Pressure, on foot now, stayed back behind the rest of the group, eyes scanning as he checked every angle behind them. He didn't rejoin until he was sure the woods were empty around them. When the danger finally eased, they slowed from a sprint to a hard walk, still moving but able to breathe, voices low as they tried to name what had just happened. Solace walked next to Thiago but she couldn't help it, her attention kept tugging backward.
She looked over her shoulder at Pressure, then slowed down as her eyes narrowed trying to pin a memory down. "I know I've seen you before," she said, "I just can't remember."
Pressure smirked, "Yeah, I gave you directions not too long ago."
Solace snapped her fingers, the memory finally hit full volume. "YES, that's you!" She cracked a smile. "Okay, good, perfect. Now do the directions thing again, or better, do you have a map?"
Pressure bent down and grabbed a folded map from his boot. "Where are you headed?"
"FrostPeak Dwelling," Solace responded.
Pressure nodded and unfolded the map in his hands, then he took out two smaller maps folded inside, and handed one to solace.
"Thank you, this saves us a lot of time," Solace said. She gave the map a quick lift, then an odd look like it was in another language.
"Yeah, that's upside down," Pressure said.
Solace giggled and flipped it around. "Wait, why did you come help us in the first place?" A second past as Solace grinned big, like the answer was obvious. "Let me guess, you're here to join my crew."
Pressure didn't even think about it. "Absolutely not navi."
Solace frowned, "You sure? We could use someone like you."
Pressure glanced down at solace, "I'm trying to make a name for myself. I'm stuck in one shadow already, I'm not getting caught in another."
Solace gave a small nod, "Yeah, I get that." Her eyes flicked past him. "What about that girl, is she with you?"
Pressure shook his head slowly. "Nope, I met her recently." Solace's attention shifted and she lit up when she looked at Vanpree.
"Okay bye," Solace said.
She started skipping over to her laterally. She had her hands in her pockets, and was switching from left shoulder leading to right shoulder with every jump.
Solace landed firmly on Vanpree's side. "What about you?"
Vanpree flinched hard, snapping her head with wide eyes, "What about me, what?" she said frantically as she put a hand over her heart. Vanpree started laughing hysterically "You scared me."
Solace raised a brow, "Are you ok?" Vanpree couldn't answer if she wanted to. Before she knew it, solace was caught by the contagiousness of her laugh, and they laughed boisterously.
Solaced wiped her eyes, "You should join my crew!"
Vanpree froze like she'd misheard. "Just like that navi?"
Solace looked confused, "You just saved our lives and put yours at risk, Why wouldn't I want you on my crew?" As she talked, she waved her hand across Vanpree's face. Then she added, almost offended by how obvious it was, "Also, you're the coolest looking person I've ever seen. You're walking around with a black bow across your eyes and you still somehow know exactly where you're going."
Vanpree let out a laugh, surprised it even came out of her, as it did she felt something loosen in her chest. All that time thinking Solace wouldn't like me, thinking I'd be a problem, an outsider, it was all wrong.
"What's your name? I always forget to ask that, "Solace said as she rubbed her chin.
Vanpree dipped her head a little. "I'm Vanpree."
Solace nodded, "I'm Solace." Then, softer, with a quick smile, "Vanpree… that's a lovely name."
Vanpree let out a small breath, she was still catching up to the fact this was real. "I would love to," she said, then hesitated. "But I made a promise to Pressure, in exchange for a ride." She turned her head slightly, like she could feel where he was without seeing him. "After I help him… am I allowed to come back?"
Solace didn't hesitate, "Navi, I expect it." Then she leaned in a fraction, eyes narrowing with that same blunt curiosity. "And when you do, I want to know all about your eyes."
"Deal," Vanpree said.
They walked for a while longer, until the path ahead widened and the moment came to split. "Thank you," Solace said, "You two helped keep my crew alive." She looked over at Pressure. "I don't know when I'll see you again." Then she grinned. "But next time I do, you're gonna join my crew, right?"
Pressure laughed loud, like that was the funniest thing he'd heard all day. "Keep the map navi."
They walked, toward the right side, the split widening between them. Solace looked over and shouted, half command, half impatience, "VANPREEEE, hurry up navi! You're taking too long already!" It had barely been thirty seconds.
