William was not having a good day.

The wind howled around him. His breath came out like steam in the fridged air. The snow beneath his boots made his pace slow. The scraggly trees around him provided little shelter as he stumbled on. The only reason he wasn't dead was that his armor and cloak had returned to him. He should have frozen to death in minutes if he had appeared in this broken and freezing land without them.

Than Elranor for small miracles.

He'd never felt anything this cold. Not even in Carn Gable on a freezing winter. He knew he had to find shelter and find it quickly, or he was as good as dead.

William limped out of the trees and saw before him a farmstead in the distance. He could seek shelter there. The snows were difficult to push through, and it was a labor to get to it, but he made it. Making for it, he drew closer. He found the door broken open. Within, he saw a charred corpse. Looking back, he saw skeletons. Dozens of them. Yet they were not the bodies of men but of minotaurs.

Then he heard the sound of tearing and looked up. A creature he had seen before as a statue was picking at a corpse. It was dressed in furs and wore a bow and an arrow over one shoulder. It had the beak of a vulture and two wings like those of a hawk.

He had seen this creature before in a statue worshipped by demons. It was a symbol. A symbol of an evil that had haunted him all his life.

"Melchious," he said, drawing his sword.

The beast looked up, beak dripping with blood. "In a manner of speaking. Now that these worms are done, you're next, Gabriel."

"You won't find me easy prey, monster," He hefted his shield, the cold was forgotten.

"Of that, I am in doubt," said Melchious.

Then he surged forward, a flame whip coming from his hand as he slashed. William raised his shield, and the whip slashed it. The force sent him staggering backward, and he warded off several more blows. His shield was smoking.

He rushed at the beast, but Melchious leaped and drew his bow. Firing several arrows, William caught them on his shield. One of them glanced off the side of his helm.

"Enough running, coward!" roared William. "Come down here and face me!"

"Why should I?" asked Melchious. "Does the hawk sink to the mouse's level?"

Another three arrows shot at him, and he narrowly warded them off. "The hawk has better success!"

"Only one of my arrows needs to reach you," snarled Melchious. "My venom will do the rest."

Venom. So his arrows were poisoned. Melchious circled him, firing arrows, and William could hardly keep up. William backed up; soon, his rear was guarded by the wall of the farmstead.

Two more arrows struck William's shield. Then Melchious reached for another and found his quiver empty. William brought down his sword and cut the shafts from his shield. Melchious descended and summoned a spear of flame to his hand, which he lunged at William with.

William batted the spear aside with his sword. He slammed his shield against Melchious. The creature backed away before drawing up a leg and gripped his shield with one talon, dragging it away. He struck at the leg, but Melchious knocked it back with his spear. Then he lunged at his throat with his beak.

William rolled aside and slashed at his enemy's legs. The beast leaped back, hurling two knives. As they came toward him, William knocked them away.

The combat paused for a moment. "Heh, you've matured somewhat since last we faced each other," said Melchious. "It'll make feasting on your flesh all the more satisfying!"

This was not at all like the Melchious William knew from what he knew of him. "One moment, you're a suave tempter. The next, you're a bloodthirsty monster. And now you're a cannibal.

"Not very consistent, are you?"

"Heheheh, not really," laughed Melchious. "I have many guises, many faces, and many names! Laughing Wraith, Melchious, Laurus, and you, William, but we are all the Dark Dreamer!"

"And Arraxia has beaten all of you," noted William.

"You dare..." began Melchious. "ARRAXIA IS NOTHING TO ME! NOTHING!!"

And he rushed forward with an axe. William fended him off as best he could, but he was soon being driven back. He tripped over a loose stone and hit the ground.

"Die worm!" roared Melchious.

He brought down the axe, but William rolled aside and stabbed at the creature. His blade caught the creature in the leg. Yet it did not scream or flinch. It merely stepped out of reach and spun the axe to a guarded position. "You are persistent for a human. Appropriate for one of the Dark Dreamer's Avatars."

"I am nothing of the sort," said William.

"Are you sure?" asked Melchious.

"Quite," said William.

"I once believed that as well," said Melchious. "Then, I saw him. I realized my folly. We are all of us but extensions of His will."

