Contents
74 North
Overview
Wulf and Thrit push deep into the Northern Plain toward Járthfall, glimpsing Valeysa and finding a perilous approach guarded by ice. Elsewhere, Dumai and Nikeya recover, confront trust and desire, and become lovers. Guided by a telepathic messenger, they cross a glacier to an outpost strewn with slit-throat corpses, where an armed survivor attacks—setting up a dangerous convergence.
Summary
Wulf and Thrit ride for weeks across the Northern Plain, living off the land and finding brief shelter in snowbound wilds. They spot a wyvern heading south and then the tawny wyrm Valeysa flying toward Eldyng, prompting greater caution. Reaching a lake beneath the twin Oxhorn peaks, they identify Járthfall and a hazardous ice helm guarding the hidden outpost, then begin a steep ascent along a faded mountain path.
In a nearby mountain cave, Dumai studies ancient paintings—starbursts, runes, and layered handprints—while tending Nikeya’s frostnip and recalling her own childhood injury from a sudden storm. Confronted, Nikeya admits the River Lord ordered her to seduce Dumai but insists on her own agency and devotion to the gods. Trust strained yet drawn close by candor, Dumai and Nikeya accept their bond and share a tender kiss, affirming mutual commitment beyond courtly intrigue.
A telepathic messenger—whom Dumai senses as a sister—summons her to a place of twin peaks. Dumai leads Nikeya through fresh snow to a glacier, recognizing its hidden dangers as ice creaks over running water. Following smoke to a rock shelf with wooden buildings, they carefully cross unstable ice. Near the outpost they discover dozens of bodies, many nearly naked with long cuts and throats slit, echoing signs of the spreading sickness. Realizing someone survived to kill the rest, they are confronted when a furious swordsman charges from the outpost.
Who Appears
- DumaiPrincess of Seiiki; tends Nikeya, shares past hardship, accepts love, follows a telepathic messenger to a deadly glacier outpost.
- NikeyaKuposa’s kinswoman; suffers frostnip, admits ordered seduction but asserts autonomy; becomes Dumai’s lover and braves the glacier.
- Wulfert (Wulf)Housecarl riding north with Thrit; reaches Járthfall’s vicinity and plans ascent toward the ice-guarded outpost.
- ThritCompanion to Wulf; keeps morale, identifies the ice helm defense, insists they stay together en route to the outpost.
- Messenger (Dumai’s sister)Disembodied guide in Dumai’s mind; directs her to the twin peaks for a rendezvous.
- Unknown swordsman at Járthfall outpostLone survivor who charges Dumai and Nikeya amid bodies with slit throats.