The salty shores of Keeve were far behind them. Kiva lead the way through the sharp windswept land. In the very far distance he could see the mountains of Recomine shining like a diamond on the earth

                Elim coughed and took a drink from his canteen. "It only seems to get further away."

                "Keep focus, Elim," Hyxoes said. "We'll get there soon." He stopped and waited for him catch up before pressing on.

                The sky was the unique color of an eclipse and their shadows stretched out far, moving with the sun and counting the time.

                Two days and a night they spent in the jagged desert and still another it took to cross the frozen land that stretched out from before the mountains. They rested there to build their strength before entering the ever challenging Glimmer Mountain range.

                Outside their rickety tent a storm blew, threatening to rip it from its stakes and carry it off leaving them in the open. Despite a hard sleep they got up the next morning and packed up camp. As they neared the mountains Kiva noticed a series of stones in the distance.

                "Do you think they are markers of some sort?" he asked Wessex next to him. The white lion only shrugged and suggested they wait until they got closer.

                As they got nearer to the stones, Kiva could see what they were tombstones. He stopped at the base of the mountain and dumped off his pack. He stretched his back feeing his bones crack.

                "These must be hundreds of years old," Hyxoes said as they walked among the stones. "Look, all the words are weathered away."

                "I wonder who they were," Elim said as he looked at a headstone.

                "Most likely travelers who didn't survive the mountains," Hyxoes said. The silver baboon looked up at the gleaming fortress before them.

                "Maybe this is a bad idea," Elim said.

                "Too late to turn back now," Wessex said. "Besides we promised the Archduke."

                Elim sighed. "I should have stayed back with him. At least they had good food."

                Kiva laughed. "Step lively, Elim, " he said as he started up the mountain side. "Soon we shall dine with the Emperor in Recomine!"

/

                All smiles and jokes were gone when they were met with the night winds of the Glimmer Mountains. When they found a small cave they crowded into it and huddled together.

"We should go back!" Elim shouted. "We'll never make it!"

"No!" Kiva said, "We have a mission."

"Blast the mission, what about our lives?"

"We promised!" Kiva said, "You always wanted action, Elim and here it is! Now, we are going to make it out of these mountains and we are going to Recomine!"

Elim pressed himself against the rocks and didn't argue further. He had his doubts but deep down he knew he couldn't turn back. Besides he wanted the war to end as much as the next person.

It took over an hour for the winds to die down and when they had, Kiva moved his team forward. A week into the mountains and they stumbled upon a frozen valley. The four descended into it and Kiva tapped the ground. "It's amazing isn't it?" he said to Hyxoes.

The baboon laughed. "Who knew something so deadly could be beautiful."

"What about Empress Olympia," Elim said and the team laughed.

"Come on you guys," Kiva said. "We'd better get out of here before dark." A flash on nearby peak made him freeze in his tracks. Looking around he saw something yellow shift in the snow. "Someone is watching us," he whispered and his three companions fell silent. "There." He pointed to a large bolder.

Suddenly there was a flash of white and Hyxoes was blindsided by a snowy owl. "We're under attack!" 

"Brace yourselves!" Kiva shouted. "He's coming back—"He was knocked off his paws by a tremendous force that sent him rolling in the snow. When he got to his paws he saw no sign of his attacker.

                As the owl circled back Elim jumped at him with gnashing teeth. Kiva however kept his eyes fixed on the way his attacker had gone. When the cheetah came charging at them again, Kiva was ready. He charged towards him, plowing into his side and catching him by surprise.

                Druid kicked Kiva off, striking him in the jaw with an ice cold paw. Kiva was stunned by the cold for a moment but knew he needed to keep his head if he was to survive. He wacked his attacker over the head sending him rolling then he pounced at him only to have the cheetah slip from his grasp.

                Druid laughed as he leapt onto a bolder. "Hold the lines!" he shouted.

                At first they didn't know who his was talking to until they looked up the rocky valley wall and saw the white dressed army.

                "Impressive aren't they?" Druid said then tossed his head. "You put up quite a fight yourselves. Anyone who fights like that has a purpose. So, tell me, who sent you?"

                "Who are you?" Kiva frowned.

                "Of course you don't recognize my face," Druid said. "I visited you in your crib in Nagoray when I was just a boy."

                "Prince Druid?" Kiva said in disbelief. "Why did you attack us?"

                Druid smirked. "I have an odd sense of humor. No harm, no foul. So what brings you lot here to my holy mountain? Surely you aren't planning on staying." He reclined on the rock and yawned.

                "We were sent by Archduke Herculaneum and Archduchess Germania," Kiva said. He then held up the necklace. "If you don't believe me look at this."

                Corinth the snowy owl swept out of the sky and snatched the necklace. He then delivered it into the icy paws of Druid.

                "We'll I'll be," the cheetah chuckled. "So," He hoped down from the bolder and approached Kiva. "You were telling the truth. I thought the Archduke was dead! My father will be pleased to hear this." He tossed Kiva the necklace. "So why did he send you?"

                "The Mounts are coming," Kiva said. "They are coming this way with a strong weapon. They plan to annihilate you and all of your people!"

                "No," Druid said and Kiva and Hyxoes exchanged glances. "You see this army? These are my people. The mounts aren't coming for them; they are coming for my father."

                "Don't be foolish," Elim spoke. "Princes always think so foolishly, I swear. If they are coming for your father they are coming for you. Just like they came for Nagoray and Tangia and Sapinfree and all the others! No one is exempt from their judgments."

                "Either way my father won't listen," Druid said. "He doesn't listen to anyone. Not even me. That's why I left home. Parents can be suffocating."

                Kiva hung his head. Druid reminded him so much of his former self in that moment. "He'll listen to the Archduke. He has to."

                Druid laughed and smiled. "If you say so, Prince Kiva of Nagoray." He swished his tail and pointed to the opposite end of the valley. "There's a narrow pass between those two spires. Watch out for falling snow. Stick to the mountain and walk for four to five days." He looked the small team over then looked at Kiva. "You'll reach Recomine, and then we shall be kings together." His lips twisted into a grin and he stepped out of the way to let Kiva and his team pass. "May the icy winds of Glimmer be ever at your back!" he shouted. "We shall meet again soon, Kiva, in good health!"

                The princes' words echoed through the mountain chain as the team of four moved on with new vigor. Recomine was close, his people, his family were close. This was the closest they had been in years. Nothing could stop them; nothing was standing in their way. They would warn Recomine and they would be ready for the Mounts when they marched through Glimmer in the summer.