King Of Souls (Book 2) (21 page)

“That looks heavy,” Moira said. “I’d help you push, but I’m afraid I’d just be in your way.”

Ronan waved her off. “Stay put Moira. I’ll manage.”

She nodded, and Ronan shifted directions setting his left shoulder against the ice wall. With a mighty heave the wall slid another two feet inward leaving enough room for Ronan and Moira to squeeze past.

A low deep rumble sounded from deep inside the mountain.

Ronan lunged for the sled strengthening the shields surrounding him and Moira.

Moira extended her palm as if to silence Ronan, and the rumbling faded. “Like I said, it doesn’t take much to trigger an avalanche,” Moira said in a low whisper.

Through the two-foot gap, curved walls of blue and white ice lined the exotic passageways.

Ronan moved behind the sled and pushed.

It slipped through the narrow gap.

Ronan stopped when he and Moira stood inside the cave finally free of the wind and snow.

Smooth glassy ice formed a seamless curvy tube-like passageway. It extending deep into the mountain’s heart curving from view far ahead. Gray sunlight streamed through rounded holes high up in the ceiling. Light splashed across the ice creating a glossy wonderland.

“Yes, this is the place.” Moira gazed around the ice cavern. “Be careful where you place your feet Ronan. It’s easy to slip and fall.”

“Yes ma’am. I’ll be careful.”

“As I mentioned earlier, there’s a second entrance on the opposite side, but I remember the way.”

Ronan scooped up the sled’s rope and took a few tentative steps forward doing his best to remain upright. He pulled the sled ahead easing along the corridor.

The ice cavern’s curved tunnels gave way to empty ice covered rooms of various shapes and sizes. Moira directed Ronan ahead guiding him through the labyrinth of shifting hallways and icy slopes.

An hour later, Ronan paused. He sat on a smooth white and blue ice bench created from an ice flow extending from an exposed shaft high overhead. “Do you mind if we rest for a minute?”

“I’ve been resting dear,” Moira said. “You’re doing all the work. Take your time, I’m not going anywhere.”

Ronan rubbed the soreness from his calf muscle and nodded his appreciation. Keeping his balance while pulling the sled, called for muscles he hadn’t used in a long time.

“I suspect we’ve another twenty minutes left, and we’ll be through this cave,” Moira said.

“I would’ve wandered this cave for days, maybe weeks, without your guidance. You were right. I couldn’t have made the journey without you,” Ronan said.

Moira smiled and nodded. “Thank you Ronan. I —” She began to say more but hesitated. She cocked her head and paused. “Did you hear that?”

Ronan had enhanced his hearing since entering the cave. But, he heard only the low whoosh of wind whistling through the ceiling’s hollow ice shafts. He furrowed his brow and perked his ears tilting his head like Moira. “Hear what?”

A low deep growl rumbled through the ice cave bouncing from wall to ceiling making the source of the noise difficult to place.

Ronan’s flesh crawled. Humans had long ago developed an innate instinct for sensing danger, and his body screamed for him to run. Instead, he loosened the strap on his sheath and slid his blade free.

“Don’t be too hasty with that.” An edge of command salted Moira’s words.

Ronan channeled magic through his blade. Red energy bounced from the cavern’s icy walls pitching scarlet light across the chamber.

Around a curved passageway, a long shadow stretched across the ice chamber’s red-tinted floor.

Ronan positioned himself in front of Moira and strengthened his and Moira’s spirit shields. “Stay put Moira. I won’t have your death on my hands.”

Ronan’s voice echoed, and the growling noise intensified its tone edged with warning. The shadow grew larger spreading far up the wall while the skittering sound of claws scraping against ice moved nearer.

Ronan gripped his blade in his right hand and readied a bright orb of blue spirit in his left preparing to strike.

As the beast rounded the corner, blood rushed from Ronan’s face. He stared dumbfounded at the strange creature standing before him. “This can’t be.” His words came out in a low hoarse mumble.

“Of course it’s real.” Moira spoke with a calm, steady, clear tone that gave not the slightest hint of fear.

