First published in 1970 in Fantastic magazine, it's in the nature of a prequel, as Leiber had by that time been chronicling the pair's adventures for thirty years. The story forms part two of the collection Swords and Deviltry.
Plot summary
Fafhrd an eighteen-year-old youth[3]: 7 rescues Vlana, a dancer, from the frozen snowballs of the Snow Clan women, who are led by his own mother.[3]: 8 The Snow Clan live within the plains of the Cold Waste, but, once every year, they travel south to the Cold Corner,[3]: 3 where they trade with merchants and attend the Show[3]: 5 performed by a troop of traveling actors.
Fafhrd, who dreams of learning more about civilization,[3]: 25 warns Vlana of a plot by a male member of the clan, Hringorl, to kidnap her. He wants to travel south with her. Vlana agrees but leaves with Vellix and runs into an ambush where she is saved by Fafhrd for a second time. They leave the Cold Waste for the southern kingdoms.
Characters
Fafhrd, a tall youth with long reddish blonde hair.[3]: 8
Mor, mother of Fafhrd and leader of the Snow Clan women.[3]: 8
Vlana, dancer of the traveling troup who is running from the Thieves Guild.[3]: 40