Caedmon got up from the bed at the sounds coming from downstairs. He pulled on his patchwork trousers, looked back at the sleeping Karolus and headed down. 

“I wondered when you would return. Do we have a problem?” The Neroliath grabbed a blanket from across an armchair and brought it over to the arriving trio. 

“The young druid needs somewhere to lay her head.” Tarik hid his annoyance at the obvious.

With a raised eyebrow Caedmon went about clearing a long sofa to then rearrange the cushions as Tarik laid Yina down on it. Her eyes opened wide for a brief second, staring at the ceiling and then closed again.

Tarik adjusted his clothing and stood straight. Facing Caedmon. The size comparison was amusing to him. The giant blooded Neroliath was massive, and Tarik of a slighter frame. 

There was something about the merchant, something grey. This one would kill and sell their skills to the highest bidder.

Tarik looked back to Yina. She was worthy of his protection and he would make sure she had it. At least for now. 

The Neroliath looked at Stella questioningly.

“Tarik of the House Rook, of Calvaria.” he gave a polite nod seeing the look of the giant. 

“Calvaria? You are a long way from home. Tarik was it?” Caedmon did not like the confidence of the young man in his home. 

“And you are?” Tarik ignored the lack of etiquette.

“None of your business.”

“Caedmon. His name’s Caedmon.” Stella chimed in.

“Look yer been in each other's company fer three seconds and I’m bored of thee both. Caedmon, get that kettle of yours on.” Stella walked between the pair and sat at Yinas side, continuing to stroke her hair.

“I shall take my leave for the evening. I will be on the docks come sunrise. Keep the stone nearby and your friend will sleep for a few hours more, and will do so in peace. Enjoy the rest of your evening.” Tarik gave a nod towards Stella and a half nod toward Caedmon before leaving. 

“And who was that?” Caedmon went about making another pot of tea.

“Someone who knows of Karolus and his brother. Seemed to be helpin but there be something about him. Got a look I don’t all together like.” Stella stared at the closed front door. 

“Yes, I get the same feeling. Seems Karolus is quite popular.” he smiled mischievously, putting a mug on a small table beside Stella.

Stella eyed him but didn’t care to press. Her concern in this immediate moment was Yina. Despite Tarik saying she would be fine there was still a need in the cleric to make sure with her own eyes. 

Praying to the Drydakka under her breath was more out of habit than anything she was going to muster magically. The last time Yina had got her memories back it had been softer somehow. Or maybe it had been so long since it happened that Stella couldn’t remember how it had been.

The night passed and Stella remained. As the first signs of light stretched over the horizon and graced Horndean, the old port town. Yina opened her eyes, slowly at first followed by a flutter of blinking.

“Hello.” the young druid yawned and sat up rubbing her eyes.

Stella gave her space but remained close. Waiting for Yina’s mind to catch up after her long rest.

“How yer feeling?” 

“Like I have slept for a whole season.” the youthful smile on her face slowly left. 

Stella knew why.

“Oh no, poor Roland and Aden. Why didn’t you…”

“My magic was spent, I didn’t have the prayers in me to stop their souls moving on.” Stella turned her gaze to look out of the front window towards the rest of the port town. 

Yina took Stella by the hand. The smile on the druid was one of wisdom, one of a person who has spent many lifetimes experiencing life. 

“They fed the roots of the Drydakka. Their souls were strong and that strength will return to the Highlands.” Yina spoke softly, whilst clenching the purple stone Stella had put in her hand.

Stella nodded and the pair put their foreheads together.

“It’s good to have yer back old friend.”

“Who you calling old?” the pair chuckled.

The halflings embraced.

Karolus had made it to the top of the stairs when he heard Yina and Stella talking. They were swapping memories it seemed. Yina spoke with knowledge, as a grand parent would when explaining to the young the fun of doing something mischievous but the wise lessons of why it was bad. 

He sat for a while at the top of the stairs. Resting his head on the bannister. It was nice listening to them. 

There had been no sign of Caedmon when he woke. His first thought had been to look for the Neroliath but the bed was the softest thing he had ever slept on. The home of their new found acquaintance was of someone of coin and comfort. 

Caedmon clearly had a little wealth or at least comparatively to the majority of the Toan Highlands. Karolus had enjoyed the evening. The escape from his latest memories had been welcoming. Waking alone though had sparked a moment of guilt.

“Morning.” he called heading down the stairs.

“Morning lad, I’m guessing you had an entertaining evening.” Stella poured out tea for the trio.

“Look at that jawline, very handsome.” Yina faked a swoon.

“Bit of a pirate for my liking but whatever floats yer boat lad. No pun intended. Yer hungry? The giants got a fair amount of grub in the cupboards.” Stella proceeded to prove this point by opening as many pantry cupboards as she could.

“Leave him alone Stella, he likes them strong, like Glencora.” Yina gave him a playful shove.

“Wait, what?” his newly shaved face went red.

