[piosenniel]

‘If only I’d not gone back to my pack to get those foot warmers!’ Rôg shook his head, remembering how his feet had been cold and his pack, just a short distance away, held some furl-lined socks that Bear had given him. The ropes had been fine when he’d left; he’d checked their knots and seen that the three Lossoth he was standing watch with were all in place, watching the searchers inch out onto the ice. He’d heard the cries for help just as he returned to where the ropes were anchored. His immediate thoughts had been to go quickly to the source of the cries, as he saw a multitude of hands catch hold of the cut rope. Thoughts of how he best might help, though, had crowded out a glimpse he’d gotten just as he neared the anchoring rocks, before the cries went up.

One of the three Lossoth safeguarding the anchor points had just stooped down slightly and shoved an axe a little ways away on the ground. He’d hurried on as he saw hands grip the escaping lifeline. But his next images were of Alaahseey and Freyn running as he passed them to grab onto the rope. He gasped, audibly, at what this meant. The person who’d put down the axe must surely have been Hilde! He’d not seen her use it, but . . .

His attention was caught by the murmurings of the crowd in front of him. And the loud voices of Carandû and Annû. They, too, were accusing Hilde of the deed. Luindal had called for everyone to be quiet and be calm. Rôg heard him ask Carandû had he seen her use the axe, but the Elf could not say he had, his attention diverted by the cries for help and then the Corsair onslaught.

Rôg stood up on a crate at the ship’s railing and wave his arms wildly to draw the Captain’s attention. ‘Now, I didn’t see her swing the axe and make the cut, either,’ he said. A smug look crept onto Hilde’s face at this admission, and quickly fled as he went on. ‘I have to admit I was away for several moments. But I did see who laid the axe down as the rope snaked into the waters of the Bay.’ Rôg looked consideringly at Alaahsey. ‘The Elder and Freyn were further up the lifeline when I saw them trying to grasp it and stop its movement. The only other Lossoth there that I passed on my way to help was the one whose hand I saw cast the axe a little ways away from her.’ He nodded toward Hilde with his chin. ‘It was her, Hilde, whose hand held the axe just after the severing blows were struck.’