8. Reality

They were called the Grimhold Mountains. Grim and holding they were indeed. No one knew how far they extended along the borders of Tortall into Galla, up into the Roof of the World and the City of the Gods. All I knew was that they were holding me back from the one I loved. I didn't care how grim they might be, I would climb past them and rescue Keladry.

No one had come thundering after me, so I suppose I had the gods looking out for me - for once. The sparrows continued their soft peeping under my hood as I plodded on through ankle and knee deep snow. Whatever they found interesting was enough to keep them occupied for the full six hours we had struggled on our mad quest. The blizzard didn't appear to have any intention of returning, but had left quite an obstacle. For the time being I had no fear of freezing. Struggling through the soft powdery white was almost enough to put me into a good sweat. Something I would have to deal with later.

The snow was too deep for Jump so after watching him comically launching himself forwards into the air and making a dog shaped hole when he landed, I placed him on Peachblossom's back. The big horse only blew at the canine, but seemed willing to bare the dog's weight. To my great surprise, Peachblossom shouldered past me and began sloughing his own way through the pass. His larger and stronger legs broke the snow and made the going much easier. When I thanked him, he merely gave me a look that said Don't get used to it.

We had lost the trail of Maggur, but it was clear they could have gone only one way through the mountains. It was a narrow path, perhaps a streambed in the summer. Ever since we crossed over the pass, the trail deepened between two cliffs. It gave off a rather odd illusion, for while the trail deepened between the mountains, the rocks were steadily rising beneath our feet - as if we descended and ascended all at once. I shook off that eery feeling and stopped looking up at the white-capped walls. Fearing an avalanche, I warned Jump to refrain from barking if anything unexpected happened.

We stopped for a midmorning snack when we found a place where the path opened enough that some frozen grass could be provided for Peachblossom. Thankfully he also bore his own feed. I made a silent promise to refrain from calling Neal a meathead for at least a couple months once I returned - if I returned. I growled at myself. Of course I would return, and Keladry too, gods help me!

The sparrows cried softly in my ears, worried. I smiled and gently lifted them out of their shelter one by one. Feeding them seed and bread from my travel loaf, I looked at my comrades. Here we were, the most loyal of the lady knight's friends - a man, a fighting dog, a stubborn and fiercely independent war horse, and three speckled birds. All on a mad quest into unknown territory against an entire country to save a woman we all would lay down our lives for. I take that back, others would be here if they could. Neal I personally told to go home. He had a life to fulfill. Lord Raoul was held back by his position, and Lady Alanna was the Champion of the king himself. They were tied to the crown. Technically, so was I.

With a groan I forced myself to stop thinking. What was done was done. I would not be helping myself trying to puzzle out the impossible. Looking down at Jump who was gnawing on the last of his jerky I asked,

"Do you think we humans are cracked in the head?"

He glanced up from his job and gave a near human-like shrug.

The birds had tired of riding, so they took off ahead of me as we returned to the trail. Scrubby brush provided scant cover for anyone planning an ambush, but I knew that if anyone truly wanted to do away with followers, all they would need to do is set an explosion off in the snow banks above. My feathered scouts flitted from bush to bush, fluffed up against the cold.

It was early evening when we came upon a strange valley. The trail appeared to dead end. The small streambed halted at the foot of a long spill of loose rocks that extended for a good twenty feet. The way was treacherous with packed snow melting into slushy ice. Peachblossom opted to waiting as I climbed the jigsaw puzzle to see what was past it. Hauling myself over a final ledge of rock, I found myself looking down a long corridor of blueish green pasture. The mountains still rose on either side, but this valley could hold an entire army - if they cared to trickle through the needle I had just come through. There was no way to tell how long the valley extended, and with the sunlight fading rapidly, I had to get to the task of making camp.

Peachblossom hated the climb. Ears flat against his neck and legs stiff, I tried to cox him over the shifty steps. Rolling his eyes, he snapped at my pulling hand on the bit, giving the message: Let me handle it on my own!

I let go, and prayed that he knew what he was doing. Keladry would not thank me for rescuing her at the expense of her friend. Slowly, foot by foot, he made his way up the slope. Night had fully fallen by the time he made the final leap over the ledge, nearly knocking me back into the stream bed as he did. He gave a tremendous shake and snorted. Jump, who had fallen off during the last obstacle, sniffed.

Untacking Peachblossom, I found a large bolder which had buried itself partially in the ground near the head of the pass. Setting up my tent behind it, I immediately lit a fire. With the sun gone, the temperature dropped rapidly. My fingers were already numb from the cold as I tied down the canvas and unpacked more seed, jerky, and travel bread. Peachblossom, his winter blanket protecting him from the elements, munched contentedly on a nose bag of oats. Once we were all settled down, I sighed and waited for sleep.

888

"Jon, that Maggot kidnapped a knight of Tortall! You aren't going to just sit back and wait for a ransom! That's not what he's after!"

"And what is he after? He's after Tortall itself. We cannot go charging in there and leave the kingdom open to any attack. It would take our entire force with winter coming one, and we cannot afford it."

"What can we afford?"

