“Mama, get some food! Catrina and Luke need to leave now!” Jonothan yelled as they ran back into the inn.

“Now?” Sylvia asked as she came out of the kitchen. “What is the rush?”

“They have to beat the snow.” Jonothan said grabbing a bag and shoving some apples in it. Sylvia wrapped a loaf of bread and put it in the bag along with a jar of strawberry jam.

“Where are Luke and Catrina?” Sylvia asked.

“Packing.” Jonothan said.

“Be sure to give Catrina medicine also.” Marie said coming into the kitchen with a bottle of rum and stuck it in the bag.

“What is that for?” Sylvia asked looking at the bottle.

“To drink, mother.” Jonothan said shoving a medicine bottle in the bag.

“It snowed!” Corbin exclaimed as he ran into the kitchen.

“Can we go play in the snow?” Corah asked as she followed Corbin in. They both stopped and looked at everyone stuffing the bag.

“What is everyone doing?” Corbin asked.

“Packing.” Catrina said as she walked in behind them.

“Packing? For what?” Corah asked.

“I have to go home.” Catrina answered.

“You’re leaving?” Corbin asked.

“I have to before it gets too cold.” Catrina answered.

“Can’t you stay the winter with us?” Corah asked.

“No, sweetheart, I can’t. I have to go home.” Catrina said.

“Are you ready?” Luke asked as he walked into the kitchen.

“You’re leaving too?” Corah asked.

“Yeah, I have to take Catrina home. I promised her brother that I would.” Luke smiled. Corah and Corbin sighed. “Hey, we’ll be back.” He said bending down to them.

“When the war is over, I’ll take you to Ekafey and you can meet all the gypsies and pirates in the port city.” Catrina smiled.

“Really?” The twins asked.

“Promise.” Catrina smiled.

“Fine.” Corah sighed.

“I guess we can live with that.” Corbin added.

“Okay.” Luke laughed. “We have to go.”

“Bye, Luke. Bye, Catrina.” Corah and Corbin said hugging each.

“Bye guys.” Catrina said. “Jonothan,” Catrina said hugging Jonothan around the neck.

“See you, kid.” Jonothan said.

“Jonothan.” Luke said shaking Jonothan’s hand. “See you back at war.”

“Come back safe.” Jonothan smiled.

“Sylvia, it was great to see you again.” Catrina smiled.

“Take care of yourself, dear.” Sylvia said handing Catrina the bag they had packed.

“Marie, it was nice meeting you.” Catrina smiled.

“You too, princess.” Marie smiled.

“Good bye, everyone.” Luke said as they stepped out the door into the snow. They started walking towards the gate when they found Tattler in the street.

“Where are you two going?” Tattler asked.

“Home.” Catrina answered.

“Before it’s too cold.” Luke added.

“Oh,” Tattler said a little disappointed. “Well be safe. It’s a shame Jingles wasn’t here; he’s sick.”

“Tell him good bye for us.” Catrina said.

“Okay.” Tattler smiled. “Good bye, my lady.” He said hugging Catrina.

“Bye.” Catrina said as Luke motioned for them to start leaving. They walked out the gate without another word. In fact they made it around the entire wall without saying anything. It wasn’t until they reached the lake that Luke even stopped.

“You should rest.” Luke said pointing at a rock for Catrina to sit on.

“Luke, if we rest it will only make it more difficult.” Catrina said.

“If you keep walking on that leg it won’t matter very long because you wouldn’t be able to walk.” Luke said. “Besides, we’re cutting across the lake.”

“What?” Catrina asked.

“The lake is frozen. It would be a lot faster to walk across it than to walk five miles around it through snow that is up to the top of your boots.” Luke explained.

“Fine, let’s go.” Catrina said standing up.

“Ladies first.” Luke said. Catrina stepped onto the ice and slid a little but caught her balance.

“Well, come on, then.” Catrina said waving Luke onto the ice. Luke stepped out and walked over to Catrina.

“Ever been ice skating?’ Luke asked.

“Not in a long time.” Catrina answered with a laugh.

“Come on.” Luke smiled and grabbed Catrina’s hand. He slid a bit further out on the ice, pulling Catrina with him. He let Catrina go and slid further out. “Come on.” He smiled and waved for her to come. Catrina slowly slid over to him. “See this is fun.” Luke laughed. He slid further across the lake. He reached about the middle and fell through the ice.

