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  “More idle threats. Such a shame!” Jorin’otth turned and calmly walked from the dungeon, humming some unrecognizable tune.

  The morning fog was dense and difficult to see through. While the sun was out, it did little to pierce the thick blanket hanging in the air.

  From the river’s edge Ravion squinted into the distance, trying to make out the dark shadows where his beloved home once rested. It seemed odd being here and not seeing it. Though that didn’t tell him where it was, and his list of viable options was rather slim. In fact, of all his theories, he’d narrowed it down to two.

  One was a parallel dimension. He’d heard a brief bit about them when he was spending time at the tower and working with the magi. But few seemed to believe they truly existed. In large part because no one had been able to bridge the gap between worlds, or at least no one of repute. The occasional claim was made, but those few seemed unable to provide any form of evidence.

  His other theory was even more farfetched. Time travel. It was no secret that time was linear and it was able to be manipulated to varying degrees. But to actually travel through time? The entire concept was a joke. A really bad joke. The prospect was absurd. He’d seen some strange things in his life. But to believe such a thing was possible, he may as well be locked in a big blue box and made to see a doctor. Of course, there were other ways to deal with the mentally insane that didn’t involve entrapment.

  Shaking himself from his thoughts, Ravion returned to the job at hand. It was no use, he couldn’t see anything. They’d traveled most of the previous day and throughout the night. They desperately needed rest. But Gareth was running out of time. That meant they couldn’t rest. “I can’t see a thing through all this fog. It’s good for observing from a distance, but we’ll never be able to get close without them seeing us. The hills provide the perfect advantage. You can see any advancing group long before they arrive in any condition. If we’re going to get closer we have to find another way.”

  “How about skirting around and following the wall?” Trendal offered, peering through a leather wrapped sight glass. The cool, humid air left a thick layer of cloudy condensation on the lens, making it next to useless. Wiping it on his tunic, he stuffed it back into its pouch.

  “That’s no good. While the forest would hide most of our movement once we left the wall, it’s too thick to pass without drawing attention to ourselves. At that, we’d never make it up the hill before they found us.” Demetrix explained, recalling the exact reasons they chose to build their keep in such a position. “We could climb the bluffs and wrap around the edge of Mount Thuron. It’s not an enjoyable climb by any means, but once we hit the main road we can gain a fair amount of speed before we have to take to the rocks again. And I know just the place. It’ll bring us out at the northwest corner. From there we just have to breech the walls.”

  “If you think you can remember the pass, I’ll follow.” Ravion offered, trying to see through the mist once again.

  “This will have to be a small group. If we all make the climb, we’re guaranteed to be spotted. Not to mention the dangers one of us falling would represent. The bulk of us need to remain here and watch. Only when we’re inside do you charge. If we’re lucky the distraction will buy us enough time to find and free Gareth.”

  “I’ll lead the men along the river to the bend up ahead. We can take shelter behind the rocks until it’s time to march.” Trendal gestured to the piled stone at the mountain’s base.

  “Understood. Give us until nightfall tomorrow. If we haven’t signaled by then, assume we didn’t survive the trek.” Demetrix glanced into the overhead peaks. If lower layers of fog were difficult to see through. Those above were going to be near impossible, though it was much easier once you were in them. “I want five men. Any more and we risk drawing too much attention to ourselves.”

  Dalari hands shot into the air. It seemed the whole unit wanted to go.

  “Vasquez, Morena, Stot, James, and Bingham. You all have some climbing experience. You’re to accompany them.” Trendal ordered. “The rest of you, get ready to move.”

  The five picked themselves up from the rocks and crawled toward Ravion, careful to hide from any observing dreualfar. Reaching the young scout, they waited patiently for orders.

  Ravion felt a bit uneasy. Every time he wandered off to relieve himself, the dalari seemed to express interest in joining him. It was becoming more of a nuisance than anything. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust them, or even that he couldn’t count on them, but their admiration made him feel uncomfortable.

