The Northern Fortress was built to withstand sieges, avalanches, and corrupted beasts. It was not, however, built to gracefully handle the spring thaw.
I was walking across the inner courtyard with Rin and Yua, enjoying the rare afternoon sun that managed to pierce through the thick gray clouds. The air was still biting cold, but the massive snowdrifts piled against the iron walls were finally beginning to sweat.
"Look!" Rin cheered, pointing a mittened hand toward the roof of the main keep. "The gargoyles are crying!"
I looked up. The terrifying, monstrous iron statues perched on the battlements were dripping with melted snow. But as I squinted against the glare of the white sky, I realized it wasn't just water coming down.
A massive, jagged slab of solid black ice, easily the size of a carriage door, had completely broken loose from the high slanted roof.
And it was sliding directly toward the courtyard walkway. Right above Rin.
