[ Boon Check ]

Boon:

Thor’s Righteous Anger - Strength is doubled when throwing a weapon.

Time Remaining: 17 Days

Freyr’s Enduring Endurance - No physical fatigue while in Alfheim.

Time Remaining: 30 Days

*****

“You have the same boon?” Skardi asked quietly as he and Osvif rode next to Einar.

The shorter Viking nodded as both men studied their leader.

“You ok? You’ve been really quiet.”

Sighing, Einar couldn’t help but admit to himself what a boon like that meant.

“Whatever we are about to face, even Freyr knows it’s going to be difficult. Why else give us something so specific?”

“A month seems so short and yet…” Osvif trailed off as they waved at a pack of six elves who were listed as young ones by Lyeneru ran past them on the street, all of them sporting weapons and armor. “How much fighting did we do in a month's time back at Camalin?”

“I feel amazing, though,” Skardi stated. “There have been moments I thought I felt rested but now I understand how wrong I was.”

He flexed and grinned, showing off his size as the poor warhorse underneath his bulk dealt with his shifting weight.

Nodding, Einar pulled out the two sets of instructions he had written this morning and leaned over to hand each of them a page.

“I need both of you to add this to what Thorodd already gave you. Don’t worry, I’m not making things harder or reducing the chances of getting an Einar coin as you all call them.”

Both men chuckled as they took the page from him and opened them up, starting to read the task personally given by him.

“This is going to be expensive,” Osvif stated as he ran a finger down the list. “I can see why we need to work on this together. How long do we have?”

“Not as long as I had hoped. That boon tells me we are going to be busy very soon and I doubt we’ll have time to get it all ready before then. Skardi, I need you to ensure the axes are exactly what you and the other three need. Osvif can work as a template for the rest of us short ones but you giants are missing out.”

A toothy grin appeared on Skardi’s face as he nodded, flexing once more before laughing.

“It’s not my fault everyone makes things so short. Even poor Thorodd will tell you he can’t swing those they rushed in Camalin with everything possible. Another six or ten inches on the shaft would be perfect.”

“Just focus on getting what we need,” Einar replied. “I have no doubt we’ll face things like those trolls or worse and I want each warrior to be fighting at max capacity. Also make sure those spears are different lengths and get with Varitan on securing the wood he says will be better. The less we break, the more money we save.”

Osvif nodded as he started writing down some things in his journal.

“We’ll head toward the crafting area and trade sections now if you’re okay with that.”

Nodding, Einar watched as the pair moved their horses away from him and fell back to where Lyeneru was.

Thorodd joined him after they had departed.

“Ready for tonight?”

Einar smiled as he shrugged.

“I wasn’t ready for today. Or maybe I should say, I thought I was ready for today, but now it’s obvious we weren’t. The good news is this is the advisor and not the King and Queen.”

A grunt came from his second in command and both of them rode in silence for a moment, listening to the sound of hooves against stone and a city that actually felt alive, unlike Camalin had.

After a few blocks, Thorodd stopped shifting in his seat and said whatever had been on his mind.

“What are we going to face?”

“The real question. I mentioned that to both Osvif and Skardi. What is out there that we need such a boon?”

“Thorve said there could be dozens of things the elves needed help with. She spoke of the crying cliffs where waterfalls that start in the clouds drop from pillars of rock that vanish into the heavens. Countless things could be a problem. Then there is a rumor she uncovered of a fight against the beastkin who were always allies of the elves.”

Einar saw the frown on his friend's face.

“What is it?”

“Undead,” Thorodd replied, leaning forward as he whispered. “Varitan hasn’t mentioned it yet as he doesn’t believe it’s possible. His people cleared out an infestation a few years ago and it cost them greatly. Another outbreak is rumored.”

“Hel itself has unleashed something in this realm? That won’t be good.”

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

His frown grew larger as the giant nodded.

“Regardless, I now realize why Bior warned me this job wasn’t going to be easy. It was one thing to be responsible for a few people but now having to take care of ten grown men, a healer who likes to make my life difficult and a pack leader that seems to garner the attention of every god and creature from nightmares is tiresome. Perhaps Freyr gave this boon specifically for me. I needed a break.”

Chuckling, Einar watched as Thorodd’s frown slowly morphed into a grin.

“I am glad that Bior did give you to me. Though perhaps your hair should be red instead of brown.”

Both men started to laugh, glancing back at Starkard who furled his red eyebrows in confusion.

***

“Welcome to Lho Allanar, Einar Sibbison. Tell me, have you been well cared for?”

Nodding, Einar's hands gently rubbed against the arm of the couch he was sitting on. The material was softer than anything he had felt so far since Odin had summoned him. Every inch of the small room he now sat in with Shael, the advisor to the King and Queen was clean and looked expensive.

She sat across from him, a long flowing blue dress which shimmered slightly in the light coming from the magical lights that hung from a chandelier above.

Her blue eyes never left him, always reading him from the moment he had been led in and gestured to sit across from her.

