"I..." Ingrid paused, in truth she hadn't remembered much about the rest of the island except what she had heard from her father's stories. While the sound of Krul, the city of Warriors, sounded like the perfect place. It was also long a ruin and not on this island at all.

"If you don't have a path set yet. I would suggest Wyrdian." Astridr commented, and Ingrid didn't recognize the name.

"Where is this place?" The older woman picked up a stick and started scratching in the ground.

"Wyrdian, is in the center of this island, and is the home of the Bluesky Clan." The map showed them in the far north of the island with Wyrdian near the very center, at the base of a mountain.

"There are other towns around here." Ingrid pointed to the land around them in all directions, "The Bloodaxe will have attacked many of them which means we would find survivors to join us."

"Yes, they probably have decided to only raid the northern coasts. Since that would allow them to prevent much information from escaping," She didn't look back up from her drawing, "But, those, if any, that survived aren't going to be what you need."

Ingrid growled and stepped towards the woman. She thought that Astridr had accepted that she was leading them. Then, she took a deep breath, a leader listened to good advice, and Astridr had more information than her.

"You need time to practice your Art and refine Wyrd if you want to fight against the Bloodaxe clan," She raised an eyebrow at Ingrid when she looked up, "You have knowledge, but I don't think you have much practice as a Warrior yet."

The anger burned in Ingrid from her words. Of course she didn't have much time to train and practice. She was needed to fight and avenge her people, and the power of Megin was enough. She had spent her entire life practicing.

"I have been a fighter from the moment I could hold a stick." Ingrid snapped, clenching her fists, "I killed a Seidr Beast as my first Hunt. All I need is more power."

Astridr raised the same eyebrow, but nothing changed otherwise.

"I didn't doubt your prowess of fighting," Her reply cool and calm, "I said you haven't had time to practice your Art." Ingrid just looked on with a blank stare mind spinning about the emphesis on the word.

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"As a Drang your Art should show itself." Astridr continued, though internally she was curious why the girl's parents hadn't mentioned Arts. Especially if she was a Warrior child, which she clearly was with the attitude and stance.

"I...I don't know what it is." Ingrid never heard a story or lesson about it, but she bet Olaf was waiting to teach her until after her first Hunt.

"I see," Astridr tapped the ground with the stick, "It is something we can talk about as we travel. As for all the other villages and towns around here..." She trailed off to circle the area.

"Bloodaxe has had several days of lead on us. If we go to each place we MIGHT find one or two who survived, but that would keep us from finding help in Wyrdian for many days." She poked at the dot she made for Wyrdian.

"It will take a couple days to reach there from here, and the sooner we start the better." Astridr looked at Ingrid, and waited. It took Ingrid a moment to realize that she was waiting for her to say something.

"A Warrior is meant to protect and serve those who can't." She responded, clenching her hands again. Astridr nodded and waved her hands at the map.

"The best way to protect people right now is to make it to Wyrdian and spread the news. More can be protected through that action than roaming around by ourselves." The response was quick and firm. It made Ingrid annoyed.

"What if we miss a strong ally?! Someone like you or I who would add greatly to our strength?" The heat in her voice clear, but not affecting the older woman who nodded.

"Yes, there is a chance for that, but it's already Fate that we have met. Should it be Fate, we will meet them on the road to Wyrdian." Fate wasn't to be denied or ignored, and Ingrid turned to punch the stone wall.

Which cracked from the force, but also caused her bones to complain and the skin to break open. Blood dripped into the soil, and Ingrid felt like it was like the lives taken so far, unnoticed by anyone but the earth.

She slumped to the ground shaking suddenly. Her body trembling and tears pouring from her eyes in streams. Her heart pained within her, and the flow of Megin seemed to slow and cool.

When the pressure around her increased she thought it was some symptom of Wyrd Poisoning, but found Astridr's arms gently holding her shoulders. It wasn't meant to hold her down or tight. Just a comfort and it worked to calm her down.

"I am sorry..." Ingrid muttered, "This is part of an affliction and will be gone soon." Astridr said nothing.

"Your words are true, you cannot fight Fate." She took a breath before letting it out slowly, "We will travel to Wyrdian, and may the Fates send us those to help on this path we follow."

She felt Astridr nod in agreement, and Ingrid felt a warmth spread in her chest. She might not trust anyone, but she felt like she could trust Astridr a bit now. When, they reached the town, they would let everyone know of the dishonor that the Bloodaxe had done.

Perhaps, then, this malady would stop affecting her.