A Song of Ice and Liars – Sheryl, the Fae-Touched – 16.12

---

The autumn rains at last have given way to light winter snow. It is a chill morning, the sun barely cresting over the horizon as Sheryl and Astra fly to Fort Ettin to meet with Faye and the others. The Daughter of Summer is bundled up in a thick, off white, fur lined muffler and heavy, woollen, asymmetrical, fey-style cloak in a soft periwinkle blue. Swirling feathers and delicate snowdrops shimmer in silver and white embroidery that shift depending on how the light touches it. Her telltale gold and pink tresses are tied up and back from her face in a winding knot of braids, all hidden underneath a large hood which protects her ears from the cold trying to nip at them. As the two descend from the skies, light catches the top of the fae-bard’s hooded head and for a moment there is seen a crown-like pattern made of holly leaves with blood red berries.

“Have you ever been to the Winter Court before Merla?” Astra asks as they come closer to the ground outside the curtain wall of Fort Ettin.

“I have not had the pleasure – another reason I am anticipating this journey,” Sheryl responds, sincerely. “Summer and Winter have always been at odds ever since I can remember. It’s waxed and waned over the cycles of the moon but never has it been so intense as in recent years.” She pauses. “Perhaps Winter’s early elimination from the Amaranthine Games was the tipping point…”

“The Games Queen Titania won,” Astra confirms.

“Yes.”

Astra’s wings pinion a little harder in the last few feet before they land on the cold, hard packed dirt road outside the magical fortress. Light from the sun finally pushes its way over the horizon beneath the soft clouds, first touching the stones of the curtain wall, then the shimmering form of the winged unicorn and her mistress. The fae-bard feels it like a warm embrace, somehow comforting as well as encouraging.

“Summer and Winter, like Love and War, are two sides of the same coin,” Sheryl muses. She looks up to the sky, a soft glow coming from underneath her hood. “I wonder if there could be a way…”

---

The few snowflakes that were falling in the early winter morning on the Material Plane are nothing compared to the curtain of ice and snow Sheryl and Astra find themselves in. The fae-bard can still hear the echoes of the minor note and taste wintery pine in the back of her throat from her Plane Shift spell that landed them in the Winter Lands in the Feywild. Much like the Summer Court, Sheryl knew there would be no way for them to teleport directly into the heart of Winter, but with Faye’s help, she was able to get them as close as she could.

It was impossible to see through the buffeting flakes and crystalline ice flying through the air. Sheryl drew her hood down further, wanting to preserve as much of the make-up Faye had done to make her appear more like a Winter Eladrin child, but also to hide her circlet beneath her hood. It would instantly mark her as from the Summer Court and Sheryl had agreed with Faye’s want – they should not start a fight.

“Where are the others?” Sheryl asks Astra, hunching down as she attempted to see through the whiteout. “I cannot see, though I think I can sense them.”

“I see Faye and Elchior,” Astra says. “They come this way.”

A light blooms on Wren whilst Pieni produces a magical flame that somehow does not instantly go out. Everyone draws towards them, and once they’re together, Sheryl offers to create a telepathic link between them all. This makes communicating instantly easier as they all can speak directly into each other’s minds. Ghesh offers to clear a pathway through the deep snow walking just ahead of Faye, who starts to lead them in the direction they need to go.

It was hard going for everyone. Sheryl had the advantage of not having to wade through the deep snow since she was on Astra, but the small woman was buffeted even more because she was farther up. She didn’t find it hard to keep warm, though Sheryl was no fool when it came to the extremities of the seasonal courts. If Summer could be blazing hot, then Winter would undoubtedly be freezing cold.

---

“What are your names? Mine’s Faye.”

“Faye…” the little pixie repeats. Sheryl can see the creature’s mind turning, deciding how much to say. The pixie glances to her and the others from the safety of the purple half dome before answering. “Well I’m May. That’s Cay.” She points to the blue sprite beside her. “Where are you from? I haven’t seen you around here before.”

“I’ve not been back in a while but I am from here.”

May squints at Faye suspiciously.

“Hmmm… Yeah. I guess you do look like you come from here. But…” she looks over to Igrainne. “Something’s off. You don’t look like the others.”

