189 The Frozen Lake

HELENA POV

Every step of our horses' hooves drills on the thin ice as it crack amuck. Our safety is in our speed as we all sprinted out. Areon, being the fastest one amongst the horses dashed ahead until we reach the safer zone of snow covered ground. "Get a bolt!", Stellan yelled, as the cold escape his mouth. We both jumped off Areon as the situation intensify. It seemed like we were on what looked like a frozen lake with thin sheets of fragile ice.

The frangible ice continued to break, which alludes danger for anyone who'd fall through the cold water. Ottis' horse cantered on the breaking frozen thin ice sheets, before Jac's horse beat him in its fastest gait. "Hurry up!", I called for Atrius and Umbriel whose horse was the slowest. Worriedly, their weight together is too heavy for the glass ice to bear that at every gallop, more ice breaks. Unfortunately, the hind legs of the horse fell through the glaze. Atrius fell on a harder slate of ice, while Umbriel dunked through the waters… sinking as he plead for help.

"Umbriel!!", I shouted as my legs led me to the priest with quick gliding steps by instinct.

"Helena, no!", I heard Stellan's voice called for me, yet Jac held him back for his weight would cause the ice to break even more.

"Helena, stop!!", Atrius lifted his hand as he attempt to halt me from going over. However, when I saw Umriel sink in the cold waters, I knew there's no other way but to get him out of there.

Without hesitations, I jumped into the freezing water, not minding the urgency of Stellan's calls. I could feel the sharp pricking sensation on my face as I dive deeper in the dark icy water. When I felt Umbriel's hand, I grabbed him immediately as he panic underwater. With the magic I posess, I propelled the water by our feet as it push us out of the water.

We both landed on top of the sheet of ice safely. Atrius and Stellan who were already up there, waiting for us to appear in the surface. Stellan hurriedly took me to the ground, while Atrius grabbed hold of Umbriel who's coughing up water, trembling from the extreme cold.

LATER

Only Umbriel's jittering teeth was heard from then. He was warmed up in a new set of Wiccan clothing, and thicker coats. Yet, he still suffered the cold. No one insisted to camp and build a fire to warm up Umbriel at least. We just all went on as Ottis continue to lead the way.

"Aren't you freezing?", Stellan cradled me in his thick fur coat as he worriedly asked. Those were his first words after taking me out. I couldn't believe the glint of what I thought fear in his eyes when I got out of the water. He tossed my wet clothes and wrapped me impetiously with gentleness despite he was cursing in anger.

"I'm fine really", I smiled as I lean on his chest. Actually, I'm fine with the cold. Possibly, it's one of the perks of a descendant of Caluso. He then wrapped his on arm around me, tighter than how it's used to be, keeping me warm and steady.

"Don't ever do dumb things again", he voice cracked with absolute ire and definite

"But..", I was not given a chance to explain. Stellan covered my head as the crispy breeze of winds blow.

"No buts", he said firmly.

An hour later, we arrived in a large snowcapped sequioa tree, nestling a beautiful treehouse. Ottis led us beneath the woodnest, and immediately hopped down his stallion. He picked up a few rocks and aimed it at the window.

A silhouette of a man appeared instantly by the open window. "Who's there?", he shouted irritably.

Stellan dismounted Areon with a graceful landing and ignited his aura in his hand. It was like a form of identification that the man recognized as he threw out a rope ladder welcoming us in his tree house.

"Levin doesn't trust anyone easily.", Stellan warned before he climbed the ladder. "Let me do the talking first, I'll let you know at once if we won't be sleeping on the ground tonight", he said.

I raised my face, feeling the flakes touch my cheek. I'm coming home, and I'm almost there. We all waited for Stellan by the foot of the tree as the darkness thickened with only, once again, the howls of the wolves accompanied the snowy night.

Moments later, Stellan hopped down from the treehouse and said, "We'll stay here for the night". We were all relieved.

The horses were brought to a small wooden shed nearby. There were a couple of goats, a donkey and one small horse warmed and fed inside. Later, we all started to ram up the treehouse whom Umbriel requires. He was warmed up by the small fireplace as he lay on the floor with his eye closed, and a cup of hot water in his hands.

It is an incredibly playful quaint three-layer treehouse that smelled of coffee and cinnamon. It was surprisingly huge that could fit all five grown men inside. I was apalled with the different patterns and intricate designs that reflected such idiosyncrasy and youthfulness the owner seem to be. I admired the embedded ivory leaves on the edges, and the hummingbirds all over the woodworks inside the treehouse, almost similar to my father's artistry.

"How long has it been?", an small old man with uneven gold rims of round glasses asked as he serve us cups of warm milk. He wore a ruffled long nightshirt with heavy prints in vibrant colors, a thick white fur scarf wrapped around his neck, and a mauve quilted bonnet. We were astonished with his unforeseemn demeanor.

"Too long", Stellan answered as he sat beside me, keeping me isolated from the others. "Everyone this is Levin, the kingdom's famous merchant of rare items", he said. My eyes instantly went back to Levin assuming he's the merchant Bertram talked about. If he is, then we just visited a soul traveler's home.