Sorry if I interrupted you last time at the most dramatic moment, but you know how we artists are. In our inherent evilness, we love to make you readers suffer. And just to make you suffer more, I will already warn you that it is too early for you to know who or what Isalinda is. But to make it up to you, I will at least tell you the fate awaiting little Rolandus, who, pretending to be asleep, clutched himself like a child in Marfisa's arms and hoped to pass unnoticed in the eyes of Isalinda, who was looking around bewildered. 

Isalinda looked at Rolandus, who was trying to hide under the bedclothes, and then she walked towards him. Rolandus tried to keep his eyes as closed as possible, surveying whatever Isalinda was out of the corner of his eye, then he perceived more movement in the room. 

A creature appeared behind Isalinda, walking on two legs, with long black tentacles instead of hair, a long tentacle-like tail and very fine fish scales along the legs ending in two fins. Fossegrimus! Fossegrimus! In that creature Rolandus recognised the image of Fossegrimus. They didn't say anything. 

Isalinda looked confused: as if she had just come out of a nightmare and did not understand whether she was awake or still dreaming. Fossegrimus stepped forward, so that his body touched Isalinda's. He bent over and kissed her on the cheek, which made Isalinda blush. 

Fossegrimus took Isalinda by the hand and led her back to the bedroom door. Rolandus remained under the covers and pretended to be sleeping. His heart was beating fast, but he dared not open his eyes. 

Fossegrimus came back and looked towards Rolandus, but again he said nothing. He stretched out his arm, terrifying Rolandus, then lifted the blanket to better cover Marfisa's shoulder; he then left the room to return to his own room. 

What happened next, Rolandus could not say, as the fatigue caused by fear closed his eyes. 

*** 

The following morning, Rolandus woke up to find himself wrapped in Marfisa's arm. 

"It's been a while since you slept in my arms..." said Marfisa amused, "...did you have a nightmare?" 

"...!" 

Rolandus immediately snapped back. "I am not a child. I don't need to sleep in someone's arms." 

"Oh, come on! It's not the first time you've slept in my arms..." said Marfisa. "...and there is nothing wrong with having nightmares." 

"That's not the issue here," said Rolandus. 

"Come on, let me hold you..." said Marfisa, "...you catizi are so lovely that I would cuddle you all day long." 

"No, thank you" said Rolandus. 

"But why? What is this about?" said Marfisa. 

"Nothing... just let me go..." said Rolandus. 

"Oh, come on! For the sake of the good old days!" said Marfisa. 

"I am not a child!" said Rolandus, "We catizi resemble them, but I am an adult Marfisa!" 

Marfisa became silent, then sat on her knees with bowed head. 

"Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you..." said Marfisa, "...you were acting weird today, so I thought..." 

"Leave me alone, please..." said Rolandus. 

Marfisa sighed. "Fine. Let's prepare some breakfast for everyone, alright?" 

"Alright..." said Rolandus. 

After a few minutes of silence, Marfisa spoke: "Do you remember the last time we played the game of the dice, when we were children?" 

"Yes..." said Rolandus. 

"You won, and you promised me something... but I forgot what it was..." 

"I don't think it was important..." said Rolandus. 

"Well, now I want to know..." said Marfisa. 

"Let's play another round, then..." said Rolandus. 

"Okay..." said Marfisa. 

Rolandus pulled out a set of seven polyhedral dice: one with four faces, one with six, eight, ten, twelve, twenty and a hundred faces. They played the game of the dice, and Rolandus lost. 

"So you remembered!" said Marfisa, "Now tell me what your promise was." 

"I don't remember..." said Rolandus. 

"Come on, you can do it!" said Marfisa. 

It doesn't work like that. It's not that if you lose at dice, then the memory comes back to you..." said Rolandus, "...but I can imagine what I promised you." 

"What is it?" said Marfisa. 

"That if we found traces of arcane or fairy things, I would help you investigate them..." said Rolandus, "...and so I did: helping you collect every artefact we found that was fairy or connected to the Hercynia forest." 

"Yes, but now we are not hunting arcane or fairy things," said Marfisa. 

"Well, we are hunting for something that is equally fascinating to you for sure..." said Rolandus with a smile, "...and I am sure that before this is over you will have gotten much closer to the nymphs of the Hercynia forest." 

