Runefell: Crossroads

by Shawn Sodman

  “I am going to kill him!” Rehma yells. “This is the third orcnea camp that that we have come across, and they are all wiped out.”

  “Relax,” Sven says. “It may not have been Chance.”

  “Do you really expect me to believe that?” Rehma asks. “Kel'ana, can you tell us what happened here?”

  Kel'ana looks around for a moment. “Judging from the burns on the orcneas,” she says as she studies the ground, “and that the orcnea tracks seem to be running away from the fire, I would say they were attacked from...” she pauses and turns. She gazes upon an elevated rock behind her. She walks around and climbs on top of the rock and continues, “Right here.”

  “Are you sure?” Evelena asks.

  “There are giant eagle tracks right here,” Kel'ana explains as she points down to the snow on top of the rock. Then she adds, “Right next to them are boot tracks. There are no other tracks coming and going from this spot, so I would think it is safe to say that it was Chance.”

  “Chance is just trying to help,” Sven says, trying to keep Rehma from getting angrier.

  “We do not need his help,” Rehma snaps.

  “I have to agree,” Yentroc says. “It is not that I really want to kill, but these are small encampments and are hardly a real threat.”

  Ja'noa takes dagger from the sash and throws it at a log. The dagger sticks into the log and Ja'noa says, “Kel'ana and I could have taken them by ourselves.”

  “On the bright side,” Lyra says, “At least he is saving us time.”

  Gelana is searching the bodies and says, “There is nothing of value on them.”

  “Of course not,” Sven says. “They're orcneas. Come, we go now.”

  “Sven!” Yentroc calls out from up ahead.

  When the others reach her they come across a deep ravine. A rope bridge spans to the other side about fifty paces across.

  “Is this the way we are supposed to go?” Lyra asks.

  “Yes,” Sven replies. “This is Windy Pass.”

  “I can see why,” Yentroc says as she holds the hood of her coat tight to keep the wind from blowing it off. The sisters approach the edge as they look to the left and to the right of the ravine. It stretches as far as they can see. With the blowing snow limiting their vision they cannot see the bottom. Lyra stays far back from the edge.

  Sven says, “Sven will go first. If bridge holds Sven, then it is safe for all of you.”

  Lyra quietly says to Gelana, “I can't do this.”

  “Yes, you can,” Gelana says. “Just look straight forward.”

  Sven slowly puts his weight on the bridge. The ropes creak a bit but hold him. He heads across, and though the wind is blowing hard, he eventually makes it to the other side. He waves back and Ja'noa goes next. With very little effort she quickly manages to get across, making it look easy. After Ja'noa is clear, Kel'ana begins to cross. She reaches the middle of the bridge as a stiff gust of wind knocks her down. The others gasp and Lyra looks away closing her eyes. Kel'ana manages to hold onto the hand ropes and as the wind lets up she makes it back to her feet. Kel'ana makes it the rest of the way without any further trouble.

  “I can't do this,” Lyra says hysterically, “I can't, I can't. The wind is going to blow me off!”

  Evelena, holding Lyra's arms, tries to calm her. “Look at me,” she says. “Take a deep breath and focus on something else. You can do this. I am going next, just watch me.”

  As Evelena starts to cross, Gelana and Rehma continue to try to help Lyra calm down. Gelana says, “It's no different than the rope bridges in the Mana Forest.”

  “There is no wind in the forest trying to knock me off!” Lyra yells.

  “You will be fine,” Rehma says, “just hold on tight to the ropes. If a gust of wind comes just wait it out.”

  They watch as Evelena finishes crossing and Yentroc starts to cross. When Yentroc reaches the other side, Sven asks her, “Is the little one going to be alright?”

  “She is really scared,” Yentroc answers. “She is worried about the wind.”

  “Yes, wind is very strong today,” Sven says. “She is so small she will have to be careful, but Sven has idea.” Sven opens his bag as Rehma finishes crossing. He pulls out a long rope and says, “If someone can take one end of rope across to Lyra, we can tie it around her and Sven can hold rope over here.”

  “I will do it,” Ja'noa replies. She takes the rope and ties it around her waist and then makes her way back across to Lyra and Gelana. When she reaches the other side she unties the rope and hands it to Lyra and says, “Sven says to tie this around your waist.”

