Before the Frostland barbarians left, Asha, the only one who could speak the common language, shouted "Be careful of the Khiva River".
After confirming that there were no stalkers around, the leader of the detachment rode to the prison car: "Mage, what did the Frost Plains people mean just now?"
"Crossing the river is dangerous," Burris said.
"It's winter and the ice on the Khiva is thick enough for..."
"That's not what it means," Burris interrupted him. "There are dangerous things in the Khiva. Unfortunately, I haven't seen them, so I can't describe what they are. I wrote about it in my letter, don't you Forgot?"
"Everything went well when we came, and we only encountered a few transformed wargs on the river bank."
Boris said: "Yriel has been using spells to control the things in the river to make sure they don't mess around. When you crossed the river, Yilier was busy preparing for a very important experiment, so he didn't wake up those creatures... Now he dead, everything at the bottom of the river is free, and we will most likely be attacked on our return journey."
The detachment leader thought for a while: "There should be no problem. The ice layer is very thick, even if there is really something underneath, it won't affect us."
"My lord, are you tired, maybe you should take a break?" Burris finally couldn't help the ridicule in his heart, "Otherwise, how could your sense of crisis and common sense be so lacking? Nearly half of the Khiva River ends up dying every year. Ice time, if the things the teacher raises can be blocked by a mere ice layer, what is the point of raising them? Can people across the river appreciate them through the ice?"
The leader of the detachment frowned and stared at the mage, his hand holding the reins became tighter and tighter. Before he could speak, Manero beside the prison car asked first, "Master, what is your suggestion?"
Boris said: "We can go northeast along the river, out of the forest, to the east of Khiva. That area has not yet been touched by Yriel, and there is no magic cultivation material at the bottom of the river, and monsters will not run there. On the other side of the river is Kingdom of Shandonia."
The leader of the detachment sullenly said, "No, it's too far away. This trip will take at least half a month. The silent prayer asked us not to cause trouble, and it is against the order to temporarily change the route. Moreover, the city of North Star is not willing to deal with the Sandenians. .”
Burris only knew that this road could go, but he didn't know what kind of country Shandonia was. He silently thought that if the city of the North Star hated Sandonia, then maybe Sandonia was a good country.
"Alternatively, you can also let me cast a spell," Boris suggested, but he was not hopeful. "I have two spells that can help you. The first one, I can give each of you a symbol, and Yriel lives At that time, this emblem could ensure that the bearer would not be attacked by monsters in the river. Now it has a limited effect and may not completely protect us, but it can definitely confuse monsters and delay their actions. Monsters will think that Yriel Still, when they understand, we have passed through the ice quickly. The second method is, I will send a summons to the fellow mages in the city of North Star, asking them to explain the situation to your silent prayers and ask if the return journey can be changed The route. Perhaps the silent prayer will allow you to go from Shandonia?"
The detachment leader sneered: "After all, you just want to cast a spell. Don't have illusions. Once you read the spell, none of us will know what you are reading! Sorry, I don't believe you. This It's not a personal grievance. If the temple judges you innocent in the future, I will solemnly apologize to you, but now I can't trust you. Also, we will not ask the silent prayer for that ridiculous diversion plan, the temple knights will not know Difficult to retreat."
After speaking, the leader of the detachment rode his horse back to the front of the team. Burris said nothing more. His face was frozen stiff, but he couldn't help but want to laugh.
You are unwilling to change course, neither because of wisdom, nor because of bravery, you are just afraid of causing dissatisfaction with the senior priest. Isn't the fear of being accused of cowardice the most obvious form of cowardice
Maybe you will really die on the Khiva... I won't help you this time. I dare not help you any more. I have the emblem of my mentor on me, and monsters won't notice me first.
but…
Burris looked to the side of the prison car. Manello rode sadly, the edge of his woolen cloak torn off a bit.
During a break in the early morning, Manello cut a piece of fabric from the cloak and secretly stuffed it into the gap in the shackles on Burris' hands, separating the cold metal from the skin.