“What do the others look like?” Faye asks with a raised eyebrow. Sheryl hides a smile. The snow continues to swirl around them.

May cocks her head to the side looking at Faye. “Can’t put my finger on it, but, okay. I guess you fit right in here.”

“She seems the curious sort,” Astra discerns.

“Whilst her companion looks uncomfortable…” Sheryl remarks, curious at this dichotomy.

Faye looks back to them and shrugs. Elchior impatiently paws at the snow.

“Well, we are needing to press on. Would you be able to show us the way? It would be very helpful for us.”

“Yeah! Sure thing! Just follow us!”

The young pixie dashes out of the protective bubble and it instantly collapses, the sprite barely having time to prepare himself for wind and flurries that start to assail him.

“These two do not seem like they are from the Winter Court,” Sheryl observes to Astra.

“How can you be sure, Merla?” Astra asks.

“Very easily actually…”

Making sure to keep her harp covered, Sheryl strums it softly, the wind quickly carrying the notes away from her. Her eyes start to glow softly a lighter blue and she reaches her mind out to detect the thoughts of the pixie.

…Ohmygosh this eladrin asked to see my art! I hope they like it. It’s probably my best piece yet – and of their court too! Perhaps that will help us, if they like it maybe I can…

Sheryl shifts her attention to the sprite.

…it’s cold, it’s miserable and I don’t like it here…wish we could go back…

There it is.

“Greetings,” Sheryl says down to the sprite, her eyes warm. “Are you doing okay? I know it’s really horrible weather if you’re not used to it.”

Cay scowls but tries to hide it behind a smile. It makes it look like he’s baring his teeth at her. “What do you mean used to it? It’s always like this here. I love it.”

Sheryl tilts her head and raises an eyebrow. Even for a fey the true feelings behind his words are plain. She looks into his eyes and he shivers a little and it’s not from the cold.

“You don’t have to lie to me.”

Cay blinks, surprised at the softness in her voice. He shoulders sag a little as he looks over to May chittering away to Faye.

“Ah, well-…” Cay hesitates, glancing back up to her. He sags a little more. “Okay. We’ve not been here for that long we’re just, uh… visiting. But it’s not the greatest gig, I can tell you that. We used to be at the Summer Court,” Astra’s ear twitches but Sheryl’s face remains impassive, “but we ran into some trouble and now we’re kinda hiding out here for a little bit.”

“What happened?” Sheryl asks sincerely.

The sprite sighs, glancing to May who is shaking her head emphatically. But Sheryl can see he has been waiting to open up and is tired of the brave face he’s had to put on.

“So, there’s this place, ya see. We used to live there. It’s called Evenbloom. It’s very nice, but we got a bit uh… excited, and we went to this Mundane Folk town that’s close by, it’s called Daring Heights. And, yeah, we had a lot of fun there, it was great! Met some people, good times. B-But um, well… when we came back we got into some trouble and just thought that, ya know, with everything going on it would be good to lie low for a little bit.”

“It is ironic,” Faye chimes in, a half grin on their face. “Sometimes, when you are pranking people, you end up pranking yourself.”

“Word,” Cay agrees, relief sweeping across his face. It was clear none of them were going to punish them in any way. Sheryl was even starting to feel protective if not a little responsible for the two lost fey.

“Who caused you trouble?” Sheryl questioned gently. “Were you kicked out of the Summer Court? Or is this more of a choice, to try to lay low in the antithetical court from the one you call home?”

“Weeeeeell, we weren’t supposed to go to Daring Heights, ya see? So our, uh… um…” Cay struggles to find the words whilst Sheryl and the others wait patiently. “The head sprite at Evenbloom Hill, they were not happy with what we did. Just seemed like a good idea to get some distance, some fresh air, a new perspective. Guess we got all that but…” He shrugs.

“Do you have plans going forward?” Faye asks. “Or are you just going to live here now?”

“Well it’s, um, it’s not great here but it could be worse, I guess? I mean,” Cay glances around quickly, but the sprite need not worry. No one else is around, “could be at the River Court and I hear that’s nasty. So for the moment it’s fine.”

“Have you tried asking if you can go back? This sounds more like self-banishment rather than actual banishment,” Sheryl tries to puzzle out.

