After Kaerwen had gotten his orders, he’d led Letho and Roy out of the resplendent chamber and into the guest rooms on another floor.

“You’re going to leave me behind again, Letho?” Roy tried to persuade him. “Don’t you think battling this kind of monster is valuable experience for me? It’s fine if I just watch from the sidelines. I won’t be a burden, trust me. We’ve refused the request once in Svanthor, but in the end, we couldn’t escape it. Don’t you think this is a sign from fate?” Roy talked about fate after not getting any reply. Letho seemed to like anything related to fate. “Fate is telling us to face this challenge together.”

“Shut it. Fate doesn’t have time for a kid from a village like you.” Letho kept his eyes on Kaerwen, and without even turning around, he answered, “The hunt’s going to take us deep into the forest, and that’s its turf. Everything is its eyes and ears, so there’s no place to hide. Watching from the sidelines isn’t going to happen.” Letho raised his voice on purpose. “So give it up and stay in Mount Carbon. Go on a vacation and stroll around. Not everyone has the chance to visit this magnificent fortress. You’ve been training your shots, and the dwarves here are experts. You can ask them to teach you if you have the chance. Read my notes if you’re bored out of your mind.”

Roy stopped insisting after Letho stood his ground. Letho got one point right though. He was willing to compete with the dwarven crossbowmen, since he just ‘bought’ a new crossbow, and he was raring to go.

***

They went up the spiral staircase that led to the second floor with Kaerwen in front of them. As if struck by lightning, Kaerwen served Letho and Roy quietly after getting scolded by Brovar. He brought them to the space above Brovar’s chambers, which was another clearing in the mountain. When the door was opened, they were greeted by a corridor filled with doors on both sides leading to exhibition rooms and storerooms, and sconces hung on the wall. When they looked up, they saw a steel door with a rectangular observation hole at the end of the corridor.

Roy suddenly felt the howling winds and freezing chill that came from the steel door’s observation hole, and he shivered. “There’s windows here?” When he went up to the door, Roy craned his neck and was shocked by what he saw. “Whoa, the dwarves sure have an eye for exquisite stuff.”

The room behind the steel door was of standard size, and it was empty. There was no wall at the end of the room. It was completely open, and snow flew in along with the cold gale, freezing the ceiling, walls, and floor. So, open air resort, eh? And with snow to boot. The guest would only have to walk a few steps to see the majesty of Mount Carbon up close, feeling the primal charm of the snow-capped mountain. They could enjoy the view of the endless pine trees and the flaming sunset among the ivory lands.

Well, they’ll have to make sure they don’t freeze to death in the first place. There weren’t any blankets or fireplaces in the room. Only races with hairy bodies and high resistance to cold could enjoy the view. Oh, if they take a few more steps, they can fall down the cliff and die.

“What do you think, boy? Make one mistake in the Mahakams, and you’ll be in there for a week. Want me to make the arrangements for you?” Kaerwen asked snarkily as he drifted to Roy.

Roy turned around and stared down at the dwarf, who only reached his chest, and he squinted. “I’m sorry, Mr. Kaerwen. Who were you calling a boy?”

Kaerwen’s face fell, but he was reminded of Brovar’s orders, and he snorted. After making a few turns and arriving at the guest rooms in the depths of the corridor, Kaerwen tossed them two keys. “Dinner will be sent to you. Lights off at ten, and stay in your room. Not even the great elder can save you if you barge into forbidden places. And I’ll be waking you tomorrow, Letho.” He slammed the door shut.

Roy stretched his arms. Too many things happened that day, and he was overwhelmed. He needed time to process it. Letho put his index finger to his lips before tiptoeing to the door. Once he confirmed the coast was clear, he beckoned Roy. “Know why I didn’t let you join?”

“Because I’d be deadweight.”

“That’s the main reason.”

“Give it to me straight, Letho.” Roy took a deep breath. “I noticed it. You were misleading him, weren’t you? When you raised your voice?”

“Good. Looks like the winds didn’t freeze your brain. I do have a mission for you.”

“Hm?” Roy sat up. “I knew it. Strength is everything here, but sometimes, you need brains to pull something off.”

Letho whispered, “You’ll be investigating the dwarves while I’m away on the hunt. I need you to find a dwarf with a special mark on them.” He drew a strange symbol where a spider’s web and antler overlapped. “Remember this mark. Tell me immediately if you see it on any part of any dwarf. And don’t get caught.”

Roy rubbed his chin and frowned. “Everyone’s wrapped up in layers of clothes. It’s winter, you know. How should I even check their bodies? What if the mark’s on their butt? Can’t ask me to pull their pants down, can you?”

“That’s up to you.” Letho patted his shoulder. “You did well in the House of Cardell, boy. Use your advantage here.”

Roy sat on the bed and thought about it, and then he came up with a plan.

“Try keeping this mission a secret. Don’t let them catch you,” he warned Roy sternly. “But if you find anyone trustworthy here, getting some help is fine. As long as they don’t have the mark.”

“I have another question.” Roy asked, “What if the target’s a woman?”

“The people who’d go into the forest and come into contact with the leshen are men. They’re your prime targets.” Letho paused. “If the target isn’t among the men, then go for the women. You’re young, and you look cleaner than the dwarven children. I don’t think the women would complain even if you do anything.”

Roy thought about the hairy, bearded women, and a chill ran down his spine, but not because of the cold. He shook his head, praying that the target was not a woman. “What does that mark mean? The note doesn’t have anything about it.”

Letho licked his lips. “Alright, listen. The stronger a monster is, the more land it occupies. This monster’s hunting grounds range from Svanthor to the valley near Mount Carbon. It must be incredibly old, and incredibly strong. Or at least, I’ve never encountered that kind of monster before. I have to prepare for the worst. It’s awakened a spell that’s related to the mark. It can take the mark’s host’s life force, and revive on the spot even if I kill it, so you have to find the bearer of the mark. And the bearer’s submitted to it, so they’re probably a slave now. You must not get caught, at any costs.”

Roy trembled, and the image of a gigantic monster with antlers, white skull, algae on its body, and gnarly limbs appeared in his mind. So, it is a leshen.