"Well, he's certainly working contrary to his interests," mused William.

"You are the manifestation of his self-doubt," said Melchious, or part of him. "A remnant of his weakness. And once I destroy you, The Dark Dreamer will reign supreme!"

"You are welcome to try," said William.

The creature looked about to attack. Then it looked up as if catching the scent of something in the wind. In an instant, it rose into the air and flew away. William looked in the direction it had come from. He saw a caravan of minotaurs approaching on a cobblestone road. They were burdened with many bags. There were also a few dragging carts behind them filled with goods. They looked up to where Melchious was fading into the distance. Then they looked up at William. Several of them drew weapons as he approached.

"That was Melchious' Vulture!" said one. "What in hell's name was it doing here? And who is that? You! Stand where you are while I get a look at you?! Who are you?!"

William stopped and sheathed his sword. He raised his hands in a gesture of peace. "I am William Gabriel, son of Duke Vanion, servant of Elranor, and a squire of Harlenor. I am... lost."

"You have the look of a servant of the Withering King," said the minotaur leader. He was huge, even for one of his kind, and had a long black beard. A massive axe was in his hands. "Take off your helm so that I might see your face."

William drew it off. What lay beneath it caused them to murmur among themselves. William wondered why that was.

"A human?" asked a red-furred minotaur with a missing eye. "Here?"

"There are no humans in Viokinar," said a small white minotaur. Small being relative. "Not this far north."

"Viokinar?" asked William. "That's... that's many miles north of even Haldren."

"There are some in the far north of the Iron Kingdom," muttered the leader. "Still, he doesn't have the look of one of those. What do you want?"

"Help, to be honest," said William. "I need to get to civilization to take a ship back to Artarq." One more elaborate hassle, this would be worse than the trip to Gel Carn. He'd hardly found anyone on that road who wasn't trying to double-cross him. The only consolation was that none of them had been good at it.

"Well, you are lucky we are heading there, to civilization," said the leader. "We are bound for the town of Easoran. If that sword is more than ceremonial, you can join us."

"You would let him go with us?" asked the red-furred one.

"The road is getting increasingly dangerous," argued the leader. "Another sword could hardly hurt. And he drove off the Vulture of Melchious."

"He could be a servant of Melchious himself," replied the red-furred one. "Or he might serve the Withering King."

The leader rubbed his chin. "No, I don't think so. Those who serve the Withering look, well, withered in some way. You recognize them when you see them if you know what to look for. As for Melchious, I doubt he'd bring a human all this way just to steal from a caravan.

"Just keep an eye on him."

"I assure you, I will be of no hindrance," said William, retrieving his shield. "I am a veteran of the Khasmir Campaign."

"Khasmir Campaign?" asked the white-furred one, "What in demon's name is that?"

"I'll tell you of it if you wish," said William.

"Tell it to us on the way," said the leader. "We must find the house of Chieftain Behorn soon. We'll attract unwanted attention out here. Come, we've tarried too long as it is. I am Balfast, the red-furred one is Drendig, and the white one is Morvan.

"Keep up. We'll not slow our journey for you."

That was how William came to travel alongside a caravan of minotaurs in the frozen north. The minotaurs walked with long strides, and he had almost to run to keep up at times. In his heavy armor, this made the journey very unpleasant. Soon he was sweating, even in the frigid cold. As they went, he told them the short version of his history. Then he went into greater detail when he got to his adventures in Seathorius.

Those seemed to interest them, but not in the same way they had got the interest of the Nakmar almost two years ago. They didn't care at all about Kiyora or William resisting the lure of Arraxia's bargain.

They were very interested in the battles, however. William found himself going into great detail. The fall of Baltoth's Retribution was a particular favorite. When the story moved on to the wars William had fought in, they became genuinely interested. Often they would ask for details about these. How many had been killed? What they did with the bodies.

"So Melchious has reached forth his hand to other realms," mused Balfast. "I am glad it came back bloody. Yet I fear he will little lament his defeat. His feasts on the suffering and destruction of others. He cares nothing for his defeat so long as he causes harm in the midst of it."