"OKAYYY" Vanpree shouted back, waving her hand goodbye, she laughed under her breath as she jogged to catch up with Pressure.
Solace opened the map as they walked, guiding them as the terrain began to change. The ground started to climb, and the mountains rose into view, wearing snaw like a crown. Ahead, the path began to whiten, snaw was falling down into the trees, covering rocks, and giving everything around a powdery glow. They were walking toward a storm.
"I hate the cold" solace mumbled under her breath, then wondered where they were going to get warmer clothes.
Wine made a sound that wasn't even a word, just pure excitement, and Dine was bouncing all around, he couldn't hold it in. "We're here," Dine said.
Thiago glanced down at them. "You recognize this?"
"Yes!" Dine said, nodding his head violently.
Solace looked at the map again. "Wow they're right it's FLEX…" Solace pulled out a small piece of paper from her pocket. "Ten… FLEX ten. Yo tell me how I just noticed FrostPeak Dwelling is closer than I expected too." Solace chuckled.
Thiago gave her a look of disbelief, "who gave her the map? She should be the last one surprised by both of the statements she just made." He was pointing his thumb at Solace and staring at Arlenna.
At the border of FLEX ten and FLEX nine there was a blizzard wall, it was made from thick falling snaw and violent wind. When they stepped up to the border wall, just before the path turned pale, the group stopped.
"Ok what do we do now?" Arlenna asked as she put a hand out stopping right before touching the wall.
"I hate the cold" solace mumbled again under her breath and rolled her eyes.
The kids were huddled together, they were taking turns whispering to each other, and giggling loudly. They laughed a little too loud and caught solace's attention. Solace turned and put a hand on both of their heads. She bent down until her head was level with theirs, and slowly turned from Wine to Dine as she squeezed.
"What's so funny… How about we share with the class."
Dine started laughing,"We told you before it wasn't cold."
While Dine was talking, Wine took the opportunity to grab Solace's hand with both of hers and went completely limp, slumping over and forcing Solace to hold her at a forty five degree angle. "IT'S NOT COLD" Wine yelled as she held on.
Solace started moving her hand side to side making Wine wiggle around. "Yo… Who are you yelling at." She gestured for Arlenna and Thiago to come over. Thiago immediately picked up Dine by both feet and started shaking him "I know you have something, what's in those pockets?"
Arlenna had wine on her feet with her hands behind her back, solace walked toward her and started tickling her. When Wine was laughing so hard she wasn't making a noise anymore solace stopped and backed up. She started pacing side to side in front of Wine, with her fingers together like a villain."I don't understand how you can talk so recklessly as if I don't know your weakness child." Solace moved in closer, tickling her again before going back to pacing. "Now tell me child, what was so funny before?"
"It's not cold, Snaw is not cold," Wine said softly, trying not to laugh.
Solace went wide eyed, "WOAHH, there's that attitude again." She put a hand over her heart and curled her fingers offendedly.
"The disrespect is sickening." Arlenna said, while grimacing and shaking her head.
Solace stepped back from tickling her again. "I'm going to ask you again, and if I don't like the answer—" Solace glanced over at Dine upside down. "I don't know what I'm gonna do, but he's looking quite ticklish." She laughed similar to a hyena, and tapped her fingers together making a devious face.
Dine started squirming around frantically. "Woah, woah we got a fighter." Thiago said, while trying to stabilize him.
"No, keep her away from me" Dine said, knowing he was significantly more ticklish than his sister.
"You have to walk through the wall yourself and you'll think it's funny too." Wine said.
Solace stood there for a second. "How do I know I can trust you?" She squinted at Wine.
Wine started giggling, "What…I didn't do anything," she said while trying her hardest to stop the giggling before she got attacked again.
Solace turned to face Thiago and gestured with her head for him to go to the wall. Thiago walked over holding Dine across both of his arms before putting him head first through the wall. When he pulled Dine out of the wall he was covered completely in white powder up to his chest, Thiago set him down and started wiping it off. "Seems safe enough little sov." He kept wiping until he saw Dine's smiling face underneath the snaw.
"Lovely, let's go." Solace said, skipping towards the wall.
