He stopped trying to parse it; the ache behind his eyes had dulled to a warm throb. She caught his wrist mid-spin, yanked him into a tight circle. Their chests brushed. Her breath fanned his ear. ''Loosen your shoulders. You fight like a warrior, dance like one.''
He barked a laugh, surprising himself. ''Warriors don't usually twirl.''
''Tonight they do.''
The music shifted even faster now. A ring of dancers formed around the largest bonfire, hands linked. Dravina pulled him in. The chain swept them up: left, right, stomp, clap. Argo's pulse synced with the beat. Sweat beaded at his temples. Someone shoved a carved wooden cup into his free hand, sweet mead, sharp with honey and pine.
He drank without breaking stride, passed it on. Dravina's grip tightened. She leaned in, lips brushing the shell of his ear. ''Look up.''
He did. Above them, the bonfire's sparks spiraled into the shape of a great owl, wings spread wide, Athena's silhouette, woven from ember and smoke. The crowd roared. Somewhere beyond the circle, Aslan's black mane flashed as he prowled the shadows, tail lashing to the rhythm.
Dravina spun out, then back in, her palm slapping his in perfect time. ''Not bad for a mountain goat,'' she teased.
Argo grinned, breathless. ''Still no peacocks stepped on?''
''Only my pride,'' she ducked under his arm, popped up on his other side, and suddenly they were chest to chest again, the dance slowing to a sway.
The drums softened to a heartbeat. Around them, couples paired off, foreheads touching, feet shuffling in small, intimate circles. Dravina's hands slid to his shoulders. He found her waist without thinking and stared at her, getting charmed by her mature beauty, which he found appealing.
She tilted her head. ''You're staring.''
''Trying to figure you out,'' he admitted.
''Good luck,'' her smile turned sly. ''Some things aren't meant to be read.''
The final drumbeat fell. The bonfires dimmed to glowing coals. Cheers erupted, then faded into laughter and low voices. Dravina didn't let go. Neither did he. The celebration continued for hours until people started leaving, the young woman looked tired but pulled him toward the villages walls.
''Come this way, Ar,'' she said. ''I want to show you something.''
They trekked through the village with Argo seeing all kinds of huts from shops to craft which caught his attention. While looking at that, Dravina turned to him, smiling. ''Interested in Crafting things? Maybe you can become a Metal Master, they're the rarest of all Crafters and can make strong weapons.''
When he heard this, his blue eyes widened as he responded. ''Is there one here?''
''No, If I remember correctly there is two in Spearheart,'' Dravina revealed. ''But if it's weapons you're looking for, Northwatch is the plac to go. A Kravati Trader set up a hut there and sells metal weapons.''
''Ok, thanks for telling me,'' Argo replied, a honest smile appearing on his face.
Soon after, the pair reached the watchtower overlooking Winterbrook Village. They climbed its winding stairs to the summit, where a breathtaking scene unfolded: the settlement nestled below, cradled by rolling hills and distant forests. As the sun dipped toward the horizon, painting the sky in fiery shades, he realized twilight had arrived.
Argo leaned against the weathered stone parapet, the cool breeze tugging at his cloak as he drank in the vista. The village lights flickered to life one by one, like scattered embers in the gathering dusk, while the last sliver of sun bled gold across the treetops. Beside him, Dravina rested her forearms on the ledge, silver hair catching the dying light in a halo of flame.
She said nothing at first, only exhaled, a soft, contented sound that mingled with the wind. ''It's smaller than I remember,'' she murmured at last, eyes tracing the thatched roofs and winding lanes. ''But somehow, bigger.''
Argo glanced at her, surprised by the adoration in her voice. ''You've been here before?''
''Long ago,'' she tilted her head, a faint smile ghosting her lips. ''I used to climb this tower as a girl. Thought the world ended at the ridge.''
The silver-haired beauty gestured toward the dark silhouette of mountains beyond. ''Turns out it just keeps going.''
