“It’s been three days and we haven’t seen a single sign of the trolls. I’m telling you our only option, now that Varitan has returned with the others, is to go deeper into the woods.”

Einar nodded.

“I hate that we couldn’t scout further but all of us know that it was too risky without everyone or shields. I’m still impressed at what Lyeneru and Hogni did against that pack of miogs.”

Skardi snorted as he pointed at the map they had created with their scouting trips.

“That spot right here was where Osvif set those traps. The first miog was out of the fight before they even killed it. I still can't imagine having my jaw hooked like that… Monster or not the way its face was torn up was a sign just how bad those things hurt.”

“I’m pretty sure I know exactly how painful those things are,” their shorter friend replied, grinning as he held up his fingers. “Now, I agree with Lyeneru, we need to go further into the woods which means making a path for the carts.”

“And by doing that, it means felling a few smaller trees,” Einar stated. “At least they aren’t packed too tightly together. Any idea if that will draw more of those shadow suckers?”

“I’ve found no tracks the following day and the pot of sap Osvif set in the middle of our old camp remained untouched,” Lyeneru replied. “Everything inside me says that for now, we have destroyed the group that was here.”

Glancing around the camp where most of the other vikings had turned in for the night, Einar let out a yawn.

“Well I’m turning in. Someone wake me when it’s my turn to keep watch. For now you three can have all the fun.”

Skardi scoffed and shook his head before pulling out a cup of bones.

“I’m not sure your idea of fun is the same as mine. I still need to find out how Osvif keeps taking all my money!”

Their elven ranger rolled her eyes as she moved to toss another log on the fire, watching the giant move toward the table he sat each night and tried to win money at.

“He doesn’t realize that game isn’t just luck, does he?”

Osvif shook his head.

“I’m not the tallest, strongest or fastest, but the fact I can tell you the odds of what to roll again or keep for the highest hand shouldn’t be that difficult even for a man like him.”

She laughed, as she turned toward the wagon.

“I’ll keep a look out. You two go have fun.”

***

“Damn roots everywhere,” Thorodd complained, relaxing after helping get the last wagon over a section of difficult terrain. “If we break a wheel it won’t be good.”

“Would you rather leave all the food, shields and everything else on the road?”

Shaking his massive head, the second in command pointed in the direction of Varitan who was scouting with the others.

“You heard his report. What are we going to do about that elven woman who doesn’t seem happy with our success?”

“Continue to shine like the sun,” Einar replied. “We have to get items and reagents and we need to prove ourselves to the elven people. Not everyone is going to be excited about the shift in power or what we achieve. I have no doubt that we are going to suffer each step of this journey but that one day when we stand before the gods of Asgard, all this will be worth it.”

Grunting, Thorodd ended up snorting before stroking his beard.

“Sometimes I’m not sure if you’re a better warrior, leader or skald. Between how you rally others, fight or tell stories like that, I’m considering getting a rune to help me be smarter like you.”

Both men laughed, ignoring the looks others gave as each of them knew that wasn’t ever going to happen anytime soon.

***

“It appears the troll is deeper in the woods than I expected,” Varitan said as he made some marks on the map lying on the table. “There is a pond up here. Records said it was kind of brackish and that all sorts of things lived in it. With it being the only real water supply around here it would make sense for the creature to stay nearby. We’re probably half a day from where I expect it would be. Maybe even less.”

“Can we lure it? Set up a spot that would give us the advantage for this fight?”

Varitan frowned as he considered Osvif’s question already having considered it and knowing the answer.

“Not like you want. Einar told me about the trolls you faced back in Midgard. It sounds like those are a little more feral. Trolls here aren’t like that as I mentioned. I told you about the way they hunt and how they sometimes seem to set traps. It’s not just their size and power that makes them dangerous. Don’t think for a second they will rush headfirst into spikes or holes.”

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Einar chewed on the jerky he had been given, everyone aware that cooking was not an option because of the smell and not wanting to face something like what Varitan had described at night.

“Tomorrow we’ll go out early. Everyone comes ready for battle. We’ll see what we can find. We can try to set a trap but if not, at least there will be enough daylight to return home in. Hogni and Lyeneru, you’ll both use that jar of blood from the shadow walker if we find the troll.”

Each of them scrunched their noses but nodded.

“Anyone else have a thought or idea?”

“I’m not certain how I feel about these shields,” Hallad said as he held up the gift Varitan had brought back. “I mean it’s lightweight even though it's all metal. It just isn’t as wide as the ones I’m used to.”

“You realize that when a troll hits you, it doesn’t matter how wide the shield is?”

Both the elf and Viking locked eyes for a moment as the larger man frowned.

“You might not realize this but I’m the strongest one in this bunch. If the shield doesn’t hold, me taking that strike head on isn’t going to go well.”

