Apprehension filled the princess as she watched six people approach them. Their faces were obscured by fur hoods and scarves, only their eyes visible. Each held a weapon, but except for the one crossbow, As’rya didn’t recognize them.

Dagger had told her to go with them; but he had also said they’re dangerous. Unsure, she warily stood, blocking them from the man laying on the ground, arms out protectively. She hoped they couldn’t see her shaking hands.

The people stopped about five feet away, except the one in front, who continued to approach. As they got closer, they slowed, pulling down the scarf from their face.

“Who are you?” the man shouted to her, loud enough to be heard over the wind.

“We…we’re travellers,” As’rya told him. “We were trying to cross the mountains.”

“Foolish girl!” the savage spat out, surprising As’rya. “Did you not see the storm? You don’t even have gloves!” Gesturing to her bare hands and chattering teeth, he made another exclamation that seemed exasperated.

“We didn’t have a choice,” As’rya defended herself. “We’re being chased.”

The man nodded, pointing a hand to the direction the assassin had left towards.

“Your pursuer…is dangerous. Just who did you anger, blando?”

As’rya didn’t reply, but the man continued as if he hadn’t expected one.

“You will come with us,” he told her. “The storm will only get worse. And I’m sorry to say, but I don’t think your companion will make it.”

Turning to look at Dagger’s still form, she could see that his breathing was irregular and faltering, his face nearly as white as the snow.

“Can we please take him with us?”

“We will take his body, so he may have a respectable funeral.” As’rya didn’t correct him. What would she even tell him? They’d find out soon enough as is. Let Dagger do the explaining when he wakes up. She was too tired to try.

The man let out a whistle and the other figures approached, as well as another large figure from behind a rock farther up the hill. As the others began to lift Dagger, As’rya’s eyes widened when she realized that it wasn’t a person joining them.

It was a massive goat, three or four times the size of any that she had ever seen. Its pitch black fur didn’t collect any snow, despite the flakes falling even more quickly than before. Each breath it let out was a big puff of condensation with a few errant sparks, and its eyes seemed to glow coal orange.

They carefully loaded Dagger’s body on top of the animal, two of them joining to hold him steady, while the man in front of her led her over to the beast. As’rya could feel the heat coming off of it even from here, but it wasn’t an uncomfortable heat; more like curling up by a warm fire. Her tired body began to relax as he helped her up, instructing her to grab onto the animal’s coarse hair for balance.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

“Hold on well,” he warned her, hiding a smile as he pulled his scarf back over his face. “Nola likes to jump.”

Once four of them were on the animal, the man gave it a command and it let out a loud bleat that sprayed sparks into the sky. Tensing its muscles, it leapt up through the air, beginning to bound up the mountain. The creature easily maneuvered the dangerous terrain, despite the icy ground and the darkening skies. Though the wind tugged at her hair, it wasn’t as chilly as before, the animal’s heat cutting through the worst of it. Clutching the fur tightly, As’rya was grateful for the man’s warning as they made another huge jump, her body jostling roughly. She was also grateful for the riders behind and in front of her; without them, she was sure she would have been pitched off onto the mountainside.

Even though she was surrounded by strangers and being bucked around by a strange mammal, As’rya felt a tugging fatigue begin to drag at her. Shaking her head to try and fight it, she focused on Dagger’s still form as they bounded up the rocks.

The ride was over sooner than As’rya had expected, the massive goat landing nimbly on a large solid outcropping. Looking around, she didn’t see anything, but the figures helped her off the animal anyways. She stumbled as she landed, her head spinning from the ride, sickness, and fatigue, and one of them steadied her by her arm.

Leading her gently while two of them carried Dagger’s body, they approached what appeared to be a plain rock wall, unnaturally smooth. As’rya briefly thought that maybe they were going to kill her here, but at this point she was too numb to care. Besides, if that was their plan, they could have done that back where the assassin attacked.

One of the figures approached the stone, his gloved hand pressing against the surface. He mumbled to himself, the words carried off by the wind, before the whole wall began to bubble. It seemed to become fluid, the rock flowing away to make a door as though it were water. Magic, As’rya watched in amazement, her mouth falling open despite herself.

From inside the newly formed opening, the scent of smoke and cooked meat wafted out, as well as a gentle red flickering light. The person who’d opened the entrance stepped through, greeting people loudly and announcing their visitors. Hesitant, As’rya tried to peek inside, but the gentle nudging of the savages and the less gentle prodding of the oversized goat pushed her forwards and into the hidden cave.

The inside was much larger than she’d expected, the ceiling sloping up to a peak near the top. The glow was from several fires scattered around the cave; some of them torches in sconces on the walls, others small fire pits with food hanging over them. Oddly, most of the fires didn’t give off any smoke, As’rya noticed. Dozens of tunnels led off from the main cavern, hallways leading off deeper into the mountain.

As they entered, the people in the cavern looked over to the returning members. When they caught sight of As’rya and the men hauling Dagger, their eyes became curious and wary. Conversations were hushed and the whole cave seemed to pause, unsure about their strange guests.

“Iridia,” the man with the crossbow called over a young woman with white hair as he pulled off the many furs he wore. She approached, hands clasped together, and gave them a polite nod.

“We found them out in the storm,” he briefly explained, gesturing to As’rya and Dagger. “I need you to take her to Ro’ani and then alert Elder Hano about the situation.” As’rya listened as they talked about her.

“What about Dagger?” As’rya asked, stifling her fear.

“He will be taken to the cremation room,” the man assured her. “We will give him-”

“NO!” As’rya shrieked, much louder than she’d meant. Clapping her hands over her mouth, she tried again, “Please, I need…he needs to stay with me.”

Gazing at her for a moment, the man finally gave a small shrug and sigh.

“We will bring his body to you so you can pay your respects.” The man bowed his head politely but despite this, there was an edge to his voice.

“While you are staying here, until we can confirm your story, you will be considered a prisoner of the Tribe.”

As’rya’s heart sank but she nodded resolutely. It was fair; they had saved two strangers in their own territory, where people rarely go, being chased by a dangerous assassin. They had every right to be suspicious.

The thought of the tunnels made As’rya nervous again; they were essentially trapped by the strange savage tribe. Should she let them take her even farther into the closed walls? Did she have a choice at this point? And she had to admit to herself that so far, they hadn’t seemed very savage at all; they had been more kind and helpful than the princess had ever expected. Another wave of fatigue washed over her, finalizing her choice.

“Okay,” As’rya conceded. “Thank you for saving us, and the hospitality you’ve shown,” she added, trying to scrape up some dignity, even as she swayed on her feet. “May I ask for your name?”

“You can call me Odal,” he smiled, his silver eyes crinkling. “It is our honor to help.”