"She's changed, I know," Relisha says sadly. "You were close with her before and with Shalelu. Shalelu is going to take a long time to recover, but I'm sure she still cares for you."
She continues at her task.
"You've changed as well, you know. I think we all have. Sometimes things that we want, we have to give up to become who we're supposed to be."
”I would appreciate you not sticking your nose in my friendships, Relisha,” Thanara’s voice calls out from behind her. Turning she can see Thanara walking determined towards the pair. She stops several paces away and puts her hands on her hips as she glares at the tiefling a long silent moment before adding ”Would you mind giving us some privacy to talk, or should I instead take this opportunity to talk to Ameiko about some of my concerns?”
"Ahreni isn't just your friend," Relisha says with more confidence in her voice than has been evident in the past. She returns the brush to the box where it came from. Giving the shifter a reassuring pat on the shoulder, she leaves.
Olaff spends a long time talking to all his kin and introducing them to the other members of the caravan, taking care to keep his distance from Thanara as she appears to be in a stormy mood, to say the least.
Ahreni continues to brush the horse, ducking under his head with an encouraging pat to take up where Relisha left off. The sorceress gets a flat look with just a hint of pain in Ahreni's dark eyes.
Ameiko melts into Relisha's embrace and wants to cry, but just doesn't have it in her. She says softly "Okay. Thank you. Just a few more minutes and then wake me up, okay?" before laying back down and promptly falling asleep again.
---
Rhada nods to Olaff, "She told everyone it was yours and I had no reason to be thinking she would have lied about it. In fact, it's the whole reason she left. The boy got very sick and she tried all of the medicines she could get her hands on. Nothing was helping and so she sought the words of a wiseman who told her to go raiding and find some treasure in a castle that could save him."
She shook her head slowly, "She never came back though. We assume she either was killed or captured along the way."
---
Sandru walks past Relisha on the way out and says "You seen Ahreni?" before catching sight of her and moving in. "Hey Cub, I was wonderin'-". He stops when he sees Thanara and the look on Ahreni's face before turning around "Nothing. Nope. I forgot what I was going to say. Nevermind." and turning to follow Relisha out.
Once back outside, he asks her "How's Amieko? Is she ready to move on? Are you ready to move on? Hows the new hand?"
"I'm fine," Relisha says, lifting her hand to look at it again.
It still amazed her, the moments life would give. One moment, she had a hand, the next, a bleeding and painful wound where her hand used to be. And just about the time she got used to donning her armor and tying her trousers with just one, she had it back again. Like it was a nightmare that she had awakened from.
"Ameiko will be fine as well. She just needs some rest without being disturbed. We should get moving, though, she can rest while we travel."
Thanara folds her arms across her chest and lets Ahreni have her moment of silent treatment before asking bluntly ”So you are going to be mad at me for not recognizing you in a full blown wolf form I had never seen before?”
Ahreni just stares back and then slowly begins to shift. It starts with her arms, then her head, each step that she had been gradually making until finally a fully grown wolf stands before Thanara. Then the wolf shakes its head and Ahreni is standing in front of her again.
The wolf-girl throws her arms wide in a 'see' gesture and then shrugs, turning back to the horse's immaculate coat.
Olaff's eyes go wide when Rhada reveals the baby is a boy and that he was sick. "Is he still alive? Ve have found an... uh... a thing that could curre anythin' I guess. Ve can't save my child! Verre is him, Rrhada? Is he still in Trrolheim?"
Rhada shifts uncomfortably, a shocked expression having overcome her face. [smaller]"Oh. Olaff. I assumed you knew by your questions and that was the reason you were here. No. I'm sorry. He succumbed to his illness about a week ago."
She clasps him on the shoulder, offering silent support to the Ulfen.
As the Ulfen that accompanied Thanara settle in around her wagon, the sorceress climbs inside. She heads over to her cot and removes her cloak, draping it on a small peg on the wagon frame at the foot of her bed. She lets out a breath as she relaxes, taking a seat on the cot opposite Savah. She looks over at her, the look in her eyes seeming like she hadn’t seen her in years and was reacquainting herself with the blacksmith’s face.
