Yuf was the first to meet them, even before they reached the gates, when their wagon emerged from behind the veil of the snowstorm. He ran out as soon as he heard the joyful shouts of Viggo and Rita, embraced them, and couldn’t hold back—he nearly cried, kissing them all without even asking whether the expedition had completed its task.

  Then they entered the city, heading straight for the hospital, while Rita spoke breathlessly from emotion. She told everything—about the battle with the turand, about her fall, the crypt and the lich, the wandering through the labyrinth, and why they had to delay until the very last moment. A rescue mission had already been prepared, and Yuf had waited these past days with worry and fear. When five days passed, he began to truly worry. That morning, he had told himself to set out in search.

  They left Kairu in the hands of the healers and waited outside the ward doors until morning in the unit for the gravely wounded. They heard groans, flinched at the quiet voices of the doctors. In the morning, the door opened softly, and one of the doctors came out to them.

  "You may go in," he said. "Your friend is out of danger. He's asleep and unlikely to wake up for the next few days. Come back the day after tomorrow. You might get to see him then."

  Overwhelmed with emotion, Rita swayed and fainted right into Yuf’s arms.

  ***

  It so happened that in that October, the delivery of antidotes and fever remedies had been delayed. Kairu suffered for another week, barely conscious, before the doctors managed to remove the lich’s poison from his body. And to make matters worse, the cold had caused him to develop pneumonia—yet another blow to Yuf, Viggo, and Remis, who were waiting for him to recover at the Petista inn.

  Yuf flatly refused to return to Nubel without every member of the expedition. As for Rita, on the very first day after returning, she found Yuf and had a long private conversation with him at the same inn. After that, she never came to visit the inn, spending most of her time either at home or in the hospital. The doctors later told Kairu that at first, she had come by nearly every day, and only once the danger had passed did she start visiting less frequently.

  The treatment dragged on for a long month and a half. At first, after being cured of the poisoning, Kairu couldn't even get out of bed. Only two weeks before being discharged was he allowed to walk around his room and the hallway. It was during that time that Yuf finally dropped in and found him standing by the window, while he was gazing gloomily at the snow-covered street of Petista, dreaming of leaving as soon as possible and returning home quickly.

  "I'm sorry," Yuf said quietly, coming up to him. "I didn’t expect things to turn out this way when I suggested to Nubel that you join us. I have no excuse—or at least, not one that you’d understand, or that I could explain. A lot has happened while you were in the hospital…"

  "It’s fine," Kairu replied. "Really. I’m even glad… it turned out to be a decent adventure, and it looks like it’ll have a decent ending. Right?"

  "Of course," Yuf beamed, "everything’s wrapping up! Like I told you, after this, no one’s holding you back. You can stay with us or go back to the endless grind at the forge…"

  "Don’t tempt me," Kairu smiled. "Maybe, maybe… I liked archaeology. What could be better than raiding tombs, fighting mad turands, liches, and other filth…"

  "You’re joking," Yuf said reproachfully. "You shouldn’t. Nubel and I take this work very seriously."

  "Maybe I’ll join you, but not right away. Next year."

  "That works," Yuf chuckled. "I’ll talk the doctors into discharging you sooner. Ah, I’m so tired of waiting, and Nubel is worn out too. We’ll try to make it back to the estate before New Year’s, and we’ll celebrate here too. The expedition was a success, after all, that’s a big deal. New shrines haven’t been discovered in almost thirty years."

  The healers discharged Kairu three days later…

  At the inn, he was greeted with enthusiastic shouts from Viggo and a reserved greeting from Rita, who had agreed to have lunch with them for the occasion. He was still unsteady on his feet after so much time bedridden, but the terrifying nights after leaving the shrine already felt like a bad dream, and ahead of him lay only happiness.

  "Nubel’s already been sent a letter," Rita said at the table as everyone competed to share the latest news. "He knows we found the diamond and can’t wait for you to return. Also, Lainter has officially informed the governor of Petista about the discovery of the historical monument, which now belongs to Aktida, so now we have to observe all the formalities and tell the story during a personal audience with the governor. So get ready, we’ll have to answer tricky questions tomorrow. Just don’t you dare let slip that we both fell into the crypt. That wouldn’t reflect too well on my reputation. Actually, it’d be better if you didn’t say anything at all. Yuffilis and I will take the heat for the rest."

  "So far, only the government of Petista knows about the discovery of the Lake of Aktida," Viggo added. "So worldwide fame isn’t coming any time soon. Not even in Mainor do they know about our adventures yet."

  The inn was the same one that had taken them in before their journey into the mountains. The father’s sword, still rusting on the wall, had been returned to its sheath. Looking at it now, Kairu even felt a bit of pride, for it was with that very weapon that he had killed a turand, and later Rita had killed a lich—creatures that in his peaceful southern village were the stuff of legend, the kind old nannies used to scare children.

