As they passed through the black stone gates of Kaldrath, Justin tugged the train of his coat tighter around him. Despite the enchantment, the bitter cold still gnawed at his skin. Once they were fully inside, the wind eased, revealing a neat cobblestone plaza cleared of snow, ice, and debris. Each side of the square was lined with solid black stone buildings, three to four stories high, with smoke billowing from their chimneys. Justin caught the scent of not only smoke but also the cold, salty mist drifting from the Ghostly Sea. Among the mist was the tempting smell of food wafting from a nearby inn. A sign proclaimed the inn’s name: “The Ice Sprite’s Respite,” with whimsical art of a mischievous ice sprite, its delicate wings made of frost, grinning playfully as it held a steaming mug.
Lila’s eyes lit up upon seeing it. “A cup of hot anything would go down good right now.”
“Later,” Eldrin said firmly. “We have work to do.”
Justin marveled at the sight of the city. From the harsh architecture outside, he had expected something bleak, but inside, Kaldrath felt surprisingly cozy. The windows were well-lit, and the iron street lamps added a charming ambiance. At the far end of the square, a gap in the buildings revealed the edge of a cliff and the icy sea beyond. Looking down the two streets branching from the square, it seemed the city hugged the cliff, with more to be revealed as they ventured closer to the edge.
Eldrin led them toward the cliffside, and as they neared the precipice, Justin took in a sweeping view of Ghostwater Bay beneath them. Just as Eldrin had mentioned, the sea was freezing near the cliffs, which stretched all around, with buildings perched precariously on the edge. Some structures were even built on the ledges between the cliffs, with tunnels hinting at shelters carved into the rock. Small bridges spanned the chasms, some of them hundreds of feet above the churning sea. All the buildings shared the same dark stone, weathered by the years but still sturdy, standing strong against the relentless elements.
But most striking of all was the island rising from the bay itself, where the heart of the city could be seen. Its tiered structure reached upward, each level filled with buildings and towers. Lights glowed warmly from windows, promising shelter amid the cold expanse of the Ghostly Sea. Several merchant ships were anchored in the island’s surprisingly large harbor, their bows pointing east toward safer waters.
A massive arched bridge spanned the bay, connecting the cliffside city to the island. Crafted from black stone, it rose gracefully from the cliff’s edge, curving high above the frigid waters below. Thick pillars supported the span, weathered by years of icy winds and sea spray.
Eldrin wasted no time, his eyes set ahead as they descended the wide path cut into the cliff. It was clear he had a goal before they got some rest. The air hummed with the sound of industry as they passed by workshops built into the rock of the cliffs on their way down. The clang of metal on anvils, the hiss of steam from forges, and the indistinct murmur of people all emanated from the shelter of the tunnels leading into the cliffs.
“What’s the plan?” Justin asked.
Eldrin kept moving, not slowing his pace. “We’re signing on with a caravan.”
So, Justin's hunch had been correct. It seemed the smart move. The Baron was far less likely to attack them if there were a couple of dozen of guards. However, it didn't do much to prevent him from following them if they were sighted on the road.
Justin wanted to ask about that, but his attention shifted to the people of Kaldrath. The diversity of the population struck him immediately. Humans and orcs mingled freely, both races wrapped in thick fur cloaks and coats.
But it was the Qilungit who truly caught Justin’s eye. Compared to the humans and orcs, they were dressed far less warmly, with simple fur coats and leather breeches, their bodies clearly adapted to the harsh weather. Their clear, almost translucent skin shimmered in the light of the iron streetlamps, reflected in their brilliant, almost sparkling, blue eyes. Most carried bows or spears, or even both, their weapons slung over their backs.
The Qilungit seemed to hold themselves apart, not unfriendly, but with an air of quiet self-sufficiency. They were clearly at home in this frozen world, while the other races were the intruders, needing the safety of Kaldrath’s walls and thick furs to survive.
