Dawn stood outside of the village cave with the rangers and a few Kharlins. The day promised to be sunny once again, the heatwave unbroken. The rangers already had taken their leave from the Kharlins and now Grinna turned to her and said: “Time to say goodbye now, I’m afraid.”

But Dawn shook her head. “Not yet. Ankou and I are going to accompany you for a little while to see you on your way.”

Grinna frowned. “Is that a good idea? You should know by now that it is dangerous to be alone in the wilds.”

“I know. But I’m not alone, there’s Ankou and Nestor will come too. Together we should be safe enough. Verene and the children will watch over Echo and Chaos while we are gone. It’s all arranged. We’re going to hunt a bit on our way back. Or rather, Nestor and Ankou are going to hunt. I will do my best, but in spite of all your help my skills with the bow are still rather underwhelming.”

Grinna smiled at her. “In that case we will be glad of your company. Just keep training with your bow and you will improve before you know it.”

Nathan teased, “as much as you’re out in the wilds you’ll be an honorary ranger soon, Dawn.” His eyes sparkling mischievously.

Dawn shook her head ruefully. “I’m sadly lacking in weapon skills I’m afraid. I rather doubt I’d make the cut in the trials.”

Nathan shrugged. “You’ve still got a year to train. They won’t take candidates until they’re sixteen.”

Grinna sighed.” You forget that we all had weapons training from the time we were children, Sage. That’s not something you can catch up on in a year. Well, unless you’re a genius of course.”

Dawn said regretfully: “Alas, I’m no genius. So, no ranger training for me.”

They made their way through the rock formations and Dawn was glad to see that she remembered several specific way points in the area now. Obviously she had gotten used to the environment and would not be in danger of losing her way here in the future. That was good to know.

“I wish this heat wave would finally end,” she complained while brushing the sweat from her forehead. The sun had risen higher in the sky and was beating down mercilessly.

“Enjoy the sun as long as it lasts,” Grinna advised. “Winter will be here before you know it.”

Before long they had reached the last eaves of the mountains and entered the forested foothills. They all were glad to be in the shadowy environment. It was peaceful under the trees, but Dawn kept a sharp lookout nevertheless. She hadn’t forgotten how fast apparently peaceful regions in the wilderness could turn dangerous.

They continued downwards until they had reached a small river that was burbling peacefully over the sand and stones. Reluctantly, Dawn said. “That’s as far as we’ll go. We have to turn back. So, now it’s really farewell.”

Grinna swept her up in an embrace. “Take care of yourself, Dawn. Don’t forget to train with your sword every day.”

Dawn smiled a bit wobbly and replied. “I will, I promise. See that you all get home safely yourself. And give my regards to Yasema. Tell her I’m sorry for all the excitement and that I couldn’t say goodbye myself.”

Teren simply laid a hand on her shoulder and said, “Fare well!” gruffly, while Nathan ruffled her hair and said, “don’t die, and keep away from demons, little one.”

Ankou turned to the rangers and huffed then turned to Nathan and rubbed his cheek against his thighs before he returned to sit next to Dawn..

Grinna complained: “You get special treatment, Sage. You’re obviously his favourite.”

Nathan grinned and said. “Well it’s only natural, Spark. Let’s not forget that I met those two first.”

Dawn laughed and told them, “Well, Ankou says you’re not bad for two-legs. And Nathan has sharper claws than himself. That’s huge coming from him. Apparently, you impressed him in the fight against the cliffcrabs.”

Lovingly, she laid her hand on Ankou’s head. “We will miss you. But surely, we’ll meet again.”

They rangers said their goodbyes to Nestor as well, before they turned away at last and continued on their way to Atelang.

Nestor and Dawn agreed to follow the river upwards for a while to look for game trails near the water. Ankou as usual was scouting ahead and apparently had already made out some prey. A feeling of quivering awareness sat in the back of her mind as he lay in wait. Nestor shot down a grouse with his bow shortly after they parted from the others. It came down in the water and he waded in to fetch his prey.

Dawn went ahead and reached a narrow bend in the river. Huge trees stood close to the water here and the tree tops from both sides of the water almost met overhead. The shadows deepened around her and she saw bands of mist slowly rising up from the water. All at once, she shivered. The stifling heat she had complained about just a few minutes ago suddenly vanished. She looked around and saw that the mist had intensified behind her, the trees only dark shadows that rapidly started to vanish completely into the fog.

“What in all the gods’ names?” she muttered. A fog bank in such a heat wave, and such a rapid change to boot. It was unnatural. She turned back, planning to retrace her steps a short way to where she had parted from Nestor. But after she had walked through the mist for several minutes it became glaringly apparent that she should already have encountered him.

