As winter solstice approached Renna started feeling more and more homesick. Celebrating the rebirth of the sun had been a big thing in her family. They would kill a pig, make a feast, eat, drink and play together from when it got dark to when it got light again. Nobody slept on the winter solstice. It was her first celebration away from her family and it was affecting her deeply.

Arion noticed the change in her and wondered what he could do about it. He could not take her back to see her family - there would be too many questions. But maybe there was something else he could do. He started making preparations, but hid them carefully from Renna until she went to shake her up before dawn on the day before solstice.

Arion considered it a small win that he escaped without a smack this time. She just looked at him with a sleepy confused gaze.

“Put on some winter clothes and wear your flying gear. We are going out to celebrate light!” He announced and took off before she could ask any questions.

Renna just relayed his vague instructions to the wardrobe, put on what she got and hoped for the best. The trip was unexpected but not unwelcome - it was infinitely better than pinning here, whatever it was he was taking her to.

They landed before dawn in a forest clearing near a small post coach inn, stashed the harness and Renna’s flying gear in a convenient cache hole that told Renna he had been here before and walked down to the inn just in time to board the post coach for the city. It did have a name officially, but Renna could never remember it. It was just the City, as the only big settlement in the area it needed no other designation. Posh people lived in the city. Traders lived in the city. Artists and bards lived in the city. Criminals lived in the city as well... She had heard rumors of it, but had never seen it.

When it came into view, Renna could only stare. Lord Aris’s castle was a hovel compared to the turreted fortified inner city towering over merchant quarters and finally slums. It did not seem that big at first but as they approached and pieces of it disappeared behind buildings never to be seen again she did finally grasp its enormity.

They came to a halt at a posh looking inn near the city center and soon the innkeeper was directing them to their rooms. Their presence raised no questions for the innkeeper - every year the city was flooded with country nobles wishing to experience the light celebration in the city. Sure, their attire was a bit old-fashioned and plain, but he had paid in advance in solid gold and this was all the innkeeper cared about.

After getting settled they headed out to see the sights and find lunch. They found themselves soon at a busy market where merchants of all kinds hawking their wares. Renna had never been to a market this big or this busy. They got themselves some meat skewers to eat on the go and spent hours browsing the wonderful wares. Arion had insisted on buying her a beautiful cape with wings embroidered on it and a hood to match it. She now looked very much like a city lady.

When they grew weary of the market they found themselves a table at an inn near the town square and ordered dinner. It was delicious and for a change contained things that were neither baked nor roasted. They were nearly finished when a young bard started singing at the other end of the hall.

Renna’s head snapped up. She knew both the song and the voice. It was Tom. She was torn. She wanted to go to him but she had no idea how Arion would react. She stayed still, listening.

Arion had quietly watched her reaction. They were not at this inn by accident.

Soon the bard started walking around the room, singing at tables and jesting with guests. When he arrived at their table Arion politely asked the bard to keep his companion company while he went to get drinks and hoped he would stay with them for a beer. Then he walked away.

Tom sat down with the city lady left in his care and tried to think of a song to entertain her but the song died on his lips when she pushed off her hood. The last person he had expected to meet today was sitting in front of him - his beloved sister whom a dragon had carried away so many months ago.

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She looked… older but not just in days. Her eyes were heavy with knowledge. She looked unharmed.

“Ren…” he whispered.

“Tom…” she responded. It was her, not just someone like her.

Tom reached for her hands and took them in his own. “Your hands have grown soft…” he noted.

“Are you alright Renna? Why haven’t you come home if you live?” He asked.

“I am still a prisoner, Tom. Not at liberty to go where I wish…” she said softly.

“Is that man keeping you prisoner?” Tom demanded.

“I will fight him and free you!” he offered.

“He is, but it’s complicated Tom. Please don’t fight him…” Renna said.

“Is he kind to you? Not hurting you?” Tom had to know.

Renna knew what he was asking about and smiled. “He has not touched me against my will, Tom. You need not worry. He promised he would not…”

Arion arrived back with the beers and took a seat next to Renna.

“Well, am I going to get introduced, since you two clearly know each other,” he asked amused.

“Arion, this is my brother Tom, ” Renna said. “Tom, this is Arion,” Then she turned to Arion again with a glare and gave him a playful smack on the shoulder saying “but I suspect it's no coincidence we met here. Some old snake has been scheming!”

Arion made a dramatic impersonation of an innocent man unjustly accused for a moment to make Renna laugh and then turned to Tom with a serious face. “I wouldn’t tell too many people that she is still alive. It benefits nobody.” He paused for a moment. “And they would not believe you anyway,” he said with a laugh.

Tom conceded - the former was probably true. There were very few people who he intended to tell. All of whom were in fact likely to believe him.

He nodded to Arion. Then he turned to Renna.

“You need to go to see our father as soon as you can, Renna. There is something he wants to tell you about mothers family.” He said.

“Take him with you, he might find it interesting.” He added eyeing Arion.

Now it was Arion’s turn to be surprised. How much did this young bard actually know or guess?

The conversation turned to lighter topics and the young bard took them to see all of the joys of the light festival in the big city. In the dawn light in front of their lodgings Renna was saying goodbye to her brother. Tom was holding her hands.

“Last chance, Ren. Run away with me?”, he asked.

Renna looked at him with a hint of sadness, “I can’t… I am his prisoner.”

Tom sought her eyes and then said, “I see no rope or chain on you and the man is giving us plenty of space. It seems sister, that you are only bound at this very moment by your heart…”

Tom had not missed the identical bracelet she wore to one on the man's wrist. Nor had he missed the way she leaned into him for support when pushed in the crowd or how she did not seem to fear his touch at all. She was trusting him.

He said last good-bye to Renna and stopped at Arion.

“Break her heart and we will hunt you down and skin your scaly hide, dragon.” He said quietly so only Arion could hear. Then he nodded and disappeared to the crowd.

Renna came to him and asked what Tom had said.

“Nothing much,” he replied, “Usual brother things.”

Renna knew what that meant. Protective brothers could be embarrassing sometimes.

Arion did wonder about the nature of the threat. There was a secret in this family and her father seemed to want to finally share it with her that would be interesting to him. But it would not be that easy to arrange a visit for her back home. And spring was not that far away… Maybe this is what the seer had seen - her brothers killing him for what he had done to her. He sighed… There was still time.

They retired to their rooms, slept the day away and headed back to their mountain cave at night.

When they had finally arrived and were parting for their rooms, Renna stopped him, gave him a quick kiss on his cheek, whispered her thanks and ran to her room. He stood there quite a while thunderstruck.

Finally he reached up his hand, touched the affected cheek, shook his head and went to bed.