Colours and songs drifted from the King of Truth, words of wisdom glided o’er his flesh. Bronze, green, and purple tones made a kaleidoscope in his eyes as he looked at them one by one. But his gaze rested upon Zane.

“Can I…Can I see them?” Zane’s voice rose with a deep ache.

A warm spirit moved along the snow. “You cannot pass through until your time.” Elowin’s words sounded like the rustling of leaves in a soft breeze, or the trickle of water over rocks. “Thomas and Mikal will stand to receive you when that day comes.”

Jolly looked as though he had been slapped across both cheeks—blots of flush touched his flesh, and his eyes were penetrating and wild. He stared past Elowin as though he was seeing a ghost down the tunnel.

But Kaley had not come to make a way for others to ask for what they should not have. She approached the tunnel but did not enter.

“I…” she began, piecing her thoughts back together. “I came here for Helen. I want to give her a chance to start a life at home.” The inky laps of colour coming off Elowin danced in response.

“I know this is a strange request but…” Kaley fiddled with her fingers. She was suddenly quite aware of the electric-blue-eyed Patrolman at her left. “I want Helen to forget about Winter,” she said.

Sure enough, Zane’s head snapped toward her. “You bloody what?”

“Not forever,” Kaley clarified. “Just long enough for her to rest, and to forget her fears.”

“And exactly what measure of time are you asking for, Trite?” Zane stood and drew a step closer.

Kaley turned back to Elowin. “Let her forget until…” she paused, her finger tracing the pearly button in her pocket, “until a Rime Folk returns her memories with a kiss,” she decided.

Everyone looked at Zane, who blanched, and Eliot grunted in disgust. Lucas grinned.

“That’s all. We’ll go now, but please ask Helen if she’s willing to let go of her memories so she can get the rest she needs,” Kaley said. She clasped her hands together to stop her fidgeting.

The warm breeze ruffled her hair and flitted over the snow toward Zane, releasing a whisper.

I have heard. Elowin didn’t speak the words, but his music promised it to Kaley’s heart.

His multicoloured gaze settled on Eliot, and this time Elowin spoke aloud. “Remember, forgiveness and redemption are only one prayer away.”

There was a pause; a gust skated across the snow, twirling into Kaley’s collar. Then Jolly Cheat started to laugh; a loud, crazed, chilling hoot that tore Kaley’s attention to the magician. It seemed the sort of laugh that might carry on forever, except that one from the group brushed by like a shadow, the cackles drowning out his footsteps.