"I don't like this. Why d' we have t' escort 'em? The Frostbornes' settlement was supposed t' be only two days away. Now we're nearly at the fourth day o' travel." Haldor complained under his breath, though those around him still heard every word.
Hilde arrived just in time to catch his words and promptly smacked him on the head.
"Aghhh!" Haldor clutched the spot and shot her a glare. "Why'd ye do that fer?"
"Yer mouth stinks, that's why," Hilde replied, crossing her arms. "Ye'd best shut it, Haldor. If Ivar hears ye complainin' again, he might not let ye come with us." She jerked her chin toward Ivar, who was speaking with Skapti, one of their previous clansmen elders who they were escorting to the frostborne.
Haldor grumbled under his breath, but didn't dare make his words clear. It hadn't been an easy decision to leave his ma and sister behind, but he had managed to convince himself to do it. And he didn't want Ivar to send him back to the hollow in shame just because of his complaints, so after a few more quiet mutters, he fell silent.
"Ain't ye worry, Haldor." Torren patted his shoulder from the side. "We all saw how ye cried, snots an' all, in front o' yer ma an' sister when we left. So don't ye worry, eh? I'm sure Ivar won't send ye back."
That earned a few laughs from those nearby. Haldor glared at them, daring them to laugh again, but a few still did, the ones not afraid of him. Haldor was about to lunge at them when Ulf stepped in and stopped him just in time.
Ulf gripped Haldor's shoulder firmly. "It ain't worth it. Start fightin' now, an' Ivar'll beat ye senseless, and who knows what else he'll do after. I'm sure ye won't like it."
Haldor breathed heavily, still glaring at the ones who had laughed, but after a moment, his breathing slowly calmed.
"That's better," Ulf said. "Now sit. We'll wait fer Ivar. Don't know what's takin' him so long. We only need t' speak with Chieftain Svala an' be done with this escortin'."
He nudged Haldor back toward the stone where he had been sitting earlier, then turned his gaze toward where Ivar was.
Hilde spat on the ground and followed his gaze. "Heard Skapti doesn't want t' be left behind durin' the negotiation with Svala, an' Ivar won't allow it. Know why?"
Ulf thought for a moment before shaking his head. "Nay… Best wait fer him an' ask later."
He then looked around at the rest of their band. "Gather yer things. We move as soon as Ivar returns."
A few muttered under their breath at the order, but none dared disobey. They all knew Ivar had little patience for those who slowed him down. They had chosen to follow him wherever he intended to go when Ulf and the others asked if they wished to join. It hadn't been an easy decision for some of them, but in the end, they took the gamble and left their mas behind. They knew the situation would only worsen once Ivar left, and their mas understood that as well. It had only been a few years, but they knew that without Ivar leading them, they would not have had meat to fill their bellies, even if it had come only occasionally, when their hunts were lucky. So they followed him, some with their mas' blessing, and others without.
Ulf gave a brief, satisfied nod when he saw them follow his orders. It had always been a bit harder when he was the one giving commands instead of Ivar. Sometimes they followed without question; other times, there was grumbling, and questions that could turn into a brawl if left unchecked. But he had grown used to it. He just had to make sure he always came out on top when it came to fighting. Fortunately, the training he had with Ivar from time to time helped him on that front pretty much.
He sat down beside Haldor and took the hatchet from his side. He was about to begin sharpening it when Freya spoke up with a question.
"How far are we from the Frostborne now, Ulf?"
Ulf looked up at her, then glanced toward the path they had taken, measurin' the distance in his head. "About two or three leagues. Why?"
"Nothin'," Freya said, forcing a wild fruit into her daughter's mouth. Once the girl swallowed, she looked back at Ulf. "Why can't we just go all the way there? Ivar could drop Skapti and the others off, an' we could find a place nearby t' spend the night."
