As darkness fell completely, Marcus produced a small crystal from his satchel. With a whispered word, it began to glow with a soft blue light, just enough to illuminate the ground immediately before them without broadcasting their position too obviously.
They moved as quickly as caution allowed, the shelf gradually widening in places and narrowing alarmingly in others. The howl they had heard earlier was joined by others, some closer, creating an eerie chorus that echoed between the peaks.
"They're hunting," Marcus said quietly. "Stay close to the mountain face. Movement attracts their attention."
Alan didn't need to be told twice. He pressed as close to the rock wall as possible as they continued their precarious journey. The wind had picked up further, carrying occasional flurries of snow or ice crystals that stung his face.
They had been following the shelf for perhaps half an hour when Marcus suddenly stopped, extinguishing the light crystal with a quick gesture.
"What is it?" Alan whispered, straining to see in the sudden darkness.
"Listen," Marcus replied softly.
At first, Alan heard nothing beyond the wind. Then he detected it—voices, carried upward from the path below. The Containment Team had stopped for some reason.
Moving with extreme caution, they edged forward to a point where they could peer down at the path. The Containment Team was indeed directly below them, gathered in a tight circle around something on the ground. Their leader, Darkblade, was kneeling, examining what appeared to be tracks.
"The outsider passed this way," they heard him say, his voice carrying clearly in the night air. "Recently, with the exile Raven. The energy signature is distinctive."
One of the other team members spoke. "The trail leads toward Ironhammer, as expected."
Darkblade stood. "No. Look at the lichen pattern. They detected our arrival and diverted." He pointed upward, almost directly at where Alan and Marcus were hiding. "They climbed."
Alan felt his heart rate spike. Somehow, they had been detected despite their precautions.
"We should continue to the city," another team member suggested. "Cut them off at the gates."
Darkblade shook his head. "They won't risk the main entrance now. The exile knows too many back ways into Ironhammer." He made a decision. "Vex, Thorn, continue to the gates in case I'm wrong. Mara and I will follow their actual trail."
The team split as directed, two continuing down the path while Darkblade and the one called Mara began examining the slope where Alan and Marcus had climbed.
"They know exactly where we went," Alan whispered, panic rising.
"Not exactly," Marcus replied, his voice barely audible. "But they will soon. We need to move, quickly and quietly."
They retreated from the edge and continued along the shelf with renewed urgency, no longer using the light crystal despite the increased risk of missteps in the darkness. Alan's eyes gradually adjusted to the starlight, allowing him to make out the basic contours of the path, though details remained treacherously obscured.
The shelf began to descend gradually, curving around a shoulder of the mountain. Ahead, they could see the lights of Ironhammer, tantalizingly close yet still separated from them by difficult terrain.
Another howl sounded, this one much closer than before. It was answered by several others, forming a circle of sound that seemed to surround them.
"They've caught our scent," Marcus said grimly. "We need to find shelter, somewhere defensible."
As if in answer to his words, a dark opening appeared in the mountain face beside them—the entrance to what appeared to be a small cave or tunnel.
"That wasn't there before," Alan said with certainty, having been keeping a close eye on the rock wall as they moved.
Marcus approached the opening cautiously. "No, it wasn't." He examined the edges of the entrance without touching them. "This is old magic. Very old. A hidden sanctuary that reveals itself to those in need."
"Or a trap," Alan suggested, eyeing the dark opening with suspicion.
"Possible," Marcus conceded. "But with stalkers closing in and the Containment Team on our trail, our options are limited."
Another howl, close enough now that Alan imagined he could feel the predator's breath on his neck, made the decision for them. They entered the opening, finding themselves in a narrow tunnel that led deeper into the mountain.
As soon as they were inside, the entrance behind them shimmered and seemed to shrink, not disappearing entirely but becoming much less obvious from the outside—a mere shadow on the rock face rather than a clear opening.
"Definitely magic," Alan observed, both fascinated and unnerved by the phenomenon.
Marcus nodded, once again activating his light crystal to illuminate their surroundings. The tunnel was roughly circular, about six feet in diameter, with walls that showed signs of both natural formation and deliberate shaping. Ancient symbols were carved at intervals, similar to those they had seen at the wayshrine but even more complex.
"What is this place?" Alan asked, studying the symbols as they moved deeper into the mountain.
"A sanctuary tunnel," Marcus replied. "Created during the Age of Strife when the mountains were contested territory. They allowed safe passage for those who knew the signs." He pointed to one particular symbol. "This indicates we're on a path to Ironhammer, though perhaps not the route we expected."
They continued forward, the tunnel occasionally branching. At each junction, Marcus studied the symbols before choosing their path. The air grew warmer as they progressed deeper, and Alan detected a faint sulfurous smell.
"Hot springs beneath the mountains," Marcus explained when Alan mentioned the odor. "They provide heat for Ironhammer's forges and homes."
After what felt like hours of walking through the twisting passages, the tunnel began to widen, eventually opening into a larger chamber. Unlike the rough-hewn tunnel, this space showed clear signs of deliberate construction—smooth walls, a level floor, and what appeared to be benches carved from the living rock along the sides.
"A rest chamber for travelers," Marcus said, examining the space. "We should be safe here for a few hours."
Alan sank gratefully onto one of the stone benches, his exhaustion finally catching up with him. "What about the Containment Team? Won't they find the tunnel entrance?"
"Unlikely," Marcus replied, setting his light crystal on a small alcove designed for that purpose. "The sanctuary reveals itself only to those in genuine need, and Darkblade's team is hunting, not fleeing. Even if they suspect we entered the mountain, finding the actual entrance would be difficult."
Alan wasn't entirely convinced but was too tired to argue. "And these mountain stalkers?"
"They won't enter the sanctuary tunnels. The magic that conceals them also repels predators." Marcus settled on another bench, removing his satchel. "We should rest while we can. The tunnels will lead us to Ironhammer eventually, but we'll need our strength for what awaits there."
Despite his exhaustion, Alan found it difficult to relax completely. "This Darkblade—why is he so determined to capture me? What does the Academy want?"
Marcus was silent for a moment, considering his answer. "The Academy, and particularly the Arcane Council, values control above all else. Anything they don't understand, they seek to contain or eliminate. An outsider from another reality, wielding unfamiliar powers... you represent a significant unknown variable."
"But I'm just a physicist," Alan protested. "I'm trying to understand this world, not threaten it."
"Understanding leads to power," Marcus replied. "And those who currently hold power are rarely eager to share it." He paused, studying Alan thoughtfully. "Besides, there's something else at play here. The speed and severity of their response suggests they fear you specifically, or what you represent."
"The prophecy you mentioned? About a stranger between worlds?"
Marcus nodded slowly. "Perhaps. Though I've never put much stock in prophecies myself, they hold significant weight with some members of the Council." He leaned forward, his expression serious. "There's something you should know about Magister Shadowveil, the one who ordered your containment."
Alan waited, sensing important information coming.