“Luke!” Catrina screamed as she made her way across to where he had fallen in. Luke came back up through the giant crack in the ice. Catrina reached down and helped him out of the water.

“Thanks.” Luke said through chattering teeth. Catrina took out a blanket and handed it to him.

“Wrap yourself in this. We have a lot of traveling to do now.” Catrina said.

“Huh?” Luke asked putting the blanket around him.

“You’ll freeze out here. We have to get to my house before tonight.” Catrina said. “Can you make it?”

“Can you?” Luke asked.

“I think so.” Catrina answered.

“Then let’s go.” Luke said taking Catrina’s hand. He lead her around the crack and then safely across the rest of the lake.

“Aren’t you glad we cut across?” Catrina said sarcastically when they reached the other side.

“Shut up.” Luke chattered. Catrina smiled.

“You realize you are soaking wet, right?” Catrina laughed.

“What does that have to do with anything?” Luke asked as he took a step forward and his foot came out of his boot.

“Your boots are going to stick in the snow.” She smiled. Luke sighed and grabbed his boot.

“Can you walk on top of the snow?” Luke asked.

“What do you mean?” Catrina asked.

“As in if you stood on top of the snow and started walking you won’t sink back in?” Luke asked.

“I can try.” Catrina answered.

“Good. That will make it go even faster.” Luke said. He stepped up on top of the snow and pulled Catrina up. He was right. In about another hour they could see the house.

“Come on.” Catrina said going as fast as she could. In another half hour they reached the front gate. “Tritni!” Catrina yelled as she jumped the gate and ran towards the door. Tritni swung the door open and screamed as Catrina came running into the house.

“Catrina! Oh my god!” Tritni screamed as she jumped on Catrina and hugged her. “I’m so happy to see you!”

“Where is my mother?” Catrina asked.

“She went to Ekafey until next year.” Tritni answered. “How did you get home?” Tritni asked.

“Luke brought me.” Catrina answered. “Luke!” She exclaimed and then ran back out the door. Luke had passed out in the snow at the front gate.

“What happened to him?” Tritni asked running out.

“He fell through the lake. We need to get him inside.” Catrina said trying to lift Luke. Tritni grabbed one arm and Catrina took the other and slowly they got him inside and into one of the guest rooms.

“Take off his clothes.” Tritni said as they pulled him into the washroom.

“What?” Catrina asked almost dropping him.

“He needs a hot bath. I’ll start the water and you can undress him.” Tritni said.

“Me? Why can’t you undress him?” Catrina asked.

“Because you’re the one who wants to.” Tritni laughed. Catrina rolled her eyes dropped Luke and took off his shirt and boots.

“That’s where I draw the line. I’m not stripping him.” Catrina said.

“Baby.” Tritni said. “Fine I will. You get out and I’ll put him in the tub.” Tritni said. Catrina stepped out of the washroom and waited outside the door. She heard a splash and then Tritni called her back in. “See, it wasn’t that bad.” Tritni said when Catrina looked at Luke sitting in the tub.

“Holy!” Luke yelled as he suddenly woke up. “This water is hot.”

“You’ll get use to it.” Tritni said.

“Tritni.” Luke smiled when he saw her. “It is so nice to see you again.”

“Thank you, Luke.” Tritni blushed.

“Just a question,” Luke said. “How did I get in this tub?”

“Tritni was the one that took your pants off.” Catrina said. “Because that was what you were really wondering.” She added. Luke laughed.

“Are you the one who is going to wash me then?” Luke smiled.

“Nope, I have to take a bath myself.” Catrina smiled. She walked out of the room with a laugh.

“Do you really need me to wash you?” Tritni asked.

“I’m kind of frozen.” Luke laughed. Tritni raised an eye brow. “Or I could just wait until I defrost.” He quickly said.

“The water is hot enough.” Tritni said.

“No kidding.” Luke laughed.

“I’ll go get you some clothes to change into.” Tritni said as she walked out of the room. She walked up the stairs to find Catrina standing at the top looking down the hall at Markus and Eliza’s bedroom. “Catrina?” Tritni said.

