A few days after bidding farewell to Commander Evar and Godfreed, Ser Angus had started to fight with a feeling he had no control over. Most of the time he used distractions for escapes whereas sometimes, his work served as one.

With very fewer people to talk with, he put himself in the library where he read when he was bored and also read when he was fed up with reading. On some occasions, an administrative castle work would knock on his door and he wouldn’t leave it unanswered.

At one time he got to know the name of a guard. He even thought of becoming a friend of his until he discovered he had regular contacts with Padraig.

Since then, he eliminated the person from his head and kept himself busy.

No meeting had taken place after the departure of Godfreed and Evar. There certainly were points awaiting a discussion. However, the person hearing them had to be Padraig, so he could wait till Wernh'An arrived.

To his own surprise, he did not find himself of thinking of ways to get thrown out. He did not think of him at all.

Although it was one of those good days for him, he couldn’t clear his mind. Staying in castle walls, reading and warming himself near fireplace had hollowed him.

Weather had cleared outside so he spent no time contemplating. He had decided to use the situation to fill his void spot with.

The man set off to the corridor from where he borrowed a spear from a guard. Sword he owned was already on his waist, which he presumed had rusted long ago. He hardly could remember when he had used it for the last time.

Regardless, it was nothing to be ashamed of when the man who hadn’t even touched a sword in his entire life was feeling himself worthy to be the hand of Wernh’An instead of him.

Owning no explanation to anyone, he walked out of the castle as a guard opened the door for him. However, the giant gate remained closed.

He spotted the gatekeeper without his hat for the first time. Then only he noticed a palm sized bald patch on top of his head.

Ser Angus didn’t cover his face, for he didn’t feel the stinging cold hit his face.

He watched the bald man run to the gate with his hat tucked under his armpit. The hat fell halfway, but he didn’t seem to mind. He opened the gate with great effort and crouched into a bow.

A row of horses trotted beside him.

One of these horses happened to be of Counselor Padraig’s ride.

Ser Angus tried not to match eyes with him, but his instincts found a way. He kept watching him for a while and when the awkwardness grew out of his hands, he walked in his direction.

Padraig waited there patiently. The two horses walked away, but not him.

“I had forgotten we sweat.” Padraig loosened the clock knot on his neck, “I suggest you to take a horse, Ser Angus.”

“I don’t intend to travel far.” Ser Angus said.

“Hunting is an exhausting task. Especially when you have a spear that blunt.” Padraig glanced at his spear.

Ser Angus looked for dead animals on saddles of the horses, but he found none.

“We hadn’t gone hunting.” Padraig grinned.

“Good for the animals, then.” Ser Angus headed for the exit.

“Ser Angus!” Padraig called.

Angus turned, seeing him point at a nearby hill, “Don’t go that way. Snow is loose on its cap.”

“Where had you been?”

“To search the fugitive.”

“Fugitive?”

“Fierlo.” Padraig said, “His footprints were leading to that hill. None of us could go near it for the risk of the avalanche.”

“Our captive has escaped and I hear of it just now?” Angus frowned.

“Shame it was not written in the books you read.” Counselor Padraig kicked the saddle, leaving some people laughing while he distanced himself from Ser Angus.

Despite of hearing some laughter, Ser Angus pushed himself to the entrance. Something ate him from inside. His blood boiled when the laughter had ended altogether.

As he was about to leave, he saw the gatekeeper’s cheek tensing. His face became normal when Ser Angus stood infront of him.

Ser Angus didn’t take his hidden smirk in a light way. He stared at his bald head with the finger over his chin.

“Ser?” the guard was perplexed.

“Nothing. I was just thinking how your head can be hanged on the gate since you don’t have any hair.”

People walking behind him stopped.

“I don’t understand.” Guard mumbled.

“Did you see Fierlo escape?”

“No-”

“Being the guardian here, you didn’t see him escape?” Ser Angus paused, “Already a big reason to declare your life worthless.”

Ser Angus watched behind. He saw some frozen faces which knew Fierlo had nothing to do with Angus’ mood shift.

“Weren’t you three deployed in the corridor?” Ser Angus pointed at them.

Two of them were.

The knight called a stableman, “Warm these three men.”

Ser Angus didn’t look back even after hearing the vulnerable pleads of those men. Guards seized them when he walked, stepped on the snow beyond castle premises.