by J D Franx
“Northmen youth can be brash,” Engier agreed, “whether they are Skeyth or not.”
Kayo barked with laughter. “You are too polite, Jarl,” he said. “The young are a constant, infected, wound in the back side. Let us return to the village for the evening meal.”
“Not bird, I hope,” Brenna grumbled towards Engier.
The old man burst out laughing once again. “No, roast goat from the lower mountain range I am told. The gobblers you hunted and ate were purposely fed the flower petals of the Hycear plant and then released into your path. The petals are highly toxic unless digested by the bird’s two gizzards. It is an excellent way to bring large groups of invaders under control quickly—for the plant only grows in the high range of this mountain where the frozen ground begins.”
“That’s incredibly disturbing,” Brenna muttered. Shooting the old man a frown, she spun on her heel and left.
Engier shrugged an apology to Kayo as Giera followed after Brenna.
The old man sighed. “You understand that had you no wizard with you on your journey up this mountain, your people would have felt the full effects of the Hycear toxin? You would all be dead. Do not think for one minute that you have allies here, Jarl Engier.”
“Understood.”
“The Skeyth do not like outsiders,” Kayo added. “So I suggest you leave the moment you are able. Do not wear out your welcome if you want any chance of uniting our people at a later time, as I do. We may need each other in the coming months and years, but it will have to be a slow process.”
Engier nodded once more. “Earning back a long-broken trust often is,” he replied. With nothing else to say, he headed for the trail back down the mountain.
Chapter Five
BAOMEHR
FREYJA’S GRACE
Kayo was right. The grizzled warrior, Giera, and Valy had all been more than civil with Engier and his people. The hopes of an alliance with the Skeyth one day seemed much more realistic than it did when they arrived. So much so, that he had slowly begun to relax, even though he and his people were not welcomed in Baomehr by roughly half of the Skeyth villagers. Some of his and Brenna’s people quickly wore out any tolerance the Skeyth villagers showed them upon arrival and tensions were rising even though plenty of others were warm and welcoming. Some were even curious and went out of their way to speak with Engier’s people, but as the one-week mark passed the tension outweighed the welcome from the other side. With no other choice, he and Brenna ordered the clans to pack for their departure in the morning. They were forced to move their people back down the mountain or risk the possibility of fights breaking out, fueled by the centuries of hatred and suspicion between the Skeyth and the Northmen.
Kayo and Giera came looking for him only moments after the sun rose that morning. Skeyth scouts had returned with information about what seemed to be an exciting turn of events. The entire Skeyth camp was full of chatter and abuzz with commotion accompanied by a frenzy of activity that Engier hadn’t seen all week. Something important was happening in the Skeyth village and they were ecstatic about it.
He and Brenna accompanied their hosts on the trek up to Freyja’s Lap, the mountain’s highest peak, to see what the scouts discovered. As he arrived, he noticed a strange totem had been erected to the right of a cave entrance. The three crossed poles and the skull attached to the top made a shiver run down his spine, but his focus was quickly diverted from the totem when he eyed the rough shores of the Eastern Ocean. Further out in the water, something far different grabbed his attention. The higher mountain range granted him a much better view than the one they had a week ago. He struggled to find his voice as he stared, transfixed by what lay ahead of them out in the ocean.
“Land,” he finally managed to breathe.
“Sokn?” Brenna asked, her voice filled with doubt.
“I do not believe so,” Drengr said as he approached. Still not back to full health, the wizard took longer to make the climb and he panted as he spoke. “Giera? You were... positive the ocean currents were forcing this island to the east. The magic you’re using to hold the island together—can it affect our direction?”
“No, the tidal currents from the quakes continue to be the lone force moving us to the east. Our magic merely keeps us afloat and protects us from more damage due to impacts,” Giera answered, as she stepped back to check on Drengr. Since their arrival, the older woman did everything possible to help him, but the strange bloodstone liquid coursing through his body still caused extreme discomfort and he suffered from bouts of weakness. Engier pushed his concern for his friend from his mind and focused on Giera as she carried on. “I suspect Sokn is many weeks behind us now. I cannot see a way to return. This is a new land to us.”