“Hmm?” Catrina said snapping back to reality.

“Are you okay?” Tritni asked.

“Yeah.” Catrina said walking into her room and closing the door behind her. Tritni leaned up against the door and could hear Catrina crying. Tritni went into Fredric’s room, grabbed a pair of clothes and quickly went back downstairs.

“Would Fredric be okay with me wearing some of his clothes?” Luke asked when Tritni set the clothes on the stool in the washroom.

“Fredric isn’t here.” Tritni said. “What happened in the war?”

“What?” Luke asked.

“Did anything happen in the war?” Tritni asked.

“Well, it was a war.” Luke said not really knowing what Tritni was asking.

“Did anything happen to Catrina?” Tritni asked.

“Oh yeah. A ton of stuff happened to her. She fought and then had to rescue me and then got attacked and almost died. It was crazy.” Luke answered.

“What about Fredric or Markus? Anything happen to them?” Tritni asked. Luke looked at Tritni a little confused.

“You didn’t hear?” He asked.

“Hear what?” Tritni asked a little nervously.

“Markus was killed.” Luke said. Tritni looked shocked. “I though Fredric would have written back to tell you.”

“No.” Tritni said as she sat down to take it in. “Poor Catrina.” She sighed.

“What about Catrina?” Luke asked.

“She is going to take it pretty hard.” Tritni said.

“Tritni, he’s been dead for about a month now. A little over, actually.” He said. Tritni sighed.

“But how often did she have the constant reminder that her father is dead?” She asked.

“She is using his cane.” Luke said.

“But she hasn’t been home where there isn’t something to distract her form his death. She’s alone right now.” Tritni said. “Just trust me on this one.”

“You’d know her better than me.” Luke said.

“I need to fix lunch.” Tritni said. “Can you manage to get out and dressed in the next half hour?”

“Yeah.” Luke said. Tritni smiled and left the room. A few minutes later Luke came into the kitchen. “Need any help?” Luke asked.

“Here? No.” Tritni answered. “But you could go check on Catrina for me.”

“Okay.’ Luke said. He walked up to Catrina’s room and knocked on the door. “Catrina?” he said slightly opening the door. Catrina was sitting against the wall crying. “You didn’t get very far.” Luke smiled realizing she had simply walked into her room and sat down.

“Go away, Luke.” Catrina cried not even looking up at him.

“That, I can’t do princess.” Luke said kneeling in front of her.

“You shouldn’t be up here anyway, you should be resting.” Catrina said.

“And you should have taken a bath by now. So, neither of us are doing what we should be doing.” Luke said. Catrina looked up at him. Luke smiled sympathetically when he saw the tear streaks down her cheeks. “Come on” he sighed as he took her hands and helped her up. He took her into her washroom, sat her on the stool in front of the sink, and filled the sink with warm water. “If you aren’t taking a bath you should at least wash your face.” He took a washcloth and soaked it in the warm water.

“Why are you doing this, Luke?” Catrina asked as Luke gently wiped her face with the washcloth.

“Because I know what it is like to watch your parent die and how you feel afterwards.” He sighed. Catrina breathed heavily.

“Thanks, Luke.” Catrina said finally. Luke smiled as he put the washcloth down.

“There.” He smiled and handed her a towel. “Don’t you feel better now?”

“A little.” She sighed as she finished drying her face. Luke kissed the top of her head and started walking away.

“Tritni is fixing lunch, if you want to come join us.” Luke smiled and left the room. He went back downstairs and found Tritni finishing lunch.

“Where is she?” Tritni asked.

“She will come down if she wants to.” Luke said.

“If she wants to?” Tritni asked. “She’ll never eat that way.” Tritni went upstairs and Luke quickly followed. Catrina wasn’t in her room so Tritni went to Catrina’s studio. When she tried to open the door, it was locked. “Catrina! Get out here right now!” Tritni yelled through the door.

“Go away!” Catrina yelled back.

“You get out here right now or I’ll kick the door in.” Tritni yelled.

“I’ll kill you if you do.” Catrina threatened.

“Catrina!” Tritni kicked the door. Bang! A shot came from inside the room and through the top of the door.

“Kick the door again!” Catrina dared.

