56
Three days later, five sorcerers and the woodfolk of the prince’s home guard were ranged along the top of a rocky ridge studying the panorama before them. The descent to the south was much steeper and consisted of a series of sheer drops interspersed with wide sloping ledges of grasslands or forest, rather like giant terracing. Beyond the base of the mountain, the forest gradually gave way to wide chequered plains of farmland, dotted with farm dwellings and from time to time, villages. In the far distance, almost on the horizon, slightly to their right, they could see the silhouette of a large walled city.
“What is that place?” asked Rainstorm, shading his eyes against the glare.
“That, my friends, is the mighty fortress town of Montraya,” said Danton. His eyes lit up. “Many a magnif
