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It took Ike a long while to find the arctic fox.

He had thought that the Frostpaw palace would not be as big after all, but it turned out that there were a lot of corridors and halls that had been rebuilt by the refugees or that simply remained in perfect conditions. At some point, he came to a dead end in which the snow from outside had created a natural wall in one extreme of the corridor. He had to turn back and keep looking for Nihil, feeling increasingly lost in what proved to be the most welcoming labyrinth he could have ever thought of. Even though he had stayed on the first floor, after half an hour he was still wandering without a clear idea of where he was going.

As soon as Ike saw one of the kane, he asked him about the grumpy arctic fox.

'He must be in the library,' was the response. 'He usually likes to stand guard there.'

'Stand guard? In the library?' Ike asked, puzzled.

The kane, however, only smiled enigmatically in response and kept shoring up the wall.

Ike was walking around for another half an hour before he found the library and that was how the lion found out that the palace had had towers in the past, but they seemed to be completely buried under the snow and it was impossible to access them. The library, however, was on the second floor of the building.

When he opened a huge auburn door that led him to a room full of empty bookshelves, Ike let out a long sigh and then began looking for the arctic fox. The room was larger than he had expected, but still smaller than the library in his castle, and even though one of its walls seemed to have fallen and was now just made of piled up snow, it still had a more welcoming atmosphere than the one at the Embertooth's castle.

The arctic fox was by that wall, arms crossed on his chest and tail gently swishing back and forth. He was looking through a hole in the snow wall, which gave a view of the vast icy desert that spread outside. <<Oh>> Ike thought, impressed. <<That's what the other kane meant when he said he was standing guard>>.

He had to admit that the kane's hideout seemed a very useful snow formation; he was actually starting to wonder whether it had formed naturally or with some help from the kane.

As soon as Ike approached him, Nihil frowned.

'You again,' he said, apparently disgusted.

The lion nodded.

'Look, I know we've started on the wrong foot,' he said, with a conciliatory tone. 'But I do really need your help in order to save Zèon. You're the only one who can have ever known something of his family.'

'I'm not,' the arctic fox smiled, sarcastically. 'The thing is that you killed the rest who knew.'

'You're right, we did. I don't have any problem in admitting it,' Ike said, trying to remain calm. 'Now, let me try to help you. I want Zèon back as much as you probably do.'

<<And most probably, more than you>> he thought to himself.

'Those are only words though,' the arctic fox replied, as sharp and cold as usual.

Ike sighed.

'Okay, you don't trust me. I got that. Let's be practical then. All I need from you is Zèon's real name, the name he was given before they got us into the Box. That's all. How could that possibly be dangerous for you... or for any other?'

Nihil shifted his weight from one leg to the other. Much to his delight, Ike could feel the arctic fox trying to find an objection and being unable to do so.

'I guess... it cannot,' he answered, after a few seconds. 'But I can't help you. I heard from the Frostpaws when I was young, but never really knew the name of their cub.'

'Oh,' Ike said, feeling a bit disillusioned again.

'I guess you can always ask Thogriel,' Nihil offered. 'He used to be the Frostpaws' Alchemy master. However, don't expect to get much from him. I've heard he was already loony before, but after the war it is difficult to understand what he says.'

'I'll try anyway. Thanks,' Ike said, giving him a gentle smile. 'Where can I find him?'

Nihil scratched his chin thoughtfully.

'Well... he usually roams around the theater.'

'Do they have a theater here?' Ike asked, really impressed.

The arctic fox shook his head.

'Of course they did. The Frostpaws loved knowledge and culture. That was, of course, before the invasion,' he added, with an accusing tone.

Ike just ignored it and nodded, his heart racing again at the thought of meeting someone who had lived with Zèon those days. <<I'm getting closer>> he thought trying to infuse himself with some enthusiasm. He said goodbye to Nihil and walked towards the door, wondering what the 'Alchemy master' would look like.

Before going out, however, he turned back to the arctic fox and asked, a bit confused:

'Ehm... Nihil... where's exactly the theater?'

Finding the theater was not as difficult as Ike had expected. With the indications of the arctic fox and the help of the other kane, he finally made it to the lower floor.

