We left next morning, after sunset. One of Theodoric's men, knight Christopher stayed behind to protect our ship's crewmembers. Well, I would say that he stayed behind, because we did not have enough horses, but Theodoric phrased it differently.

  Northmen isles were barren and cold most of days, but approaching winter did not make them more comfortable. In pces ground was covered with first snow, and my nose was red from cold. Without my increased health, I would have definitely cached a cold.

  Few times I considered casting Sun god spell, that covered my body with armor of burning light, but, when I first learned and casted that spell, I ended up with many nasty burns, and it would have been worse, if I would not have casted Protection from sun on myself. That spell required casting both protection and Sun god spell, but I did not want to think what would happen if my protection spell would expire first.

  Once we encountered a horned bear monster, but mostly we did not see any monsters roaming the nds. According to our guide Erik, whenever monsters escaped the dungeon, local people would gather and hunt them down. That was more effective than begging local lord for help or hiring adventurers, which in Ashgrin could take weeks.

  Few times we encountered local people, but Eric showed them his neckce with Orf's seal and talked to them, to make ensure that they do not attack us.

  According to him, he visited dungeon already twice, and then he visited isnds holy pce and used their leveling crystal, both time successfully. He was in his early twenties and liked to talk and flirt, which I found annoying.

  I also used appraisal skill on him, and his level turned out to be only eight. Which was quit small for my taste, but probably would have been quit high for an ordinary soldier. Judging from him, rest of northmen where probably not much stronger, so wiping out a settlement or two would have been easy for us. I regretted not checking northmen levels earlier. Killing Orf and all his men would save us a lot of time. Of course Theodoric and his followers could have a problem with such pn, and it could put the saint in some danger. Still - I did not like the cold.

  We reached the dungeon eight days ter. It was a bck hole in one of the hills, with bck barrier covering the entrance. Eric, Theodoric and his three men got goose bumps, but sense of fear leaking out of the dungeon stopped affecting my party members long ago.

  - Good. Theodoric! You, Eric and your men will stay here and wait till we return. It should not take us more than a week. Hopefully faster.

  - What are you talking about! - almost screamed Ethan: - Why do you think we came here for?

  - To stay here and guide the horses of course, - I looked at him surprised: - Just imagine what would happen if some monster would come outside and eat them and Eric. We would need almost a month to get back.

  Theodoric coughed and turned away, covering his mouth. I got a feeling that he was ughing.

  - Who do you think I am?! A shepherd! I am one of the royal knights. I did not came here to stay and guard horses.

  Oh-h. So that was his problem.

  - Then how about this. My party will go first. If we do not find that boy, what was is name again? - I looked at Luara, but she shrugged: - Well Orf's son. So, if we do not find him, we rest and you enter the dungeon and search him. Then we switch again. Is that fine with you? - I looked at Theodoric.

  - That seems reasonable. We could all go to cover more ground, but without map to separate search areas that may not work. Make sure you bring us map, so we can continue searching areas, which you did not have time to explore. Liam, Markus, start preparing the camp. Ethan your on guard. Eric take care of horses. When will you go inside?

  - As soon as we eat something. No need to waste time.

  Ethan was still red in face, but obeyed Theodoric's orders.

  After lunch, we checked our equipment, and I took out my bow and prepared an arrow. Nelly was talking with her nine tailed fox, which I found annoying. But I did not objected. During evening Nelly talked to the fox, saying that she will definitely rescue her family, but fox did not talked anymore and pretended to be mute.

  - Let's go.

  Dungeon was not anything unusual. Familiar dark caverns and animal like monsters. Monsters on the first floor were not too strong, and we easily dealt with them. Nelly was our map maker, and, after countless dungeons, she got very good at map making. If she would not had all skill slots occupied, she probably would get a map making skill by now. We searched dungeon for two days, but did not find any human tracks.

  - Are we searching for entrance to second floor? - asked Luara, when we stooped to rest and eat.

  - No. Northmen might be stubborn, but I did not see any magic bags. Which means that they have to carry supplies on them, and without a map finding entrance to second floor would take too much time. Besides, without ability to see in the dark, map making is very difficult. No surprise that they don't have any maps. Worst case would be if no one even came here, and for some reason we are searching non-existent boy.

