The storm continued for two more days. When the sky finally cleared after the storm,
the temperature dropped precipitously.
Flindra was experienced enough with the weather to know the skies would
remain cloudless for days after the passage of such a violent storm. She also knew the extreme cold would continue
as long as the sky remained clear. The
remainder of her journey to the Northern Reaches was going to be miserably
difficult because of the frigid weather.
Flindra led Deru from the cave and began to put on the
saddle. Her gloved fingers slowed her
work and soon the snow creaked with the cold as Deru shifted his feet
impatiently. The steam of his breath was
freezing into frost on his muzzle. The
white beard made him appear somewhat comical when he turned his head to nibble
at her sleeve.
"I know, I know," she responded with a laugh. "I'll hurry it up."
Flindra was still chuckling at Deru, when she mounted. Once comfortable in the saddle, she invoked
Rigga's shield. It was becoming much
easier to focus her thoughts on the nimbus of the power shield. She then took the crystal sphere from her
breast pocket. The orb glowed when
pointed in an easterly direction. She
slipped it back into her pocket and could feel its friendly warmth against her
skin.
The going was difficult in the new snow. The wind had blown some areas clear of snow
and had piled up massive drifts in others.
Progress through the drifts was difficult. The drifted snow had a crust on the surface
that was just firm enough to support Deru's weight for a moment and then his
hard hooves would break through. Deru
ended up moving in hops - almost like a rabbit.
Flindra tried to avoid the drifts by going around them when possible,
which made for a slow traverse across the slope.
They finally intercepted a game trail within a mile of the
cave. The crystal directed Flindra to
turn north along this pathway. This way
was more or less sheltered by a rock ridge so the snow was less drifted
here. The surface of the snow was also
softer and thus made it a little easier to traverse for Deru was spared the
work of breaking through the hard crust of the drifted snow.
As they worked their way up the slope, the trees around them
thinned in number as they climbed in elevation.
The few trees, which managed to hang on to existence were gnarled and
twisted into fantastic shapes. Only the
hardiest plants and animals could survive here.
Flindra looked up the mountain and couldn't imagine where
the path led. The way up and over the
mountain appeared to be blocked by a continuous cliff, which loomed above
her. However, she could feel the warmth
of the orb in her pocket, which meant she was moving in the correct
direction. She remembered King Meldh's
words in her dream and trusted the crystal orb to lead her safely to Kewero.