"Yeah, maybe..." said Marfisa. 

"And I will be there for you, no matter what happens..." said Rolandus. 

"Thanks..." said Marfisa with a smile, but suddenly Rolandus face became more serious. 

"Marfisa... how do we know that that nymphs and satyrs are as described in our legends?" said Rolandus. 

"We just do..." said Marfisa, "it's not like we can go to the Hercynia forest and see for ourselves..." 

"Maybe it's not true, after all..." said Rolandus. "I'm not saying it isn't, but maybe it's only natural wonders, and nothing supernatural... or maybe is the opposite, maybe they are not wonders at all, and we should leave them alone." 

"Rolandus... why these sudden doubts?" said Marfisa. "Besides, we're only heading to Maracanda to find Madalgarius. However, I promised Sigismunda that I would not look for the golden apple tree. I am not so dumb as to do something that even Varuclezia fears to do." 

"You are right, Marfisa..." said Rolandus. "...but still, I suddenly feel uneasy about the whole thing... promise me that we will only look for Madalgarius and that we will not investigate any stranger things for the time being." 

"Ok..." said Marfisa, "...I will be careful, but why this sudden caution?" 

Suddenly the chamber door opened and Isalinda made her appearance as quickly as Rolandus hid behind Marfisa's legs. 

"...?" (Marfisa). 

"Good evening, my dear friends!" said Isalinda with a big smile, "how are you today?" 

"Ehm... fine?" said Marfisa, looking at Rolandus. 

"Very well then! Let me make breakfast for you. Will you stay long here in Halmyris?" said Isalinda. 

"No, thank you..." said Rolandus nervously, "...we have to continue our journey today." 

"Oh, ok..." said Isalinda, "...then I will make some omelette for you two. Would you like that?" 

"Yes please," said Marfisa. 

"Great! Then let me prepare it, shall I?" said Isalinda, starting to cook. 

"Thank you..." said Marfisa, before whispering something towards Rolandus still hidden behind her. "What's up between you two?" 

"No, nothing" whispered Rolandus, "...just a little joke." 

"A joke?" said Marfisa, raising an eyebrow. 

"It was just a joke, Marfisa..." said Rolandus nervously. 

"Alright..." said Marfisa. 

After breakfast, Marfisa and Rolandus checked their rucksacks and gathered in the alley opposite the house of Fossegrimus. 

They both wore their armour: one that of a beautiful swan, the other that of a small lion. 

"We are ready," said Rolandus. 

"Ok then, let's go!" said Marfisa, until her arm was grabbed by Fossegrimus. "...?" 

Fossegrimus raised his eyes and for the first time Marfisa could see his gaze. His eyes were beautiful, a clear, gentle blue. Fossegrimus stepped forward and gave her a hug. 

"It was good to see you, Auntie..." said Fossegrimus, "...sorry I didn't talk much." 

"Don't worry. I always knew you were the silent type..." said Marfisa, hugging him back. "...it was nice to see you again... but look after your house a little better next time. A good Roman citizen cannot live in such conditions." 

"Sorry auntie..." said Fossegrimus. 

"Come on then, we don't want to keep Madalgarius waiting any longer," said Marfisa, taking hold of Rolandus' hand. 

They left the town of Halmyris without further delay. They only took a short break at a shop, then they headed for the stable where Marfisa had left Phazanius. 

"Are you OK?" said Marfisa. 

'Yes, everything's fine" replied Rolandus. 

"Are you sure?" 

"Sure." 

"Sure, sure?" 

"What makes you think I'm not all right?" 

"Well..." 

Marfisa shook her head, pointing at something to the right of Rolandus, who initially didn't understand only to jerk to the side when he realised, he was standing next to Phazanius. 

"Dangerous below, unreliable above. Remember?" said Marfisa, watching Rolandus move as far away as possible from the horse. 

"Yes, yes, I remember. I'm just a little overthinking..." said the catizus recomposing himself, "...rather, what is it that you bought?" 

Marfisa got down on her knees in front of Rolandus and put a silver chain decorated with a lion's head on his wrist, then said: "you have always been there for me in my time of need. I want this to remind you that when you need me, I will always be there." 

