“Well, if the plague hasn’t killed them already, they’ll die of fright for sure,” Halvard scoffed as he was passed a large mask that resembled the masks the embalmers had worn at the king’s funeral. The mask was shaped like a death moth. “These are enough to give me nightmares.” “Just put it on Halvard!”… Read More…
Astrid sat down at the edge of the hot spring pool and began to untie her boots. Her left arm was still useless and was strapped across her chest in a sling. She grumbled under her breath. The knot was almost impossible to untie with just one hand. As soon as she had managed it,… Read More…
The smell of honey root inside the yurt was so strong Ulf felt more than a little light headed as he walked in. Entire knots of the roots burned in several clay bowls scattered across the room. Ótama had made a makeshift bed for Systa in the middle of the room, next to the fire…. Read More…
Jarl ate his food as silently as he could, intensely aware that every single eye in the room deliberately avoided him and Knud. Everyone sat cross-legged on thick, round cushions, but neither Knud or Jarl had been offered one. Their food had been shoved towards them and then they were promptly ignored. To make matters… Read More…
“Damn grœnn naðr!” Halvard swore under his breath as he sat up and felt his spine re-align itself. He uttered another series of curses until he stopped mid-sentence. Holmvé might have heard him. For a two hundred and sixty-year-old dwarf, she had truly incredible hearing when it came to words she didn’t like. Slowly he… Read More…
Jarl was exhausted. He paused for a moment to lean against a tree. Strands of his long hair stuck to the side of his face and beads of sweat stood out on his forehead. The Aldwood was not like the barren pass. Wild plants, trees and bushes were everywhere, together with long grass that caught… Read More…
“How did you sleep last night, Rakki?” Ulf asked as he sat down next to Melrakki on the bed. She smiled up at him from the nest of bundled blankets and shook her head with a yawn. “I didn’t sleep at all. I don’t think anyone did.” Melrakki laughed and reached for his hand to… Read More…
“Knud. Knud wake up. We have to start walking.” Jarl shook him gently. His eyes snapped open and darted about in panic for a moment. As soon as he saw the sun had barely risen and they were in no danger, he closed them again and slumped back onto the ground. “Can I sleep just… Read More…
Systa kept her eyes closed and held Skógi’s hand as tightly as she could. Under the bodies, the pervasive stink of sweat and blood made it almost impossible to breath. The cart they had been piled onto along with the rest of the bodies was so rickety that every cobblestone rattled them down to their… Read More…
Jarl was fast asleep, with his arm draped protectively across Knud’s chest. Astrid glanced at them one more time before she looked at the forest and the mountains on her right. The moonlight was still not bright enough to see under the dark canopy. The roots of the trees stretched out into the plains far… Read More…