"Oh thank goodness," came a deep, nasal voice. Ella stood astonished as Santa Claus entered the small living room. "Nothing cures these terrible colds I get before Christmas. Thank goodness there are still a few Keepers of The Flame around. So sorry for the short notice!"
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The fingers of a great, blue-grey hand drove through the ice and wrenched the door from its frame. As the giant stooped to fill the space where the door had stood, Ella fought to recall. Straining to make her hands symbols, she whispered "Ignite" and began to glow.
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They burst out into a worsening blizzard. "Can you see him? Quick!" Ella's mother asked.
"No."
"Thank goodness let's head for-"
"Wait... I see someone. He's huge!" A silhouette was emerging from the snow, marching towards them.
Ella's mother released an anguished gasp. "Ella, run!"
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Her mother did not reply, but limped to the bookcase on the far side of the room and retrieved a pendant Ella had never seen before. "Mum? Who sent this?" Ella asked, heart racing.
"I think I've known for a while but this confirms it. All this snow and ice. The binding is failing."
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Aurelia watched through the frosted window until the postal drone disappeared up into the falling snow. Her heart beat quickly as she turned the wet card over in her cold hands; it was Soren's angular scrawl, but two weeks ago had been goodbye. "I need coffee," she thought aloud.
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