The long journey was tiresome and painful too. The further north they went, the coldness increased. Even with their clothes on, they had to use magic to keep their bodies warm. Many wild animals came on their way, from mountain wolves to lions, all bigger than the last.
But, the actual threats were the creatures of the night who only came out after the sunset. From a creature called Snow-giant, which Sylvester named Yeti in mind, to Ice-shifters, a creature that could change its shape and size to the whim.
To fight the creature of the night, using light crystals was enough. That way, they could rest beside a small fire and close their eyes for a few hours one by one. After that, they'd start the journey again.
Thankfully, Baron Strongarm knew the way even at night. He had learnt the ways of the wild, and even as a Baron, he constantly went into the woods to keep his senses and teachings sharp.