“Fine! Stay in there! See if I care!” Tritni yelled. She then turned to Luke. “You see why you never let Catrina do something ‘if she wants to?’” She sighed and went back downstairs.

“Catrina, come down and eat.” Luke said knocking on the door. Bang! Another shot went through the top of the door. “Okay, I’m leaving.” He said and went back downstairs. After they finished eating they left a plate out for Catrina. But it was still there at dinner and the next morning for breakfast. “How long is she going to stay in there?” Luke asked when he saw the plate.

“Until she loses her inspiration. That could be anytime between two days and two months.” Tritni sighed.

“Two months?” Luke asked. “Without food or water she would die.”

“No, she has enough to last a year. This isn’t the first time she has done this.” Tritni said.

“Is there any way we can get her out faster?” Luke asked.

“We can only wait.” Tritni sighed. ~~*~~

Every day Tritni would check on Catrina and try to convince her to come down, but it never worked. After a few weeks Tritni stopped checking on her. One day she was pacing in front of the door trying to decide whether to knock or leave when she heard the door unlock. Slowly Tritni went to the door.

“Catrina?” Tritni asked nervously as she opened the door to the studio.

“Your pacing was giving me a headache.” Catrina said angrily.

“You have been in here for over a month.” Tritni said.

“So?” Catrina snapped.

“Are you okay” Tritni asked.

“I’ve been busy.” Catrina said pointing to a large painting she had done of Markus. Tritni smiled.

“Oh, Catrina. It’s wonderful.” She said. Catrina smiled as she set the painting against the wall.

“He was.” She said and then threw her knife into his chest. “Until he was skewed.” She said angrily. She took the knife out and sliced his leg. “His damn leg! He was in too much pain to fight back!” Her eyes filled with tears as she stabbed the painting a few more times. “They should have cut off his head!” She cried as she sliced through his head. “That way I wouldn’t have had to watch him die!” She stabbed the knife into the corner and drug it across the painting.

“Catrina, please.” Tritni nervously.

“Now you want to take him from me too?” Catrina cried. She picked up the painting and threw it across the room. “Take it! You want my paintings?” She kicked over the piles of canvases as the paintings flew everywhere. “Take them! What do you want from me?” She cried.

“Catrina.” Tritni sighed as she realized Catrina was talking to the fates. Catrina ran into the library.

“My books? Take them!” Catrina said and started knocking books off the shelves then gave up and just threw the entire bookshelf down. “My ring?” She asked throwing her ring over the balcony. “What do you want from me?” She cried again. Luke came running up the stairs as Catrina ran into her room.

“Tritni what is,” Luke started to ask.

“Shush.” Tritni said cutting him off. “Catrina, you aren’t well.” Tritni cried from outside her room.

“My health too?” Catrina cried. “Take my pride, joy, hope!” She said throwing knick-knacks she had around her room. “Do you want my clothes? The leisure and luxury of my life?” Catrina asked opening her wardrobe and throwing all of her dresses on the floor. She ran out on the balcony. “What do you want from me?!” She yelled out. “My life?” She yelled as she pulled out her gun and pointed it at her head. “Take it!” She screamed.

“Catrina!” Tritni and Luke both yelled. Catrina stopped and dropped the gun. She collapsed on the ground and started crying. Luke tried to go in but Tritni motioned for him to stay where he was.

“Catrina?” Tritni asked softly as she walked out onto the balcony.

“Go away, both of you.” Catrina sighed.

“I’ll come back in a few hours.” Tritni said. She picked the gun up and walked out. Luke stood in the door way for a few seconds and then left. Catrina hadn’t moved when Tritni came back. “You should come downstairs for dinner tonight.” Tritni said picking up Catrina’s dresses and setting them on the bed. “Luke is really worried about you.” Catrina looked back at Tritni with tear streaks down her face and dark circles under her eyes. “Come on.” Tritni said picking her up on her feet. “Food will do you good.” Tritni started leading Catrina to the door. However, Catrina stopped, ran back towards the balcony and jumped over. “Catrina!” Tritni yelled in horror as she ran towards the balcony. Catrina had landed just fine and started running. Tritni ran down the stairs where Luke had come when he heard Tritni scream.

“What happened?” Luke asked as Tritni ran past him and out the kitchen door to the garden.

