In the early morning light just before the sun broke over the eastern hills, Ashlynn stood at the edge of the forest with Ollie, Virve, and the looming figure of Captain Ipiktok. The air was chill enough to turn their breath into small white clouds and a layer of frost covered the tall, swaying grass of the hillside leading up to the Summer Villa.
The Villa itself was exactly as she remembered it and for a moment, Ashlynn and Ollie exchanged a brief look and a slight smile as they remembered the time they spent together in the kitchens here. Despite everything that had happened during Ashlynn's brief visit to this place half a year ago, something wonderful had begun here.