  The next day, when Kairu awoke in his room to sunlight streaming through the window, there was a knock, and Viggo entered, dressed in a way Kairu could never have imagined. He wore a red velvet shirt with frills and lace, which clearly struggled to contain his thick belly; pants of the same style, and tall, shiny leather boots with spurs. Viggo shuffled by the door, handing Kairu a stack of clothes with embarrassment:

  "Yuf ordered everyone to dress up… At the governor’s reception, we’ll have to hide our village habits and show some knowledge of etiquette. Yuf has brochures over there. He’s studying how to behave at the table, like don’t slurp, don’t spit, and so on. Want to go see him?"

  Kairu turned, expecting to see a smirk on the kald’s face. But there was nothing of the sort. Viggo looked serious, even concerned.

  "I don’t think I’ll learn etiquette by this evening. It’d be easier not to eat anything, just to avoid making a fool of myself. And what’s this?" he said with horror, unfolding the brocade outfit.

  "You’ll have to wear it," Viggo sighed. "Look at me. Honestly, even at the Guild I go around in a robe or armor. And to formal receptions I just put on some toga or tunic over it… Damn it, this isn’t the end. You do know there’s a banquet tonight?"

  "What?" Kairu threw the outfit on the bed.

  "A formal banquet, hosted by the governor. We’re all invited, all five of us. We’re moving up in society."

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  "Just what I needed… Fine, go," Kairu waved him off. "Oh, Aktos, how the hell do I even put this thing on?"

  After ten minutes of torment, he came out and descended into the hotel lobby, where the others had already gathered, waiting for him. Kairu looked at Rita and almost dropped his jaw. He was used to seeing her in the sturdy but unremarkable clothing of hunters and scouts, but now she was wearing a luxurious green dress with golden trim that perfectly matched her eyes. Her fiery red hair, usually tied carelessly with a rope, was now smoothed down and tied with a green ribbon, and only one lock, as always, fell onto her forehead.

  Catching Kairu’s stunned gaze, she gave a strange smile, and a mischievous glint flickered in her eyes for a moment. She was the only one among them who clearly felt at ease in her formal attire, as if she had worn such dresses all her life.

  Viggo burst out laughing.

  "Yes," Kairu spread his arms. "Yes, I know I look… ridiculous, and I feel like I’ve been stuffed into a blacksmith’s mold in this suit. You all don’t look much better! Well… except Rita," he added, blushing against his will.

  "Don’t be stupid," Yuf grimaced. "First of all, it suits you. And second, this is modern fashionable attire, the kind aristocrats and the bohemians wear. So you’ll have to adapt and keep up appearances. For Aktos’ sake, you don’t think everyone knows about your rural background, do you? To all of Aktida, you’re Count Kenai. You already deserve the title ‘Sir’ or at least ‘Your Highness.’"

  The governor turned out to be a young alven with long blond hair. He was waiting for them in the castle hall, seated near a table covered in food. Next to him sat a secretary with a stack of blank sheets, a quill, and an inkwell, ready to take notes.

  Kairu looked around in surprise. The hall’s decor radiated luxury—perhaps the king simply loved his subjects, or maybe the city treasury paid for the expensive furniture, rugs on the floors and walls, and the various decorations. Numerous paintings depicted, presumably, the castle’s past owners, as well as landscapes of Petista. On one canvas, to Kairu’s surprise, he saw bright summer streets lined with green trees; imagining the city without cold and snow seemed incredible.

  Gold was everywhere, gilding the picture frames, the legs of velvet-covered sofas and chairs, the railings of the staircase leading to the balcony under the ceiling, statues in the corners. Its shine was amplified in the blinding sunlight pouring through the tall stained-glass windows. By the doors—Kairu noticed as he turned around—soldiers in heavy black armor guarded the governor’s quarters.

  Upon seeing the guests, the governor stood and greeted them:

  "Welcome, gentlemen… and lady. Please, take a seat. I received a letter signed by Professor Nubel from the Southern Province, stating that a private expedition has discovered another shrine of the ancient Nocturns in Aktida, along with several artifacts of value… I must present a report on your actions to Mainor, as by law all discovered sanctuaries are declared historical monuments and fall under state protection.

  "I also know that Nubel has a document from the Academy of Sciences authorizing him to take certain artifacts from the sanctuary for research. You’re lucky," he continued, now studying them closely, peering into each of their eyes. "We trust Nubel, as well as the signature of the Head of the Petista Mages' Guild, so the inspection won’t be too strict. I assume you have an oral report?"

