The forest thinned and the air became cooler. They were growing nearer to the ice barrier. Aurora found once again that she was very glad for the Guardian's cloak. At times in the evening, she could see her breath, but the strange black cloth kept her warm. As Devrim had no such luck, he wore a thick fur-lined coat that he bundled around himself to sleep. The days were still warm, but not hot like they had been.

Since leaving Junayd and Nurlan, Devrim had given up his overtures of love for the time being. They were alone, and despite his desires, he was afraid of making things awkward. If she accepted him, then they might do something they would regret. He longed to hold her tightly, but he wanted it to be her genuine desire and not a decision based on fear of the unknown. Devrim wanted to do things right. Her honor was his highest priority. On the other hand, if Aurora rejected him, they would still have to finish their journey and return home together. He pictured her staying at least an arm's length away from him at all times and trying not to make eye contact. His heart would be shattered. It was better to leave matters of love until there was someone else around to be a chaperone or a buffer depending on how things went.

Aurora's thinking couldn't have been further from her companion's. She wanted him to make a move. The Empress would sidle up close to him and bat her eyes flirtatiously, but Devrim would only smile and move away from her down the path. Was he really so dense? Or was it possible that he didn't have feelings for her? Since the adventure began, Aurora discovered that she felt more for the grey-eyed man than just friendship. She wanted to be only his. Now was the perfect time to let their relationship grow. They could watch the sunset and kiss under the stars. It sounded magical, but only if her companion was willing. And it seemed he was not. Just now she had reached for his hand, only to have it snatched away as he scratched his nose. 'He has to be doing this on purpose!' She thought miserably. Devrim was oblivious to her thoughts. His nose simply itched.

"Where do you think Junayd and Nurlan are now?" Devrim asked innocently to pass the time. This was the question on the forefront of his mind.

"How should I know?!" The Empress huffed off ahead of the man, leaving him stumped.

He quickened his pace, "Did I say something wrong?"

"No, I am fine," Aurora lied.

"What is the matter? I do not want you to be mad."

"I am not mad; I am just tired." She refused to be the first to admit her feelings.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

"Let us stop and rest, then," Devrim offered.

"Ugh, leave me alone and stop trying to fix everything!" Aurora was beyond frustrated. Running ahead again, she came over the next hill and froze. Ahead of them lay a huge shimmering lake smooth as glass that shone a deep green. Had it not been for the shoreline to define its borders, Aurora might have thought it was solid. But the waves that lapped along the edges of the sandy beach confirmed that it was indeed undulating water. It was so large that a sea would be a better description, although the water was not salty. The two humans forgot their quarrel as they stared.

"What is this place?" Devrim wondered aloud. Scanning the water, his eyes found no sign of life, but anything could be below the surface.

Aurora pulled out her map from the Vault and held it between her and her friend. She pointed. "It must be this." There was a blue-green circle on the map with ancient writing on top of it. "I wish I could read it." The circles and other shapes sat as mysteries on the page.

Devrim studied the map. "The water seems very long and wide. Shall we try to walk around it?"

"We do not have much choice. I do not have a boat, do you?" Aurora hated to state the obvious, but without a boat, going directly across the river was not possible.

Devrim shook his head. "Then we better get to walking. After you, Your Majesty."

The formal title brought back Aurora's previous anger at Devrim's lack of affection. Her face turned sour. "How many times have I told you not to address me formally when we are alone?"

"I was only teasing…"

"You know it bothers me. I just wish…"

"Sh!" Devrim put his hand over her mouth. She was angry for a moment before she, too, heard the sound of many feet heading their way. The steps were heavy and loud, and the ground shook slightly beneath them. They exchanged a glance. While they could not be sure, something in their gut told them that whoever was coming was not friendly. There were no trees by the water's edge, only grass a short distance from the shore and a few low boulders.

Out of the water came a creature that looked like a seal. It moved straight up to the Empress and touched her leg with its flipper. "Into the water!" it said in a beautiful feminine voice. Aurora was in too much of a panic to contemplate a talking seal. She grabbed Devrim, and together they plunged fully clothed into the water. Following the seal, they found a rock sticking out of the shoulder-deep water and swam behind it. "Stay low. They cannot smell or sense you in the water. Even if they could, Gnomes cannot swim," The seal whispered. Devrim and Aurora crouched low as instructed.

Over the ridge, thirty gnomes marched in sync with short swords at their side and pick axes over their shoulders. They were shorter than the halfling that had tried to kill Aurora, but every bit as intimidating. The Empress looked at the seal, who was barely peeking above the water with her nose and eyes. The creature was camouflaged so well that it looked like a stick floating in the water.

The water was not cold like the humans had expected. It was warm like a bath. Something was likely heating the lake from below. The Empress was very glad the water was not freezing, or frostbite and not the gnomes would have been their biggest concern. She could see Devrim being weighed down by his pack as it absorbed the water, and he eventually let it go to settle on the sandy floor by his feet. There was no telling how long they would have to hide, and he could not waste his strength trying to hold onto the supplies.

The gnomes did not seem to sense the humans as they marched along the shore. If they did, Aurora hoped that the seal was right and that the gnomes could not swim. As the troop of gnomes came even with their hiding place, the head gnome in a red cap held up his fist. The marching stopped. "We will rest here boys. You two, go catch some fish!"