Page 15 of Ice Magic

As I stepped out into the raging storm, everything vanished in the blur of snow. I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face, but I was secured by the rope, so I felt my way alongside the rock wall until the rope tightened. I managed to relieve myself, then rubbed snow in my hands, and used the rope to find my way back to the others.

“It’s blowing blind out there,” I said. I was covered with snow—a thick layer had landed on my cloak. I shook it off andheaded for the fire. While it wasn’t large, it was enough to take the edge off and cook over. After the chill faded, San handed me a mug of hot tea and some bread with melted cheese. Grateful, I polished it off. I was still hungry, but given the severity of the storm, we might be trapped here for a while so I didn’t want to eat up supplies.

Fenling and I headed toward the back area of the cavern, where the slope steepened.

“Where does that lead?” I asked. “Do you remember?”

“No, I don’t know. I don’t think my uncle explored it when we were stranded here before.” She watched as I knelt to examine the slope. The grade was steep, more like a ramp than a path. “You aren’t thinking of following that path? You’d never make it back up. The grade is far too steep to climb, and it looks like ice. Or crystal.”

“What about using the ropes? We could tie off, like when we’re going out into the snow to piss. Then, if something happens, the others can pull me up.” I looked up at her, startled by the intensity of her frown. “What?”

“What? Those ice scorpions had to come from somewhere, and that’s the only place I can think of that they might be hiding. We donotneed to bring the rest of them up here.” She shook her head. “I’m in charge, Asajia, and I say no.”

I thought I caught a distant glimmer of movement in the glowing light that emanated from below, but nodded. Fenling led the Lorani, and I wasn’t going to argue. “As you wish.”

We walked back into the main cavern as Lanlan and Exis took their places, guarding the slippery slope. As we entered the cave proper, a shriek echoed from outside, so loud I flinched.

“What the hell is that?” It wasn’t a charimont, nor was it the growl of a bear.

“The Snow Witch, I’d wager. With this blizzard, she’s probably very close.” Quen headed toward the entrance and took up guarding the opening.

I couldfeelher near, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. Her magic seemed so much stronger up here, above the Leanderial Line. The mountains must strengthen her powers, with the elevation and high winds and chill clime boosting her energy.

“Do you believe the story of how she began?” I asked.

Fenling shrugged. “I don’t know. She’s real, so there had to be some beginning, unless she’s a goddess. Nobody knows how the gods came to be.” She motioned for me to walk back to the fire with her. “Up here, in the Eiralpine Zone, there are dangers everywhere. The Snow Witch is merely one of many. Beyond the charimonts and the snow demons are other creatures that come straight from your nightmares. Creatures so dangerous that you would never survive an encounter with them.”

I glanced back toward the entrance. “How do people live up here?”

“They’re strong—in body and mind. You have to be to brave the elements. And they worship the snows, they worship the elementals, and they worship the mountains themselves. You’ll not find a fiercer people around, not that I’ve met. And yet, most of them abide by a strict code of honor.”

“Are you sure Bran would think to come this way?”

Fenling thought about it. “I think he’ll remember it. He can’t stay in the Bramble Fel, not with Karehl hunting him. None of us can afford to go back. Bran’s traveling with a group of the Lorani. There were about thirty remaining in the city, but we have no way of knowing how many managed to make it out with him. All except the spies pledged their swords to Bran and they won’t turncoat. But if they refuse to kneel for Karehl, he’ll kill them.”

“How long do we wait for him?” I had no clue what else we’d do, but we needed some form of plan.

“Till the storm lessens. If he’s not here by then, we’ll make for Swelan, a village two days’ journey north of here. At worst, we can find work there and make enough for shelter and food.” She brought her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms around them. “I never thought we’d be in this fix. I kept hoping Karehl would straighten up and become a good leader. But he’s nothing like his father. He’s already got us in hot water with two other wolf packs farther west. They offered an alliance, and he laughed in their faces.”

The more I heard about him, the more I saw Karehl as a danger to himself and his people. “Isn’t he afraid of them?”

“I think he is. He’s paranoid. Not only does he fear Bran, but he’s convinced that the other pack leaders are looking to get their hands on Eleago—” she paused as we heard noise from the entrance. Fenling jumped to her feet, as did I, and we readied our weapons.

The next moment, loud voices echoed from the opening of the cave, and then, laughter. Quen came rushing back, with Bran on his heels. Another handful of men and women—about ten of them—followed.

Fenling let out a cry. “Bran! You’re safe.”

He caught her up and gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “I am. And grateful to be.” But then, he caught sight of me and froze. “Asajia! You’re… I thought…”

Without thinking, I rushed over to him and he swung me around, pulling me into his arms. I didn’t think twice when he leaned down to kiss me on the lips. A wave of relief flooded through me as it hit that he was alive.

“Bran, you’re safe!” I held on to him, unable to believe that he was here. Deep in my heart, I knew that I had feared he was lost—that Karehl had caught him and murdered him. When onlyFenling had responded to Ashera’s summoning spell, I had lost all hope without even realizing it.

He held me tight, burrowing his face in my neck. A warm glow began to spread through me, one that I’d never felt before except for a few moments around Bran.

“I thought my brother would catch you,” he whispered. “He told me when he imprisoned me that he would find you and kill you.”

“He can’t kill me without killing himself,” I said, suddenly realizing we were being watched by everybody else. I discreetly pulled away, stroking his face. “I’m so grateful you managed to escape.”

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