__________
Thanara walks up behind Ameiko and stops a few feet away. She clasps her hands in front of her waist before coughing lightly and saying quietly ”Ameiko...”
__________
As the two,Ulfen men catch up, Thanara makes her way up behind them and takes a seat on the other side of Olaff. ”Good evening, Olaff,” she says.
Olaff has no words for a while after Rhada gives him the news of his dead son. He doesn't cry for the loss though, as losing something he was never sure of having was something strange.
Thanara's voice bring Olaff out of his torpor. He looks at her, completely lost. "No, not a good evening at all... Asta vas telling the trruth. She had my child, a boy, but he is dead. My father, mother, my mentor and friend, Asta, my child... you, all died."
"I've hearrd Gorrum's vorrds as they prromised blood. I thought it vas o' my enemies, but I vas mistaken..."
Thanara didn’t flinch as Olaff vented. The man needed to speak, so she let him. But once he had finished, it was her turn.
”When I was in the Boneyard, I learned some things, Olaff. We all have a purpose. Our souls all have a worth. The gods and denizens of higher planes, they basically barter for our souls when we die as if they were commodities. And Pharasma acts as the final broker.”
She falls silent a moment, then adds ”The time for you to have your vengeance will soon be at hand, of that I’m certain. It fits in with my higher calling. I have seen it. Varla has shown it to me. Opened my eyes to my path. While for now it leads me across the Crown of the World at Ameiko’s side, one day it will take me to a much grander destination,” she pauses, looking at him and placing her hand on his forearm. ”I hope you will come with me. I have convinced Rognar and his men to join me, and with Varla’s guidance, I will see my destiny fulfilled.”
Thanara walks up behind Ameiko and stops a few feet away. She clasps her hands in front of her waist before coughing lightly and saying quietly ”Ameiko...”
It turns out to be almost impossible to find Ameiko without 'Mother-Hen' Relisha hovering around, sometimes at her elbow or at most a few paces away.
Seeing that Thanara wishes to talk to her love alone, Relisha frowns a bit, but then leans in and says quietly to Ameiko, "I'll be right over there if you need me." She looks as if she's going to say something to the sorceress, but then gives her a nod and steps away.
Savah looks over at Thanara when she enters the wagon, taking stock of her lover freshly returned from the dead. She isn't quite sure what to make of it and hesitates when the sorceress makes her appearance. "Welcome back, Thanara. It is good to see you again."
Uncertainty is evident in her voice, a tinge of nervousness tickling at her features as she speaks.
----
Ameiko's eyes go to the sorceress when she approaches "Thanara!" she responds softly before putting her hand on Relisha's forearm reassuringly. "It's alright. Thank you."
Once Relisha leaves, Ameiko looks at Thanara silently for a moment. "You saved my life. I mourned your death. You have return. The least I owe you is my thanks." She moves towards the sorceress and wraps her up in a hug. "Thank you for everything."
After pulling away she asks "How are you holding up? How are you feeling?"
----------
Ulf Gormundr, the guide that was rescued alongside you from the depths of Ravenscraeg, works Sandru to make sure you have all of the supplies you need for the caravan. Sandru sets your departure for first thing the following morning, allowing you one final night in Kalsgard.
That night everyone reconvenes for your final meal in Kalsgard. No expense is spared, knowing it is going to be a long time before you will have this experience again. At dinner, Ulf explains "We'll leave Kalsgard and cross the Arctic Circle and enter the Crown of the World. This will not be a quick nor an easy journey, and from what I understand this isn't about speed either, it's about keeping that young lady safe." he nods motioning to Ameiko.
"We've a journey of over 3,000 miles across unforgiving terrain, bitter weather and extremes of light and darkness. Not to mention we will have to deal with the icy continents dangerous inhabitants!"
"In the best of days we'll cover about thirty miles per day. If we maintain that speed for the entire trip, it will take us three months to make it through. It's not unheard of journeys through the Crown taking six months though. I've heard stories of it taking a year as well, so we'll need to see what gets thrown at us."
