in your business, grandpa,” Zeal said and she winked at him, but she’d been right away rewarded with a slap over the back of her head, but without using strength, a slap called by Island as a simple way of education. „What?”

„Nothing. Eat!” Island told her, sitting down next to her, and reproachfully shaking his head.

Inlan Diar first looked at her granddaughter, then at her son, and she spotted him glancing from time to time at Zeal, and being preoccupied. So, she had decided to talk to him using telepathy. „Don’t worry for her, son! She’ll be just fine here. At least I can keep an eye on her here. Being alone, wandering God knows where, especially with the snake Ian Gyar at freedom, it’s better for her to stay around me.”

„Even if I hate the idea of knowing her here because of the approaching danger, you’re still right, mother,” Island told her, also using telepathy. „As I know her, she’s able to look alone for trouble, instead of just staying and waiting for them.”

„That’s why it’s a good idea for her to be under my protection. Keeping one eye on her, she’ll be safe. Especially…”

„…when you’re talking about me at my back, thinking that I hear nothing,” Zeal told them, also using telepathy, which made her grandparents stare at her in amazement because they didn’t know that she can also read thoughts when she’d never been able doing this before. „What? Amazed that I know how to read minds? Well, I always could. I just preferred to hedge. You know, that idea that it’s better for you to know what others think about you?!” she said, reproachfully shaking her head. „And as I already did a tightener and I’m more than happy now, I can go to show these lands to my cobras. It’ll be a good idea for them to be familiarized with them, if necessary.”

„What? The… cobras? Do you want to say that you… brought those… animals on my lands?” Inlan Diar practically yelled and approached in a hurry the window, watching outside.

There was an entire army of cobras in front of the palace, nicely lined up and sitting on their tail as if they were soldiers waiting for their general’s command. In front of the cobras, Inlan Diar saw a soldier extremely similar to Arion, that was blowing a flute, and the music of the small instrument was keeping the cobras calm. That flute was the one Zeal gave him to blow, demanding him not to allow to no beast to escape or he’ll be forced to look for her alone. So, the poor fellow has been forced to listen to her. And… it’s true that there wasn’t anything else he could do: wandering like an amok all over the country while looking for a female cobra, it wasn’t something that he would have liked to do.

Inlan Diar deeply breathed in and hissed through her teeth: „Zeal, take them from in front of me before losing my mind and transform them into stone statues! How did you dare to bring them in front of me?”

But her grandmother’s shouts held loose to Zeal, especially being aware that Inlan Diar had that hysteria crisis only because she was afraid that the cobras will escape from Zeal’s spell and will attack the children. Zeal however knew very well the great power of her spell, which was actually acting over the cobras without the music of the flute, but … how else could she have some fun and make others listen to her without being able to use her spell on them too?! So, she just sweetly smiled and continued to eat, even if only one minute earlier she said that no more bread crumbs will fit in her stomach.

***

Exiting the palace, Zeal started to slowly whistle, having a green oak leaf between her lips, and that pleasant sound, similar to the nature’s rustling, remembering to the others about the green forest and the sweetness of the plain made the cobras from in front of the palace slowly swing on their tails.

The servant, who till that moment gave a blast on the flute, suddenly stopped his song and stared in amazement at Zeal, for that song that was barely heard, but so charming, was a real gladness for the humans’ears too, and the man slowly smiled, finally understanding the girl’s trick: she left him there to keep one eye on the cobras only to have some fun and not because it was something absolutely necessary. But even so, the young man didn’t get upset, for Zeal was that kind of cheerful being, always playing a joke if not on somebody, at least on herself, looking at the same time for new adventures and namely because of her innocence one couldn’t get ever upset on her.

Spotting his curious glance, Zeal slowly waved him, a hint that he was free to go, and the young man listened to her right away, slowly bending in front of her, for later to head toward the gardens of the palace, where ice trees could be seen all over, making that place cheerfully and so charmingly glitter around.

Alone with the cobras … and with the children that were peering from different corners, amazed to see those beings, often so scary, how they listen to their princess… Zeal whistled louder in her makeshift whistle and she headed later toward the field, with all the suite of her green soldiers after her, that were rushing behind her, rocking on their thick tails.

Leaving the Palace and looking after the strange procession, Inlan Diar nodded reproachfully: „this child, she’s always looking for fun and for problems. Does she really think that in case of anything, her strange friends will protect us?”

„I wouldn't question that, if I was you,” Island told her, leaving the palace behind her and looking in the same direction as Inlan Diar. „Maybe those tailed green beasts are weird, but they saved us when we meet the Vanamar wolves last time.”

„With the Vanamar wolves? Why I don’t know about this?” Inlan Diar asked him, frowning.

„Because it's a happy ending story and too large to tell you. More than this: there was no point in worrying about something that had already happened.”

„Tenebre and her beasts,” the queen hissed through her teeth.

„We have our ringmaster here, mother, no need to mention others,” Island made a joke, motioning toward Zeal that was already far away from the palace. „I’ll follow her better. I don’t like to know her alone, more with Ian Gyar hanging around this place.”

„A snake fears another snake,” Inlan Diar said, grimacing, but inside, she was more afraid for Zeal than of her speechless friends which she considered unbearable.

When the titan strode away from the palace, following his granddaughter, a bunch of noisy children followed him, for they felt that as long as Island was in good mood and with Zeal around, they'll have an unforgettable party. So, they didn't dwell on the fear for long and they rushed toward the field placed between the two forests: Kiago and Tenebre, also known as the Field of Fate, that was always green and whose secret never ever could be found out.