When they walked through the wall they were immediately covered from head to toe. At first Solace couldn't see anything as she walked through, the wind was strong, blowing snaw everywhere. The air was warm, and In seconds as she kept walking she was on the other side of the wall.
"Thats crazy it isn't cold at all," Solace said as she jumped and wiped the snaw off her.
Wine snapped her head, "That's what we've been trying to tell you, it doesn't get cold here." She grinned and lifted her hands. "We get snaw, not snow. It's warm and comfy."
"Ohhh… Why didn't you just say it doesn't get cold." Solace said before tapping her on the head and walking away. As she walked Wine stared at her, jaw on the floor.
The Snaw was brightening the ground, making it sparkle. "And I thought the East was odd," Solace said as she grabbed a handful of snaw, balled it up and threw it. The ball evaporated immediately into the air after she released it from her hands.
They followed the forest path into the shadows. There were dotted white bushes across the ground with clusters of wintnill woo'spike berries, red, purple, and gold. When you peel the berries they have a pink, glowing core, smooth and edible. The yellow flowers on the path curved naturally through the forest floor, releasing faint, sweet scents. Solace noticed the fruit immediately. She plucked berries as she walked, peeling the soft spikes away with her thumb, biting into the glowing pink core.
First she started slow, then she had another, and another. By the time Wine noticed, Solace already had stained fingers and a quiet focus about her that meant she wasn't stopping. Wine laughed, reached in, peeled one clumsily, then another, juice glowing faintly on her hands. Soon they were both stuffing their faces, peeling and eating as they walked, pink light flashing between their fingers, the snaw-soft forest watching like this happened all the time.
When Arlenna glanced back, Solace and Wine were hunched over guarding a bush like it was their only meal. Their hands moved fast, peeling and eating, pink glow smeared across their fingers and mouths, staining their faces. They looked terrible, Solace worst of all. Arlenna stared a moment longer
"You look like a child," Arlenna said, "A grown one, which makes it worse."
Solace wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. "This place is lovely," she murmured.
Arlenna sighed, already turning away. "Come on, before you decide to root yourselves here. We're about to enter FrostPeak."
FLEX Zones that are not protected by The Department of Public Order usually have kingdom guards of their own. Frostpeak Dwelling had watchers, Just people like farmers who could read the land, or traders who remembered patterns better than names. They paid attention, and in Frostpeak, attention mattered.
One of them was sitting in a tree, attending to birds. He was in his early fifties, his skin was weathered, and his hair was mostly gray, tied low at his neck. His eyes were sharp from a lifetime of noticing what others missed. The king of FrostPeak Dwelling trusted men like him.
He saw movement and the pinnacle crew never realized they'd been noticed. At first, they were just shapes, as they stepped into the light, two small silhouettes turned into Wine and Dine, and with them three other people.
The watcher swallowed. "No way."
In Frostpeak, there was a rule older than most written law. If someone or something was of potential royal interest, it went straight to the castle, to the King. So he finished tending to the birds, climbed down from the tree, mounted his horse in one smooth motion, and rode hard for the mountains. Frostpeak Dwelling was starting to wake up.
The watcher rode for a while until he reached an open field, there was an ornate horse-drawn carriage. Instead of a real horse in the front, there was a metal horse attached to the carriage, cut to only show its shoulders, chest and head.
The carriage was covered in elaborate gold detailing, decorative carvings, scrollwork, and decorative trim. Massive wooden wheels with gold accents dominated both sides of the carriage. The main body is painted white with floral artwork and cherub illustrations.
The roof is crowned with an intricate gold ornament resembling a royal crown. A red-and-white crest tag is displayed prominently on the side panel, and large glass windows surround the cabin, giving it a luxurious enclosed design.
"JEFFREY, SIR JEFFREY," Able shouted as he rode up.
As able faced the front of the carriage, Instead of the a door opening, the right side of the carriage body protruded slowly from its frame. It stopped once it extended all the way, and swung out to the left, toward Able. Jeffrey was sitting on an upholstered bench seat, legs crossed and arms across the backrest.
"Yes able?" Jeffrey asked.
Able hopped off his horse and started walking to him. "Sir, I spotted the children that didn't make it to Monticello Island.
Jeffrey's eyes went wide, "Are you serious."
Able nodded, "I wouldn't lie about something like that sir."
