Barbaric Spouse, Descry the Night's Lure-Chapter 84: Scene LXXXIV

Only his lids closed, yet no real sleep was welcomed by his body. The food prepared beforehand was eaten and the light of the sun finally vanished in this safe wait to cross the misty plains down Sortnafeigr the clear crate was.

They moved convinced of the direction to take thanks to Otrur’s lead given by the thorough earth. The night was still in its deepest darkness and although the fog was surely to disappear at some point, the change of a tougher footage into a softer one appeared regardless of the cloudy presence.

"We have reached the dry woods... Much too soon."

"It moved. We still need to leave the mist."

"... Kir."

"We’re not slowing down! Keep going! The mist must be left behind! Keep your cursed ears alert and the eyes open!" — At Aslak’s gesture, the barbarous knight instructed the savages in a loud voice.

Out of the hard earth they had been travelling, hush could be dismissed from their voices temporarily. For most of the beasts inhabiting those woods should be found in their deepest.

Against their initial contemplations, the mist continued to surround them for a great length that took hours to walk through, until a chilling air finally entered their nostrils along with clearer sights of a dry forest.

"... We can ride the horses now."

"Will they resist?"

Glancing back at the beast he had brought with himself, Aslak pondered for a moment. Also taking a peek at Litilmenni’s healed wound his wife had tended.

"..... they should be able to resist until we are far enough from the mist."

Patting the steed’s side, the Archduke told it his intention to ride it. And as it did with no other, Litilmenni allowed the man to seat on its hard dark mane, lowering its head to the nice stroke of its owner’s hand.

"Let’s advance the most we can. Or the beasts will be the ones hunting us."

Following their lord’s motion, many men rode their peaceful animals, most with severe demeanours as the situation was concerning.

The torches accompanying them were losing light at the swirling breezes, creaking the dry branches of the woods they came into until one strong wind dismissed their light completely when the sun was yet to reign the skies.

"shush..." — Aslak hushed those that commenced mumbling. Aware that such wind wasn’t completely done by nature itself.

"Ha!" — Against his orders, one man that could not hold his thrill any longer finally stepped up to talk. — "Myrkzver, this one’s fine. We could eat it for breakfast. My stomach has been craving one of these. HaHa."

"For the Earth’s mercy... Why is he here???" — Flabbergasted, Otrur Nolsvun sighed at the familiar voice.

"Hmph. Must be a meaty one if you say we can eat it. Usually, you keep them for yourself, darn Hrom." — Kir said, entertained already by the dim light the selfish moon permitted to see the smirk of a thrilled crafter.

"Oddly enough, I didn’t see or hear you until now, piece of chunk." — Aslak added, as entertained.

"I wasn’t supposed to come. I exchanged orders with Vinka Fahh."

"Sigh." — Otrur Nolsvun walked away as he heard.

"?? Vinka? Are ya telling the truth?" — Shocked, Kir questioned, also conveying his lord’s doubts.

"She asked for it... I wouldn’t say no to this."

"And she wouldn’t ask for it. What was her reason." — Frowning at the round man’s sayings, Aslak demanded a response.

However, strong stomps commenced to vibrate up their horses and to the sound, Hrom gave a step forward taking in his hands the thick chains holding the head of a wide axe.

"I’ll tell ya later." — Licking his edges, Hrom snickered. — "Lemme play a tad. My axe’s been waiting."

A long-furred creature of soft earthy colour and various dark lines decorating its face appeared to make its crane much more vicious. Of big height and wide claws, it fumed the breeze they had previously felt as it met Hrom’s gaze, roaring aware of the meat the savages would be to its stomach just as those savages thought of the creature.

"Stripped fur~ its meat is juicy." — Hrom said, ready to engage in battle.

Other men and women jumped from their horses to join the crafter.

And the shine of the moon lit their bladed weapons that would attack the beast that could feed them for a pair of days.

Shrieks and slashes, laughs and orders to enjoy and engage in the fight were heard as Aslak watched the pack move wildly around the slow beast.

’... I should remind them not to attack my prey later.’ — He thought, drinking the water from his leather bag, feeling annoyed at so many axes going for one beast.

His gaze caught a glance of the savage Hrom, yelling growls out of thrill to the fight and recalled the doubt at his presence.

’... Vinka wouldn’t have missed this for nothing... Why she stayed...’

"Kir."

"Yes, my Lord."

"Why do you think Vinka Fahh stayed? Have you any idea?"

"None. She should’ve come. The furs we’ll get... Vinka should want them."

"..."

"Why? I don’t think she’ll bother you after gaining a lung... The men were excited while preparing. Perhaps she stayed because she heard."

"Perhaps."

Aslak finished their small talk by tanking another gulp of the water. Recalling the many times Vinka had approached him and he ignored the woman that had mating purposes.

After his visit along with his wife to the village in which Vinka Fahh had behaved properly...

"Don’t touch me." — He would now say to the savage woman. Aware after tangling with his fated partner, Vinka’s closeness searched what only his wedded could have.

"... The female Myrkzver, Ewelina. She has nice hips doesn’t she?" — Vinka had smirked later at the man. Aiding his jealousy to enhance for he had not called his wife’s name like Vinka had.

The savage woman’s absence this time also unsettled him. For during his visit with his wife, a gaze on the female savage rooted doubt along the freedom she enjoyed with others of the tribe.

"Let’s see what Hrom has to say..." — Aslak mumbled. Already suspecting Vinka’s ambitions towards his wife.

Shrieks continued until a last roar settled the silence of the dry woods once again.

"Is it over?" — Moving near, Kir galloped on his steed. And seeing a defeated beast and a digging Hrom, the Constable instructed the others. — "Take as much flesh and leave the corpse, it’s too big to take with us. We have to move! Quickly!"

"Aie~~ Nom, nom... Juicy, ya see!"

"Tsk... That’s just bloody, Hrom. Don’t eat it raw." — Aslak told the savage, disgusted already by the red on his beard. — "We’re not in the Framikanna ritual. Roast it to eat."

"Hmph, tight arse."

Pacing ahead. Aslak touched his growing beard, recalling the reason behind his need to shave it.