they sound like Maggiore Totus doesn’t mean they have his attitude toward life. If in the end they decide they don’t like us, you can be certain we’ll just be another snack for whichever leopard gets to us first.”
“Yes, I suppose so. Still, we had to try, didn’t we?”
“We had to try,” Oskan agreed.
A short time later Thirrin and Oskan sensed they were at last nearing the end of their journey, a wide valley opened up before them, and their pace began to slow. The cliffs that bordered each side of the valley loomed slowly closer as the road narrowed. The scattered boulders gathered around the towering walls as though their stony faces were frozen waterfalls and the rocks were the glacial spray that had flown up in some unimaginable past. It was then that Thirrin noticed figures sitting or lying on top of the rocks. Snow Leopards! Each one was at least as big as a warhorse, but their coats blended so perfectly with the background that she’d only noticed them as their sleighs passed directly beneath them.
“Oskan. Look!”
He followed her pointing finger and gasped. “There are dozens of them!”
“Dozens that we can see. There are probably hundreds or even thousands more watching us at this very minute.”
The werewolves thundered on, following Taradan closely as he approached a sheer rock wall at the end of the valley. Thirrin could now see that a broad platform like a terrace lay at the foot of this towering cliff, and at its very center stood a large boulder draped in crystalline splendor, with huge icicles that glittered and shone in the starlight like carved diamonds. But this spectacle paled into insignificance as she realized that the entire platform was packed with hundreds and hundreds of Snow Leopards.
“Oskan, they’re everywhere!”
“I know, I can see them,” he answered in a very small voice.
They stared wonderingly at the giant cats sitting in ordered ranks around the central boulder that rose ten feet or so above them. But then Thirrin realized that something else sat at the very top of the rock. It was the largest leopard they’d seen so far. Its fur was brilliantly white and marked with spots, rosettes, and small stripes that were so black, it seemed the night sky had dripped its darkness onto the fine fur. But as their sleigh drew closer it was the magnificent head that held their gaze. The eyes were red-amber like the deeply glowing coals of a fire, and the whiskers were like fine spindles of ivory. And then, when the animal yawned, the deep red of its mouth was the perfect setting for the array of teeth that gleamed and glistened as though polished.
Taradan stopped, as did the sleighs following him. He walked slowly back to Thirrin and Oskan. “Welcome to the court of Lord Tharaman-Thar. As you can see, you are expected, and the Thar himself will listen to your request.”
“Will you present us?” Thirrin asked.
“That will be my honor,” he said. Then, lowering his head as though bowing, he whispered, “Show him the fire you showed me. Hide your fear and be as haughty as an empress.”
“When I want your advice, Mr. Pussycat, I’ll give you due notice,” she answered with a cold glare.
“That’s the way,” said Taradan approvingly, and winked at her.
Thirrin and Oskan both stepped down from the sleigh and followed the herald to the high platform. The sight of so many huge leopards, all staring intently at them as they approached, made the short walk a very uncomfortable experience. But both managed to hide their fear, and they walked with their heads held high.
There was a flight of graded rocks that served as steps up to the natural dais, and as Thirrin and Oskan climbed these, the nearest leopards drew back and a pathway opened up to where Tharaman-Thar was waiting.
A murmur of small growls and whispers rose up as they walked through the throng of enormous cats, but otherwise they were silent and looked constantly up at the boulder as though waiting for the Thar to set the tone of their greeting. Meanwhile Tharaman-Thar was lying at his ease and washing a paw. He seemed completely unaware of the humans and slightly bored. Eventually Thirrin and Oskan arrived at the foot of his boulder-throne and stood waiting quietly.
Taradan the herald let out an enormous roar that echoed around the cliffs and proclaimed, “All hail the Lord Tharaman, great Thar of the Snow Leopards and Ruler of the Icesheets. His