A Carriage rolled alone through the frozen wilderness.
Wrapped in cotton clothes, Annan held the reins beneath a felt hat, disguised as he had been when he arrived in Betar City. Food simmered in the carriage behind him, sending up fragrant steam.
Just as Gema would never expect him to appear in Betar City, his enemies would never imagine the King of the North was absent from the convoy.
Annan followed far behind the convoy, keeping to the ruts its wheels had pressed into the snow. If danger struck those ahead, he would stay clear of it while remaining close enough to help.
The food was nearly done. Annan slowed the Carriage, lifted out the hot pot, and ladled the steaming food into a bowl. He hummed idly as he waited for it to cool—until a band of mercenaries suddenly blocked the road and took him captive.
After several days of travel, the King of the North's convoy arrived safely in Breeze City.
Residents who spotted the Snowflake Emblem on the carriages rushed into the city. Before long, the streets were packed with people chanting Jack's name, with Andy's and Freeman's mixed in.
Star-Moon Bay was Annan's home. Breeze City was half a home to him, too.
The convoy went to Winchester Manor to rest and wait for Annan to catch up. But by dusk, there was still no sign of his Carriage.
"Where's Annan?"
The night wind moaned past the rocks. Firewood crackled, and sparks briefly lit several faces.
Huddled in a corner, Annan spoke to the mercenaries roasting food by the Bonfire. "Could you let me go...?"
A Warrior in a Horns Hat glanced at him. "How much ransom will you pay for your life?"
"I don't have anything valuable left..."
"Then finish him. We still