Tjasa smiled as she put in the last stitch of the embroidery on her hat. She knotted the thread, and carefully wove the loose end underneath the backs of the previous stitches. The beautiful dark blue hat with white embroidery was made with the last of the wool she had dyed with Midwinter in mind. She had already finished the overcoat made of the same wool, but the arrival of the priests of the white god had delayed her in finishing the hat.

Her father had gone to the tavern, offering to bring her with him, but she had refused to go out until she had finished. It would look every so silly to be wearing her old hat with her new coat and dress. She brushed and re-braided her hair before putting the hat on and leaving the house. She was surprised to see that it was snowing, and she wondered if perhaps Old Blind Nadeen was sick.

She was almost to the tavern when she heard Nadeen's first shreik. She turned to look, an instant of confusion at the old woman's state of undress swept aside as she followed the old woman's gaze and saw the wall darkness, filled with monsterous eyes and even darker shadows. Her first thought was of the safety of her father's presence, and she started to run for the tavern without even pausing to think about what she was seeing. "Papa!" Her voice was filled with terror, but it could barely be heard above the din as the people who had been engulfed began to scream.