It leads down to a great valley unlike any place I have ever seen before. The land is white with snow, and a wide river weaves through it, pure blue and glistening. It’s not the landscape itself, but rather whatsits upon it, that has stolen my breath. There, on the edge of the river, is the most beautiful city I have ever seen.
From this height, every building appears to be a miniature work of art. Sculptural in form, their glass roofs catch the light and scatter it across the city.
No, not glass, I realise. Ice. Perfectly carved ice. Sunbeams strike and refract them into thousands of prisms, which sparkle and shimmer in the air around them.
‘It’s not an illusion,’ Benny whispers as if he knows the thought before it has even entered my mind. ‘The city is real.’
It’s beautiful.Thisis the home of the Issen?This?
The home of vile, barbaric warriors? Because that is what we have been led to believe the Issen are.
But this is not a city of barbarians.
Even from this distance I can see the roads that weave in between the buildings. This is masterful. Elegant. Beautiful.
Did you know?My voice echoes through to Fen’s mind.Did you know such a place existed?
No, Little Raven, he whispers back, his voice filled with awe.No I did not.
The group huddles close, and I know they’re waiting for me to respond, to act. Tolead.
But how can I? I came here expecting a fight, to find myself face-to-face with angry warriors, and instead I am here, staring at a view I could lose myself in for a lifetime.
But I don’t have a lifetime.
Not when William is still in danger in Wrohelm. Not when that pattern still grows across his skin. The thought is enough to spur me on.
‘We should go down,’ I say, as much to myself as to the others. ‘Find someone who can help us.’
Perhaps I should go first, Little Raven. Elska and I can check for risks.
I shake my head before I respond to him.No.We don’t know how they’ll respond to dire wolves. They might be like the Torailians. I want you by my side the entire time.
Then that is where I shall be,he says simply.
With my mind made up, I steel myself and turn back to look at the group.
‘You don’t have to do this,’ I say to them. ‘I’ve asked so much of you already. You’ve brought me this far, and if you want to leave now, I understand completely.’
‘Leave?’ Ruben says the word as if my comment is the most absurd thing he’s ever heard. ‘We’re not leaving you now. Not here.’
‘You have to be realistic,’ I try again. ‘I pray to the Gods that the Issen will help us. But the truth is, we don’t know what we’re going to find down there. For all its beauty, we could all end up being arrested or even killed,’ I warn darkly.
I look at Kyor next, but his eyes lock on mine with unwavering certainty. ‘I told you, Thorn, I’m with you to the end.’
Warmth floods my heart, but I don’t have time to bask in it.
My attention moves next to Caz, who offers a shrug.
‘Bit silly to turn back now, isn’t it?’ she says. Only then do I notice how her hand clasps Thessa’s. They are together in this, then. Together in this with me.
I look to Loch. He’s rocking a little. ‘Off we go, ice and snow,’ he hums a little ditty. ‘Off we go, ice and snow.’
‘Are you coming, Loch?’ I ask gently.
‘Ice and snow.’ He nods. ‘Off we go.’
Right then.
