Nemis actually smiled. “Now you throw young Agya’s words atme, but you are right, of course. They know this kind of country, and I do not.”He settled next to the fire and opened his book. “This also gives me a littletime to find more useful spells.”
“Both of us,” Malowan said as he sought a quiet corner tocommune with his god.
“Thank you,” Vlandar said. “Nemis, if I may have the map-andRowan, I know rangers are usually good at maps. Come help me with this one, will you?”
Lhors hesitated, empty mug in hand, but both ranger and warrior beckoned for him to join them over the map. I know nothing of such things, the youth thought. He sighed quietly. But I suppose I can learn.
He didn’t feel so confident some time later after the scoutscame back. The writing on the map was nothing but oddly shaped marks to his eyes, and all he was certain of was that this Rift was vast, cold, and consisted of two levels with guards everywhere.
Bleryn muttered into his beard as he settled close to the fire. “Fell,” he said briefly.
“No surprise t’me,” Khlened retorted. “’Tis hellish slickeverywhere.” He turned to talk to Vlandar. “We saw a path into th’ Rift. Therewas rutted ice from huge prints, nasty place. No guards outside as we could see.”
Bleryn snorted. “Tell ’em about yeti,” he said.
Khlened rolled his eyes. “Y’ didn’t expect ’em, place like this? Was twogoing that way.” He pointed where Lhors thought north might be. “Yeti tracks allover up here. Nasty creatures love it here. We also say one roamin frost giant wi’ two wolves on his heels. Mind now, wolves ain’t bugbears! Th’ wolves canhear and smell all too well, and a pack of ’em is bad news. And yeti. Even theFists avoid yeti.”
“I can agree with that,” Malowan said mildly. He looked overat Agya, who was drawing on thick, oversized mitts Lhors thought must be the paladins. “Agya,” the man said, “remember that I can keep you safe from them.”
“Yessir, I know it,” she replied and managed a smile, butLhors could see her eyes were worried, and the hands under the mitts trembled.
“We will leave as soon as we can,” Vlandar said. “But all ofyou, make sure you are clad as best you can be and that your weapons are to hand. There will be guards at or near this entry. Our goal is to get through this place before cold can kill any of us, and we first and foremost seek the key-whatever it is-that will guide us beyond the Rift. Leave the fire to dieout. We’ll want the warmth to the very last.”
He turned as Maera touched his arm. She was holding up a very pale Florimund. “Warrior, he recalls something I thought you should know.”
“Tell him, yes,” Florimund whispered. “Such cold, the screechof wind. This-I think I was-was first brought here when I was-was taken, youknow. I recall giants wrapped to the eyes in thick furs and a white-furred brute like a hairy man. Tunnels of ice and such cold…” He licked pale lips, andhis eyes kindled. “I was not afraid, only angry they dared lay hands on me!” Heglanced sidelong at Maera, who patted his shoulder. “Still, they eat our kind.Frost giants. But there was another, a giant called Nosnra. They gave me to him, and Nosnra’s guards hauled me over to a double circle of chain. I do notremember anything after that-except dark and pain.” He choked and buried hisface in long-fingered hands.
Maera she stroked his hair. “You are safe, cousin,” shemurmured. “Rowan and I will protect you until you are strong enough to do battleagain.”
“Battle. Yes.” Florimund stirred under her hands. “Yes Iwill. I will wreak death among these… oh gods, cousin, I am so very weak! Andthe cold wakens each wound the torturers inflicted. No, I will not speak of it!”
Maera spoke urgently against his ear, then drew him away.
Vlandar glanced at Lhors, who frowned at his hands. He came over to sit beside him and whispered, “Lhors?”
“Sir?”
“I know Rowan spoke to you after some tiff with her sisterlast night-over Florimund. What did you think of all that, just now?”
His father had asked such questions this last year, over game trails, Lhors remembered. “Sir, the fellow was locked in that cell, but whocould have known we would be down there?”
“Yes,” Vlandar said gravely. “He truly was a prisoner.Still…?” He looked a question.
Lhors shrugged. “Rowan worries. She told me so-because Maeratrusts him too much. I understand they are kin, if only because they are half-elves, but my own cousin from New Market was not my friend, and I would never have trusted him.”
“I agree,” the warrior said. “Sensible youth.” He looked upas Gerikh and the dwarf came over.
“Uh, sir? This Rift…” the engineer began apologetically.
“Thing is,” Bleryn added, “We know it. Him ’cause of ’istrade, and I’m from cold near as bad as this. Both of us should be able t’ spottraps before they get any of us.”
Vlandar nodded. “Good point. One of you up front and one atthe rear. Your choice.”
The paladin broke in. “But whoever goes ahead with Malowanmust accept Agya.”
“Agya-the girl-child?” the dwarf asked.
“She’s Mal’s ward, once a street-thief. Ask Khlened. She can smell thingsmost of us wouldn’t.”
“That keeper and his ape,” the barbarian agreed.
Vlandar nodded again. “A spell might hide wolves or yeti. Agya’s nose willwarn us anyway.”
“Like it,” the dwarf said. “Me for the front.”
“Done,” Vlandar said and swung his pack over his shoulder.
16
The sky was a pale gray, proof the sun had risen, but therewas no hint of where it might be under the thick mass. The wind had lessened but still gusted strongly. To Lhors it seemed even colder outside. Khlened, who had taken last watch, told them it wasn’t much past daybreak. “An hour when thechiefs will be sleeping, if they’re like frost giants I’ve battled.”
“Good,” Vlandar replied. “But the guards may not be asleep.”
Vlandar and Nemis spent a few more moments with the map of the Rift while the others finished getting ready, then the warrior put Bleryn ahead of him and the mage, Lhors just behind, with Khlened to bring up the rear.
Agya was just behind Lhors and quietly grumbling as she toiled on. The youth heard Malowan, who was on the girl’s heels. The man’s voicesounded soothing, though Lhors couldn’t make out the words. Agya sighed as ifshe was annoyed but soon fell silent. Lhors glanced at Mal. Unlike his ward, the paladin seemed unaware of the cold, though he did wear thick mitts.
Nemis walked easily up ahead. Despite the deep snow and slick spots, he held an oiled rag that he had dipped in some silvery powder-to testfor invisible enemy, he’d told Vlandar. Lhors looked to both sides. With allthis wind and snow, any enemy might be invisible! he thought. Wonder if that herb Malowan gave him to add to the rag really can find evil. But anything here would probably be evil.
A steep-sided ravine cut across their path. They followed the side of this for a little ways, and then Nemis pointed out something below to Vlandar. The warrior nodded in response, and the mage turned to grip the side and scrabble for footing. He dropped down gradually and finally vanished below. Vlandar followed. When it was his turn, Lhors realized there was a trail down there, and a few rough steps were cut into the side-or maybe the wind had carvedthem, since they didn’t seem large enough for giants’ feet. The trail was clearof snow, but it looked icy. Nemis and Vlandar waited a few paces on for the others to catch up.
“The entrance to the Rift is just down there, according toour map,” Vlandar said quietly. “Remember that there are wolves and yeti about,and there may be giants along this path. But there is no other way in that Nemis and I could find.”