Ice Blink

50: Temple of Ash

Tears scalded Nuna's cheeks as she rode, Iki pressed against her while Lumi sat atop the other reindeer. They were fast as the wind, their endurance almost unmatched. The world passed in a blur as they rode straight into a blizzard, until Nuna finally recognised the ice-sheathed forest they had been captured in through rippling veils of snow.

"There!"

"Is that a campfire?" Iki said.

Nuna dismounted as three achingly familiar shapes, silhouetted by the firelight, ran through the gloomy white towards them.

Her knees buckled. The past day had taken its toll. Her face was swollen and hot, her ribs burned, and her stomach felt tender. She slumped into the snow just as Niju reached her.

"Nuna! Oh, gods. Nuna."

He touched her gingerly, lifting her against his chest and holding her there when she didn't balk from him.

Nuna burst into tears. It was as if a dam had broken around her souls, and every emotion she had felt since the Vanir had taken them came surging back in full force.

Niju's fingers sank into Nuna's hair and his voice shook when he spoke. "It's all right, Nuna. You're all right. I'm here. I'm here."

His arm slid beneath her knees and he lifted her effortlessly, carrying her into a shelter made from young saplings lashed together. He wrapped a reindeer hide sleeping bag around her shoulders but did not let go as she cried and cried until there were no tears left.

"Who is this?"

When Nuna finally looked up, Amarok was pointing a sword at Lumi, but Iki irritably shoved his way between them.

"He's a friend."

Amarok and Maliq took in Lumi's hair, his pale eyes, but didn't comment.

"Tell us what happened. We've been searching for you," Amarok said. There were dark circles beneath his eyes.

Iki told their story haltingly. Occasionally he looked to Nuna for support, but her throat had closed up and she did not offer any explanation.

When he mentioned Siru, Amarok murmured, "It sounds just like Siru to be charging back and forth across North Ice with an army of reindeer at her back, while everything falls apart."

When Iki had finished, heavy silence fell.

Niju gazed at Nuna's face, his eyes black with suppressed rage. "He tortured you."

"He didn't get much chance," she croaked.

"You've been through so much." Maliq's eyes were fixed on Iki. "I'm glad you're safe."

Iki coughed awkwardly. He seemed surprised by Maliq's seriousness. "Uh... thanks."

"We have to head back," Nuna said. "We have to free the Nualiks."

Amarok shook his head.

She glared at him. "They beat my brother unconscious! Qignaaq is dying!"

"We're so close to the final temple," Amarok said. "Niju checked the maps, and it's on the other side of the next hill."

"I don't care about the temple!"

"Yes, you do," Niju said quietly. "We can visit it tomorrow. Didn't you say your Nanuq told you we're running out of time?"

Nuna struggled to her feet. The world swayed.

"I'll leave and go myself, then. You take the shard." She fumbled for it in her pocket.

"There's a saying among the Takaani," Amarok said. "Loyalty before love."

"I don't care."

"Commander Veris was my mentor. Not quite a mother, but I loved her, all the same. You have no idea how much I wanted to go and find her when... when Keeonah told me she is out there somewhere. But if I abandoned you and the other Inua to find her, she'd probably kill me for disregarding my duty. My job is to help Niju lead us to the third temple, then to use its information to stop Mortu and end the war. No matter what happens, I can't go back on my word."