“Catrina!” Tritni yelled as she ran to the back of the garden and looked out on the rest of the land. “Catrina!” She yelled again but Catrina wasn’t going to answer and Tritni couldn’t see her in the darkness.

“What is going on?” Luke asked as he ran up behind Tritni.

“Catrina has run away.” Tritni said.

“Run away? Where?” Luke asked.

“I don’t know. It will take at least a week to search the grounds. Even longer when we’re looking for Catrina.” Tritni said.

“Perhaps we should just leave her alone for a while.” Luke sighed. They went back inside and ate dinner.

“So,” Tritni said as they started cleaning. “I guess you’re going to have to tell me all about the war since Catrina isn’t here.”

“What do you want to hear?” Luke laughed.

“All of it.” Tritni said. “Start when you left the house.”

“When I left?” Luke laughed.

“Yeah, it isn’t every day a girl gets to hear a first hand Luke of Othneil story.” Tritni laughed.

“Well, after I left the house I started towards Forestown. I stopped by the lake and met Corbin and Corah.” Luke laughed.

“Corbin and Corah?” Tritni asked.

“Yeah. Eight year old twins. They live at an inn in Forestown and invited me to stay with them. Only because they ruined my dinner. Of course the way we got to the inn was horrible.” He said.

“How so?” Tritni asked.

“First we had to climb the wall. Then there was this thing called the cart. It’s a metal cart with a lever that Corbin hit and then this track appeared from nowhere and we flew around the entire city practically. When we finally made it to the inn I felt sick and then Jonothan came.” He said.

“Jonothan?” Tritni asked.

“Their older brother. He is a great guy. So Jonothan let me stay at the inn for no charge when he found out who I was. Then, the next morning was when every one was called to war. So I went to war.” He said.

“Were you scared?” She asked.

“Not as much as I should have been.” Luke laughed. Luke finished his story when they had entered the forest.

“Why are you stopping?” Tritni asked.

“Because it is past midnight and we will need our sleep if we are going to search the grounds tomorrow.” Luke smiled.

“Fine. But you’re going to have to tell me more tomorrow.” Tritni said.

“Of course.” Luke smiled. “Good night, Tritni.” Luke said as he walked off to his room.

“Night.” Tritni said as she went to her room. The next morning Luke had made breakfast. “Luke, what are you doing?” Tritni laughed when she came into the kitchen.

“Making you breakfast.” Luke smiled.

“You’re the guest. I should be making you breakfast.” Tritni said.

“Nah, no one in the family is here. I won’t tell.” Luke smiled. Tritni laughed and sat down at the small table in the kitchen. “I don’t remember this table being here the first time I came.” Luke said as he sat a plate down in front of Tritni.

“It was in my room and was broken during the attack. I just finished fixing it in the fall.” Tritni said as she took a bite of her food. “This is excellent. What is it?”

“Gypsy mush.” Luke laughed.

“What?” Tritni asked.

“Yeah it’s a recipe that I got from the gypsies when they saved us.” Luke said.

“You were saved by gypsies?” Tritni asked.

“Oh yeah. When Jonothan, Catrina and I came back the gypsies picked us up off the highway and took us to Forestown. Then Catrina performed in their play.” Luke said.

“Catrina performed in a gypsy play?” Tritni asked.

“Well, narrated. She was too hurt to actually perform.” Luke said.

“Narrated? What was the story?” Tritni asked.

“Pirate Morgan and the sea serpent.” Luke said imitating Menoe.

“It was the girl who killed it you know.” Tritni said.

“How did you know that?” Luke asked.

“Because I’ve seen Menoe’s gypsies perform it before.” Tritni laughed. “And I already knew the story.”

“Yeah, Catrina got a gift for performing with them.” Luke said.

“What did she get?” Tritni asked.

“She never opened it.” Luke laughed.

“It was a shame she couldn’t have performed.” Tritni said. “How did she get hurt?”

“She was attacked by a spy. It was really bad. She almost died. It was really strange though because she took on five goblins without getting a scratch and then one guy ends up breaking a lot of bones, stabbing her through the shoulder and shooting her.” Luke said.

“She took on five goblins?!” Tritni asked in amazement. “Wait, shot!?” She asked anxiously.

