Four more days passed before Kayla was convinced that both Seth and Gloria were ready to travel. When it was time to leave, Seth and Gloria were ladened with food, water, wood, and winterwear.

  “The girls and I patched them up as best as we could,” Kayla said handing Seth and Gloria each a pair of mittens and a brown patched coat lined with wool. “They should keep you warm.”

  Seth looked at his coat and grimaced. I don’t need this, Seth thought. I don’t want to carry something I-

  “You better wear your coat, young man!” Kayla’s scolding voice cut into Seth’s thoughts and she jabbed a finger at him. “I’ve seen you working in the snow without anything to keep you warm. I have no idea how you haven’t frozen to death!”

  Seth opened his mouth to protest when Gloria interjected. “I’ll make sure he wears his coat.” She glanced at Seth and mouthed: Just take it off later. Seth grumbled internally but pulled on the boiling coat and shoved the mittens in his pocket.

  Kayla nodded, satisfied. “Take care of yourselves,” she smiled warmly at them. Then she reached forward and wrapped Gloria in a hug before leaning in and muttering something in her ear. Seth couldn’t quite make it out, but whatever it was, it encouraged Gloria.

  William stepped forward and held out a hand to Seth. “Thank you for all your help around the farm. I feel ready for this freakish weather now.”

  Seth firmly shook William’s hand and nodded. “Thank you for your hospitality. If it weren’t for your kindness, Gloria would be dead.”

  William smiled and returned Seth’s grip. “You’re quite welcome, young man. I hope you find the answers you’re looking for.”

  “Thank you, I hope so as well.”

  Seth began to drop the handshake when William held on and looked Seth in the eye. “Be brave; be bold.”

  The words caught Seth off guard, his hand shook for a moment and he held William’s gaze and swallowed. “Yes sir.” William nodded, then he dropped the handshake and stepped back with Kayla.

  Seth turned to Gloria. “Are you ready to go?” Gloria smiled and nodded. Seth pulled his bag onto his back then opened the door for Gloria. “Then let’s go before we lose any more daylight.”

  William and his family followed Seth and Gloria out the door and called out farewell wishes. Seth and Gloria headed down the drive towards the road, deep snow crunching under their boots and their breaths misting in the shivering air. When they reached the main road, Seth and Gloria looked back and waved one last time, before turning and pushing through the snow towards Westfjord.

  William’s farmhouse had been long lost on the horizon when the sun began to set. Gloria gratefully pulled her coat around her and looked up at Seth who scanned around them looking for a place to spend the night. His coat had long been stripped off and was tied around his neck billowing in the wind like a cape.

  Seth looked back at her and pointed into the grass. “Do you feel strong enough to clear a spot in the grass? I still don’t think it’s a good idea to camp on the road?”

  Gloria looked at the snow-covered grass and grimaced. “I don’t think so. My…plant magic doesn’t really work in winter.”

  Now it was Seth’s turn to grimace. “I had a feeling that was the case,” he sighed and looked around him again.

  He’s upset! Gloria thought, panic rising. She bit her lip and scrambled for a way to appease him. “Wait!” she cried and threw her hand out towards the grass. “I’ll…I’ll give it a try! Who knows? May…maybe it’ll work this time!” She closed her eyes and desperately tried to call to the grass.

  “Wait! Gloria!” Seth cried, spinning back towards her. “I-I didn’t mean it like that! You don’t need to prove anything! I believe you!”

  Gloria didn’t listen. She forced her magic on the grass. Move. But the grass didn’t answer – it was asleep. Gloria tried again with more force this time. Move! Please! The frozen ground snapped the magic back at Gloria. Her vision blurred for a moment, and she fell back into the snow.

  “Gloria!” Seth called as he ran back to her. “Are you alright?”

  Gloria shook her head trembling and covered her eyes. “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t worry, it’ll be alright, we’ll just be careful walking through the grass.”

  Gloria sighed, then pulled her hands away and looked up in Seth’s face. He gave her a little smile and held out a hand to help her up. “Don’t push too hard.”

  Gloria took Seth’s hand and let him pull her up. “Come on,” he said carefully stepping through the grass, “Let’s make camp.”

