Nearing the bottom

At times, hostile bands of rival warriors—men hardened by their own desperate quests—blocked their path, and fierce skirmishes erupted on icy ledges. 

On other occasions, primordial beasts, driven by ancient instinct and attracted by the lingering aroma of their previous meals, emerged from hidden crevices in the rock. 

In each encounter, the two fought side by side, their swords ringing in unison as they repelled the attackers with fierce determination.

One bitter afternoon, as the sun hung low in the sky, they found themselves ambushed by a group of marauders in a narrow, windswept ravine. 

The clash was brutal and drawn out—a test of every ounce of strength and skill they possessed. Steel met steel in a cacophony of clangs, and shouts of defiance echoed against the stone walls. 

Argolaith's heart pounded as he parried a vicious blow, his eyes locked on a foe whose face was twisted in malice.