“In the hip.” Luke said. “That’s when we saw her life mark, the scar from her tumor and found out about her being a storm chaser and getting hit by lightning.” Luke said.

“All that from being shot?” Tritni asked.

“Oh and that Jonothan’s father was the one who had done Catrina’s surgery.” Luke said.

“Dr. Jacobin?” Tritni asked. “I know Jonothan now. He is such a good guy.”

“And a good friend. Did I tell you about when his best friend Derric almost died but then miraculously lived?” Luke asked.

“No.” Tritni said.

“Yeah. Derric was crushed by a troll. Dienif almost buried him until Catrina saw he wasn’t dead.” Luke said.

“Dienif? How is he?” Tritni asked.

“Oh he is fine. He is a good fighter.” Luke said; Tritni nodded. “Hey, do you know what kind of business Dienif has?”

“Well, it’s kind of complicated. He is a traveler and it deals with trade in a way.” Tritni said. “But that is about as much as I can tell you.”

“Because it’s all you know or it’s all you’re allowed to tell me?” Luke asked.

“Weren’t we going to search the grounds today?” Tritni smiled.

“Right, let’s go.” Luke laughed. They went out to the stables first.

“Well, her horse is still here, so she hasn’t left the grounds.” Tritni sighed.

“You know, instead of looking for her how about we leave her alone?” Luke asked. Tritni looked at him.

“You were the one who suggested looking for her.” She said.

“Well, obviously she hasn’t left the grounds so we don’t have to worry about her. And perhaps if we just wait she will come back or you will think of the most likely place she would go so we don’t have to waste weeks looking for her.” Luke smiled.

“Fine. We might as well, a storm is coming.” Tritni said looking up at the sky.

“Storm chasers.” Luke sighed.

“No, I’m not as good as Catrina.” Tritni laughed. “But the giant dark storm clouds do help a bit in predicting storms.” Luke looked up at the storm clouds and laughed.

“They are convenient.” He laughed. “Come on.” They went inside and started a fire in the main hall where they sat in the giant chairs. “Is this what you do when it storms?” Luke asked.

“Well, usually we dance or read.” Tritni said.

“Did I tell you about the fairy ball we went to?” Luke asked.

“A fairy ball?” Tritni laughed.

“Seriously. Me, Jonothan, Marie and Catrina all went to the town hall and laid on the roof. Then the fire bird fairies started flying over us and invited us to their ball. They shrunk us and we danced with the fairies. And then the snow fairies came and it started snowing and then they left when the sun rose. It was amazing.” Luke said.

“How do fairies dance?” Tritni asked.

“However they want. They flipped and spun and flew all over.” Luke said. Tritni still didn’t believe him. Suddenly Luke had an idea. “I bet Catrina painted a picture of it.” He smiled. He grabbed Tritni’s hand and pulled her up to Catrina’s studio.

“I don’t think we should go in there.” Tritni said as she looked at the paintings Catrina had kicked over.

“She isn’t here to stop us.” Luke said as he stepped in. Tritni took a candle and lit the candles inside the room although the window was letting in plenty of light. Luke picked up a few paintings and sighed as he looked at them. “She is very good.”

“It’s her life.” Tritni said. One painting he picked up had two Ekafeyan boys.

“Who are they?” Luke asked showing Tritni the picture.

“Duke and Barron, about five years ago.” Tritni answered.

“So this is Duce and Barron.” Luke smiled as he put the painting back down.

“Oh wow.” Tritni said picking up a painting. “You were right.” Tritni said showing Luke the picture. The painting showed both types of fairies and the four all dancing and laughing. Luke could almost hear the music again. Almost feel the coldness of the silver snowflakes glittering from the snow fairies’ wings. “It’s beautiful.” Tritni sighed. Luke picked up a few paintings from the bottom of a pile.

“I think I know where she is.” Luke said.

“Where?” Tritni said putting down the fairy painting and walking over to him.

“Wherever this is.” Luke said showing her the paintings. Each painting had Catrina and Markus in a specific room doing something together.

“I don’t know where that is.” Tritni said. “I’ve never been there.” She walked to another pile and started looking through it. Luke set the paintings outside and went back into the room.

“It’s amazing. This is really her whole life.” Luke laughed as he picked up another painting of either Duce or Barron, he wasn’t sure.

