by J D Franx
“Mistress Giera said we lost two just before the spike wall was cast.”
“We lost a dozen,” Brenna said, unable to keep the cold from her voice.
“Look around you,” Engier said, trying to make her see. “Over a hundred of your people died here and only managed to kill one of these creatures, jotunn or not. What happens if we run into more? Or a whole clan? They are ten times stronger than us.”
The blood drained from Eira’s face and her bottom lip quivered as if she struggled to find the words. “W… We… We all die,” she finally sputtered.
“Under normal circumstances I love a challenge and killing a jotunn would earn me an honored seat in Valhalla, perhaps even ascension to godhood like the heroes of old, but we must get our people to a place where we can set up a safe camp. One we can defend, and that forest looks like our best bet.”
Brenna smirked. “Then we go hunting for a giant?”
“Chasing glory is for the young and foolish, or for the old and bored. We have other concerns now.”
“I know,” Brenna replied. Glancing at him sideways she elbowed him lightly. “But a jotunn, Engier, it has to make your blood race with the desire to test yourself against a giant of old.”
Looking at her, he frowned, but couldn’t hold it from becoming a smile. “You think one of them big blue bastards hits harder than Boulder did after he was a full barrel deep in ale?”
Brenna laughed with him as old memories flashed in his mind. He finally shrugged the thoughts off and pushed his companions harder towards the convoy before they found out exactly how hard the new threat hit.
Before they walked ten feet, a rustle from the line of trees caught both Engier and Brenna’s attention. They reacted together, rushing to the trees with weapons drawn.
“Get out of there, now,” Brenna shouted. As Eira approached her, she added, “We have a wizard with us, come out or she will burn you out.”
“Gods curse me,” a familiar voice drifted out. “All right, you win.” An older man exited the trees with his hands in front of him.
“Sabjorn Toll, you son of a bitch,” Brenna swore as Engier rammed the butt of his axe into the man’s face knocking him to the ground. Blood poured from the necromancer’s nose and mouth.
“Search him,” he ordered, motioning to Brenna.
“He’s clean,” she said after checking his pockets and dropping an empty runestone pouch on the ground.
“Sabjorn Toll,” he growled. “I might’ve known a leech like you would survive.”
Sabjorn groaned and rolled onto his back. “Jarl Engier War-Blood,” he replied with a chuckle. “I knew you would survive as well. You are far too gods-damned stupid to die.”
To Engier’s amazement, Eira leaned forward and slammed her fist into his mouth. He couldn’t help but chuckle, it was solid punch, especially for a wizard. “You reek of death and...” She paused for only a second. “…corruption of the soul. You raise the dead,” she spat, wrinkling her nose in disgust.
“Not anymore, sweetheart,” he said, chuckling again. “I’ve got no runes left, so no walking dead men.”
“Just kill him, Engier,” Brenna said. “We need to get back.”
He stared at Eira, waiting for an argument.
“What?” she asked. “I have no complaints, kill him and let’s go.”
Engier raised his axe.
“Wait, wait,” Sabjorn pleaded and held up a hand as he pointed at the jotunn’s corpse. “I saw what happened here. I can tell you about them.”
“We know enough already...” Engier began.
“Oh, you really don’t,” Sabjorn insisted, offering a sly smile. “We need to leave before they return.”
“Then tell us you shit weasel,” Brenna snarled.
“Give me your word you’ll spare my life and take me with you,” he said. “Both of you swear it.”
“I can do that,” Engier said nodding. “But if I determine that your information is useless, I will kill you with a clear conscience. You have my word.”
“Wait,” he pleaded. “That’s not what I...”
“You also have my word,” Brenna offered and nodded towards Engier. “Same word as his.”
Engier crouched on his heels and held his axe in front of Sabjorn’s bleeding face. “We have an accord, now tell me everything.” The rebel wizard leaned back as waves of heat pulsed from the axe and Engier smiled when the necromancer licked his lips and a nerve twitched under his eye.
“Very well. But we have to leave now, more will be coming,” Sabjorn muttered, slumping in surrender.
“After you,” Engier said, prodding him with his shield. “Don’t let the walk slow your tongue or my axe will speed you up.”
