Contents
Chapter Twenty
Overview
After Mikail is thrown from the sleigh in the Northern Pass, Euyn leaps into a zaybear attack and nearly dies. Royo returns, fells the mother with a thrown axe, and Euyn kills the pack. The trio chases their lost sleigh through the dark, and Euyn privately resolves to give Joon the ring.
Summary
Euyn narrates as Mikail is flung from their sleigh in the Northern Pass. With two juvenile zaybears circling Mikail and others chasing the sleigh, Euyn jumps into the snow to help while ordering Royo to stop the sleigh. Euyn calmly downs one juvenile with a precise bolt, but the second is only wounded, enraging it.
Mikail warns of a larger threat: the charging mother. Euyn’s hurried shot grazes her, leaving no time to reload. As the mother launches, Mikail hauls Euyn back to shield him, and they brace for death—until Royo reappears, hurling an axe that drops the mother into the snow.
Euyn recovers his bow and delivers a killing shot through the mother’s muzzle. He then kills the injured juvenile and, after witnessing the last cub mourn its mother, chooses to end its life quickly to prevent starvation or renewed attack. The clearing falls silent amid four dead zaybears.
Recognizing the sleigh is gone and the cold lethal, the three run after the califers. While sprinting, Mikail stays at Euyn’s side to guard him, and the two exchange terse, affectionate words that reaffirm their complicated bond. Euyn silently wonders whether Mikail’s devotion is love or loyalty and resolves to give Joon the ring, keeping that plan to himself as they race into the dark.
Who Appears
- EuynPOV archer; leaps from the sleigh, kills the zaybears, and resolves to give Joon the ring.
- MikailFalls from the sleigh, tries to protect Euyn despite being outmatched, runs with Euyn afterward.
- RoyoReturns in time to save them by throwing an axe into the mother zaybear; urges them to move.