In one hand was a cup that she was sipping slowly from, the smallest hint of steam coming off the liquid inside.

He had passed on taking the drink just yet that waited on the table for him. The yellow tinted cup looked so delicate, reminding him of a teacup.

“Your people have been overly kind to us. We are grateful for the home you have allowed us to stay in, as well as the food that is brought each day.”

She nodded, the left corner of her lip turned upward before she took another drink and studied him still over the edge of her cup.

“I have received a variety of reports,” she stated as she set the cup down on the saucer on the dark wood pedestal next to her green couch. “It would appear that not all the reports paint the same picture. Perhaps you might enlighten me about what happened in Camalin.”

Smirking, Einar shifted, leaning back against the padded couch.

“Do you want my opinion of how we were treated there or a report on those things which we killed? I have no doubt you are aware of how many creatures we have killed and what kind and I doubt you are looking for me to try to tell a story like a skald.”

The left side of her lip curled upward once more slightly, and she gave a single bob of her head.

“Then it would appear the actions of Nissa have once again been unhelpful in painting us in a good way. I must ask your forgiveness for anything that was said or done which was not worthy of the honor you have earned.”

“The blame does not fall on you. I am just grateful that Freyr has found us worthy to help your people. While we could sit here and dance around potential political things, I would much rather discuss what is needed or desired to help your people. Freyr told me you would have some requests.”

A slight shift in her posture came at the last statement and he could tell just how surprised it appeared everyone was at what was reported from this morning's trip to the temple.

“Yes… that has…”

Salihn took a deep breath and let it out, blinking twice and then smiled.

“I shall forgo all the usual manner of which I talk, if you would prefer. It seems you are one who likes to get right to the point.”

“That would be preferred,” Einar replied as he forced himself to stop his fingers from feeling the fabric.

“Very well.”

A small box was on the table, and she motioned to it.

“Inside are some reports of things we need assistance with. If you can provide help with them, I have been instructed to give you some of the materials you are looking for. I have also been,” she said, leaning forward slightly, a tiny raising of one eyebrow, “told that Freyr himself has informed the King and Queen of a task he wants you to handle if everything else is dealt with. He did not tell you what he wanted, did he?”

Shaking his head, Einar reached for the box and took it when she motioned him to.

“There was no specific information given. Are you at liberty to share?”

“Not yet. Complete three of the tasks and then I can tell you. Know that my people… our people will assist in what he desires.”

Opening the small wooden box, Einar pulled out some papers, each with writing that could have been art.

Crisp, perfect lines stood out on the tan paper and as he read the reports, the reports Thorodd had shared were confirmed.

“You and the beastkins are fighting?”

A sigh came, and he looked up from the paper, seeing the frown which marred her perfect face.

“We are not why, and all attempts to converse with them have ended in bloodshed. It has gotten worse the last year, now they attack on sight. That forest has been home to our people and theirs for as long as Alfheim has existed.”

She rose, moved to a table in the corner of her room, and picked up a rolled piece of paper, returning to her seat.

Unfurling it, she set it on the table, using the cup to hold an edge.

“Here is the forest and as you can see, it is large, backing up to some of the great waters which surround our realm. Inside are many things which aid in making our life easier. Now we cannot trade for them or risk entry into the forest.”

Studying the map, Einar frowned knowing it would be about five days away.

That means our boon would lose ten days just in travel time.

“Do you think they would converse with us?”

“That I do not know but I doubt it. Some dwarves who came here to trade about half a year ago were attacked. Had our escort not been there, I’m not certain they would have survived.”

Nodding, Einar set that paper down and looked at the next one he had glanced at.

“Undead… I heard the rumors. How bad is it?”

Shael moved her finger to the east of the city.

“About five days in the other direction and we are not certain. Just know that normal weapons will not injure them. You will need to have your weapons blessed at the temple. We will send a few of our mages to assist against them as well as a few warriors.”

A scowl came over her face and Einar sat there, waiting for whatever she was thinking to be revealed.

“Forgive me. I was considering the loss of my people the last time this happened. There is a portal there, yet even worse, it is reported a caster or two is directing the undead.”

Wincing, Einar tried to imagine what a fight against something that used magical spells would be like.

We don’t have any kind of armor or trinkets that defend against that yet. I’m not certain if we would be able to afford enough even now.

“I can tell you understand how dangerous this is.”

Bobbing his head, Einar glanced through the report a little more.

“You don’t have any kind of magical items to sell or loan that will help resist their spells, do you?”

Shaking her head, Shael almost snorted.

“The dwarves are very jealous of giving us the metal we need to make those. If you can acquire some, we could trade and make them. Good luck with that though. The price has always been beyond what we deemed worthwhile until recently. Now…” Another frown came as she moved to pick up her cup, “the dwarves have increased the price, knowing we need it.”

“Supply and demand,” Einar said quietly, as he flipped through the pages to the final one.

“That leaves you with the leuca ango’s. The real test.”

Groaning internally, Einar nodded.

Nothing like having to fight something that flies from the ground when all you have is arrows.