As soon as he entered the theater, he knew that it had been locked for a long time and that the refugees did not visit it as often as the rest of the building. Everything was covered by such a thick layer of dust and ashes that he was about to cough when he felt it tickling in his muzzle. He made an effort to remain silent, however; there was something in that place, some kind of atmosphere, that was just as heavy and surrounding as the dust that seemed to be everywhere.

The theater was certainly huge. It spanned the entire lower floor of the palace, and had several rows of seats around a central stage. If it were not for the torches that burned weakly in the corners of the room, it would have been completely dark, since it seemed the fehlar had stolen every single lamp that had ever lighted the theater. The crackling, trembling light of the torches gave the room a more unsettling feeling, and Ike could not help feeling kind of uneasy.

There was something in one of the seats, in the last row in front of him. It could have been just a motionless shape, or a statue. Squinting to see through the half-light, Ike realized that it was actually someone. He could make out an old fox that was looking directly at the stage in the center of the room. However, as soon as the fox noticed his presence, he made a gesture to the lion from the other side of the room. It was too dark to see clearly, but Ike thought that he was inviting him to sit by his side, so he moved towards the fox trying not to hit himself with any of the seats. The old kane waited patiently at the other side of the room until the lion sat down beside him.

'Good evening,' he greeted him, with a voice that was already cracked by the years.

'Uh, good evening, sir,' replied Ike, as politely as he could.

He did not ask himself how the old fox could know whether it was day or night outside that room. There was something about him that commanded respect, even though Ike could not really tell what it was. The fox's fur was all brown in the darkness and even seemed to be covered by a light layer of dust, so that he could have blended in with the old theater. Ike could not help but wonder for how long the fox had been sitting there.

They stood like that, without saying a word, for what seemed hours. The old fox was entirely focused on the stage and never turned to look at the lion again, even when the fehlar shifted nervously on his seat. Minutes went by, and finally Ike decided to talk again.

'Hm... excuse me, but... what are we watching?'

'Oh, don't you know? It's the play of life, right in front of us.'

Ike glanced at the stage again, puzzled.

'But... but the stage is empty, sir.'

Something in those words made the old fox grin mysteriously.

'Oh, is that so? I hadn't noticed,' he paused for a while. 'And may I ask what makes you think life is not?'

Ike did not know how to answer back. He just stood there, silent, watching at the empty stage with a confused face. <<Maybe Nihil was right>> he thought, much to his dismay. <<Maybe this fox is just mad. Like Adam was in the Box>>.

However, he decided he at least had to give it a try.

'Excuse me, but I've come here for a reason,' he started, trying to fight his own nervousness. 'I need to know someone's name and I think you could help me with it.'

The fox's muzzle curved into a disgusted face.

'A name. Names.'

He pronounced the last word with so much repugnance that Ike thought he had said something wrong.

'What are names useful for, anyway?' Thogriel asked then, suddenly standing up and startling the lion. 'They're just all the same. They all try to capture reality in vain, and fail spectacularly. They mean nothing, but everyone seems to rely on them so heavily that their lives are reduced to that even though they created them on the first place. Names... lies, that's what they should be called!'

'But I do really need this name,' Ike insisted, as he finally got to the conclusion that the old fox was totally and irrevocably insane. 'So, if you could just...'

'No name has ever had a purpose or been necessary,' the fox interrupted him. He was still looking at the stage, without even glancing at the lion, who was still sitting uncomfortably in one of the seats. 'Whoever said you needed a name was lying or was a total fool.'

<<The first option does sound reasonable now>> Ike thought, still a bit overwhelmed by the fox's non-stopping monologue.

'Identity... that's all that matters,' the fox added, gesturing with his hands at the stage. Then, suddenly, a violent cough took over him and he stopped for a few seconds. Ike waited, patiently, until he started to talk again. 'Characters. They are represented infinite times throughout history. But do you think they're ever the same, even though they bear the same name? I can tell you, I've seen thousands of tragic Yulees represented in this theatre, and none of them was ever the same as the previous one!'

Then, he stopped, looking at Ike as if he was expecting him to give an appropriate answer. The lion just blinked, confused, trying to find the words to say that as interesting as that might have been for any of the fox's former students, he was not there to discuss matters of identity and representation. Besides, he was not even sure which question he was supposed to answer, if there was any.

