Chapter 20

An alarmingly pale Calto sat on his horse as though frozen in place. After flicking worried glances at his rigid form and purple lips, Maxi rose closer to Sidina, who was the only one who seemed unaffected.

"A-Are you… not cold, Sidina?"

"Phooey, this is nothing," Sidina said, cracking a wide smile. "I've never told you, but I'm actually from the north. Where I'm from, it's not Paxias until boiling water freezes over in a blink."

Maxi's face fell. They would likely have to camp out at the Plateau for more than a month in even harsher conditions. She wondered whether she would be able to handle it. Resigned sighs broke out all around as though the others had similar fears.

In front of her, Anton looked up at the sky, his face drawn. "This year's winter is especially cold. I fear it will snow soon."

"Why don't we start distributing the firestones?"

"Not yet," Calto said adamantly. "We must conserve as many of them as possible to last us through our time in the Plateau."