The Warm Cut

A short ice-cave off the Frozen Waystone's reclaimed road where Dûrn Quarrymark stopped digging — because behind the ice the rock is warm, and the meltwater here doesn't freeze.

Every other cave on the Rampart is a cold cave. This one is not. The thaw-fungus that rings the inner wall glows the colour of old honey; the meltwater runs liquid in January. Dûrn drove his cut until the warmth came through the pick-face and he didn't want to know what was making heat on a mountain where nothing should. The Meltwardens insist it be left to melt. Dûrn insists it be sold.