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