That was where Oliver and his team almost bit their first sign of defeat. It wasn't just a question of strength, it was a question of weight. The lot of them grabbed a section of the rope and leaned back as far as they could, trying to find the purchase of the slick snow with their feet, but the great wooden gates hardly seemed willing to shift.
"Amberlan," Oliver said, once it was clear that they weren't making any progress. "You go at the back."
The stout man didn't question him. He merely nodded, and the men made room for him further to the back of the rope. They tried again. Amberlan was able to sit down even further, making use of more of his weight, whilst the rest of them scrambled, pulling the rope taught.