  - Sounds reasonable, - agreed Luara: - So, how long are we searching?

  - Let us take a week. We have enough supplies to search longer, but others might start to worry and do something stupid. So, no more than a week.Luara nodded, and we continued our rescue search. My worst guesses did not come true and on a fourth day we found what looked like a huge icicle. After cleaning it a little, we saw inside a human face.

  - Does anyone see any amulets? - I asked.

  - I do, - Luara pointed at something: - Looks like a mushroom or something.

  - That's probably it, - I considered braking the icicle and healing the boy, to ask him who he was, but decided against it. Let the saint py the healer, no need to attract more attention to us: - Trevor, can you pick it up?

  I was stronger than our knight, maybe Nelly too, but he was a man in our party. So, we usually allowed Trevor to do the heavy lifting. Trevor bended down and then picked up the icicle.

  - It's cold, but I can carry it.

  - Try wrapping it inside your cloak, - suggested Luara.

  Trevor nodded and put the icicle down. He used his cloak, to create a barrier between himself, and icicle and lifted it again.

  - Much better.

  Nelly checked her maps and led us outside. Going straight out took us only half a day, even when we took more rest pauses, to let Trevor get some rest along the way. When we exited the dungeon, sun was still shining and from its position it looked like it was still midday. My internal clock told me that it was night, which was very disappointing. Luara always could correctly guess the time of the day inside the dungeon.

  - You found him! - screamed Eric.

  - Was not easy, - I informed him: - We almost died several times. But we got lucky.

  Luara rolled her eyes, but did not object.

  Theodoric congratuted as, and asked Markus to prepare some food.

  We did all cooked, but Markus was the best cook among us. He even used spices and salt.

  - So, how are supposed to bring that back? - I pointed at icicle, after a warm meal.

  Theodoric examined icicle and looked at Ethan.

  - We will have to make makeshift cart and use two horses to drag it, - said the knight.

  - Sounds good, - agreed Theodoric. They worked fast, and with Eric's help soon put together wheel less cart, which could be dragged by horses.

  Nelly and me had to ride on one horse, while Eric and Marcus took another, to free two animals. We could have left more men from Theodoric's party in settlement, but it was too te to think about it now. I looked back at dungeon with regret. If no one went deep inside it, then probably there were many untouched artifacts. It was such a shame to leave that dungeon behind.

  Transporting the icicle took us more time than getting to the dungeon, but we managed to return in one piece. Winter was coming, and air was getting colder and colder, which did not improve my mood.

  - You found him? - greeted us Orf, when we demonstrated him the icicle.

  - Is that your son? - asked Theodoric. Eric already confirmed it so the questions was useless in my opinion. Besides, I hoped that this was the only one human filled icicle inside the dungeon.

  - That is him. Bring the saint, - he ordered his men.

  Soon they returned with young girl. She looked around ten or twelve years old. Never could say children age exactly. She was cute, I would even say beautiful with long, curly bck hair and full lips.

  - This is my son, - showed her the icicle Orf: - Heal him.

  - I cannon, - shook her head the girl: - First you need to take him out of that, - she pointed at icicle.

  - Can't you do that?

  - No.

  Orf helplessly looked around. He probably did not expected that answer.

  - I could try to dispel that ice prison, - offered mage from Theodoric's party.

  Orf nodded and mage used Dispel. It did not work Orf was starting to get impatient.

  That could be a problem - I thought to myself.

  - Try using Anti-magic, - I suggested. Mage nodded and concentrated on a spell. Do not know why he thought that it will work. Secretly, I casted Scatter artifact power spell around the same time as mage used his spell. Ice melted and a man fell on the ground. Nelly gnced at me, but did not commented. Her All seeing eyes probably allowed her to see my spell and its results.

  Orf's son was badly wounded and blood came out rushing from his wound. Adeide approached him and pced her hands on his body. Light enveloped northman's body, and his wounds healed. He blinked and opened his eyes.

  - Goddess, - he whispered: - Looking at Adeide.

  I cpped an put my hand on girl's shoulder, taking her away from the boy.

  - We are done now, - I looked at Orf: - Theodoric pay him the rest and let us leave immediately. We wasted enough time.