“Be careful Merla,” Astra warns softly. “They may figure out who you are.”

“It will be alright Astra, trust me.”

“I-If we go back and we aren’t being forgiven then we are in for a lot of trouble. I think we’ll just take our chances for now, thank you very much.”

“Alright,” she concedes with a nod.

Cay squints at her, and Sheryl tries not to smile at the way his lower lip pouts as he does so. “Wh-What do you know about this? You seem to know this place.” His eyes narrow further.

Sheryl’s expression is a pleasant but unreadable mask. “I have been there a few times.”

Cay continues to squint at her. “Hmmm…” he intones, but Sheryl is unfazed. “Okay,” he says, lower lip sticking out.

“If there is a way you can get home though… we will keep an eye out. Sounds good?”

Cay and May share a look and Sheryl feels her heart squeezes at the glint of hope she sees in their eyes.

“Alright, yeah. That sounds good,” Cay says, feigning nonchalance. Sheryl chuckles.

---

Her first thought upon sitting in Artemis Lahali’s home is that the man is already scheming, trying to figure out how to turn their unexpected visit to his advantage.

Astra, Cay and May remained outside the grand mansion – Astra only to message her mistress should needs must – not for lack of space inside the building made of stone and ice but more for having someone to keep an eye out to make sure their infiltration group did not get ousted. Sheryl kept her hood up despite the welcomed warmth of the room, hiding the already minimal glow of the gem in her diadem. If it wasn’t for Faye’s superb skills when they painted their faces, the eladrin from her friend’s past might not have welcomed them in. Although, part of the invite might have something to do with the history between the two more than anything. When Artemis greeted Faye they called them by a different name – Elias.

Her second thought was that Artemis was doing his best to maintain an air of composure.

Despite the warmth coming from the flagstone fireplace, there was a stiff coldness to the room that would never be banished no matter how high the flames reached. Their host was not actively malicious, though Sheryl could see how it may seem like that to those from her home Court who are not used to such atmospheres, but as with anything for the fey, there is a reason behind the seemingly odd differences. Even how the room is decorated makes it have an air of detached refinement with no true expression. Proper appearance is clearly very important to the fey of the Winter Court.

Her third thought as Artemis tells Faye he has not seen a Cabalite in the city was that this man is full of lies.

“This ‘friend’ of yours is lying to you,” Sheryl subtly messages to Faye. It feels like the shadows themselves carry her words to her friend. They don’t look at her, but Sheryl sees their spine stiffen.

“There are better informed people but you know that this kind of information is played very close to the chest here,” Artemis condescends to explain to Faye.

Their expression is a cold challenge. “I feel like I am experiencing it right now.”

The silence is poignant. Tired of listening to the man’s words, Sheryl decides to subtly listen to his thoughts instead.

“Can I ask a question?” Pieni chirps in, their bracelet of disguise flashing in the firelight against his illusioned non aarakocran arm. “With the Queens, they always keep the kingdoms they are in a state of perpetual weather appropriate to their Court. With Sarastra gone, who is controlling the weather?”

Artemis looks surprised at this question but quickly recovers his composure.

“In the realm of Night and Magic? I have not been there myself but I would assume that the local magic has a level of stability. The other nobles in the Court are probably helping to keep the situation stable, for now. Until a new Queen is chosen – or a King.”

“Hmm,” Pieni intoned, thoughtful.

“Very rarely is there a change in leadership in one of the Fey Courts,” Artemis continues, “especially one so drastic.”

“Sounds like a very robust system,” the disguised aarakocra mumbles.

“It has been in operation for longer than I can remember,” Artemis says. “But I do not recall any of the Fey Kings or Queens being murdered.”

Pieni shifts on the seat they are perched on. “But how are they born? Where the heck do they get their powers, the Archfey?”

Artemis blinks, throwing a glance to Faye, who is doing their best to keep their expression neutral.

“Well, by tradition,” he explains, as if it should be obvious. Any fey child knows this, but Pieni’s persistent stare makes the winter eladrin elaborate. “Of course, in the beginning, the ones that could muster the greatest power imposed their will and thus provided stability.”