  They were like a pack of younger siblings that wanted to spend every waking moment in his company. “Demetrix, lead the way.”

  The dalari unit waded down the river a short way and disappeared into the collection of rocks, forming a break in the flowing current. If they hadn’t seen exactly where the hundred plus man unit moved, they never would have known they were there.

  Demetrix scouted the narrow passages, selecting the most fitting for their journey. Finding a hand hold, he pulled himself up, digging the toe of his boot into a crevice between two rocks. Carefully making his way up several feet he glanced down, seeing Ravion and the others below him. At this rate, they’d do well to reach the mountain kingdom by nightfall.

  Making his way into the heavens, the air was getting thick and cold. He was starting to see flurries impacting against his blackened armor. This was going to add another hazard to their journey, though it was one he knew to expect. Finding a small ledge, he took refuge from the constant winds and biting cold. Pulling his cloak around him, he went to work building a small fire in the corner. It would do the men good to warm their hands and take a break.

  Ravion reached the ledge, smelling the burning tinder in the air. Climbing to his feet, he approached his brother, hearing the others close behind. “Do you think it’s wise to start a fire up here? Once it gets dark, the dreualfar could see the glow.”

  “We won’t be here that long. I plan to reach the summit by nightfall. Warm your hands and rest for a moment. We’re high enough. I doubt anyone from the ground can see the glow.”

  Certain the flame was self-sustained against the intense winds, Demetrix stood and approached the ledge. He hadn’t had a chance to look beyond the moment for the past several hours. At this height, he could faintly make out Heroes Gate stretching across the land. It was an impressive structure to say the least, though the cloud cover made it difficult to see more than the occasional patch. Pulling a piece of dried meat from his pack, he turned and glanced up the mountainside, toward the peak. He was still four hours at minimum from reaching Mount Thuron. The sun was going to set in about three. They needed to gain some ground, and fast. If night fell before they found a place to rest, it was unlikely they’d survive the morning.

  Seeing the dalari crowded around the fire, he couldn’t help but think they were just along for the trip. In truth, the only reason they were here was to provide backup once they moved on the fortress. If it weren’t for that, he would have preferred they stayed with the others. “We move in five. Eat what you can and get some feeling back in your fingers. We don’t stop again until we reach the top.”

  The sun was hidden somewhere behind the mountain and the light was getting dim. The occasional patch of flurries had given way to constant snowfall. Rocks were layered in thick powder and difficult to see. Several times now Demetrix had narrowly caught himself from a deceptively loose stone or a slick crevice. Fortunately, they hadn’t lost anyone yet. But the day wasn’t over. As if the thought forced itself into existence, he heard a commotion beneath him. Glancing down, he watched Vasquez disappear. He didn’t make a sound in his rapid descent. He was simply gone. Shaking his head, he returned to the task at hand and reached up, wrapping his frozen fingers around a jagged stone. Pulling himself to the top, he saw what he’d been waiting for.

  The ice-covered ground was flat for several hundred feet. Frozen trees stood in the distance, a collection of cedar or pine
, he couldn’t be sure. The green needles were speckled in white, and large mounds of snow formed at their bases. In the distance, Demetrix could see a large, seemingly white wall, though he suspected it was an illusion the weather was playing on him. The bricked wall stretched to the north as far as the eye could see. The southern corner traveled across the rocky, frozen land and arched over what he could only assume was the Thuron River.

  He’d never actually made the trip to Mount Thuron, in large part to their opinion of the occupants to the world below. Living in the mountains, away from civilization, had made them less than accepting of outsiders. Though their problem was more with humans than any other. The numerous threats they’d made against Marbayne during his time as highlord certainly didn’t help his opinion of the winged alfarian race. There was certainly a beauty to their form, however their personalities often lacked what most would call compassion.

  Making his way toward the wall, Demetrix could see the last remnants of the sun disappear. The bright orange glow was growing dimmer by the second and they needed to take shelter for the night.

