In the morning, there was no improvement in the weather. The men had survived the brutal cold overnight, with Kergan looking much better than before, but still, they were all feeling miserable and chilled to the bone. Gorthum was the only one that seemed refreshed and rejuvenated, he strode in front of the group and lead the way with determination. The unrelenting snow and howling winds made their climb difficult. The mountain had many outcroppings and small caverns, but none large enough to house any monstrosity to which they sought.

  Toth mountain, the largest in all the lands, was home to many a wild animal, both big and small, but nothing comparable to the one they hunted. Through stories and legends had they only heard of this creature. Kergen remembered some from his youth. He and the others shared the details as they trudged on. They all agreed, from what they knew, that it stood a whopping nine feet, with large fangs, claws, and bore a shaggy white fur. It was a beast of immense size and stature.

  Twilaf felt the creature needed to have a cave of equal measure. Bilto agreed to that theory, pointing out that there were some clues as to it’s having been around. Each of those small caverns had a few bones littered about it. But Solotar argued they were too old to be anything recent. Plus, they weren’t human looking. This debate raged on as they tirelessly ventured upward. The air began to thin, making it hard for many to catch a breath, and frequently had to take short breaks to ease their lungs. Gorthum steadily grew impatient with each stop, and refused to sit with them as they bonded around a fire.

  The fire had to be well constructed, with he few sticks and cloth they had to help fuel its flame. The wind often blew it out before it could rage, and this created many arguments among them on who was not doing their duty to keep it contained. But last the men, cold, bitter, and tired as they were, soldiered on, they suddenly noticed that Gorthum had stopped at the edge of an upper slope and had his hands out.

  “We have come!” Gorthum shouted with all of his might.

  The group wondered what he was on about. They ran up to join him at the mouth of it and gawked in wonder upon seeing his discovery.

  “By the God of Toth!” Kergen exclaimed.

  Each man repeated it in kind, and continued to gawk at the scene. There before them, down in the pit of the slope, nestled in the side of the mountain’s rock face, was the largest open cavern they’d ever seen. The opening was covered in huge circles, pointing downward, like jagged teeth awaiting prey to enter it.

  “We come to slay you! Oh, beast of the mountain!” Gorthum shouted. “Come meet your death at the hand of these brave warriors!”

  Kergen and the others, drew out their swords, and prepared to descend into the depths of this ice laden beast’s lair of hell.

  “Must you call it out so loudly, you old fool…” Twilaf sneered at Gortham. “We lost the element of surprise because of your stupidity.”

  Gortham chuckled, dismissing his words with a light wave of his hand.

  “The beast comes no matter if you announce your presence or not. It probably caught our scent the moment we were within reach of this cavern. Better to challenge it now than wait to see it face to face.”

  Kergan glanced over at Balto, their eyes meeting as they wondered about Gorthan’s sanity. The men said no more, and continued down into the maw of this natural open semi-circled arena. Solotar took point, leading the others as he shifted his eyes about. The creature had to be here somewhere, and they all took cautious steps as they moved as one. The cavern ahead was a strange and ominous center of attention. Dark as it was inside, there was still a faint flickering amber of orange-yellow light deep inside of it. Kergan listened carefully, his ears poised for any heavy steps, but could only hear the crunching snow of their own feet.

  “Where is it?” Durgat complained in a whisper. He clutched his heavy axe in hand and kept it raised. “It can’t be out here, we’d have seen it by now, right?” He stepped closer to Gortham, who wasn’t crouched down like the others, in fact, he was standing tall, sword in hand, and smiling. He nudged at the old man. “Does it keep to the cave? Huh? Maybe it’s resting, perhaps? Come on, you old fart, you’d know better than anyone.”

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  As they reached the bottom of the slope, stepping into the open spaced area, Gortham stopped in his tracks and held out his hands for the others to do the same. They obeyed his gesture, and stopped as well. They held the swords and axes up, ready to attack whatever would come. Still, Gortham did not move. He closed his eyes, and listened carefully.

  “The beast is cunning, my friends.” He said. “It like no creature of this world, I can tell you now. I hear it’s breathing, soft, slow, and patient. Is it in the cave, you ask? Perhaps… or it could be hidden behind those sharp mounds of ice and snow all around us.” He pointed to the surroundings, and slowly opened his eyes. “I feel the eyes… yes… the eyes are watching us… it is very near by, indeed.”

