Aefstine’s room was by a corridor that was up a very big stair, but he was too tired to inspect it.If the castle was weirdly warm, this part was for sure the warmest. It was as if the sun itself was living inside these walls, making Aefstine very comfortable. If this was how the castle was kept the whole winter, Maud didn't seem so bad.He went to the window and gazed at the landscape, the horizon full of spruce and pines, and he could see the mountains in the distance even with the rain, pouring much tamer now. It was so comforting seeing the cold outside knowing he was all safe and warm behind these walls.He shivered at the warmth and for a moment, wished to stay there, looking at that scene forever.I'll never see this again after my father’s business is done here and we leave.He shook his head. It doesn’t seem right to call his oldest sister’s marriage a business, but he was lost

 Aefstine was awake.But why?It wasn't morning yet.Hmm… Something made a noise.Where?Aefstine moved under the blankets.There it was! That noise again!It came from the foot of the bed.Aefstine tried to open his blurry eyes and saw nothing at first. It was really dark, no lamp nor torch lit, and the fire by the hearth was already dead. By the moonlight, he could only see silhouettes.He could see one now. Looked like a huge person. The figure was rummaging through the big trunk, it seemed. The top was open and whatever was inside made a sound of clashing metal when the person moved stuff around.Aefstine calmly observed that from his lying position, still half asleep.The figure stilled, as if sensing Aefstine was awake. The silhouette looked up and murmured something. The voice was deep, like...Was that Randal?Was he dreaming?The figure mu

 Aefstine took longs gulps of the water and swallowed another chunk of the fish.It was so good!Syteiner was extremely amused by the contented sigh and the blissful face Aefstine was making. They were in a nice little room with a small round table where lunch was laid, and two chairs on each side.Aefstine liked the big window that the room had. He could see the snow outside.Syteiner told him that his family had apparently went- without him- to see the city and would be late for lunch. He didn't mind.Syteiner was nice and hadn't made any comments about Aefstine's less than dignified table manners. He usually wasn't this bad, but he was so hungry.And it was fish!You had to eat it like you were dying, there was no other way around it."Where is King Randal? I haven't seen him around," Aefstine asked, only realizing after the question that he had been looking for the king unconsciously.He hasn't seen the

 Aefstine walked to the dinner table guided by Phye, and was surprised to see his family already there, having an early dinner.He walked up to them and took an apple from the fruit bowl on the table- this freakishly tasty maudian apple - and sat on a chair. There was no sign of Syteiner, nor the Warlord King.Aefstine nodded to his father, and did a double take when he received a smile back. His mother was also smiling, looking relaxed for a change. Cheana was a little downcast, but that was to be expected.Kynan looked at him curiously. "Those clothes are strange.""His Highness Randal invited me for a hunt today. He told me to wear these clothes," Aefstine said, picking at the fur and the oversized brown cotton shirt.It looked like it was made for a Maudian but it was pleasantly warm, something that Aefstine was unwillingly starting to associate with the Warlord King.

 Finally looking around him after a tense ride, Aefstine could see the woods up ahead, but he wasn't in the forest anymore.Randal had slowed the pacing. This hidden place was full of stones and bushes, nested on it was some kind of pond, a lagoon that was surrounded with dark slippery rocks.The lagoon itself was beautiful and he noticed hot steam in the surface. Actually, this place was warmer than the forest. Aefstine could see the shade of the castle in the distance.It must be the hot spring.Still with the arm around him, Randal leaned in to kiss the skin at the back of his ear a few times, which made Aefstine's heart set off again into an unhealthy pace. He tried not to move, and Randal didn't seem to notice.Randal dismounted from the horse and Aefstine saw him carefully take his own cloak, boots, and shirt off. Aefstine, with his head still pounding, managed to take his fill of the muscular chest in front of him.