“I won’t,” he replied.
“Begin,” Brenna said as they walked away from the massacre site.
Sabjorn nodded and did as he was told. “I kept ahead of the Skeyth when they came down from the mountain. I cast my way through all the runes I had after the biggest quake hit, just to stay hidden or alive. When I had no runes left, I hid in the trees, hoping they’d pass me by. Three of those big blue bastards came along. They missed me, but they saw the Skeyth coming through the mud flats you came through. Thank Odin they chose the opposite tree line to hide in.”
“What then?” Brenna asked.
“The Skeyth must have sensed the giants and then they fought. The Skeyth lost, horribly.”
“Not all of my people died back there,” Eira said.
“No, most ran while a powerful young woman led the rest as they fought a losing retreat.”
“Valy,” Eira surmised. “She’s the only one strong enough.”
“May I finish?” Sabjorn asked.
“Don’t push your luck,” Engier growled.
“Fine,” the necromancer said, holding up his hands in mock surrender as he continued.
“Those who fought and survived were captured and taken to the southeast. They also took as many of your dead as they could carry.”
“Why?” Eira asked. “Why take the dead?”
Engier stared at Brenna and Sabjorn, but it was the rebel who finally answered. “If these blue beasts are jotunn, then your people were taken for food.”
Though he didn’t think it was possible, Engier felt sorry for Eira when her features paled further and she held her hand to her mouth to suppress a gag.
“Gods,” she whispered.
“Which meant the surviving Skeyth probably went east and then north,” Engier guessed.
“With our young,” Brenna added.
“Makes sense,” Sabjorn said.
“How many did the jotunn capture alive?” Eira asked, pressing for more information.
“A dozen,” Sabjorn answered, “perhaps less.”
“Two of those things captured over a dozen Skeyth?” Eira said doubtfully.
“They have clearly done it before,” Sabjorn argued. “They were tied and strung together like a line of fresh fish in mere minutes.”
“You have told us nothing we needed to know,” Engier commented.
Sabjorn came to a stop and turned to face him. “Good thing I haven’t mentioned the important part yet.”
Brenna scoffed. “Which is?”
“I haven’t told you how they captured the Skeyth so easily.”
Brenna motioned for him to continue, exaggerating the bored look on her face with a yawn. “The two creatures who survived were almost completely unaffected by magic and they were a lot bigger and stronger than the dead one you found. It was just a child and still the old Skeyth hag and several of their warriors needed help from other wizards to kill it. It took a dozen Skeyth to kill a mere child. They are damn hard to kill, is that knowledge you needed to know?” He stared at Engier until he shrugged.
“It certainly helps,” Brenna offered reluctantly.
Engier slapped Sabjorn between the shoulder blades and then firmly grabbed the back of his neck, forcing him forward. “That’s enough to keep you
alive for today. Though, should a rune or a weapon find its way into your hands, all the clans will have orders to kill you immediately.”
“Of course, Jarl Engier,” Sabjorn mumbled as Engier released him. Spitting on the ground, the rebel offered a mock bow and wiped his mouth. “Whatever you command.”
Ignoring him, Engier glanced at Eira. “Is there any chance your people will make a rescue attempt?” he asked.
Eira chewed her lip in thought for several seconds before answering. “Only if several of those taken were elders or strong magic users.”
“What are you thinking?” Brenna inquired.
Engier merely shrugged. “Enemy of my enemy...”
But Eira interrupted him. “Is still my bastard enemy,” she retorted. “They won’t accept your help. Depending on how many they lost, I would think Giera and Kayo will leave them to their fate while they lead those left to safety.”
“No honor among child thieves, right Engier?” Brenna asked, and shook her head.
“Never leave kin behind if at all possible—alive or dead,” he agreed. Sabjorn remained silent.
“For the Skeyth, survival of the clan comes first,” Eira said. “Thanks to your ancestor’s punishment of exile, it is our reality, whether or not I agree.”
Engier sighed, he was sore, tired, and his head pounded. He was in no mood for an argument, so he remained silent and pushed their pace once more, in order to return to the clans and talk to the elders. It was clear they needed a plan if they were to venture forward into this new land in order to find their young, and it had to be a damn good one.