The beast curled its lip baring sharp white fangs and menacing yellow eyes. White shaggy hair covered its body from head to toe, and a pair of long white barbed tusks protruded from just below its mouth. The snarling creature stood six-feet at its shoulder. It crouched low pinning back its ears in a menacing attack position.

The animal standing before Ronan had appeared as drawings in ancient Meranthian history books. Long believed extinct, the legendary great horned ice bear had taken center stage in many tales told by bards and poets. The Book of Order’s hardback cover consisted of ivory carved from an ice bear’s tusks.

Ronan recalled Sir Alcott’s claim that the ice bear still existed deep in the Adris Mountains and almost laughed. Rare or not, he wouldn’t let the beast harm him or Moira as they journeyed through the ice cave. “Stay behind me Moira. I’ll make this as quick and painless as possible. He won’t suffer long.”

As if sensing Ronan’s hostile intent, the bear roared rearing upward on its hind legs. It stood ten-feet tall with its shaggy head scraping the cavern’s high ceiling.

Ronan channeled more magic into the orb resting in his palm and hauled back his shoulder ready to launch an attack.

“Stop this instant!” The stern sound of Moira’s voice came from Ronan’s right side. She’d moved from her seat on the sled and stood beside Ronan staring down her nose like an angry schoolmarm.

Warm heat flushed Ronan’s cheeks.

Moira glared at him as if she’d caught him stealing from the church’s collection plate.

He relaxed his arm letting the coiled spirit energy evaporate.

“She’s afraid.” Moira’s eyes flashed with anger. “Can’t you see that?” She shook her head narrowing her gaze. “We’ve plenty to eat. There’s no need to slaughter her. Have you not learned the first thing about your abilities?”

Ronan swallowed hard and lowered his blade. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“That’s clear.” She gestured toward the ice bear.

The ice bear lowered to the ground and pitched its shaggy head from side to side in a warning gesture.

“If she wanted to attack us, she’d of done so already,” Moira said.

“How do you know it’s a ‘her’,” Ronan said.

Moira blinked staring at Ronan with a look of astonishment painted on her face.

“And what do you know of my abilities?” Ronan said.

“Now is not the time.” Moira steadied herself on a wooden cane she’d fished from the deep layers of fur piled on the sled and moved toward the enormous bear.

“Moira! No!” Ronan reached forward to stop her then paused as a look of submission passed over the bear’s face.

Ignoring his plea, Moira raised her free hand toward the ice bear and spoke in a soothing voice. “There, there mother. We mean you no harm. Be at ease.”

The ice bear’s tension faded. It lowered its menacing upper lip while it tracked Moira’s movement across the cavern.

Ronan stared in fascination as this frail ninety pound woman commanded a bear a hundred times her weight.

The ice bear lowered her shaggy head and eased her bulk flat on the cavern floor. She rested her chin on the ice and gazed into Moira’s eyes.

Moira knelt before the bear and ran her fingers through its thick white fur. “Ronan, sometimes force is necessary, but it’s not the greatest tool at your disposal. Learn your trade.”

Ronan stood as still as a frozen lake. How could this tiny slip of a grandmother command such respect? “How?”

Moira laid her staff on the ice next to the bear and ran both her hands over the bear’s ears scratching. “You need to learn control of your own emotional reaction before you can expect to impact those around you. You felt shock, fear, and threat when the bear turned that corner. She sensed that and mirrored your response. Don’t you see?”

The ice bear released a soft snort of satisfaction, and her eyes drifted shut beneath Moira’s gentle touch.

“She won’t bother us. She never wanted to in the first place.” Moira gazed over her shoulder at Ronan. “Can you bring the sled to me dear? I’m afraid I might take a spill if I try to cross the ice again.”

Ronan shook free of his trance, sheathed his blade, and pulled the sled beside Moira.

The ice bear remained still and quiet drifting off to sleep before Moira stood. “Use the gifts you’ve been granted. I’m afraid you’ve just scratched the surface of your true power.” Moira rested her hand on Ronan’s arm and smiled while her warm gaze touched his eyes.