Ameiko frowns at the time being outlined before them and when Sandru sees her getting frustrated, he places a hand on her shoulder "No, this is a good thing. The longer we take in going through there, the more likely our enemies will think we have perished. As Ulf said, this isn't a race. Perhaps the longer we take, the more likely they are to let their guard down. They are likely on high alert now from all of the use of the seal. They probably know she's alive and that we've taken out their group here from Ravenscraeg, or at least they will in short order I would assume."
Ulf resumes "Tomorrow, we'll leave Kalsgard and set towards Giant-Downs. Once we reach them, we'll have a choice to make on our route, but there is no reason to worry about that now. Any questions before we retire for the night?"
Ahreni, who has eaten with serious focus and not wasted breath on conversation shakes her head. Bizarrely there are streaks of white beginning to show in her hair, having appeared overnight without explanation.
”I hear I wasn’t gone long. Yet so much seems different,” she replies to Savah. She makes direct eye contact with her and asks ”What’s wrong? What has changed with you?”
___________
Thanara closes her eyes and returns the hug eagerly. When Ameiko asks how she feels she answers ”Good. Better than you would expect. I learned something in the Boneyard about myself that answers so many questions.”
___________
Thanara sits on the edge of her wagon, her smooth legs crossed and one foot bobbing casually giving the appearance of disinterest. But then she speaks up ”Have we procured enough supplies and foodstuffs for such a long journey? Will their be opportunities to do so in the way? I can’t imagine there being many towns in the region. Also, has everyone taken measures to deal with the environment?”
Savah shifts uncomfortably as Thanara questions her, "Nothing has changed with me, Thanara, you are the one changed. It may have been a short time, but something is definitely different."
------
Ameiko looks at Thanara curiously, "What did you learn? How did you learn it? What was the Boneyard like?" she asks curiously.
----
"While there will be stops, nothing will come close to the size of Kalsgard for a long time. It's best to do all of your shopping now, for it will be small villages for our foreseeable future." Ulf remarks.
Sandru chimes in "I've ordered the wagons loaded with as much footstuffs as we can reasonable take, but should supplement with fresh meat wherever possible."
Ulf nods and addressess Thanara's second question. "It's going to be cold. Colder than cold. The coldest environment you've ever experienced in your life. We will have nothing but snow and ice and storms for months. You need to have appropriate gear for that."
Thanara’s eyes narrow a bit and grow darker as an unsettling smile appears on her lips. ”I didn’t change. I just became who I was meant to be. I am the Storm. No longer a timid little spring rain, but a full fledged tempest.”
__________
Thanara leans in and whispers in Ameiko’s ear.
__________
Thanara lifts a foot up, showcasing one of her leather boots trimmed with fur. ”These can ward off most temperatures. But I can also make my clothing into something warm also,” she says as she says the command word and her outer layer shifts into thick furs that match her attire and a heavy hooded cloak.
One of the rare times that Relisha has left Ameiko alone since their return, she returns from her shopping trip to the wagon to find her love ensuring everything is stowed away properly. Rel's face is flushed as she tosses two cloth bundles into the back of the wagon and hops up inside to join Ameiko. "It's going to be really cold as we cross the top of the world, so I bought you these," she says.
The first bundle is a long, thick deer-hide hooded coat lined with soft white fox fur. The second bundle is a pair of matching lined boots.
"Those should keep you warm," she says with a shy grin.
~~~~~~
"I've purchased sufficient cold weather clothes for Ameiko," Relisha says with a nod. "I just need a thick cloak and I'll be fine. Cold doesn't bother me as much as ... as you all."
Ahreni just shrugs. It's noticeable that she's never worn anything more than a shirt and jerkin on this trip so far anyway.
"I'll be at yerr side as I have prromised, even if I have failed and got yerr killed... this Varrla ye arre talking about, who is she?" Olaff asks concerned. "Have she said anything about my own fate?"
Olaff's mood is still somber and knowing this could be his last chance of a proper drink, he was sure to enjoy it as much as he could.
”She’s...a priestess,” Thanara says after pausing to think of the best way to describe her.
Rognar grunts as he rips a slab of salted meat in half, handing one chunk to Olaff. ”More like a damned witch.”
”She’s my priestess,” Thanara says sternly in retort
Rognar just raises his hands to signal he won’t argue, but his body language clearly indicates he still disagrees.
