Furious flurries followed De'al and Arn as they fled towards the forest. The snow swirled and blew behind them, obscuring their passage against unwelcome eyes.

There'd be no footprints to follow, and even if their pursuers knew to enter the forest, they'd have a hard time narrowing down an entry point or locating a path. Was this enough? Arn only hoped that it was, though he expected the Inspectorate - if indeed these were the Inspectorate - to have means to follow them still. Perhaps time was bought, enough to put a good distance between them.

De'al, for his part, was silent for a long time as he led Arn through the trees, zigging and zagging at a brisk pace. Arn couldn't have carried a conversation anyway, despite the mounting questions he had for the man. They crossed a small stream, narrow enough to jump over. De'al led them south towards the mountains, the land became hillier, and Arn was progressively getting out of breath.

Arn was about to call for a stop when De'al stood atop one of the hills and looked back. The snowy cloud stretched far to the west, covering a large portion of the forest behind them. Then, the man sat down cross-legged and closed his eyes. Arn stared.

What now, he thought.

De'al hadn't stirred for several minutes, Arn considered breaking for camp, though this location would be cold at night, so high up and devoid of shelter. De'al suddenly stood up.

"We've put some distance and confounded their pursuit. It will be a while yet before the Inspectorate catches our trail again. We must go."

"I barely caught my breath; I don't know how far I can make it," Arn said.

"You'll need to make it as far as needed. Much remains for us yet," De'al replied, eyes still gazing out behind them.

"Much of what?" Arn said, his brows furrowed.

De'al didn't answer; instead, he resumed their flight, albeit at a slower pace this time. They descended the hills and turned northward towards the Arm of Arngosadar.

"The snow, that was you?" Arn asked between breaths.

"It was," De'al answered; his voice was even.

"How do you know they're not after you then?"

"They are after me now," the man replied.

"That's convenient," Arn scoffed.

"It is for you, not for me."

"I didn't ask you - I am not even, I haven't decided that -"

"We'll reach a small dock soon; the boat there is out of sight, few know the location. We'll travel the river for a time," De'al said.

Arn looked back, then all around - nothing but trees in all directions. High above their pointy tops, the cloud of snow still swirled and billowed. Mountains stretched behind them, spanning the horizon. The Zekasar Ridge, ever-present and looming over the land. De'al hadn't hurt him, as far as Arn knew, at least. If the man was to be believed, the avalanches weren't his doing. And with his powers, Arn felt significantly safer.

Am I really considering this? It makes little sense, but it feels right, as though I am on the correct path. He hated to admit it, but De'al was right; he did want to find his father. How did he know before I did?

"Do you know where my father went?" Arn asked.

"I have seen, yes," the man replied.

"Go on."

"We are on the path."

"Where is he? Can't you tell me?" Arn said impatiently.

"Your father, he is sighted, less than some and more than others. He'll know to evade the scrutiny of the Inspectorate. If we're to attempt the same thing, we'll inevitably meet," De'al said.

Great, he is talking strangely once again, Arn thought. "You don't know where he is, do you? You're just guessing?"

"Do you know that the sun will rise in the morning?" De'al asked.

"Yes"

"What if it doesn't?"

"It will," Arn replied, uncertain where this was headed.

"You've seen it rise tomorrow morning?"

"No, but -"

"Then how?" De'al interjected.

"It always rises; I am sure it will tomorrow as well."

"So it's just a guess, then?" De'al turned to Arn; a hint of a smile crossed the man's face.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

"That's not at all the same thing," Arn protested.

"Not for you, perhaps."

Arn grunted and let the matter drop. The Inspectorate did come for him after all, so at least in that De'al was trustworthy. He also did warn him of Rana - after his fashion. Dare he trust this man?

They broke camp near a large tree. De'al secured the perimeter and forbade open fire; he instead had Arn dig out a hole in the ground and place the emberwood to create heat. With the special wood, there wouldn't be smoke or light by which to track them.

The sun's rays disappeared behind the mountains; it became a familiar sight as Arn spent more time outdoors these past few weeks. Although he still had some of the food supplies he'd gathered with Ekalin, he didn't offer any to De'al. The man didn't ask nor react in any way.

"Where will we go after the river? After Arngosadar?" Arn asked.

"South, to Iolunan Lake," De'al replied.

Arn perked up. Is he speaking clearly once again? "Is that where my father is?"

"It is not. We will then move west towards the southern Zekasar Mountains," De'al replied, his eyes gazing at the pit of emberwood.

"He's in the mountains? How would we find one man in the mountains?"

"You're early," De'al said.

"What?" did he revert to his confusing self again? No, it seems De'al is looking at something else. Arn jerked his head and saw who De'al was speaking to. His eyes widened, and he scrambled back, nearly falling into the pit; he lost his balance and landed near De'al.

Rana stood there; Arn heard her familiar laughter. He looked at De'al; the man had betrayed him, he led him to Rana! They must have worked together, even back at Kalarhan!

Arn stood up and backed away until he hit the tree behind him. His hand lept to the amulet his father gave him - didn't seem to bring him much aid, did it?