  “There you go,” Gelana says as she begins to help tie the rope around Lyra. “Extra protection just in case.”

  Soon Lyra is ready to go as she steps to the edge very slowly. She looks down and then clutches the hand ropes of the bridge.

  “Don't look down,” Ja'noa tells her.

  Lyra closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. She opens them again and looks straight ahead. She takes a step on the center rope of the bridge as everyone watches closely. On the other side, Sven is holding onto the other end of the rope that is tied around her. With every step she takes he lightly pulls in the extra rope. Step after step she crosses. Every time a small gust of wind comes through she stops until it passes. Her long brown hair blows in the wind and gets in her eyes. She does not let go of the hand ropes and instead shakes her head to clear her face.

  Soon she reaches the very middle of the bridge. Sven says to Yentroc, “Little one better hurry.”

  “Why?” Yentroc asks.

  “Because of that,” Sven says as he points along the ravine. The others look, and off in the distance they see what appears to be wall of blowing snow approaching.

  “Lyra!” Yentroc calls to her. “Hurry!”

  Lyra looks at the approaching whiteout and tries to hurry. In her haste she slips and as the gust hits her Lyra is knocked down and falls through the ropes of the bridge. The rope around her waist is all that holds her as she dangles from the middle. Only the smaller lines that connect the two hand ropes to the rope used to walk on prevent her from being smashed against the side of the canyon.

  “Lyra!” Evelena yells. “Hang on!” She turns to Sven and asks, “What are we going to do?”

  Soon the whiteout makes it impossible to see Lyra any longer. Sven holds tightly onto the rope and says, “The rope has her for now. Everyone grab hold, Sven is going out to get her!”

  The girls hold tightly onto the rope and pull as Sven disappears into the snow. Before long they feel the rope's tension give a little. They pull it tight again before it gives a little more.

  “Keep pulling!” Evelena yells.

  The girls all pull the rope but they no longer seem to be making progress. All of a sudden they fall back as the rope loses all tension. They pull frantically at it until Kel'ana is holding a frayed end. “Please, no,” Kel'ana says.

  “Lyra!” Rehma calls out. “Sven!”

  “I am going out there,” Evelena says.

  “Wait, look,” Yentroc says.

  They look out into the blinding snow. Faintly coming into view they see their guide slowly making his way back through the wind. Clinging tightly around his neck is Lyra with her legs wrapped around his waist. Sven steps off the bridge and onto the ground.

  “Thank the gods you are safe,” Rehma says as the snow begins to clear.

  “We thought we lost you,” Evelena says.

  “Sven had to cut rope,” he explains. “Once Lyra was up and holding onto Sven you almost pulled her off again. The pulling was also making it hard for Sven to keep balance.”

  “I am sorry,” Evelena replies. “I can't believe I didn't think about that.”

  “It is alright,” Sven says as he takes Lyra away from the edge. “You could not see what was happening.” He kneels down and says, “Alright, little one, we are safe now.”

  Ja'noa makes her way swiftly back across and Gelana follows. Lyra, s
till clinging to Sven, refuses to let go. “Lyra,” Gelana says, “you can let go now.”

  With her eyes clinched shut, Lyra shakes her head no. “Lyra,” Sven gasps, “Sven needs to breathe now. Sven promises he will not let you fall.” Lyra slowly releases her grip. Gelana and Yentroc help her down as the others come over and check on her. She is shaking and breathing rapidly as Sven stands up and takes a deep breath.

  “Thank you, Sven,” Evelena says. “I don't know what we would have done without you.”

  Sven smiles and says, “Sven thinks that you would have been fine without him.”

  “Maybe,” Gelana says, “but thank you anyway.”

  “Of course,” Sven says.

  Lyra walks over to Sven. Looking up at him she says, “Thank you.” Her arms barley reach around him as she hugs him tight.

  Sven pats her on the head and says, “You're welcome, little one. Now then let us continue on. Fortunately there are no more bridges to cross.”

  “Good,” Lyra says as she lets out a big sigh of relief.

  “You know,” Sven says as the group begins to continue on their journey, “someday they will sings songs of this day. They will sing about the time that Sven of the North and the Amazons of the Silver Moon crossed Windy Pass of the Northwind Range.”