“Unknown Land?” Engier wondered, not realizing he said it out loud.
“I would certainly hope so, Jarl Engier,” Giera added. The excitement in her voice was unmistakable. “This is a reason to celebrate. If the currents remain the same, we should hit the magical land of our Creator Gods by midday tomorrow.”
“What happens then?” Brenna asked.
“Your people may do as you like,” Giera replied. “You are and have always been free to leave, you are not prisoners. The Skeyth will enter the new lands and find a place—a home—where we can be at one with those who created us. The Skeyth will finally be whole, living on the lands created for us by those gods.”
“Engier?” Brenna prompted with a frown, clearly not liking Giera’s answer.
He shook his head and turned to face his fellow Jarl. “I have no idea, Brenna. I don’t like the idea of entering a new land far beyond our understanding when more of our people may have survived further inward on the island. It is something we must discuss with all the clan elders, but first we must concern ourselves with surviving the collision of the land masses.” It was beyond troubling. How fast were they moving would determine the force of the impact and dictate how much more destruction the island would suffer.
“The collision destroying this island is very unlikely,” Giera suggested. “Possible, yes, but in reality, I doubt it will approach the severity caused by the original quakes. We should be prepared for more upheaval, but as a precaution only. Our magic will protect us, I am sure of it.” Spinning on her heel to leave, she added, “I must return to make the village ready. Would you like to join me, Jarls? Our scouts will remain on watch for the approaching land while the rest of the village enjoys a feast to celebrate this great event in our history. I doubt the gods will deem our destruction at hand tomorrow, so we will enjoy our last night on this land and celebrate as a way to say goodbye to the old and to prepare ourselves for the challenges the new world presents. When you decide to leave, your weapons and supplies will be returned to you.”
“Less any poisoned gobblers I hope,” Brenna said, with a frown.
“Naturally,” Giera replied. “Any such stores will be replaced with freshly cured meat. I hope you will join the celebration. It will be a feast to remember, for when we leave the Skeyth will only be taking what we can carry in order to travel swiftly.”
“Of course,” Engier said and Brenna nodded her agreement, though she said nothing.
The walk down the mountain was quicker than the trek up and Engier kept his own counsel for most of it, only sharing a few odd words with Brenna. Though the Skeyth and the warriors with them were excited about the new world, their arrival to this strange land was his biggest concern. New lands meant new enemies, new armies, and quite possibly, even new magic. The only wizard they trusted struggled to regain his health, but thankfully, between all the clans with him, they still numbered over five hundred strong. It was a damn good thing most were warriors. It set his mind at ease a bit. If he could persuade the Skeyth to join them, it would increase their numbers and might make it worth venturing into the new land to see what kind of civilization and resources they could find.
As Engier entered the temporary camp, it dawned on him that this new land might well become their ne
w home. Especially if what remained of Sokn was far beyond their reach now. He made his way through the clans, speaking with the other Jarls and their advisers. All the clans would be packed and ready to head out the morning after the celebration. Excitement for the evening’s feast was not nearly as heightened for Engier and his people as it was for the Skeyth, too many concerns still plagued the Northmen clans. Even so, the Northmen decided to stay and enjoy the feast.
The sun set early behind the highest mountain peak and as soon as it did, the feast began. Roasting spits heavy with all types of game sagged over long pits of red-hot coals as the village’s younger children took turns cooking the meat. Engier smiled as the youngsters quickly made a game of it, seeing who could stand the heat the longest while turning the spits over and over. Young men delivered mugs of drink to their elders and anyone else who asked, while a dozen teenagers served heaping platters of fried and boiled vegetables. The camp and the village burst to life and the tensions between his people and the Skeyth during the past week seamed to melt away as the night wore on. For the first time in almost a month, Engier managed to relax and enjoy himself. A couple hours into the Skeyth celebration for the new world, Engier was stuffed with incredible food and slightly buzzed from too much ale.
