Realizing our chat was over, I reluctantly rose from my seat to follow his instructions. I glanced back at the white-bearded man before I left, but I couldn’t come up with any more arguments. He was back to studying his gadget, my plight already forgotten.

“If you change your mind,” I said again, interrupting his work, “please find me.”

I went left on the path like Obb said. I took a few right turns, but I doubted the vague instructions would lead me out. When I took my third right, which should have taken me back to where I started, I saw what the old man’s instructions were really leading me to.

Zane stood at the end of the path in his blue imperial coat, a hand holding tightly to his pecan hair. When he saw me, his greying eyes fired to life, and he broke into a jog.

“Ragnashuck, Trite!” he called on his way.

I thought he would be relieved to see me, but as he drew closer, I saw the scorching sparks in his eyes, and the tight twist of his mouth.

He looped his arm around my shoulders and ushered me through the twists of the circus to where the others were waiting in the sleigh. Mirkra squirmed, and Timblewon was tapping his foot against the sleigh floor. The sleigh began moving before Zane had even climbed all the way in.

Minutes into the choppy ride, Wanda and Kilen seemed to forget what had happened; they whistled in off-key harmony. Timblewon was fidgety, looking off at nothing, stealing a glance at Apple, then at Zane, then at me, then off at nothing again.

“I’m so sorry, Timblewon. I’m heartwrenched,” Apple finally said. “I truly thought they’d never recognize you with my costume.”

Timblewon surprised us with a laugh. Then he laughed again, louder, until he was hunched forward. The sound echoed over the hills, warming the cool night.

Mirkra laughed too, crossing his burly arms. Kilen burst into giggles, and Wanda chuckled. Apple relaxed, her dark lips pulling into a smile, and finally Zane—who’d been snobbish and tight-lipped the whole ride—cracked a smirk, his dimples showing.

I couldn’t help myself when I saw them all howling at the Winter stars. My laughter mixed in with the choir, and I slouched back against the bench, dragging the horrendous fruit-basket hat off my head.

“How are we going to sneak back into the factory?” Kilen asked when we slid down the last hill.

“Not to worry, friends. Everyone should be in bed at this hour.” Apple stole another look at Timblewon when he wasn’t looking, regret flickering across her brown eyes.

But Mirkra still smiled. “Did you spot the unmerry look on the infamous Sigrion Mellstellie’s face when Timblewon let the lions out?”