*** 

They left the city of Halmyris behind them and skirted the banks of Pontus Eusinus to the north. The weather remained warm, though the air was noticeably cooler. 

The sun rose early in the morning, casting its light into their faces. After about a week's journey, they passed the Greek cities Tyras, Odessos and Olbia, until they reached Scythia Metropolis, capital of the Sarmatian kingdom. It lay along the Borystenes River which ran through the region. 

Scythia Metropolis was an ancient city founded by the Sarmatians some years ago. It was surrounded by walls and towers, built of stone. Its main buildings were made of marble. There was no trace of vegetation around the area, except for a few trees growing here and there. 

As soon as they arrived at the gates, guards came running towards them shouting orders to stop and identify themselves. One guard approached them and asked Rolandus and Marfisa to step aside while another guarded their horse. 

After a brief exchange between the guards, Marfisa and Rolandus were allowed inside the city. Soon after, they found themselves walking up a broad street lined with shops, stalls and taverns. Their path led them past several markets selling various goods including food, clothes, jewellery and weapons. Many people were passing through the streets either going somewhere or coming back home. 

To someone living in the empire it would have seemed like a provincial town, but in the kingdom of Sarmatia it was the only town worthy of the name. It was built by King Pharnaces I during the reign of Emperor Trajan, following the civil war among the Sarmatae tribesmen. At present, the kingdom was ruled by Marfisa's friend: king Oliverius, However, as far as Marfisa knew, he was still in Rome, trying to get control of at least Odessos and Olbia to gain access to the sea without passing through the Maeotis swamp. 

The streets were full of sirens, all from families that have emigrated there over the past centuries. When the sirens had started to migrate to the region, Marfisa was not entirely certain, though certainly after the reign of Augustus. Some were merchants, other settlers. Originally confined to the Tyrrhenian Sea and at risk of extinction, sirens had begun to thrive along the Mediterranean coast, but for reasons unknown they began to migrate en masse to Sarmatia. As a result, many Sarmatian towns now boasted siren populations numbering in hundreds if not thousands. 

Their presence helped to improve the local economy, since they worked as farmers and craftsmen. This was particularly true for the small villages scattered along the great rivers where most of the population consisted of sirens, while many of the humans still followed the semi-nomadic style of their ancestors, although recently things had begun to change. 

Most of the sirens were female. They wore colourful dresses, decorated with embroidery. Most of the men dressed in similar fashion, wearing leather trousers, tunics and vests. What they both had in common was the tendency of many of them to dye their feathers, which they had instead of hair, down their arms and on the tips of their tails. Humans in the city dressed the same way. The only difference was that sirens did not wear sleeves except very short ones: with wings instead of arms it was very difficult to put something on, so the cloth tended to be mainly wrapped around the chest, rather than being sewn on. They were, however, very elegant dresses, so much so that more than once Marfisa had turned to admire the women disappearing around the corner. 

"Feel like buying something?" said Rolandus. "There are some nice dresses here." 

Marfisa shook her head. 

"Sure?" asked Rolandus. 

She nodded. 

They walked among the shops, admiring the clothes and jewellery sold there. Many of these products were imported from distant lands. 

"Are you really sure?" asked Rolandus again. 

She shrugged again. 

"Are you really, really, sure?" 

This time she gave him an angry look and shook her head, but then Rolandus smiled. 

"Well! I guess I'll buy you something before I leave" said Rolandus. 

Marfisa didn't answer... not with words. But she couldn't hide the smile that spread across her face. 

*** 

When they left the shopping district, Marfisa saw a group of children playing near a fountain. There were five boys and four girls, between six and eight years old. One boy looked at Rolandus who stood on horseback in Marfisa's arms, his expression full of curiosity. Then he pointed to himself and began to giggle. A moment later all the children joined in the laughter. 

"I swear on Mars, if they think I'm a kid their age, I'll freak out," said Rolandus. 

"Oh, don't worry," said Marfisa, "...I'm sure in this city they know what a catizus is. Rather, it would be better to look for a place to stay for the night." 

"We can be hosted in the palace. I am sure the sons of Oliverius can confirm that you are the daughter of an emperor," said Rolandus. 

"Eeeh... let's just say I don't think Oliverius' wife wants me around." 

