29 Fall 511 Xiani had heard of the great city of Avanthal once before, one of the slaves was a woman who had studied alchemy there. It was said to be the coldest place in all of Mizahar, and already, she believed it. The headwind had forced her to her feet two days ago, and immediately the chill had threatened her life. On instinct, she had found a sheltered area and built a fire, spreading her wings over it to shield it from the wind, and warm the small veins within. Drawn by the heat and light, a rather young, foolish bear had snuck up on her, and would have had a nice meal - for Xiani heard scarely a sound above the howling wind - had she not been just an instant faster than the assailant. Now, she doubted that she would ever make it to the first city she had attempted. Yes, the bear's skin protected her torso, filthy as it was, and her wings broke most of the wind as she had them wound about herself tightly. But it would not be enough for much longer. Already her limbs were growing numb, her feet heavy and ungainly, face set in a scowl of determination that had faded hours ago. Perhaps this night will be my last. She coughed and fell to the ground, automatically placing the pelt beneath her and pressing her limbs as tightly together as was possible in her near frozen state. A change in the wind carried a new smell to her nose. Fire? She lifted her head weakly and squinted, searching for any source of hope. To her surprise, she could just make out a dim glow, not too far off. Fire? The mental question repeats, more hopeful than was dared before. Steeling herself, she stood and gathered the last reserves of her energy, the ones that lay untouched except for the moments when one was sure of the imminence of death. Fighting the wind with renewed fervor, she bolted through the storm, toward that wavering hope. After what seemed to be an eternity of racing across the shifting snow, she came to a stone entrance, a cave. It radiated heat and light, and howled as the wind raced across it, not into it. Who would have started this fire? The shadow of Xiani's intelligence asked just as the beast of self-preservation that she now was pushed into the cave, seeking the source of heat. After rounding the corner, she found that there were two sources... and one caused her mouth to water. |