"I trust you," Jeffrey said, "That's why I leave you here to watch over FrostPeak." He rubbed his chin and thought for a moment. "I only ask because Chime said those kids were lost before transit, and nobody he talked to saw them. Did they get snatched? They were too special for that response."
"I remember sir, you got yelled at pretty bad for that one." Able stopped walking. "That's why I'll never forget their faces, I know I saw those kids."
Jeffrey gestured for Able to sit at the other end of the bench. "I will talk to Joshua, but before I go let's have tea, I want all the details." The two men talked and spoke for about an hour.
"The King will be thrilled with the good news sir," Able said, and walked towards his horse.
Jeffrey chuckled,"King Wonek will be delighted indeed, there's truly no better news than this." The bench seat started to turn slowly and reconnect with the frame. "I will see you at High Peak."
Able turned around and bowed his head, "I bid you a good day sir."
After the side of the carriage clicked back into the frame, the top of the wheels on the carriage folded down and laid flat against the grass. The carriage began to hover, once it reached a good height it eased forward and the back two wheels pivoted from the side of the vehicle to the rear. The carriage turned a hundred-and-eighty-degrees then shot off in that direction cloaking itself as it moved.
In EvergleamPeak Castle, a messenger knelt. "My King," he said, voice steady despite the weight of it. "Able sent me here, the missing children have been spotted."
He was short, no more than five-seven, and at first glance easy to overlook. His frame wasn't broad beneath the travel worn cloth he wore. But his legs were a different story: they were thick and powerful, with muscle shaped by miles of hard ground and steep paths. A brown hat sat low on his head, with edges faded by sun and rain. His skin was deeply tanned, and he had pale lines marking where sun hadn't reached.
He was standing still now, and with his breathing you can tell he had run hard to be there. King Wonek was already moving before the sentence finished. The halls were wide and built from pale stone that held light instead of reflecting it. EvergleamPeak castle was not meant to impress. White dominated the space, King Wonek liked it that way, it made it easy to see dirt and blood.
"My King," the messenger added, "The ones who rescued them are the same group involved in the Matriarch Ascension."
King Wonek stopped and turned slightly toward the window overlooking the outer fields. From here you could see farms, woods, and paths his people walked daily.
I wish he would stop calling me king, it's patronizing. King Wonek turned back, already walking again."Where are they now?"
"Crossing into the outer farms, moving carefully my king."
"As they should," King Wonek said, "Anyone who saves children and still avoids attention understands Frostpeak." He reached the doors leading down toward the stables, already taking the faster route. "Take me to them."
The messenger hesitated, "You want no escort?"
King Wonek glanced back, "If they mean harm," he said, "guards won't stop it." Then he opened the doors. "And if they don't," he added, "I'd rather meet them as a man Jeffrey, not a crown." These are the kids rescuers, the Department Of Public Order will be right behind them. If they enter my land, I am responsible.
The Pinnacle Crew moved again once the break ended, slipping back into the trees. The path narrowed, shading them with branches that filtered the bright daylight into harmless strips.
"I think we're actually pretty close," Solace whispered as they walked.
"Why are you whispering?" Thiago asked.
Arlenna adjusted her swords as her eyes swept the woods. "I'm keeping a close eye on you now, bum." She kept her eyes on the woods. "Since you've decided secrets are your favorite personality."
Thiago glanced at her and smirked. "Always had charm."
"No," Arlenna replied flatly.
He kept grinning but didn't argue. Every step they took, someone was already watching.
Miles away, Able stood at High Peak Mountain beside Jeffery, pointing down through the forest. "There, right where I said, the two kids."
The directions only narrowed it down, what confirmed it were the birds. King Wonek fed them, spoke to them, and treated them like friends. They circled above the treeline in a tight pattern. Thiago looked up as the birds passed overhead. He squinted against the light, then shrugged it off, attention already back on the path.
"My King," Able said softly. "The birds confirm it."
The Pinnacle Crew kept moving, Arlenna walked a few steps behind Thiago now, not watching the path more so watching him. The way he walked, the way his hand never strayed far from his pouch, the way his eyes tracked everything except her. She was still analyzing him when suddenly— Thud, Thud, Thud. Arlenna slowed down to listen,
Solace frowned. "Did you feel that?" Before anyone could answer, it came again. Thud, Thud, Thud. Up above them birds suddenly scattered. Thiago glanced around, more curious than alarmed.
