‘…Well, as you know, I have mastered my share of what you call keiïa, but compared to you, it must be close to nothing. Yet I… Okay, I will just get to the point...’ Yorell seemed uneasy now. 

His controlled demeanour was faltering, though for Ma’an it was barely visible in the dim flickering of the smouldering branches by his feet. 

Besides, neither his eyes nor thoughts were with the wizard in front of him right now.

‘The reason I had withdrawn myself into the Kahaylt is that I too have upset… several people. I used to live in the capital of Kosoci, around 600 kilometres southeast from here. There I worked as a Cinea, a medic and advisor for the government.

'I served at the court of Moiey, a district in the east of the city, for a couple of years. It housed most of the cabinet at that time. I did not speak to them often but heard plenty to know what was going on.

'Six or so years ago, plans came out to excavate the great pillar on the crossing of Hiyn, a rather desolate part of town where a lonely pillar of some sort of black stone had been standing for years. No one really knew how that pillar got there, but now it was to be demolished and replaced by a coal mine.

'I advised against it. It seemed dangerous to me. However, no one listened to me. I published an article about it, which was not well received, and caused me to be suspended from my position for an undetermined amount of time.

'The prime minister, Noyka Iyn Dawn, in particular, was annoyed by my article. She never spoke to me, only looked at me across the hall as if I were an evil spirit whenever we had a meeting, and her ministers’ gazes were no less resentful. She wanted this pillar gone, and yet she was in doubt. If she were sure of herself, she would not have wanted me gone so badly. She would have ignored me and gone on with her plans. She was not the leader to censor criticism, but this project was about more than that pillar: Dawn wanted a fully industrialised Kosoci.

'There were rumours of the Dei Piao aiming to annex the north and Dawn believed making an alliance with the Kingdom would ensure Kosoci’s independence. A treaty allowed the Dei Piao to finance the construction of factories and mines in the land – it’s complicated, it doesn’t really matter.

‘I went to that pillar often during that time, though I’m not sure why. It was tall, taller than any building, and stood in some sort of dell in the middle of the crossroads, all on its own. Its stone was darker than that of any structure I had ever seen, and its smooth surface glimmered in the sunlight as if just polished.

'I grew fond of that structure, and as the date of its demise crept nearer, I decided to take things into my own hands. On the exact day of the official opening of the construction site, a meeting was held to discuss my position within the court. Many attended, including myself. I was allowed to return as a Cinea if I swore never to interfere with projects from a biased position again.

'As I sat there, in the middle of the discussion, the cabinet and their courtiers in front of me and a crowd behind me, I felt a breeze of cold air in my hair. I looked around to see if a door had opened, but there hadn’t. I shuddered and stood up.

'Things went fast from there. The wind started to blow around me, people looked up in fear. Paperwork flew everywhere and I remember I saw a fear on the prime minister’s face that I had never seen on anyone else’s before.

'I ran up to them, took my knife, and stood still. There was yelling and people were rushing in every direction, but the doors were still shut, and they wouldn’t open. Chandeliers fell. People were crushed by each other and the air. The windows cracked.

'Prime Minister Dawn stood up and rushed along the wall. I followed her and reached my hand out towards her. As I did, she froze and looked at me. I saw she did not regret any of her choices.

'“They will come for you,” she said.

'“You are scared,” I replied.

'She said: “Not anymore.”

'No words could I find to describe how much I hated her. I felt like she had ruined my life and the whole world around me. She had ruined something that was mi– …She would ruin the city. I could not let that happen and could not forgive her, or anyone in that room.

‘I stabbed her in the throat, slashed at her face until I could not recognise her any longer and murdered everyone in that hall until I stood all alone. The wind had died down and everything was quiet, apart from faint echoes of the screams coming from the tall windows.

'Peace fell over me, the blood on me slowly dried. A voice in that emptiness spoke: “You’ve done enough, Aya,” it said. 

'And the prime minister stood there.