"Ye don't know Svala," Ulf said, shaking his head as he began sharpenin' his hatchet. "He almost set his band on us the first time we all went t' trade fer salt. Since then, Ivar only brings three or four o' us when dealin' with the Frostborne. Me think he'll need t' speak with Svala first, 'bout lettin' Skapti an' the others stay, before allowin' the rest of us near their settlement."
Freya furrowed her brows as she took that in. After a moment, she scratched her head. "So we wait here, then? Who's Ivar bringin' this time?"
Ulf kept sharpenin' as he answered, "Me, Torren, an' Haldor. But Skapti might be included, if she manages t' convince Ivar t' take her along."
"Oh." Freya nodded, then turned her attention back to her daughter, Tara.
Seeing that Freya was occupied, Ylva took the chance to ask her own question from beside her. "Where're we stayin' fer the night, Ulf? I don't want t' sleep out in the open again."
The night before had been quite an experience. They had been attacked by wolves in the middle of the night. Fortunately, Ivar and the others had managed to drive them off, killing one while the rest retreated. If possible, she didn't want to sleep out in the open again, it was too easy to get surrounded if more wolves came later in the night, or in the days ahead.
Ulf chuckled softly and stopped sharpenin' his hatchet, testing the edge before nodding in satisfaction. He then looked at Ylva and answered, "Don't worry. We'll be stayin' in the cave we always use when we come this way. Plenty o' space fer all of us, so long as Skapti an' the others don't follow and Svala accepts them."
Ylva let out a quiet sigh of relief and nodded, then turned her attention back to feeding her daughter, Kara.
—----
"Enough! I already told ye, stay here with the others while I go speak with Svala meself. If ye don't want that, then go speak with him on yer own, an' we'll leave ye here right now. What d'ye think?"
Ivar's glare was fierce as he looked at Skapti, who had been adamant about going with them to the Frostborne settlement. He didn't know her reasons, perhaps she hoped to gain something by bringing many women with her, or perhaps she wanted to secure a place among their elders once she joined them. Whatever it was, Ivar didn't care. He only wanted this done quickly.
Bringing her along risked angering Svala and the Frostborne might refuse them outright. That would leave him with no choice but to escort Skapti and the others all the way to the Howlers, another two days' journey based on their speed from reaching this far from the hollow, and that was a complication he had no interest in dealing with.
Skapti shrank back under Ivar's glare and finally let the matter go. "O'right, o'right," she muttered, cursing under her breath before adding, "When're ye leavin'?"
"I could've left earlier if ye hadn't held me back," Ivar replied, his gaze still hard. "I'll leave as soon as possible. Now go. I've still got matters t' attend t'."
He didn't wait for her reply. Turning on his heel, he strode toward where his band was resting. As he went, he let out a sharp whistle, and his cats, no, shadowcats, now noticeably larger than they had been a month ago, came rushing toward him from where they had been playing nearby. He spared them a brief glance before quickening his pace.
It had been a grueling couple of weeks for the shadowcats, but thankfully, they survived. There were moments when he thought they wouldn't, but they endured. Now, they had become his most loyal guards and companions, ones who would never betray him. Of that, he was certain.
They were still small and fragile for now, but given time to grow, they would be far harder to take down. His blood essence had already enhanced their speed and strength, and perhaps even extended their lifespan a little. As long as they avoided fatal wounds or disease, his beast companions would surely become a headache for his enemies in the future.
There had been a side effect since he had given them his blood essence, however. At times, while he slept, he could see what his shadowcats saw, so long as they were awake. There were even moments when he saw himself lying in his furs, asleep, along with everything inside his tent. He had tried to control what he believed to be the skinchanging ability he had heard so much about, but to no avail. It only ever happened when he was asleep.
It must have been his blood essence that triggered it. From the tales he had heard from his companions, and from the show he had watched in his first life, he had come to believe that skinchanging was a bloodline ability that only certain people could wield. The ability would be a boon to his arsenal in the future, but for now, he could only learn to control it slowly and patiently. He didn't know when he would master it, but he was certain he would, sooner or later. As he wasn't one to let a gift sit unused.
