The Silver Sphinx

 

"There is a time for many words, and there is also a time for sleep."

from an Olympian epic

 

 

Third Guild Day of Savorus, 126 HR

The ice wolves were pulling the sled steadily through the endless expanse of the Plane of Ice. Hours had passed since they had escaped from the yetis, and the tension of the chase had given way to an exhausted silence. The landscape around them had changed little: A vast white plain of snow stretched out before them, with gigantic ice formations rising up here and there like silent sentinels, their crystalline forms glistening in the pale light. Dilae leaned back, her breath forming small clouds in the icy air. She watched as snowflakes gently fell from the sky, each one a tiny work of art made of ice. Until something else caught her attention ... She let out a soft call of astonishment and pointed upwards. High in the sky, between the clouds, a frost phoenix glided by majestically. Its wings, spanning over ten paces, shimmered white, light blue and turquoise, while fine ice crystals trickled from its feathers and glittered in the air. Dilae had heard of these creatures in old songs and stories – and also how rare their sight was. For a moment, time seemed to stand still as the legendary creature flew overhead, almost as if to bless their journey.

Yelmalis' voice finally broke the reverent silence. “I didn't think I'd ever see a frost phoenix with my own eyes,” he whispered in awe. “They're more of a myth than a real creature.”

With its one, large eye, F-45 followed the movements of the wonderful bird in the sky. “Correction: they are real creatures, master. However, the probability of seeing one of these birds here on the Plane of Ice is only one in ten thousand and five hundred ten. This frequency is indeed classified by most cultures under the rather vague term rare.”

Dilae was thrilled as always when the spherical monodrone delivered such analyses, because it presented them so earnestly and at the same time looked so cute doing it. As she often did in these moments, she patted its outer shell, and Yelmalis shook his head with a mild smile.

Garush snorted softly, but Dilae could see the admiration even in her eyes. “Myth or no myth, we should concentrate on the road ahead. There's a storm brewing over there, and it looks more threatening than the last one. I'm not sure that the sled's canopy will survive it. We should find a safe place.”

She was right. Behind them, the sky was already darkening, and an icy wind whipped across the plain. The wolves ran fast and tirelessly, but the approaching storm was faster. Tarik and Sekhemkare activated the magic dome using the crystals, but when the full force of the storm hit the sleigh, the transparent barrier flickered visibly.

“You're right, Garush!” Yelmalis shouted against the howling wind. “We should find shelter!”

Dilae clung to the side plank. “Yes, we have to! The sledge won't last much longer!”

Sekhemkare narrowed his eyes and tried to peer through the swirling snow. ”Over there!” He pointed to a spot diagonally to the right in front of them. “I think there's an opening in the mountain!”

Garush steered the sled in the indicated direction, and sure enough, a dark crevice appeared in an ice wall in front of them – the entrance to a cave. The amazon urged the ice wolves on, and with their last ounce of strength, the animals pulled the sled into the protective shelter. They jumped out and carefully pushed their vehicle as close as possible to the cave wall. Then Garush and Tarik unhitched the wolves so that they could rest. It was relatively dark, so Dilae conjured up her moonlight orb, a soothing white light that always hovered a little above her palm. In its glow, they discovered another opening on the opposite wall. When they carefully went through, the passage opened up into a huge cavern after a few steps. The walls were made of flawless, shimmering bluish ice, so smooth and clear that they looked like polished mirrors. Massive icicles hung from the high ceiling and the floor was covered with a thin layer of snow that crunched softly under their steps. Strangely, blue flames burned at regular intervals along the walls in artfully crafted ice lanterns, bathing the surroundings in a mysterious, flickering light.

“The cave seems to be inhabited,” whispered Yelmalis. “But by whom? There's no one in sight ...” The butterflies that always surrounded him were light blue and white and flew very calmly.

In fact, the lanterns weren't the only thing that indicated the presence of inhabitants; there were also several tables made of polished ice, with bowls of fruit and nuts on them. Scattered around them were cushions and blankets on the floor, forming inviting, cozy beds. The air was surprisingly mild, a stark contrast to the biting cold outside. A faint scent of pine and winter berries lingered in the air, mingled with a hint of musk. But the most striking feature was the majestic throne that rose at the center of the cave, carved entirely out of ice. On either side stood life-size ice sculptures of bears, so intricately detailed that Dilae half expected them to come to life at any moment.

“By the light of the Dark Maiden ...” Dilae whispered, her eyes glancing over the sparkling walls, the cushions and the throne. “What is this place?”

“Unknown,” F-45 replied soberly, as it strode through the large ice hall at Yelmalis' side. Its metal feet clattered on the frozen ground, although only quietly and muffled by the layer of snow.

“But it is ... breathtaking,” murmured Tarik, gazing at the elaborate ice sculptures.

Garush, ever alert, examined the room with a sharp eye. ”It's beautiful, yes. But where is the owner?”

