Cyrus felt theblonde creature’s large muscles tense. Two silver-tipped spears thrust out ofthe shadows.
“Who goesthere?” a deep voice growled.
“Tier and Skoven,” the blonde giant said, “We’ve discovered two intrudersshipwrecked off the coast. They are near death.”
Cyrus heardwhispering from within.
“Enter,” the firstvoice commanded.
The two giantscarried the trio into a massive den. Ornate gold and silver lanterns burned onthe walls. A large bed of coals glowed hot and dull in the center of thechamber. Through half-shut eyes, Cyrus spied several large, dark figureshunched in the shadows. All stood silent, watching Cyrus and Fibian.
“Tier, youshould not have brought them here.”
Cyrus lookedtowards the voice. A gray creature, about seven feet tall, limped out of thedarkness. The old female’s back was hunched, and her chest drooped low andheavy.
“But mother,they would have died had we left them,” the blonde named Tier said.
“Maybe that wouldhave been for the best,” the mother replied.
“Runa, youhave let the klops and their queen get the better ofyou,” the snow colored Skoven said, her voice rising.
“My people’ssafety comes before the lives of intruders,” Runa countered.
The gray furon her back bristled.
“We do notknow who they are,” Tier growled, “we must find out. If more come, we want toavoid another ambush.”
Runa’s eyeswavered. She said no more.
Tier carriedCyrus towards the bed of coals. Three more giants laid out a spread of goosedown pillows beside the glowing embers. Runa moved towards Cyrus. She strippedhis icy clothes off and threw them into a pile near the coals.
“No, Edward…”Cyrus whispered, barely able to hear his own voice.
Runa tookCyrus from Tier and laid him down on the makeshift bed.
“The tips oftheir toes and the blond one’s pointed ears have cold rot,” she said.
She took Fibian from Skoven.
“If they live,they will be lucky to keep their flesh.”
“The dark onealready lost a hand not long ago,” Tier said.
Runa rested Fibian next to Cyrus. Skovenbrought out a large white bearskin blanket. She laid it over the two. Then sheplaced heated stones beneath the blanket and around their bodies.
“Their cutsseem superficial,” Tier said, “The light skinned one’s been drifting in and outof consciousness. The dark one has yet to awake.”
“They have thecold sickness,” Runa said.
“Will theylive?” Tier asked.
“If they servethe klops and their queen,” Runa replied, “They hadbest pray they do not.”
Chapter 5
THE YETI
“WAKEUP!”
Cyrussmelt a sharp, biting odor. The scent jolted him awake. Where was he? What hadhappened? His memories were a wash of snow and shattered ice. His head ached.The tips of his toes and ears burned as if on fire. He looked about. He waswithin a massive cavern, surrounded by large creatures obscured in shadow. Whatin Kingdom? Cyrus’ heart quickened. There was something familiar about thecave. The air smelled humid and stuffy, like dog mixed with campfire. Cyrusreached for his knife. He felt only skin. He was naked beneath fur blankets.Where was his knife? His ears stung and he reached to scratch them.
“Donot touch them,” a beastly voice ordered, “They have cold rot.”
Coldrot? Cyrus looked up. A large creature covered in grayshag stood over him, holding a glass jar of fluid.
“Whoare you and where do you come from?” the giant demanded.
The muscles under the creature’s looseflesh swelled like thick roots beneath mossy earth.
“HolySea Zombie!” Cyrus blurted.
Hetried to scramble away. He became caught up in a large fur blanket.
“Donot move,” a snow-colored giant said, stepping forward.
Shedrew a large knife from a belt buckled around her waist. A blonde giant wadedin front of the snow colored beast. She took the glass jar from the grayfemale, then moved towards a mound lying next to Cyrus. Cyrus recognized theshape beneath the fur.
“Fibian?” he said, pulling back the blanket.
Thefroskman lay unconscious in the bed of animal skins,naked and pale. The blonde giant waved the glass jar beneath Fibian’s nose. Like paper lanterns, a blue glow slowly ignitedbehind Fibian’s dark eyelids. He inhaled deeply.
“Hiseyes. What is he?” the old gray giant asked, taking a step backward.
Fibian’s eyesopened a crack. His gaze shone through. The surrounding creatures let out hushedgasps.
“Fibian, are you all right?” Cyrus asked.
Thefroskman nodded his head, his eyes half open.
“Edward.Where’s Edward?” Fibian asked, his voice hoarse.
“Thereare more of you?” the old gray giant asked.
Edward!Cyrus had last seen him on the ship’s tiller, or was it in his shirt pocket?
“Myclothes?”
Cyrusscanned his surroundings. A large bed of embers lay beyond his feet. Near theembers, the creatures had draped his and Fibian’sclothing over three large water-polished stones. Cyrus shifted forward and retrievedhis crisp, dry shirt. His body felt stiff and burnt from the cold.
“Edward,you here?” he asked.
Thegiants looked uneasy. Cyrus searched his pockets. He found his best friendcurled up in a tiny ball of white.
“You’rehere. Thank the Angels,” Cyrus said.
“Whatdo you have there?” the blonde giant demanded.
Cyruscould not tell whether or not Edward was breathing.
“Edward,”Cyrus said, gently prodding his furry body, “Please, wake up.”
“Whatis this?” the snow colored giant asked, “If this is a trick…”
Shereversed her grip on her blade.
“He’smy friend,” Cyrus said, “He’s been poisoned. We have to do something.”
Cyrusfrantically looked about the cave. He had been there before, he was sure of it.The gray female limped forward. Runa. That was her name, Cyrusremembered.
“Putout your hand,” Runa said to Cyrus.
Shetook the glass jar from Tier. Tier! That was the blonde one’s name. Itwas slowly coming back to him.
Cyrusfelt helpless. He held out his hand, just as he was told. Runa swirled thecontainer beneath Edward’s body. Cyrus recognized the sharp biting odor.
“Whatis that?” he asked.
“Ifhe is alive, this should revive him,” Runa said, her mouth broad and herforehead high.
“Comeon,” Cyrus said, nudging his friend, “Please.”
Theblodbad did not move.
“Wakeup.”
Cyrusprodded him harder. A small pool of black fluid sputtered from Edward’s lips.Then one of his