"I'm early?" Rana quipped.

"I think you are - or was it late? It's hard to tell," De'al said.

"Who are you?" Rana asked, a frown coloured her face.

"De'al."

"De'al?" she turned to Arn, "is this man bothering you?" she nudged her head towards De'al.

"This man?" Arn's heart thudded, the blood swooshed in his ears, "bothering me?"

"Well, I see you certainly haven't changed, have you?" she chuckled at Arn, glanced at De'al, then sat down opposite from the fire pit. Thus Arn now loomed over the both of them; somehow, this shift in perspective made the situation less intimidating.

"Imagine my surprise upon hearing word that the Inspectorate is in pursuit of someone matching your description, as I patiently await you just outside the Tower of Het," Rana said and chuckled. "This one, right?" she pointed her thumb at Arn.

"You must be late then. How much have you seen?" De'al said, then leaned toward Rana, their eyes locked.

"What's he talking about? Did he hit his head?" Rana said to Arn, maintaining what was shaping to be a staring contest. Dare Arn believe that these two had never met? They certainly acted as though they hadn't. So much had happened, so many powers at play. He'd found it easier once. Before all this, he would have taken them up on their word, but now that he'd seen what the real world is like - it didn't seem unreasonable to him that these two maintained an act.

"What do you want from me?" Arn said.

"Wha - Arn! You wound me! I am only here to help," Rana cried out.

"You're here to help; he's here to help," Arn waved at De'al, "everyone's so bear-piss helpful!"

"I wouldn't trust his motivations if I were you," she whispered, covering her mouth with a hand to hide from De'al.

"Your motivations, you mean? You have the same motivations - you work together!" Arn barked.

"I admit, this looks suspect," she nodded and half smiled, "but come on - this guy?" she waved at De'al "we've exchanged two words, and he already annoys me."

"How did you escape the Inspectorate?" Arn asked.

"Oh, but a revolutionary never reveals her secrets," she wagged her finger at him, then took out a pipe and lit up, the air filled with that fruity aroma again. The cell flashed in his memory. Arn reached for the amulet around his neck. It felt slightly cool against his chest, even hidden beneath the layers as it was.

"This won't help you obscure his vision," De'al suddenly said.

Rana frowned at De'al, batted her lashes, then said, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"What are you talking about?" Arn asked De'al.

"There was a time when her charms would work, but you visited the dream halls, and much took place which she didn't see."

"He visited the what?" Rana asked.

De'al didn't answer, and Arn stopped himself. He watched De'al. It really did seem as though the two only just met. It would be such a coincidence, akin to the two avalanches and all the ravens he'd seen. Dare he believe that coincidence is all this is?

"What? What did he visit? Come on, I feel left out here," she looked from one to the other. Neither responded. Rana shook her head and blew smoke up into the night sky. "You know why I found you?" she finally said.

"You didn't finish whatever you started in the cell?" Arn shot back.

"No - well yes, but no," she held up a finger to forestall any interruptions. "Haven't had family around since I was younger than you. But, that family was - unsavoury." Arn wasn't sure where this was going, but he already didn't like it.

"Long story short, I always like to learn a little about my students -" she cut off upon seeing his expression "don't give me that; you've learned much during our unconventional lessons. Now sit down before you meld with the tree!" she ordered.

Warmth spread over his face, his fists clenched. The ambers in his belly flared up, his frustration and anger once again transformed to energy. The energy flowed into his core and fuelled the burning embers. His vision came into focus just as it did back then with the wolves; he felt the trees, rocks, snow, and the ground beneath. He felt these things as parts of himself and called on their Sanarel. It flowed into him, a torrent of force and heat.

"Woah!" Rana cried and jumped to her feet, "cut that out," she said, pointing at him, "do you want to draw the Inspectorate to us?"

Arn scowled at her but noticed that De'al was looking at him too. The man stared silently, but his eyes unnerved Arn. Finally, his concentration broke, the connection released, and Arn sagged against the tree, feeling drained.

"When did he learn that?" Rana said to De'al, who shrugged.

"I bet you have some new stories for me, cousin," she said with a smirk.

Arn's eyes widened, but words escaped him for the moment.

"I see you are speechless with joy," she said, "Arn, you're my long lost cousin! Rather, I may be your long lost cousin, actually."

Arn burst into laughter. Her words made no sense; this was the worst, most unbelievable cover he'd ever heard. Worse than any of Sead's stories, worse than even his sister's stories. Rana chuckled too, then furrowed her eyebrows.

"This laughter isn't healthy sounding," she said and glanced at De'al "what have you done with my cousin?"

Arn gasped for breath. Not healthy-sounding? His father ran away after stopping an avalanche; he was saved by a ranger, who beat him up - albeit for a good reason. He ran away from the Inspectorate with a man who made no sense outside of brief moments of clarity, and now the woman who kidnapped him is back and revealing that they are cousins. He wiped tears from his cheeks. Arn felt something within him snap - or perhaps it didn't so much snap, as unclenched. It was a long time since he felt as clear-minded as he did at that moment.