[piosenniel]

The ship was at rest, rocking a bit on the small waves that lapped toward the shore. Rôg thanked the fates for the respite from the normal motions of a ship on water and helped himself to a small, sweet treat that one of the Elves had put out for the gathered group. He was happy to see his old friend and guide, Bear, and motioned the man over with a wave of his mug held high in the air.

Bear’s normally ruddy face was rather pale as he came to stand by Rôg and his hands shook a bit as he accepted a mug of steaming tea from him. Rôg looked at him as he sipped his own drink, giving the man a chance to warm up before he spoke.

‘Something’s got the wind up you,’ commented Rôg as he poured the man a second cup of tea. ‘I’ve only see you like this once before – we were out on the ice fields far north of your village. You went very quiet, whispering to me.’ Bear nodded his head, the scene coming back to him. ‘I remember that,’ Bear said. ‘And I remember your own face when I told you that death itself was stalking us.’ The glimmer of a smile creased his face, then vanished. ‘Those were just the great Ice Bears who were trailing us that day . . . this is different.’ Bear shook his head in complete bafflement. ‘Why anyone would want to try a look in that cave is beyond me.’

‘Is it where you bury your dead?’ asked Rôg, trying to piece together the parts of the puzzle. ‘Do the spirits of your ancestors haunt the place?’

Bear snorted, choking on his tea at this question. ‘Spirits of the ancestors I could face. I’ve no bone to pick with them or they with me.’ He set his mug down on the table near him. ‘What I don’t want to hasten is joining those who have gone on! I’m far too young to be an ancestor! I’ve grown to relish my breathing if you catch my drift.’

‘Then what’s the problem?’ prodded Rôg.

Bear began to explain how treacherous the cave was. How the hill it was under sat on the edge of the bay and how the motion of the waters had eroded deeply into the interior of the hill. The opening was small, he went on, belying the enormity of the cave within. And much of it was half submerged beneath the waters, and more than half submerged when the tides came in at their fullest. It was dark within, of course, and fair piece of the way was iced – some places thinner than others. One could slip beneath the ice and not find a way back out. And worse yet the hill itself was of a crumbly sort of rock. Chunks were easily displaced within and without the cave, and if one were not careful, you could find yourself crushed by a rockslide. ‘In short,’ said Bear, summing up his opinion of the cave and of the Captain and Elder who had decided to attempt exploring it, ‘only fools would dare enter the cave!’

‘Well, the Captain’s no fool – but I’ll take your warning to heart. Perhaps we can talk this over in my cabin. Make some sort of plan to keep our group a little safer. What say you?’ Bear looked thoughtfully at Rôg, then spoke grimly. ‘The land here is unforgiving of the ignorant and the unprepared. I fear for us. We Lossoth will use all the skills that we have, but I cannot say it will be enough to keep us safe in the Great Cave.’

‘I have a few skills of my own,’ Rôg added, ‘and the Elves are not without some quick abilities. Let us work closely together and see how we fare.’ He rubbed his chin and shook his head at his next thought. ‘Far worse than the Great Cave will be the Corsairs should they retrieve those Stones the Captain spoke of. They are cruel men and will crush you as surely as any falling rock . . . the rock, though, will not relish your death as will they.’

Once Rôg had gotten Bear situated in his cabin, he begged off, saying he would return shortly. The Captain had asked to speak with him, and Rôg wanted to share what Bear had told him. He strode quickly down the companionway, passing Elves and Lossoth heading the opposite way to their quarters. In a few moments he stood before the Captain’s door. Rôg knocked lightly, calling in a low voice.

‘Luindal . . . are you there?’