Manello was still angry, but explained in a low voice: "The silent prayer asked us to treat the captives fairly. You mages are all delicate, how can you bear such heavy shackles, besides, if the metal sticks Your wrist, when the time comes, you will suffer..."
This morning, the team took a break again. Burris looked at Manello and secretly made up his mind.
"Mr. Manello..." He called out in a low voice, "Could you please come here?"
Manello leaned over: "What's wrong?"
Burris moved his body with difficulty, leaning against the railing of the prison car, exposing his handcuffed hands. "I want to ask you a favor, I don't know if you would like to."
His voice was weaker than before. He was indeed feeling uncomfortable, but it wasn't so painful that he was out of breath. He just felt that it was easier to be trusted this way.
"Tell me what it is first." Manello's tone was serious, but there was a hint of resentment in his eyes.
"I have a string on my left wrist, and on it hangs a ceramic ring, a glass bead with a hole in it. See that?"
Manello had already seen the ring and the glass beads when he was stuffing the shackles with cloth strips. He didn't care too much, after all, mages always carry all kinds of small things.
"Take them off, please," Burris said. "They're not magic items, and they won't hurt you. You've come across them before, haven't you? Well, this ring...was from a relative of mine. For me. I've carried it with me for as long as I can remember, but unfortunately I don't know who that relative is. Maybe it's my mother's little handiwork, or my father's family symbol... I guess many possibilities …”
Manello untied the string carefully, and took the ring and the beads in his hand: "What do you want me to do? Identify the patterns on it?"
"No," Burris whispered, "Mr. Manello, even if I get to the North Star City, I won't get the judgment immediately, will I? Everything takes time... In the meantime, I hope you can keep it for me …until I'm cleared, or convicted."
"Why? I mean, why can't you hold it yourself?"
"Because I'm afraid of hurting my family... if they are still alive. I haven't met my parents, so I don't know if they are still alive, but what if I have brothers, sisters or other distant relatives? If the ring is really related to my family, then Others will likely find them by pattern. Once I am convicted, my loved ones will inevitably be judged. It is not a good reputation for a child in the family to serve Yriel, Lord of the White Tower. Whatever happens to me , my relatives should not be implicated, they have never even seen me, so they don't need to share my guilt."
Manello clenched the ring tightly: "I understand, I will help you keep it. I will not show it to anyone until your verdict is out. After you are acquitted, I will keep it Back to you."
"If I'm convicted, please destroy it for me."
The young knight muttered "No way" and carefully put the ring and beads into his pocket.
"By the way, what is this bead?"
Boris smiled weakly: "This... a girl gave it to me. I don't know her address or name, but her home is on the other side of the river. Help me keep it for a while. If I can't protect myself, it's even harder to protect it. Such a small thing."
Manello nodded in understanding: "I understand. I guess the girl you mentioned is from the Ords, and now only we Ords dare to approach the Khiva River."
Burris warned: "Sir, other knights can see us talking here. If your friends or superiors ask you, please only show them the beads, and never take out or mention the ring. After all, the beads are There's no sign, it doesn't implicate the girl, and the ring is different. Please, please make sure..."
"I understand. Don't worry, I understand..." Manello's expression was serious, and Boris was secretly relieved.
In fact, there is no such thing as "the girl across the river". The glass beads were originally an accessory to a magic tool, but are now useless.
Burris made up the bead story only to provide Manello with a convenient tool for lying.
The detachment leader will definitely ask him what he talked to the mage and what the mage gave him. It is impossible for him to make up a story and lie, so Burris has to give him a ready-made lie.
Of course, concealing the existence of the ring is also a lie, and Manello needs to take the initiative to conceal it. Burris had no doubt that Manello would do well.
It is said that the Knights of the Temple have always treated people honestly and never lied, but this may not be the case. For the honor of blood relatives, for the kind girl... For the Templar Knights, these motives are noble and reasonable, and all lies based on noble foundations are not considered lies. This kind of concealment is not only shameful, but also helps people Satisfaction of the weak.
What was engraved on the ring was not a family crest at all, but Yriel's shield of protection. Burris's own emblem was worn on the shoulder, as were the other apprentices and servants who lived in the tower, and such rings were improvised items to be lent to those who occasionally entered and exited the White Tower.