Thanara glares at Rognar with narrowed eyes before turning her attention back to Olaff. ”She hasn’t. Just that I have trying times ahead, but am destined for...for great things. And to accomplish them, I’ll need loyal people to be able to call on.”
She stands and steps in front of him before she takes his face in her hands and looks in his eyes and adds ”I’m glad I can count on you to be one of them.”
Ameiko gasps in response to Thanara's statement, drawing her head back. "What? Are you serious? Are you sure? What does that even mean?"
----
Ameiko thanks Relisha for the clothing, scooping it up. For the first time since their escape, Ameiko cracks a smile "This looks so warm! Thank you Relisha, I might even need to shed a few layers at night for fear of being too hot."
----
The following morning you roll the caravan out of Kalsgard in the half-light of early dawn, passing through the gates just as they open. The first day is spent heading east, until you reach the first bridge and cross the Rimeflow headed north. The smoke and haze of Kalsgard fade into the horizon behind you, the farms thin out and by the end of the second day the last vestiges of civilization are behind you. A cold snap settles in that evening, an early harbinger of winter, leaving a frost across the landscape. The sky remains clear, a stark cerulean blue.
The further north you go, the farmlands and plains get gradually more rugged and hilly. By the end of your fourth day out of Kalsgard, you can see the white tops of the Stormspear Peaks on the horizon. Two days later, you climb into the hills saddled between the mountain ranges, east and west. The road begins to grow more and more faint.
About mid-day, the ground slopes down into a steep valley, surrounded by sparse forest, at the headwaters of the Vyalldehun river. Ulf suggests it as a good place to stop early and rest up for the hills ahead. As you scout around the new camp, you see a peculiar sight on the western horizon. Perhaps ten to twenty miles away, a single standing spire rises from the otherwise featureless terrain. Even miles away, you see it glitters with reflected sunlight.
Relisha takes note of the structure and points it out to Ameiko. "I would consider investigating it, but it looks like it would take us at least a day out of our way."
Ameiko looks towards the object of Relisha's pointing and considers it.
Ulf overhears the tiefling and gives a nonchalant shrug. "There are spires that exist all over this place. In the Boreal Expance, there are the Nameless Spires. I think there are a half-dozen or so. This one here?" he says, pointing to the one that Relisha speaks of. "That marks old Vyalldehun's lair. Said to be labyrinth of countless rooms and passages, all filled with nasty monsters. You can check it out, if you like, but don't expect me to wait around too long if you don't come back."
Ameiko looks to Relisha, gauging to see what she thinks of their guides comments on the matter. Ulf sees two thinking about it and he adds "We've enough trouble surviving out here, do you really need to be thinking about more?"
Ahreni just shakes her head, the prospect of going into a giant stone pillar is not particularly attractive to her, especially after what happened in the ninja fortress.
"No. We have someplace to be and someone to get there," Relisha says with a shake of her head. She turns and looks up at Ameiko through her lashes. "Isn't that right, Empress?" she says with a hint of a smile.
Olaff nods to Thanara, but the mention of this mysterious woman being a witch makes Olaff both worried and unconfortable. Thanara already had access to strange magic that he decided to overlook so far due to how he felt about her, but now she seems changed.
He'd remain at her side for sure, but only time could tell if in the end he won't need to stop her... not all "great things" are good. In fact, most aren't.
---
As Ulf mentions the name "Vyalldehun", Olaff shudders involuntarily. "Happy to see ye two arre not considerrin' to enterr that place, orr I'd have to strrap ye to yerr vagons. Vyalldehun vas an ancient linnorm o' grreat renown... and ye know vhat drragons arre famous besides theirr poverr and hoarrds? Currses."
With the sensible decision made Ahreni sees to the horses, and then to the wagons. With Shalelu gone and their caravan numbers depleted she's pulling at least three duties including scout but it keeps her busy - which is a good thing given the shifter's unsettled state of mind.
She joins the group for the evening meal but eats silently, without making eye contact with anyone apart from Relisha when the woman hands her a bowl of warm stew and Sandru to make sure that he is eating enough.
She definitely does not look at Thanara. Or Savah.
