Seven Wherewithal Way Across the Ice and Into the Jungle by Samantha-Ellen Bound

Author:Samantha-Ellen Bound
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Affirm Press
Published: 2022-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

Celeste was surprised by how soundly and deeply she slept, surrounded by Bonnie’s familiar comforts. But they were up before the sun had risen, and with her still-a-little-bit-damp puffer jacket back on, her aching legs slung over Tinker, and the prospect of another long ride over the ice until they reached this Liefdefiord Mountain, Celeste’s spirits quickly dropped. They dropped lower still as the morning and then afternoon wore on, and there was nothing but the blue-and-white landscape, the howling wind, and the dreaded return of the scar’s steady, insistent throbbing.

Somewhere along the way they passed strange creatures in the snowfields. At first, Celeste mistook them for ice. Then they moved. Although they never got closer than a hundred metres, Celeste could see they were about the size of wolves, but with feline faces and long brown fur. Their attention seemed to be focused on the ground, and though they looked up and gazed at the little horse convoy as it passed, they soon went back to their search. As they snuffled into the snow Celeste was horrified to discover they weren’t burying their heads but eating something they’d found buried in the ice – and not just eating, but tearing at it ravenously, rather like Esme when Gran made the only thing she was really any good at: cheesy garlic bread.

‘Gulon,’ said a muffled voice at Tinker’s side, and Celeste swivelled to find Logan – or rather, Logan’s eyes, as his whole face was covered with hoods and scarves – watching the creatures, too. ‘They’re called gulon. Scavengers. Their one skill is finding and uncovering carrion, and they eat so much of it they become bloated, run off to find a tree or a rock or something to squeeze in-between, and after that’s helped digest their latest meal well and good, they immediately rush off to repeat the process. That’s their whole life.’

‘Don’t tell Esme,’ Celeste said. ‘She’ll want to join them.’

‘Hmm,’ Logan grinned. ‘Maybe too gross, even for her? They won’t hurt you, the gulon. Only if you get a little too close to their food.’

‘Wags’ supplies might be all gone,’ Celeste said. ‘But I’m not that desperate yet.’

What she was, though, was increasingly anxious. Even after they had moved on and left the gulon behind, she kept thinking she saw dark shapes in the distance to either side of her – little flecks of black among the constant drifting white. Other times she thought she saw the vague outline of giant polar bears trundling through the snow. Whatever it was, she couldn’t shake the oppressive feeling of being followed, of something hunting them, shadowing their every step across the ice.

A similar strain showed in Ferd’s face, but Celeste knew there was nothing any of them could do. The Draugr would inevitably find and catch up with them – you surely didn’t elude the Realm’s most wanted so easily – and all they could hope was that they crossed the ice and reached this mountain and found Vaf and the hagstone first.

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