"Perhaps," said William. "I would like to know who that thing was? It claimed to be part of Melchious. Yet I don't think it really is him."

"The Vulture of Melchious is a demon worshipped by the satyrs," said Balfast. "Some say he gave them their insatiable thirst for blood. No one knows whence he came, but he feasts on the innocent. Cribs turn up empty when he is around, and farms are pillaged.

"You must be formidable indeed to have driven him off."

"It wasn't easy," mused William. "And if I may be honest, I think I would have lost had you not arrived when you did. This Easorman place you are heading, where is it?"

"Easorman lies to the far north of Viokinar," said Balfast. "However, it is separated from the Iron Kingdom to the east by the Teeth Mountains. We are taking a shipment of foodstuffs there, as is our custom. We sell them for great profit every year."

"They have to buy their food?" asked William. "Why would they ever settle in a place where they cannot support themselves?"

"Because of the iron. It lies in great veins near Easorman. It is stronger than anything which we know of. And it is prized above all else," said Morvan. "Even the Iron Kingdom doesn't have anything like it. They sell it to us after we unload the food, and we sell it farther south."

"What is so special about it?" asked William

"It is stronger than normal iron, of course," said Balfast. "But that is not all. When weapons made from this kind of iron strike are bathed in blood, they absorb that blood power. A weapon made from such steel can become incredibly powerful.

"We've sold some to the Nakmar Dwarves."

"Would my sword be made of such iron?" asked William, drawing it out. He blinked as he saw the blade. It had taken on a reddish tinge. In Antion, most of the best iron came from the Border Hills under the dwarves who dwelled there.

If another source of iron could be found, House Gabriel could use it to compete in that market. It was possible that they'd have to face a civil war. Having alternative sources would be a great asset. Even if no war happened, it could still be useful.

Morvan took it and looked over it. "Yes, this is a sword made from it, no mistake. Where did you get it?"

"It was a gift from the Nakmar dwarves of Seathorius, of course," said William. "The one they gave to me."

"Ah, yes, right," said Morvan. "I forgot that part of the tale. We have, on occasion, sold to the Nakmar such metals. It was a Kingly gift they gave to you. This Dreaming Goddess must have greatly favored you."

"Something to that effect," said William with a smile. "Can I get a ship at Easorman to the south?"

"No," said Drendig. "The seas are very rough, and monsters prowl the waters to the north of Viokinar. That is why they cannot fish for their food. You'd have to head south."

"Then perhaps I should do so now," mused William.

"I wouldn't," said Morvan. "The roads are very dangerous. Traveling alone is a veritable death sentence. You should come with us to Easorman. We'll deliver our goods, feast together, and then, in a few days, we can move back south toward the ports. We'll all be safer on the road together than alone."

"I see," said William. "I do not know this land, so that I will heed your counsel."

"Wise," said Morvan. "Tell me, why do you dress like a servant of the Withering King?"

"I don't mean to," said William. "I don't even know who the Withering King is."

"He is a dark power, comparable in strength to Melchious," said Balfast. "Though not in wickedness. He has power over the spirits of many dead men and presides over the Kingdom of Undeath. We have often known him as an enemy."

"Still, there have been one or two times when we worked with him," said Morvan. "You can reason with the Withering King, and he has a sense of honor. Only a fool would try to reason with Melchious."

"Men do," muttered Drendig.

"There are many fools in the world, Drendig," said Morvan.

"My Father did," said William, feeling defensive. "And he defeated Melchious at his own game."

"You cannot be serious," said Drendig. "How?"

"I'll tell that story later," said William. "Not here. What is that up ahead?"

He saw ahead a gap in the line of hills. It was very narrow and flanked by great crystals of ice. It couldn't have been wider than ten feet, and the sides' walls were nearly a hundred feet high. As they drew nearer, he saw they looked to have been cut by pickaxes.

"The pass of Kalathan," said Balfast. "A perfect place for an ambush. We must be cautious. Drendig, Morvan, move on ahead and scout the cliffs. I want to know if anyone is up there waiting for us."

William had the feeling things were about to get interesting. And not in a good way. Then again, that was somewhat redundant.