Wind rushing outside became a storm within an hour. Saer went inside the room where Maester Rudolph slept like a dead man and took a thin blanket from underneath his bed. The window panels loosened. Saer feared the noise would bring him out of his sleep.

Saer unfolded the blanket, dusted it with cautiousness and covered himself with it since it had become too cold for staying with just a cloth wrapped around his waist. He could smell fumes coming from Doctor Eryne's laboratory. Nose muscles of Maester Rudolph flinched, too.

For a moment Saer thought of killing him. His fingers were touching his throat when Saer changed his mind. Maester Rudolph did not have to die for moving nose.

Saer closed the door and walked to the laboratory where smell was stronger than he had imagined. He wrapped himself again in the blanket as wind displaced it from his body. Then he sighted something.

The figure lying beside Rikilda already looked real.

"What about her memories?" Saer asked Eryne, who was penetrating the double's ear with a needle.

"They are growing in the doppelganger's head."

Rikilda's double smiled, whereas the real one had a crying face. Tears also passed through the gap of her eyelids.

"What is happening?"

"You should have come half an hour ago." Eryne said, "She was smiling then."

"Will she be crying longer?"

"She is not crying. She is remembering those moments where she had been sad. This is a result of getting all grim feelings at once." She stroked her dried hand on her forehead, "Such a beautiful girl."

"How long will this process take?"

"Almost done." Eryne said, "Rikilda is likely to become conscious when the last bit of her memory gets replicated in the doppelganger. Make ropes ready. And a cloth of blindfold her."

Saer nod and went to gather things Eryne had ordered. He returned to the laboratory after a while. Eryne was waiting for him. She opened her palms and Saer gave the ropes to her.

"Not ropes. Give me the chalice." Eryne said.

"Sorry." Saer said. He reached for his bag, then put the chalice in her hand.

"Saer, tie her." Eryne said, "You will not be able to control her if she gets conscious."

The killer untangled the ropes for tying her. First, he tied her hands as a safeguard. Those hands had plenty of sorcery to harm him. Saer cut the rope left from binding her hands and moved for her feet.

"So you can make tunnels?" Eryne asked.

"One of the earliest things we cut-throats learn." Saer joined her ankles together.

The vessel on table shuddered again. Saer picked the pouch near it. It felt empty, as it almost had no pollen left. Saer collected what was remaining and sprinkled inside it.

"What will you do from here?" Eryne asked.

"Whatever I do, I won't take your name."

"It will be easier for you since you are good at forgetting people."

"We cut throats are trained for this."

"Every time you do something unethical, you blame your profession."

"Ethics are not important as you think." Saer closed a window.

"How many times have you remembered your friend Fierlo after coming here?"

Saer breathed out after locking the window.

"He knew what we were doing." said Saer, "Even he did not want to be remembered."

"But he deserves to be."

"Look, I made those choices out of compulsion. I had no desire to abandon my friend in there."

"How often do you pray for him?"

"What?" Saer narrowed his eyes.

"How many times have you prayed for his soul's peace?"

Saer had his tongue tied.

"Don’t say people like you don’t pray." Eryne said.

"He is dead." Saer whispered, "What do you want me to do?"

"Empathize. Or at least try to."

"Will trying to make me nice?"

"Someday it will."

"I am freezing. Where are logs to burn?" Saer looked at the empty fireplace.

"Behind the stable –" Eryne gestured behind him.

Saer turned his head, "Do you mind if I burn some?"

Fear roamed on her face when Saer glanced back at her. Saer also froze to his bones. Last time he had felt this extent of cold, he was in Hilcastle. Frost had covered the jar of medicines on shelves. No leaf moved outside the house and it appeared like the wind had chosen to stay in Eryn'e house only.

"Wernh'An is coming here." Saer murmured.