They ate well, fruit and thick oats were their breakfast choice accompanied by the tasty tea. In a different time Karolus would enjoy spending time in such a lifestyle. But alas it was not a different time and they were about to be leaving the Toan Highlands. 

It was fair to say until the Calvarians had turned up he hadn’t left Grey Rock much at all other than the odd adventuring of camping out in the nearby forests and swimming the rivers. 

Even during his time with the Douén, it had still been among the forests and hills of his homeland. The more he thought of the ship in the dock waiting for them to board and sail away, the more his stomach twisted.  

“Right, let's be off. I ain’t waiting around for the biggun, I'm pretty sure after last night he's going to be puffing his chest out at Tarik down at the docks already.” Stella cleared the mess of breakfast. 

“Tarik?”

“Aye, Tarik, apparently a friend of Galwyn. I saw no lie but still felt him not to be trustworthy.”

“I don’t know the name.” Karolus wasn’t sure if he did know the name, there were some memories that still hovered in the fuzz. 

“Look he is going to be coming with us to Calvaria. It’s lengthy trip at sea so if it turns out he's a wrong’un then he goes overboard.” Stella was now standing with a shield on her back and hammer at her hip. Backpack filled with whatever and ready.

“Sounds exciting already.” said Yina. 

Karolus nodded and gathered what little things he had and joined the halflings leaving the home of Caedmon the Neroliath and on their way to the docks of the port town.

Karolus took in as much of it as he could. Stone and wooden buildings staggered down the cliffside, the winding path leading to new sights at every curve. Moving down into the bustle of the town was a revelation of noise. It was not long after dawn and the dock workers were calling to one another, issuing orders, encouraging work and mocking at every moment. 

Passing many a folk it was either a hello or a scorn, there seemed to be no middle ground greeting with the folk of Horndean.

“Do you remember everything then?” he asked.

“Most of it, there is still more to come. It's mostly from the time of my death backwards. I’m so sorry about Connor.” Yina held his hand.

“It’s not your fault. It’s theirs.” he gestured towards the sea. 

“I know.” she squeezed.

“Do you know how long we will be on the water?”

“Calvaria is far away. A month or two unless they use magic. Caedmon will likely have some. But some folks are lazy and like to just float.” she smiled up at him.

“I don’t like the idea of floating.” he smiled back. 

“Look at em, pair of idiots.” Stella interrupted with a pointing hand.

A hundred feet from them stood Caedmon in his patchwork trousers, topless and embracing the freezing winter coastal environment. As a Neroliath the display was lost on Stella and Yina as they knew it bothered him not. 

Tarik was in different clothing than the eve before. Wrapped in a grey wolf pelt which hid the majority of his deep red and brown tightly wrapped robes. 

“Will you two either kill each other or get a room.” Stella called out, her arms out wide. 

Karolus looked at the young man before Caedmon. He stood relaxed. No fear. Not a care it the world it seemed. The trio approached and the man turned to greet them, ignoring the stare of the Neroliath.

“Greetings Karolus. I am Tarik of the House of the Rook.” Tarik bowed.

A little taken aback Karolus adjusted himself and took a deep breath.

“And you Tarik. Well met.” Karolus held his hand out.

Stella stared hard at Tarik as he took the hand extended to him and shook it in greeting. Stood next to one another and especially with the hair cut and shave Karolus had, they two looked close to one another's age. Albeit years apart in upbringing.

“Well now the formality is done with let us get underway shall we.” Caedmon stepped between the two and put an arm around the shoulders of Karolus.

The ship wasn’t a grand galley but looked strong and able. A single mast and heavy sail. It was somehow representative of the Toan Highlands. Karolus boarded via the plank and headed to the bow. Behind him Caedmon called to the small crew the orders to leave the dock and head out to open sea. 

The weather was terrible, high winds and heavy rains. Not a storm as such but miserable. The ship was not spacious. There was a cargo hold and a handful of hammocks. But mostly it was sleeping where you could on deck. 

Yina seemed to enjoy it, standing arms open letting the rain fall upon her. At slower times she would shape herself into a creature of the sea and swim alongside the ship. She would invite Karolus to join but the sea was rough and he was no sailor, or swimmer for the matter. 

Caedmon on the other hand was first into the waters, moving through it as if it was a casual paddle in a pond. The sea giant was truly one with the vastness of blue. The behaviour of the sea mattered not. Neroliath were the closest beings to share in the strength of the sea. It was awe inspiring to see. 

They had been promised better weather the further away they got from the Highlands. It had taken three days of sailing but the promise was met. It was a relief, Karolus' stomach had not enjoyed the choppy waters. All the crew had been constantly occupied with rigging and sail work. Caedmon never stopped smiling and seemed to embrace the challenge the sea had set. 

As bad as Karolus felt with every movement it was nothing compared to poor Stella. She was so ill she looked permanently green. The halfling cleric was in a steady state of cursing at anyone who came within five feet of her. 