Solace turned to Dine, already reaching for him. She hooked an arm under him and tried to lift, but pain detonated through her body. A spike of agony that cut the motion short and forced a sound out of her before she could stop it. There wasn't time to argue with her body. She dropped him instantly, grabbed him by the hand, and pulled him forward. Two steps later, her ribs screamed again.
Solace sucked in a breath, caught Thiago's eye, "Take him." She gestured for Dine to go. Solace would rather Dine be with someone who could protect him if it came to that. She hated touching people anyways, so this would save her time from wiping herself off until she felt whole again.
Thiago noticed the birds following, he glanced up through the canopy and felt his stomach drop. "Solace, we're not just being followed on the ground." Thiago pointed his finger into the sky.
Solace looked up to see what he was pointing at, then immediately looked over to the side once she felt it again, Thud, Thud,Thud. "Thiago, take the lead, Arlenna, right side."
They moved instantly. Thiago shifted forward, placing himself between the sound and the rest of them. Arlenna slid back and to the right, sword low but ready. Solace took the left side, and the kids were guided inward. All three of them faced the sound, Thiago raised a spear, the trees rustled, and three figures emerged.
One of the men was around six-foot-ten, built like someone who wasn't raised among people. Broad chest and thick arms marked by years of labor. His clothes were worn, he had short dark-blonde hair that sat rough against his head, and a stubbled beard. On his head sat a crooked iron crown.
"...That's a king?" Solace said, puzzled.
"No king dresses like that," Thiago muttered.
The crown slipped low over the man's brow, he grunted softly. "Ah, damn thing." He lifted it off and clipped it to his hip like a tool. Only then did the others fully register the two men accompanying him.
To his left was Able, he sat easy in the saddle, reins loose in one hand. To the right stood Jeffrey, when he smiled you could see his large, crooked buck teeth. His eyes flicked between the children and the crew.
Before anyone could react, the king swung down from his horse and dropped to one knee. Both hands open, head lowered, no weapons, just respect.
"I don't want a fight, I don't want trouble at all." His voice was low and sincere, "You're injured, you're being hunted, and you brought the children home, that's all I need to know." Slowly, he rose to his feet. "You're safe here." He started walking towards them.
Arlenna pointed, "Uh, uh, uh."
"Stop," Solace said, "Who are you, we don't even know your name."
The king rubbed the back of his neck. "My name is King Wonek, and I know who those children are," he said gently, "Wine and Dine, their father is a Mender, one of the best healers we have." King Wonek grinned, "If someone breaks a bone, he fixes it, if someone's dying, he pulls them back. When the kingdom is hurting, he's the one who makes it right again." Wine perked up and Dine gasped.
Solace narrowed her eyes. "Then why don't they recognize you?"
King Wonek laughed. "Oh they would, It's just been a while." He turned to the children. "Hey, remember when I let you two eat an entire cart of frostfuzz-sweets before your father found out?"
"THE CANDY MAN!" Wine and Dine screamed simultaneously.
They ran forward and tackled his leg like he was a festival mascot. Able let out a surprised laugh, shaking his head. Jeffrey snorted, covering his mouth too late as the sound escaped anyway.
King Wonek sighed, "I was hoping that name wouldn't follow me forever."
Solace, Arlenna, and Thiago just stared. "...Candy man?" Solace asked.
"The title stuck," King Wonek said with a shrug.
Dine backed up and pointed at him, "You're a liar, you said we got the sweets ourselves." King wonek started laughing loudly.
"We got in trouble," Wine said, pouting and crossing her arms.
"Why did you lie?" Thiago asked.
King wonek smirked, "You just had to be there, it was really funny pretending they were lying."
"No it was not." Dine snapped.
Everyone started laughing and the tension finally cracked. Everyone except Thiago, who just stared at King Wonek. He felt a little off, snapped his head and caught Jeffrey watching him with a straight face.
Thiago didn't look away, they just watched each other for a moment. He squinted his eyes and tilted his head slightly but kept staring, then Jeffrey smiled at him and gave a friendly wave. Thiago stared for a moment longer, then looked away, he didn't wave back.