CHAPTER 253: THE PATH BEYOND THE SNOW

His whole body was wrapped in thick furs, his belly and legs covered so that almost no part of him was exposed to the freezing air.

Even so, with the merciless wind mixed with snow whipping against them, they would freeze in moments if not protected like this.

Dominic was wrapped tightly in a snow bear fur cloak, the hood pulled deep over his head. His mouth, nose, and most of his face were covered by fur wraps.

Only his eyes were exposed, but even his eyelashes and eyebrows were dusted with frost.

If the temperature dropped any lower, they would probably freeze solid.

After crossing yet another ridge, the path sloped down into a dried forest where only a few shrubs clung to life.

When Dominic looked up, he saw dark clouds spreading from the north, it was an ominous sign that heavy winter snow was coming. If a blizzard hit here, it could be truly deadly.

He couldn’t help but wonder how the people of the cursed stone village managed to travel over such roads. It was beyond reckles and it was madness. Was there really a settlement beyond this point? Could anyone even survive in such a place?

Then he felt several presences at once.

The crunch of footsteps on snow and faint murmurs came from behind.

Dominic quickly looked around and stopped at a spot where the trail widened slightly.

His and Marengo’s footprints were clear in the snow, so there was no point in hiding.

Soon, the heads of several people appeared over the ridge.

It was A group of five approached, they looked like not in a hurry, but they walked steadily. They led shaggy, short-legged mountain goat-like beasts, each of them loaded high with bundles wrapped in cloth and hemp sacks.

The people wore cloaks made from snow bear fur, much like Dominic’s own. Judging by their appearance, they were likely villagers returning home after buying supplies for the coming winter.

When they noticed Dominic standing by the road, they stopped.

"Strange. A traveler at this time of year?"

"Or just a fool with no fear of death?"

The brown skinned men with red eyes gave him curious unguarded looks.

"Are you people from the village beyond this point?" Dominic asked.

The men nodded in acknowledgment. He decided to press further.

"You come to the villages below to sell black agate stones, don’t you?"

"Yeah," one of them answered easily. "That’s our specialty. Thanks to those stones, we can make a living up there."

Their answer was open and straightforward.

They seemed simpler and more genuine than Dominic had expected.

"I’ve come all this way because I wish to visit your tribe," Dominic said. "Would you allow me to enter your village?"

"You sure are a strange one," one of the men said with a grin. "Alright, come with us. If you keep going alone like this, you’ll get lost and freeze to death before long. You can stay in our village until spring, when the snow stops."

"That’s very kind of you. I’m grateful," Dominic replied.

"No need to thank us," another said, laughing. "Travelers almost never come this way. The villagers will be glad to see someone new."

"Yeah, the women and kids will be excited too!"

The men burst into loud hearty laughter.

Dominic had worried they might be a closed-off or suspicious people, but it seemed they were surprisingly open and friendly.

They moved quickly, sure-footed on the mountain path, clearly used to these steep roads.

Dominic followed close behind with Marengo, doing his best not to fall behind.

After a while, the twisting path through the trees opened up and his view expanded.

The trees thinned and below him stretched a narrow valley between steep mountain walls.

A stream flowed through the middle, its banks forming a flat plain now covered in snow.

In summer, it might have been farmland, but now it was a vast white field dotted with bare trees.

There was no sign of a settlement anywhere in sight.

The group while leading a herd of pack creatures called Gaurdinho continued downward along a narrow road carved into the side of a cliff.

They descended with the valley to one side and a towering rock wall on the other.

Just before reaching the valley floor, Dominic spotted a large wooden door built into the rock wall. It was wide enough for a fully loaded Gaurdinho to pass through.

One of the men casually grabbed the metal ring handle and pulled. The heavy door creaked open revealing the dark mouth of a cave.

Following them inside, Dominic found that the interior was much larger than the entrance suggested.

The dim magic stones embedded in the rock walls gave off a soft light, faintly illuminating the space. The air was filled with the smell and warmth of animals, easing the bitter cold from outside.

A fenced area occupied half of the large cavern, where Gaurdinho and other beasts were kept. Deeper inside, Dominic could see several doors that probably led to more rooms.

After the men unloaded their packs, they led the Gaurdinho into the pen and fed them hay.

"You can tie your horse here too," one of the men said. "We all take care of the animals together. Everything here belongs to the whole clan. That’s a fine horse you’ve got—never seen one that good before."

They spoke as they took off their thick fur cloaks. When they pulled back their hoods, Dominic saw their short brown hair, though the shades varied from light to dark.

"Thank you," Dominic said. "His name is Marengo. He’s my partner—please take good care of him."

After handing Marengo’s reins over, Dominic also took off his cloak. The air inside the cavern was warm enough that he didn’t need it anymore.

"Whoa! Look at you!" one of the men exclaimed. "You’re a handsome one!"

"Never seen hair that color before. It was gold like the sun!"

"The women are going to lose their minds over this!"