Surrounded for miles and miles by a calm stretch of azure, Karolus could truly take in the gargantuan moment of just how big Colossus is. The Highlands had distance, roads and trails that went on for days. Mountains and rolling hills in every direction. But out here, floating on top of a world deeper and more vast than he could fathom he felt insignificant for a moment.

“And how are we today Ser Karolus.” Caedmon performed a mocked bow. 

“I’m good captain, I'm good. Albeit it feels strange to be leaving home.” Karolus said softly.

“First time for everything. You know if you ever need some quiet time my cabin is always open.” The Neroliath gave a gentle shoulder shove.

Karolus smiled and then looked back out to sea. His time with the sea goliath had taken his mind from the current moment in time. It allowed him to make everything stand still. It had been nice, a bit of light in the dark of his thoughts.

“How long have you been apart?” Caedmon asked.

“What?” Karolus was confused and side swiped by the question.

“Glencora.”

Karolus stood, mouth slightly open and his shoulders dropped.

“You said their name once or twice in your sleep.” Caedmon’s smile was soft. 

For a moment he didn't know what to say. Whilst he tried to work out how to answer, his mind raced. His heart pounded in his ears. He gripped the railing. So far Karolus had managed to stave off the sea sickness but he felt it rising.

“A few months, it was deep winter last time I saw them.”

“Are you alright?” Caedmon put a comforting arm across his shoulders. 

He took a deep breath and stood a little straighter.

“They are back in the highlands.”

“Were you…?”

“Glencora. We..we were never together. At least not in the..we..we were close.” How had he not seen it before?

“Sounds like somebody wanted to be though.” said Caedmon with that soft charming smile of his.

Karolus went to answer, he held in silence, knowing that if he spoke it would be a denial. He took another breath, the truth.

“I loved them.” tears filled the highlanders' eyes.

“Loved?”

“They were taken from this world.” his cheeks wet.

Caedmon laughed loudly, the sound filled with a grand joy.

“Karolus you dear fool, that is not how love works. Your love for Glen, sorry Glencora is present not past.” 

Karolus stood silently, wiping his eyes across his sleeve.

“Look, stop your tears, they will freeze out here.” the Neroliath gestured at their surroundings of open waters, cold winds and the possibility of another storm.

His massive hand gently cleaned Karolus' face, catching what the highlander had missed. Both shared a glance.

“Why the tears?” Neither had noticed Tarik approaching them. Which was a feat as the ship was not massive and there was little to break line of sight.

“Not one for manners are you.” The question was rhetorical.

“They dead?” Tarik asked coldly.

Karolus saw Caedmons jaw clench and adjusted his stance. He took a step to make it less of a straight line to a fight.

“Yes. Unfortunately. Glen gave their life for Connor.” Karolus put as much love and pride as he could into his response.

Tarik took a second.

“And still the Calvarians took your brother. Seems the sacrifice was folly.”

It was Karolus' turn to clench his jaw. Anger raged through him, his skin was hot to touch. A growl built up in his throat. With a balled fist he lunged at Tarik who stepped sideways making the attack miss. 

Tarik then stood sideways on with his hands out in front of him with palms down. Karolus reset himself and couldn’t help but want to fight. 

He dived in swinging haymaker after haymaker. His adrenalin fueled his attacks. The fatigue was reaching out. 

The sparring, if that's what it could be called, was over in seconds. Every shot thrown by Karolus was gently parried away by Tariks hands. The skill and ease was well noted by those on the ship. 

Karolus gave in and lay down on the deck, breathing hard. Taking in huge gulps of air. 

“What in all the hills is going on ere!” Stella roared, heading over with her hammer and shield at the ready.

“We were sparring.” Tarik said with not a bead of sweat upon his head. 

“Get up lad, making the place look untidy.” the halfling cleric held out her hand to help.

Now standing Karolus faced his alleged sparring partner.

“Speak more kindly of Glen or next time it will be a knife while you sleep.” with his breathing steady again Karolus couldn’t help but hate Tarik.

“If they mean that much to you then bring them back.” Tarik spoke matter of factly. 

“You understand what he means by no longer being with us?” asked Caedmon who was also in a stance ready for conflict. Not that he had made a step to help, yet.

“If they are truly of your heart then bring them back. Your guardian is a cleric, a wielder of divine light. A light that can bring a leaving soul back to its body.” another stoic statement.

Karolus looked at Tarik then Stella, who looked at him before she stared at Tarik.

“Can you do that?” Karolus asked.

“Only if they be dead, and Glen aint dead. It's a different lad.” Stella didn’t know how else to word it.

“Not dead!” Karolus mind was blown.

“Interesting.” said Tarik 

As he begun walking away he stopped and turned and made a circling motion with his hand towards Karolus

“We can carry this on later. You need to be better by the time we make docks in Calvaria.” he then turned and headed below deck.

Karolus was staring hard at Stella, the cleric looking uncomfortable.