“So they were very powerful in the beginning but how did they get that power?” Pieni persists.

“What an existential question to ask,” Artemis observes of Pieni, a sly twist to his lips. “I confess, I do not have the answer to it. What was at the beginning of space and time? I do not know.”

“They’re not gods though,” Pieni states rather bluntly. Faye actually winces this time and Sheryl sees the corner of Artemis’ mouth curves up, knowingly.

Oh Pieni, you’ve done it now, Sheryl thinks darkly.

“Ah, but what is a god if not a very powerful being?” Artemis challenged with a wave of his hand. “And is the Snow Queen or the Queen of Summer not such a powerful, powerful being? They tempt the Fates themselves. It… would behoove you to be careful.” There’s a menacing glint to his eyes that Sheryl does not like.

“Careful doing what?” the aarakocra asks, uncertainly.

“Would you risk tempting a Fey Queen? Seems like a risky proposition to me,” he cautioned, looking around at them all with that light in his eyes, hands folding over his crossed legs.

“I mean… one is dead, so…” Igrainne points out. A half laugh comes from Pieni.

“One could level everyone in this room. We are, perhaps, getting a bit off track,” Faye states, glaring at the two. They remain silent.

Faye is more guarded when they turn their attention back to Artemis, asking him where they could find information. He informs them of the Snow Queen’s archivists, the Ladies of Secrets. To reach them, they must continue up the glacier, veering off towards the northern outcrop, and venturing outside to walk on the glacier’s surface. There is where the northernmost point is, and it is where Keepers of Secrets dwell, in a spire of ice.

“It has been such a pleasure to see you again,” Artemis says to Faye with a smile.

“I hope that we can visit again on less strained terms,” Faye softens, but there is an underlying thread of warning to their tone. “And I trust that our time together will remain secret. It would be unfortunate if the Queen found out about my being here – or you hosting me.”

“Yes, I would not risk that,” Artemis half chuckles. “The Queen will not learn of your presence in the Court from me.”

Faye glances at Sheryl, the question clear. She nods. That was the first whole truth Artemis had said to them since their arrival.

---

When they came out, Astra was unrecognisable.

During their time with Artemis, May and Cay had been busy. Astra’s mane was braided into fancy fey knots and ropes whilst the rest of her shimmering and sparkling coat had been thoroughly painted over in all manner of bright and audacious colours.

“Merla! Oh thank the Stars. Help me please!” Astra huffs, rearing back on her hind legs at the sight of her mistress.

“You told me not to disturb you unless I saw something but this has gone too far!”

Sheryl stood, mouth agape, on the Lahali Manor steps, flabbergasted at what she saw.

“These two have ruined my beautiful hair and painted such horrible things on me-”

“Is that a… penis?” Wren asks. Astra cranes her head trying to get a glimpse of what the rogue is pointing at. As she turns, Sheryl sees an absurdly cartoonish shape painted in bright purple on her right, back thigh.

“You’re back!” May squeals, flying over to Sheryl. “What do ya think? She is the most beautiful canvas is she not?” Cay flits about, grinning wickedly.

Igrainne snorts and looks away.

“You have… certainly done quite the piece on her,” Sheryl replies tactfully. “All the colours of the rainbow too, how accurate.” A smile starts to pull at her lips.

“I swear to all the Stars in the Heavens I will not stand here a second longer-”

“Astra, calm yourself. It is just a little bit of paint.”

“It is undignified is what it is!”

Sheryl cannot help but laugh as she comes over to the winged unicorn. She eloquently compliments May and Cay for the beauty of their work, whilst Astra continues a stream of curses. However, not wanting to see her companion upset she starts to magic away the paint, explaining to the exiled Summer fey their beautiful masterpiece cannot stay.

Then an idea comes to her.

“You love causing mischief, right?” Sheryl asks. “It’s what you live and breathe.”

“Y-yeah…” Cay answers cautiously.

“And you do such beautiful paintings.” She gestures to Astra and casually casts prestidigitation, removing the big, cartoon purple penis. Nearly all the paint is gone.

“Yeah,” May nods, curious anticipation on her little pixie features.

