Over the next week, winter began in earnest, as the snow began to pile up and temperatures dropped even more. Meleri’s cryomancy training went into overdrive as a result, and my stock of warming potions began to dwindle. Not that I was complaining. I could always brew more, and I would rather see them used than Meleri suffer the side effects of overindulging on ice mana. Frostbite was no joke, after all.

  As I bottled the latest batch of potion, I looked out the window. The midday sun was high in the sky and shone down on the white world outside. Being outside right now must be blinding. The front door opened, and I could hear Meleri and Bahruun enter while discussing theory, followed by the padding of feet as Millid rushed over to greet them.

  I corked the last bottle and left the potion room. “You’re in early, did something happen?” Meleri turned around as she was taking her outer robes off. “Nothing to worry about, just a miscast on my end that froze the clearing over, so we need to wait until tomorrow for the magic to dissipate.” Meleri looked ragged, as if she just finished a marathon.

  I leaned against the door to the potion room. “I see. Do you want an invigoration potion? It would help with the exhaustion.” Meleri hesitated. “Would it cause potion sickness?” I pushed off the wall and gave her a shrug. “Depends on how long ago you quaffed the warmth potion.” Meleri hesitated for a moment and then glanced at Bahruun. He noticed the glance and looked up from where he was conversing with Millid. “Hmm? Oh, it was about two hours ago, so it should be good.”

  I nodded and walked back inside the potion room, then returned with a small light green potion. “Just a warning, it’s rather tart.” I handed the potion to her, and Meleri opened it up and took a swing. Then pulled the bottle away while coughing. “Yikes, you weren’t kidding.” The sound caused Irane to wake up from where she was napping in front of the fire. “Hmm, I can smell the rhubarb used in that potion from here among a cacophony of other herbs of varying levels of tartness.” She glanced at me, and I could hear the amusement in her voice as she spoke.

  I just gave yet another shrug. “A rejuvenation potion uses a ton of tart herbs for its recipe, so the taste gets rather overwhelming from it. Besides, I brew for function, not taste.” Irane nodded as she got to her feet and stretched, then padded over to Meleri and began to nudge her. Meleri reached down and began to scratch Irane behind the ears, earning a delighted sigh from the Great Wolf. Then Meleri finished the potion and grimaced. “Well, it works as advertised, I feel energized, like I’m hopped up on a quadruple espresso with triple sugar.” She tossed me the bottle, and I sent it into the kitchen for rinsing. “The upside is that you don’t suffer any energy crashes from the potion like an espresso would.”

  The door to the hallway opened, and Rathina came in with Soot on her shoulder. “I don’t know, Soot, I just don’t see any way to get it… Oh, you’re all here.” I walked over and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. “So what are you two discussing?” Rathina held up a hastily scribbled diagram. “I was wondering if we could use ice to make a temporary portal I could use to get home.” Soot flew over to my shoulder. “We think it’s possible, but the logistics for making it solid enough to contain the rift…” I nodded slowly. “Makes sense. What do you think Bahruun?” I handed him the paper and let him take a look. “Hmm, it… should be doable but-” there was a sudden noise from outside. I looked at Bahruun, who shook his head.

  “Now what in the world could that be?” I headed towards the door and after tossing my robes and shoes on I opened the door. Outside were about eight people riding a wagon dragged by some kind of six-legged furry creature I could not recall seeing before. Although despite the shaggy fur, it looked decidedly… reptilian. I headed outside and closed the door behind me as the eight all hopped off their wagon. “I believe that’s close enough, state your business here.” They ignored me as they kept advancing. The nerve. “I said, that’s close enough!” I reached out and blasted them with a repelling hex as I spoke, sending them staggering backwards. “State your business on my lands. Now.”

  The eight of them glanced at each other, and I could feel magic being channeled. “Oh, no you don’t.” The voice came from behind me, and I saw Meleri at the door, with Bahruun and Rathina right behind her. Before she said anything else, Meleri reached out with her own spell. The effect was immediate as I could see and hear the snow at their feet suddenly reach up and begin to turn to ice, rooting them in place. “Nice one, sis.”

