The apple shone in the light of the sun when Hellic tossed it into the air and caught it again. He handed it to Keelan to place into position, and the small boy hesitated, shy, but complied as Hellic handed Ren the bow. “It's your turn.”

Keelan ran through the tall grass back to Ren and covered his eyes.

From behind Ren, Niklas grinned and patted Ren on the shoulder.

Taking the bow from his brother, Ren gripped it tight, but his fingers slipped. When he opened his hand, his palm was covered in blood. So were the bow, the grass, and their clothes. They were all standing in blood, thick crimson washing up against their ankles, an ocean of blood.

Ren's scream tore through the air.

It was pitch black when Ren gasped himself awake. Despite the cold, his body was covered in a layer of sweat. He ripped the blankets off and let them slip to the floor. For a long moment, he simply breathed, but the darkness made his skin crawl with unease, so he pushed himself up and made his stumbling way to the fireplace.

Relighting it took three attempts with his shaking hands. Finally, a small flame started to grow. He was freezing again by the time he returned to the bed and retrieved his blankets, wrapping them around himself like a cocoon. Slowly, the growing flames illuminated the room.

The dream had vanished from his mind the moment he woke, but the feeling of it still lingered. Leaning back against the headboard, he watched the dancing shadows.

What time was it? Sometime after midnight, but with hours until dawn, judging by how dark it was. He barely felt tired now, despite his earlier fatigue.

The firelight danced across shining metal, and Ren turned his gaze to where Anik's sword leaned against the wall, the sheath discarded on the floor as if some curious soldier had wanted to see what kind of weapon the Lowlander carried. Perhaps whoever it was had been surprised to discover that it was Fraynean steel.

Ren hadn't yet gotten a chance to question Anik. Now, it hardly seemed important. Unless Ren came up with some fantastical solution to their problem, they'd all be dead by noon. And if not by noon, then sometime down the road. With Halvard as ruler, Ren doubted anyone who stood against Skarlan soldiers would be spared.