The cold … it's too much … too much to bear … my shoulder burns despite it … my fingers may no longer be where they should … I lay in the puddle, the river, the lake, the sea of ice … hoping … to quiet the burn … hoping against hope … someone … anyone but him … finds me … takes me home … protects me … from the monster … the monster … the monster … that is my … jealous … dangerous … brother.

I close my eyes.

It was a dream. It was not real. My brother is a kind and honorable man. He is not crazy.

Why does my shoulder burn?

My brother was not jealous last night. He did not harm me. I know he would never do such a thing. He would go insane, become the man of my nightmare, if he did.

"He is alive."

Of course I'm alive.

"Are you sure, Mother?"

She doesn't respond. At least not in any way I can hear her.

I groan. My eyes are too heavy to open. My arms cannot move. My shoulder still burns.

"Has he woken yet?"

"No, Ranger."

A Ranger of Araluen? Here? I must leave. Soon his dark magic will be strong enough that I can't. Then what will become of me?