117
‘Heads!’ says Prarg.
You remove your hand and uncover the proud countenance of King Ulnar V stamped on the face of the coin.
‘Well done, Prarg. You’ve guessed correctly,’ you say, and press the Gold Crown back into your pouch. ‘I’ll stand the first watch—you get some sleep. We’ve a long march ahead of us tomorrow and you’ll need all your strength.’
Prarg breathes a sigh of relief, and while he settles himself down to sleep in the relative comfort of the boat, you pull your cloak about you and climb to the top of Bear Rock where you begin your lonely vigil.
For hours you sit on this windswept boulder, staring out through a curtain of swirling snow at the surrounding timber-line. Despite your fatigue you stay alert and your iron discipline pays off when, shortly before midnight, you sense movement at the forest’s edge. Then your super-keen Kai senses detect an animal scent on the cold air which you recognize immediately: it is Akataz.
