19

You sprint along the ice bridge and dive for Dyce’s hand, but it is too late. Barely a second before you reach him his grip falters and he plummets backwards into the gaping void. A shiver runs down your spine as his scream fades into the darkness below. You are staring helplessly into the gorge when Irian begins to shout: ‘There, over there—I’m sure I saw something.’

You strain your eyes, hoping to see something, anything, but the gorge is as black as midnight. You turn to see Irian pointing, not at the gorge, but towards the western horizon. ‘Look over there,’ he says, indicating a ridge in the distance. Two fur-clad warriors are standing on top of a large platform of ice. They are looking in your direction, alerted, no doubt, by Dyce’s dying scream.

‘Ice Barbarians,’ says Fenor, his voice shaking with fear. ‘If they reach Ikaya before us, we’re as good as dead!’

You are now fifteen miles from the ice fortress and less than three hours of daylight remain.

If you wish to press on, in the hope that you will outrun the Barbarians, turn to 327.

If you wish to attack them to prevent them warning others, turn to 307.