“Here is a surprise.” Tritni said holding up a painting for Luke to see. As Luke looked up he saw himself.

“Me?” Luke laughed as he took the painting.

“That must have been when she met you in the dining hall.” Tritni said.

“How do you know that?” Luke asked.

“The way you’re standing and your eyes. You have obviously just seen a beautiful girl.” Tritni laughed. Luke smiled and set the painting out with the others he had put out there. He picked up another painting of a beautiful Ekafeyan girl.

“Who is this?” Luke asked. He looked over the painting. The girl had her hair pulled back with green and pink ribbons and purple flowers. She wore a short purple shirt and a short black skirt and huge black boots. A smoking cigarette hung on the side of her smile.

“Elandra.” Tritni sighed.

“She is very pretty.” Luke said.

“Stop drooling, she’s Duke’s girl. And he’d kill any man who would try and take her away from him, even the great Luke of Othneil.” Tritni said.

“I was just saying.” Luke said as he quickly put the painting down.

“Ah, good old Dienif.” Tritni smiled as she saw a painting. Dienif was sitting on a throne with a boy standing on the arms behind him. They were both laughing about something. Neither Luke nor Tritni knew what they were laughing about but it made them start laughing.

“Who is the boy?” Luke asked.

“Gabe.” Tritni answered.

“Dienif’s son?” Luke asked. Tritni nodded. “But Dienif said he was twenty. How old is that painting?”

“About fifteen years I guess.” Tritni said.

“What? Catrina was three.” Luke said.

“Actually she was four. Catrina’s birth day is the first snow, so this spring the painting will be fifteen years old.” Tritni said.

“Her birthday is the first snow?” Luke asked as Tritni put the painting down. Tritni nodded.

“Do you want to go back downstairs now?” Tritni asked. “This room is giving me a headache.”

“Sure.” Luke said. They went back downstairs and sat in the main hall. Luke had brought down the paintings of Catrina and Markus in the room they didn’t know where it was. Luke leaned them against the wall and stared at them for at least two hours.

“Luke?” Tritni said.

“Hmm?” Luke said not really paying attention.

“You’ve been staring at the paintings for a while.” She said.

“Wherever this room is, that’s where she is. I can feel it.” He said.

“But we don’t know where the room is.” Tritni said.

“I know.” Luke sighed.

“How about you tell me more about the war. You stopped when you got into the forest.” Tritni said trying to take Luke’s mind off of the paintings.

“Yeah. Catrina had told Fredric about this huge storm coming and we got into the forest just before it started hailing. Inside the forest it was pitch black. You couldn’t see anything. So we’re walking through this forest and Catrina falls asleep and falls off of her horse.” Luke said.

“Falls off?” Tritni asked.

“I caught her.” Luke laughed.

“Oh, good.” Tritni sighed with relief.

“Actually, no. Dienif got pissed. He started yelling at her and me and the rest of the men.” Luke said.

“Dienif yelled at Catrina?” Tritni asked with amazement.

“He didn’t know who she was. He though she was a mute servant that Eliza sent with Fredric. So, Dienif got mad and I argued with him and we got to rest for the night. Of course, the next morning Jonothan woke us up and told us Fredric left us behind.” He said.

“Fredric left you behind?” She asked.

“He didn’t want Catrina in the war.” He said plainly.

“True.” Tritni said.

“Well, turns out it was a good thing that they left us. Jonothan, Catrina and I walked through the forest all the way to Daborenya.” He said.

“You went to Daborenya?” Tritni asked.

“Up to it; never set foot in it though.” Luke laughed.

“Was it as scary as everyone says?’ She asked.

“It was lighter than the black forest, but not by much.” He laughed. “But the scary part was the goblins coming at us.”

“Goblins?” Tritni squeaked.

“Yeah. There were four hundred and fifty. Jonothan, Catrina and I took on ten of them and then found a spy and found out the goblins were planning an ambush. So we went to the campsite and warned everyone. Of course, Markus knew Catrina had come the second her saw her. But she didn’t get in too much trouble.” Luke smiled.

“Yeah. Markus and Catrina always had a special relationship. They had the same love and longing for adventure. They would go for one week every year to the,” Tritni paused as a revelation came to her, “the hunting shed!” She exclaimed.

