The only way across the Zenith Mountains, was up. The climb was complicated. The rock was cold, and icy in spots, making it difficult to maintain handholds. Ropes, spikes, and picks would have been useful, but unfortunately they didn’t have the gear. The wind whipped around them, as if sent to prevent interlopers from ascending its height. Gravity continually threatened to pull them down. They didn’t have ropes, and that made Mykal apprehensive. Odds were against them reaching the east whole.
Mykal had Karyn climb above him. He wanted a chance at catching her if she fell. This was the only way he would at least be able to make an attempt. He assumed she knew his thoughts. It was in her eyes when she agreed, while telling him she’d never climbed a mountain before.
“Neither have I,” he’d t