THE BRIAR FOREST
2 DAYS LATER
Engier waited impatiently for the scouts to return. They were overdue and with the high number of jotunn war bands roaming the area, he was concerned the scouts might have been caught. The giant blue warriors always left from and returned to the south, leading him to believe that their main camp was somewhere far south of where his own people camped. The jotunn never approached the forest, the briars made it all but impassible and therefore, of no use to anyone.
“Impassable for everyone but a Northman,” Engier chuckled quietly. Briars, bramble, and rose thickets grew everywhere on Sokn. Though as he admired a five-inch briar spine in his palm, he had to admit the ones here were larger and seemed to have a much sharper bite. The thick forest around them and the cave system through the big hills to the southeast were the only safe place they could find after nearly two long days of searching. Staring down at the deep cuts crossing his arms, he smiled, confident the camp was secure.
The bramble and briars he and a few others twisted together and wove around the camp’s perimeter would prevent it from being overrun and it gave them extensive ground cover. An enemy would have to stumble right into the Northmen camp before they would be seen and by that time the briars would prevent a quick retreat to inform others, giving his people time to end the threat or to fall back to the mud flats, and eventually back to Sokn if needed. The massive hills less than a mile to their south, east, and north protected them on all sides with the exception of a few narrow crevice-like valleys, which left the cave system acting as the main trail to the lands beyond. A cave system that was now thoroughly guarded all day and night by scouts from every clan. They had also kept the tents and wagons even though it required several hours of cutting and clearing thorns and brambles in order to make room for them, but the time was well spent, leaving them with a hidden, yet well-fortified position with a safe direction to retreat.
“Any word?” Brenna asked coming up behind him at the eastern watch.
He shook his head.
“One of mine is nearly back,” she said. “The cave lookout spotted him ten minutes ago. Said he was dodging two separate groups of jotunn and it forced him further to the south.”
“Let’s go then,” he said. “There’s no word from the three who headed east. Perhaps your man has some knowledge of the area that will actually help us. I can see what looks like a rise and some green to the east beyond the break in the hills, but it’s right at the curvature of the earth. I can’t make out any details.”
“Between three and nine miles away then,” she said. “It will be a hard trek, mostly hill and rocks.”
“Agreed.”
Brenna nodded and turned back. Engier followed her through their camp. Smiles and bows followed him everywhere he went and though he was glad camp morale was high, he wished they would stop looking at him as their High King.
“Being king would be so bad?” Brenna asked, noticing his frown. “They look up to you.”
“I understand,” he replied. “But this isn’t the time to be worrying about electing a High King. A landless king at that.”
“No,” she said. “It is the time for a High King to be made. One who is actually worthy of the crown. Sokn hasn’t had a decent king in generations, you know that. The only reason we went to war was because the high king refused to make a decision on the Dragon’s Breath mines. Regardless of what happens in the future, Engier, you will be the leader who finds the Northmen a new home even if we are forced back to the island. It is large enough to sustain all of us if need be. Your actions alone will make you High King, Jarl Engier, not a Jarl’s moot.”
He scoffed. “Perhaps we should worry about today’s problems,” he said pointing past her. “Your scout returns.”
“Sahar!” Brenna said, waving as she spun on her heel. “Anything to report?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he replied, breathing heavily.
“The lookout said you were in a bad way there for a bit,” Engier said.
“Yes, my lord,” he answered, bowing. “The jotunn patrols have increased, even if they are still hours apart in most places, always in groups of three or four now. Thankfully they don’t see in the failing light so well and I managed to slip by them.” He paused for a second as a sheepish but apologetic grin crossed his face. “I didn’t engage them...”
“Nothing to be ashamed about, scout,” Engier said with a nod. “We’re not here for the glory of battle. If that changes you will have plenty of chance to face them I assure you. Continue.”
“Yes, my lords. With so many groups returning, it can be tricky getting back to our camp undetected, but there’s little to see to the south. Mostly prairie with scattered trees. No forests or mountains for a proper Northman to make a home.”
Brenna glanced at Engier and he nodded.
“Go get some rest, Sahar,” she ordered. The scout wasted no time offering a quick bow and departing.