'I... sir, I'm sorry,' he managed to say. 'I'm just here to learn about the Frostpaws. I'd like to know more about them.'

'Oh,' Thogriel said, suddenly looking away from the stage and fixing his gaze on Ike. It was then when the lion noticed that his eyes were totally white, and a shiver went down his spine when he realized that the old fox was actually blind. 'So, why didn't you say that first? You made me think you were looking for a name.'

'Because I am,' Ike replied, starting to feel that the conversation was not leading him anywhere. 'I want to know the name of one of the Frostpaws.'

'Young man, put some order in your thoughts!' the old fox exclaimed. 'Are you looking for a name or a truth?'

'I... I don't know,' Ike said, confused, sinking back into his seat. 'I just... I just want to know Zèon's name so I can save him. That's all I really want.'

Thogriel was silent for a few seconds, then smiled gently.

'See, I don't know who that Zèon of yours might be. Now, don't you think names are quite useless?'

'But that's because he gave that name to himself,' Ike argued.

'Well, is there really any difference between that and being given a name when you are born?'

Ike shook his head, frustrated. He decided that it was no use trying to win that fox in rhetoric. He would have to play on his rules and be highly specific with what he wanted.

'Alright, then,' he said, with a sigh. 'I guess I'm just interested in knowing about the Frostpaws. The... the previous owners of this palace, I mean. If you could... if you could tell me about the son of the rulers...'

Thogriel's face lit up for a second.

'Oh, you mean the little arctic fox!' he said, excited. 'He was my last student, and one of the best I ever had, to be fair. A very smart boy with brilliant ideas and an astonishing capacity of deduction.'

'Yes! That definitely sounds like him,' Ike smiled, proudly.

'Most people in the palace thought he was a blessing for his parents. They were desperate trying to conceive a child. And those who lived in Northundra always appreciated the Frostpaws; they were generous, apolitical and they certainly were keen on cultural and intellectual matters. Not the usual profile of most rulers. No wonder some people idolize them now,' the fox said, with a smirk.

'But what about the little fox?' Ike asked, impatiently. 'What happened to him?'

'Well, who knows. I've been told he escaped the invasion through one of the tunnels. However, I must admit it is a bit strange that he hasn't returned here yet, taking into account how tied to this place he was. I wonder where he is now.'

'But what was his name?' the lion interrupted, unable to resist the temptation. 'What was the name of the little Frostpaw?'

As soon as he said those words, he realized he had made a mistake. The old fox looked at him with a frown, and with an angry tone that made him shiver, he replied:

'You _really_aren't like him, that's for sure,' he replied, sharply. 'Do you need so desperately to know something with such little value? Fine, then.'

Ike smiled nervously, but not without relief. Maybe he was not as clever as to follow that conversation by the fox's rules, but at least it seemed his stubbornness had helped him.

Suddenly then, something cut the air and sank in the fox's neck with a dull sound.

In the half-light, Ike could not see life fading from Thogriel's eyes as he slumped, falling over the seats of the front row. A disgusting smell of blood quickly filled his nose and the old fox made no noise anymore.

The lion stood there, looking at the dead body in front of him, unable to believe what he was seeing. Then, after a few eternal seconds, he looked up to discover Kathreen on the other side of the room. Somehow, he was not even surprised.

'Oh, sorry,' the lioness said, with an elegant movement of her sleeve. 'Did I cut the conversation?'

'I knew it!' Nihil growled, as he ran down the corridor that led to the main hall.

He quickly went downstairs, his paw already reaching for the bow on his back as he got to the last step. Then, the arctic fox looked around, trying to find the target of his rage. He spotted the cat not far from there, calmly chatting with Bal and Gaman. <<Bastard>> he thought, as he felt a rush of hatred. In just a few steps, he got closer to the group.

'You!' he shouted, drawing his bow and pointing at Kodu with an arrow in a matter of seconds. 'Did you think I was not going to notice?'

Gaman, Bal and Kodu just exchanged a few glances, before turning to Nihil.

'Notice what?' asked the labrador, blinking a few times. 'What are you talking about?'