A feeling of calm spread over his body, and he relaxed. Had the bear felt this way too?

“You’re more than a simple mercenary. Aren’t you?”

“I’m using Elan’s magic the only way I know possible. What more is there?”

Moira shook her head. “Then you’ve not yet explored your own mind for the possibilities.” She patted his wrist. “Let’s go. We’ll run out of daylight soon enough, and I want to let this bear have her peace. We’ll talk more around a hot fire and a warm meal.”

“Yes ma’am.” Ronan helped Moira into the sled and layered the mounds of fur over her tiny body.

The ice bear stirred, rolled to its side, and Ronan pulled Moira from the rarest of Meranthia’s creatures.

Twenty minutes later, Ronan, Moira, and their trusty sled rounded a corner. Bright sunlight outlined the cave opening ahead.

Ronan pulled the sled ahead pausing at the cave’s exit. He shielded his eyes from the sun’s glare where it stood three fists above the horizon.

Overhead, cloudless blue skies stretched for miles in either direction. Thousands of feet below, the Araxis Sea glittered like a blue jewel beneath the late afternoon sunshine.

Ronan inhaled a sharp lungful of fresh mountain air and smelled the faint aroma of the sea’s salty spray. The cold air invigorated him after hours spent in the ice cave.

“Follow the path to the right,” Moira said. “We can make another hour of progress before we make camp.”

On the cave’s right side, a narrow icy ledge rose at a steep angle.

“Are you sure it’s safe? Ronan said.

Moira shrugged. “It’s the only way up.”

Ronan moved behind the sled and pushed it upward guiding it over uneven icy terrain. With such a dangerous ascent, Ronan didn’t dare pull the sled.

For thirty minutes, he pushed the sled upward before the path flattened onto a wider rocky plane. Beyond the flat rocky patch, a narrow ledge rose in a steep, almost vertical, ascent.

Ronan’s gaze drifted up the rock face. A quarter-mile away, Dragon’s Peak’s loomed, and their little sled had reached its final stop. Ronan would strap Moira to his shoulders for the final climb. “We should rest here tonight.”

Moira nodded. “Yes, that makes good sense.”

“I’ll get a fire going, it’ll only take a minute.” He fished through a worn leather pack attached to the sled’s nose. He produced several pieces of aged pine Moira had stacked behind her house. Ronan placed the wood in a neat pile nearest the rock face and channeled an ember-sized orb of spirit energy into his palm.

With a small whoosh, the spirit energy leaped from Ronan’s palm. The dry pine ignited creating a small but comforting fire.

The fire’s warmth lifted Ronan’s spirits igniting a spark of hope. He’d reach the summit tomorrow, and find Rika. Together, they’d carry Moira home and head north to join Devery in the search for Tara.

Moira moved aside the furs piled atop the sled and pushed herself up, her arms trembling.

“Moira, what are you doing?” He moved to intercept her while she continued her rickety climb from the sled.

“Don’t make a fuss. I just need to stretch my legs.”

“It’s icy. Let me at least get your cane.” Ronan sifted through the piles of animal skins searching for Moira’s walking stick, but found nothing.

Moira stood beside the sled staring toward the crackling fire. “I left it inside the cave. I forget things from time to time.” She patted Ronan’s arm. “Don’t you worry Ronan. I’ll manage without it.”

Ronan shook his head. “I’m not sure that’s such a good idea. You’re going to need it when we reach the summit.”

Moira shuffled across the icy surface, and her left foot slipped.

In a flash, Ronan slid his arm around her waist catching her before she fell a single inch.

“Oh my! Thank you Ronan,” Moira held her hand to her chest as Ronan guided her toward her seat in the sled.

“Do you see what I mean?” Ronan said. “I’ll run back to the ice cave, get your staff, and return before the stew’s warm.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Moira’s brow furrowed. “When I said you couldn’t make this journey alone, I meant it.”

“I’ll be fine. Besides, if anything happened to you, I’d never forgive myself,” Ronan said.