Barbaric Spouse, Descry the Night's Lure-Chapter 253: Scene CCLIII
“I’m to go... alone?” — One last time, Aslak inquired, lifting his brow while his expression for once was invaded by anticipation in the draw of a corner.
“Aie. The earth wants ya who owns Sortnafeigr, Khahaha! That line’s the stream of blood of the Mutants at the Mutant fines! Those of closer nature to the earth’s power... Their blood flows down to the greenest and redder of these nooks, where the core of the Earth rests and awaits.”
“... Then, if I follow that stream...?”
“Aie. You’ll meet the earth’s core.”
“...”
Many miles were obviously announcing themselves to the man in the scenery before them, and those behind that heard their exchange were slightly infected by the anticipation both men held at the fate the earth had prepared for their Leader... until some, concerned, started to murmur between themselves.
“... Myrkzver’s ta go alone...?” 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺
“Below... worse beasts he’ll find... the earth is sentencing our Ground’s Head...”
“...”
To the ears of the warlock as well as the Archduke, their mumblings did not fail to reach their good hearing, yet as Otrur Nolsvun glimpsed at the man in question, glad pride filled his chest. For Aslak’s amber solely focused on taking the scene to be carved in his memories as they meant an end... a goal that was soon to be found...
The hunt his eyes had been seeking from the moment his journey into this hazardous continent commenced by the threat of the earth... showed itself solemn as nature and as deign as an opponent.
“Do ya feel sentenced ta death?” — The warlock inquired for the pleasure of a known answer.
“I’ll only die once I get what I came for.”
“Hmph... do keep in mind... you also came for your people’s safety.” — The scoff from Nolsvun’s nose came knowledgable that no interest was held within the man about those of his same roots, and meeting the eye of the Archduke who turned at his comment, both smirked sealing an agreement after many fights had been shared.
“... I’ll try... It all depends on the earth you so like for me to do as it wants.”
“Say more and I’ll push you off this cursed edge.”
“I do have to fall.” — Saying such, the last task to be shared by the group of savages arrived. As they were accustomed to, given the unpredictable terrains they inhabited and wandered in entertainment after surviving their rituals, the many ropes they crafted were gathered... for indeed.... the man was to fall down the black and frozen boulder that allowed some dry green as it closed onto its depths.
Yet it wouldn’t be enough... and the rests of the beasts they had fought would be retrieved so as to get the length needed for the man to fall. In between new battles and the craft of a longer rope, what would be five nights of a common sky elapsed before the fall of the man was allowed. Leaving at the top of a frozen boulder the people that accompanied him yet would await his return at the same edge... unless the earth told otherwise.
*******
“Huff... hf... when... when will this boulder end!!” — After hours of descending the length, Aslak’s exasperated growl resounded to be lost in the vastness of the heights.
His path down the boulder could not be taken with leisure as within the cracks on the boulder he was climbing down, ominous growls could be heard, announcing to the man that if not to move a fang would peek out to find the bite he could become at the mercy of the heights.
Weariness was a must for his arms and legs although the rope had been properly tied so some rest could be granted... although ignorant that those breaks would have limited ease as danger threatened his safe fall.
The ambiguity of the sky from the spot he had descended from aided his night as he went down without the sleep his body would still not allow to properly repair the man’s forces... Nonetheless, little did it matter to him for the ground was his destination, and not much time would the beasts respect his vulnerable situation were he to confront them.
It was to the exasperation that curses commenced to be spouted as a way to gain the impulse to continue and finish the endless fall... and it was as he did that his focus was placed solely on the length he was able to go down, noticing the ground was met only once his feet reached it.
“?... Hah..... Haha... Sortnafeigr damned it should be...!” — Exhausted he scowled delightedly after staring baffled at his feet and the peak from which he came. Letting go of the rope with a burned hand and tired muscles to allow his body to fall and properly feel the ground that would allow his walk. — “Damned earth and its ways..... Effing length for a fall... gasp.... hah... haha... cursed length... I made it...”
His hands, after holding his own face and wiping the weariness of it unsuccesfully, lowered so the sky now appearing as the one of the day could be admired in its menace; with snow within its clouds, which his eye followed the previously unnoticeable snowflakes that danced in his close air so then his amber could go back and lay on the trembling limbs that could finally lose their continuous tension after such strenuous start of a lonely journey.
The coldness of the snow was welcomed by this tired and dirty skin... and seeing nothingness surrounding him. Aslak simply stared at it for the time his body took to recover its stillness and energy to continue.
‘... If... If Ewelina was here... haha...’ — At some moment, once his breathing managed to calm down his heart’s race, his mind summoned the thought that made his spirit warm up to what he learned from the wife. — “Ah... my wife... You might have cursed the whole length as well..... these trembles would be nothing against getting you to lose your hold of me... haha...”
The brief mumble and picture of the woman his mind crafted allowed peace to come into Aslak’s body as the danger had instilled uncertainty in his fall. Relishing in the warmth her remembrance invoked while in the cold of the territory’s nooks... Deciding as it felt too comfortable, that even if the limbs had yet to completely stop their tremble, his path was to be resumed.
