Page 157 of Rogue Elves of Ardani

It was half an hour or more before two figures appeared outside the gates of the prison. He was filled with relief as he recognized them.

“They’re coming,” he said. His voice creaked. He tried to clear his throat, found it to be too much effort, and gave up.

Novikke looked up in surprise. “Crow? And who is with her?”

“An acquaintance.”

As they approached, Crow went straight to Vaara’s side and started fussing over him. When she pulled him to his feet, he thought he wouldn’t be able to walk, but after a few seconds blood rushed into his limbs again. Aruna roused from his dozing. All of them were bloodied and bruised and damp and freezing… except Callias.

The boy stood behind Crow, looking profoundly uncertain. He was bundled in several sweaters and a furry hat that was several sizes too large for him, his arms folded tightly over his chest. He gave them all a long, curious look before speaking. “We have to go quickly, before they realize I’m gone.”

“Go where?” Novikke asked.

“There’s a fishing shack near here. No one will look there. The snow will cover your footsteps within the hour. You’ll be able to shelter there for the night.” He looked around at them for approval. When no one said anything, he turned and started walking. Everyone followed.

Crow placed herself at Vaara’s side and matched his pace as they walked. Her eyes were filled with concern. “How are you?” she whispered.

He couldn’t recall the last time someone had looked at him that way.

He suddenly didn’t know how he’d ever thought of her as a liar. There was nothing but honest worry and care in her face now. It cut him open. Something heavy and tight pulled at his chest—something that made his heart heavy with apprehension. He turned his hand, making sure that he wasn’t touching her with bare skin.

“Fine,” he replied softly. “I’m fine now.”

She looped her arm through his as they walked, letting him lean on her and not seeming to mind his weight.

Callias brought them half a mile or so away from prison until they came to a lake. A small shack sat at the edge of it.

“Nobody fall in, now,” Novikke said.

Vaara only acknowledged the comment with an annoyed grunt.

The door to the shack stuck in the door frame, and Aruna and Novikke both had to yank on it before it finally opened. It was dark and cold and dilapidated, with cracks in the walls that let the wind through.

Callias went to the large, flat stone that sat in the middle of the room—almost like a fire pit. Small runes decorated its edge. He placed a hand on its surface, and it glowed to life.

“The heat stone still has charge,” he said. “I don’t know how long it’ll last. Might not make it through the night.”

“It will be enough,” Crow said.

“Just don’t use any lights and don’t make any fires. The lookouts could see you.”

Vaara sat beside the stone. Sure enough, it had begun to radiate heat. He moved closer to it. “Thank you, Callias.”

Callias paused in the doorway. He smiled. Vaara didn’t know that he’d ever seen the boy smile before.

“Lady Crow told me what happened,” Callias said. “I think things are about to get better back at the prison. Lady Markella was Lord Alexei’s second in command. I think she’ll take over now, at least for a while. She’s much less… frightening, than he was.”

He slipped out into the snow, wedging the door shut behind him.

They all sat in silence around the heat stone. Vaara dipped his head, basking in the heat. He may have drifted in and out of sleep.

Eventually, he was able to move his fingers without pain. Feeling came back to his limbs. He stopped wondering whether or not he was going to live through this.

At some point, he’d moved to lean against the wall of the shack, pressing his feet to the heat stone, and Crow had climbed into his lap.

The next time he looked up, there was morning light creeping under the door, and Crow was asleep against his chest.

Vaara glanced around the shack, feeling more lucid than he had in the past several hours. He wiggled his toes. It didn’t seem that he’d lost any. Unbelievable.

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