“I am so sick of being thrown around like a rag doll.” Duffy opened his eyes.

Outside the Ice Henge without shelter, every bone in his body felt like ice. He shuddered, lips blue and hair frosted. Though he often lacked common sense, he knew he had to get back into the fray or turn into a statue. Neither option enticed him, but living was always preferable.

“Come on you jackass.” He reached out with a cold hand and dug it into the snow. He heaved, emerging from a growing drift and wincing as his bruised shoulders reminded him that he was no longer carefree and immortal. “Shit!” He bit his lip.

The wind rolled over him, flicking his cloak to life and rattling the icicles in his hair. As he slowly rose, he began to wonder how long he had been unconscious. Minutes, hours…days? His eyes struggled to focus in the shadows, but when he turned and latched on to the familiar sight of the Ice Henge’s spires smoke spiralled up and a flurry of embers rained down. He mouthed a silent prayer and began to wander back towards his family.

Every step made him wince. Every breath reminded him that charging a Thayne a second time was suicide. Somehow, he had survived. He had to give it to himself, he was a lucky bastard. He crossed the threshold and admired the inadvertent small victory his catapult had afforded them. The spire was shattered, its lustre gone, another part of the Ice Henge destroyed.

“Leopold!” He turned back to the centre, scanned the fiery crater, and frowned. His stomach churned, fearing the worst.

“Over here!”

The voice came from the edge of the crater, and Duffy hurried as quick as he could to his brother’s side. The merchant was on both knees with his arms hanging loosely by his side. His blank expression was an ill omen.

“What happened? Are you okay?” He knelt beside him and rested a hand on his shoulder. Leopold flinched, but relaxed when he saw who it was. “Where’s Ruby?”

Leopold, dry tears staining his face shrugged.

“She and Y’edda just…burnt away.”

“Burnt away? That’s Ruby’s shtick. Where is she?” Duffy looked around, but saw no signs of life. He turned to examine the centre of the crater but there was nothing. No bodies. No singing. No scorned woman ready for a drink.

“Phoenix used all her magic to defeat Y’edda.” Leopold sobbed. “She’s gone.”

Duffy shook his head.

“Bullshit.”

“No. Duffy. She’s dead. She said she forgave me. I made her give up her power during the war and had to destroy the Old God part of me to set her free. She returned the favour.”

Duffy cleared his throat.

“So, Phoenix is gone. That doesn’t mean Ruby is too.” Panic crept into his stomach and began to undo his composure. “Come on old chap, let’s go and find her.” He stepped away and held out a hand.

Leopold stared at the crater for a while, trying to come to terms with what had happened. He felt powerless, for the first time in a long time. He had spent all his life protecting Ruby, and the one time when she needed him there was nothing he could do.

“Okay,” he said softly. He took Duffy’s hand and clambered upright.

“That’s the spirit. Let’s see if Clarissa made it, she can help.” The bard pointed to Hawk’s cracked shrine and slowly but surely, they made their way to the first battleground.