[22 years ago]
The snow storm got worse and the wind whipped Morgan’s and Alandra’s faces in particular. They wrapped scarves around their faces like the true northmen do, and she walked closely behind him to use him as a shield, but the cold was overwhelming and they would not live long walking in the open like this. By the same token, the wind quickly wiped away their tracks, and presumably it impeded the nightstalkers’ search as well.
They headed towards a rock formation known as The Steps. The name was a mystery to most, for it looked like a stone spire reaching up into the sky with no visible steps anywhere. It was now common for folk to believe the name to be imaginative; as in, imagine there were steps and you could walk up to the sky. But Morgan knew the reason for its name. And in a serene moment at Breaker’s Point, he calculated that the current storm would demonstrate why.
He was therefore relieved to see when they finally got close to the giant stone spire, that the snow and cold had indeed created the ice steps all over it for which it had originally been named. The nature of the stone, the wind, the snow and the formation itself, caused horizontal sheets of ice to form in abundance all over the stone such that, under these conditions, the unclimbable became relatively easy to climb.
Still, Alandra was tired and weak by the time they reached the base of The Steps. Morgan decided to use rope to create a harness and carry her like a backpack. He worked quickly and she sat quietly. Eventually they began the climb.
The winds made the climb treacherous, and certainly in happier times people would wait for the storm to pass before using the steps – like children going sledding after a storm has raged. But without the storm, Morgan and Alandra might be plainly visible climbing.
It was tiring work and he had to be careful with his footing, but he took his time and ascended steadily. She clung tightly to his back and closed her eyes and prayed. Luckily, physical exertion was something Morgan understood and could set his mind to and accomplish, and so he did.
—————
Eventually they reached a cave entrance near the top of the stone spire. Morgan clawed his way over the ledge into the cave mouth and flopped the rest of himself and her over as well. They were no longer in the wind but Alandra sensed immediately that they were not alone.
She spoke ancient words and suddenly she could see in the dark. She saw that they were in a space approximately twenty feet in diameter, a circular-ish cavern with naturally sharp vertical stones everywhere except the far wall where a giant circular door existed. The door was like the type of door merchants use to protect their most valuable wares. Or like moneylenders use to protect their security. The door appeared to be thick and made out of a combination of stone and steel. Certainly the overlarge hinges were steel. She wondered how such a door ever got up here.
Before the door two humanoids stood at attention with spears in hand. They both watched Morgan and Alandra but made no noise or moves.
“Milady, I give you the sniverfbalen,” Morgan announces, slowly getting to his feet. “Underground dwelling creatures as unyielding as the rocks they live among.”
Alandra detaches herself from Morgan and thanks him for getting her here.
Morgan only grunts, knowing the thanks are premature. Among other things, he knows the sniverfbalen will not open the door right away. Even if they eventually do open the door, which is far from certain, it for sure will not be until after the ice steps that got them here have melted, ensuring that Morgan and Alandra’s bargaining position is weak. Without the steps, there is no climbing down from here. Going back may not have been an option anyway, what with the nightstalkers prowling outside.
The cave is warm at least. In the circumstances they were facing at Breaker’s Point, this is the safest place Morgan could think of to bring her. And he is confident they will let her in.
He is certain they will not let him in.
Ready to begin their wait, Morgan strides up to the massive circular door and declares to the two guards there, “I am General Morgan Deckeon, loyal vassal of the great King Azound de Winter of the United Northern Realms, may he rest in peace. You know me. Tell your king I have come to pay my debts.”
The two sniverfbalen guards snuffle out their big noses as though they were dwarven horses. Then they tap their spears on the hard stone earth in an elaborate sequence of taps. The butts of their spears pound loudly and then stop. A moment later, from the other side of the door, responding taps can be heard.
Alandra is suddenly unsettled by the invoking of her father’s name and Morgan using his old titles. “What do you mean ‘pay your debts’?” she asks him.
“I forbid you dying here,” she orders, worried he is playing some hero’s game.