  “I doubt anyone will remember us,” Evelena says.

  Sven replies, “Well, they will remember Sven. Someday Sven will leave his mark on world.”

  Chapter 24

  Frostbite

  Later as the sun begins to set, the Amazons of the Silver Moon are beginning to have a hard time with the cold.

  Sven looks around at the large rocks surrounding them and says, “We should probably make camp here. These rocks can protect us from wind.”

  The group stops and they take off their backpacks. Evelena opens hers and takes out a tent. She turns to Kel'ana and says, “Kel'ana, can you shape this ice to make a wall?”

  “Sure,” Kel'ana replies.

  Evelena says, “If you can make a wall connecting these two boulders that would definitely keep the wind off of us.”

  “Alright,” Kel'ana answers. She walks over to one of the two rocks that Evelena pointed to. She raises her hand and closes her eyes for a moment and concentrates. Then as she opens her eyes again she moves her hand. Directly in front of her ice begins to move. Slowly rising from the ground, the patch of ice moves fluidly and begins to stretch. As Kel'ana continues to concentrate, the ice begins to form a wall as tall as Sven and as thick as a large fist. It is only about a pace in width, and soon Kel'ana moves over and repeats the process. Little by little Kel'ana raises the ice to form a perfect wall between the two large rocks. The entire length of the barrier is about ten paces across. When she is done she sits down to catch her breath.

  “Good work,” Evelena says.

  Rehma and Gelana begin to set up a tent next to Evelena's. Ja'noa also begins to set up a third tent. Sven begins to set up his tent and asks, “So can any of you start fire? I have some wood here so that we can have warm meal.”

  The sisters all look at each other and Kel'ana says, “I can do that in a minute.”

  Sven laughs and says, “So, Kel'ana can shape ice and create fire. What do you others do?”

  Rehma looks up from the tent that she is helping Gelana with. She brushes back her long blonde hair and says, “Please tell me he didn't just ask that.”

  “Easy Rehma,” Gelana says trying to calm her.

  Ja'noa says, “Oh, I'll show you what I can do.” She pulls back her coat and reaches for a dagger.

  Kel'ana says, “Ja'noa, don't. I am sure he didn't mean anything by that.”

  Sven looks around at the young women who are clearly angry with him. He realizes that he has upset them and says, “Sven does not mean to offend. Sven is sure you all have talents. Mine is to cook, among other things.”

  “So you can cook, huh?” Yentroc asks. “That's good because I am starving.”

  “You just wait,” Sven says. “Sven will make best hot soup you ever had.” Sven looks over at Lyra who is shivering uncontrollably. “Lyra, are you alright?”

  When Lyra doesn’t' answer Evelena runs over to her and asks her, “Lyra? What’s wrong?”

  “S-so...cold,” Lyra is barely able to say.

  “Kel'ana!” Evelena calls out.

  Kel'ana runs over and looks at Lyra. “Hold still,” she says to her. Kel'ana then closes her eyes and as she casts the warmth spell on Lyra, a reddish glow flows from Kel’ana’s hands to Lyra. She then says, “That should help.”

  Lyra stops shaking and takes a deep breath. “Oh, thank you,” she says to Kel'ana.

  “You're welcome,” Kel'ana replies.

  As Kel'ana sits back down she appears to be winded. Yentroc approaches and says with a smile, “Alright, Kel'ana, that is enough of being the hero today. You are tiring yourself out.” Yentroc looks at Sven and says, “So, you wonder what I can do? I can do this.” She looks back at Kel'ana who is exhausted from all her spell use and says to her, “Now take my strength.” Yentroc closes her eyes and her hands glow white. Then as Yentroc touches Kel'ana's arm, the glow is absorbed by Kel'ana who smiles and no longer appears to be tired.

  Gelana and Rehma walk over and join Yentroc and Kel'ana. Rehma says to Kel'ana, “Just let us know if you need our strength.”

  Kel'ana replies, “Thank you.” Then as she looks around she thinks for a bit. She then says, “You know, now that we are no longer on the move, I can probably keep you all warm if you can keep my strength up.”

  Rehma says, “Ja'noa and Evelena cannot share their strength but Gelana and I should be able to give you more than enough.”