He watched as the sky deepened to violet, stars pricking through the haze. Dravina nudged him with her shoulder. ''Not a bad place to pause, hm?''
Argo chuckled, the sound low and warm. ''Could've picked worse.''
Following that. the duo stood in silence as they watched the Varna heading to their huts to rest for the night. While doing that, Athena appeared and circled Winterbrook, keeping a watchful eye over the settlement. He turned to the Spiritblade Beauty and questioned. ''Are the metal weapons expensive?''
''Yes, one hundred Shards for a dagger,'' Dravina answered.
Argo's eyes widened in shock. ''So much?''
''Well they last for years, can cut through most armor and are hated by the Urvaks,'' she shrugged. ''Worth it to me, plus not many Varna go for them, prefering Ulrak's stone tools and weapons.''
''Ulrak?''
''The Kravati Trader who settled in the valley and married a Varna woman,'' she answered.
''Oh,'' he muttered. ''Well your father owes me Shards and I'm sure Torv will give me some when I leave.''
Dravina frowned at this as she turned to him, gold eyes full of an emotion he couldn't work out. ''Do you have to go after the Death in the Dark? It's a dangerous creature that's killed hundreds?''
''And that's the reason I want it,'' he revealed, smirking. ''I got three strong beasts so ar but I need one that can take damage.''
The young woman couldn't help but smile at his excitement and touched his arm. ''Just be careful out and stop back when you pass through, I'd like to see you again.''
''I'll be returning here a lot,'' Argo reassured the older woman. ''Winterbrook seems peaceful and far enough away from Spearheart that the coucil won't bother me.''
Dravina nodded in agreement. ''Good idea, Ar. I'll go ask father and grandfather for the Shardes, but with some hunting and hardwork you can earn more from the traders, they love buyign stuff.''
''Okay,'' he replied and the two began climbing back down to earth where they were greeted by Hodor.
The big guy chuckled when seeing them before holding out his hand, a pouch dangling from it as he spoke. ''This is for you, Argo. Thirty Shards for the rescue and escort, I believe father has some for you as well.''
''Thank you Hodor,'' he said, taking the pouch and putting it in his pack.
''You're welcome, Ar,'' the older man responded. ''Now I'm going take Dravina from you, her mother needs her help with the other childre. Have a good night, Beast Master.''
Argo was about to reply but the silver-haired woman suddenly hugged him before joining her father as they left for home. Once they were gone, he headed back to Torv's place and the hut he was given by the leader of Winterbrook. After some time, he arrived back only to see the giant of a man sitting outside.
A pair of gold eyes lit up when seeing him as he stood up, speaking. ''Argo! I want to give you this as a thank you for saving my son and other family out there. It shoulder help you out in your journey and I owed your father some.''
He looked at the pouch and took it, only to feel it was much heavier then Hodor's one causing him to start counting it only to realize there was two hundred Shards there, causing his eyes to widen. ''Why so much? Bringing them back should've got me a handful at least?''
The older man laughed as he explained. ''I owed Tarek one hundred and the rest is a gift from me, on your journey to Dawnfire Village, Northwatch has that Kravati trader you could visit, it should help in the fight with the Death in the Dark.''
''How do you know that?''
''Dravina told me and its the obvious because of who you are,'' Torv said, smiling. ''Just be careful out there, beasts aren't the only predators that lurk the Varna Valley.''
Argo nodded. ''I know, and thanks for the hut, Torv. It's a nice change from Exile's Cliff,'' he thanked the man.
''Get some rest, we'll get you sorted with food and water before you leave tomorrow,'' the village leader said before heading back to his hut.
Once the older man was gone, Argo entered his and took off his gear and slumped into the bed, sinking into the feather mattress as he nodded off to sleep. By the time he woke up the next morning, he felt refreshed only to see the sun beaming through the nearby window as a breeze invaded the room.
''Time to head east,'' he muttered as he stood up, stretching.
A few pops echoed out as he picked up his weapons, strapping them to his body as Athena appeared outside, letting out a happy hoot.