Dawn was long in coming as Flindra hovered near the fire. She dozed occasionally as the night passed but she had to stay awake most of the time to keep the fire going. She remembered happy times from her childhood to warm her heart even as her body ached from the cold. She knew the value of diverting her thoughts to better endure unpleasant situations.
Normally, Flindra would pack up her camp and be on her way by daybreak. This morning, she lingered by her fire until the sun eased the worst of the bitter cold of the pre-dawn hours. She finally tied her belongings to Deru's saddle and continued on her way.
Flindra rode hour after hour across the desolate plain. Her mind became numb after hours of the dreary sameness. There weren't even trees anymore to break the monotony of the landscape. Moreover, it was cold, so very cold. She huddled in the saddle to keep her cloak as close to her body as possible. Her toes ached as she wiggled them to keep them from freezing. The pain eventually spread from her feet into her legs. She pulled her feet from the stirrups so she could move her legs too. She wondered at times if she would ever be warm again.
By mid-afternoon, Flindra noticed a change in the landscape. This part of the Northern Reaches was not as flat as it appeared from a distance. The plain was intersected by a number of narrow and deep gullies and small valleys. The crystal sphere suddenly started to vibrate and Flindra reached into her tunic and withdrew the orb. It was clear the crystal was directing her towards the entrance to one of these small valleys.
"Let's hope we are getting close, Deru," she said as she slipped the orb back into her tunic. "I'm tired," she confessed to the horse, "and I know you are, too."
She reined Deru into the valley. She rode for several miles and suddenly felt the orb grow still and cold. Before she could reach into her tunic, she heard a voice call, "Welcome to my home Princess Flindra."
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