Contents
Chapter Nineteen
Overview
While crossing Khitan’s Northern Pass, Mikail, Royo, and Euyn are hunted by a mother zaybear and three juveniles. Forced to choose survival over mercy, they attempt to sacrifice a draft animal to distract the predators. The plan goes wrong, and Mikail is thrown from the sleigh, escalating the peril.
Summary
Mikail narrates as four zaybears shadow the sleigh in the Northern Pass. He identifies a mother with three juveniles—an overwhelming threat they cannot outrun. Royo struggles to keep the califers on the path while Euyn arms himself, acknowledging the crisis.
Royo suggests mounting the califers and fleeing, but Mikail rejects the idea as impossible at speed and without saddles. Euyn proposes cutting a califer loose to appease the predators. Mikail recognizes the grim logic and moves to sever the harness despite his misgivings.
Mikail slices one side of the leather band, but before he can finish, the sleigh hits a bump. His sword lodges in the wood, he loses balance, and he tumbles from the moving sleigh as the zaybears close in.
The attempt to sacrifice a single animal fails in execution, leaving Mikail separated, unarmed, and exposed, while Royo and Euyn remain on a sleigh still pursued by predators.
Who Appears
- MikailPOV traveler; tries to cut a califer loose to distract zaybears, but falls from the sleigh.
- EuynHunter; arms himself with a crossbow and urges sacrificing a califer to save the group.
- RoyoDriver; fights the reins to keep the califers on course and proposes fleeing on the animals.