She started to call out: “Nestor! Ankou! Where are you?” but the mist easily swallowed her voice and nothing but silence answered her.

Dawn stopped, unsure if she should continue on or wait here. If she continued she might easily get lost, but she felt increasingly vulnerable out in the open in the thick fog. She couldn’t see her surroundings, couldn’t make out any trees or mountains. Even the river had vanished. No trace of the burbling sounds that had accompanied her on the way before.

As she looked down at her feet, she only saw a bit of forest floor, no discernible path.

“Why do these things keep happening to me?” she grumbled, fighting against rising panic.

It was stupid, surely Niko and Ankou had to be only a few meters away from her. She only had to wait and they would find her.

She started calling out for her companions afresh, but once again all she could make out in return was silence. She hushed and the silence was absolute. Even the feeling in the back of her mind that connected her to Ankou was missing.

Dawn waited as long as she could stand it, then she said to herself. “I only have to find the river again. Surely, it can’t be that difficult.”

She had turned back in the expectation to find Nestor again. Therefore the river should be to her right. Emboldened, she continued in that direction but after several minutes she realized painfully that she should have reached the water ages ago.

Again, she stopped, called out, waited. But no sound reached her ears. Now she began to panic in earnest. Heart hammering, she stumbled forwards, tripping over tree roots sporadically, her only thought to get out of the mist. It took her a long while before she began to slow down again, gasping, still blind in the thick mist around her.

“Hello? Ankou? Nestor? Can you hear me?” She called out. Still, no reply.

But suddenly a soft breeze started to brush over her face, playing with the loose strands of her hair that had escaped her thick braid.

With a sigh of relief she saw that the fog began to thin out in the breeze and her surroundings unveiled themselves slowly.

She stood in a small clearing in the forest. Ahead of her lay a dark blue pond, its surface still as a mirror and as the mist retreated further, a dark figure on the water’s edge became visible.

It was a woman, Dawn saw, clad in a dark blue dress that glimmered as she moved. Her hair was pure white in colour and her eyes an unusual midnight blue. Though her hair was white, her face was young and beautiful, but it was a cold clearcut beauty that lacked any warmth or humor.

Dawn stared at her, speechless. Then she asked: “Who are you? Did you make me lose my way in the mist?”

The woman shook her head and looked at Dawn sharply: “It is rare that those who find my little clearing have to ask for my name.” Her voice was low and a little dusky. “Child of blood and stone, be assured I didn’t lead you here. Usually, only those desperate for my services find their way to me. People call me the Lady of wishes.”

“The lady of wishes?” Dawn asked doubtfully.

The hint of a smile showed in the serene beautiful face.

“Indeed. Anyone who finds me can utter one wish. It is not difficult. You only have to look into the water of my pond and wish on a star that you see there. But mind, child of nature and shadow: Whatever you do, there’s only one wish for you, I can’t revive the dead and I can’t make anyone love you. Some things are out of even my reach.”

Dubiously, Dawn looked back and forth between the woman and the pond.

“How exactly can anyone fulfill wishes?”

The Lady shrugged. “Not everything can or needs to be explained,” she replied calmly. “Isn’t it enough that you have one wish free?”

Dawn was still uncertain. Somehow it all just sounded too good to be true. Still, she couldn’t help herself and hesitantly approached the pond. As she looked into the dark water, she saw that its surface didn’t mirror the trees all around her, only stars were visible, shining brightly apparently deep inside the water. One of them seemed to call out to her, her gaze snagged by it.

Inside her head a kaleidoscope of desires started to turn. Her dream to become a wise woman, her wish to be proficient with the sword or the bow. The wish that her parents understood her, that she could return to her mother and that she’d be overjoyed to see her again. Her desire for more willpower, to never again be the pawn in someone else’s game. Her wish to learn magic. She could simply wish herself to be a mage. For one moment she saw herself as a powerful sorceress, admired and feared by everyone for her magic. She could heal any wound, any sickness, command fire, water and lightning, be one with the shadows. No one would ever capture her again. Her mind stuck to that picture, and then it was as if she could hear Nuala say to her. “Nothing comes without a price.”

What would be the price to become a powerful sorceress? And how would she ever know if it was something she would be willing to pay? It was all too much. She was overwhelmed, torn between her wishes and her fears.

With great difficulty she tried to empty her mind of all her desires and detached her thoughts from the bright star in the pond. It took a very long time until she came back to herself, at the shores of the still pond, breathing heavily.

Trembling all over she looked at the beautiful ageless face of the lady and said.

“No. I can’t make a wish without knowing the price. In my experience if something sounds to good to be true, it usually is.”

A glimpse of surprise appeared on the calm face of the woman.

“So young and so wise. You surprise me, child of day and night.”