Chapter 17     The lingering warmth of summer was gone the next
morning, a biting cold north wind blowing down from the distant
peaks carrying with it a thick frost that made the ground
underfoot crunch.  Sareth pulled up the thick woollen coat
around him as he rode on horse back, a beast having been offered
by Freyda, alongside their convoy as they made their way towards
the wall of Arkath which loomed higher and higher before them.
Freyda was in the lead, with her two peers Laszlo and Alaric
beside her. A little behind them came the Duke Vittorio, riding
to see them as far as the border.  Behind them rode about three
regiments of paladin knights in full armour with banners
flapping from their lances. The convoy itself with the pack
train came next and Sareth rode alongside this, keeping pace
with Lethos' reptilian mount. The large lizard did not seem to
care for the cold weather and its legs and tail were wrapped in
furs strapped down by a harness.  Behind them came a detachment
of foot soldiers, all of th