Chapter 9Renard and the apprentices spent much of the following morning going very slowly down the steep trail. Merek and Janot held tightly to the collar on one of the mules, while Niall and Petyr did the same with the other one, in an effort to keep the animals from moving too quickly and sliding or worse yet falling and breaking a leg. Even Renard was cautious with Demon, holding his reins while walking beside him to keep him from expending his pent-up energy by prancing along without watching his steps in the deep snow.
To their relief, by the time the sun reached its zenith the canyon began to widen and curve, meaning the trail wasn’t as steep. Thus, the apprentices were able to relinquish their holds on the mules, although they kept a weather-eye on them just in case.
Despite the f