  Gloria followed him through the grass. He was disappointed in her. She could feel it. That woman was right. She was making him take on everything alone. What was she doing to help him? She looked up and watched Seth stomp out a small clearing for them. Nothing, but being a pretty little doll.

  Seth untied his coat and spread it on the ground. “There we go,” he said brushing off some snow, then patted it. “That should keep you nice and dry.”

  Gloria’s heart twisted. There he went again, sacrificing his own comfort so her delicate little body didn’t have to suffer. “I’ve got my own coat,” she pulled her coat tight. “You should sleep on your coat so you don’t get wet.”

  Seth shrugged. “I’ll be fine. I’ve slept in worse,” he patted the coat again. “Please sit.”

  Gloria grimaced at the coat while Seth dug through his bag, then she gingerly stepped forward and sat on it. The coat was still warm from when he wore it. I need to make this up to him.

  “You hungry?” Seth asked, pulling out a loaf of bread.

  Gloria curled up in her coat. “Not really,” she answered.

  Seth looked up and raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure?” Gloria nodded. He shrugged and ripped a hunk off the bread and began to chew away at it.

  Gloria watched the sunset from over the tops of the grass. “I’ll take the first watch for you.”

  Seth swallowed his bite and shook his head. “Don’t worry about taking a watch, I’ll take care of it.”

  “Please,” Gloria insisted looking back at him. “Let me help, I don’t want to be a burden.”

  Seth went quiet and looked down at the snow and was quiet for a long time. “You are not a burden.”

  Gloria’s heart stopped. I don’t believe you.

  “I want to take the first watch,” Gloria insisted. “I want you to be able to rest. If you watch the whole night, when will you sleep?”

  Seth opened his mouth to argue, but then he sighed and pursed his lips. He knew she was right. “Alright…” he conceded, then he pointed a finger at her. “But if you need anything, wake me up.”

  Gloria nodded. “I will.”

  Seth lay back and closed his eyes. Within a few moments, he was asleep.

  The waning moon rose, and Gloria watched over Seth as he slept – his breathing was slow and steady. The first half of the night would be over soon, but Gloria was determined to let him sleep the whole night.

  It's only fair. she thought, picking blades of grass and weaving them into chains. You watched over me that first night on the road. Now it's my turn.

  Seth’s breathing suddenly quickened. Gloria looked up and watched him jerk in his sleep and mumble in distress. “Seth?” she called. “Are you alright?” He didn’t answer and continued to mumble.

  Must be a nightmare, she thought and hurried over to his side. She put out her hand and drew a golden sigil. A warm glow formed around her hand and she reached out to touch Seth’s dampened forehead. But before she could, his body went rigid, and his eyes opened, and black eyes stared back at Gloria.

  The glow in Gloria’s hand faded and she stared at the black eyes shaking. It was her! The strange woman!

  “Why hello Gloria,” The woman said, twisting Seth’s face into a smile. “Watching Seth while he sleeps? That’s a little naughty, don’t you think?” Seth’s body put a finger to his mouth tauntingly, before sitting up and putting his head in his hands.

  Gloria inched back, watching his body closely. “What are you doing here?” she shakily demanded.

  The smile on Seth’s face was tugged wider and Gloria shuddered. “I wanted to see you,” the strange woman cooed.

  Gloria’s face paled. “Me?”

  Seth’s head nodded, then slowly cocked at her. “I wanted to make sure you aren’t getting the wrong idea about Seth. Especially after that intimate hug.” Gloria blushed and she tried to avoid the dark black eyes.

  A tinkling chuckle rang through the air. “Oh darling,” the woman laughed. “That’s nothing compared to the things I’ve seen. As a fellow woman, I thought it prudent to come and tell you that Seth doesn’t think of you the same way that you think of him.”

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  Gloria’s eyes flared and her head shot up, meeting that smirk on Seth’s face. His body leaned forward. “I’d hate for you to have your heart broken.”

  Gloria clenched her fists. “That’s not true!” she cried. “He just doesn’t know it yet! Kayla said-!”