Sekhemkare walked over to the tables with movements stiff from the cold and looked at the bowls of fruit and nuts. “Fresh, but unfrozen,” he noted. “Someone must have been here recently.”

Yelmalis went to the imposing ice throne and gently stroked the translucent armrests. ”Whoever lives here seems to be someone important.”

They searched the cave thoroughly and called out several times, but no one answered. The silence was almost tangible, interrupted only by the distant howling of the storm outside, which could still be heard even here.

After a while, Yelmalis sighed. “We're all exhausted. Maybe we should rest here.”

Dilae nodded in agreement. It seemed strange to her that the cave was apparently inhabited but no one was to be seen, but on the other hand, Yelmalis was right: they were all tired and urgently needed a break. And with a storm raging outside, they couldn't leave anyway.

“Very well,” Garush said curtly. ”But we should be careful. We'll set up guards.”

They discussed the order of the shifts and Tarik volunteered for the first one. He sat down at one of the ice tables while the others found a place on the cushions and blankets lying around.

“They're surprisingly warm,” Yelmalis remarked as he lay down. ”Probably a warming spell, because I can feel a faint arcane signature emanating from them.”

Sekhemkare wrapped himself in a light blue, silvery blanket. “Suspiciously comfortable, if you ask me,” he murmured. “But I won't complain about a source of warmth.”

Dilae understood his concerns. It was really strange to find this place in the middle of the icy nothingness. “Pay close attention,” she whispered to Tarik.

She could see Garush lying down last, her axe at the ready, while her suspicious gaze wandered once more through the cave. Then the soft breathing of her friends mingled with the quiet crackling of the ice lanterns, a soothing melody in the silent cave. Outside, the storm continued to howl, but here, surrounded by glittering ice and the glow of the blue flames, Dilae felt strangely sheltered. Soon her eyes closed and she sank into a deep sleep.

 

 

When Dilae awoke, the light of the ice lanterns tickled her eyelids. She blinked sleepily, her eyes still heavy from the unusually deep slumber. As she stretched and turned around, her gaze fell on the throne—and she froze.

“By the Dark Maiden!” She sat up abruptly.

On the previously empty throne sat a huge figure – an ice bear of impressive size, upright, with steel shoulder plates and a sparkling crown of ice crystals on his mighty head. His blue eyes watched the group with calm interest. Dilae's sudden movement and startled exclamation also woke the others. Yelmalis slid back on his blanket in horror until he bumped into F-45, and his butterflies fluttered around him in an extremely hectic manner. Sekhemkare hissed softly as his tongue nervously flicked out.

 

 

Garush was on her feet in a matter of seconds, her axe in her hand. “Who are you?” the amazon shouted. She turned her head to the ice table where Tarik had been sitting at the beginning of his watch. And apparently he had dozed off there too, because he was just waking up from his slumber as well. “What have you done to us? Why were we all sleeping so deeply?”

The ice bear raised a paw in a placating manner. When he spoke, his voice was deep and melodic, like the rumble of a distant glacier. “Do not worry, travelers. You are safe here. The storm outside is dangerous, but my cave offered you protection and much-needed rest.”

“Oh?” The half-orc glared at him skeptically. “Then why didn't you show yourself when we arrived? Why are you sneaking up on us while we were sleeping?” She looked at Tarik, reproachfully. ”And why were you even sleeping? You were supposed to wake me up so I could take over!”

“I'm sorry,” the tiefling stammered. “I don't understand it either ...”

“It's not his fault,” the ice bear interjected patiently. ”It's because of this cave. Some kind of spell lies over it that can make you very sleepy. Not even the little modron was immune to it.”

“Positive,“ F-45 confirmed, appearing thoroughly confused. “It seems I was inactive for several hours.”

Yelmalis had regained some of his composure and now approached cautiously. “Please excuse our confusion,” he said with a polite bow. “We are still a little puzzled ... but grateful for your hospitality.”

Garush gave the wizard a skeptical look, but then lowered her axe and let him speak. Dilae smiled. In situations that required tact, sensitivity and diplomatic skill, it was usually she or Yelmalis who did the talking. In this case, she gladly let the air genasi go first so she could observe the impressive ice bear more closely.

“You ... are sitting on a throne,” Yelmalis now cautiously stated. ”Are you some kind of ... ruler?”

Her host laughed softly, a sound like breaking ice that nevertheless sounded somehow warm. “In a way, yes. I am the leader of a small group of polar bears in this region. My name is Torvik. King is perhaps a bit grandiose, but I must confess that I like the title.” He winked at them and slowly the group relaxed.

Sekhemkare, who had been observing the situation in silence, now nodded, still stiff from the cold. “We are sorry for intruding into your cave. The storm ...”

“No need to apologize,” Torvik interrupted him kindly.

“And the others of your people?” Dilae asked curiously. ”Do they live here too?”