He arrived where his band was resting and went straight to Ulf, Torren, and Haldor. "Ye boys ready?"
They all nodded, but it was Ulf who answered. "Aye. We've been ready since earlier." He then gestured toward the rest of their band. "They're ready too. Ye still want t' scatter 'em as lookouts?"
Ivar glanced at those who had chosen to follow him on his journey and nodded. "Aye. They'll serve as lookouts, aside from Hilde, Boroq, an' Maera."
He paused, then gestured for the three he named to come closer. Once they did, he raised his voice slightly so the others could hear. "Hilde'll be in charge while I'm away. Make sure ye follow her orders. D'ye all understand?"
Some of them looked reluctant, but a single sharp glance from him was enough. They nodded and gave their assent.
Satisfied, Ivar turned to Hilde. "Yer in charge while me, Torren, Ulf, an' Haldor are away. If there's danger, hide in the cave we always use when we're here. If that's not possible, go straight t' the Frostborne settlement. Ye still remember the way?"
"O' course," Hilde replied with a small, eager smile, clearly pleased with the responsibility.
Ivar nodded. "Good."
He clapped his hands once and barked. "Those on th' lookout, stay alert. Don't fall asleep. Report anything ye see t' Hilde at once so she can decide what t' do."
"Aye!"
Ivar then looked at Ulf, Torren, and Haldor, who stood nearby watching him. "Come. Let's get this done."
They nodded, and Ivar set off first, his shadowcat companions padding after him. Ulf, Torren, and Haldor followed close behind as they made their way toward the Frostborne settlement, now only two leagues away.
Their pace was much faster this time, as they no longer had a train of people to slow them down or protect along the way.
Ulf glanced at the shadowcats silently trailing behind Ivar and couldn't help but ask, "Ye really sure ye're not a skinchanger, Ivar?"
It had been a sennight now since they had seen the shadowcats again after their sudden absence. Each time they asked where the beasts had gone, Ivar had only said that they were fine, resting inside his tent. But when they finally saw them again, both he and the others had been taken aback. The change was clear, not just in their size and appearance, but in the way they moved and behaved, obedient and willing around Ivar.
As far as they knew, shadowcats, aside from the direwolves and bears, could only be tamed by skinchangers. So it was no surprise that they had questioned him about it, and each time, Ivar had denied it.
The others believed him, linking the strangeness to his supposed blessing from the old gods, but Ulf still had his doubts.
Ivar chuckled as he walked ahead, not even glancing back. "How many times have ye asked that already? I'll give ye the same answer, nay." He paused as he leapt across a narrow stream, landing lightly on the other side before adding, "Don't worry. If I ever find out I am one, ye'll be the first t' know. As I'll make sure t' use it t' our advantage."
He waited for them to finish their leap across the narrow stream before continuing ahead. He wasn't afraid to tell them he was one, but he needed to be sure he could master the ability first. It would be a great shame to himself, and a disappointment to them, if he claimed he was one now, only to fail to master it later. He had already experienced something similar in the cultivation world, where he had gained a basic proficiency in a certain skill and told everyone close to him about it, only to fail to advance it to mastery. It had been a deeply shameful moment for him. So this time, he chose to wait.
"Right, ye should tell us if ye are one," Haldor said, glancing enviously at the shadowcats padding beside Ivar before looking ahead again. "An' tell us how ye got that ability. Maybe all it takes is raisin' cubs or chicks t' become one."
Torren snorted, shooting Haldor a look. "If that's all it took t' be a skinchanger, we'd have plenty in our clan instead o' none."
Haldor glared at him. "What d'ye know?"
"Quiet," Ulf snapped, fixing them both with a sharp glare before gesturing ahead toward the familiar terrain. "We're near."
Ivar chuckled at their banter as he continued walking ahead. It would've been nice if becoming a skinchanger were as simple as raising cubs or chicks. They could've had battles, beast against beast, and the winners could earn badges or something. That would've been something to watch.
