Page 6 of Frostforge: Passage Two

Luna studied her face for a moment, then nodded, clearly unconvinced but willing to let it go for now.

They fell into formation as instructed.Around them, workers loaded the sleds with supplies — food stores, equipment, and empty stretchers for those who wouldn't make it to Frostforge on their own feet.The ponies stamped and snorted, eager to be moving rather than standing in the cold.

Maven strode to the front of the assembled group, her powerful frame silhouetted against the path that wound up from the landing.

"Listen carefully," she called out, her voice carrying easily despite not being raised."The path to Frostforge is three leagues of Northern terrain.Those of you returning know what that means.Those of you who don't —" her gaze swept over the first-years "— will learn quickly or die slowly.Stay on the path.Keep up.Fall behind, and you will not be waited for."

A visible shudder ran through the ranks of first-years.One girl near the front, barely older than Mari, looked on the verge of tears.

"We move now," Maven announced, turning abruptly and starting up the path without looking back to see if anyone followed.

The column began to move, students falling into step with varying degrees of confidence.Thalia and Luna positioned themselves near the back of the second-year group, keeping a watchful eye on the first-years ahead of them.

"Five silver pieces says at least two of them collapse before we reach the ridge," Luna murmured.

"I'm not taking that bet," Thalia replied."It'll be more than two."

The path steepened almost immediately, winding upward through bare rock and patches of stubborn snow.Cold wind cut through Thalia's layers, finding every gap in her clothing despite her careful preparation.Around her, first-years gasped and coughed as they struggled to adjust to the thin mountain air.

Luna moved with surprising grace despite her small stature, picking her way over the uneven ground with nimble steps."You'd think they would have prepared them better," she commented, nodding toward a first-year boy who had already begun to wheeze.

"How could they?”Thalia replied.“There’s no place to prepare for this in the Southern Kingdoms.”

An hour into the climb, the first-years were faltering visibly.Their Southern bodies, accustomed to warmer climates and lower altitudes, rebelled against the harsh conditions.Several stumbled repeatedly, helped along by fellow recruits rather than by the instructors who watched impassively.As Luna had predicted, two had already dropped to their knees, unable to continue, and been loaded onto the supply sleds — their first mark of failure at Frostforge.

Thalia kept her pace steady, conserving energy while staying alert.Her muscles remembered this path, the specific angle of each turn, the places where loose stone might give way beneath an unwary foot.Last year, she had been in the middle of the pack, determined not to fall behind.This year, she could have easily pushed to the front but chose to remain watchful instead.

"Ridge ahead," Luna noted, pointing to where the path curved sharply upward.

Thalia nodded.The ridge marked the halfway point of their journey — and the first place from which Frostforge could be seen.Her pace quickened unconsciously, a part of her anxious to see the academy again, to confirm that it wasn't just a collection of nightmares she'd constructed during the break.

They crested the ridge with the main group, pausing as Maven called a brief halt to allow stragglers to catch up.Thalia turned, looking north toward the cliff face that housed Frostforge Academy.

Her breath caught in her throat.

The academy bulged from the side of the cliff like a growth of iron and stone, its dark edifice built into the rock.Thalia remembered her first glimpse of it last year — the dread and awe that had filled her at the sight of the infamous Northern school.

But something was different.

"Luna," she whispered, pointing."Look."

Luna followed her gesture, her large eyes narrowing as she focused on the changes."Interesting."

The outer walls of Frostforge, already formidable last term, had been reinforced with additional layers of ice-steel that gleamed dully in the weak Northern sunlight.New watchtowers rose at each corner, their windows narrow slits designed for archers.Around the perimeter, a series of barriers had been erected — angled plates of ice-steel embedded in the frozen ground like massive blades.

"Those weren't there before," Thalia said, a chill that had nothing to do with the temperature running down her spine.

"No," Luna agreed, her voice thoughtful."They weren't."

Around them, other second-years had noticed the changes as well, murmuring among themselves with varying degrees of concern.The first-years, still struggling with the basic challenge of breathing, remained oblivious to the significance.

"Defensive fortifications," Luna noted, her eyes scanning the valley methodically."Do you think there was an attack in the off-season?"

“It’s possible.”Thalia studied the academy again, taking in details that had escaped her initial observation.

There was movement along the walls — more golem sentinels than she remembered from last year.A new gatehouse, massive and forbidding.Supply caches positioned strategically around the academy perimeter.

"They're preparing for something," she said quietly.

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