“How about this.” With a final flick of her fingers the last bit of paint is gone and Sheryl’s full attention is on the pixie and sprite hovering in front of her. “Go and find the biggest, brightest piece of ice wall in the glacier and start painting. Any kind of pictographs and images that you love. Could be something from Summer, could be something from Winter.” May’s gaze goes distant whilst Cay’s lower lip sticks out, puzzling out what she means. “Start a mural.”

Faye grins knowingly at Sheryl and she gives them a wink.

Cay looks to May. “I mean, it’s risky, but-”

“Think of all the space,” bubbled May, eyes bright. “Think of all we could get in there!”

“Okay okay, I think we can risk it,” the sprite agrees. Before they continue, Sheryl holds up her hand, commanding their attention.

“My challenge to you is to not get caught.”

The two tiny fey whistle but there’s undeniable excitement in their eyes. The sprite says, “That’s gonna be tough…”

“I know you can do it,” Sheryl encourages, eyes agleam. “You had your trial run in, where was it, Daring Heights? Think of this as a second test. If you succeed in this, you will be able to brag about it to the folk back home.”

“Think how much your Summer friends would enjoy a prank of this proportion against Winter,” Faye encouraged, glancing with a smile at Sheryl.

“It would earn you some favours,” Sheryl says knowingly. “Maybe… the chance to go back home?”

“Be helluva story to tell them,” Cay agrees, looking to May.

May nods, a determined grin on her face. “Okay… I have an idea!” She and Cay start to whisper frantically in pixie speak as they zoom off.

---

It is a breathtaking view from the peak of the glacier. High winds try to knock her and the others over but the winged unicorn is strong and the fae-bard is able to keep her seat. Sheryl cannot help but gaze out into the distance soaking in the cold beauty of the world around her. Her asymmetrical cloak whips around her in the wind as warm ocean blue eyes see the frozen lake they crossed at the foot of the mountain. Beyond that is a snow covered forest that extends far out into the distance. At the very far edge of the horizon, Sheryl can just barely get the sense of shifting scenery.

“That is the edge of the Winter Court,” Sheryl points out to her winged companion.

“A great distance from where we are, but not so great I cannot cross it,” Astra assures her mistress.

A small winding path leads further up and at the end of it is a spire made of ice. Sheryl tucks herself down close to Astra and their group silently makes their way up the tiny winding path. The wind is howling by the time they reach the tapering conical structure of ice and it becomes apparent that there is only one way down.

Carefully dismounting, Sheryl asks Astra to stay outside once more with Elchior, the two keeping watch whilst she goes in with Faye. Igrainne, Wren, Pieni and Ghesh mill about, debating on the merits of going in when Faye casts dispel magic on the door. Sheryl sees a ripple and Faye mutters something about an alarm but then they open the low door door, the smaller woman quickly following her friend inside. The others decide are right behind, quickly closing the door after them.

The chamber is surprisingly not bigger on the inside at first glance. Sheryl sees two small workstations surrounded by many sheets of loose paper and variously bound books lining the walls. Her eyes widen though as her gaze travels up seeing the bookshelves continue into levels higher than should be possible in the hollowed out ice spire. There are empty spaces interspersed here and there through which light filters in. But the most peculiar thing she notices is there are no ladders or stairs.

But then, where…

The thought trails off as she sees two figures hovering midair several storeys above them. One of them is bent over a work surface, a quill in hand, whilst the other is shifting through a shelf of scrolls.

Faye takes a step forward, gently calling up to the floating figures.

“Are you the Ladies of Secrets?”

The figure at the scroll shelf pauses mid reach, turning her head slightly. She starts to slowly float down, her simple white robes billow softly. Sheryl watches her curiously, noting eladrin features, almost all white hair, very pale skin and a thin piece of fabric tied around her head, covering her eyes. Despite them being covered it is clear she perceives them all, though her attention is focused on Faye.

“I did not hear you come,” she says softly. “Welcome, welcome. What can we do for you?”

“I have been told to come here for the knowledge I seek,” Faye begins.

“There is much knowledge to be found here,” the woman says gesturing with her hands to the books around them. “We deal in… special information here. I am sure you have been told,” she tilts her head slightly to the side, “this is all on behalf of the Queen.”

“Yes,” Faye hesitated. “I wonder if we might request your services?”

