They could see the storm now.

The great clearing was a flat land of short grass and a few scrubby weeds but the Wold ringing it cut off all sight, the huge firs rising up like mountains and casting their shadow over everything. But the storm was bigger, much bigger, in the far distance where one could normally see the mists of the realmsedge around Midgard now all that could be seen was white, a swirling twisting dancing hungering mass of white.

Behind them Yggdrasil cast the land into branch-night, above sol glowed, but in the distance the Fimbulwinter hungered, a welcoming hunger, it opened its arms like to a lover, just waiting to bite.

It quite overshadowed the city.

Erika had thought living cities would be… plant like? She wasn't sure why but she assumed a living city would be like a mushroom or an oak crawling along with a city built upon it. Instead, they were a creature, some ancient masterwork of a life shaper far more skilled than Erika, great turtle like beasts with a huge flat shell, six long sloping legs ending in wide flat feet like some giant frog and finally an armoured recessed head like a beetle.

Atop its shell were hundreds of buildings, they were… odd, beautiful but odd. Erika was smart enough to recognise some inspirations from the silver kingdoms architecture but the rest was very different, no halls or heavy walls, instead they looked thin, constructed from a frame of bone around which fur and hide was hung to form walls and ceilings. Distant lights burned merrily atop the shell and illuminated a trailing lattice of wood and rope that tumbled down one of the creatures’ sides.

Plodding forwards, each step nearly shaking the land, the city beast had its plated eyes fixed on the distant horizon.

“It takes people like that yes yes.” Said Tathra, shading his eyes against the sun.

Erika hadn't yet regretted letting the Silvermane team use the top of her caravan as a lookout spot, they kept an eye out for threats to her and she napped or challenged them to games. About as fun as it got out here.

“Our bosses are going for it.” Noted Snorri pointing with his elbow as Sigurn and Alvis rode ahead on their personal droogs, the huge boars eating up the ground as they charged towards the city beast.

Erika watched as Alvis and Sigurn rode alongside it for a moment, then Sigurn leapt up and onto the strange bundle of wood and rope that hung down from the lip of the shell. Erika had assumed it was maybe an elevator or something but instead it was a primitive street wide rope ladder, Sigurn climbed it fast barely touching the rungs as she flew upwards. A moment later Alvis joined her and they both vanished upwards.

A minute passed, then two, then ten.

Droogs shifted, delvers began to glance at each other, a few hands found hilts and handles. Why were the silvers taking so long? Hung in the air without the words ever passing lips.

A few of the other veterans, Bjorn and Kara included Erika noticed, rode up to the ladder as well, just audible over the thump thump of the city beasts’ feet. A moment later Erika felt more thant saw the others relax around her as Sigurn appeared over the lip again, a few semaphore like arm motions and the delvers had settled in at the foot of the ladder. Long thin, almost black, the ropes were tied to the caravans and the droogs were coaxed up onto the wooden platform at the end of the ropes. A few moments later the beasts were safely tethered and watching placidly as the landscape moved past them as behind the city beast trundled a fan of leashed wagons.

Erika found herself alongside Solvor and Snorri again as she clambered up the rope, whoever designed this had obviously not intended it for vitki but instead only for divine style users, the others nearly flew along the ropes but Erika lagged behind, each hands width a mighty challenge.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

By the time she reached the top Erika excepted everyone to have vanished, lured away into the city by the scent of mead and wine or into the arms of the nubile young men and women who tended to wait around for delvers to arrive.

There was no dancing, there was no mead, there weren’t even any nubile young women unless Erika counted herself.

Instead, the delvers were clustered, forming a pseudo-shield wall, a battle line drawn across the lip of what had once been a well crewed embarking area, a wide semi-circle of polished shell leading into the dense buildings beyond. Now rope sat coiled and idle, the rune-lamps were dim and near burning out, from the stores and shops came the unmistakable scent of rot but above all others was the sound, or lack thereof, apart from the city beast below the air was utterly still.

