Here Raef had a better sense of the land, though he had never traveled there before. But it was common knowledge that the Deepminded could be found in Darfallow land. Raef risked a visit to Darfallow’s lord, Tormund, in the hopes of refreshing their supplies before tackling the mountains. Tormund was old and his sight was failing, but he could still choose to detain them for Fengar. Tormund’s fortress was a deteriorating, crumbling giant. Raef had heard of its former glory and current decay, but to stand close to the broken towers and collapsing walls that could still dwarf their brothers in other lands was something he had not imagined. Even in its shattered, half-empty state, it was still a mighty place, and the blanket of undisturbed snow surrounding it gave it an unearthly stillness. As Raef’s party approached one of the massive gates, it rumbled open and a single, unarmed man stepped out to meet them. “Your name, friend?”
