Chapter 63

Aicha

I couldn’t believe I’d actually done it. I’d found a way to the mountain pass without meeting the Queen’s soldiers. I bet my friends would never believe it if I told them.

Although it was a bit strange that my Uncle hadn’t found us. I wondered if his tracking skills weren't as good as he'd always claimed, or maybe the cold and rain had made him even lazier than usual. In any case, I was happy for it. He did serve the Queen, but he wasn’t that bad, and I didn’t want to think about what Sara or Cat would do to him if he was foolish enough to find us.

Sara came up by my side, watching the path ahead of us.

“Will we camp here for the night?”, Cat asked as she joined.

Sara shook her head.

“We’re too close. The Queen’s soldiers might take their chance. We’ll walk.”

Oh, yeah… I’d almost forgotten we had to meet the nomads now. Or Norsemen, as Sara called them. Actually, they were called Daiqind, Sara had informed us, and their land was called Xoid Nuutar. That was really strange. Why hadn’t they just named themselves “people from beyond the mountains”, like all other tribes would have called themselves?

Anyway, that wasn’t the biggest issue. The biggest worry was that they were cannibals. Or, Sara had said they weren’t, but I wasn’t sure. I had heard it from the traders who came to the valley, and after all, they must have seen quite a lot.

“So, shall we?”, Cat asked.

Sara glanced back over the plain we’d left and then nodded, and we followed her into the mountains. I hoped it wouldn’t take too long to pass. I had never seen such high mountains, with peaks covered in white snow. It must be freezing to camp there.

I was just about to say something when I suddenly froze.

“What is it, Aicha?”

Cat reached for her sword, and I stared ahead of us.

“Someone is tracking us. But it doesn’t feel like Uncle’s tracking.”

“They must be sensing us.”

Sara turned to us.

“They can sense when someone enters their land, but I hadn’t expected them to come this early.”

She stared ahead.

“We’ve taken one of the passes they wished to remain hidden,” she murmured to herself.

I stared at her. Had I taken the wrong path after all? Did that mean they would attack us now? Kim drew her dagger, staring at the path ahead of us. Should I do the same? I’d never killed anyone… I took my bow and notched an arrow on the string. My dad had made it for me for my birthday last year, but he never intended me to use it like this.

Suddenly, the sound of a horn boomed in the air, and a voice echoed between the rocks.

“Travellers! What fortune brings you to Xoid Nuutar?”

I almost dropped my bow in fright. Sara stared ahead of us, and I could see a group of riders suddenly appearing on our path.

“Don’t show them you are afraid,” Sara whispered to us.

She stepped forward.

“We come in peace, seeking shelter from the upcoming storm.”

One of the raiders rode forth and halted before her.

“May your fire illuminate your path, Sara.”

“May your arrow never miss your aim, Zamir.”

That was a really strange way to greet someone. I dared to look at him. His cloak was made from the fur of some beast whose paws still dangled from his shoulders. It was open on his chest, revealing plates of armour I had never seen before, and he had a cap made of white fur that covered his eyes.

He noticed my stare, and I quickly looked away.

“You brought companions with you.”

He peered at our group as other riders joined him. They looked just as frightening as him, and every one of them carried more weapons than all of us together. I really hoped Sara was right and they weren’t cannibals.

“I will speak to the Harod for them.”

Zamir looked at his companions and nodded before turning to us.

“Welcome to Xoid Nuutar. May you find strength and courage in your hearts, as the path you have chosen to enter our land is treacherous even in the summer months.”