– I don't like being in debt. I'll go with you, but I hope that when the time comes, you won't forget what you said today," Astrid said with an incredulous smile, but she squeezed my palm tightly in return.

Soon we were saddling up the horses and heading into town. As it turned out, Evans's friend was the owner of an elderly but sturdy gray horse, which was good for our journey. When we reached the winding pass in the mountains that was the only way into the city, I turned back, driven by a strange feeling. The fog that still hung over the ground made it hard to see anything, so I just shrugged and continued on my way. The passage was narrow enough that we had to dismount and lead the horses. The path was strewn with many large stones, so our four-legged friends were stubborn. My feet were also slipping and were beginning to ache.

We had been walking for about two hours. The fog suddenly cleared and the sun came out, which shone directly in our faces and so brightly that we had to cover our eyes with the palm of our hands. After passing through the gorge, we walked down the loose sand and decided to rest for a while. Settling down on the sand, I enjoyed stretching out my tired legs. My body was wracked with weakness after the arduous journey, and I hoped that some black bread and a piece of cheese would give me back my strength. I was so hot that I impatiently threw off my fur cloak, but I didn't feel any better. My head and eyelids suddenly felt heavy, and in a moment I was swallowed up by darkness.

"Don't give in to your fears, Sylvia. Everything that seems so difficult now will one day become a reality. – The demoness heard the voice of the golden-haired boy, the Creator of Vakkerland. – "You are so preoccupied with your worries and difficulties that you have forgotten about me."

– I did forget… Hund, the poisoned Derek, the road… It's all tearing my mind apart, and the fear that I won't be able to get the antidote in time is slowly driving me insane," Sylvia said with only her lips, lying on the sand with her eyes closed. – Why did you let it happen? Why did you let me feel happiness and love and then take it away from me? What if he dies?

– Sylvia! Come on, my queen, open your eyes! – Evans' voice, full of concern, drowned out the soft childish babble of the boy-God.

– Your shouting won't help, you fool! Get back!

Sylvia felt something hot grasp her ice-cold palm, and a pleasant warmth spread through her body. This warmth seemed to envelop her insides and the fiery flower on her stomach, made her pale cheeks blush and filled her eyelids with power.

The queen opened her eyes abruptly, inhaled noisily and looked around, searching for the golden-haired boy with her gaze. God was nowhere to be found, but Evans and Astrid were sitting next to her. Their faces were full of excitement. Astrid clutched Sylvia's palm tightly in hers.

– What's wrong? – The demoness whispered, still feeling that pleasant, unfamiliar warmth in her body.

– You passed out," Evans explained briefly, wrapping the girl in her fur cloak. – Astrid, fetch a flask of water! Sylvia needs to wet her throat.

Astrid let go of the demoness' palm and jumped to her feet. The warmth that Sylvia felt in her body began to fade, and when she was brought a flask of clean spring water, the warmth disappeared completely, but the queen felt full of strength and energy.

– Don't do that again… Scared us to death! – Astrid said with a light nervous laugh and sat down on the sand. She put her palm to her eyes tiredly and took a deep breath: – I'm soaked from this sun too… It's so hot!