On A Knife Edge

Chapter 19: Frozen Wastes

As they ventured north and a little west from Riven following the Dragonspine mountain range that party started encountering snow. The ruins they were heading towards were near the north pole in Archanella. Kainith and Rance wrapped their faces in a soft woolen scarf they had bought from the Riven marketplace before setting out on the adventure.

"We're gonna freeze out here!" Rory shivered.

"Rory, why didn't you buy more winter clothing? You knew we were heading towards the arctic." Kainith chastised.

"Guy's stop bickering, I might have a solution." Lucian mused. Lucian grabbed the blue gem out from under his shirt and whispered an incantation. As he finished the arcane words a rapidly expanding bubble of warmth stretched out around the party.

"Wait, what did you just do?" Rance stated as he unwrapped the scarf that covered all of his face except for his eyes.

"When I first got to Archnella I was cold all of the time. So, in my free time and when we would travel I worked on changing a fire spell I know to act as a personal heat source. I just used some of the blue gems juju to help me expand it to all of us and to make it so it was less strain on me to maintain." Lucian explained.

"Wait, you can craft spells?" Kainith said in disbelief.

"I mean, yeah." Lucian said with a confused look on his face. "It works the same way for me as it does for you! You can change instruments and still cast the same spells. Just instead of an instrument all I have is this, " Lucian said as he pointed to the middle of his chest.

"I guess you're right!" Kainith said excitedly. "I mean I have never messed with changing spells. I always play the same chords on whatever instrument I'm in, but maybe I can craft newer spells and change them more than I think."

The party continued to move on the snow now melting around their feet. As the day wore on and dark purples started to overcome the one whitish blue sky the party could now see the dragon's spine mountain range dropping and becoming more of a range of hills and less of a range of mountains. Before the sun fully set the warm group of adventurers could now see how intimidating the Frozen Wastes could really be as the endless expanse of snow and ice stretched in all directions. The party continued for a couple more hours until they needed light to navigate by and they made the decision to set up a campsite.

"Here." Rory said pointed at the ground. "This is where we will set up the campsite. Lucian, can you maintain that warm aura while you sleep?"

"Um, I'm not sure. I did maintain a silence spell once while I slept since I got the blue gem." Lucian said as he thought back to the night he and Kainith decided to withhold the gems from Vornath and betray him. "I'm certainly going to try. Just make sure you have warm clothes nearby."

The party started a fire and set up tents. Kainith sat back and strummed on his lute while Rance cooked food for the party. After eating and chatting about stories from their past. Rance finally brought it back to the next day.

"Okay Kainith, Lucian. What did you learn when you were looking through that library? I really don't want to spend the next decade wandering around the Frozen Wastes."

"Well..." Kainith said with a frown. "I mean there was no map if that is what you are asking, but..." Kainith held up a hand stopping Rance from protesting. " It was a holy temple to a god from a long lost civilization so there should be roads leading there. I thought we were going to have to chisel ice and snow in random spots the whole way, but we just all found out that there is a mage with us that can just melt where we walk." Kainith said, smiling at Lucian.

"Okay. That makes sense but what's the plan? I wanted to get buff and learn to fight a little better so I wasn't really around while you guys were reading all the books either." Rory said while fidgeting with his axe.