The return path to the black tower isn't quiet the reverse path as the heroes originally took. While their first trip took them near the shoreline and over to the imprison camp where the townsfolk had been held, this time they are making a straighter path toward the odd tower.
While the overall distance is much shorter, the travel time should be about the same, as the large group of injured and tired people will slow the group down a lot.
By best calculation, they are about two hours away from the tower, and there have been no signs of any more of the giants, nor any signs of other animal life, only a few sparse trees.
Cresting a small hill, those in front are the first to notice a large pyramidal structure in the 'valley' below. It encompasses almost the entire floor of the small valley, about a hundred feet to a side. The sloped sides aren't as steep as the classical pyramids of the southern deserts; the apex of the structure is probably only twenty-five feet above the floor level.
The entire squat building is free from ice and snow.