They spend the season pirating, attacking war ships crippled from battle or supply boats laden with goods. Fenrin sat the first few battles out, locked in the storeroom, but before long he was up top, guarded by Jaired.

During the first battle on deck, Fenrin was sick and didn't sleep for two nights, but he accepted it as a part of life with Bryn over time. He kept his knife close but the few souls who made it onto the ship and near Fenrin, were easily cut down by Jaired's scimitar—as Fenrin discovered the weapon was called.

Fenrin continued to learn. He learned sailor's knots, parts of the ship, how to row—though he was much too small to hope to move the huge oak oars—how to climb the rigging, and even how to treat battle wounds. Often he would boil water or clean linens used to treat the crew's injuries. One man died in battle and so Fenrin learned how men were put to rest at sea.

As the seasons passed and Bryn declared he must go, Fenrin learned how your legs betray you when returning to land, falling on his face not three steps off the ship. To his embarrassment, Bryn had to carry him to the cliff face where Jaired easily scrambled up, lowering the rope to raise Fenrin.

Determined to make up for his fall, Fenrin 'helped' Jaired lift Tor, though his little arms didn't do much. Finally, the men huffed and heaved Bryn's mass up.

After a break, they set off, Fenrin thinking of home for the first time in many months. The first snow came at night, landing on Fenrin's face and waking him. He shivered and turned to see Tor had tucked his head into his bedroll like a turtle. Fenrin did the same, hoping the snow would not turn into the many blizzards he had seen in his childhood.

The snow let up by morning, but stayed on the forest floor, adding a soft crunch to each step. It snowed three more times on their journey to Hjor, but Fenrin thanked the gods that it was never more than a dusting. Although his muscles had grown and his pack was no longer unbearable, he didn't want to have to wade through snow. Fenrin helped gather snow for water, the springs frozen solid on the last leg of the journey.

It was high noon when Fenrin recognized where he was. He stopped for a moment, head spinning from side to side as he took in the familiar landscape.

"What is it, cub?" asked Tor, using the nickname that had stuck on the ship.

"I know where we are."

There was a rumbling chuckle and Bryn said, "I would hope so, we are only a few hours away from Hjor."

Fenrin forced his feet to keep moving but his mind spun. It seemed forever since he was home. He wondered what had changed, he thought of his mother and his sister. He grinned at all the things he would show Lyra. She would be so jealous! Lyra was always the one discovering new things. Fenrin couldn't wait to be the smarter one for once.

He had it all planned out but when they arrived and Ulris let them in, Dyla appeared and Fenrin's plan melted away. He dropped his pack and, eyes filling with tears, ran to his mother.

She fell to her knees, taking him into her arms. "Welcome home, Fenrin," she whispered, stroking his dark hair. He sniffled, wishing he wasn't crying, but didn't let go of Dyla.

Bryn walked off with Ulris and Fenrin felt his mother shift, but he kept his arms around her and she sighed, picking him up. He was really too big for this, but she hefted him nevertheless, walking over to a chair and sitting with him on her lap. She hummed and slowly pulled him away, checking him over. He caught a concerned look on her face.

"I'm fine, momma." He wondered how much his mother knew about Bryn's battles and decided not to mention it.

Dyla, of course, was very familiar with Bryn's ways and was relieved to see Fenrin unharmed, though she scolded herself for doubting Bryn. She gave a light laugh and slid Fenrin off her lap. "You stink. Go find Jylee and take a bath."

He groaned but she pinched his arm and pushed him along until he ran off. Dyla went to find Bryn.

Fenrin ran to his old room and found it changed. His bed was the only one there. Lyra's things were gone and he frowned. He went to the bathroom, calling out for Jylee until finally she appeared.

The nursemaid's stern mouth pressed tightly together when she saw him, her nose wrinkling. Without a word, she shooed him into the bathroom, stripping him down and dumping him unceremoniously into a tub of lukewarm water.