  Ravion pulled himself to the top shelf. Waiting at the edge for the others, he extended his hand.

  One by one they took it, pulling themselves up. The air was freezing up here and sun was fading rapidly. It was going to get much colder extremely quick. Making their way toward Demetrix, they froze, staring blankly at the wall.

  “You think we should see if they’ll let us take shelter for the night?” Stot asked, amazed by the sheer size of the structure. It towered nearly forty feet into the air and was perfectly flat of what appeared to be some kind of glossy stone. The only texture the wall displayed was where the snow had collected between bricks.

  “No. We need to set up camp somewhere we won’t draw attention to ourselves. These people don’t tend to accept outsiders and would be more likely to take us prisoner than to aid us in anyway.” Demetrix proclaimed. “We’ll make camp over there.” He pointed to the patch of evergreens beside the river. They formed a natural ring, offering concealment on all sides. And the mounds of snow would help disguise them from any passersby.

  Making his way toward the trees, he realized exactly how deep the snow was. In just a few feet, he’d already sunk to his waist. That wouldn’t be good for remaining hidden. But hopefully the constant downfall would quickly cover their tracks. If not, perhaps Bingham could use some kind of magic to help them. Reaching the trees, he passed through a shoulder high mound and stepped onto a bed of pine needles. To his surprise, there was little more than a thin layer of snow inside the ring. Opening his pack, he pulled one of the magicked tents out and set it in the center. “Bingham, do your thing.”

  The dalari mage pointed his fingers at the tightly packed bundle. Without a word it began to rise, inflating into a domed shaped hut.

  Demetrix grabbed the leather pouch of stakes, and quickly made his way around, ensuring it didn’t blow away with them during the night.

  Ravion pulled the flap aside and stepped inside, relieved to feel warmth after being frozen for so long. Of course, it was going to make the morning much harder to bear. But comfort was something soldiers weren’t often afforded. Perhaps it was best to enjoy it while they could.

  The dalari stepped into the tent and got warm. The magical fire was blazing and a kettle was steaming over the top. Pulling it from the flame, Morena lifted the blackened lid, releasing the scent of stew throughout the common room. One by one, they made a bowl and got comfortable. They were going to have to make the climb all over again tomorrow, so it was best to make the night theirs.

  Stot took a seat along the wide bench beside the hearth. Unslinging his shield, he laid it across his lap and placed the wooden bowl on top as a makeshift table.

  James plopped down beside him, handing over a matching tankard, filled to the brim with a foamy liquid.

  Scouting the horizon in the faded sunlight, Demetrix was content they hadn’t been seen, though it was best to exercise caution. He glanced at the tracks they’d made getting here. They were already half gone from the heavy winds. And the snow was quickly burying what was left. With any luck they’d go unnoticed. Kicking the snow clinging to his boots against the base of one of the trees, he stepped inside and pulled the flap shut.

  The early morning light was multiplied by the layered snow all around them. For the most part, the constant flurries had stopped, save for the occasional dusting off the trees or a heavy wind. The sun wasn’t yet visible, but its glow was getting brighter by the minute.

  Demetrix stared intently over the towering city wall, watching the steam from his breath rise into the air. Another group of it winged citizens rose into the sky, their feathered appendages flapping vigorously against the harsh winter breeze. Like several before them, they formed into a staggered pattern and disappeared into the northern clouds. He wondered where they were going but it didn’t matter. Not so long as they didn’t interfere with his plans. Stealing a glance to the fallen tent behind him, he noticed Ravion was nearly ready to travel. Locating the remaining dalari, awaiting command near the mountain’s edge, he crunched through the snow toward them.

  “Mind your footing. We don’t need to lose any more to something so careless as a misplaced step.” He reminded them.

  Morena stared down the harrowing cliffs, unable to see the ground. “Do you think he fell all the way? Or is he lying on the rocks somewhere?”