“And who might you be?” Sheryl hears a different tone in the woman’s voice that unsettles her.

“I am…” Faye hesitates, and Sheryl knows what her friend is thinking. Which name do they give?

“My name is Faye Persona.”

The woman cocks her head and Sheryl feels a shiver run down the scars on her back. She’s not sure if that is a good or bad thing.

“Yes, we have heard of you,” the eladrin says, her voice going soft again. “Very interesting, and good to meet your acquaintance.”

Sheryl tries to swallow the lump in her throat as Faye begins to tell the Lady of Secrets the information they seek.

“We want to know who the Cabalite was, and who they work for, that attempted to frame the Summer Queen’s adopted daughter for murder. Any information you may have on the unfortunate murder of Queen Sarastra. And lastly… if possible… I would like to know the location and status of the traitor to the Queen, Olithea Winterborne.”

The other figure, finished with their task, started floating down as Faye spoke. Her dark robes appear to be fuller on her for a reason Sheryl cannot quite figure out, until she lands beside the woman in white. The fae-bard’s hand falls to the rapier at her side as she immediately sees why. The figure is mostly bone, not flesh, with two bright blue unnatural and undead lights shining out from where her eyes should be. She is, unmistakably, a lich.

“Very interesting. Very prescient questions,” she says, her voice hollow. “We do have the information to these questions but it will come at a price.”

“And what would the price be?” Faye asks, though they already know the answer.

“A secret for a secret,” is the dark robed figure’s sing-song reply.

All of them shift uncomfortably. It’s the moment of truth. Who will give up what and who will remain silent? Sheryl thinks of all she knows, thinking of what could be valuable and what is too precious to give away. She thinks of her Queen Mother, of the final moment they had shared before she was banished from her home. She thinks of the Song, and shudders, something from her earliest memories freezing her in place whilst the gem in her diadem glows a little brighter.

Faye pulls out a familiar mirror, explaining what it can do to the black robed lich. The two deliberate briefly, then come to an agreement – two secrets for one piece of information with the mirror being payment for one of the things they wish to know. Faye hands over the mirror and the black clad Lady accepts it graciously, putting it into the folds of her robe.

The woman then turns to Sheryl, somehow knowing who she is. The feeling of pins and needles prickles across her scars.

“Ah,” it sounds like a sigh as the lich’s eyes of blue light take her. “We have heard so much of you and it is quite interesting following the strands of your story.” Sheryl lifts her chin a little but she remains silent. “As for what you want to know… The Cabal of the Black Heart is plotting against the Queen, and Arcon Varra murdered Commander Morningdew to shut him up. There are more involved in this plot but I am sure you know this already.”

Sheryl’s heart pounds in her ears. A name. She finally has a name. She grips the pommel of her sword.

“For the second question,” Faye starts after a quick glance to Sheryl, “I offer the secret of my intentions.”

Blue fire eyes flick over to Faye and the black robed woman nods. “That is a worthy offer. What will the second one be? Two secrets in exchange for one, we agreed.”

Faye turns to them. “Well?”

Sheryl is too busy lost in her own thoughts, thinking about what she could give up when, to her surprise, Igrainne steps forward. “I might have something that could- Well- maybe be somewhat important, but isn’t really that important of a secret…”

The woman regards the half-drow with unblinking blue eyes. “What is it that you have in mind?”

“It’s a job I did a few months ago – not one I’m particularly proud of.” Irgainne shuffles her feet. “It did give me a lot of gold though.”

She studies the half-drow for a moment longer than is comfortable before nodding. The white clad Lady produces two blank sheets of parchment, holding out one to Igrainne and the other to Faye.

“If you accept, simply take the note. Then, once the transference is complete, pass it back,” the white haired eladrin says softly. “All that we need will be inscribed.”

As soon as the two take the parchment writing blooms into existence on the pages. Sheryl sees both their eyes widen as they start to read their own secrets. Faye looks away first, a tear falling from their eyes as they hand their parchment back to the white clad Lady who levitates up to file it away. Igrainne reads a bit longer, fascinated. Sheryl tries to glance at her paper but finds the words are blurred to her vision. Eventually, she hands it over to the black clad Lady, who also flies up to immediately file the secret away.