  Bahruun and Rathina now entered the porch as well. Bahruun seemed surprised at what he saw, while Rathina seemed… annoyed? The reaction of the intruders was also unexpected, the moment Rathina and Bahruun arrived they just froze up. Rathina sighed. “It’s fine; you can let them go.” I glanced at her. “Care to explain why?” She stepped up beside me. “They are the silent guard, my personal bodyguards. I am not sure how they got here, but here they are.” I was going to ask if she couldn’t just ask them, but then, considering their name, they were likely mute.

  That raised another question , though: why would Rathina have bodyguards? Just then, there was movement from the wagon as another cloaked figure hopped out of it. Small, crooked and covered in furs. The snow was so deep that the figure was almost completely buried when it jumped out. “Blasted snow! Blerrix hates this wretched place.” The voice was hoarse and raspy as Blerrix hurried towards the front and out of the deeper snow. “Milady, you’re safe, Blerrix was so worried about you.” Rathina did not seem overly pleased. “Not so worried that it didn’t take months after my initial rescue to track me down.”

  Blerrix visibly flinched. “Milady, Blerrix did his best, getting out of the infernal realm is hard enough and-” Rathina hopped off the porch and towered over the small thing. “Enough. I am pretty sure my father sent you is the reason you are here, more than any loyalty you yourself feel towards me.” Blerrix glanced up at Rathina but said nothing, only gave a whimpering growl. Rathina reached down and picked up Blerrix by the scruff of his neck. “I take it you have a way to get me home then, since you are here?” Blerrix flailed wildly in her grasp.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  “Yes, yes, Milady. Blerrix has a way back, mortal servants will get Blerrix, Silent Guard and Milady home, you’ll see.” Rathina nodded, then bit her lip as she turned to look at me with an uncertain expression. I gave her a gentle and reassuring smile in response. “I can summon you back later, and you know my mirror's rune key, so we can chat whenever. And again if you want to visit, all you have to do is call and ask for me to summon you.” I was saddened that she was leaving so soon, but it wouldn’t be right to ask her to stay.

  Besides, I was wondering if prolonged stays in our realm were having a detrimental effect on her health. She was hiding it well, but she wasn’t as energic as when she first arrived in my home. These days she spent more and more time asleep.

  Rathina dropped Blerrix, hopped onto the porch and pulled me into a close embrace. “I’ll miss you.” “I’ll miss you too.” Then, before she could move away I gave her a kiss. “Safe travels.” She nodded and hopped back down and walked past Blerrix, who seemed rather shellshocked at what he just witnessed. “Stop staring like a Menlog at a charging hellhound, Blerrix, and move your ass, lest you get left behind.” Blerrix blinked a few times as if realizing where he was and what he was doing again, then scurried after Rathina. “Right away, Milady!” Soot gave me a light nibble to get my attention. “Not going to ask about her bodyguards?” I shook my head. “She’ll tell me when she’s ready.” I reached up and scratched his beak. “I will miss her though, and our study sessions.”

  I watched as Rathina took a seat in the wagon and bundled a bunch of furs around herself. This obscured her infernal features, and now she looked like an astonishingly beautiful woman riding a coach pulled by some exotic steed. She waved at me and blew me a kiss, which I returned. “Don’t be a stranger, darling!” I called after her as the beast pulled the wagon into the forest, heading back the way it came.

  As it disappeared into the trees, I felt strangely hollow. I was getting used to having Rathina around, and now she was just gone. Not permanently, of course, but even so. Well, there was nothing I could do about it. She needed to get home, and to deny her that would do her more harm than good. Meleri glanced at me and then opened her mouth for a moment. Then paused and shook her head. “I’ll make some lasagna for dinner today. Some good food should help distract you.” I looked at Meleri for a few moments. “Who are you, and what have you done to my sister?” I gave her a weak smile as I asked. Meleri chuckled. “Right where you left her. Now come on let’s get back inside.” She didn’t need to ask me twice.

