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. Though Derek
had complained heartily on the glacier, he took too much pride in
his physical strength to give in to the exhaustion that plagued us all
on the back-breaking climb up Icewall. His tenacity may well have
saved our lives more than once. Whenever I faltered or lost my
footing, Derek's hand was there to pull me to safer ground.
The cliff face provided even less protection from the elements
than the open glacier. Forced to look up to find our way, our faces
were exposed to icy, blistering winds that blasted flesh till it was
raw. Fingers permanently bent, my arms ached from the strain, my
toes throbbed from struggling to find new footholds. Even my
jaws hurt from being clenched too long.
But as much as I suffered, at least I was used to the cold. I
knew the rest must feel it tenfold. Behind me, Laurana struggled to
swallow involuntary whimpers of pain. Below her, Elistan
wheezed until I thought his lungs would burst.
"I don't mean to complain," I heard the kender say wearily, "but
is anyone else tired? I'm all for adventures, and I know we have to
find the orb, but I haven't been this exhausted since that time with
the woolly mammoth. I HAVE told you about that, haven't I?"
"Yes, Tas, we've all heard it," was Sturm's patient reply. "Save
your energy for climbing now."
"I'm quite sure Raggart hasn't heard it," Tas said a bit
petulantly, "but perhaps you're right," he added, gasping for
breath
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