"Anthos?" The paladin's voice brought the guide back, who had been lost for a few seconds, remembering his past. "Are you alright?"

  "Yes, of course. Just a little tired, but fine."

  "I was asking if there was any other reason why your commitment to protecting Drako is so strong."

  'Redemption, sir Kalen. The need to atone for past mistakes and free myself from the torment of guilt,' Anthos thought. However, he shook his head. "No... there's nothing. I just like that whippersnapper."

  Kalen nodded, but he knew there was something more. Anthos was a box of surprises, and his past was no exception.

  The night passed quietly and without major setbacks. They were already on the eve of a great battle, but this part of the region was still safe. The Unicorn Fields were characterized by being full of small villages and connecting roads, patrolled constantly by troops of soldiers and even knights.

  At dawn, which was cold but with an orange sun overcoming a few clouds, they took one of those roads, riding the three horses that Captain Julius had provided them. They began to notice that many of the villages were already abandoned, and the fog of war could be felt in the air. Even Drako, who usually smiled, was now crying, and they couldn't calm him. By this point, the baby's growth was notable. Since they left Doknar several weeks ago, the child had at least doubled his weight. Begryn's arms were the first to notice.

  Closer now, they began to see the grandeur of the Frozen City. It was a way of referring to the largest city in the entire Dorlan region, which actually gave its name to the kingdom: Trabarioth. The walls appeared as great symmetrical colossi of white and gray bricks, with blue-tiled towers distributed equidistantly. The enormous iron and wooden gates were guarded by a tower on each side, somewhat larger than the others and with a large number of openings for pouring boiling oil in case of a siege. At the top of the roofs flew the flag of the city and the kingdom: the silver unicorn on a dark blue background, with four stars surrounding it, marking the four cardinal points. The city's only front, surrounded by mountains and facing the Unicorn Fields, stretched for several kilometers. The entire capital's setting was colossal.

  At that time of the morning, it was exactly as Anthos remembered it, who had been there not long ago. The guards at the entrance asked them to identify themselves and were startled when they saw that they were carrying the noble lord Devan de-Oppengraf tied up and gagged, with a piece of cloth tied to his head covering the spot where his ear had once been.

  "Apparently, they haven't changed the uniform in the slightest," Kalen thought, remembering his time in the city some years ago: the visored sallet helmet, the padded armor with a chainmail shirt underneath, the leather boots and gloves with internal fur to withstand the cold, and the typical mass-produced longsword of Trabarioth.

  Making a display and ostentation of his rank and social status, Sir Kalen Fal made his corresponding introductions and showed them a Doknar medallion, which his companions had not seen until then, telling them that it was the diplomatic medallion for free passage throughout the Dorlan region, created during the Treaty of the Three Kingdoms. At first, somewhat confused and hesitant, the guards sought to corroborate the information with their captain of the guard, who eventually let them pass, even with lord Devan tied up in that manner.

  "They're a bit nervous..." Kalen said under his breath. "In other circumstances, they wouldn't have even hesitated to let a knight enter."

  "On a day like today, the city should be open," Anthos added. "It's clear that everyone is already preparing for war."

  The city's main street, called Queen's Street, was wide and cobblestone, somewhat damp and muddy from being the most traveled. Along the sides were several streetlights, which were usually lit by the same guard who patrolled the neighborhoods. In the coldest months of the year, this task could become impossible given the constant blizzard that plagues the area. Queen's Street wound its way uphill until it reached the highest neighborhoods, then the walled citadel, where the nobles lived and the embassies were located, and finally Skycold Castle. The buildings, for the most part, were made of stone, with wooden finishes and roofs in different shades of blue and brown. The inhabitants of the Frozen City, in general, tended to be more reserved and surly than the inhabitants of Doknar. The festive and jovial atmosphere was not evident here, and it wasn't because of the eve of the battle, but rather their inherent nature as a people.

  Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

  Despite these characteristics, the movement of people was constant and in all directions, except for the exit. People were coming and going, carrying boxes with provisions and weaponry. Guards moved in groups, establishing more rounds than usual to prevent internal conflicts that could affect the preparation for battle.

  As soon as they entered, Galfrido headed for the largest inn in the area, which was on the main street and to the right, almost reaching a cobblestone square. Kalen told his companions that it was advisable for the three of them to wait there, even with the baby, and that he would go see Queen Audarin with lord Devan to see how they would proceed.

  "What a fitting name," Begryn thought, looking at the wooden sign with the black dragon painted on it. Upon entering, she realized that it was a classy inn, much better than the others she had been to in the human region. The main hall was enormous and had a large bonfire in the center. The tables were arranged around it so that all of them received the warmth and light of the fire. The bar ran from one end to the other and was on the right of the entrance. Some stairs led to the upper floor. The wall opposite the entrance was decorated with the heads of various creatures, including deer, wild boars, and some others they did not recognize, but which were almost certainly of Elbarien provenance or from more distant lands.

  There was a red-bearded dwarf who served as the order runner between the tables. His red, smiling cheeks denoted that he might be enjoying the establishment's offerings himself. At this hour, there were quite a few people, mainly off-duty guards.

  "Beer!" Galfrido shouted, collapsing into one of the chairs at an empty table.

  Anthos and Begryn followed suit. The short man with broad shoulders and a prominent belly returned after a few moments with the three drinks.

  "This is what I desperately needed," Galfrido's eyes seemed to shine with emotion, while foam clung to his beard after taking a long drink.

  "You can bet it is," Anthos replied.

  They spent a while enjoying the comfort and the drink, without saying a word. The exhaustion, sadness, and even fear they had felt up to that moment were falling upon them like a bucket full of rocks.

  After a time of silence and relaxation, they realized that Kalen wasn't going to return. At least not for the rest of the day, so they arranged to pay for some rooms and get some decent rest.

  Anthos was back in that terrifying, gray place. This time, there was no door. Only the cursed cemetery that stretched across unholy hills, beyond the horizon, as far as the eye could see. The twisted trees swayed chaotically, as there was no breeze running through such a large place. He looked at the sky and felt the void looking back, furious, hysterical, ancestral, and... hungry.

  Turning his gaze forward, he saw an enormous spider the color of skin, covered in mouths full of sharp teeth and red eyes that seemed to observe him with voracious hatred. The spider's face was Ertai's face, whose eyes were completely black and whose mouth was smiling and drooling.

  "I... am... waaaaa... wwaaaaittttinnggg..." it said with a lisping sound.

  "You're already dead, you son of a bitch! I killed you!"

  “You killed my body... there are othersss... Other worldsss... ancient and corrupt worldsss that desssire to devour your weak world.... Come here, little dog... come here, little dog... It'ssss time for dindinnnner…”

  “What the hell is wrong with you, you wretch?”

  “There are worlds patiently waitinnggg... they are waitinnggg to devour your world... It'ssss time for dindinnnner.... Hol' Dor…”

  Suddenly, the deformed spider with Ertai's face began to run wildly towards Anthos, shaking its head and trembling as if it were convulsing. The guide tried to raise his weapon, but he couldn't move. He closed his eyes, awaiting the monster's charge, but nothing happened.

  He opened his eyes and saw Ertai turned into a normal human, dagger in hand. The dark druid smiled and, with a swift movement, cut his face.