“What about it?’ Luke asked.

“That’s where they always went. That’s where the paintings are.” Tritni said happily.

“That’s where she is.” Luke smiled.

“Of course, that was always their place.” Tritni said. “Why didn’t I think of it before?”

“Well I’m glad you did.” Luke smiled. “How do I get there?” he stood up.

“Luke there is a snow storm going on right now. It doesn’t matter if she was two steps from the door, you’d freeze before you took one.” Tritni said.

“When the storm is over I’m going to go find her.” Luke said.

“Okay.” Tritni said. It was another week before they could leave. But the second the storm stopped Luke jumped up.

“The shed.” Luke said.

“Go past the horse stables about five miles and you will see it about two miles towards your right.” Tritni said.

“I’ll be back later today.” Luke smiled. He walked to the horse stables, five miles past that and two miles to the right. He reached an old shed and stepped in. The shed was filled with fur and animal heads. It smelt like musk and pine. He could smell a fire burning. “Catrina?” Luke asked as he stepped further into the shed. He stepped into the main room. In the middle of the room was a couch facing the fire. Luke could see Catrina lying on the couch. He walked up to the couch and looked down at her. She was curled up under a fur blanket and had Markus’ journal beside her. She didn’t even look up at Luke, she just stared at the fire. “Tritni said I would find you here.” Luke smiled. Catrina didn’t respond. “Not going to talk to me?” he asked, Catrina didn’t answer. “That’s okay. I brought you something though.” He smiled he took a bag off his shoulder and set it on the ground. “I’m not going to open it for you.” Luke smiled.

Catrina sighed and sat up. She opened the bag and pulled out the paintings she had done of her and Markus. Her eyes began to water but she didn’t say anything. She just looked at the paintings, she traced the lines of her and Markus. She sighed heavily but still didn’t say anything. Luke could tell she was holding back tears.

“I thought you might want these.” Luke smiled. “That’s pretty much all. I should probably be getting back now.” He stood up and picked up the bag. “I shouldn’t leave Tritni at the house all alone. You know how boring it can get when you’re all alone. Oh yeah, she says hi and that she wants you to come back.” Luke said. Catrina didn’t say anything. Luke bent down and kissed her cheek. “Come back when you want. I’m going back to war in spring. I hope I’ll see you before then.” He said as he walked away. He made it a few feet out the door before he heard it open and slam shut. He stopped and turned around to see Catrina walking towards him. “You coming back?”

“Yeah.” Catrina sighed. Luke smiled and put his arm over Catrina’s shoulders. “Thanks, Luke.” She smiled.

“No problem, Kid.” Luke smiled. Tritni was waiting for them when they got back to the house.

“How are you feeling?” Tritni asked.

“Hungry.” Catrina laughed weakly.

“Come on, let’s get you some food.” Tritni laughed as she took Catrina inside. Tritni started making a meal as Catrina and Luke sat at the table.

“How did you find those pictures?” Catrina asked.

“I told Tritni about us dancing in the fairy ball and she didn’t believe me and I figured you had painted it. So, we went up to your studio and started looking through your paintings.” Luke said.

“We found all sorts of paintings. I even found that one you did of Dienif and Gabe on the throne when Gabe is standing on the arms.” Tritni said.

“Really? That was a really old painting. Gabe was what, six?” Catrina thought.

“When you kicked your paintings over, it was easier to find the ones on the bottom.” Tritni said.

“You said you went up there looking for the fairy painting because Tritni didn’t believe your story?’ Catrina asked with a laugh.

“Yes.” Tritni answered.

“And you have believed every other story he has told you?” Catrina laughed.

“Well, fighting goblins in a war sounds more believable than getting shrunk and dancing with the fire bird and snow fairies.” Tritni defended.

“Please tell me he didn’t tell you the lie he told about me fighting five goblins.” Catrina sighed.

“You didn’t fight five goblins?” Tritni asked.

“Oh, I did. But whenever he told the men about my adventure he completely exaggerated the whole thing.” Catrina laughed.

“Well, I’ve only gotten to the part where we warned your father of the ambush.” Luke said.

“But what about the five goblins?” Tritni asked.

“That, my dear, is a story for another day.” Luke smiled.

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