Treasure of Ice and Fire (Veridical Dreams Book 2) by Wayne D. Dundee

Author:Wayne D. Dundee [Dundee, Wayne D.]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: General
Publisher: BEAT to a PULP
Published: 2016-02-09T00:00:00+00:00

III

Having finally been convinced that the words transcribed onto Nindocai's parchment were indeed a message from the goddess Arya (how else to account for the correlating revelations that fell into place too neatly to be mere coincidence?) Daer had pledged himself completely to the quest for the frozen treasure destined to finance the success of the freedom army. As had Spreek, who tended to follow faithfully wherever Daer led. Bolstered by these additions, Nindocai and his already well-provisioned force had wasted no time striking north from the Boar's Tusk Inn. The arrangement for Sandor to accompany them was an added measure to help reach Serpentine Lake as expeditiously as possible. Inasmuch as none save the inn keeper and servant boy (not even Daer or Spreek) had ever heard of the place, trying to find it without a guide would have been both daunting and reckless, especially considering that the first breaths of winter could be expected in the high country in only a matter of weeks.

The inn keeper, Ersk, knew the way but could not personally guide them because he had grown too ponderously fat to make the trek. The route was too complicated to simply try and explain and Ersk's map drawing skills were too crude to attempt following with any degree of confidence. So it fell to Sandor then, who did not know the full way himself, to take them as far as a young woman named Pamella, a huntress for the same mountain tribe to which Sandor had belonged before his poor family indentured his services to Ersk and Gretchel. Pamella knew the high reaches and all its mysteries like no other and she was a cousin to Sandor, making the boy a perfect liaison to introduce Nindocai's group and help convince Pamella to lead them the rest of the way to that which they sought.

As they ascended out of the valley of Gahm, the remainder of their first day went well and their progress marked a good start. But all were keenly aware that the weather was bound to turn and the way ahead would only get more rugged.

With evening shadows lengthening and the sun sinking fast behind the westernmost peaks, the searchers halted and made camp for the night. A roll of stitched-together hides was unloaded from the pack horses and then unfurled and erected to form a tent-like shelter. A stone-ringed fire was soon crackling with warming flames. Grist and Lodor, veterans of the insurgency against the Wyvar invaders that had dragged on for so long, proved themselves skilled not only at waging battle but also at making a primitive camp as comfortable as possible. Under their direction, everyone pitched in as assigned (save for Nindocai, whose advanced years and priestly status earned him special consideration) and by nightfall their conditions were quite adequate. Once all had supped on thick mutton stew, coarse bread, and piping hot tea, it was agreed that Grist, Lodor, Daer, and Spreek would each take turns standing watch. The

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