Barbaric Spouse, Descry the Night's Lure-Chapter 252: Scene CCLII — It is the Earth’s will.
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Two months of travel had gone by and a third of their men had died... honourably holding their axes without fear... yet now the day and night had become one and little sense of time was allowed in those crawling to end the earth’s whims.
“Cursed march... tha beasts have started to hide in the cold of these nooks... Even this crafter has trouble!” — Hrom who had joined the travel as he was one of the strongest in the village whined as the group moved in the plains that appeared to be cracked glaciers which would permit a slight glimpse of the dark rock in its deep ends, from which air flooded up to their height hindering safe movement, for each time they had to jump from one ground to the other, it’s sudden breeze could determine their death. — “Maybe it’s below they are hiding... that way they only wait for their prey to fall, HwaHa!”
“Oi, shut yer mouth, Hrom... my head aches with tha noise.”
“Aie~ Vinka, woman. If we stay shut tha headache will end up taking yer sanity. Don’t ya think this grand crafter’s kind to ya?”
“Ya already lost reason fat creep. Stay away from me, you stink to guts.”
“Tsk. Food’s lacking, can’t help tha bore.”
“Then go somewhere else to be bored!”
“Oi! Tha two of you shut your arses of mouths up!! Imma kill ya!” — Tired of the constant bicker, the warlock yelled clenching the reign of the mount as he walked beside it, for a slower pace was needed at such grounds... that more constantly experienced earthquakes.
“Effing fate...!”
Every soul halted their pace once again as their ground shook them, menacing their balance and standing, hearing the earth’s roar as it subsided like another warning.
“... We must be getting closer...” 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺
“Aie... yet how much, I don’t know... nothing has been shown to my eye for some weeks now...” — More annoyed by this situation, the warlock told the unbothered Archduke. — “At the very least, it did show where to wander.”
“Ou.”
“... Are your wounds alright? The last attack was quite... sudden.” — The warlock then asked the man as he saw in his dark fur the blood that had accumulated just as in any other that walked their path.
“I’m fine. Nothing was broken. Its bite got me yet it was its head that was cut instead... Old Trur, it’s your leg ya should focus on, khkh.”
“Tsk. Darn, I am for asking you. Tha limb’s gone, nothing’s to be done.” — Further annoyed at the mock the man showcased in his sneer, Otrur Nolsvun scowled, using fully the aid of his staff as he moved along the others, without losing to their speed. — “... A limb’s only that... life was allowed to be kept. Blessed be the Earth.”
“... As earth you’ll become if ya let another beast eat yer cursed limb.”
“Fucking imp. Ya can’t allow peace, huh?”
“Not when this looks endless...” — Staring into the far end they couldn’t discern clearly with the sky’s misleading light of dark twilight, Aslak sighed, for never did the one he wanted to hurry for leave his mind. — “I feel numb... How much time will pass until we are finally able to arrive? And then... Bloody earth and its caprice. More than a year might pass for us to finally return.”
“Have I not told you not to think about that? The moment will come as the earth has decided.”
*Cra...aack...*
Another earthquake, this time less impactful made their ground creak. Shaking the depths of the frozen crags they were walking to let some of its concealed beasts peek at those above.
“... It could be our death it decided old Trur.” — Nonchalant as he saved the empty pipe, which’s last bit of herbs he was able to smoke had vanished long ago and was now used because of the idle oddly permitted in those terrains, Aslak sighed. Sure that he was not to die at that place although many lizards crept up the crack they were about to reach.
“... Aie... yet that’s still it’s decision.”
“Fuck it’s decision.”
Ready to entail in the battle they faced once again, his axe was picked up from the back where he kept it. Starting the guttural growl others were to follow for even if the lizards meant danger... — “GrrUuuuoh... Kill as many as ya can!! Food came ta us, Hrom!!”
“Aiee~ Hwaha!! Gruuuooohhhh!!!!!”
At times they lacked the meat they needed, the treacherous territory was appreciated when presenting its danger.
Long battles and brief ones would continue to be faced although the frozen boulders they were walking were soon to end. And once reaching its edge, they would understand why the path was confusing. For the ground was to continue solely if they fell to the depths below, where day appeared to reign further than night where they stood.
“... This cursed Sortnafeigr... Tha earth changed it completely and built nooks we never get to learn of.” — The warlock, amazed at the sight far below gasped, exhilarated although weariness had most of the men dizzy from the scene. — “... There is green where we could not see...”
“? Otrur Nolsvun, have ya gone blind?” — Kir said as he was about to leave the Heads to watch the other men. Being allowed and watched by the Archduke who added to the Constable’s annoyed question. — “‘No green’s below, Trur.”
“No... Yet, were you are to go, there is.” — Still looking with amusement at the lands below that were indeed of a familiar white to the glacial blue their feet stood on instead of the shades the warlock mentioned, the Archduke managed to understand... that finally, a whisper of the earth had come to the eye granted on the Head of Kleifar.
Silence was then ordered by the hand of the Archduke, aware that within these nooks his eye was more trustworthy than reason and scepticism. Letting time go tranquil as the warlock was absorbed in what the earth wanted to show and convey... for it was the last he was to be shown a path until its demand was heeded.
“... Aslak.”
“What. Is the path we took the correct one?”
“It is. Haha, it surely is...” — Delighted by what he was told, Otrur Nolsvun laughed, facing the far horizon so the man standing to his side could follow his disparaged hues. — “Ya see that dark line? That one thick and uneven?”
“?... Ou. Are we to go there?”
“You are to go there.” — Smiling almost widely, the inspired warlock told Aslak as his eyes illuminated. — “It’s you who is to go there. On your own, Aslak.”
“...”
“We are to remain here... fighting the beasts of these frozen boulders until you reach the core.”
