struggled against the folds of cloth now stiff with cold and an accumulation of ice and snow. He dug his toes into the
snow and did his best to drag them, to slow his progress, but they too were numb and stiff with the cold and obeyedhis commands sluggishly, only to be battered and bruised by the rough surface and a multitude of unseen obstacles.
The barrier was approaching ever more swiftly and fear rose in his breast as he struggled to free himself and halt his descent,
but his clumsy attempts merely sent him spinning ever more swiftly. Fear rose up in his throat like a dark wave. He screamed.
Then, seconds away from disaster, he felt himself seized on either side, stopped with an abrupt finality that was no less
shocking than the dizzying descent. His head spun and his senses were awhirl. He thought for a moment that he was going to
be sick as his mind and body slowly adjusted to the fact that he was no longer moving, and to the even more remarkable fact
that he was still alive and intact.
He felt himself hoisted to his feet and he tried to stand, staggering from side to side on numbed feet and legs that felt
as though they belonged to someone else. Slowly, he became aware of the fact that his back was burning and it was painful
to move. His cloak hung in tatters around him, the heavy fabric torn and shredded with great gaping holes that let in the
cold. One elbow was throbbing insistently and a hip and shoulder felt as though they had lost serious arguments with rocks,
although he had no specific memory of such incidents. Slowly, the world stopped revolving around him and the noise that was
buzzing in his ears separated into words—words that had meaning.
Someone clapped him on the shoulder and shook him gleefully. He tried to share the joy, but it hurt too much.
“Ha! We did it!” Brandtson chuckled as he hugged first Braldt and then Saxo. Braldt stumbled forward and leaned up against
what he was now able to discern was another balustrade, while Saxo and Brandtson clutched each other in a bear hug and hopped
up and down, dancing joyously at their successful escape.
“What I wouldn’t have given to see the looks on their faces!” Brandtson cried as he shook his old friend gently and smiled
at Thunder, who was less than pleased with the antics of the two elder statesmen.
“Remember when we used to do that at home, Brandt?” Saxo said with a chuckle, wiping tears from the corners of his eyes. “Remember
how mad our mothers were? As I recall, we both had our bottoms warmed for ruining our storm gear, but it was worth it. None
of these youngsters have ever done such a thing, nor would they have expected it of us!”
“Neither did I,” Braldt said under his breath, though now that the venture was over and done with and they were still alive,
he had to admit a new feeling of respect for the two oldsters.
“Where are we?” he asked, interrupting the cheerful flow of conversation, for he had begun to shake, although whether from
the cold or delayed reaction to the experience he could not have said. “Should we not be thinking about leaving before they
figure out what we have done and work up the courage to follow us?”
“It’ll never happen.” Saxo chuckled and the two men burst out laughing anew. “You either have to have one foot in the grave
already or be completely crazy to do such a thing. We’re quite safe for the moment.”
Braldt decided not to mention that he did not possess either quality himself, contenting himself with asking, “How can you
know that they will not come at us from another direction?” It was becoming difficult to speak because his teeth insisted
on clattering and banging together.
Finally Brandtson seemed to recognize the fact that Braldt was somewhat the worse for wear and, cursing himself and Saxo for
ten types of old fools, he helped Braldt over the balustrade and together the three of them broke a trail. It was clear
snow and did his best to drag them, to slow his progress, but they too were numb and stiff with the cold and obeyedhis commands sluggishly, only to be battered and bruised by the rough surface and a multitude of unseen obstacles.
The barrier was approaching ever more swiftly and fear rose in his breast as he struggled to free himself and halt his descent,
but his clumsy attempts merely sent him spinning ever more swiftly. Fear rose up in his throat like a dark wave. He screamed.
Then, seconds away from disaster, he felt himself seized on either side, stopped with an abrupt finality that was no less
shocking than the dizzying descent. His head spun and his senses were awhirl. He thought for a moment that he was going to
be sick as his mind and body slowly adjusted to the fact that he was no longer moving, and to the even more remarkable fact
that he was still alive and intact.
He felt himself hoisted to his feet and he tried to stand, staggering from side to side on numbed feet and legs that felt
as though they belonged to someone else. Slowly, he became aware of the fact that his back was burning and it was painful
to move. His cloak hung in tatters around him, the heavy fabric torn and shredded with great gaping holes that let in the
cold. One elbow was throbbing insistently and a hip and shoulder felt as though they had lost serious arguments with rocks,
although he had no specific memory of such incidents. Slowly, the world stopped revolving around him and the noise that was
buzzing in his ears separated into words—words that had meaning.
Someone clapped him on the shoulder and shook him gleefully. He tried to share the joy, but it hurt too much.
“Ha! We did it!” Brandtson chuckled as he hugged first Braldt and then Saxo. Braldt stumbled forward and leaned up against
what he was now able to discern was another balustrade, while Saxo and Brandtson clutched each other in a bear hug and hopped
up and down, dancing joyously at their successful escape.
“What I wouldn’t have given to see the looks on their faces!” Brandtson cried as he shook his old friend gently and smiled
at Thunder, who was less than pleased with the antics of the two elder statesmen.
“Remember when we used to do that at home, Brandt?” Saxo said with a chuckle, wiping tears from the corners of his eyes. “Remember
how mad our mothers were? As I recall, we both had our bottoms warmed for ruining our storm gear, but it was worth it. None
of these youngsters have ever done such a thing, nor would they have expected it of us!”
“Neither did I,” Braldt said under his breath, though now that the venture was over and done with and they were still alive,
he had to admit a new feeling of respect for the two oldsters.
“Where are we?” he asked, interrupting the cheerful flow of conversation, for he had begun to shake, although whether from
the cold or delayed reaction to the experience he could not have said. “Should we not be thinking about leaving before they
figure out what we have done and work up the courage to follow us?”
“It’ll never happen.” Saxo chuckled and the two men burst out laughing anew. “You either have to have one foot in the grave
already or be completely crazy to do such a thing. We’re quite safe for the moment.”
Braldt decided not to mention that he did not possess either quality himself, contenting himself with asking, “How can you
know that they will not come at us from another direction?” It was becoming difficult to speak because his teeth insisted
on clattering and banging together.
Finally Brandtson seemed to recognize the fact that Braldt was somewhat the worse for wear and, cursing himself and Saxo for
ten types of old fools, he helped Braldt over the balustrade and together the three of them broke a trail. It was clear
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