  Over the following week, the temperatures dropped even further, as what I thought was a cold snap turned out to be a cold wave. The intensity of it was so great it forced Meleri and Bahruun to do short and small-scale lessons on the porch. The risk of freezing to death by walking to the training glade and staying out there for hours, even with magical aid was simply too great. I was reading up on some more spatial magic when the mirror lit up with magic and a few moments later Rathina’s radiant visage appeared in it. As her surroundings faded in as well, it brought with it a rather surprising sight, a large obsidian black room decorated in various obviously valuable finery. At her side was a small imp dressed in a small burgundy tuxedo and wearing a black top hat. It was Blerrix, no doubt. In the background, we could see what were obviously servants hurrying back and forth.

  As for Rathina herself, she was now dressed in a tasteful dark purple dress that contrasted surprisingly well with her scaly legs and pale skin. Her horns there were now sporting beautiful gold ornaments, and her clawed hands were wearing gloves that matched her dress. She looked even more beautiful than before, as her lack of energy was obviously no longer a thing. Her recovery was such that she seemed to glow with a radiant luster that was even stronger than when I originally met her. Her return to the infernal realm was obviously good for her.

  “Morgana, my dear, how delightful to see you.” I couldn’t help but smile. “Likewise, my beloved Rathina, it warms my heart to see you made it home safe.” I rose from my chair and walked over to the mirror. Rathina gave me a beautiful grin. “I did, Blerrix and my guards made sure of that. It was overbearing but I can understand their vigilance. If I am being honest, I wanted to contact you days ago. However, but my father wanted to be sure my feelings for you were genuine and refused to let me do anything before they were sure I wasn’t enchanted or anything. Blugh, I’m a grown woman and he still treats me like a child.”

  Blerrix looked up at Rathina with a disapproving grimace. “Milady, you are the heir to-” He received a slap on the back of the head from Rathina’s tail. “Blerrix, shut up, you are still on thin ice for taking so long. In fact, the only reason I am being lenient with you is that your delay let me meet Morgana.” I could see Blerrix showed a mix of annoyed, fearful, relieved, confused and, as he glanced at me, hateful. Rathina cleared her throat. “Now, as I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted, Father insisted, which is why it took me some time to contact you, I hope you don’t mind.”

  I shook my head. “Not at all, I am just glad to see you made it home safely, though I will say it’s good to see you again.” Rathina seemed quite pleased. “Likewise. At any rate, I have been recuperating since my return. I didn’t even realize how drained I was until I set foot in the infernal realm again. I will be staying here for a while longer I think, to recharge and rest, I’ll be in touch though. See you around, my dear.” She blew me another kiss, and the connection faded.

  I went back to the chair and sank into it as I exhaled. As I did, I felt something land on my hat. “I take it you’re happy Rathina made it home safely, am I right, Mother?” Winter hopped off my hat and onto my lap. I reached out and began to scratch her gently under her beak. “Indeed. It’s a weight off my shoulders to know she’s fine. I will admit I wasn’t expecting her to be an Infernal Noble before seeing the bodyguards and the like.” Winter chirped lazily as she moved closer, and I began to pat her head gently as well.

  I began to suspect it when I saw the bodyguards and Blerrix, but she gave no hint of such beforehand. Then again, if she was summoned for so long by that monster of a faun, then he likely took most of her valuables from her for his own gain. I shuddered as I really didn’t want to dwell on that idea. Besides, it didn’t matter. What mattered was that Rathina was home safe, we would talk again soon, and I could invite her over per summoning as soon as she felt up for it. Just then Millid entered from the kitchen together with Irenji. “Hey, Morgana, you’re grinning from ear to ear. Did something good happen?” I turned my attention to her. “As a matter of fact, it did.” It did indeed.