  “I hear nothing.” Kergan shrugged. “Nor do I see anything lurking beyond. Just sound of the wind, the snow drifting about, and the sight of us fools holding weapons like scared children.”

  Gortham turned to him and scowled. “He’s here I tell you. When you’ve encountered such a being before, you get to know the sights, sounds and even the smell of the enemy!”

  Balto gave a disapproving glance at Kergan, he walked over to him and butted his elbow lightly to his head. Kergan reacted with a quick turn raising up his sword at him.

  “The man is mad, I tell you, Balto! There is no beast! He’s lead us here in some foolish fever dream.”

  Suddenly, from out of the cave, a loud beastly roar echoed out and caused all the men to freeze in terror. All but Gortham, who stood pleased, and raised his arms up in vindication.

  “Beast of Toth! We come to vanquish you!”

  The men watched him laugh in delight. It was a crazed and maniacal. One that made all of them glance at each other, wondering about his sanity, just as Kergan had suggested it might actually be. Gorthum turned about and faced the warriors.

  “Come my brothers in arms, we must venture inward and slay the beast!”

  Kergan stood tall and eyed him. “It is foolish to attack directly! We need to surprise the creature, not run in like idiots. We need to find a way to lure it out…”

  “Off you go then,” Twilaf motioned to him. “Be a good lad and do that for us. Step in front of the cavern and act like it’s dinner.”

  The men snickered. Kergan thumped his sword to the ground and frowned. Gorthum was equally unimpressed and scowled at them.

  “There’s no time for this banter, the beast has heard us, if you do not attack first, then surely it will!” He pointed to Kergan. “Lead us on, if thou is fearless, you talk much of bravery and courage, show us… instead of hiding behind others like a frightened animal.”

  Kergan balled his fist up, he so wanted to deck that old man for insulting him. But, as his eyes shifted to the others glancing back, he decided to hold back that anger, and pick up his sword.

  “I say, we go around the cavern.” He clutched his weapon in hand, pointing it to either side of the massive lair. “We’ll split up and find a way to kill it by surprise… or rush it out into the open… and then,” He glared up at Gorthum. “We kill the damned beast once and for all.”

  The men liked the sound of that plan. They nodded with grunts of approval. All but Gorthum, he stood there stoic, gritting his teeth, with a sniff of contempt. Balto smiled, he patted Kergan on the shoulder and gestured to him.

  “We will follow your lead, Kergan, this journey has made you into a man––tough, strong willed, and cunning. I told you this bitter cold would do it.”

  Kergan smirked at him. “Actually, I think I’ve just grown tired of hearing us all bicker, I want to get it over with and go home, to a warm bed.”

  “That works too.” Durgat said with a grin.

  The men gave a chuckle as Kergan picked the teams of two.

  “Balto, you, Gorthum and Twiliaf will take to the left.”

  “Why do we get the old fool?” Twiliaf sneered, gesturing a thumb to him.

  “Because I said so,” Kergan rolled his eyes. “Just do it.”

  “Fine…” Twiliaf sighed, he looked over at Gorthum and pointed a finger at him. “Just remember, no shouting, ya stupid oaf! I don’t need the beast to hear us coming up his backside, alright?”

  Gorthum looked displeased and said nothing back. Kergan turned to the rest and motioned his hand to the right side of the lair.

  “Durgat, Solotar, you two and I will take to the other side, hopefully we’ll find another entrance.”

  “What if there isn’t one there?” Solotar shrugged. “What then?”

  “Then…” He looked over at the entrance of the cavern. “I guess I’ll be the bait… just like Gorthum suggested, and lure the beast into the open…”

  “Sucks to be you.” Solotar snickered.

  Gorthum folded his arms in protest, but eventually conceded, once Balto and Twiliaf started to head off to the left. The old man looked bored by this strategy, and made no effort to be quick as the two were ahead of him. Solotar took noticed and shook his head disapprovingly.

  “Let’s hope the beast eats him first. At least he’d be doing us a favor…”

  Kergan nodded in agreement. With sword in hand, he took lead and headed for the right side of the lair. Solotar and Durgat followed, turning their heads periodically to make sure nothing surprised them on the way over.