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Turning upriver, he leads them to a ford a mile up. After crossing, he backtracks along the other side of the river and returns to the lake. Following its shoreline, he continues along as it curves to follow a more easterly direction.

The going here is slow, as they have to at times forge their way through tangled undergrowth. Several hours pass as they make slow headway. Finally the shoreline becomes inaccessible to them when the side of the mountain rises up against the water’s edge.

“We have to leave the lake now and work our way through the mountains,” the miner says. “If we’re lucky, we’ll reach the river before the sun goes down.”

“Why would that be lucky?” Uther asks.

“Just a figure of speech,” the miner says, annoyed he’s being taken too literally.

“Oh,” replies Uther.

Picking up another game trail, they leave the shore and move into the forest. The terrain becomes increasingly rugged and as they climb up the side of the mountain, the density of the trees diminishes proportionately.

As they climb, the wind hits them with more biting chill than it had when they were in the protection of the forest. Now that the trees are thinning, the wind is able to get to them more effectively. Pulling their jackets closer, they push on.

At one promontory the miner stops them for a short break. Off to the side they find snow on the ground among the trees. “Man that’s not a good sign,” Jorry states.

“At least it’s clear now,” Fifer says hopefully, looking to the sky. “If the clouds move in we can expect snow.”

“I agree,” says James. “We’re definitely above the snowline now.”

Qyrll has climbed up above them and is standing on an outcropping of rock. James notices him there peering out over the way they had come. “See anything?” he asks.

The others take note of what he’s doing as he looks down to James and shakes his head. “Nothing.”

“Maybe they didn’t follow us,” offers Miko hopefully.

“Oh you can bet they’re out there,” states Dave. Looking back through the trees, he adds, “I doubt if they’ll give up this easily.”

“You seem awfully sure of that,” Jiron says as he comes to stand before him.

Anger building, Dave replies, “If they followed us to Ironhold, you would think they would have kept an eye on us. Any fool should know that.”

“I don’t like the tone of your voice,” Jiron says, his own anger beginning to rise.

Stepping in between them, James holds a hand up to each and says, “Enough of that!” Staring them both down, he adds, “We have too much to worry about already, we don’t need your squabbling adding to it.”

Jiron gives Dave a glare then turns to James, “Sorry.” Turning his back on Dave, he stalks off.

“You two need to get along,” James tells his friend Dave.

“I ain’t the one not getting along,” he says. “Nothing I do or say will make any difference.” He turns aside and walks back to check on his horse.

James just stands there and stares at his two friends walking away. Saddened by how they don’t get along, he just shakes his head. Try as he might the rift between them continues to grow, neither of them seems even remotely interested in trying to mend it.

They get underway shortly thereafter and as they proceed, an awkward silence hangs over them. By the time they stop for lunch it hasn’t improved any. James sits eating his food and glances from one to the other. Dave has sunk into another depression with anger seeming to be boiling under the surface. Jiron on the other hand appears his regular self, that is until he glances toward Dave. Then James notices a slight tightening around the eyes and a grim expression comes to him.

After their lunch break they once again forge their way along the path through the mountains. Near the midafternoon an enormous mountain to the north comes into view. Snow capped and rising high into the sky, it dominates everything around it.

“Would you look at that!” Miko breathes as they crest a ridge and the mountain comes into view.

“Impressive,” agrees James. It easily rises a thousand foot or more over that of