Because they walked too many wrong ways, the knights spent another whole day in the rime forest.
In the morning, they encounter a modified creature that looks like a giant wolverine. Its brain was exposed, and many strange devices were inserted into its body. It is estimated that it broke free and ran out after Yriel's death. Although this thing is ferocious, its IQ is not high, and it didn't take long for the knights to deal with it. Two of the knights got some damage, but fortunately, it wasn't serious.
At noon, at Burris' suggestion, they made a detour around a sparsely forested area. That direction seems to be easy to go, but in fact it exudes a strong breath of undead creatures. Those things are dormant under the frozen soil, and the approach of living people is likely to wake them up.
The sun sets early in the north. When it was dark again, they finally saw the Khiva River.
When they came, the knights did not take this road. At that time, the river they walked was not wide enough to see the opposite bank clearly at a glance, but now the big river in front of them is unbelievably wide.
Boris looked out from the fence of the prison car: "I haven't reached the Khiva River yet... This is Mirror Ice Lake."
Hearing what he said, Manello next to him showed joy: "Mirror Ice Lake? So not only have we not deviated from the route, but we are also getting closer to the city of North Star!"
Jingbing Lake is connected to the Khiva River, and the annual ice period on the lake is longer than that of the Khiva River. This is closer to the North Star City than the expected route. When coming here, the detachment leader considered that the forest is more conducive to concealment, so he deliberately did not take the lake, but chose a slightly longer route with narrower rivers and dense vegetation on both sides. It's time to return, maybe it's faster to go from here.
Looking at the snow-falling lake, the detachment leader ordered to continue advancing from the lake. After walking through the glacial lake, there is still a short bend in the river, and then another section of the river, and walking forward is the junction of the city of North Star and Ord.
Before stepping onto the ice, Burris was released from the prison wagon and escorted by two knights on foot. They temporarily opened the shackles, let the mage's hands that were cut behind the back come back to his body, and then locked the shackles again. Although the detachment commander had a tough attitude, he still carefully considered the safety of the prisoners.
Boris looked at the back of the leader of the detachment: "I don't recommend you to go to Mirror Ice Lake. There are things under the water in this area. Mirror Ice Lake is more dangerous than Khiva River. It's better to go east, go around, and find a narrower one. of the river."
But you certainly won't listen to me. He added silently in his heart.
Sure enough, the leader of the detachment said: "The lake looks big, but walking from here will save time."
"I reminded you." The mage lowered his head helplessly. The detachment leader ignored him.
After stepping on the ice, two knights born in the north walked to the front of the team. They are better at observing the ice surface and can tell which direction is safer.
The ice covered with thick snow is very dangerous. Not only can people not see the texture of the ice clearly, but it is also easy to step into the trap called "snow bridge".
The snow remains flat, but there are gaps or cracks in the ice under the snow, exposing flowing water—this is the so-called snow bridge. If someone steps into it, he will be immediately washed under the real ice layer by the current, and the snow will make it darker under the ice, making it difficult for those who fell into the water to find the crack and climb up.
They actually met Snow Bridge, and they did so three times. Fortunately, the two northerners had rich experience in wintering. They used spears and stones accumulated on the road to find out the danger, and led everyone around.
"I don't think it's right," one of the black-haired boys muttered, "the ice should be very solid now, why are there so many snow bridges..."
"We didn't go this way when we came here, maybe the temperature here is different." Another knight said.
After speaking, he poked his spear into the snow ahead and shook it slightly. The snow was cracked open, revealing the dark lake water below.
"Look, another one." He looked back at his companion, but the spear in his hand suddenly dropped.
The knight looked at the river in horror. He clearly felt that the spear was dragged into the water by a force.
His reaction was quick, and he immediately raised his voice to remind everyone to pay attention. Before he finished speaking, a touch of white appeared in the ice cave in front of him.
A gray-white hand poked out of the water.
It's not a human hand, it doesn't even belong to a human corpse... What the palm is connected to is not an arm, but a soft and thick gray snake body.