“If we enter,” said Tova.
“Now, now, we don’t want any pessimism now. That’s the last thing we need.”
“I’m sorry, what was it you were about to say?”
“I don’t think it’s ever been mentioned, but once you stricken ones enter the valley you will be on your own. None of us can accompany you after that.”
That piece of information rendered them all speechless. Gabriel got goosebumps.
Tengel the Good explained further: “After Shira reached the source of the water of life, Tengel the Evil tightened his team of guards to an alarming degree. Only those who are living can enter the valley now. He’s mortally afraid of spirits entering it. He is afraid of Shira, of course. There is nothing he can do about Tarjei, as he was placed there so long ago and is so well protected now that the evil can’t harm him. Tarjei has watched the valley for us, as you know. Other than that, there is no one there.”
They couldn’t deny that they felt somewhat small and pale now. They had put far too much trust in their helpers. Gabriel gulped.
“Shira can’t enter either,” continued Tengel the Good. “Not until you have prepared the way for her.”
“So we can’t summon you at all?” Nataniel asked.
“You can, but our magical powers have no effect there. Our evil ancestor focused all his energy on eliminating them.”
“Now wait a minute,” Tula interjected. “My four demons were able to enter and save Heike and myself!”
“That’s right,” said Tengel the Good, looking at her gravely. “And do you realize what they risked for you? They could have been thrown down into the Great Abyss! But the four of them together were able to overpower him, so it all turned out well. But he won’t allow himself to be overpowered again, I can guarantee you that. And now he is for real!”
Tula nodded and remained silent.
Once more they looked up towards the sacrificial bonfires. The smoke hovered threateningly above the two peaks. Gabriel almost had a sense of it being Doomsday. He shuddered.
Tengel the Good turned to the latest arrival. “Shouldn’t we go up now, Inu?”
“I wouldn’t recommend it, honorable Master,” answered the little Taran-gai. “At night their spirits are lively and their powers greater.”
“But we have the night demons,” Nataniel reminded him.
Inu turned his ball-shaped face to him and said, “True, venerable Master. But it is questionable who would emerge victorious from such a battle.”
“Then we’ll camp here for the night,” Marco concluded.
Disheartened, they looked around. It wasn’t the most inviting place in the world. Sloping terrain, patches of snow all around. Gabriel thought of his bed at home, and his dog snuggling up close to him ...
Tova thought longingly of a warm and comfortable hotel room.
“Rather this than go up there now,” said Nataniel.
The others agreed with him.
“Do you have all four bottles with you?” Sol asked.
“Yes,” said Nataniel. “I have mine, Tova has hers, and Marco has his own and Ellen’s.”
None of them could help noticing the pained look that crossed his face when he mentioned her name.
“It’s not good that you have two bottles, Marco,” said Tengel the Good.
He looked at the two living individuals who were left, for they were the only ones who could transport Shira’s water bottles into the valley.
“Gabriel cannot carry any,” said Tengel the Good. “He already has far too much responsibility. You are to record everything that has happened here, if and when the golden age of peace ever comes, Gabriel. And you, who must therefore be spared from falling into the clutches of the enemy, have already been exposed on two occasions.”
Ulvhedin nodded. “It seems as though they are focusing on the weakest members. I haven’t been able to stop the attacks. They always happen unexpectedly.”
Which left only one living member of the group: Ian Morahan.
“But he hasn’t been initiated,” said Sol.
“No,” said Tengel the Good, “He hasn’t been initiated, nor has he received the blessing and protection of all the forces at the Demon’s Mountain.”
“He hasn’t drunk from the brew that the others were given,” said Ulvhedin. “We can’t expose him to the dangers that lie ahead.”
“What’s more important, he’s an outsider,” said Nataniel.
“No,” said Marco with a small smile. “Ian is no outsider. My friend the black angel healed his body. They can’t do that sort of thing to an ordinary man. Ian is one of us.”
“What do you mean?” asked Sol.
“He is going to be the father of a child of the Ice People.”
Tova’s heart was pounding. She exchanged glances with Ian and it warmed her heart to see the affectionate and tender look he gave her.
“But Ian is unable to protect himself,” she objected with concern.
“He has a guardian, and that’s me,” Tengel the Good assured her.
“Yes, and we gave his aura strength so that it would be like a protective shield around him,” said Nataniel.
“But if we enter the valley, Tengel the Good won’t be with him,” Tova pointed out.
Yet again they heard the sound of flapping leathery wings. Tula’s four demons had returned. Gabriel hurriedly took notes.
“How did it go?” she asked, and conferred with them briefly. One of the demons took off again and vanished.
Tula turned back to the group. “Ulvar and Kolgrim have been dropped off in a place where they can’t be found. They are well.”
Gabriel had no doubts about that. Tula always treated her guests very well.
“But,” she said proudly, “I have also managed to achieve something else. My friend Astarot will now fly home and fetch the rest of the brew the others were given. We saved a little in case of an emergency, which I think you can safely call this. He’ll be back soon.”
Ian Morahan felt his heart pounding with fear. He had long ago come to terms with the fact that he was now in a world that was completely out of the ordinary, with a family the like of which wasn’t to be found anywhere on this planet. But now they wanted him to drink a magical potion! Did he really dare? Wouldn’t that be the same as saying good-bye to the real world forever? He, who had now been given new life!
But he had only them to thank for the fact that he was still alive today, that he had survived the death sentence he had been facing before meeting them. So he felt an obligation to help them.
Ian Morahan sensed that they were all looking at him. “I’m ready,” he said, with a voice he hoped sounded calm and indifferent. Which he wasn’t in the least, as Gabriel was able to sense with his new refined ability to read minds.
They smiled and thanked Ian warmly, and at that moment he would have been willing to do anything for them.
Astarot returned and Tula poured the concoction into a small bowl. First Ian had to take an oath that he would always obey the orders he was given by his superiors. Whereupon Tula handed him the bowl.
It was bitingly cold all around them. The wind pulled and tugged at them and the silence across