Finding a map of the mountains was more difficult than I had expected. It seemed the territory was relatively unexplored, and few cartographers had dared to venture into the terrain. Those that had, had not returned. However, I did manage to find a rough sketch of the area, done by an amateur explorer only three years ago, and by asking around, one of the palace schoolteachers was able to tell me that a particular mountain only a few days march from the city was generally believed to be the smallest.
I did not speak of the old man who had come to visit me. I don't know why, it just didn't seem right to bring him up to anyone. Instead, I explained that I wanted to explore the mountains further, as part of my personal schooling, and departed three days later with a small team of armed guards – King Jiam would have died before letting my brother's heir wander off alone.
The air was cold, but it was still early in the summer months. Already, the paths were coated in a fine dusting of frost, and the trees were beginning to shed their leaves. My companions had argued that we should wait for the winter to pass, but I was determined to leave as soon as possible. Perhaps, just perhaps, I would be able to loose the team without killing any of them. Either way, I would finish this journey alone.
We camped beneath the trees, all ten of us, a bright fire sitting in our midst. As the moon rose higher, we could hear the sounds of waking animals; nocturnal beasts rising for their nightly hunts. It was the first time I had been exposed to such things, and I was even momentarily glad to have so many experienced men at my side.
I did not sleep that first night. I felt like a child. Looking back, I realize that that's just what I was.
For the first time in my life, I saw the sunrise. Pure, glorious light. A pale pink glow that filled the sky and slowly turned to orange as it rose higher. I was struck by the beauty of it, by the purity of nature's beginning. For a moment, I even lost myself in the warm sunbeams that shone through the trees on to my frost bitten face.
We set off once more into the wilderness, our bags weighing heavily on us – or maybe it was just me. I regretted bringing so many things, but I had packed all I owned, somehow knowing that I would not be returning for a while.
On the second day, we were waylaid by a snow storm. Flurries of soft ice fell from the sky and blew about us, blinding us, forcing us to find shelter. Our group was separated, and to this day, I do not know what happened to the other six. The remaining four of us huddled beneath a great evergreen, desperate to keep warm. Eventually, though I'll never know how, I managed to fall asleep
I woke in a frozen stupor. Every part of my body was numb, and I would have given anything for even a small flame of warmth. The man next to me was even colder, and his eyes were hollow and dead. I moved out from under him in a hurry, desperate to get away from his stony body.
We didn't move on until a thorough search of the area had been conducted – in case any of the others had survived. Finding none, and having given the dead man a proper (though hasty) burial, the march continued. It was just me and two others. For the first time, I realized just how easily these mountains could claim my life.
I did not speak of the old man who had come to visit me. I don't know why, it just didn't seem right to bring him up to anyone. Instead, I explained that I wanted to explore the mountains further, as part of my personal schooling, and departed three days later with a small team of armed guards – King Jiam would have died before letting my brother's heir wander off alone.
The air was cold, but it was still early in the summer months. Already, the paths were coated in a fine dusting of frost, and the trees were beginning to shed their leaves. My companions had argued that we should wait for the winter to pass, but I was determined to leave as soon as possible. Perhaps, just perhaps, I would be able to loose the team without killing any of them. Either way, I would finish this journey alone.
We camped beneath the trees, all ten of us, a bright fire sitting in our midst. As the moon rose higher, we could hear the sounds of waking animals; nocturnal beasts rising for their nightly hunts. It was the first time I had been exposed to such things, and I was even momentarily glad to have so many experienced men at my side.
I did not sleep that first night. I felt like a child. Looking back, I realize that that's just what I was.
For the first time in my life, I saw the sunrise. Pure, glorious light. A pale pink glow that filled the sky and slowly turned to orange as it rose higher. I was struck by the beauty of it, by the purity of nature's beginning. For a moment, I even lost myself in the warm sunbeams that shone through the trees on to my frost bitten face.
We set off once more into the wilderness, our bags weighing heavily on us – or maybe it was just me. I regretted bringing so many things, but I had packed all I owned, somehow knowing that I would not be returning for a while.
On the second day, we were waylaid by a snow storm. Flurries of soft ice fell from the sky and blew about us, blinding us, forcing us to find shelter. Our group was separated, and to this day, I do not know what happened to the other six. The remaining four of us huddled beneath a great evergreen, desperate to keep warm. Eventually, though I'll never know how, I managed to fall asleep
I woke in a frozen stupor. Every part of my body was numb, and I would have given anything for even a small flame of warmth. The man next to me was even colder, and his eyes were hollow and dead. I moved out from under him in a hurry, desperate to get away from his stony body.
We didn't move on until a thorough search of the area had been conducted – in case any of the others had survived. Finding none, and having given the dead man a proper (though hasty) burial, the march continued. It was just me and two others. For the first time, I realized just how easily these mountains could claim my life.