  For a few seconds, there was silence. Yuf spoke, carefully choosing his words:

  "Professor Nubel appointed me as responsible for the expedition. I’m his assistant, I have the documents…" He reached into his pocket, but the governor slightly shook his head, and Yuf continued, "However, I didn’t personally follow the expedition route or explore the shrine. Therefore, I will defer to the guide hired by Nubel, a native of Petista—you are familiar with Rita, I presume." (The governor nodded, now looking only at Rita.) "She… you could say she led the mountain journey, as I believed she had much more experience than the other members of the expedition."

  "Please," the governor said briefly. "You may begin the meal…" He picked up a fork and started eating, and the others cautiously followed his lead. Rita began her story, barely touching her food. She spoke at length, detailing every part of the journey from Petista to the Olmaer Ridge and back. How they moved along the route, explored the Torox, Arrox, Legorus, Makshell, and Rokastr mountains, managed to climb Rokastr, descend the hidden staircase to Lake Darius, and enter the sanctuary.

  For some reason, she didn’t mention the avalanche or the fight with the turand, nor the later fall into the crypt. Kairu and the others remained silent, not correcting her. In the end, Rita told the governor, without blushing, how a lich attacked them directly in the shrine hall and vividly described the battle scene in which all four of them participated. Kairu was impressed by how convincingly she lied, but he didn’t show it. The secretary scribbled feverishly on his pages.

  Eventually, Rita ended the story with how they made it to the hospital in Petista and then waited for one of the expedition members to recover. At that moment, the governor seemed to examine her more closely. When Rita fell silent, he suddenly asked:

  "Rita, did you leave the city at any point during the past month and a half?"

  Kairu looked at him in surprise. Rita’s face turned to stone. She stared into the governor’s eyes for a few seconds, then said expressionlessly:

  "I did. I went to Rheinvall. You see, Professor Nubel paid me my fee remotely, I received it from Mr. Lainter in the form of a promissory note and exchanged it for cash in Rheinvall, to buy furniture for my home and hire builders for renovations. You understand, I hardly saw the expedition members during that time because I had plenty of personal matters to take care of."

  "All right," said the governor, "let me clarify the question: did you happen to visit Mainor during that time? Or Vaimar?"

  "Absolutely not."

  "Very well…" the governor said slowly, though Kairu thought he caught a flicker of suspicion in his eyes. "Mr. Lainter? The same question to you."

  "I spent the entire time in Petista," Yuf said dryly. "As I said, I’m an assistant, secretary, and close aide to Professor Nubel. My presence in Petista wasn’t only related to the expedition. I had to settle some matters with the Mages' Guild and order technical equipment for Nubel, since our discovery of the Lake of Aktida, one of the most well-known artifacts, marks the beginning of new research. Moreover, new expeditions may soon begin in other parts of the Western Province…"

  "I understand," the governor interrupted. "I also assume, that your words can be easily verified?"

  "We are not hiding from anyone. There are many witnesses, there are receipts from my purchases," Yuf said shrugging. The governor nodded with satisfaction. "If you need them, I can give them. But I must ask, what prompted such…"

  "Simple curiosity. Don’t pretend you don’t know what’s happening in the world. Understand, you and Rita are… let’s say, mobile people, not tied down, and lately, the king issued an order to keep tabs on many pilgrims. Fear of treason. Relations with Vaimar have become… strained, and we… But there’s no need to get into politics. I have many other matters to attend to, and you are free to go.

  "Oh yes, Mr. Lainter. You’re close to Nubel, so I can share another message from the king: a discovery has been made that’s valuable to the entire state, and you may tell Nubel that after the New Year—perhaps in spring—envoys from Mainor will visit his estate."

  "I’ll be sure to pass that along." Yuf stood and bowed.

  "One more thing." The governor gestured to stop them. "I must see the diamond."

  Yuf seemed to be expecting this. He slowly looked up and said: "That now belongs to Professor Nubel, and no one has the right to lay claim to it against his will. You understand that, don’t you?"

  "Of course," the governor said coldly. "It’s just a formality."

  Yuf pulled a cloth bundle from the wide pocket of his robe and slowly unfolded the layers of fabric. The Lake of Aktida sparkled, outshining the gold, and even the sunlight streaming through the windows paled in comparison to the brilliance of the diamond. The room filled with radiance. The governor momentarily covered his eyes with his hand, then reached out, but Yuf at once hid the Lake back in his pocket.

  "I... am stunned," the governor said quietly, still squinting.

  "Goodbye, Sir," Yuf bowed again. "It’s time for us to leave."

  He was the first to step toward the exit, the others slowly followed. When Kairu looked back one last time before the hall doors closed, he saw the governor pacing the room, brows furrowed…