“Why do they all pull back at night?” Engier wondered, not really meaning to say it out loud.
“You mean the jotunn?” Brenna prompted.
“Yes,” he said, staring south while he stood at her side. “Why do they always pull back their patrols at night? Every single patrol. Why?”
“I know not, Engier.”
“Brenna, why would we pull back our own patrols at night?”
“We don’t,” she said.
“Unless?” he said. It was his turn to prompt her into an answer for a change and it made him smile.
She smirked back at him and nodded her head. “Unless we are critically vulnerable for some reason. Like during the dark night of a new moon.”
Placing his hand on her shoulder, he frowned. “And what could possibly make a fearless, giant warrior vulnerable at night?”
“Of course,” she gasped. “Only two things, either they cannot see in the dark, or bright light, say from a torch or fire, blinds them. Or in the very least it hurts them to the point where they cannot defend themselves effectively.”
They stared at each other and smiled. “Thankfully they don’t see in the failing light so well and I managed to slip by them,” they both said at the same time, repeating Sahar’s words.
“Which means?” he prompted again.
“It means we can ghostwalk their camp,” she replied, as a sly smile curled the corner of her mouth. “Sneak in and cut all their
throats during the dead of night. Every one of my scouts has a hooked blade.”
“If at all possible, that is what we will do. Care to go out in a few hours? Midnight?” he suggested. “At the very least, we may find out exactly where the jotunn camp is and how many they are, perhaps learn other weaknesses.”
She nodded eagerly as she answered. “You, me, Drengr, and my scout,” she suggested. “Just the four of us, we can move faster. If we see what we like, we can ghost them on morrow’s eve.”
“Then we should leave Drengr back,” he said. “He’s only just back on his feet today.”
“The Skeyth woman then,” she said shrugging her shoulders. “We need a wizard to blind them, to light up the night if we need to escape. Drengr would be fine, he might not be able manipulate runes anymore, but he can still crack a rune and toss it.”
“Good point. Get some rest, then grab your scout. I’ll find a wizard and meet you here after full dark.”
She nodded her agreement and walked back into the camp while he turned the other direction to find Eira.
Chapter Eight
JOTUNN VILLAGE
For half the night, Engier’s small scouting party searched the area to the south relentlessly in an attempt to find out where all the giant warriors returned to at dusk. Not believing the jotunn to be close to their own hidden camp, they searched an ever-widening circle to the southeast before turning due south, but there was no enemy camp to be found. Though the moon was high in the sky for most of the night, heavy cloud cover had quickly moved in to darken their surroundings. Engier ordered their return to camp before it got worse, but still walked a search pattern while making his way home. Another hour passed uneventfully except for the increasing darkness, and the fact Drengr and Brenna spotted a glint of flashing blue light far to the west. Brenna waved Engier over and they followed the light to a low-lying swamp filled with a heavy blue fog. The swamp was several miles straight south of where the Northmen had settled in the briars. At the sight of the unnerving blue mist, Engier pulled his mask up over his nose and motioned for the others to do the same.
They were soon deep into the bog as they tracked the location of the strange lights. The shadows of dark trees, blacker than the night itself lined the only trail headed towards the muted lights in the distance. The shriek of strange animals and the piercing chirp of unknown birds echoed around them. White moss and pale webs hung from the black trees, leaving gray wisps to blow on the light winds like curious ghosts who kept pace with them as they walked. It took a short time for them to find the source of the blue lights. The glow came from several fat burning lamps placed around a large village. The lanterns were filled with some kind of liquid that gave off little light, muted further by the blue haze hanging in the air. Had it not been for the cloudy sky creating an utter dark over the night, the glow would have been easily overlooked by Brenna and Drengr. Rows of domed huts made from animal hides stretched over long, curved poles surrounded a central cook fire and spread out from there in concentric rings. Except for the hut west of the fire, it was backed by high mountains so steep, Engier doubted it could be free-climbed, even by the northern mountain clans. The tent was at least four times the size of the others and was adorned with all types of trophies. Animal horn and antlers hung everywhere. Tangled together, they formed an arch over the tent’s entryway. Furs and tanned hides from dozens of different animals hung from long spears.
