Previously on The Frozen Scars...

  At the top, there was a loud roar. Seth glanced over his shoulder for only a second and caught the rest of the ceiling caving in—her rule was finally ending.

  He leaped through the mural and sailed through the air before he and Gloria fell into soft, powdery snow and rolled away from the collapsing temple. As they went, a great crash echoed through the mountains, and Seth caught glimpses of The Lady’s temple cave in on itself before sliding off the mountaintop and tumble down into the gorge below.

  We did it! he thought, rolling to a stop. She’s gone! He scrambled to his feet and raced to the edge of the cliff, where he watched The Lady’s temple crumble to pieces where it would lie forgotten forever.

  Pride surged in Seth. No more would she terrorize Gloria! No more would the people of The Fjord Plains have to fear her!

  And I… He took in a deep breath. I am a free man.

  “Gloria! Elias!” he cried, staring at the ruins below. “Come and see! We did it!”

  Elias hobbled over beside him, cradling his hand under his arm. He winced, then grinned into the cavern. “Ha!” he hollered into the echoing gorge. “Take that, Lady!”

  Seth gazed off southward, emboldened. Now that she was gone, it was time…time go home—time to take everything back. Lord Ember’s held onto my kingdom long enough.

  Elias sucked in his breath and Seth’s eyes snapped back to the boy. “I’ll be fine…” Elias tried to give him a smile.

  Seth furrowed his brows and turned back. “Come on, let’s get you and Gloria back to the dugout. Then we can see what to do about that hand.”

  As Seth hurried back to Gloria there was a gust of wind, and he shivered. He froze, frowning. Something felt off; a sensation he had forgotten.

  He stared at the misty breath curling out of his mouth, trying to place the feeling. He shivered again, and that’s when he realized it—he was beginning to feel cold again.

  Seth stared wide-eyed at the curling mist that left his mouth. I’m…cold. His teeth chattered and the hair on his bare arms stood on end. Is this what Gloria and Elias have been feeling? He held himself and shivered.

  A groan from Elias shook Seth from his thoughts. He looked up and saw the boy cradling his right hand. Elias winced and slowly drew out a blackened hand. Seth couldn’t decide if the sight was worse in the sun or the dark. The peeling skin made him nauseous, and the ashen nails made Seth’s skin crawl.

  Elias tried to wiggle a finger, then sucked in his breath. “It hurts.”

  Do we have anything in our bags that could help? Seth looked around him and his heart sank. Their bags were all either under a pile of rubble or at the bottom of the gorge. Damn it! We need supplies!

  “Come on, Elias,” Seth said, crunching over the snow towards Gloria. “Let me grab Gloria and let's get back to the dugout. Maybe I left some things behind.” The trembling boy nodded and followed Seth over to Gloria's unconscious body.

  Seth leaned down to Gloria and a lump rose in his throat. Around her throat were a few bruises from his hands, her bottom lip was split, and blood trickled from her neck where his dagger had pricked her. Guilt twisted in his stomach as he reached out a trembling hand to stroke her cheek. It wasn’t me...

  “She can’t hurt you anymore,” he muttered. “She can’t…” Seth blinked back a few tears. “She can’t use me to hurt you…”

  There was a gust of wind and Seth could hear Elias’s teeth chatter. “Master?” Elias called.

  “Sorry,” he called over his shoulder. “I’m coming.” Seth reached out to pull Gloria onto his back when he noticed Gloria wearing his coat over hers.

  He shivered, then gently pulled his coat off her, and slid it on. He sighed and reveled in the warmth. Who knew that Kayla’s coat would finally come in handy. Do I still have…? He put his hands into his pockets – the mittens were still there. He gratefully put them on and pulled Gloria onto his back.

  He grunted, then wearily climbed to his feet; he was running out of strength. His body begged him to rest, but he blinked back his fatigue and steadied himself. Not yet… he thought, panting.

  He met Elias’s face and nodded. “Alright, let’s go.” Then the two began the slow hobble down the slope towards their camp.

  Oh Crim, Seth begged. Please let there be something I left behind.

