CHAPTER 12
The world is filled with countless mysteries.
Like a deep ocean filled with many currents
moving with and against each other.
In the blackness of its depths
Some mysteries will be discovered; others
will always remain unknown.
-FROM THE BOOK OF ST ALBANS-
I awoke with a sudden alertness, a sense of danger filling my soul. Wrapped in a number of furs and blankets, lying close to the fire, with the child by my side, I sensed something was terribly wrong. I turned my head to check little Ursala. Her bundled mass was closely snuggled up against me and rolled up into a tiny ball to keep warm. She lay between me and the burning fire in order to keep warm and away from potential harm.
But there was a problem.
There was no fire.
The dully glowing red embers marked where, only
