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‘You came back?’ he gasped, grimacing.

‘I could hardly leave you. It is after all, partly my fault you fell. I didn’t undress you, even though you were wet. Did you sit in the stream? I didn’t want to disturb you in case you had injuries I couldn’t see. If you take your clothes off now we can try and dry them in this damnable heat.’

‘Thank you. For coming back and for helping me. But why did you leave in the first place?’ As Erann spoke he struggled out of his wet clothing, while remaining within the furs. It wasn’t out of modesty. It wasn’t like the stranger could see in the darkness of the tunnel any better than he could. But he was cold and didn’t want to get any colder. Already, he held his jaw tight to stop from biting his tongue. While the air felt warm, it was obvious he’d been lying in sodden clothes for quite some time. The water had chilled him.

‘I… Well, I was surprised to find someone else here, but more than that, Erann. I was surprised by who you were and the coincidence of it. I know my voice is rough, but don’t you recognise me?’

Erann grimaced, finally free from his clothing, so he could pull the fur tightly around his shoulders again. He did recognise the voice. The stranger was right. But where had he heard it before? With dizzying understanding, he realised who it was.

‘Father, is that you?’

‘Yes, my son. It’s me, Ramon. I’ve been trapped here, like you are now, for longer than I thought possible. I can’t believe you’re here.’

There was a scrabbling noise next to him and Erann’s father sent his hand searching along the floor to grip his forearm. How had he not realised earlier?

Erann turned to embrace his father. Ramon returned the embrace with so much force Erann feared being crushed. Not that he could blame him. Here, alone, had been terrifying. How must his father have felt? How long had he been here? Was it the whole time of his exile?

His father broke their hold, and Erann allowed it unwillingly. Then, his father ran his hands down Erann’s arms again, feeling the buzz of growth on his chin.

‘You’ve grown well. Surely you must have my build?’ Bitterness and grief infused Ramon’s voice. Erann reached further forward and felt again for his father in the inky blackness.

‘And you, you’ve surely not changed at all. How did you come to be here? How long have you been here?’

‘There’s time for that later, Erann. First, please tell me of your mother, and sister and brother. How do they fare? Your brother. Is he a strong youth like you were when I… left.’

Again grief clouded his father’s words. Momentarily, Erann was conflicted. He must tell him the truth. He must.

‘Father, much happened in your absence. Much of it’s not good. Mother was ill when I left, I think more with distress you didn’t return after your exile. Anya’s to go to her. Mother and Hakon are currently with aunt and uncle, and Anya and Aras were on their way, before. Well, before lots of other things happened. They should be there by now, long ago in fact. I’m sure Mother’s well again.’

Here he paused.

‘Tell me it all, Erann. Don’t spare my feelings. I would like to know how my family are.’

‘Aras… she’s married Rankil out of some misguided duty to better our current position. She… she’s not happy. Rankil’s as odious as he ever was. We must find a way out of here. We must go to them and reclaim your position before the Full Council. You’ve survived. You’re innocent of those allegations laid before you.’

The answering silence was so complete, if he’d not been gripping his father’s arm tightly he’d have forgiven himself for thinking he was alone. Again.

Finally, Ramon spoke again, his voice filled with remorse.

‘I hoped you’d fare better in my absence. Certainly, during the first Long Day when I stayed as close to you as possible, hiding near the coast, your mother did admirably. So did Anya and the other servants.’

‘You were there?’ Erann gasped, shaking his head.

‘I stayed as close as I could but without imperilling you, or bringing the wrath of the other jarls down on your mother. But as much as I wanted to come home during the Long Night, I couldn’t risk it. You were too young to keep secrets, and your sister even younger. I feared one of the servants would run and tell Rankil if I came home.’

‘Who, who would have done that? Not Anya.’ Erann felt compelled to defend her.

‘No, son, not Anya. But I was fearful. The situation. And I learned of what happened to my scribe. I couldn’t allow the same to happen to you. I had to leave. I couldn’t stay where I was during the Long Night. I’d only survived the few weeks when Rankil first exiled me by chance.’

‘How did you do it?’ Erann felt compelled to ask. Had his father met Skaldi? No, that wasn’t possible, Skaldi had only recently become the Skald Drekki.

‘It little matters, Erann. All that matters is that I did, and I helped throughout the Long Day, when you had to travel to the Full Council Meeting. It was much easier with you all gone.’ Erann sensed his father was smiling. ‘And so, with a heavy heart, I left you all. I’d done what I could to ensure the Long Night would be comfortable for you. I’d seen to the animals and helped out with the crops, when no one else was around. I’d gathered what peat I could. Wishing I didn’t have to, I turned away and made my way towards the Librarian. I hoped he’d shelter me during the full Long Night of the first rotation of my exile. I thought it would also allow me the opportunity to discover some basis to counter Rankil’s false claims against me.’

‘Have you been here ever since?’ Erann couldn’t keep the horror from his voice. ‘It’s been seven rotations.’

‘No, not quite all that time. But in the time I’ve been here, I’ve never found a way out. I think you and I have been reunited, only to never be able to go home again. I’ve searched for all these rotations. I’ve never seen the sun since I came here. I’m sorry, son. There’s no way to leave. You’re trapped here, with me.’

‘But there must be a way out of here. I need to go home. I need to see Sereh and Skaldi. Mother needs to see you and we need to rescue Aras from Rankil. Please, please don’t tell me none of that will happen.’ His voice trailed away with anguish. All this time, he’d been telling himself he simply needed to find the way to escape and then he’d see Sereh again. That if he just stayed strong enough, and kept walking and drinking what was offered, he’d find the means to escape. He couldn’t let himself believe it wouldn’t happen.