As the party approached the massive arched Ghostcliff Bridge, Justin marveled at its size and craftsmanship. The bridge loomed before them, its stone surface wide enough for two carts to pass side by side. Beneath it, the waters of the Ghostly Sea were half-frozen. Kaldrath Island, the heart of the city, rose ahead of them, its three tiers stacked like a fortress against the elements. The wind howled fiercely as they stepped onto the bridge, passing a frosthorn pulling a heavy covered wagon on the way. Justin’s gaze was drawn upward to the bustling lights and buildings beyond.
Once across the bridge, Justin realized Kaldrath Island was the true heart of the city. The lowest tier seemed dedicated to trade, with shops, inns, and warehouses crowded together, while the upper tiers rose in grandeur, the structures becoming more refined. He wouldn’t have been surprised if that was where the rich families who ran this town lived.
It was hard not to compare this city to Windfall. While Windfall was certainly much larger, Kaldrath was probably more impressive to Justin. The way its builders had taken advantage of the harsh terrain to create a livable space out of it was nothing short of amazing.
They stepped off Ghostcliff Bridge and onto a busy narrow street sheltered by tall buildings on either side, the street subtly curving, very canyon-like. The street was busy, filled with the sound of clattering footsteps and muffled voices echoing off the buildings' sides. Inns and taverns bustled with patrons, their laughter and chatter spilling out into the streets as the doors swung open to let in new customers. A light snow fell, adding a fresh dusting of white to the already snow-covered rooftops and streets.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
Justin noticed one scene where a stout, fur-wrapped merchant was vigorously haggling with a Qilungik trader over the price of some pelts. The Qilungik remained impassive, leaning on a spear as the merchant’s voice grew louder and more animated. Another scene caught his eye: a pair of orcish laborers unloading goods from the back of a frosthorn, its thick coat steaming in the cold as it stood patiently, burdened by crates of supplies.
Eldrin weaved his way through the bustling crowd, his eyes scanning their new environment. “Stay on guard. I’ve never traveled to Kaldrath before, and it’s best we don’t let our guard down in a new place, no matter how friendly it seems.”
Justin fell in step behind Eldrin. Kaldrath was clearly a place of trade and opportunity, but Justin had no illusions that it held its own dangers.
They continued through the streets until they reached a large stone building, its sign depicting the symbol of a frosthorn’s head along with its name: The Frosthorn Trading Company.
Eldrin paused, motioning for the group to gather around in a quiet alleyway just off the busy street. The hum of the city still surrounded them—merchants haggling over prices, the occasional grunt from a frosthorn as it trudged by, laden with goods, and the murmur of voices from taverns spilling out into the frigid night air.
Eldrin leaned against the wall. “Before we head inside, I need you all to understand something. My plan isn’t exactly what you might have thought.” He gave Justin a quick glance. “We’re not signing on for a caravan heading south through Thalgar’s Tunnel.”
Justin blinked in surprise. “We’re not?”
“No,” Eldrin said, shaking his head. “Heading south through the tunnel is too risky. The Baron could have people waiting there, and even if we get through, it’s far too dangerous. Our best chance is to head east, through Draegor’s Pass. That’s the most direct path to Mont Elea and we would miss the Baron entirely.”
Kargan nodded. “Draegor’s Pass is dangerous. There’s an orc hold on the north side of the mountains. Some of their people have visited my hold in the Umbers. They’ve spun a lot of tales about the monsters there, and of course, there’s the Vault of Draegor, too.”
“That hasn’t been active in centuries,” Eldrin said. “A volcano, yes, but a dormant one.”
“There’s a volcano there?” Justin asked.
Lila explained. "There’s an infamous Vault in the mountains by Draegor’s Keep that appeared centuries ago, that happens to be located near a volcano called Mount Draegor. There was a dangerous dragon that lived here, named Draegor of the Undying Fire. It was destroyed by none other than King Alaric of Highcliff. But according to a prophecy, Draegor would return someday and exact vengeance on the people of Highcliff for what Alaric did.”