Now the ice bear king sighed deeply and rose from his throne. His massive form towered over even Garush by quite a bit. “Come, let me show you something.”

He went to one of the shimmering ice walls and laid his mighty paw on it. To Dilae's amazement, the ice suddenly became as clear as glass and they could see into an adjoining chamber. Inside, many polar bears lay curled up in a deep slumber. Their bodies rose and fell barely noticeably, but none of them moved.

“My people,“ the king explained, his voice now filled with a deep sadness. “They are sleeping ... too deeply and too long. And with each year, it becomes harder and harder to wake them.”

The group stepped closer, fascinated and disturbed at the same time by the sight of the sleeping bears. Dilae compassionately laid a hand on Torvik's arm. “What do you mean?” she asked quietly.

The ice bear king turned to them. “It's a long and sad story. But what am I telling? You certainly have your own concerns and problems, being in this remote part of the Plane of Ice. Tell me, what brings you here?”

“A mission,” Garush answered quickly before any of the others could reply. “Unfortunately, it's secret, so we can't say much about it.”

Dilae was just thinking of a way to ask Torvik about the Keeper and the Proclaimer without arousing suspicion when Tarik beat her to it. “There aren't any flowers made of ice growing nearby, are there?”

“Frost flowers?” The polar bear king looked at the tiefling with interest. “Why do you ask that?”

“I had a dream when I ... well, when I fell asleep on guard duty.” He looked apologetically at Garush. ”I saw a flower of ice, as clear as crystal and yet alive. It pulsated in a bluish light.”

Sekhemkare scrutinized Tarik carefully. “And did your dream reveal anything else?”

The tiefling shook his head. “Only that it is important. For our mission.”

“Well, no offense, Signer,” Garush growled. ”But these are always such details, no one is able to make use of.”

Tarik raised his hands in defense, as if to emphasize that he was not responsible for the nebulous dream messages.

Torvik, on the other hand, had pricked up his ears when the tiefling had told of his dream. “Could you have seen the glacier rose?” he murmured.

F-45 attentively wiggled its wings. “Is this flower known to you, king of the polar bears?”

Torvik nodded slowly. “Yes, indeed ...”

“Would you tell us more about it, Your Majesty?” Yelmalis asked politely.

The ice bear king looked thoughtfully at the group, then returned to his throne and sat down on it slowly. ”Perhaps we can help each other.”

He beckoned his guests closer and they approached, Yelmalis, Tarik and F-45 obviously just as curious as Dilae, Garush and Sekhemkare rather skeptical.

Torvik leaned back and thought for a moment, then sighed and nodded. “I have shown you my sleeping fellow polar bears ... For generations, a curse has been upon my people. With each passing year, we fall into a deeper hibernation from which we awaken more difficultly. I fear that soon we will fall asleep forever. According to legend, only the song of the ice nightingale can break the curse. But this rare bird lives deep in the heart of the Crystal Forest, guarded by a yuki onna who will not help us.”

“Why not?” asked Garush in her direct manner. “Do you have a dispute with her?”

“You could say that,” Torvik replied sadly. ”A long time ago, a horde of fire giants came through a portal and invaded this area. We tried to protect the Crystal Forest, but in the end we had to retreat to defend our caves here. The yuki onna felt abandoned and still bears a grudge against us. I can't say for sure whether she's the one who put us under this curse of hibernation, but she certainly doesn't want to help us break it.”

Yelmalis nodded in understanding. “That's unfortunate, to put it mildly. And now you want us to find the ice nightingale and bring it to you?”

“Exactly,” the king confirmed. ”Please bring us the ice nightingale and save my people from eternal sleep. In return, I will tell you where to find the glacier rose.”

Dilae nodded gently, but did not want to speak for the others and therefore cast a questioning glance around. Yelmalis and Tarik nodded with a smile, while Sekhemkare made a gesture that was probably supposed to express that they had no other choice anyway. F-45 swayed forward and then backward once, which Dilae had learned to interpret as consent. Finally, her gaze wandered to Garush.

The amazon nodded curtly. “We will help you, Majesty. How do we find the Crystal Forest?”

The ice bear king rose with a smile, then he took something out of a hidden compartment in one of the armrests of his throne. It was a fist-sized crystal of clear ice, inside of which floated a tiny, delicate silver snowflake. “This is the Northwind Compass,” he explained. ”It is pointing to the Crystal Forest. As soon as you leave the cave, the snowflake will detach itself from its position and float to the facet of the ice crystal that is closest to the Crystal Forest. It will also vibrate slightly to warn you of any dangers such as thin ice or hidden crevices.”

He handed the compass to Dilae, who carefully took it with outstretched hands. “Thank you, Your Majesty,” she said. “We will find the ice nightingale and bring it to you, so that the curse may be broken.”

 

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The Olympian epic from which the opening quote is taken is the Odyssey.