Far Horizons: Tales of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror. Issue #21 December 2015 | Page 22

we have no way of protecting the horses and we cannot take them with us. I will at least cut them loose to give them a slim chance and make the wargs work for their meal.” The rest of the night passed peaceably and next morning, after more cold tack they prepared for their climb. Ubadah was in full complaint mode. “I am a king. I do not carry my own luggage. It is unheard of.” “It will be heard of,” Manfred said, “because the story will be faithfully told by our bard, including your whingeing and whining about it. It’s quite simple really; we each have a small boat, which we’ll need to descend the other side. If you don’t carry one, you’ll not have one when you need it. Equally, if you don’t carry food and water, you’ll not eat and drink. Is that clear?” Manfred had finally had enough. “How dare you talk to me like that?” Ubadah demanded. “I will have you flogged!” Manfred sighed and cast his eyes upwards in disbelief. “I should have taken you over my knee and given you a good spanking when you were a child. You are still not too big for it.” Aglaral and Kris tried to stop themselves but they both burst out laughing. Ubadah went bright red with a mixture of anger and embarrassment but said nothing further. With a huff and a grunt, he picked up his pack. Manfred cut loose the horses and gave each of them a smack on the rump. He knew there was little chance that they would not become warg meat very soon, but he could hope. Ubadah led the way up the track and set a firm, steady pace. Manfred let him have his head. He really is a king after all, not to mention a hero as well. I’ll just have to put up with being tired before this day’s out. Although the path was narrow, the climb through New Hope Pass was relatively easy. The day was clear and a pleasant temperature. The snow and ice had melted and although there were a few loose rocks that were a bit treacherous, the climb was far easier than anything they had attempted on the journey to Tamarlan. Ubadah set a brisk pace and Manfred was forced to call for regular breaks to catch his breath and to take a drink of water. Kris seemed to be finding the pace as difficult as Manfred, but Aglaral was unperturbed. The path wound around a single high mountain that had a unique shape at its peak. Viewed from below, it was difficult to discern, but Manfred knew that from a distance it looked like a huge domed bell. They were climbing towards the summit of Mount Doom. Manfred had seen its imposing visage often, viewed from the south, but he had never climbed it or seen it from the north before. He knew all of the old stories. It was said that if you heard the bell toll you knew that Death was on his way to collect you. Do not wonder for whom the mountain tolls. Manfred kept his stories and thoughts to himself. By mid-afternoon, they reached the snow line and climbing became more difficult. Aglaral said something to Ubadah and took a turn to lead. He set a slower pace, more suited to Manfred and Kris. By late afternoon, they reached a high plateau. The domed top of Mount Doom rose several thousand feet above them. A snowfield stretched in front of them. Manfred was pleased. He knew that they had finished their climb. A short way west and they should find the Doom Glacier. All being well, tomorrow they would begin their descent, but tonight he wanted to find the entrance to N