That’s Seteya.

  That’s Haras.

  (Here are illustrations of their images: )

  The next day was monotonous, heavy, and long.

  We rode almost without stopping.

  The sun barely rose above the horizon — the north was getting closer.

  Every time we dismounted for a short rest, Noxus would inevitably conduct an inspection of all the horses:

  — Poor Haras’s horse.

  I sympathize with him immensely.

  He’s carrying a mountain with arms and legs.

  That’s a crime, Zen.

  Haras grinned as if it were a compliment.

  — Elinia’s horse… impossibly proud.

  Too beautiful, too white, too “I’m better than all of you.”

  Elinia snorted just as proudly as her horse.

  — And the swordsmen’s horse is boring.

  Doesn’t say anything. Just stares.

  Probably philosophers.

  Tara said quietly:

  — We’re not philosophers.

  — Finn’s horse matches Finn.

  Finn jumped:

  — HEY! That sounds like an insult!

  Noxus snorted:

  — It is.

  We laughed so hard that even Seteya smiled faintly at the corner of her mouth.

  The cold intensified.

  Ice on the branches rang like glass.

  On the horizon, enormous white walls appeared — cities of the northern line.

  Silver Norris raised his hand and shouted:

  — TWO HOURS TO DORDWUT!

  The wind turned icy.

  A blizzard rose out of nowhere, as if alive.

  But we made it.

  Dordwut turned out to be smaller than the capital, but far more militarized:

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  hundreds of soldiers,

  dozens of tents,

  forges clanging,

  mages raising barriers,

  horses neighing,

  commanders shouting everywhere.

  Silver said to Seteya:

  — Take the rooms.

  — You’re responsible for the kids.

  — Haras and I are going to the commander-in-chief.

  — Fine, — she nodded.

  She turned to us:

  — Kids, stables first.

  Noxus said quietly to me:

  — Zen… seriously?

  Me — to the stables?

  I spread my hands:

  — Seteya’s order. I can’t do anything.

  — Buy me apples, — he grumbled. — A lot. I need to survive the pain of humiliation.

  We went to the market — there were so many warriors that we had to push through shoulder to shoulder.

  We bought apples — a whole sack.

  For all the horses.

  But for Noxus, of course, more.

  He ate neatly and only said quietly:

  — Thanks… and I didn’t talk the whole way… because there are too many ears here.

  His voice was more serious than usual.

  We led the horses to the stables, checked the knots.

  Noxus snorted but submitted.

  The inn was warm, wooden, but overcrowded.

  Seteya said to the owner:

  — We need two large rooms.

  The owner spread his hands:

  — Due to the influx of warriors, only one is available.

  — We’ll take it, — she cut in.

  We went upstairs, dropped our things, then went back down.

  The menu was simple:

  soup,

  potatoes with meat,

  and three drinks: water, beer, wine.

  I took potatoes with meat.

  The others grabbed whatever they could.

  We ate calmly until two men approached Seteya:

  — Hey, beauty… wanna sit with us?

  She slowly raised her eyes.

  Smiled predatorily.

  — I will.

  She stood up—

  and in the next second punched the man in the nose so hard he collapsed onto the table.

  From the other side, about ten more men rushed her.

  We froze.

  Seteya didn’t.

  She tore through them like leaves:

  elbow, knee, throat strike, grab and throw.

  One — into the wall.

  Another — over the table.

  Within a minute, the entire tavern lay on the floor.

  She walked up to one of the defeated men, grabbed him by the collar — and kissed him.

  Hard. Wild. As if checking whether he was alive.

  Then she let go and went upstairs.

  Finn whispered:

  — …She’s… insane…

  Astra bit her lip:

  — She’s… strong.

  We finished eating in complete silence.

  We went upstairs.

  Seteya wasn’t there.

  Finn sat on the bed, clenched his fists:

  — I’m worried about my parents… they’re in the southern lands.

  If the demons broke through the border…

  The words hung in the air.

  Elinia said quietly:

  — Finn.

  You’ll see them.

  We’ll protect them.

  The south is strong. They won’t fall easily.

  He exhaled heavily.

  Edgar suddenly started crying:

  — And mine…

  Grandfather… grandmother…

  They lived in the center of the capital…

  That was… the epicenter of the attack…

  Miella, Astra, and I hugged him, comforting him as best we could.

  And I… thought of my parents.

  And Mira.

  And the village.

  Where are they?

  Are they alive?

  I quietly asked Elinia:

  — And you… aren’t you worried about your family?

  She shook her head:

  — No.

  They left for the west a week before the attack.

  They’re safe.

  I let out a relieved breath.

  Twenty minutes later, Silver entered.

  — Where’s Seteya?

  We told him.

  He covered his face with his hand:

  — Damn it…

  Alright. I’ll deal with it later.

  Haras entered behind him.

  The room seemed to grow twice as cold.

  He sat down on the floor — a bed wouldn’t survive him.

  — It’s going to be tight, — Tara noted.

  Silver said:

  — Listen carefully.

  In two days, the legion moves out.

  Tomorrow, five more legions will arrive.

  They will march on the city captured by the demons.

  Siren tensed:

  — And us?

  — You’ll go on reconnaissance, — Silver replied. —

  Scouts are tied up.

  And you… are mobile.

  We nodded.

  Haras looked at us:

  — Sleep.

  We lay down.

  The room was cramped, noisy, tense.

  But we still fell asleep —

  exhaustion defeated fear.