Song of the Piper

::32:: Strength During Trials (Part 1)

Music is Leaving by Ylmir. Play it!

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I was playing my flute when Lord Himmel visited me.

Or less of visiting, and more of barging straight into my cell after waving his hand at the door, making it swing open to make way for him.

I pulled myself onto my feet, ready to face the hurdles of the day—night. Whatever time it was. However, instead of invoking the trigger words of the blood oath like he usually did, he seized me by the arm and dragged me outside. I gasped, reflexively squirming in his grip, but he didn't relent.

He led me down the corridor and up a flight of steps. Confusion swam in me. He was actually letting me out? He wasn't going to use the blood oath on me?

When the first ray of natural light entered my eyes, I both savoured and recoiled at it. Then I felt the cool breeze kissing my skin, and it stung. I barely held back my tears as we continued to make our way up. I didn't know whether to feel relieved or fearful. At any rate, if I were going to die today, at least I'd die in the open, and not in the dungeons.

A full gust of wind blasted into my face, and the light blinded me. I was out of the dungeons.

I was out of the dungeons.

Now I was clinging onto Lord Himmel as much as he was clinging onto me. I relied on him for support, feeling my way about with his guidance. My knees were weak and untried after a long period of not walking long distances, and I kept stumbling every few seconds. Lord Himmel just released snarls of frustration and hauled me along.

Eventually, we burst into the outside. The first thing I noticed was the cold. It bit into me through my thin layer of clothing, worming its way into my bones. It was as though a thousand little goblins were sinking their teeth into me at once.

The second thing I noticed was the wind. Though it might be associated with the cold. It whipped my hair about and made my eyes water. It carried the promise of bitterness. Of frigid, lonesome nights. And of terrible, terrible creatures prowling the darkness.

Then I noticed the snow. It settled all over the ground in unceremonious heaps. All the plants had already shed their leaves, and they were covered in frost. Everything save the firs was touched by winter's ruthless hand.

It took me quite a while before I recognised that this was the entrance leading into the castle. It's winter, I realised with a shock. The last time I'd passed through here, it was autumn, the leaves just transcending into hues of golden-brown and red and yellow. The scenery was so different.

My feet felt unusually cold. I looked down, seeing that I was wearing boots. Unfortunately, these boots were holey and moth-eaten with disuse. Probably due to the fact that I didn't get much fresh air down there in the dungeons. Snow was slowly seeping through the material. I was also inappropriately dressed to face the weather. I wrapped my arms around myself, shivering and silently thinking that it was better that I freeze to death than be driven insane.

Someone started singing a song, and a heavy overcoat fell over me, while my soggy boots were replaced by new, sturdy ones. I looked to my side, noting the outline of Lord Himmel. My eyes had not quite adjusted to the light, but I could see that he was already dressed in the proper garments. I felt his look of disdain upon me, as if accusing me of not having the strength to conjure the necessary clothes for myself.

"Everything is ready and in order, milord," announced a low, gruff voice. "When shall we move out?"

Through bleary eyes, I squinted into the distance. My vision focused enough to let me see that the area was filled with sorcerers, all standing at ready, and horses, all saddled up and ready to go.