  “Thank you,” Ja'noa says to Rehma.

  “Alright then,” Kel’ana says. She turns to Rehma and closes her eyes. The warm glow of the spell covers Rehma before being absorbed. Rehma then raises her hands and magically shares her energy with Kel'ana before stepping aside. Next Kel'ana turns to Evelena and does the same.

  Sven watches as one by one the sisters are protected by Kel'ana's spell, and in return Rehma and Gelana give Kel'ana their strength. Finally, after Kel'ana casts the spell on Ja'noa, she walks over to Sven and says, “I can cast it on you now, Sven. I am not that tired.”

  Sven shakes his head and says, “No, pretty one. Do not waste your spell on Sven. Sven will be fine. If you have strength left then perhaps now you can make fire so that Sven can make dinner.”

  The others go back to finishing with their tents as Kel'ana waves her hand at the small pile of wood that Sven has set up. A fire engulfs the wood, and soon burns on its own. Sven goes into his backpack and gets out a large pot. He fills it with snow before placing it over the fire. Sven pulls two small pouches from his backpack and empties the contents into the pot.

  While waiting for the soup to heat the group is surprised by a visitor.

  Off in the cold away from the camp, a wolf emerges from the blowing snow. Sven is the first to see it. He yells, “Wolf!” As he gets to his feet, he draws his sword.

  “Wait!” Kel'ana says.

  “Wait?” Sven asks. “Are you crazy?”

  “She is right,” Evelena says. “Look, I think it is alone.”

  They watch the wolf as it slowly moves closer. It stops and lets out a whine and a short howl.

  “Aw,” Kel'ana says. “It's cute.”

  “Careful,” Sven warns. “That cute animal can kill you.”

  Kel'ana puts her hand out and says to wolf, “Come here.”

  “Be careful,” Ja'noa warns as she places a hand on one of the daggers on her chest.

  “I will,” Kel'ana replies. She calls to the animal once more, “Here wolfie.”

  “Here, wolfie?” Sven questions.

  To everyone's surprise the wolf begins to wag its tail. It jumps around and stands before Kel'ana and sits down. Kel'ana pets the wolf and Sven says, “Well, that is strangest wolf Sven has ever seen.”

  The others cautiously
approach and extend their hands as the wolf sniffs each of them. After petting the wild animal the girls sit around the fire. The sun is completely gone but the white snow reflects the light of stars and the crescent moon. Sven's soup is ready as he pours it into bowls and passes it out. He says, “Alright, now everyone please try this and tell Sven what you think.”

  The sisters look at each other unsure what to think. Then Yentroc says, “Well, I am hungry.” She takes a drink from the bowl of soup as everyone else watches her closely. Then as she tastes it she says, “Mmm. That is so good.”

  The others then look at their bowls and begin to drink from them. “Oh, Sven,” Gelana says. “That is really good.”

  Sven smiles and says, “Sven is glad you like it.” Then he turns to the others and asks, “What do you all think of Sven's soup?”

  “Very good,” Ja'noa says. “Thank you.”

  “I have to admit,” Rehma says. “I didn't think I was going to like it.”

  “Thank you, Sven,” Evelena says. “This tastes amazing.”

  Then turning to Lyra, Sven asks, “And what does little Lyra think?”

  Lyra drinks and drinks until the bowl is empty and asks, “Did you make enough for seconds?” They all laugh as Sven refills her bowl. Kel'ana asks, “So, what is in this soup?”

  Sven explains, “Well, water, of course. Then a mix of some spices that Sven gathers personally from the Monastery on sapphire lake. Then a few vegetables and a little bit dried meat.”

  “Sounds like a basic soup,” Yentroc says. “What spices do you use?”

  Sven laughs and says, “That is secret recipe. Sven cannot say.”

  They laugh again and Kel'ana asks, “So what kind of meat is it?”

  The question causes everyone to stop laughing and now they all listen for Sven's answer. Sven looks at them and says, “It is not important. Now, enough of Sven's recipe.”

  This answer does not sit well with the group as they all stop eating their soup. Ja'noa then asks again, “Sven, what meat did you use?”

  Sven sighs and says, “Alright, Sven will tell you if you promise not to be mad at him.”