The day was just beginning as Coren walked away from the temple where the others were staying. He wandered up and away from the ice clan's area and only stopped when he was part way up the mountainside and could see the valley below him.

Looking up towards the hazy sun, partially hidden by white clouds, the big bearded man sighed heavily. Verengaard, let me think clearly and come to the right decision, he thought to himself as he basked in the new day's warmth. Unfortunately, even that was denied to him as a cold wind picked up and whipped around Coren's cloak. Still, Coren did not feel the coldness it brought because the magic of the fur kept him warm.

Looking out he could see the people below beginning to start their morning rituals. In the distance, he thought he heard the cry of a lonely eagle. If he concentrated, he knew he could smell the fresh snow and behind that the threat of the storm that was coming.

It was time, Coren felt, to make a decision.

All this time he'd simply been guiding Li-eira and the rest of the group to the Oracle. Li-eira had been paying him to protect her which, Coren darkly pondered, was somewhat ironic when he considered what he'd been doing before he met her. Still, that was a memory that he desperately wanted to forget. Now, payment for the task of accompanying her really couldn't go on any longer. Although he protected Li-eira it was not merely because it was his job. There was much more than that. So yes, he would guide them back to Freehold and, perhaps from there to the Guardian Isle, but should he be further involved?

There was no money in it, of course. Well, there might be. They'd found the gold from the goblins and who knew what other riches would be uncovered. Also, Goentryx had mentioned Fjiggorn, the lost war-axe and perhaps, pondered Coren, he could find that. The fabled weapon would be worth a small fortune!

But was money really the driving factor here? No. Not when he'd heard what Goentryx had told them. The Arch-Druid had also told him of his ancestry. He was of Balfor's line, the blessed warrior chief who had founded his home of Freehold and driven back the Dragonlords. Coren felt the pull of this legacy. Like Balfor, he should stand up against the coming darkness and help unite the forces of light.

It was the Oracle's words that struck him the most. She'd already given him his prophecy about sticking together with the others to help fight the black serpent and the coming darkness. It was now clear that the animals mentioned in that prophecy were the people with whom he was travelling. Without them, he'd be devoured. Reluctantly, Coren now believed this, just like how he now believed her second prophecy.

But it was her words just the night before that had made the difference. 'I see you have found your menagerie'. Then, 'still unable to find the light within yourself my poor little cub? Still waiting for your mommy to show you the way?' That's what the Oracle had said. Why she had mentioned his mother, he wasn't sure. But the idea of his menagerie and his relatives had stuck.

They were his family, or as near as. Li-eira was dear to him but Aislinn, Tob and even Giacomo were better friends than he had ever had. He was still unsure about Yasminna. The woman infuriated him with her sly nature and taunted him whenever she could. And then there was Janus. How he felt about the druid was complicated. He was wise, more so than anyone else he knew, and fair. And he inspired trust, honesty and more in those around him. Although he didn't know it, he was a born leader. If it weren’t for his involvement with Li-eira, Coren would consider the man a true friend and part of his ‘family’.

However, things weren't so simple. A part of Coren, the jealous part, didn't like the man at all. Travelling with him would be difficult. Still, who said finding the light within one’s self was going to be easy?

All these thoughts and more passed through Coren's mind as he looked across the valley and towards the hidden sunlight. Eventually, he nodded once and smiled. He had decided. And as the large and fearsome Northman began his walk back down towards the temple, a shaft of light broke through the clouds and shone down into the valley.