  It was late afternoon by the time they returned to the dugout. Seth sagged under Gloria’s weight. We’re almost there…He pushed himself to reach the dugout then carefully lowered Gloria to the ground before tucking her into the shelter.

  “Master Seth!”

  Seth looked up and saw Elias crouching beside a few bags near the ashes of their earlier campfire. He brightened. Thank Crim! I did forget some things! “That’s wonderful!” he cried, coming over. “What’s in them?”

  “I don’t know.” Elias tried to untie one bag, but he sucked in his breath and grimaced.

  “Let me get that.” Seth took the bag from him and pulled the knot loose. Inside he found some bread, jerky, and a few more potatoes. He grabbed the second bag and found a single blanket, some clothes, a few medicinal supplies, and a glass flask filled with an amber liquid—alcohol—Seth guessed. In the third bag, he found some kindling, flint and steel. He grimaced. Won’t last long though…

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  He glanced over at the ashen campfire. The blackened logs could burn a little longer and there were a few small logs left. It wasn’t much, but he’d have to make do.

  Seth leaned over by the charcoal logs and drew a sigil. “Pars dolo.” The log caught fire and burned steadily. He glanced up at Elias who sank into the snow cradling his right arm and stared into the fire. “You okay?”

  Elias didn’t answer, he just looked down at his hand, before shuddering and looking back into the flames.

  Seth pursed his lips, then turned back and grabbed the bag with the clothes. He pulled out a shirt and sat beside Elias. “Let me see your hand. Maybe there’s something we can do." Elias’s wide eyes snapped to Seth’s. “Elias,” he said firmly. “Your hand.”

  The boy shook. “It’s tainted…” Panic began to spread across his face. “My hand...She did something!”

  Seth slowly put a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Calm down, can you bless it?”

  “Bless it?” Elias cried, throwing off his arm. “That's ridiculous!" he snapped. "You can’t bless yourself—blessings are a gift to others.”

  Seth’s jaw clenched – his patience was wearing thin. He took a deep breath and tried again. “Okay then, maybe Father Verdas can give us some answers.”

  The boy’s face went pale and his body shook. “Father Verdas?” he whispered, looking into the fire. “I-I don't think I can go back...” He held himself tight and shook his head. “No, I can’t go back...”

  Seth frowned. “Why not?”

  “I just… I can’t.” Elias clenched his habit with his good fist.

  Seth watched him for a moment, then started to rip the shirt into strips. Something happened, but he wasn’t sure what. “Well, do you have a better idea of what to do? Because someone needs to look at that.”

  Elias’s shoulders slumped. “No sir.”

  “Then we’re going to Westfjord,” Seth said firmly. Elias looked up fearfully at him. “I know Father Verdas wasn’t exactly welcoming the last time I saw him,” he continued laying the ripped strips on his knee. “But if there’s a chance that your hand can be healed, then we’re taking it.” He ripped up the last of the shirt and gathered up the strips.

  “What’s the cloth for?” Elias asked.

  Seth held up the fabric. “I thought it might help you cope until we get answers.” He shrugged a little. “It helped me when I had my glowing scars.”

  Elias looked from Seth to the strips, then down at his hand. He nodded a little and extended his blackened hand. “Okay.”

  Seth gently reached out and slowly wrapped Elias’ hand starting from his wrist, and working down to his fingertips. Every now and then Elias winced but stayed still. It felt like it had been an eternity since Gloria had done the same for him. The fateful day they decided to go on their journey; the day he helped her escape her father’s roof.

  “Is Gloria alright?” Elias asked.

  Seth glanced over his shoulder at the dugout, the image of Gloria’s magnificent golden wings flashing into his mind. He paused wrapping Elias’s wrist for a moment. A fairy… He stared at the dugout worriedly. Stories ran through his mind--tricksters, liars, manipulators… Can I trust her?

  “I think so,” he finally answered, looking back to Elias's wrist. “She should wake up tomorrow--using her magic like that exhausts her.”

  “I vaguely remember seeing a golden light,” Elias said, staring at the dugout. “Did she do that?"