  Demetrix stepped to the ledge and stole a glance down. “It’s hard to say. We inclined quite a bit, so I’d say he’s probably caught in the rocks near the landing we took a break. Either way, it’s near impossible he survived the fall. And if he did, he’s probably since died from blood loss. Did you know him well?”

  “We were childhood friends.” Morena stifled a tear at the loss of her companion.

  Demetrix placed his hand on her shoulder. “Keep your friend in mind, but don’t let his fate become your own.”

  Lowering his hand, he turned away from the group, watching another batch of the winged creatures disappear. “We need to move before another group of seralfar take flight.”

  Jogging across the deep snow, he approached the ring of trees, seeing Ravion packed and ready. “We need to move now.”

  “Lead the way.”

  Making his way through the snow, Demetrix saw the orange glow of the sun on the rise. Racing the fast-moving beam, quickly gaining on him, he ran for the wall, hearing his companions at his heels. He reached the towering structure in no time, just as the sunlight illuminated the unusual material.

  Being so close to it, he noticed it wasn’t a white stone at all, but rather some kind of iridescent that appeared white from a distance. Placing his hand on the glassy surface, an orange glow expanded around it. “Interesting— It seems the wall picks up the colors around it.”

  “We need to keep moving. You can study their wall after we’ve found Gareth.” Ravion suggested, pausing behind his brother.

  “You’re right.” Picking himself up, Demetrix made his way along the glossy stone, keeping an eye overhead. He hoped being so close to the structure would hide them. Provided the wall wasn’t transparent from inside. But there was little chance of that. If it was, they would have been seen the moment they reached the landing. Making his way toward the northeast corner, Demetrix could see the wide mountain road just ahead. They were nearing their target at last.

  Ravion and the others slowed behind him, studying the path from the cover of the corner. It was unlikely the city entrance would be unguarded, therefore making it to the road unseen was going to be a problem.

  Peeking around, Demetrix saw the massive city gate half way down the wall, resting atop a large, arched bridge. The Thuron River flowed under it and into the city through a heavy iron grate. Two guardsmen stood at the end of the bridge, paying no attention to the world around them.

  Turning to face his companions, he knelt down to describe his plan. “Bingham, do you have any way to make a smoke cloud or some kind o
f natural looking screen so we can get to the road without drawing attention to ourselves?”

  The dalari mage thought for a moment. “I could create a few different variants of mist, but I fear the wind is too strong. It’d be carried away before it could get thick enough to travel unseen. I could amplify the natural weather. A heavy snow should obscure vision just as well as a fog.”

  Glancing to Ravion, Demetrix nodded his approval. “Sounds good to me. Make it happen. Once we get on the road we’ll be able to move much faster, though we’ll still have to be weary of the ice for a few hours.”

  The mage stood to his full height, lifting his hands into the air. His pale skin was red from the constant cold and his lips were a soft blue. It was clear he hadn’t spent much time in such surroundings.

  Closing his eyes, he began to chant. “Ecaf ym revo lla, daol ruoy ytpme uoy ksa I. Ecarg rouy em dnel, retniw fo stnemele!”

  Dark clouds swirled into existence, blocking out what little sunlight had risen. Heavy snowflakes began to crash to the already covered ground. Within moments the area was surrounded in a strong blizzard.

  Ravion stared wide-eyed at the estranged caster. “What kind of spell are you casting?”

  Bingham shrugged at the question. “Elemental magic?”

  “If you say so.” Ravion shrugged it off, glancing at the monstrous flakes of snow raining down upon them.

  Demetrix peeked around the corner. He couldn’t see the guards through the downpour and rapidly shifting winds. Now was their chance. Stepping into the open, he moved as quickly and carefully as possible toward the road. Reaching the edge, he stole a glance back, hoping he couldn’t be seen from the gate. Unable to see further than a few feet away, he waved the others over, hoping they could still see him.

  Ravion appeared from the speckled white, then Morena. Stot and Bingham were the last to arrive.