She nodded and Paedrin took a big gulp of air, rising despite the heaviness of his sodden clothes. He used the edge of the wall to pull himself faster up, gliding effortlessly up the face. The Vaettir would have no trouble ascending to such a place. The steps were undoubtedly there for others to use.
Paedrin entered the thick mist of the fog, which blinded him as he ascended. The rock face was steep, ascending at a gradual slope the higher it went, providing ample footholds and crevices to use. An idea began to blossom in his mind. He emerged above the sheet of fog higher up, which gradually tapered off, revealing the hulking outlines of an enormous temple structure. The Bhikhu temple in Kenatos was just a sprig compared to this. He was awed by the ancient stones, the curving rooftops and multiple levels of towers and parapets. It had been built over a great number of years, perhaps even centuries. The entire top of the rocky cliff was covered in structures, made of the same stone as the cliff itself, as if it had been painstakingly carved from the rock into the formation of towers and crenellations. Enormous statuary adorned it—bull heads and tigers and serpents and some creatures he could not identify. There was a giant wooden door at the top of the stairs, bound with rusty iron that gleamed red in the light.
The temple faced him majestically, more ancient than the Arch-Rike’s palace. Yet as he stared at it, it did resemble the structure of the palace in Kenatos slightly. The design was reminiscent of it. There were no sentries posted on the walls, no sounds emanating from within. He did notice a shelf of flat rock without any structures on it near the cliff’s edge partway around the temple. The blossoming idea went further. If he could draw attention by his approach and let Hettie climb the walls from behind, it would increase the chances of their success.
Paedrin let out his breath and sank through the mist quickly. His stomach thrilled with the sensation and he emerged beneath the cloud, finding Hettie climbing the steps barefoot, her boots tied to her pack.
He dropped down to her level and flattened himself against the cliff, grabbing handholds and footholds to steady himself. “I have an idea,” he said.
“What is it?” she grumbled, wincing at the effort of the climb.
“Over that way, the cliff curves and emerges to a flat shelf at the base of the temple walls. It would be a good place to conceal yourself until dark. I will approach the main doors and seek admittance. My thinking is to draw attention to myself at the front of the temple tonight, drawing their gaze away from where they are concealing the sword. You climb the walls after dark and begin your search. I will distract them as long as I can.”
“Draw attention to yourself? You mean insult them.”
“It comes naturally to me.”
“How do you plan on distracting them then? Parading the front tower in your smallclothes?”
Paedrin smiled. “I plan to challenge Cruw Reon directly for authority. Before I face him, he has the right to choose a champion to face me first. It is a Bhikhu custom. If I win, I earn the right to combat for authority. If I lose, it won’t really matter anyway. You get the sword. When you do, whistle loudly if we should flee. I will come to you. If not, bring it to me and I will defeat him.”
Hettie nodded. “So which way do I climb?”
He inhaled and started to rise again, crawling like a spider up the sheer face of the cliff. “The handholds are better over this way. Come on.”
She followed, leaving the safety of the stone steps carved into the cliff. Paedrin searched ahead, looking for the best handholds and sturdiest places. It was an arduous climb and he could see the pinched look on Hettie’s face as she struggled up the slope. The rocks cut at her fingers and feet, but she did not hiss or complain. They reached the veil of fog and the way became murky.
Paedrin drifted down to be closer to her in case she needed help. She bit her lip in concentration, judging each outcropping and angle to find the best position to ascend. He was proud of her willingness to try. The ascent was agonizingly slow.
“I’m getting…so tired,” she said after a particularly difficult reach. “How much farther is it?”
Paedrin did not want to leave her side to determine it. “Not much farther. You are almost there.”
They were not almost there though. Her pace slowed considerably. There was hardly any place to rest or catch her breath. She sagged against the cliff face, pressing her cheek against the rock. Time crawled forward. Paedrin stayed even closer to her, keeping a hand nearby just in case.
There was a bulge in the rock that had not been visible through the mist when they left the path. Hettie’s brow furrowed in concern. “My arms…” she panted.
“Almost there,” Paedrin said. He grimaced, knowing it was a lie. Hettie hung her head, breathing deeply, and then started up again.
Her foot slipped on the mist-slick stone.