Chapter 125: A Frozen Barrier
Ashlynn walked slowly behind Hauke as they followed the icy footprints deeper into the ancestral cave. The air had grown chill enough that she could see her breath, but the chill went much deeper than simple cold. There was no wind in the cave yet the fine hairs on her neck stood on end as if icy fingers brushed up against her skin.
In Hauke’s arms, Heila struggled to stay awake. The day had taken a great deal out of her and she hadn’t eaten since breakfast. By now, they were supposed to be feasting on the fish they’d caught but instead, the icy cold pressed down on her body and her mind until she could barely keep her eyes open.
It didn’t take long to reach their destination. The cave opened into a larger space though it was impossible to tell how large the cavern truly became. Ten paces beyond what now felt like the end of the tunnel and the beginning of the larger cavern, a giant sheet of ice blocked their way.
The wall of ice stood over fifteen feet tall and stretched twice as wide. At the bottom, ice piled up knee-high as though it had built up layer by layer over countless years. Along the ceiling, dozens of icicles hung down like a row of teeth about to descend on anyone who approached the wall of ice.
"Lytle Brōþor, weakling isn’t," the light and tinkling voice said as the phantoms emerged from the wall of ice. "Brake free, can. Lytle Brōþor, strong is, yes?"
"Visit us," the clear, feminine voice called as the specter beckoned with her single arm. "Like us. Join us. Join and learn. Visit, iridescent kin."
"Help us, descendant," the gravely voice said as the specter hovered high above them. "You must come to us."
"Help him, Seneschal," the bodiless apparition said, dragging himself across the cavern to loom over Ashlynn. "Help your friend to help his ancestors."
"This ice," Hauke said, reaching out to touch the frozen barrier. "Why it like this?"