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‘He’s alive, if not safe and well.’ She stood right in front of Skaldi. How could she make him understand?

‘We must find Erann. Where have you been?’ Her cry was plaintive, and Arrow hurried to her side to support her.

‘You didn’t tell me you’d be abandoning me here! What can I do from here other than nothing? Did you see him? Do you know where he is?’ Her last words were spoken on trembling lips. Gods she was cold, and so scared and excited all at the same time.

‘Sereh, come, you’ll freeze.’ Emma stepped forwards and covered her in a deep brown fur, which was welcoming despite her need to speak with Skaldi. ‘Drink this, it’ll help you.’ Emma placed a steaming cup of tea between her shaking hands, steadying them with hers. Emma lifted the cup towards Sereh’s lips and she tasted the bitter brew. She looked at Skaldi. He returned her expectant look, his eyes watching her carefully.

‘Skaldi saw Erann, in your dreams,’ Emma translated. ‘It’s the first time since Erann disappeared that Skaldi’s been able to connect with him. Skaldi’s been on Vatna Jokull all this time, hoping to sense Erann. Sereh, what did you do?’ Emma’s words were filled with suspicion.

‘Do? I didn’t do anything. I fell asleep, and I saw him. He says he’s in a tunnel. It doesn’t end. There’s no way out. He’s injured, badly. We need to find him.’

‘You spoke to him?’ Emma’s tone remained incredulous but not doubtful.

‘No, not really. I think he saw me, but I couldn’t touch him, and he couldn’t get to me. He was talking to himself, telling me he loved me. He’s alone and in pain, so much pain.’ Her voice cracked.

Once more, Emma turned to Skaldi. Sereh looked back and forth between them, trying to glean what they might be saying to each other, but there was only silence.

She finished her warm drink, and reached to rub her hands through Arrow’s fur. Following her bath, much of Arrow’s moulting fur had come away. Sereh welcomed her heat, even as she looked out at the view from the ledge.

Erann was out there, in desperate need of her, and she had no idea where he was. How could she find him? How could Skaldi find him?

‘Come.’ Emma guided her back inside, her hands on her shoulders.

Sereh twisted under her, but Skaldi moved off in the opposite direction.

‘What? Is that it? I have a vision of Erann, the first glimpse of him since he disappeared, and we’re not going to do anything with it?’ she seethed. She ground her frozen heels in defiance of Emma’s attempts to move her.

‘Yes, Skaldi’s going to do something about it, Sereh. He was on his way here to feed. Once he’s done so, he’ll continue his quest to find Erann. As you say Sereh, this is the first clue we’ve had that Erann’s alive. Skaldi needs to think about what to do now. He’s starving. You’re rigid with cold. Come with me. We’ll warm you while Skaldi feeds. Then, you can speak to him again, with my help.’

Grudgingly, Sereh allowed Emma to lead her away from the ledge. She realised she was trembling from head to toe, despite the fur draped around her. She needed a hot bath to return the feeling to her toes. Arrow walked beside her, occasionally licking her fingers in reassurance. Finn trailed in the procession carrying the mugs and spare furs.

‘Did you find me, Finn?’ she asked.

‘No, the Speaker found you, and called for Emma. I came with her. And Arrow.’

‘What of Pal?’ She suddenly worried the baby had been left alone.

‘Don’t worry. Elen has charge of Pal. His crying alerted us you were missing,’ Emma added.

Sereh’s frozen face cracked into a brief smile of thanks. Finn was a good friend to Arrow.

The walk back to the common room felt longer than ever. With every step, she felt warmth stirring in her frozen body. It sparked and stung while spreading, reminding her of when she was retrieved from the crevasse. Emma helped her through the curtain.

Then she stopped abruptly. Jon was there, racing through the common room. His worried expression turned to one of pleasure as he saw Sereh. She didn’t know why. He’d always been so sullen in the past. Maybe he was simply caught up with the worry of what had happened to her.

‘Don’t,’ Emma blocked Jon’s path, her tone firm, even as Elen watched on, holding Pal on her amble hip.

But Jon stepped swiftly around Emma as though she’d not spoken.

‘Oh, Sereh,’ he gasped. ‘Where have you been?’ He wrapped her tightly in his arms, even as she veered aside, startled by what he was doing. His kiss landed on her lips before she could force her head away. Her hands came up, pushing against him, although she was still so cold there was little strength to them.

She pushed him away, reaching for his chest, and stepping back at the same time.

‘What by the Gods are you doing? Get off me, Jon. Leave me alone. How dare you touch me.’

‘What?’ He stepped away from her, lifting his hands clear as though she’d hit him.

His grey eyes blazed, his face turning from one of joy, to one of stone.