The mountain climber gasped for breath, not looking down into the valley.
The gust of wind that came from behind earlier was like an invisible hand pressing him against the crag and preventing him from moving.
Taking advantage of the weakening wind, he wedged the rivet into the rock.
However, not waiting for the rope to be ready, the hand came back from the side.
In order not to be blown off like a leaf, he had to cling to the cliff to fight the treacherous crosswind.
Finally, the climbers arrived at the agreed location.
Even though the sun was shining brightly, this highland at the snow line still could not feel the temperature.
Sela watched a patch of snow without distraction in a sheltered corner.
A cluster of tiny plants was growing out of the snow.
They were so white that it was hard to notice their presence, even when passing by.
She plucked away the snow with her fingers to reveal the stems."So these flower heads share a single stem." No, I never saw its leaves.
This should be some kind of fungus."Since it's a fungus, its roots should be very shallow."
Sela continued to clear the snow layer until the roots were fully exposed.
She reached out and retracted her fingers, "This fungus must be adapted to the cold." It shouldn't be damaged by my body heat." When she finished, she took tweezers out of her pocket and extracted the full strain into a test tube."I'll have to find a way to create a snow-like environment in order to cultivate it."
After all the climbing and waiting, Keane had forgotten about the previous conversation."Where did we just talk about?"
Someone who knows magic left a note for you.
He was cautious and didn't want to leave you a trail." Sela warned."Well, Winnie had no reason to do that.
But who else would it be but her? "
"This person may be connected to Frostfire."
"It makes sense to say that." Sela rubbed her fingers over her lips."According to the note, he doesn't want us to get along with Winter." But I think he has another agenda."
"This man is not as smart as he thinks he is.
Even if we are afraid of winter, we are powerless to compete with him for power." Keane picks up a few dry pieces of rock-hoofed sheep dung and piles them on top of each other.
"So if he really wants us to compete with Winter for momentum, then he'll definitely show it in the coming days." Sela took out some combustion aid powder and sprinkled it on the pile of dung.
Considering the smell of burning manure, she sprinkled some additional spices on top.
"Like what?"
"Like sweeten the deal or create some opportunities for us." Sela exhaled a breath of water, "No more than racking our brains over this." When the time comes, we'll naturally know.
What else is interesting? "
"Leddy admitted that she was sent to spy on us." I don't want to involve her in my personal vendetta.
Maybe I should send her elsewhere." Keane rubbed the flint and ignited the fire.
"Leddy is our vital link to the Winter Family and our bulwark against other families."It's better for her to stay with us.
Yes, even after we know where she's coming from." Sela nodded her head in agreement with her companion again.
As long as you don't do anything out of the ordinary, you'll always be her lord.
By the way, I like to observe Leddy's mind.
It's like clear lake water.
I've never seen a brown lake.
She's conflicted.
That's what worries me."
"It's better to say you're conflicted." Sela stated unequivocally."From last night until now, you must have considered what you would do if Leddy stopped you."
"Yes," You know, I hate making that choice.
If she doesn't hesitate to fight, I'll give her the benefit of the doubt.
She should die like a warrior.
Hopefully, the Temple of the Spirits will open the door for her."
Sela decided to talk about something else.
"..."
"I heard last night about a man named Torcinder, whom people used to call 'Doyle Ting'.
He and his men were quite vocal about Gerritsen.
So they've all been sent by Gerritsen to the East Pass."
"It's like driving someone into a frozen river and waiting for them to die." Like Josephine said, Gerritsen is very sleight of hand.
Now we've seen it."
"..."
"The Cohen family was forced to move away." A lot of people sang as old Cohen cursed the streets and left town." Sela let out a short sigh.
They're very good at rubbing salt in other people's wounds.
What exactly did the Cohen family do wrong? "
"Big Cohen took someone's word for it and fed wood chips to his neighbor's sheep, claiming it would result in dry, flammable manure.
As for young Cohen, he sang dirty songs to young girls all day long.
If old Cohen didn't have some old friendships with the Winter Family, his two sons would have been beaten beyond their ability to care for themselves."
"..."
----------
Leddy was pacing the foyer and seemed to be anxious about something.
When she saw the Lords returning, she greeted them, "The Head Steward has something for you.
He says it's important."
"Let's go inside and talk." Keane responded.
Chief Steward Pereito and Jon were discussing something in the living room.
Seeing their master return, they left their seats.