A few days into your journey, Koya announces she'd like to do a harrow reading for you. This isn't the first time she's done this during your trip, so you are familiar with it by now, but she goes through the process as if you hadn't done it before. "I need everyone to sit in a circle, with me at the northern point." As you move, she sets up a small table and brings out her recently acquired Harrow deck. She lights two candles to illuminate them in the deepening dusk.
"My mother, Niska, always said that time is a path we walk all but blind, glimpsing only the ground at our feet. Looking back, we see shadowy traces of what has passed. Looking forward, there is naught but mist. The Harrow sheds light on the path of time. Its cards are stepping stones, which we walk up and down upon to see what has been, what is, and what might be. These sights can weigh on a harrower's soul, but they also grant great opportunities to change not only what might be, but what has been, and everything in between."
She motions to Thanara to go first and she draws a card depicting a person being struck by a powerful force, granting them intricate knowledge, or perhaps madness. "The Vision," Koya says, taking the card and setting it aside.
Olaff draws a card depicting a walking fortress, a bulwark against the chaos outside or perhaps a menace kept ignorant by its own protective walls. "The Keep," Koya announces, placing the card atop Thanara's choice.
Ahreni's card depicts motes of light in a swamp, wil'o'wisps leading their prey into an impossible trap, or guiding them to safety at the last moment. "The Demon's Lantern," Koya says, placing the card with the others.
Shalelu draws a card highlighting a poisoned blade, a slayer of things both physical and mental, but also the harbinger for new discoveries. "The Snakebite," Koya says with a wink, adding the card to the pile.
Next up, Relisha draws a card showing a man grieving before the grave of an elder, who's ghost offers important lessons, if they choose to listen. "The Empty Throne", Koya declares, setting it aside.
Ameiko, Vankor, Savah and Sandru follow in succession, each choosing their card as Koya calls them out. For Ameiko, The Joke, showing the value of overcoming danger through wit, unless the joke is on us. Vankor draws The Bear, representing pure, untamed strength. Savah's card is The Cyclone, a terrible force that destroys everything it touches, for good or for ill. Lastly, Sandru chooses The Juggler, representing fate, on one's side as long as they keep their rhythm.
Koya takes the chosen cards and reshuffles them back into the deck. "Nine is a powerful number for a Harrowing, it is the number of cards in the spread, the number of alignments, and the positive, negative and neutral multiplied by the past, future and present."
Koya sets the deck on the table before her, lays her hand over it while whispering a prayer to Desna. Koya draws nine cards off the top of the deck, laying them out on the table in three rows of three, face down. Then, one by one, she reveals the three cards in the left column, from top to bottom: "The Beating, the Peacock, and the Mute Hag." Koya makes a warding sign in the air upon the showing of the last card, but she nods, as if expecting it to appear. "These three represent the past; the Beating is an ill-omened card, but it is misaligned in the positive position. It tells of a vicious attack from all sides by overwhelming odds, but a hidden strength brings us through the assault; much like our plight against the oni. Next, the Peacock signifies a significant personal shift, ones life is changed irrevokably; our lives before the Amatatsu legacy. Last, the Mute Hag is another malign card, for through her eye she sees into the dark secrets of men, those that turn brother against brother, sowing betrayal and worse. It could signify the hidden coup of Minkai, or even the secrets of Rokuro Kaijitsu, which led us here... maybe something we don't know of yet."
She flips over the next three cards in the middle column. Seeing the first card, she smiles. "For the present, Ameiko's role, the Joke, and Relisha's Empty Throne, and the Eclipse. The Joke is perhaps a nod to Ameiko's place at the center of all this, but it also infers that our greatest problems are bypassed with skill, wit and ingenuity. The second is uncertain, meaning that our losses brought good fortune, but we must honor them or lose for certain. The last infers self-doubt, loss of purpose, which we all faced recently, and still do I'm sure." Koya gives Ameiko a warm smile.
"And now, what lies ahead." Koya flips the last three cards over. "The Keep, Olaff's role, followed by the Avalanche and the Desert." She sighs, pondering the spread a moment. "To me, the cards reveal that the path forward is bleak, perhaps hopeless, and will tax us dearly to prevail. The Avalanche fortells a disaster, but it can be avoided... it will test our hopes and willpower. The way out is through, finding the balance between the positive and negative aspects. The Desert is paired against the Keep, meaning that quiet, unrelenting perseverence may bring us victory."