They soon crossed what they considered the boundary of the Frostborne settlement, the same place where they had nearly been surrounded and killed the first time they came here with their full band. Back then, he had only wanted to trade for salt, as the coasts were still too far for him and his band to reach. He hadn't expected Svala, the chieftain of the Frostborne, to be so cautious, allowing only a few outsiders near their settlement. In the end, he had no choice but to comply. And since then, they had become trading partners, along with the howlers and a few other clans.
"Strange," Ulf muttered, glancing from side to side, loud enough for the others to hear. "No lookout this time."
Ivar nodded, his focus sharpening as he scanned their surroundings. "Aye. Spread out as we move. If ye see anythin' dangerous, shout 'run' an' we fall back."
The others nodded and began putting distance between themselves before moving forward again. Their pace slowed, each step measured, ready to react at a moment's notice.
After a short while, they spotted smoke rising in the distance.
"Look," Haldor said, pointing ahead. "A big plume… an' smaller ones. Ye think somethin' happened to 'em?"
Ivar's expression turned grim. Ulf glanced at him, waiting for orders, while Torren scanned the area, making sure nothing had slipped past them.
Ivar considered for a moment before deciding. "We move forward, but we stay hidden. If the Frostborne were attacked an' the enemy's still there, we observe first before pullin' back. If not, we return here an' approach the settlement as if nothin's happened. Understood?"
Ulf, Torren and Haldor nodded.
Seeing that, Ivar looked ahead, then crouched and moved slowly, his shadowcats slipping along beside him. Behind him, Ulf, Torren, and Haldor followed in silence. They used shrubs and bushes for cover as they advanced. Ivar didn't like the atmosphere as they neared the settlement, but he wanted to know what had happened, so he kept quiet and pressed on.
They reached a small cluster of trees, and that was when Ivar first spotted a Frostborne since crossing into their lands, dead, with an arrow buried deep in his left eye. He signaled to the others and pointed at the body. Ulf and Torren's expressions turned somber, while Haldor mirrored them for a moment before blurting out, "What hap….."
He never finished. Ulf clamped a hand over his mouth. Only then did Haldor remember where they were and what their situation was. He glanced at Ulf, then Torren, then Ivar, who was glaring fiercely at him, and gave a silent, apologetic look. He had simply forgotten.
Ivar let out a quiet sigh and turned away, scanning their surroundings. He waited for a few long moments, watching for any sign of movement. Fortunately, none came. He shot Haldor one last warning glare, then made a fist and held it up briefly, a silent threat. He then ordered his shadowcats to stay in place and wait, which they obeyed at once, before moving forward again.
As they advanced, more bodies came into view. Ulf signaled that they should turn back and retreat, but Ivar shook his head. They had already come this far. He wanted to know what had happened. Information was valuable. And whoever had done this… there was a chance they might cross paths with them later when he and his band traveled south. Whatever he learned here could prove useful.
Ivar shifted his position and dropped to a crawl. The bushes and shrubs had thinned in this part of the land, and they needed to climb a small rise to see the heart of the Frostborne settlement, where the smoke was coming from. Ulf, Torren, and Haldor mirrored his movements, following closely behind. From above, they might have looked like a line of crabs crawling up the slope.
It didn't take long before they reached the crest. Ivar slowly raised his head and peeked over. What he saw froze him for a moment before his expression darkened. The others moved up beside him and looked as well. Ivar didn't need to turn to know their reaction, or what they were thinking, he could already tell from the way their bodies went still as they stared ahead.
He pulled back from the edge and took cover just below the crest, lying flat on his back and staring up at the clouds above. He took a moment to steady his nerves and his breathing. After a short while, he noticed the others withdrawing as well, dropping down beside him in silence.
No one spoke at first. He let the weight of what they had seen settle over them before finally breaking the silence. "Who d'ye think did this?"
They all shook their heads, unable to answer. The shock of what they had seen still lingered too heavily for any of them to form a thought. Limbs torn from bodies, innards spilled across the ground, headless corpses strewn about, the memory alone sent shivers down their spines.