"We didn't get to have a drink last night.
I hope you don't mind.
We'll have a chance to make up for it." Jon said.
"Lord Jone." Keane responded.
He had been watching the other man for days, but this was the first time the two had come into head-to-head contact.
The man in front of him had thick arms, and his beard was braided together and hung down on his chest.
There were a number of scars on his body, both from wild animals and from weapons.
"Looks like you're a hunter." Jon gestured to the hunting bow hanging on the wall.
"Most of the time, I'm a farmer." I'm better at setting traps than I am at using a bow and arrow.
I'm alone and don't want to meet a large beast like a direwolf in a tight spot."
"Ha.
That's not brave enough, but very wise.
We usually call that beast the "lone wolf." It always acts alone and is vindictive.
I once encountered an immature one.
I wounded it.
That night it followed the scent to the outskirts of town, howling for blood for blood." Jon recounted.
"And then what happened?" Sela noticed Jon glancing at himself and joined the conversation.
Later, I rushed outside the city with some men.
The guy realized we were outnumbered, so he hid in the forest and continued to howl.
It was trying to lure us into his territory.
I wasn't going to fall for it." Jon crossed his arms and stroked his beard with the other hand."I can still feel it prowling the forest waiting for revenge." It won't forget me, and I won't forget it."
Seeing that Jon hadn't started on the main topic, Pereito stepped forward, "A good hunter is able to both time his strike and lurk at the right time." He nodded respectfully to the couple, "Lord and Lady Walky Yar, good day."
"I almost forgot the business.
Maybe you can join us this time and we'll go hunt some big ones together." Jon tapped Pereito on the shoulder and said, "I think it's best if the Chief Steward does the talking."
Seeing the waiter in the living room, Pereito shook his head, "Let's find a quiet place."
A few people walked into the study, and Pereito took a tattered page out of his pocket and placed it on the table."I found this while investigating the Mage Tower.
The writing on it is disturbing.
The edges of the pages were burned, and Sela barely recognized a few words: "Ritual," "Army," and "Sharon." "What does that tell you?"
"I think Frostfire was experimenting with some kind of sorcery during his lifetime." It's the kind of sorcery that turns dead people into puppets to be used at one's disposal.
Other findings in the basement of the Mage Tower further confirm this, but that was only part of the experiment." Pereito spreads out the map and drops his finger on it, "I assume the rest of the experiments are still going on here."
"Sharon Peak?" Leddy was the first to respond.
"You know your way around there?" Keane asked.
"As depicted on the map, Sharon Peak and Talia Peak of the Sleepless Mountains are the roof of the continent, and they are also known as "sister peaks".
In ancient times, Susameth, the god of the ocean, was instigated by the doomsday lord Amezden to attempt to devour the continent.
People organized themselves to fight the invasion of the sea creatures, and the sisters Talia and Sharon raised a magical barrier to defend the people against the incoming flood.
The war lasted for many years, and finally, Killian (the god of war and war in Wissane) and Kiel (the god of atmosphere and storms in Wissane) sent their messengers to earth to help the people repel the sea creatures.
By this time, the two sisters had long since died of exhaustion, but still stood there and refused to fall.
So the two gods turned them into mountains to guard this continent forever."
"So it should be sacred there, and the continent is blessed by the god of storms and the god of warriors." Sela noticed the two gods depicted in a few strokes at the edge of the map.
KIEL was portrayed as a thundercloud storm that covered the sky.
Kilimanjaro was portrayed as a warrior with multiple weapons at his disposal at the same time.
"In most people's minds, it is." I'm sorry I got off topic." Leddy pointed to the map and continued, "The road connecting the East Pass to the West Pass is called the 'Throat of the Swallowed Sound'." That's because the howling gusts of wind drown out the sounds of pedestrians.
This road divides the Sleepless Mountains into north and south sections.
After generations of clearing, the road is fairly well traveled, but it would be difficult to explore the two peaks.
No one has ever really explored these two mountains.
I've often heard it said that if you get off the main trail, you're not far from getting lost."
"I really thought you guys had come to invite us to hunt." Sela remarked sarcastically.
"Are you trying to get us to investigate Sharon Peak?" Keane asked.
For the sake of the valley residents, we need to get this matter investigated.
Lord Jone has agreed to lead a team to investigate.
If Lord Walky Yar is also willing to join, this will become a good story." Pereito clasped his hands in front of him and waited for his master's reply.