Koya inhales deeply, closing her eyes for a long moment. "The future is invariably cryptic, and what we see today may change by a decision made tomorrow. We already knew peril lie before us, but it seems a trial is nigh, larger than any we have yet faced."
"That is all I can see for now." You feel the blessing of the Harrowing subtly, as if your steps are guided, your eyes always looking to the correct spot. It is strange, and invigorating.
Ahreni seems very uncomfortable throughout the process, holding her card very gingerly and as stiff as if she were sitting at an Empress's table. Despite this she sits through the entire process, throwing glances at Sandru often as if to say 'can I go yet'?
Once the Harrowing is done she is up and off into the darkness in a flash, leaving her space between Relisha and Sandru empty. An hour or so later a soaking wet wolf stalks back into camp and takes a place near the fire.
After the reading, Thanara narrowed her eyes at Koya as the old woman hobbled off. She stood and moved after her.
Relisha nods at the elderly woman and then leaves with Ameiko.
"It is an empty throne that you will fill," Relisha says as they walk back to their wagon. She takes the woman's hand in hers and turns to give her a smile. "There is no doubt in my mind." She leans in and gives her a quick kiss on the cheek. "You're going to make a wise and benevolent ruler."
Sandru pulls Ahreni aside one afternoon while they advance into the cold wilderness ahead. "Are you alright, Cub? You've been... I don't know, quiet? More quiet than normal? "
----
Something's changed with Ameiko since her most recent kidnapping. Her perpetual jovial self has become a bit darker and less comical. Gone are the quips and jokes that she would toss out at everyone, replaced by an uneasiness that never seems to pass. "What if the empty throne means I will die and not make it?" she asks Relisha. "What if it is an omen this is all for nothing?"
----
Koya's face takes on a warm, grandmotherly smile. She places a hand on Thanara's forearm and answers her "The Vision is a card of tremendous insight, but it is not concerned with how or if we can handle that insight. The Vision can be a card of great upheaval, but that can be both positive or negative. Once we are struck by the Vision’s insight, we are no longer able to perceive the world as we used to. The more we know, the better informed are our decisions and our paths. Ignorance is not bliss; only by opening our minds up to the power of The Vision perhaps will you succeed in whatever lays ahead of you."
----
You continue on for the remainder of the week heading north, pushing for the Crown. The days are cold and the nights are colder. Neither the warmth of the fire nor the weight of the furs every truly make you feel "warm", with the sense of a biting chill always ever present no matter what you try to offset it with.
The cold snap fades as you climb and descend through the Stormspear hills, replaced by a thick, gray overcast. It grows slightly warmer, but that small comfort is countered by intermittent showers of cold rain; warm enough not to be freezing, but cold enough to make it miserable for three days.
Cresting the hills, you see the wide expanse of the taiga hinterlands before you, a vibrant mix of greens and browns, spotted with the dark glittering of lakes and streams. The land is heavily forested with coniferous trees, the ground covered with a mixture of scrub grass and moss. It is here the road effectively ends.
Ulf retains his bearings using a few different techniques, and as advertised, he guides you past a small nameless town of furriers and foresters on the edge of a large lake. They are a mixture of Ulfen and Varki blood, rough in demeanor but fair enough in the trade for supplies. "We stop here for the night. Make any purchases you need and we'll set out in the morning."
Ahreni stands still for a short while, then shakes her head slowly. Then, suddenly, the tears flow and she buries her face in Sandru's chest and sobs.
"Shae, Thanara. Monster. Hate me." All Sandru can get from his 'little sister' for some time are disjointed words and more tears, until finally Ahreni seems to run dry.
"What if the empty throne means I will die and not make it?" she asks Relisha. "What if it is an omen this is all for nothing?"
Relisha stops and turns Ameiko to face her. Reaching out, she cups the woman's cheek. "I don't believe that for an instant. I have faith, Ameiko. Faith in Sarenrae. Faith in you. Faith in us. There will be trials ahead, but if you share that faith with me, we will overcome them. And you will be seated on that empty throne."