Then they retched. Haldor was the first, followed by Torren. Ulf tried to hold it in, but the moment he saw the other two emptying their guts out, he gave in as well.
Ivar pushed his senses to their limit the moment Haldor retched, scanning their surroundings. He wanted to tell them to stop, but he knew it was already too late. All he could do now was hope that whoever had committed this atrocity was no longer nearby.
By the time they finished, Ivar was sweating bullets despite lying in the snow. Fortunately, no one approached them, and he saw no sign of movement around them. He let out a quiet breath of relief before turning to his companions.
"All o' ye, fall back t' where we first saw the bodies," he said. "I'll look around. See if there are any survivors t' tell us what happened."
They started to protest, but one look from him shut them up instantly. And they could only nod in the end.
Satisfied, he waved them off. "Good. Now go."
They retreated carefully, and once he saw them reach the cluster of trees, he moved.
He didn't approach the settlement directly. Instead, he circled it slowly, checking for anyone who might be hiding and waiting to ambush those who came too close. He moved with care, keeping low, sometimes crouching, sometimes crawling when he needed to peek over a rise to see what lay beyond.
By the time he had made it halfway around, he paused to rest, slipping between a cluster of tightly packed trees. He counted silently in his head, and when he reached three hundred, he rose slowly, ready to move, only to catch something shifting among the compact rocks not far from him. He dropped at once and crawled away from his position, silent and quick. He didn't know if what he saw was human, but he had no intention of testing his luck on guesses.
Once he reached what he judged to be a safer spot, he peeked again, but the movement was gone, the rocks still and empty. Even so, he didn't relax. Instead, he began moving toward the rocks. He wanted to satisfy his curiosity, and more importantly, ensure there were no loose ends that might come back to haunt him later.
Ivar slowed as he neared the rocks, then he heard it, faint and uneven breathing. So quiet that, without his enhanced senses, he would have missed it entirely. He went still then and confirmed that someone was hiding among the rocks.
He shifted his position silently and began circling the cluster of rocks, keeping his position low and his eyes scanning every shadow and hiding spots, every crevice where a body might be hidden. But no matter the angle, he saw nothing. He had no choice then but to confront whoever was hiding head on. His hand moved to his sword, drawing it in a smooth, silent motion. With his other hand, he pulled his knife free. He steadied himself first, senses stretched to their limit, and began to approach.
Step by step. He checked every corner, every blind spot he hadn't been able to see before. His movements were deliberate and cautious, ready to strike at the slightest sign of danger. Then he rounded the last jut of stone, where the breathing was loudest, and stepped into the hollow between the rocks. And there, he saw her, a girl, curled into herself, pressed against the stone as if trying to disappear. One hand clamped tightly over her mouth, her shoulders trembling, her eyes wide with raw, unfiltered terror as they locked onto him.
For a split second, his blade moved, then stopped.
Fortunately, he managed to halt his strike in time, or else.
He shook his head slightly and relaxed after seeing that she was unarmed. She even seemed familiar, he must have seen her during one of his past visits to trade, though he had never bothered to learn her name. He sheathed his sword at his side but kept the knife in hand. Seeing that the girl was still trembling, he crossed his arms and spoke in the gentlest tone he could muster.
"I'm Ivar. I come t' yer clan from time t' time t' trade. I don't know if ye saw or know me, but I'm not one o' those who attacked yer people. That, I can swear on the Old Gods."
The girl squinted, as if trying to recognize him. Then her eyes widened, and he hoped it was recognition, and nothing else. She tried to speak, but her words came out muffled, her hand still clamped tightly over her mouth.
He gestured toward it. "I can't understand ye. Take yer hand off first."
She glanced down, realization dawning across her face. Slowly, she lowered her hand. After clearing her throat and staring at the knife still in his hand, she spoke in a quiet, wary voice. "I've seen ye before… tradin' here. Ye sure ye're not with Jorund's men?"
That was when he knew who was responsible for the atrocity he just saw in their settlement.
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