Chapter 25The four men stood in silence for some time, staring up at the mountain that barred their way.
Tirke voiced the predominant apprehension. ‘We don’t have to go... over that, do we?’ he asked, pointing hesitantly towards the mountain’s cloud-covered peak.
Dacu chewed his bottom lip. ‘Damn near,’ he said, and, without further comment, he mounted his horse and rode forward. ‘Come on,’ he said. ‘We must get as far as we can before that lot arrives.’ He inclined his head towards the darkness shadowing the clouds to the north.
The others mounted and rode after him.
‘There’s no way round?’ Isloman asked.
Dacu waved his hand in a sweeping gesture. The mountain rose out of a long series of high peaks and ridges which faded into the grey, rain-swept distance.
‘Wouldn’t west take us st