"I see." 

The streets became narrower and darker. The buildings were tall and narrow, made of stone. Some windows were illuminated by torches that hung from the walls outside them, while others showed no light whatsoever. This darkness added a feeling of loneliness and emptiness that pervaded everything. It was late afternoon now. 

A man approached them. His clothing had a strange cut, and it seemed to have been sewn together from several pieces of cloth. When he got close enough, they could clearly make out his features. 

He wore a hooded cloak over a tunic covered with intricate designs and patterns, which resembled tattoos. On his neck he carried a necklace of gold, studded with gemstones. At first glance, the impression given off by this man was of arrogance and haughtiness, but closer inspection revealed an air of vulnerability and fear. 

His hands trembled slightly as he spoke. 

"You seem lost..." 

"No," replied Marfisa. "Just looking for a place to rest our heads tonight." 

"Ah! Well, if you're interested, I can recommend a small inn nearby where you will find rooms for two or three people. For only twenty coins per person, you won't regret it!" 

"That sounds great," said Rolandus, handing him ten coins. 

After thanking the stranger, they followed the directions provided by the man until they found themselves in front of a building whose signboard read 'The Golden Dragon'. 

It was a relatively new structure, built on top of a hill overlooking the entire city. Its roof was decorated with dragons made entirely of metal moving in the wind, together with their long cloth tails, and its facade boasted an impressive number of columns supporting arches. The main entrance led into a wide hall, surrounded by smaller doors leading to different sections. A group of humans wearing green clothes stood at attention behind a counter near the door. 

When they arrived, the siren guard saluted them and directed them towards the back of the house, where the stables were. As soon as they reached the end of the corridor, a dwarf appeared in front of them and asked for their names. After giving these details, he handed Rolandus a key and told him to go upstairs. 

Inside, there was a room large enough for three beds placed side-by-side along the wall opposite the window. Rolandus went straight to the bed furthest away from the door, took out his sword and laid down next to it, without even bothering to unpack. Marfisa did the same thing. She noticed that Rolandus kept staring at the ceiling. 

"What?" she asked. 

"...nothing." 

They fell asleep almost instantly, despite all the noise coming from outside. It wasn't until dawn broke through the windows that Marfisa woke up. She saw Rolandus still lying beside her, sleeping peacefully. She couldn't help feeling happy about it, so she decided to wake him gently. When he opened his eyes, she smiled sweetly; some time ago she would have even woken him up with a kiss. 

"Good morning..." she whispered, "...you seemed like you were having a good dream." 

"Dream?" said Rolandus, before smiling happily. "Yes. We were spending days searching for some strange artifact, and we finally managed to find it hidden in a forest somewhere... Oh well, maybe another time." 

He then got off the bed and stretched his arms above his head. 

"So? We're leaving for Maracanda right away?" said Rolandus. 

Marfisa nodded. 

"Then let's get dressed quickly... I want to see if there is anything else interesting around here!" 

As soon as they left the inn, they headed for the nearest market. There, they bought what food and drink items they needed for the journey ahead. They also bought some local clothes for Marfisa, but then went back to the inn and concentrated on studying the map. Maracanda belonged to the kingdom of Kusana and was in the distant region of Bactria. It was a long journey, which would probably have taken a few weeks on horseback, but there was certainly an opportunity to reach Madalgarius and prevent him from searching for the golden apple tree. 

After Scythia Metropolis, however, the settlements were beginning to run out to make way for wide grasslands. The only towns (if they could be called that) were those along the Maeotis swamp, and Tanais the last large town along their route. By avoiding the coast, they had saved a few days' travel, but now that they had arrived in Scythia Metropolis to reach the nearest towns, they would have to cross an area with no population centres. 

"Shall we ask someone if there are any villages along the way?" said Rolandus, "And then. In general, looking at the map, there is nothing around. There is nothing urban. The only real inhabited place is Tanais. And then to the west more nothing." 

"What is this?" asked Marfisa, pointing to a spot on the map. 

"Lucus... Piscatura Dei, sacred grove... the God's Fishing," read Rolandus aloud. "From the name it would seem to be a religious centre. Perhaps a place where the fishermen of the area gather." 

"Going in a straight line to save time, this God's Fishing is the first centre we encounter." 

