It was noon when Kirin looked down at the valley at the base of the mountain. Its beauty soothed his worried mind. He dismounted to stretch his legs as he sent his Seeker energies ahead.
"Are we there already?" Valerien asked.
"Yes. This is Cadair Idris. The mountain where three rivers meet."
"It's like being haunted by that dead warlock," the demon grumbled.
Kirin ignored him. A shudder went down his spine when he redirected his magic towards a nearby waterfall. The power coming from there felt overwhelming.
"There is a lot of elemental magic in the mountains, but something particularly strong is hiding behind that waterfall. I never felt such cold energy," he reported.
Valerien smiled mirthlessly, then let his armour come out.
"Do you know who it is?" Kirin asked, letting his energies flow further towards the cascading water. He couldn't see anything behind it, not even an opening.
"Rhian of Yaris. A man more beautiful and more terrifying than any you've seen before", Valerien announced in dramatic mockery, but then warned, "Don't let that light go too far or he'll see it."
Kirin withdrew his energies even before they touched the waterfall. He didn't need to go any further anyway.
"He feels … stronger than you," he admitted with trepidation.
"He is. But I don't mean to fight him. Take the horses back to the forest and wait for me there."
"But I want to see what he's like."
"For the love of your gods, bard, I liked you better when you were terrified of me."
"No, you didn't."
Valerien whirled around to him. Kirin flinched but stood his ground. The demon's expression suddenly softened, and his mouth twitched in amusement.
"No, I didn't", he admitted. "But Rhian must not see you. Go back to the horses."
Kirin hesitated. His exasperated elders had always told him that his curiosity would kill him one day. The decision was taken from him as something pulled him forward. He stumbled towards the water. Valerien cursed and grabbed his cloak to pull him back.
With a thumping heart, Kirin watched the waterfall divide into two exact halves. A Fae in silver armour came through, followed by some wolf-like beast.
"Don't speak a word and keep your eyes lowered", Valerien hissed at him.
For once, Kirin wanted to obey but found himself frozen like a hare facing a snake. The wolf-like creature was frightening enough with its huge muscles and glowing eyes, but nothing in comparison to the knight.
No one would have ever mistaken Rhian of Yaris for a human. A pointy ornament of the Arcanite metal graced his forehead, holding long silver hair away from his face. The chiselled features looked as cold as marble, the skin so white that it was almost translucent. The eyes, however, were the most terrifying aspect. They were light blue and shimmering like iridescent stones, the pupils barely visible.
"Lord Yaris", Valerien said with a respectful bow.
"Valerien of Astir. Have you come to serve my mistress or to die?" the being asked.
Even his voice sounded like it was dripping with icicles. Kirin took a step towards Valerien, instinctively seeking comfort next to his warm body. The demon, however, seemed to be completely unfazed and smiled brightly.
"Are those the only two options I get?"
Rhian raised his sword in answer, and the wolf-like creature growled.
"Taran told me that the Princess ordered my capture, not my death. Will you go against her will?" Valerien asked calmly.
The knight regarded him for a moment, then lowered the sword and gestured at the waterfall. Kirin could vaguely see a cave behind the water, but he did not intend to follow as Rhian marched back towards it. Valerien didn't seem eager to cross the water either.
"He is trying to get you at a disadvantage," Kirin whispered.
"Be quiet and go back."
The bard was just about to do so when blue energies enveloped him and pushed him forward in a gust of cold wind. He tried to resist it, but soon found himself standing dripping wet in the cave instead.
Rhian circled Kirin like a horse he meant to buy, then grasped Kirin's chin with his metal-covered hand and turned it left and right. Valerien hastened into the cave behind them.
"Your pet is uncommonly handsome for a human. Was it its magic that I saw?" Rhian asked.
Anger flared up in Kirin. He tried to push the hand away, but the Fae was unmovable.
"I am neither a pet nor an 'it'," he managed to press through his teeth.
Rhian raised his pale eyebrows, then pushed him against the wall and addressed Valerien.
"You didn't even teach it not to talk back to its betters. Kill it before it tells the other witches where we are. Or should I feed to my hyrox? It has developed quite a taste for human flesh."
Kirin barely dared breathe when the animal bared its teeth. Even worse, he could see that Valerien was hesitating.
"Don't be too hasty, my lord. He can track sources of magic. He can still be useful," the demon finally said.
A cold smile played around Rhian's mouth, and he whistled. The hyrox heeled, but his hungry gaze remained on Kirin.
"I am surprised to find such weakness in you, young Astir. You are becoming just like your mother. I will keep your pet as collateral. It can work in the mine until our business is done. But know that if you betray me, it will suffer before it is put down."