She leans in to softly press her lips against her lover's.
"And then I probably won't be able to do that anymore," she says with a light laugh, tinged with sadness. "So I better enjoy it while I can."
After the reading is done, Olaff can't stop himself from feeling nervous. "So, the futurre depends on me being silent? Stubborrn I am, but quiet?" He shakes his head, not feeling specially confident about the future.
Olaff's mood slowly improves as the days go on and he is able to talk with his kin. To his new companions it is obvious how much Olaff missed his people and when among themselves they always speak in Skald. He catches up on the news, share tales about more recent battles and slowly start to feel himself again, even getting closer to the ulfen shieldmaidens if they allow him.
Not willing to lose this opportunity, Olaff looks for a tavern to spend the night.
Sandru is not a man of vast intellect or fancy words, and he doesn't have a speech prepared to calm Ahreni down. What he does have however, is his warmth and comfort. "You're not a monster any more than they are, Cub. Shalelu is freaking dragon and Thanara has come back from the dead. Being different doesn't make you a monster."
He pulls her close to his body and holds her for as long as she will stay there. Once she's done crying he whispers [smaller]"I'll always love you no matter what anyone else says. Screw them all."
----
Ameiko chuckles at Relisha's comment after their shared kiss. "You keep saying that, like something is going to change. If I'm in charge, can't I make all of the rules about what I can and can't do?"
----
It's easy enough for Olaff to find a tavern to get ale in and a warm bed out of the biting cold for the night. The ale tastes like piss and the bed is about as comfortable as a porcupines back, but it's out of the cold at least.
--------
The passage through the Taiga is a timeless combination of shadowy pine forests, fording rivers, diverting around lakes, or all three at once. Amazingly, Ulf keeps you on a steady path northward, and at the few times you gain a clear view of the horizon, you see the Stormspears steadily recede. Happily, the weather remains fair, cool but not cold, perfect for travel.
It's mid-day on the third afternoon since leaving the village and everyone is starting to discuss duties and tasks for setting up camp the night when a loud cracking echoes somewhere ahead of you. Looking out, you see the ice underneath the lead wagon, Ulf, Sandru and Ahreni's wagon, has begun to splinter and crack as the weight of their wagon proves too much for the path ahead. In a matter of seconds the lead animal disappears as a crevasse opens up underneath of it and pulls the wagon forward towards hole as it increases in size.
Ahreni leaps under the wagon, shifting into her much larger wolf form and digging her claws into the ice as she tries to brace the wagon against the weight of the horse.
Ameiko chuckles at Relisha's comment after their shared kiss. "You keep saying that, like something is going to change. If I'm in charge, can't I make all of the rules about what I can and can't do?"
Happy that she's managed to lift the bard's mood for a little bit, at least, Relisha smiles. "Because don't Empresses have to marry kings or queens or ... or princesses ... or ..."
Realizing what she's implying, the tiefling flushes a bit and begins stammering. "I didn't ... I don't mean that we would ... I wasn't saying we might get married or ... or anything. Not that I wouldn't ... I mean ... I would marry you in an instant ... not that ... that we should ..." Recognizing babbling even when it's coming out of her own mouth, Rel reaches up and covers that same mouth with her hand.
~~~~~
"Ropes!" Relisha yells out. "Tie the wagon off to the other wagon!" She attempts to direct others to lash the sinking wagon to the one behind it. Hopefully so it can be drawn back.
As Koya explains her card in private to her, Thanara stands silently and listens. When the old woman has finished and walks away, an unsettling smile paints itself on Thanara’s face and her eyes flash like lightning.
__________
Thanara makes it a point to try and find a place to get a warm bath. Rognar claps Olaff on the back and demands he join him for a drink, but he is clearly not impressed with the ale.
__________
Thanara raises a hand to signal her driver to stop the wagon as she watches the dilemma ahead.
”M~@&!+ F*@&!&,” Rognar grunts before he storms forward, grabbing hold of the back of the suffering wagon and begins pulling it back and away from the hole as best he can.