Clever magic, making it so only they and the secret giver can read what is written.

Upon both of the Lady’s return, they start speaking in unison.

“We have to admit, we do not know who killed her, but the Queen of Night and Magic was much hated. Those she oppressed now rejoice and seek to reclaim what was lost. With the fall of a leader, bridges are built between previously separate parties.”

Sheryl’s mind is racing. It is becoming clearer to her that she doesn’t know enough about the different Fey Courts. If the Queen of Night and Magic was hated then it could be any number of enemies that tipped the poison into her cup. But what of these bridges being built between previously separate parties. Could this be hinting at what she had been wondering about before their mission?

“And for the last question,” Faye says, no trace of the tears on their face. “You said you’d accept a smaller offering instead.”

“We would.”

Faye’s voice suddenly ring’s through Sheryl’s mind. “We should be prepared to leave very quickly after we get this final answer.” The fae-bard looks to the others and notices they each glance to the door, clearly having received the same message.

“Would my presence and actual name be enough of a secret for you?” Faye asks with a half grin. It doesn’t touch their eyes. “The Queen rewards loyalty. I’m sure she’d love to know I’m here.”

The white clad eladrin smiles. “My child, of course the Queen already knows that you are here. There is nothing that escapes her attention in her own realm.”

Faye shifts uncomfortably, deflated. “Great…”

Then Ghesh comes forward looking to Faye.

“I could offer something, if you want. It’s something at least- I dunno…” The dragonborn turns to the Ladies. “You might find it boring but it’s at least something that I keep secret.”

The white clad eladrin silently offers Ghesh a blank parchment and he takes it, blurred lines of whatever secret he is giving appearing the moment his hand touches the page. His face remains blank but Sheryl sees a strained line appear over Ghesh’s brow. Once the secret has fully manifested itself he hands the parchment back and the white clad Lady soars up to file the secret away with the others.

“I am so sorry to tell you this,” the black clad lich says, no trace of remorse in her voice whatsoever. “Your mother paid the price for her desire. She is still at Court. You might have seen her on the way. She is bound on the Silent Steps, as all the traitors to the realm are.”

Sheryl feels Faye go very still. She steps closer, silently taking one of their cold hands into her smaller warm one.

“Um… is there a way to unbind her?” they ask in a small voice.

The white clad Lady has returned and so both speak together as they answer.

“None of those entombed along the Silent Steps have ever been freed. To do so you would have to melt the Queen’s heart.”

Sheryl gives a gentle squeeze to Faye’s hand. She is about to say something when Astra suddenly speaks into her mind.

“Merla, you may want to hasten things up. Winter is coming.”

Sheryl looks up to Faye giving their hand a tug in the direction of the door. Then she looks to the others and indicates it’s time to leave. But before they even start to move, the Ladies speak together one more time.

“One more final piece of information, for free.” Sheryl raises an impatient eyebrow. “Sometimes the fastest way down is the obvious one.”

In a flurry of rushing wind, pounding hooves and beating wings, Faye dismisses Elchior, leaping onto the back of Astra with Sheryl and then hastens them both, whilst Pieni summons four giant eagles to carry him and the others off the glacier’s top. As they take off, Sheryl sees the massive ice turn from the pleasant white and blue colours it normally is to bright purples, reds and oranges. There are shouts and screams from the Winter Court militia, and the first barrage of spells and arrows that would have otherwise hit them goes wide. Sheryl gives a kulning cry out of joy and mischief, knowing it is the two small fey who are responsible for the most excellently timed distraction.

In no time at all Sheryl, Faye and Astra reach the edges of the Winter Lands and the Daughter of Summer is able to prepare her Plane Shifting spell to take them back to Fort Ettin by the time the others land. They all link hands and with an ever familiar tug they arrive safe and sound outside the curtain wall of Fort Ettin.

As the others catch their breath Sheryl takes a moment to cast a quick message of Sending.

“That was beautiful! Did you get out okay?”

She hears panting and a little yelp.

“Can’t talk now. Running!” May replies briefly before the spell ends. Sheryl closes her eyes, wishing.

O Great Summer, watch over them… Let them get out safely.