The Skeyth and the Northmen both came together in the middle of the tented camp assigned to Engier and his people. It turned into the place to be as both sides danced to the strange music some of the younger Skeyth women played on wooden flutes and stringed harps. Sitting around the fire closest to his own tent, Engier marveled at how easily everyone got along. It gave him solid hope that an alliance with the Skeyth might become a reality as they began their unexpected journey into a new world. It wasn’t long before the good food and fermented drink caused his eyes to fill with the gritty call of sleep. He rubbed his eyes and stood. Nodding to Drengr as he sat across the fire with a handful of food, Engier watched Brenna while she danced with a young man from Kayo’s guard. She soon noticed him and waved as he pointed to his tent, letting her know he was done for the night. Bowing slightly, her smile instantly turned to laughter as the young warrior grabbed her hand and spun her around. The two danced off into the crowd of others and he ducked into his tent.
“I hope you enjoyed yourself this night, Jarl Engier,” Valy said, easing her way into his tent before he had a chance to latch the strings for the door flap.
“I did,” he said yawning. The long day seemed to be catching up to him. “Thank you for your generosity,” he quickly added.
“It was not my doing,” she admitted. “You are leaving in the morning?”
“Might be closer to noon thanks to the celebration, but yes,” he answered, easing himself onto the pile of furs on his bed. He yawned a second time and rubbed at his eyes. “You will have to excuse me...” he said as a third yawn hit home and his eyes grew heavier. “It has been many months since I have been able to enjoy myself, I believe I may have over celebrated.”
“Certainly, Jarl Engier,” Valy said. Leaning over, she whispered, “You have a good night.” Engier lay back and sighed.
He was asleep before Valy tied the strings on his tent. “Have yourself a nice long sleep, Jarl,” she mumbled.
NORTHMEN CAMP
BAOMEHR
Engier moaned and struggled to open his eyes, unsure of what woke him from one of the deepest slumbers he’d experienced in many months. The earth shook for several seconds before heaving him and his pile of furs from the bed. The ground quaked a second time, tossing him to the far side of his tent and still he fought to clear the fog clinging to his mind. His mouth went dry and he immediately swallowed a sickeningly familiar sensation, refusing to surrender to the poisonous urge to go back to sleep face down right where he lay.
“Not again,” he moaned. “Why now?” A tipped pitcher of water sitting on the floor to his left caught his attention and he rolled forward twice, slamming his head on a table leg. Rubbing at his eyes, he growled and forced himself to his feet so he could grab the half empty pitcher. Dumping the remaining cold water over his head cleared some of the haze clouding his mind and he shook the excess water from his long hair and beard. Slowly, he was beginning to feel like himself. It was short-lived however, and he suddenly found himself on his back staring up at the tent while the ground lurched and shook with even more intensity. With no other option, he waited on the floor for the quakes to pass when suddenly a hollow impact rocked every bone in his body. He was thrown from his tent out into the meadow.
Unable to stand under the rolling earth, Engier glanced left and right from his hands and knees but could not understand what his eyes showed him. Everywhere he looked, his people were unconscious and scattered around as if they were rag dolls some giant child had tossed around during an angry tantrum. The more he stared about seeking an explanation the more confused he got. The quaking earth slowed and then stopped, so he scrambled to his feet and rushed up the main trail to the village to see if Valy or Kayo knew what was happening.
