Chapter 18: The Smell Of Iron

Sethlzaar woke to the smell of roast meat wafting through the shelter as well as the absence of the old man. He stepped out, wondering if the old man had gone on his way.

He found the snow elevated at least three feet high. A small path waded through it, an obvious track left behind by the man in his departure. Yet, the smell of meat followed through, up to the high ground. It left Sethlzaar with questions.

Wondering what was going on, he cautiously climbed up to see what was above him. There he saw the old man.

The man sat, roasting a snow hare over a flame in a small clearing. The smell was torture to an empty stomach, and Sethlzaar wondered if the man did it intentionally.

"I didn't wish to wake you," the man called out, "but since you're up, I could use the company."

No use hiding, Sethlzaar thought. He climbed up and joined the man at the fire.