As the whole disaster unfolks in front of him, Olaff moves towards the front of the wagon, drawing his sword in the proccess. Once in position, Olaff tries to cut whatever is tieing the lead animal to the wagon.
Relisha stops the rest of the caravan from advancing forward, moving them away from the crevasse and further away from danger.
Both Ahreni claws and Rognar's boots dig into the ice, bracing the wagon from sliding further forward. Olaff dashes to the front and hacks at the attachment between the animal and cart, hoping to lose only the animal and not everything behind it.
Both Sandru and Ulf tie off ropes to the wagon and leap out the rear of it holding them in their hands. Sandru shouts "PPPPULLLLL!" as the group fights against gravity. Vankor dashes forwawrd, abandoning his wagon and grabs the rope as well.
The animal dangling from the reins works against the groups effort and the wagon hold steady, teetering on the edge as the animal flails about loudly below. Olaff finishes his work and cuts the animal free just as another section of ice breaks off underneath of the wagon, setting it lurching forward again.
The large Ulfen grabs a rope as well and pulls with everything he has to prevent the wagon from going over. He succeeds helping it slip further, but not before several crates and barrels of supplies tumble out, falling out of sight down below.
The ice finishes cracking and the group finally manages to stabilize the cart, pulling it free from the gap and back away from danger. Ulf plops down on the ground and curses loudly, catching his breath. Sandru inventories what was lost and grumbles about how much he dislikes ice and snow.
Ahreni looks over the edge of the crevasse at the devastation below and then leaps off the edge. Those rushing to the edge see a huge owl with large white wings drift smoothly to the bottom of the crevasse where it opens its talons and begins the laborious process of ferrying what it can grasp back to the surface.
"I didn't ... I don't mean that we would ... I wasn't saying we might get married or ... or anything. Not that I wouldn't ... I mean ... I would marry you in an instant ... not that ... that we should ..."
Ameiko tilts her head, studying Relisha. Never one to be shy or hide behind her thoughts, she's quick to respond "Relisha, is that your way of asking me to marry you? I expect a damn fancy ring and a dowry of course."
She crosses her arms, face staying serious.
----
After everyone is deemed safe and the mood has changed from fear to "I'm happy to be alive still", Sandru watches Ahreni depart. Her shifting wasn't new for the him, but he can't recall seeing her shift into an owl. He calls out after her "HOOOO's that down there? Have you see Ah-rawrni?"
He laughs at his own joke as she sets about recovery what she can from the smashed supplies. After an hour or so of ferrying partial food-stuffs, metal supplies and what was left of wagon repair parts back to the surface, the group resumes their journey by backing up and taking a wider detour around the crevasse.
Several days pass without incident and the passage through the taiga is a timeless combination of shadowy pine forests, fording rivers, diverting around lakes, or all three at once. Amazingly, Ulf keeps you on a steady path northward, and at the few times you gain a clear view of the horizon, you see the Stormspears steadily recede. Happily, the weather remains fair, cool but not cold, perfect for travel.
At the end of your third week out of Kalsgard, while passing through a patchy copse of tall pines, Ahreni spots a scaled creature flying rapidly at treetop level toward the caravan. Ahreni warns the caravan just as a two-legged dragon with dull blue scales tinged with bright blue ice burst through the treetops ahead of you. A freezing mist issues from between its powerful jaws as it bears down upon you.
"DDDDRRrrraaaaaaake!" Ulf calls out, pulling out his bow.
Ahreni morphs once more into a huge snowy owl and beats her wings hard, rising into the air to meet the drake head on!
She takes a deep breath. "But there is one thing I can do," she says, resolute. Kneeling down, she bows her head. "If my sword did not already belong to you, I would pledge it. But I have nothing so valuable. Therefore I pledge my life to you, My Empress. It is yours to do with as you please."
~~~~
Relisa drops down from the wagon she's riding and her blade is in her hand without realizing it. She shifts her shield to its ready position and snaps out links to her companions.
Showing no fear, she shouts out a challenge to the beast.
Ahreni 59/59
Olaff 67/67
Relisha 73/73
Thanara 37/37
Thanara looks at the creature flying towards them with emotionless eyes. She works some magic before fading from sight entirely!