"Ow!" he complained as she scrubbed him down merciliessly. He shivered, his wet body getting cold. He squinted through the soap, Jylee was working through his thick hair when he spotted green eyes at the door.

"Lyra!"

"You're back," she said stiffly and Fenrin frowned.

"Yeah, just now. Momma made me come straight here. Father's back too, he says we'll be here all winter! Guess what Lyra?" He didn't wait for a response. "I saw the ocean! And I was on Bryn's big ship and when we were in the woods I almost got eaten by a wolf!"

Her eyes widened, but she bit her lip to resist asking questions. Fenrin tried to climb out of the tub but Jylee forced him down and he swallowed water, coughing. Lyra couldn't keep the grin away and she laughed. "Good thing you didn't fall off the boat," she teased and Fenrin scowled at her before laughing as well.

Jylee pushed Fenrin out of the tub. He stood naked and shivering while she dumped the sullied water down a grate where it would drain to the garden, probably to freeze into a dark lump until spring. "Alright, you're done. But you're not putting those back on until I've washed them."

She tossed a towel to Fenrin and took his clothes out. Fenrin wrapped himself up, still shivering as Lyra walked over.

They were the same height, but he was heavier, his muscles toned from the journey. Lyra was thin, her pale blonde hair tied in a braid that fell down her back. She studied his face with those intense green eyes before asking, "What is he like, Fen?"

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"Bryn?"

"No, the wolf," she said sarcastically, flicking his nose. He stuck his tongue out but didn't flick back, too busy holding the towel.

"He's really strong. And he..." Fenrin paused trying to find the words. "He always wins. You have to do exactly like he says because he's the boss, but he also takes care of you. He wrestled the wolf down with his hands!"

Lyra took that in and nodded. She sighed dramatically. "Alright, Fen, tell me about the boat before you piss yourself with excitement."

Fenrin grimaced, he'd forgotten how bossy she could be.

"Maybe I won't." He stuck his chin out defiantly.

She gave a sly grin and twisted her braid around her fingers. "Then I won't tell you about the secret I found."

“Dammit,” Fenrin thought, swearing yet another thing he'd learned on his trip. "Fine. It was huge! With sixteen giant oars and a mast in the shape of a bear head. That's what they call Bryn by the way. Bryn the Bear, that's why he and the men all have those bear tattoos."

"And momma," Lyra whispered but Fenrin didn't catch it.

"We sailed around and found boats heading to or from the war. We would chase them down and board them. We got so much stuff! Gold, food, and even these fancy clothes called tapestries."

Lyra's eyes widened again. "Didn't they fight you?"

"Oh yeah," Fenrin lost grip on the towel as he gestured wildly and quickly picked it back up. "They'd fight and we'd fight. We always won though. Though, there were still wounded..." He trailed off for a moment, Lyra saw his eyes darken and she flinched.

Fenrin remembered the screams and the blood before shaking it away. "There were storms too. Giant storms, like a blizzard but with rain and lightning. On the sea, the whole world rocks when it storms."

Lyra shifted her weight to another foot, suddenly wishing she hadn't asked. She could feel a gap growing between her and her brother. She didn't know how to describe it, but now there were some experiences that were part of him she could never touch. She blurted out, "I made a secret tunnel!"

She covered her mouth, not meaning to be so loud, and Fenrin grinned. "Really?" he whispered, "Where?"

She grinned back and stepped closer, holding her hand up conspiratorially. "To the office and Ulris' office." ‘The office’ of course meant Bryn's office, which Dyla also used when he was away. It was a forbidden space to the twins.

"No way!"

Lyra nodded slyly.

"Alright, here you are Master Fenrin. Clean and hopefully still fitting." The twins jumped as Jylee entered the room. She eyed them suspiciously, but handed Fenrin his clothes.

Lyra rocked forward and back before darting out, saying, "Meet me in your room!"

Fenrin dressed quickly and ran out, feeling Jylee's eyes followed him, concerned. She'd forgotten the trouble the twins were together.