Keane hesitated.
But in his heart, he was happy to eliminate Frostfire's co-conspirators and to find an opportunity to put Jon to death."I'm in."
"Ha, I knew the hunters wouldn't miss this great opportunity!" Jon clapped his hands and said, "Maybe we'll really hunt something big this time."
"Allow me to remind you, Lord Jone.
The purpose of your trip is not hunting, but investigation." Pereito reiterated."During this time, your families and mansions will be well taken care of."
Keane's thoughts were already self-explanatory.
Sela didn't want Leddy to get involved.
I'm an apothecary.
I'll come along.
As for the mansion---" She looked at Leddy, hoping the girl would ask to stay and take care of the mansion.
"No, Sela.
I mean lady.
You will need me.
I will arrange for Lumic to take over my job.
Leddy said busily.
"Yes, Leddy," It's a fitting arrangement." Since stepping into the mansion, Keane had been considering the worst-case scenario.
This could be a conspiracy against him, just like the one that forced Winter to step aside earlier.
Now, Leddy didn't want to stay out of it.
That left him with no choice.
"Okay." Sela sighed."Let's hope the Temple of the Spirits' gate accompanies us."
"That is very good.
I will go to the city lord to return to him." After saying that, Pereito hurriedly left.
"Lord Jone, how did you get that injury on your face?" "You know, the alpine environment is not conducive to your old injuries.
Keane chimed in.
"Don't worry about that.
It comes from a dead XXX son.
A few months ago, we were escorting a group of prisoners on the Golden Waterwheel to Ironstone Town.
The captives suddenly rioted one night, and I organized my men to mingle with them.
Two women came at me and attacked me.
One of them bit me before she died.
I admit it was Frostfire who helped me out, which made me lose face.
Well, I have to go now.
Have fun with our hunt."
----------
After dinner, a humming sound came from the courtyard.
The voice was still as clear as the lake, and it rode the breeze up the wall and knocked on the lord's window after several attempts.
Listen, this doesn't sound like a melody that could be sung by someone with a tricky heart." Sela stood in front of the window and closed her eyes, clearing her mind of all thoughts and listening, pulling out the emotions contained in each note."This is just an untouched girl." She has no intention of plotting anything.
Keane sat in the corner, maintaining his weapon."We only have two heads and four hands." We have to be prepared for anything, no matter what.
I hope I'm wrong."
"I'll prove it to you." Sela picks up the candle and walks out of the room.
As she passed through the kitchen, she piggybacked on a bowl of chicken feed and a wooden barrel.
----------
Seeing the lord's wife carrying the barrel out of the longhouse, Leddy left the leather-making rack and went up to her, "Is the water storage tank empty?"
"No, I'm just about to drop off food for the chicken coop and milk the goats on the way." Sela shows the bucket of chicken feed, "Want to come help?"
"Sure."
Sela hands Leddy the feed, "It's mixed with ground up eggshells to keep the hens from laying soft eggs." She then takes a half-candle from next to the door and lights it.
"Is it really that amazing?" Leddy took the feed and would be convinced.
"We'll see what happens." Sela walked into the sheep pen and took a ewe."Come on, we've met." She massaged the ewe's XX room to nurse her."Tell me about Pereito."
Leddy did not remove the candle from Sela's side as she pitched feed into the trough in the dark."Pereito lived in town for at least twenty winters, serving several consecutive terms as chief steward.
Sadly he had no wife or children."
"How did that happen?"
"He once said he would dedicate his life to the valley.
That made him well respected in town." Leddy shrugged, "According to a stonemason who died of an early illness Josephine had fallen in love with Pereito as a young man, but he rejected that love."
"It's unbelievable.
Are there no women for him to fall in love with? Or maybe he-" Sela withdrew one hand and sucked the milk off it, leaving only a crooked pinky.
Leddy pondered for a moment before catching on to Sela's hint, "Uh.
Who knows." She blushed and hid back in the shadows.
Soon after, Leddy returned to Sela with an empty bowl, "I was thinking maybe one day you could make some kind of potion to kill rats for people."
"That's not easy." Sela scooped up a glass of fresh milk from the bucket and handed it to Leddy."Drink it.
It's as sweet as honey wine.
Let's let go of the chores for a while."
Leddy picked up the glass and drank it in one go.
Just lowering her arm, she was greeted by those amber-like charming eyes ...