The next morning they were moving with the first light, before proper dawn, so that they could get to the city before the Frost Giants could see them coming. Hawk had been sent out early to scout their route, and had informed them to stay further from the ash, as the heat was increasing, and the areas closest to it were becoming muddy as the snow melted.
That was bad news for the Giants, but there weren't any of them out at the moment. The flow of reinforcements had entirely stalled, and the only enemies that Hawk could find were patrolling around the city's perimeter.
There was no sign of activity in the city, and the signs of previous occupancy were fading as the wind blew the snow over the roads and paths.
A few hours after dawn, Bob gestured into the distance. "Turn right a little, but stay out of the slush. The valley that I was referring to should be over there, and I'm curious to see if it's still frozen."