When he got to his room, Lyra was on the bed, her feet swinging freely. "Momma moved me out after you left. It's down the hall." She jumped off taking his hand and pulling him to her room.

It was lighter than his, the window facing west rather than south. She shut the door with a click and he took in her furnishings. A small desk, covered with books and papers—he recognized Jylee favorite primer and smiled knowing he had escaped writing and numberwork. There was also another table, covered in plants and bottles. Books about herbs and sketches of leaves and berries were scattered and pinned to the wall.

Lyra took his hand again pulling him to her closet. She glanced at the door, grinned, and opened the armoire. Two rods, hanging the extent of Lyra's wardrobe, were inside and she pushed the dresses and coats away revealing the wooden back.

Carefully she removed the little dagger on her side, identical to the one Fenrin wore before Jylee had taken it with his dirty clothes. She stabbed the back of the armoire, prying the section loose. Behind it the wall panel was gone, revealing small dark space.

"This wall is one of the only wood ones," Lyra whispered, "I checked. Everything was supposed to be stone, but they must have run out."

She squeezed into the hole and Fenrin followed. It was a tight fit, but once inside it was easy to stand sideways, sidling to move down through the wall. It was pitch black and Lyra reached for his hand, pulling him along.

After a few moments she whispered, "Okay, be very quiet and we can hear what they're saying."

They waited and sure enough, Fenrin's ears attuned to the muffled voices.

"Good. His wall will be good for us as long as he sticks to my plan." That was Bryn.

"Indeed, sir. Jarl Soren has followed your orders to the letter. I sent word of your return and he sent this letter for you." Ulris.

There was a pause and Bryn laughed. "So the old dog finally learned to listen. He says he is expected at the capital next summer and wants to know what he should say. How is the man?"

"Limping, sir."

Another laugh. "Alright, Ulris, that'll be all."

There was a pause and the sound of the door shutting. Then a lighter voice. Dyla. "How was your trip, my lord?"

"Prosperous. The wilds may be more to my liking but the sea is wild too."

There was another pause before, "And Fenrin?"

"The lad was fine. I think I'll take him south this year unless the war continues."

"The Jarl seems to think it will continue."

"Hmm. Well, leave politics to the spineless. Come, women, it is late."

It grew quiet and Lyra pushed Fenrin, urging him to begin the shuffle back. They emerged back in the armoire, a bit dusty from the trip.

Lyra had a strange look on her face and Fenrin watched, concerned, as she carefully shut the passageway. She climbed up on her bed and Fenrin joined her. They sat side by side and Fenrin took her hand. "What's wrong, Ly?"

"Didn't you miss me?" Her voice cracked and she scowled. He bit his lip.

"I did. I cried a lot before we got to the sea. But..." He hesitated, but Lyra never liked people sugarcoating things. "But I had to put home out of my mind. Because I couldn't be here so I had to be there. You know?"

"No, I don't," she spat and Fenrin flinched. She gave him an apologetic look. "Sorry, I know you didn't ask to go. He just came and took you away from me. I hate him."

Fenrin flinched. "Bryn?"

She nodded and hot tears welled up, trickling over her pale cheeks. "And he's going to take you away again."

Knowing she wanted him to say he wouldn't go, Fenrin hesitated. He wanted to go but he didn't want to leave Lyra. So instead he said, "Maybe you'll come this time!"

She sniffed and looked at him, her green eyes hopeful. "Did he say so?"

"No...but he doesn't say much about what he wants to do to anyone." It was true but Fenrin felt like he was lying. Now he thought about it, Bryn had never mentioned Lyra once the entire trip.

Lyra bit her lip and Fenrin guessed she felt the same fragility in that hope. He laid down on her pillow. "Mind if I stay here tonight. I'm not used to sleeping alone in that room."

She didn't answer, just pulled back the blanket and tucked her feet in. She laid with her back to him, but her arm was extended and held his.