Chapter 45: A Bridge Over Hungry Water

DURRI'S POV

They came upon Vinniki gesturing enthusiastically at what appeared to be a roiling river of steaming, stinking water. It seemed to stretch in more or less a ring around the entire mountain and was about forty feet wide at every visible point.

Durri scratched his head. "I thought rivers only flow downhill," he said. "A plumber friend of mine used to rant about how wizards trying to invent uphill-flowing water would put him out of business."

"Well," said Shudon, "maybe they did, because this is nothing like any river I've ever seen. It's imbued with nature magic, but not the same sort as mine. It must be of the volcano rather than of the forest."

Hudson stroked his beard, which had remained perfectly moisturized even in the arid environment. "I wonder, if I drank it, would I gain a new, volcanic source of power?"