The Skeyth were gone and all of the Northmen supplies, wagons, and horses, as well as all their weapons were stacked neatly at the village entrance. As he patted Boulder’s magnificent white horse, Engier could tell everything had been well cared for over the past week, especially the animals. He quickly found his axe and shield and returned them to their proper place on his hip and back. He grabbed Brenna’s swords and her spear before taking a closer look at the Skeyth village. There wasn’t a single person anywhere in sight. The village itself was a ghost town. None of Kayo’s guards challenged him or presented themselves and he continued on, staggering his way down each street before arriving at his destination: the closest cliff with an eastern view on the village’s far side. He stared in awe at what should’ve been the Eastern Ocean, but all that lay before him was a scattered peninsula of small islands made from broken rock and dirt. Steam boiled from some of the islands, home to nothing but raw fissures reaching deep into the earth’s crust. The closest of the small islands slammed into the shore miles below and ahead of him, causing the dirt beneath his feet to twist and heave yet again. When a second small island collided with the land below him and the earth shook, he realized the Northmen Island was still moving forward, destroying everything it touched. Only then did the first of the screams reach his ears.
Engier whirled and raced back as a dozen more agonizing shrieks rolled from the Northmen camp. Rounding the final corner in the village, he plowed into Drengr.
The wizard stopped and held up his hands. “Hurry, you’re needed.”
“How bad?” Engier asked and followed the runecaster.
“Bad,” Drengr panted, still far from recovered after his ordeal.
The two rushed into the camp but came to an abrupt stop. Even after the quakes, most of his people in the camp were still unconscious. He sighed a breath of relief as Brenna stepped from one the larger tents set up for the miner’s with families. His smile quickly faded when a cry followed her out of the tent. It sent a chill down his spine. Unlike a cry of physical pain, the voice held a sorrow; a wail of soul-deep agony that only comes from the loss of a loved one.
“Jarl Engier.”
“What happened, Brenna?” he demanded and handed back her weapons.
She shook her head. “Thank you,” she said, sheathing her swords. “The miners are missing nine children and two of our youngest Temja are gone, including Vada Broad-Axe.”
“The one who just started studying the papers to be a Rynstar? That’s why they took her, but what would anyone want with the other children?” he asked, dumbfounded. “Even our oldest Temja are only in their early teen years. They have yet to reach full adolescence, let alone be of age for the Bloodborne trials. They have no battle experience what-so-ever.”
“I know not, my lord,” Hamay Nordstrom said, stumbling from the tent to his far right occupied by all the clans remaining future warriors. Hamay was in charge of the War-Blood Temja, and since the earthquakes was overseeing all the clans’ fu
ture warriors, as well as its camp and their needs. It had been keeping him extremely busy, but it was clear the same weariness was also affecting him. He was pale and exhausted, but he carried on anyway. “But they killed young Jesyk when they took the other two. One from Boulder’s clan, and the other is from ours. It looks like Jesyk tried to raise the alarm or fight back; he was stabbed in the back while trying to flee the tent.”
“The Skeyth need to answer for this,” Brenna hissed.
But Engier shook his head. “There is no one here to answer for it,” he said. “The village is empty.”
“What do you mean, my lord?” Hamay asked with a frown, clearly just as confused as everyone else.
“Jarl Engier?”
“Yes, Drengr?”
“How did they take the children from our camp and then empty the whole village last night without waking us?”
“I had one hell of a time dragging myself from sleep this morn,” Brenna said. Hamay and Drengr both nodded in understanding.
Engier no longer had any doubts about his suspicions. “As did I,” he replied. “They must have poisoned the food or drink with a sleep tonic. I should have known better, but they showed no signs of meaning us harm.”
“And now we know why,” Brenna spat.
“Why would they do that?” Drengr asked. “Take the young ones?”
“I don’t know,” he answered. “But we need to find out.”
“We need to know what direction they went first, my lord,” Hamay said.
“The lower peaks will give us the best view of the landscape,” Drengr suggested.
Engier chewed his lip and glanced around the camp, worried about the Skeyth back-tracking and returning to the camp. “There are not enough warriors conscious yet to keep the camp safe,” he said. “Drengr, you and Hamay stay here and do what you can to protect those not awake.”
“Try and wake some of our warriors,” Brenna added. “Start with Jarl Boulder and the Sea Lords, we need one of them up on the lower peaks. Send the first pirate to come around.”