Silent.

“Where are all the damn people?” Erika asked stumbling forward and wheezing loudly, not as exhausted as during the battle... all that damn sprinting! But still, Erika felt she deserved a rest and a cushion.

“Our sucrose’s have failed to locate any of the inhabitants.” Muttered Solvor as she gently lead Erika away from the edge.

“Superirors.” Muttered Erika but so quietly Solvor didn’t hear the correction. Looking around Erika tried to focus on her well, she wa far to young to see magic yet but sometimes a stable well would ripple in the presence of great magic just like a calm pond would if a city beast walked by. But there was nothing, she cast a [See Within] telling the story to the odium in her veins and pushing it through her soul until it burst from her skin, but apart from a minor light show nothing happened. Nothing alive in the air, no unusual spores or anything. Deciding she had done all she could Erika slouched off to the side but quickly found herself being cornered by Sigurn and Alvis.

They were trying to not be intimidating, at least she thought so, but they weren’t doing a good job. Their eyes were wide, not wired, just wary and their hands never strayed from their weapons.

“What did you find?” Asked Sigurn in flat voice, she was still smiling but it had curdled around its edge.

“Nothing, see within found nothing organic in its radius other than me so it gave no feedback, means theirs no diseases, spores or anything like that in the air. My well isn't rippling so nobody’s throwing around high tier magick… that’s all I’ve got.”

Sigurn nodded tersely and stalked off. Erika frowned after her but Alvis half bowed to the vitki. “She isn't annoyed at your Erika, she had friends here.”

“Ah.” Erika muttered; all annoyance extinguished as she watched Sigurn lead a small group of the veterans away into the silent city. Alvis had vanished as well but Erika saw him and the Silvermane agents on top of a building, thunderarms spread out and loaded with eyes on every approach. With a sigh Erika glanced down at herself, now she finally had a warning that something horrible was prbobably going to happen she could prepare a bit.

“Lady vitki.”

Erika smiled and turned around coming face to chest with Kara who had managed to sneak up on her despite being fully armed and armoured in heavy chainmail, besides her was Gunhilda carrying her axe with an intent expression and Reidar who had both his Rumblers drawn the thunderarms gleaming with dull grey steel and death in the dim light of corroded runes.

“Sigurn said to spread out and search for survivors, I wondered if you wished to accompany us?” Kara continued giving Erika a winning smile.

Erika blushed and nodded. “I told you it’s just Erika.”

Kara looked guilty for a moment then coughed. “Ah yes… thank you… Erika.”

A moment passed then Gunhilda giggled, both women glared at her but she just giggled louder. “Sorry sorry, you’re just both so cute!”

Kara kept glaring but Erika decided to just move on, reaching out she took hold of Karas arm (trying not to focus on the sensation) and hummed under her breath.

[Toughen Skin] [Droog’s Endurance] [Strengthen Lifeforce]

Kara staggered slightly then her eyes widened and she took a deep breath. “Aesir above it’s been a long time since I felt reinforcement magick.”

Erika side eyed her as she cast the same three first tier spells on Gunhilda. “You’ve been reinforced before.”

For a second Kara looked hunted, then her poise settled again and she just nodded. “As a delver you do occasionally work for vitki, rarer to work alongside one though which is one of the many reasons I bless the gods for our first meeting.”

Erika blushed and kept casting as Gunhilda laughed out loud, a glare from a group nearby settled them all down though, people might be dead, this wasn't a time for games.

“Those three spells should make your skin as tough as leather, increase your stamina hugely and finally help you resist certain attacks like Hel’s divine arts… certain vitki spells as well but as long as you don’t annoy me that won’t be needed.” Erika stretched and felt her back muscles clack against themselves. “Oh and just a heads up, that used up like half my well so be careful guarding me.”

“We will.” Said Kara visibly determined. “Ok you two guard the vitki, I’ll play vanguard, keep eyes on each other, Sigurn said not to go to far so we’ll just patrol a few streets away then come back.”