'I was right all along,' the arctic fox muttered, clenching his teeth. 'These bastards brought the fehlar here.'

An incredulous silence followed those words.

'Now, Nihil, I think you're exaggerating,' Bal said, with a faint smile. 'There was no one there when we find these three, but themselves. And we were tracking the area this morning.'

However, he glanced at Kodu as soon as he finished the sentence, as if asking him to defend himself.

'We could have been followed,' the cat replied, however, holding Nihil's accusing gaze. 'But I don't really think so. Not many fehlar can tolerate the cold here in Northundra. It's not a pleasant trip.'

'Oh, this place is not good enough for you, you traitor pussycat?' the fox replied, stepping forward.

'Hey!' Gaman exclaimed, placing himself between the kane and the fehlar. 'Nihil, I've told you several times now, these are not the usual fehlar! I remind you they saved my life and the lives of all those who were trapped in the Box.'

'What if all that was a plan to gain your trust?' Nihil kept saying. 'What if all they wanted was that you brought them here so they could finally eradicate us as they've always done?'

'Oh, come on, Nihil. You are starting to sound too paranoid even for yourself.'

'Or maybe it is that you've always been too trusting,' the arctic fox replied, acidly. 'This is war, Gaman! It has always been, even when you all disappeared and went somewhere else with your kane friends!'

'Well, enough,' Bal interrupted them, with an exasperated sigh. 'If the fehlar are coming, we're wasting our time. And if they're not, then there's no point in arguing about this. Nihil, take us to the library so we can see the invaders.'

The arctic fox turned to the wolf, as if he was asking for his support. However, after a few seconds of silence, he nodded slowly and turned, with an angry swish of his tail.

As Bal looked through the hole on the snow wall, Kodu and Nihil exchanged a few tense looks. The fox still held his bow in one paw, as if he still had not decided whether to use it against Kodu or not. The cat could feel his open hatred, how much the arctic fox wanted to kill him there and then. Even though he knew that his own life would never be completely safe at a place full of kane, Kodu could not help but look at Nihil and wonder how much he had suffered in order to be so full of hatred.

On the other hand, he was starting to think that the arctic fox could indeed have seen something. Contrary to Bal and Gaman, he was not entirely sure that his violent position towards the fehlar could have made him seen things that were not real.

If the arctic fox said he had seen something, there had to be something.

'I can see nothing,' Bal said, after a while. 'Are you sure you saw them, Nihil?'

The arctic fox turned red in anger.

'I know what I saw, you stupid wolf!'

'Hey, if you don't believe me, come here and see for yourself.'

Nihil let out an angry snort and pushed the wolf aside, placing himself in front of the discrete window. His tail swayed back and forth violently behind his back as he leaned closer to the wall and looked through the hole.

After a few seconds, however, the anger turned to confusion, and the arctic fox frowned.

'I...' he said then, bewildered. 'I swear I saw them. They were a big group, and they were coming towards the castle as if... as if they knew we were here.'

'Well, that obviously did not happen,' Bal replied, with a faint smile, placing one of his paws on the fox's shoulder. 'See? Gaman is right. You worry too much. Now, why don't you apologize to the cat and then go have some sleep? I know you need it.'

Nihil did not reply. He just turned to the wolf, blinking slowly.

'But...'

Kodu could read the perplexity in his face. Nothing would have been easier than believing that the arctic fox had made a mistake, but...

Something told him that Nihil was not the kind of person who made mistakes. And besides, he was starting to feel like there was something he was forgetting about. Something important.

'Wait,' he said, turning to the fehlar. 'Where is Kathreen...?' He had not even stopped formulating that question when a recent memory came to his mind, one in which Ike, the lioness and him had been looking for a way to escape from the castle. He suddenly understood everything. 'Oh, no. The tunnels.'

'The... tunnels?' Gaman asked, without understanding.

Nihil, however, had turned completely pale.

'Of course!' he exclaimed, clenching his fists.

'The fehlar know about the tunnels from their first invasion. They had never used them because they thought no one was here. Until now,' Kodu explained, looking at the wolf and the dog with a worried look. Then, he just sighed. 'I'm sorry. I'm afraid Nihil was right. The fehlar are here. We're under attack.'