"Perhaps someone in this inn will know something about this God's Fishing." 

"We'll try asking them," agreed Marfisa, who looked at the map again. 

They entered the tavern and sat by a table, waiting for someone to approach them. Soon enough, a man appeared from behind the counter. His face was pale and gaunt, but he seemed to be quite cheerful. 

"Welcome! Welcome, welcome!" exclaimed the innkeeper. 

Marfisa and Rolandus did not ask themselves many questions. Greek and Latin merchants certainly had to pass through that city, and as stunted as that Latin was, it was certainly much better than Marfisa's Sarmatian, which was nothing more than a Persian slightly rearranged to resemble the Sarmatian that Oliverius used at the imperial palaces. Come on, don't judge her. You may have studied a foreign language and thought it was a good idea to imitate its sounds at random. 

"Good afternoon..." began Marfisa, without really knowing what to say next. 

The inn keeper smiled happily. "You're new? You don't look familiar to me, so you must be newcomers. Where do you come from?" 

"Rome," answered Marfisa shortly. 

"Ah! That's wonderful! What brings you here?" 

"I'm going to Maracanda. I'm searching... someone." 

"Someone?" repeated the innkeeper, his smile growing wider. "Who are you looking for? Someone famous perhaps?" 

"No, not exactly," replied Marfisa. "A person who isn't well known, but important." 

"Oh! Your boyfriend maybe?" 

Marfisa blushed, while Rolandus laughed. 

"It's like a curse. Anyone knows you have a fiancée now" said the catizus. 

"Can we... please talk about something else?" said Marfisa. 

"Uh? It seems that this young lady doesn't like to talk about love," said the innkeeper. 

"Do you know anything about this sacred grove, Piscatura Dei?" said suddenly Marfisa, showing the map. "We are heading towards Tanais to then head east. We thought we would cut inland instead of following the coast to save a few days and going in a straight line the first centre you come across is this Piscatura Dei." 

"Piscatura Dei? Sacred forest?" repeated the innkeeper. "Yes, yes, that's right. There is a sacred forest near Tanais. The road passes through it." 

"Could you tell us more about this Piscatura Dei?" asked Marfisa. 

"Of course," said the innkeeper. "What did you want to know?" 

"Well... I guess if there is any danger around this place. Any strange things happening lately?" 

"Strange happenings?" repeated the innkeeper, smiling. "If you are searching for trouble maybe, but it is simply a shrine where the inhabitants of the towns around what you call the... Maoetis Swamp? gather." 

There is nothing special in Piscatura Dei. A small temple dedicated to the gods of nature, a few hundred people living nearby, no problem whatsoever. It is more the forest north of the sacred forest that you want to avoid." 

"Why?" asked Marfisa. 

"Because of the nymphs. Yes, they are everywhere, but especially in those woods. They don't care much about humans, but sometimes they attack travellers. But only occasionally. Most of them prefer to stay hidden." 

"Nymphs?" asked Rolandus. 

The innkeeper nodded. "There are many types of nymphs, some are dangerous, and others are friendly, but most of the time they just hide themselves away in their forests and lakes. Only a handful can be considered dangerous." 

"I see..." muttered Marfisa. "But why should we worry about these nymphs?" 

"They aren't really a threat, unless someone provokes them," said the innkeeper. "Most of the time they will ignore anyone who comes by, and the outskirts of the forest are save, but it is better not to go to deep. Anyway, no road goes inside the forest, therefore travellers are safe." 

"Has anyone ever tried to contact them or enter that forest safely?" asked Marfisa. 

"Actually yes. Not too long ago, even if I don't know if that stranger was telling the truth. He was a very cocky and prideful guy. The kind of man who esteems the whole world nothing in front of him. His name was Pandracon." 

"Wait! Pandracon?" exclaimed Marfisa. "The king of Hyperborea and Alania?" 

"That's right. The only reason that I didn't laugh hard was because, well... he seemed to have the heart of a dragon and the limbs of a giant. Not the type of man you want to make angry, and he seemed to know a lot about that forest." 

"Was that person mad?" asked Rolandus. "Or brave?" 