  Theodoric looked at me surprised, but nodded. There was a tension among all the men. We all kept our hands close to our weapons. I was shielding surprised girl and slowly moved towards the ship. Theodoric handed over the small bag, and Orf opened it. He nodded, not counting the coins.

  Saved man tried to say something, but Orf's men took him away. We slowly went to the ship, with cautious eyes following us. I exhaled relieved, when we sailed away from the shore.

  Orf followed us with his eyes, but did not said anything.

  Marcus took the saint to girls room, while the rest of us stayed on deck.

  - So who do you think was that boy? - I asked Theodoric.

  - Probably northmen king's son. No ordinary chieftain would have such powerful artifact.

  - Sounds right to me, - I agreed: - Other northmen faces were strange, every time Eric demonstrated his seal. And he was very careful, talking to them far away from our ears. We could have spared those hundred coins.

  - All that matters is the saint, - shrugged Theodoric.

  -You are right, I guess. Captain, can you bring ship back without us?

  Ship's captain looked at me surprised, but nodded.

  - I can, but what about you?

  - We are leaving. Nelly, how about it? Can you use Guild portal spell to take us, saint and Theodric's men to Mina.

  - I should be able to do that, - nodded Nelly: - I think I have enough mana.

  - Just make sure to take us, saint and Theodoric. If one or two of his men stay behind, I won't care.

  Ethan gred at me angrily, but Theodoric just ughed.

  * * *

  We were invited to celebrate saint's safe return, but I made an excuse that my health worsened after the journey and stayed in tavern. Messenger did not insisted. Probably local aristocrats would not miss an adventurer, not when they had a saint and hero from the empire to look at.

  We spend two days cleaning local shops from potions and buying supplies, when Theodoric finally showed up. He looked tired. Even more tired than he was after spending a day on a horseback.

  - So, when can we leave already? - I looked at him condemningly.

  - Please accept my apologies. I had to do a lot of expining about our agreement. Local aristocrats insisted that I refuse you, but thanks to saint, we are allowed to take you to uninhabited nds.

  - Good. When are you leaving?

  - Don't you mean we? - he smiled.

  - No, I mean you. I have Nelly. We will wait you in Garya, no need to take us there. Nelly can get us there faster.

  - That's right, - he ughed, - I did not think about that. Markus, Ethan, and Liam will stay with the Saint. While Christopher and me will take you, where you need to go. We will depart tomorrow, but you will need to take saint Adeide to Alven, week from now.

  - Good. Tell them to come to Mage guild week from now. Nelly will be waiting for them. We will be waiting for you in Garya then.

  - We will fly as fast as we can, - bowed Theodoric.

  I gathered my party members and told them, that we are finally leaving.

  - Are we going to Garya? - asked Nelly when we gathered in my room. Everyone was ready to go and we only waited a word from Theodoric.

  - No. Theodoric will need at least ten days to get there, even if he flies as fast as griffins can. No need to sit there all that time.

  - She wants to go to Grimsgurg to get coffee, - expined Luara, and I gred at her.

  - No, I do not. Well fine I do. But first I need Nelly to take me to Kota. As for you and Trevor, as your punishment you will wait me in Garya. Make sure you buy all possible potions, that we may need and also supplies for the road.

  - Fine, - rolled her eyes Luara: - We will do that. Someone needs to work.

  - You should show more respect to your great leader, who managed to fill your wallets with orichalcum coins, after our st job.

  - Didn't you rob Theodoric to do that? I heard that he returned fifty coins to town lord and was rewarded for it.

  - What he got?

  - A dagger with golden hilt, decorated with pearls.

  - Hardly worth fifty orichalcum coins, - I shook my head: - And hilt is probably only gold pted. He should have kept the money, the way I told him.

  - Sometimes I do not understand you at all, - Trevor looked at me disapprovingly: - Knights must be honest and honorable.

  - I am only lowly adventurer. So stop compining, and let us go. Nelly, leave the fox with Luara in Garya.

  - But...- No, its shedding fur, and you use up more mana when you take fox with you.

  - He is not getting bold, - mumbled to herself Nelly, but did not object, since she did not have enough mana to use Guild portal twice a day without relying on potions. And every additional person or fox meant more mana.