The rustling sound by the yurt entrance told Nair Iva had returned, and he put away the prayer book he had been skimming. It was difficult to focus on reading the thing. This was the first morning he had been able to rest, and the two unwelcome memories in his mind had grown restless.

"I got us permission to enter Lunden, get dressed. It's time for some well-earned relaxation." Iva said and stood in wait by the yurt's entrance. "And bring your sword." She added after a moment.

"The Crimson Mane still wants to settle the score?" Nair asked casually. But he did not stand up yet. Going into the city so suddenly seemed frightening. For this past third he had only known the encampment of the Pact.

"Toldarad had a discussion with them, but it is still better to be armed. A mere half a legion of Enterniad light infantry occupies the city and they are not the force that has the ability to keep six of the largest mercenary companies in check."

Iva seemed to understand what Nair was battling with within. She did not rush him as was usual, but simply kept her gaze locked on him. Nair sighed, nodded once, and stood up. He put on his boots, fixed the dull green sword and its scabbard to his side, and donned his heavy brown cloak.

Soon enough, Nair and Iva were crossing the killing fields. It took a while. The scale of the city was so vast it distorted all distances as viewed from the command hill. The cleanup of bodies from the fields had ended only a few days ago, and numerous fresh mounds surrounded the city.

The two of them did not speak much, they never did. Nair had little he could ask from Iva, and that only seemed to be a relief for her. In silence, they passed through the multi-layered main gate that was still being renovated. Despite the cold weather, builders worked all day, well into the night.

Thankfully, the cold was all they had to endure and even in the dead of winter the temperatures would not plummet much more than this. Snow was rare in these parts.

"Where are we going?" Nair finally asked, as he admired the vaguely familiar sights of the city.

Wide streets led in every direction, most of the buildings and even the pavement were made of a yellow and brown brick. Decorative arches were everywhere, held up most walkways and galleries. Silvery waysigns guided you to the nearest points of interest. And to see the tops of the buildings and the streets higher up, you had to lean your head all the way back. Lunden was a maze that reached the heavens.

"A couple of places. I need to visit a smithy. And Nyx told me of a nice brewery that survived the siege. But before that, there is a fateweaver in the Theatre district. We can just wander around the city afterwards."

As she spoke, Nair had noticed a group of Enterniad legionnaires hastily building a series of barricades ahead of them. "Nyx. The bull master? The one with the white hair and that ridiculously large great-shield?" Nair asked while wondering why the soldiers were in such a hurry.

"That's her." Iva nodded.

Silence settled between them again, and Nair returned his attention to the sights in the city. It seemed that the city had returned to a somewhat normal life. The first six days after the siege had ended, Nair had seen black smoke rise non-stop from the city as they burned their dead. And while you could still see damage caused by spells and siege weaponry, there were an equal amount of repairs being carried out.

People still threw wary looks at the mercenaries and foreign legionnaires, but overall the occupation seemed to be relatively peaceful.

A loud rumbling sound briefly startled Nair. And he had to jump to the side of the road when a cart with two oxen sped past from behind. It came to a stop further down the street and another group of Enterniad soldiers began hastily erecting barricades.

"What's that about? They seem a little on the edge." He asked aloud.

"No idea." Iva said, also frowning at the sight.

"Could something have happened?" Nair continued. "The battle in Moss hills went sour?"

"I don't see how. All Enterniad Legions have been gathered there. Nothing can pierce through those defences, Ionath and Vessen armies lack the offensive capability. And I doubt they would have found an exposed flank. The Grey Valley between Moss Hills and Lunden plains is the only way to cross the Arum mountains." But even Iva's voice sounded concerned.

"What about Sierus or Sivar or Kat..." Nair continued as the memories of the boy in his mind grew more and more restless.

"Stop." Iva said, interrupting Nair, turning around and looking him in the eyes. "It's odd. You remember this world, but you don't remember yourself. Are you sure you don't know who you are."

The memories in Nair's head faltered, and the man reared his head again, pushing the nervous young boy aside.

"Nonetheless, it does not matter right now. I doubt anything could have occurred. This war has lasted in this state for a hundred and eighteen years. I'd rather wager the Crimson Mane has been bullying the Enterniad and the local Commander is preparing for trouble. I don't blame them, the Pact has been brothers in arms with the Crimson for the past seventy years and we still have had our conflicts time and time again." Iva carried on without waiting for a reply from Nair.

"It changes nothing." Nair said in a confused daze. "Is that where it's from?" The thought was so sudden and overpowering he had no choice but to say it out loud. The thought was not his. It could not have been the boy's either. But the memories of the man never spoke before. His thoughts were silent, more instinct and wordless knowledge.

Iva nodded and proceeded down the street again. "Let's see what the fateweaver has to say about you."

Nair followed quickly.