  The woman threw Seth’s head back in a laugh. “You mean the old crone who knew Seth for only a few days and never saw what was in his mind? I know what’s on his mind. I know who and what he thinks about, and darling…” Gloria met the dark black eyes that stared into her soul. “You make him uncomfortable.”

  The words pierced Gloria like a dagger. She tried to swallow back the pain, but her lip began to tremble.

  “Didn’t you see how he pulled away from that hug?” Seth’s body stood, and began to saunter around Gloria. “He thinks you’re desperate, clingy, and obnoxious.” Seth’s body paused and the woman let out a scoff. “Seth deserves someone better than you and you know it.”

  The knife twisted in Gloria’s heart and a tear trickled down her cheek. She’s…

  There was a chuckle. “You don’t even know what haunts him at night. The dreams that torment him.” Seth’s body leaned down, and the woman whispered in Gloria’s ear. “But I do.”

  Furious tears ran down Gloria’s cheeks. She spun around and raised a hand, but Seth’s black eyes stared back at her unfazed.

  “Are you going to strike his face?” Gloria’s hand faltered and she stared helplessly into the black pits where his blue eyes should’ve been. The woman cackled and offered Seth’s cheek. “Go on, little one. Hit him and explain how it happened.”

  Gloria swallowed back a lump, shaking. I…I can’t! She dropped her face in her hands and wept, her shoulders heaving.

  The woman knelt Seth’s body beside Gloria and rubbed her shoulders. “If I were you,” she whispered again. “I would pack up and leave now. You just weigh him down and burden him. So why stay?” Seth’s hand held out Gloria’s bag. “You should just leave.”

  Gloria looked up at the dangling bag. She’s right… she thought.

  Then she snatched her bag from Seth’s hand and dashed off through the snowy grass. I am a burden! I am useless! That’s all I ever am to anyone!

  Gloria sobbed as she pushed her way through the grass. Where was she going? Gloria didn’t know, nor did she care. She just needed to get away. Away from Seth. Away from those dark haunting eyes.

  He’ll be fine without me…her vision blurred with tears. He was fine before…He was going to leave me in Westfjord anyway.

  Gloria looked back for a moment, then stumbled on a rock. Her ankle twisted and Gloria fell into the snow. She cried out in pain and held her ankle. I can’t stop! She tried to stand, but her foot screamed in pain.

  Gloria sucked in her breath and collapsed to the ground again. Now her ankle throbbed painfully. Gloria’s breath hitched as another sob escaped her. She raised a hand and tried to draw a few golden sigils in the air, but her watery vision disrupted her focus, and the sigils faded away into nothing.

  She stared at the air where her sigils had been. She was so pathetic she couldn’t even cast her magic properly!

  I give up… Gloria drew in a shaky breath, then curled up in the grass, and cried herself to sleep.

  Seth felt suspiciously well-rested. He furrowed his brows as birds chirped overhead and the sun’s first rays filtered through the tall grass. Did Gloria let me sleep all night? he wondered. She was supposed to wake me up!

  He rubbed his eyes and groggily sat up. “Gloria? Why didn’t you wake me?”

  There was no answer.

  Seth blinked. Is she asleep? He glanced around their small campsite – no sign of Gloria.

  Seth frowned and a hint of concern grew in him. “Gloria?” he called a little louder and paused to listen.

  Still nothing.

  Maybe she wandered off for some reason? He climbed to his feet, trying to ignore the knot of anxiety beginning to form in his chest. He peered over the grass and called out. “Gloria? Can you hear me?”

  Only a faint breeze answered him.

  Where is she? Worry overtook concern and Seth spun back to their camp, his eyes desperately scanning for clues. Did something happen? Is she okay? On the ground, Seth found his coat folded neatly beside his bag, but Gloria’s coat and bag were missing. His heart dropped. Did she leave?

  There was a faint stirring within him and Seth heard the strange woman speak in his mind. She left around midnight.

  He frowned; something wasn’t right here. “Why?” he demanded. “Did you have something to do with this?”

