Vidar shook off Aidan’s grip and marched away with his men, back through the gates, their boots crunching in the snow, each sound like a nail in Aidan’s heart.

Aidan felt like crying as he stood there and watched helplessly as they all walked off, into the lightening sky, leaving him alone in the fort, behind these walls, which felt now like nothing more than a glorified tomb.

*

Aidan waited patiently behind the massive iron gates of Volis, watching as the sun rose higher in the sky and his father’s men patrolled. All around him, icicles dripped as snow fell down the walls, the day slowly warming as birds began to chirp. But he did not let this distract him. He intensely watched his father’s men, waiting for the change of guard he knew would come.

After he did not know how long, his hands numb and his legs stiff, a new shift of men appeared. The old guard relaxed as the new guard approached, and Aidan watched as Vidar turned and headed back to the fort, joined by his men. In the disorder that followed the change of shift, Aidan knew his opportunity had come.

Aidan stood and walked through the gates, leaving the fort casually as if it were the most natural thing in the world, whistling as he went to emphasize to anyone watching that he was unafraid of being seen. The new soldiers standing guard exchanged a puzzled glance, clearly unsure whether to stop him or not.

Aidan increased his pace, hoping and praying they didn’t try to stop him. Because he was determined to leave, no matter what happened.

“And where you going?” called out one of them.

Aidan stopped, his heart pounding, trying not to seem nervous.

“Didn’t Vidar tell you?” Aidan snapped back in his most authoritative voice, prepared, wanting to throw them off guard. “He asked me to get the rabbits.”

The soldiers exchanged a questioning look.

“Rabbits?” one called back.

Aidan tried his best to appear confident.

“I laid traps last night, in the wood,” he replied. “They are full. It shall be our lunch. Stop delaying me, or the wolves will get them.”

With that, Aidan turned and continued hiking off, walking quickly, confidently, not daring to look back—and praying they bought it. He walked and walked, his back tingling, terrified the guards would run out after him and detain him.

As he hiked farther from the fort, he heard nothing behind him, and he began to breathe easy as he finally realized they were not pursuing him. His ruse had worked. He felt a thrill. He was free—and nothing would stop him now. His father was out there somewhere, and until he found him, nothing would bring Aidan back to Volis.