“For the love of Freyr, please listen when I say this, you can’t take a single hit from one of these!”

“Let it go,” Einar said, cutting off both as he held up a hand. “We’re grateful for the new shields and we’ll figure out what we need to do. For now, rest and tomorrow we can see which of you is right.”

***

The scent of tepid, dank water got stronger as they moved across the softening surface of the forest.

Einar watched as the trees shifted to a variety that reminded him of ones he had seen in swamps. While still at least seventy feet tall, their trunks were wide, had a different texture to them and moss that hung down sometimes twenty feet from their limbs.

Squishing sounds could be heard as they walked along the carpet of mossy floor and small pools of water began to occasionally show up.

The quiet grunts of people ignoring the insects that sought out their skin were barely audible of the constant cawing and cries of birds which seemed to feast upon the buffet of insects that filled this area.

“Tracks!” Lyeneru exclaimed quietly as she pointed to the north east.

“Dear Thor, that thing is massive,” Hogni muttered as he arrived with Thorrod and Einar. “It’s almost four feet long.”

Rocks and boulders began to appear more frequently, covered in the same moss that grew everywhere.

‘Those look like something set them there. Look at how they are stacked.”

Everyone saw what their ranger had pointed out, the placement of how six of them were side by side, creating a wall or barrier that was about ten feet in height.

“They’ve been there a while at least based on the amount of moss growing on them. Boulder’s like those aren’t normal out here which means they came from somewhere else.”

“What about the mountain area to the north west? That’s about ten or fifteen miles based on the map you showed.”

Lyeneru nodded at Hogni’s estimate.

“Which means something strong enough to carry those did so for a reason multiple times.”

The mood soured slightly when the Vikings finally saw the difference in what they were about to face versus all the other trolls they had faced.

Is this thing even stronger than an elite?

“Let’s focus on our plan,” Einar said as he pointed to the east. “Find a spot, set up our traps, locate this troll if possible and then lure it to us. We came here to prove to our people, the elves and our gods that we are different.”

Murmurs of agreement came and when Thorodd started leading his group away, Einar produced the jar of shadow walker blood from the sack he had been carrying on his back.

“You two get ready and find this thing. We’ll be getting set up but if something happens, run back and let us know you are in danger.”

His expression changed as he stared at them, narrowing his eyes slightly.

“Don’t be stupid and don’t take risks. Find that troll and then come to us.”

Both Hogni and Lyeneru acknowledged his directions and took the jar. When they opened they cracked the seal around the lid and opened it, within seconds their eyes started watering.

Everyone else with Einar backed up, watching the pair smear it over themselves.

“Hey, can I get some?” Osvif asked.

“Sure…” Lyeneru replied, her voice getting higher as she answered.

Grinning like a fool, the short Viking moved quickly and took a little bit, putting it on the back of his neck, arms and legs.

“You two realize the insects are no longer bother you?”

Each of them saw he was right, and smiled, a little relief coming from something they hadn’t expected.

“There is plenty for everyone else,” Osvif stated. “Unless you’re afraid of smelling a little bit, not getting bit seems like a small price to pay.”

The other four all moved forward, glad to endure the stench and not the endless stinging that came from the insects.

***

Thorodd and the others held their breath each time he hammered the wire spike into the tree.

A noise like that was foreign to these woods and the insects and birds reacted, some going quiet, others letting out alarms.

“Two more!”

He nodded and followed their tactician as they scurried through the woods, making sure to tie the green cloth on the side of each tree where the wire was, a small thing to help everyone know the pain that hung about four feet off the ground.

“You two need to be smart,” Einar informed Hallad and Starkard. “Don’t try to be the hero. Varitan’s words and those boulders we saw should make you not want to take a hit unless you have no other choice. Be smart, stay back and let us protect you.”

Both defenders grunted, each frowning at the idea something could hurt them in a single blow. Their strength and endurance was what they based so much of who they were off of. Countless broken arms and legs had come as they defended others, absorbing hits that would have flattened anyone else.

“We’ll not run but we’ll do what we can to make sure everyone else isn’t targeted. Besides, I’m really wondering if these new shields are worth the metal they have in them.”

Starkard gave his shield a gentle tap with his knuckles as the Viking mimicked blocking a strike.

“All we need is about two more feet and maybe another half inch or more of metal; this would be perfect. Can you imagine the cost of something like that?”

Both men started talking, each considering if they should spend their money on such a thing.

Leaving the pair, Einar moved to where Geir stood, holding a goat who had its mouth tied shut.

“Make sure you use the bow before you join us. Aim for the eyes.”

“It’s a smart move,” he replied. “Was that Osvif’s or your idea?”

“Both, but it doesn’t matter. Right now we need to be smart. Remember the gods are always watching.”