  The woman feigned innocence. Now that’s just hurtful. I tell you where she went, and you turn and accuse me, she shook her head and tsked. Ungrateful…

  Seth narrowed his eyes. She was lying! He could feel it. “Gloria wouldn’t run unless something her pushed to it,” he scanned the ground searching for more clues. Aha! He found small footprints leading away from the camp into the grass. He snatched his bag from the ground and tied his coat around his neck.

  How do you know? the woman challenged with a wide grin. She is hiding secrets just like you. How much do you really know about her?

  Seth paused for a moment, afraid. Was she dangerous? Maybe she was just playing him! Then Gloria’s smile and her kindness flashed through his mind. Seth shook his head and followed Gloria’s trail. He was being ridiculous - She was messing with his mind.

  It’s pointless to look for her, The woman said as Seth pushed through the grass. She doesn’t want you to follow her.

  “Shut up,” Seth growled. “You and I both know that’s not true. You did something!”

  The woman smirked. Fine, I can tell I’m not fooling you. I did do something, she leaned in and her malicious smirk widened into a grin. I helped her realize that it would be best for her to leave. That she’s just a burden to you and you’d much rather be alone.

  Seth froze for a moment. “How did you…?" Then realization dawned on him. His eyes widened and he shook. “You used me!”

  The woman chuckled. I did. Then her eyes narrowed with glee. Oh, you should have the look on her face when I used your face to tell her how useless she is. I wouldn’t be surprised if she couldn’t stand to see you now.

  Seth’s heart pounded – he had to find her! “Gloria!” he cried, now running through the grass. “Gloria!”

  You don’t need her. The woman purred and slid a chilled finger down his cheek. You have me.

  Seth’s skin crawled and he mentally wrenched himself away from her touch. “Keep your hands to yourself!” he spat.

  The woman cackled. You are mine; I can do whatever I wish.

  “Not yet, I’m not,” he retorted continuing to blaze through the grass. The strange woman receded into his mind and he scanned the grass, hoping for any sign of Gloria.

  Then, from the corner of his eye, Seth noticed some grass rustle. He froze. “Gloria?” he called softly. No one answered, but the grass slowly rustled again. He narrowed his eyes, crept over, and parted the grass. On the ground, he saw Gloria trying to crawl away from him.

  Relief washed over him. “Gloria!” he cried pushing the through the remaining stalks. “Thank Crim you’re alright! I’ve been-!” He reached out to touch her when she pushed him away.

  “Leave me be!” she spat, then Gloria collapsed and fell on her right foot. Her face twisted into a grimace, and she cried out in pain.

  Seth’s gut wrenched. She’s hurt! “Gloria…” he said, slowly coming down to her level and reaching a hand towards her foot. “What happened? Are you alright?”

  Gloria let out a sob, then shook her head. “Just go,” she said, waving him away. “You don’t want me around! You said so yourself: ‘It’s best for everyone’!”

  The slap of her bitter words stung. Seth swallowed. I did say that.

  “You don’t need me,” Gloria hiccupped at him. “So just go!” Then she turned and awkwardly started to crawl away again.

  Before Seth realized it, his hand whipped out and snatched Gloria’s arm. “Wait!”

  Gloria flinched and spun back to face him. “Let go!” she screamed, trying to wrench her arm from his grip.

  “No!” Seth cried, desperately holding on. “You said we were friends! You said we were going to see this thing through!”

  “Well, that doesn’t really matter if I’m just a burden to you, does it?” Hot tears spilled down Gloria’s cheek as she glared at him.

  Seth’s heart ached and he refused to let go. “It does matter! Because you’re not a burden to me!”

  Gloria stopped fighting and slowly looked up at him with a tear-stained face. “She said…” her lip trembled. “She said I weigh you down…”

  He gritted his teeth. “She is a liar! Do not trust anything she says. Especially when it’s about me.” Then his voice softened. “You are not a burden to me. You are not useless.”

  Gloria shook her head and looked away. “But you were upset that I couldn’t move the grass!”

  He loosened his grip on Gloria’s arm. “Is that what’s bothering you?”

  She nodded.

  Seth sank back into the snow and released Gloria’s arm. “I wasn’t mad at you,” he said gently. “I was frustrated about the situation, but not mad at you.”

