Page 72 (1/1)
"What a forsaken place," Hettielife in the tide pools She brushed hair back fro as she stared up the steep incline of the cliff The water was down to their ankles now
"What a mysterious place," Paedrin said "The environ, but look at the fors could survive in such a place"
She glanced down at the tide pools, looked at him with an arched eyebrow and then shook her head as if he were hopeless
They reached the wall of the cliff, all jutting angles and sheets of dark rock An inlet lay before thee portions of stone Trickling waterfalls plunged into the sandy edge There was a large flat rock near the base of the stairs--during high tide it would have provided an easier way to approach Thethe upper heights
"Let me see if I can locate the te"
She nodded and Paedrin took a big gulp of air, rising despite the heaviness of his sodden clothes He used the edge of the wall to pull hi effortlessly up the face The Vaettir would have no trouble ascending to such a place The steps were undoubtedly there for others to use
Paedrin entered the thick , which blinded hiradual slope the higher it went, providing aan to blossoher up, which gradually tapered off, revealing the hulking outlines of an enormous te co rooftops and multiple levels of towers and parapets It had been built over a great number of years, perhaps even centuries The entire top of the rocky cliff was covered in structures, made of the saly carved from the rock into the formation of towers and crenellations Enorers and serpents and soiant wooden door at the top of the stairs, bound with rusty iron that gleaht
The temple faced him majestically, more ancient than the Arch-Rike’s palace Yet as he stared at it, it did resehtly The design was reminiscent of it There were no sentries posted on the walls, no sounds e from within He did notice a shelf of flat rock without any structures on it near the cliff’s edge partway around the te idea went further If he could draw attention by his approach and let Hettie climb the walls from behind, it would increase the chances of their success
Paedrin let out his breath and sank through the mist quickly His stoed beneath the cloud, finding Hettie cli the steps barefoot, her boots tied to her pack
He dropped down to her level and flattened hi handholds and footholds to steady hiru at the effort of the clies to a flat shelf at the base of the teood place to conceal yourself until dark I will approach theis to draw attention to aze away fro the sword You cliin your search I will distract the as I can"
"Draw attention to yourself? You mean insult them"
"It co the the front tower in your se Cruw Reon directly for authority Before I face hiht to choose a champion to face ht to combat for authority If I lose, it won’t really et the sword When you do, whistle loudly if we should flee I will co it to me and I will defeat him"
Hettie nodded "So which way do I cli like a spider up the sheer face of the cliff "The handholds are better over this way Co the safety of the stone steps carved into the cliff Paedrin searched ahead, looking for the best handholds and sturdiest places It was an arduous climb and he could see the pinched look on Hettie’s face as she struggled up the slope The rocks cut at her fingers and feet, but she did not hiss or co and the way became murky