Rodrigo and the others, escorted by Nanook, were heading toward the exit of Adlivun so as not to remain any longer within the kingdom, when two guards suddenly approached the polar god and informed him that Sedna urgently wished to see them.

  Nanook nodded and indicated that the group must return to the queen. All were puzzled, for they believed they would not see Sedna again after having released Loki, yet they complied.

  Once more in Sedna’s throne hall, the goddess appeared pale and deeply concerned, pacing in circles around her throne.

  “I have brought the members of Orniskem as you instructed, along with the prisoner whose release was agreed upon,” Nanook said to Sedna. She merely glanced at them and continued pacing.

  Then the goddess abruptly seated herself upon her throne and crossed her legs.

  “I have grave news for you all,” she said.

  “Is it because of the prisoner’s release?” Menrva asked.

  “No. He is here… Tezcatlipoca,” the polar goddess replied.

  Nanook’s face filled with fear, while the rest of Orniskem remained indifferent, unfamiliar with the name.

  “We do not recognize that name,” Tania said.

  “Of course. I forget that you are not natives of this region,” Sedna replied.

  “He is the god-king of Tula, the kingdom that made pacts with Lel,” Nanook added.

  “Have they come for us?” Anpiel asked, worried.

  “Yes and no,” Sedna answered.

  “According to my men in Nitassinan, the god-king knows that you must step upon my territory to enter this continent, but he does not yet know you have already arrived. He believes you will arrive in roughly ten days.”

  “Is he waiting for us in Nitassinan even now?” Menrva asked.

  “Indeed. It seems he has orders from Lel to capture you the moment you set foot here,” Sedna said.

  “Then… we can no longer escape,” Ana murmured anxiously.

  “I will soon go to meet with him,” Sedna continued, “and he will undoubtedly wish to see the prisoner Loki as well.”

  “Are you telling me I must return to prison?” Loki asked nervously.

  “No,” Sedna replied quickly.

  “We cannot risk you revealing anything to Tezcatlipoca. You must leave immediately.”

  “Is there another way out of this world?” Ana asked.

  “Yes, but it is exceedingly dangerous. You will have to pass through the dungeons to reach Denendeh,” Sedna explained.

  “This is madness, Queen Sedna!” Nanook protested.

  “Even for the strongest and most seasoned gods, surviving that frozen cavern is a matter of life and death.”

  “There is no other option. If Tezcatlipoca sees them, you will not be his equals,” Sedna said firmly.

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  “Wait,” Epona interjected. “Queen Sedna, Rodrigo cannot cross frozen regions.”

  “If you unbind me, I can help him,” Loki offered.

  “Do you truly think we are that foolish?” Tania snapped.

  “I am, in truth, an ice giant. My mastery of ice serves not only to attack, but to protect,” Loki replied.

  “Then resolve that matter yourselves. I cannot keep the god of Tula waiting,” Sedna said, rising from her throne.

  She immediately ordered Nanook to lead them all to the lower dungeons of Adlivun. Nanook nodded, and the others thanked the queen for her hospitality.

  Sedna then transformed. Her legs merged into a white fish tail. She opened a portal in the ceiling, leapt into it, and vanished from sight.

  “Very well. We waste no more time. To the dungeons of Adlivun,” Nanook said sternly.

  They returned to the great gate leading to the dungeons. Rodrigo began to tremble with cold.

  “I do not know if I can endure this journey,” the young tannin said worriedly.

  “If you cannot enter these dungeons, it will be even harder for you to cross the Cave of Dreams, the grotto to which you must go,” Nanook replied with disappointment.

  “My offer still stands,” Loki said.

  “What are we waiting for, then? Let us free him,” Menrva said, only to be interrupted by Tania.

  “That man can teleport and vanish. It would be easy for him to escape,” the fire-haired goddess argued.

  “And what choice do we have? Shall we let Rodrigo die, or leave him here at the mercy of Lel’s men?” Menrva retorted angrily.

  “I will go. I will endure as long as I can,” Rodrigo said with a sad expression.

  “I will stay with you,” Epona said, removing her cloak and placing it over the young tannin before embracing him. This displeased Ana, whose face twisted with visible irritation.

  The Irish goddess removed her own cloak and placed it upon Rodrigo as well.

  “You had best wear three cloaks, Rui,” she said, taking hold of his right arm. Epona stared back at Ana defiantly.

  “Verily, I had not perceived thee to command such favour with the fairer sex, Rodrigo-san,” Susanoo remarked lightly, his tone edged with old-fashioned amusement.

  “It is because… he is my disciple, and I cannot allow harm to befall him,” Ana replied shyly, as the others laughed.

  “If you are ready, proceed,” Nanook said, opening the dungeon gate once more.

  They entered. At once, Rodrigo felt his blood begin to chill rapidly, yet he did not complain and pressed on.

  Nanook led them to the far end of the immense frozen labyrinth. There stood a door beneath a colossal stone structure shaped like a giant. Upon the door was carved a star-like symbol: a circle with four clusters of lines, some vertical, others horizontal.

  “This is the Cave of Dreams,” Nanook explained. “Though now it is the Cave of Nightmares.”

  “Nightmares? Are there monsters within?” Ana asked.

  “Yes. This grotto once stored the dreams of our shamans in Nitassinan. But since we were forced to imprison a powerful demon here, it has been filled with corruption and dark forces,” Nanook said.

  He went on to describe the creatures within, known as shadow men, or Taqriaqsuit. They dwelled in darkness and were weakened by light, yet they rarely attacked the body. Instead, they invaded the mind, seeking to destroy it from within.

  Most dangerous of all was a monstrous beast called Mahaha: blue-skinned, with a maniacal grin, long hair, and taloned nails. Not even Sedna had been able to defeat it, and thus it had been sealed away.

  At the end of the tunnel, which stretched for several kilometers, lay the passage to the dungeons of Denendeh, ruled by the god Yamozha, an ally of Sedna.

  “If not even Sedna could defeat it, do we stand a chance?” Anpiel asked anxiously.

  “If you cannot overcome it, use water-based attacks. That is its weakness,” Nanook advised.

  “Moreover, I can see that your strength equals or even surpasses that of my queen.”

  “We cannot afford fear, Anpiel,” Tania said.

  “Very well. I wish you fortune. May we meet again,” Nanook said as he opened the sealed door.

  A freezing wind rushed out from within the cavern, making Rodrigo shiver.

  “Everyone, don your totemas,” Menrva commanded.

  All complied. The members of Orniskem once more bore their sacred armors, even Rodrigo, who felt his resistance to the cold greatly increase thanks to his totema—though the chill still gnawed at him.

  “Farewell, Nanook,” Tania said, raising her fist. The polar god met it with his own.

  They parted ways, and all entered the cavern.

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