  Gloria sniffled. “Really?”

  Seth nodded. “Yeah, your reason made sense to me,” he shrugged. “I mean, I don’t know much about your magic, but if the ground is frozen, then it stands to reason that the grass can’t move.”

  Gloria searched Seth’s eyes desperately. “So…you’re… you’re not disappointed in me?”

  Seth shook his head. “No, not at all,” then he glanced at the ground and rubbed his head. “It may help to understand, that I’ve never had to worry about anyone else before, just me.” He looked up at her and gave her a half smile. “Now all of a sudden, I need to consider someone else’s needs: Safety, food, warmth… I’ve never had to think that way before. It’s…new.”

  Gloria sniffled again. “Do you want me to come with you?”

  Temptation reared its head as Seth stared into Gloria’s quivering eyes. This was his chance! He could tell her to go, and she would! But Seth smiled and pushed the temptation away. He laughed gently. “Now who was just telling me about how I was stuck with her?”

  A smile began to spread across Gloria’s face. Something tightened in Seth’s chest, those strange feelings were coming back. He cleared his throat and tenderly reached out to Gloria’s foot. “Can I take a look at your foot?”

  Gloria winced and nodded as he gently untied her boot. “I think I twisted it or something,” she said as he gingerly touched her swollen foot.

  Seth grimaced then laid her foot down and gently packed snow around it. “Does that help?”

  She tensed for a moment, then relaxed and nodded before staring at her foot. “I’ve been debating using my healing on magic on it.

  “Are you sure?” Seth asked, wiping wet hands on his pants. “It drained your energy last time.”

  “It always does that,” she grimaced and looked up at Seth. “If I don’t, it could take a couple of days to heal. But if I do, I’ll be able to walk tomorrow.”

  Seth weighed the choices in his mind. He didn’t want to lose any more time than he already had. Then an idea came to him, and he nodded. “Alright, after you cast your healing spell, I’ll carry you.”

  Gloria’s face flushed and she stammered. “Oh...Y-you don’t need to carry me! I’ll be fine here.”

  Seth shook his head. “I don’t mind,” he looked east and knit his brows together. “This way we reach Westfjord faster. Plus, I don’t want to risk getting caught in another storm.”

  He looked back at Gloria who avoided his gaze. “Alright,” she answered softly and tucked a curl behind her ear, before raising her hand to write golden sigils in the air.

  Seth watched her weave her magic. The mysterious sigils flowed through the air until they melted into her ankle. The ice woman’s words came back to him: She hides secrets of her own…

  Seth shook his head. She promised to share her past.

  Once you share your own, he reminded himself

  Seth grimaced. There was only so much he could share with her. She’d be in danger if she knew too much.

  She’s in danger as long as she stays with you.

  “It’s done,” Gloria’s strained voice shook Seth out of his thoughts. He looked down at her foot; the swelling had all but vanished.

  “Perfect. Ready?” he asked giving Gloria his back. She wrapped her hands around his neck, then Seth heaved her up onto his back. He glanced back at her. “Comfortable?”

  Gloria nodded. “I’m ready.”

  “Alright,” he panted. “Let’s go.” Then he turned and followed the trail back to the road.

  Soon Gloria’s head drooped and nestled onto his shoulder. Seth swallowed and listened to Gloria’s soft breaths that warmed his back. Before he knew it, his face grew hot, and the strange feelings began to intensify.

  Think of something else! he thought, trying to figure out how to distract himself. He ran his mind through old mental exercises Master Naboth had taught him and tried to recite complex magical theories, but the longer he went, the more he began to fumble over his words.

  He growled in frustration. What was going on with him? He never had this problem before! Then an epiphany struck him, and he stopped dead in his tracks. Was Gloria responsible for these feelings? Did she cast some kind of spell on him?

  He glanced over his shoulder at her. Her face was pale and her shoulders sagged in exhaustion. No, that’s ridiculous, he thought, shaking his head.

  He cleared his throat and berated himself for being so stupid. Focus, Seth. You need to get to Westfjord and figure out who she is. He tried to bury the feelings and hurry back towards the road, but the strange feelings continued to simmer in his mind.