The presumed leader of the guards, a particularly large male with a vicious looking spiked club stepped forward. He stared menacingly down at Rilana, before twisting into self-satisfied scowl. [color=8493ca][b]"You. Tall woman. You fight me. You win, you pass. You lose, all die."[/b][/color] He stepped forward, not allowing her to actually choose a course of action, raising his club high with a loud roar. Just before he could bring it down, a female giant's voice was heard. [color=7ea7d8][b]"Stop, Grogar."[/b][/color] Rilana would feel Svarak's presence near her, his sword already drawn.

The massive wooden gates groaned open, and a woman adorned in the furs of a polar bear stepped through. She was small for an ice giant, but the way the males looked at her made it clear she held a very important position. She carried a large walking stick, adorned with various animal adornments and gemstones. [color=7ea7d8][b]"These people are blessed by Him. The one I heard in the winds."[/b][/color] She was surprisingly articulate, approaching them all, but keeping her gaze on Rilana. [color=7ea7d8][b]"I am called Ihleen. We shall help you. But I ask you do something for us, after this is finished. My daughter is a shepherd in your city, Ihria. I have not heard from her in some time. I want you to find her, and ask her to come home."[/b][/color] Rilana would then hear the woman in her head. [color=7ea7d8][b]"If you succeed, come to me, Druid."[/b][/color] 

The woman turned, and Rilana could see the moving visage of a mammoth upon her back. The guards moved away, allowing them safe passage. The village was humble, large stone and wooden structures, many smaller giants running around playing, several larger creatures that would normally be hunted or herded roaming around as pets. The village was built around the Cave of Sighs intentionally. The founding giant had discovered this cave many tenyears ago, and was fairly certain that this was the only shelter for ice bats. Seeing the importance of preserving these creatures, that helped spread the forest trees, Rheknar founded Jhrogramir. They'd always been peaceful so long as they were left alone. 

The cave was set in a rocky outcrop, just above a stream that split the village east to west. It was massive, easily big enough for eight large giants to walk in shoulder to shoulder comfortably. It was covered in ice. At first, it seemed quite ordinary, cold, dark, as the knights began preparing torches for the journey. 

But it was Echo that found the first clue. 

It had been hidden in the snow, nestled amongst the rocks, wrapped in fur. He began chewing on it playfully. If anyone managed to stop him, they'd find a shard very similar to Svarak's sword. If it was touched, the person would feel a sense of doom and dread rush over them, stifling them, the feeling of a power so great nothing could stop it. But the real clue was in the fur that wrapped it. It was ramskin, and carved into the underside of the hide were several words in Fey.

[i][color=7ea7d8]"Follow thine heart, flames without start
Heart must give life to ice
When heart is lost, become hare
When hare dies, put heart in ice
Only when heart is frozen, will frozen heart appear"[/color][/i] 

Alya's sharpened ears would eventually be able to make out a deep, rhythmic beat from the cave. Whump whump, whump whump, whump whump. The knights and their torches smiled, thinking they were about done with this mission, and would soon be enjoying some well deserved vacation, began toward the cave entrance.