"He was neither one nor the other," answered the innkeeper. "Just plain crazy. He said he was on his way to Rome to forcibly claim the daughter of the emperor Volusius by himself. It seems that the daughter of the emperor of Rome has a passion for arcane things, so she wanted at all costs to get into the forest and find some sort of... gift? I guess." 

"A gift?" repeated Rolandus. 

"Yes. Apparently this Pandracon had found something in that forest. Something ancient. A piece of the past maybe, or a magical object of great importance. And that is what made him so cocky. That he could do anything to achieve his goal. To reach Rome and claim the princess." 

"So did he succeed?" asked Marfisa. "Did he reach Rome?" 

"Probably, I mean. He should have arrived there by know" replied the innkeeper. "Probably he has already found this princess Marfisa." 

Marfisa and Rolandus looked awkwardly into each other's eyes. You can imagine for yourself how it feels to have narrowly avoided a king who has come to take you away. 

"Returning to the previous topic, what did this Pandracon know or discover about forest nymphs?" 

"Not much actually," replied the innkeeper. "It is true that he knew more than me, since I've never been inside the forest. But according to him they were not dangerous creatures. Just curious ones and he seems to have exploited their curiosity to avoid their wrath... or maybe it's because he was so arrogant that he looked like a harmless fool. However, he told a curious story once he had drunk enough." 

"Tell us the tale!" begged Marfisa. "I would love to hear another interesting legend." 

"Well, let's see..." began the innkeeper. "As far as I remember he claimed that the leader of nymphs of the forest came from the city of Tyana. It seemed that a century ago a group of fanatic monks destroyed all the temples and sacred groves of the area and they had to flee. They found new life on the mountain range near the Tanais river. They used their weird magic to make the trees grow into a maze-like forest and it is said that the animals that live there are the descendent of intruders who were shapeshifted into animals. So basically, if you enter that forest, your soul will become animal and you'll remain forever trapped in the form of a beast. At least that is what he said." 

"And then?" asked Marfisa. 

The inn keeper continued. 

"Then, apparently, those nymphs started to trade along the Tanais river, reaching lands where even roman merchants don't go. They reached the kingdom of Hyperborea. This is way Pandracon was able to know about them, although according to what he said, nymphs and satyrs can become indistinguishable from human beings. 

Then how he knew that they were satyrs and not men he was trading with only he knows. But he claims that it is thanks to the nymphs that his home country connected with Mediterranean trade. Perhaps it was because he had already met nymphs who made it through the forest unharmed. Or perhaps they simply traded with them without being aware of their origin." 

"Interesting story," commented Marfisa. "But tell me something else. Why do nymphs seem to have some sort of interest in the frozen land of Hyperborea? And why do they trade with humans?" 

"Who knows?" answered the innkeeper. "I mean, I guess if you live in a forest there aren't a lot of goods you can produce by yourself." 

"So, no one really knows why they trade with us?" pressed Marfisa. 

"No," confirmed the innkeeper. "At least none of the traders I ever heard talking about these things mentioned anything. But then again, most people don't want to talk about this stuff anyway. 

I have heard that near Piscatura Dei, people leave goods inside the forest in specific locations, to then find other goods in exchange. Mainly medicinal herbs and artcraft, but I guess if I were a merchant, I would never say how lucrative my business is with fey creatures. People might try to take a share of the business. And I doubt any of the local lords wants to hear stories of magical forests, strange beasts and powerful enchantresses." 

Marfisa nodded. "Is there anything else I need to know?" asked Marfisa. 

"Nothing important. You'll find a lot of interesting plants and animals in Piscatura Dei. If you get hungry, try to take something with meat inside. Nymphs hate eating flesh." 

"Thank you very much," replied Marfisa. 

They left the inn. The sun was starting to set over the horizon. A cool wind blew across the plains, but to know what lies beyond them you will have to wait. 

I think this is a good place to take a break. Marfisa is very pensive and it's best if we give her a break. She has Pandracon on her heels and there is a forest full of arcane creatures that she cannot explore because she absolutely must find Madalgarius. And no, in case you're wondering, if Pandracon finds out where Marfisa is, it wasn't me that told him. I'm wicked, but I don't send a guy like that after a beautiful maiden. 

For the rest, I hope you have had your share of curiosity. Let me rest a little, I swear to you that waiting for the next chapter will be worth it.