The king sighed, tugging at his black beard. Looking at the mirror that blazed violet, he shook his head.

"Alanna, we simply cannot do anything at the moment. We do have a temporary cease fire according to Raoul, but we cannot let down our guard. As soon as the snows melt I swear we will get our lady knight back."

The Lioness slumped in her chair on the other side of the spelled mirror surrounded by Neal, and Raoul. Her eyes were still firm.

"Tell George I'll be staying here until then."

"What?" Jon blinked. "You're staying up North? You hate the cold."

She glared. "I hate being double crossed more than I hate the cold."

Neal broke in before she could continue. "Sire, has Master Numair found anything about Blood Bonding?"

The king picked up a piece of parchment. "He's found a little. There are three forms of it - the first is what sounds like Maggur did to Keladry of Mindelan. Short, undetectable spelling can be placed into the making of an object, but only used a few times before the spell is used up. It can only be activated by the owner of the blood put into the spell." His blue eyes narrowed. "I think we've also found how he united the tribes. A second form is kin to brainwashing. Those who drink a potion find themselves in agreement with the owner. It lasts longer than the first, but must be renewed on occasion. The third," He frowned. "The third is a direct link from one person to another."

"What do you mean?" Neal exclaimed.

"One may understand another's soul. They are inseparable till death and the stronger will commands. That is all Numair has written."

The four stared aghast at one another.

"Mithros have mercy." Raoul breathed.

888

I woke surprisingly warm. Sometime during the night Peachblossom had settled with his back to the tent wall behind me and Jump was curled against my feet. The sparrows, however, were not so lucky. Nested in the blankets, they shivered with their eyes tightly shut. Tucked on my side, I gently cupped them one by one under the covers next to my chest where it was warm. With a peep of thanks, they resettled. We could wait for a while, the sun was just touching the peaks of the mountains.

Repacking was a nearly effortless event. However, Peachblossom would not take Jump on his back. I guess he figured that now the snow had stopped, his four legged companion could fend for himself. The valley was nearly silent except for a steady breeze that hissed through the leaning grasses and occasional stunted bush. Everything looked washed out in gray, blue/green, and light brown. A brilliant blue sky shone overhead. We could make good time today without the snow holding us back. Jump sprinted ahead and the sparrows perched on my shoulders or on Peachblossom.

Not looking where I was going, I nearly tripped on Jump as he stood in pointer form.

"Jump -"

I got down on one knee to look at what he had found. Hooves had cut the grasses here. Many hooves, all moving at a fairly rapid pace no more than a few days ago. Further on I found a scattered trail of dung, all pointing North. We had found the trail. Encouraged, I began jogging down the valley. Coming within sight of some strange buildings a few hours later, I sent the sparrows ahead to search for people. They came back with a negative. Determined, I made a thorough search of each odd dirt construction. In the fifth building, Jump emerged from a corner with something in his mouth. Tail wagging furiously, he dropped it at my feet.

It was the ruby and diamond bracelet Maggur had given Keladry. I smiled and picked it up, turning it over in my hand. She must have left it behind in hopes of being found. Reassured, I tucked it into my pack. Scratching Jump behind his ragged ear, I adjusted my pack.

"Good job. Now let's get going."

One set of hoof prints began wandering from the others. Curious, I followed it. Whoever was riding didn't seem to have much experience, or else was impaired for some reason. Where the tracks reunited with the others, I could just make out the heels of someone's boots. A rider had fallen into the scrub brush and been hauled back onto a mount. Arrow peeped on my shoulder and took off. When he returned, he carried something coppery in his beak. A small feather - a griffin feather. Keladry had been here yet again. I couldn't help grinning. We were close.

We camped in the open that night. Sometime after I had fallen asleep the wind came. With a shriek it came tearing through the valley and beat at the tent. Peachblossom neighed at the shock of it and pawed at the flap. Gathering the gear together the best I could, I tucked the birds under my hood yet again and rolled the whole lot in the canvas. Throwing it on to Peachblossom's back, I could only think of one thing - find shelter. We could not survive the night with a wind that cut through cloth like a knife. Jump crouched at my feet as we fought for every step taken. I could hardly open my eyes under the blast and the starlight barley made the stone wall of the valley visible. All I could do was follow the sheer cliff and hope to find something that would cut the wind so we could survive.

For what felt like hours we struggled. My entire body was numb with the cold, my face frozen. Now I knew why the grass was bent over and no creatures lived here. Nothing could survive this. Just when I feared we would never find any protection, I made out a crack of darkness in the cliff. With a muffled shout, I pointed it out. Jump was exhausted, so I picked him up and carried him under one arm while helping Peachblossom with the other.

The crack was just what I had hoped, a break in the rock. The incessant wind whistled past the opening but could not enter. Squeezing into the narrow path, I paused to catch my breath. My ears rang at the sudden silence. But we could not stop, Peachblossom's shoulders almost brushed either side of the corridor. We struggled on, tripping and whining through the darkness. Even the valley had some light. Nothing reached down here. Finally the tunnel ended in another valley, this one much smaller but much warmer and quiet. I merely tugged the bundle off of Peachblossom and curled up beside it, falling instantly asleep.