'Her face did not even resemble a face anymore and her voice was not hers, but I knew who was speaking to me. “Go now, it’s over,” it said. And so, I did. As I ran through the hallways, the building collapsed behind me. Memories from those minutes are vague and have merged into one mess of images and sounds I cannot make out.

'Outside, the situation was so chaotic I could slip away with no issue. I ran until my feet brought me to the Kahaylt and everything around me was silent. But I knew it would not last, and the eyes of Kosoci would eventually turn north. That is why I joined you, and that is why… I cannot guarantee our safety once we go out on the plains tomorrow.'

Ma’an leaned his head on his knees and had his eyes closed as if asleep, and Yorell worried that he had been speaking to himself. 

He stared at his feet in embarrassment. Lonely blades of grass pricked through the snow. His hands were trembling and his heart pounding in his throat.

‘So, you grew up in Kosoci?’ is all Ma’an asked. 

Yorell looked up, his eyes lost. ‘Yes, I did.’ 

Ma’an smiled. ‘That’s why I hear an accent in your speech.’ 

Yorell was left astounded once more but was glad a comment on his accent was the most important thing Ma’an had to say. 

‘Now you’re just showing off. A week ago, you couldn't even speak this language, and now you recognise accents?’ He sounded as if he were cold, his teeth chattering, and yet he smiled. 

Ma’an took one of their blankets and wrapped it around him.

‘Just trying to lighten the mood. Thank you for your story. Can I ask some questions?’ he asked as he sat down again.

‘Yes, you may,’ Yorell said quietly.

‘Why did you initially counsel against the demolition of the pillar?’

'I do not know…' He shrugged. 

Ma’an nodded, deep in thought. ‘You must have felt like it was really important, hm?’ 

‘It felt like my home, like it was mine, for some reason. I know that doesn’t make any sense – I wasn’t even from that city, I had no connection to it. I’m just… an idiot. I had no good reasoning, unlike you.’ 

‘No, no, I don’t think that’s right. And it makes quite some sense, if you think back to what I said about Kutrayamok,’ Ma’an said.

‘You mean it could be—’

‘A Ziriü? Yeah, could very well be. Especially in structures like that.’

‘Can they possess people? Can they take over?’

‘Not quite. Well, they certainly have a powerful influence sometimes, but I’ve never seen it to such an extent…’

‘Okay, well… I suppose it doesn’t matter anymore. What’s important now is the danger that we may be in. That I’ve brought upon you. I’m sorry, it was foolish of me to go with you. You have enough to worry about.’ 

‘Oh, I don’t mind,’ Ma’an bluntly said. His face seemed frozen, he barely blinked. 

‘Really? Why?’ Yorell asked. 

‘We’re both criminals on the run. The least we can do is help each other, right? I’m enjoying the company so far.’ 

Yorell smiled. ‘Well, if you’re sure, I would like to stay by your side.’ 

‘Please do, then.’ 

The snow around the fire had melted, their hands had warmed, and they started to become sleepy. 

‘Have you seen signs that you are indeed being pursued?' Ma’an asked.

‘Yes, a couple days ago, I saw Kosocians in the forest. They know I’ve gone north, and they’re still looking. They know I'm alive, and that's enough for them to go after me.'

'We’ll have to pay attention then. Let’s not worry prematurely. We'll see what tomorrow brings us,' Ma'an said. 

The wind was blowing ever stronger in the branches above them. A patch of snow occasionally fell from them.

The night was cold, and the storm went on and on, making it difficult to find sleep. 

By midnight, all snow had been blown out of the trees already, and branches followed. The houses of the villages nearby kept their doors and windows shut. 

Neither of the wizards wanted to stay in this forest, yet they knew it was no longer safe for them and winter would pass quicker than they could hope for. 

Piyar had stood lonely in the night, watching the distant lights slowly go out. 

No snow had fallen that night, which on the one hand made their travel easier, but on the other hand left their tracks bare…

Frozen in place for others to find.