Eldrin nodded. “If the prophecy is true, the Vault will break containment someday and Draegor will fly again. But it hasn’t for centuries, ever since the Vault appeared again. We should only be within the pass for a few days at most, and the people of Draegor's Keep have lived in peace there for centuries.”
“What level is the Vault?” Justin asked.
“Well,” Eldrin said, “such is the danger of the climb that even getting to the entrance is a challenge itself, achievable by only the most well-rounded and high-level parties. But the Vault has been Ascendant since my grandfather’s time.”
“Ascendant?” Justin asked, unable to help his curiosity.
“It’s Level 50,” Lila said. “It can’t go any higher than that.”
“Gulp,” Justin said.
“That’s the plan as it stands,” Eldrin said. “We’ll head inside, and I’ll offer our services to one of the trading houses here on Kaldrath Island, asking for a caravan that’s heading east. If we can get signed on, we’ll be in better shape than trying to push south.”
Bohemond, who had been listening with his arms crossed the entire time, didn’t seem happy.
“Do you have an issue with that, Bohemond?” Justin asked. “That would take us directly to Mont Elea,. That's what you want, right?”
Bohemond’s jaw tightened, his eyes dark. “I know the risks, but I still think Thalgar’s Tunnel would still be safer. Even if we run across the Baron, which isn’t guaranteed, he’d hardly draw attention to himself by attacking a trade caravan.”
“And what about after Windfall?” Eldrin asked. “At some point, we must traverse the wilds again, where we will be isolated and alone.”
“We could hire mercenaries,” Bohemond said. “Or return to Ashcroft Manor and enlist my father’s aid. Or, better yet, involve the Church directly, so we are not fighting this alone.”
Justin had to admit, those were not bad ideas. And he would have agreed, except that he knew Bohemond was not to be trusted. He’d caught that much in his gaze over the campfire in the Everwood, and he wouldn’t ever forget it.
Whatever the Knight said, part of the price for his help would no doubt lay in giving up Kargan the Blood Warden to the Church of Light. As a Blood Warden, whether or not he liked it, Kargan was a channeler of Chaos Magic, the purview of Nyriss, who had allied herself with Morvath and even now drew her power from the Nether Realm. At least, according to the mythology of this world. As much of an asset as Kargan was, as long as he was in the party, they’d always make enemies of those who followed the Church of Light.
At last, Eldrin answered Bohemond, his tone measured. “It would have to be a small army to stand up to the Baron. All of his followers are classed, and we know at least one or more is Level 20 or higher. It’s difficult to know the Baron’s exact level, but it wouldn’t surprise me if it’s thirty or even more. Not even the finances of the Ashcroft family can endure that.”
“But the Church can,” Bohemond countered.
“The local Church of Windfall would require evidence of the Baron’s affiliation with Death Magic, and we would only have our word and testimony, and the Baron his. Even if we were to convince them, they would need approval from the Templars of Mont Elea before they could act. We don’t have time for that. We need to go directly to Mont Elea.”
Bohemond grunted. “Maybe so, Ranger. You haven’t led us astray yet, but I would caution against the eastern path. Perhaps it’s safer in terms of monsters, but I think you’ll find that not all the Qilungit are peaceful traders. Not to mention the danger of the pass itself.”
“You are welcome to your opinions, Bohemond,” Eldrin said. “And you are welcome to find your own way, if you judge that best.”
“I remain committed,” Bohemond said. “For now.”
The Knight turned to Justin, and in that gaze, Justin caught his angry expression. It was a look that said Justin owed him for his troubles, for getting him involved in this. Maybe that was true, but the guy was annoying. Justin hoped they were rid of him soon, even if he made for a decent tank.
Eldrin broke the silence with a nod. “Then let’s head inside. Time to offer our services.”
With that, they turned and made their way toward the doors of the Frosthorn Trading Company.