Above the Winter Skies [English Version]

3

Though my body was exhausted, I couldn't find sleep that night. My thoughts kept drifting to Eldrid. I imagined what she might be doing. Around nine, I pictured her feeding the animals, at ten, washing the dishes and scrubbing the kitchen, at eleven, checking the stables one last time.

Would she go to bed then? Or was she lying awake as well? Was she thinking of me, plotting how to get back at me? Would she show up at Nevis' door any moment, demanding that he hand me over?

Unlikely, since she knew nothing of our friendship, yet the thought made my heart race and my stomach churn. Was I overreacting, thinking I was more important than I was? Maybe she had already written me off, burned my belongings, and would look for a new maid to torment first thing in the morning, never sparing me another thought.

My belongings... the thought of losing them forever hurt. Not as much as the thought of losing Nevis, but still. I didn't have much, had never owned much, and material things meant nothing to me. Only the orb and the faded picture of my parents, the only keepsakes I had left of them, were what I wished I could have taken with me. But I knew that wasn't possible. I couldn't go back to the farm to retrieve my few possessions. Never again.

In the early morning hours, I finally dozed off, only to wake up shortly after. The sun was slowly rising, and although the Aetheria wouldn't depart until noon, I couldn't sleep any longer. Without consciously thinking it, I had already made up my mind. Of course, I had no other choice, but the truth was, the thought of seeing Cassiel again and dancing for him filled me with a strange excitement.

I woke Nevis, and he prepared a meager breakfast that he shared with me brotherly. As we ate the gray bread soup, we remained silent. It wasn't the comfortable silence we often shared, but an oppressive one. There was nothing more to say. The apartment was cold that morning, the stove had gone out overnight, and our breath formed a white haze in the air. The first rays of the sun reflected off the snow outside, making everything seem particularly bleak in the cold morning light.

Shortly after half past eight, the doorbell rang unexpectedly. I flinched so violently that I dropped my spoon, splashing the soup across the table. I jumped up and covered my mouth with my hand.

"That's her," I whispered. "Eldrid! She's coming to get me." I was trembling so much that I wrapped my arms around myself. My thoughts were racing. "Please, don't open the door."

Nevis frowned and stood up. The chair scraped loudly against the floor! Surely she would hear it! But instead of going to the door, he came around the table and held me tightly in his arms. I pressed myself against him, feeling his warmth and inhaling his familiar scent, heavy and woody.

"I would never hand you over," he whispered, stroking my hair. "I'll protect you, don't worry." He held me for a few minutes until my pulse calmed down a bit, but when the doorbell rang again, he let me go. He sneaked to the window and looked down.

"Well, look at that," he said. "You can relax, Lumi. It's not Eldrid."

"Not?" I did relax, as if on command.

"No." He turned to me, his expression darkening. "It's him. The angel."

"What?" I rushed to the window, and sure enough: there stood Cassiel. "What is he doing here already? The ship doesn't leave for a few hours!" Excitedly, I slipped into my worn coat. Nevis watched me with an expressionless face. As I laced up my boots, he asked, "Don't you want to finish eating calmly?"

"I'm full," I replied. I couldn't eat another bite now. I hurried because I feared something had changed in the plan and Cassiel would leave without me—after all, I hadn't confirmed, and he didn't know I intended to come along.