  Seth nodded and tried to focus on Elias's wrist, but he couldn't help but continue to replay the image in his head--elegant, golden sigils, wrapping around her, the scent of ocean salt, gentle warmth caressing his face. Then her voice echoed in his mind. “You’re okay!” His chest tightened when he remembered the softness of her lips against his forehead.

  Shame prickled his chest, and he shook his head. What am I thinking? he scolded himself. Of course, I can trust Gloria! Fairy or not she’s my… he gulped. My what? Friend didn’t seem to fit anymore.

  Elias gaped. "I’ve never seen her cast anything that powerful.”

  “Me neither,” he answered, his fingers ached from the cold, but he continued to work at the cloth.

  “I had no idea she was so powerful. Did you?” Elias asked.

  Seth looked up at Elias. It didn’t make sense to hide it from him. Not when he was already asking so many questions. “No, I didn’t.” He sighed and tucked in the last of Elias’s wrap. “But it makes sense. Fairies are known for being powerful magical beings.”

  Elias’s eyes went wide, and his face paled again. “She’s a…?” he glanced at the dugout, then his voice dropped to a whisper. “She’s one of them?”

  “I think so,” Seth said looking back at the dugout. He could feel parts of the puzzle coming together, but he still had so many questions--was why her father hated her? But why? Where was her mother? Why did she leave?

  “But aren’t fairies…you know…tricky?” Elias couldn’t tear his eyes away.

  “Yes, but Gloria isn’t.”

  Elias paused and a contemplative look overtook fear. “You’re right…she isn’t.” Shame now crossed the boy’s face. “She’s always been kind to me…to both of us.”

  Seth nodded. “That she has…” He turned sharply and pointed a finger at Elias. “No one else knows about this, you hear? This is between the three of us. You and I know Gloria, but if someone else were to find out…”

  Elias nodded. “I won’t breathe a word, Master. I won’t let anyone hurt her.”

  The young men went quiet, then Seth opened the bag of food. “Are you hungry?” He rummaged around the bag.

  “I’m not that hungry,” Elias said. His stomach growled indignantly.

  Seth laughed. “Liar.” He pulled out a loaf of bread, broke it in thirds, then handed a hunk to Elias. As he did there was a frigid burst of wind. The cold cut through his coat straight to his bones. Seth and Elias inched closer to the fire.

  Seth looked up at the sky and pursed his lips. The afternoon sun was beginning to hide behind dark grey clouds – another storm was coming. He looked over at the dugout. They’d have to make it a bit bigger so all three of them could fit–

  He gulped. All three of us…side by side…Seth’s cheeks felt hot, and he tried to take another bite, but the bread felt dry and thick in his mouth. He put the rest of his bread in his pocket and cleared his throat. “We need to enlarge the dugout. A storm’s coming and that’s the best place we’ve got for shelter.” Elias followed suit and the two strode over to the dugout and carved out space for Seth.

  When they were done, Seth sat back and panted. The wind was picking up. They needed to get in. “Elias,” he pointed to their bags by the dying fire. “Get our bags, they can help block out the wind.”

  “Yes sir.”

  While Elias grabbed the bags, Seth crawled into the dugout to check on Gloria. The air was warmer in the dugout. The close walls and ceilings returned their heat, but despite that, Gloria was still cold and shivering in her sleep. Seth fastened a few loose buttons on her coat and adjusted her curls around her ears. It’s not much, but hopefully that helps.

  Elias returned and stuffed the bags by the entrance, then crawled into the dugout and lay down by Gloria’s right. He threw up the hood of his habit and curled into himself. “Night, Master.”

  Seth froze. He didn’t mean to pick a spot yet! Now Gloria was between them and he…he…Seth swallowed – now the dugout felt very small. Seth pulled his coat around him, turned over, and faced the dugout wall, trying not to think too much about how close he was to Gloria.

  Thankfully, as soon as he got settled, his body sagged from fatigue and before Seth knew it, his eyes drooped shut and he slipped into sweet slumber.

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