The next few days Bellator and I spent hunting, We were hoping for a few wild boars, deer, and rabbits. We only ended up with a deer and a few rabbits. It was good enough for now.

The sun had set, and the sound of crows were cawing in the distance. Bellator and I were gralloching a fresh deer, while Aimee was talking about all sorts of nonsense that didn't make sense about the valley of Gweiadur.

"Maybe there is more than a draugr in those woods, and Kai wants to use it."

"Maybe we should go there and try and clean out all the ravagers."

"Maybe we could find a bunch of healers and they can try to heal the land."

"Aimee. I am not going to kill the ravagers. They have been around for centuries. Someone would have tried that before." I said.

"What if they weren't there anymore?" Asked Bellator.

"What? Really, you think that?" I asked him.

"I don't think Magus wants the people killed by ravagers, I think he just wants to use the land. The walls between realms have been weakened there. The ravagers already tore it open once to bring out the draugr. The land there is seeping with evil. It's what I would do." He told us.

He was right. At Least probably. When was the last time anyone from around here went to the valley of Gweiadur, no one seemed to know much about it the other night in the ale house.

"Lets ask my father if he knows anyone who's been around there." I suggested.

We finished the deer, hanging it so it can age, and headed indoors.

"Father?" I called as we entered, he wasn't sitting at the table. I was hoping he had not retired for the night, as he came out of his and my mothers room.

"What is it?" He asked slightly worried.

"Do you know anyone who has been to the valley of Gweiadur? I mean lately. at least in the last few years?" I asked hopefully.

He thought for a moment and then said, "I'm not sure. I would have to ask around. I'm sure someone will know someone, who knows someone. When we go to Leif Mudgeson's farm tomorrow, we will ask them first. There are at least four families there.

That was planned then. My father wanted his new wagon from Leif.

"Kaida? Want to train with me?" Sigurd asked.

"Yes, always." I wanted to be able to do something. So far, having Aadi's heart made no difference in my life.

Bellator sat in a chair and pulled out one of the books my father collected, it was about hunting, types of animals and where they were best found.

Sigurd and I sat back in front of the fire. This time however I decided that I would make a sacrifice for Aadi. I wanted to give him something. I had cut some of my hair and braided it. I wrapped it up with some twigs from my oak tree, and wrapped in thin leather. Before I threw it in the fire, I took my dagger and pricked my finger, adding my blood. The gods preferred blood, and animals to plants and such. They even accepted treasures, but those we would usually sunk in the waters, to be taken to them through the great current.

I placed it near the edge of the fire, so it burned slowly, taking a deep breath, I was ready to try again.

Once again I thought about Aadi. His sacrifices, his loss. I also thought about how much I wanted to connect with him. To help. I wanted to prove... myself to the rest of the world.

I felt warm, like my skin had just been touched by the sun. The small hairs on my arm tickling like a breeze had just brushed them. I could taste sweet berries, and smell freshly grown grass. I opened my eyes to make sure I had not fallen asleep. Standing in front of me was Aadi.

We were in a field, sitting by a warm fire. The crackling loud, the warmth welcoming. There were deer grazing not far from us.

"About time, Kaida." He said to me, I flushed.

"Nevermind, I'm glad we can talk." He waved his hand, and beside us, a platter of fresh cut meats appeared. He leant over and picked up a sharpened stick, and started spearing the meat down the smoothed surface, and placed it over the fire to cook, the meat hissing against the flames. The smell made my mouth water.

"How are you, Kaida?: He asked me.

"Oh, well not good. How am I supposed to learn your magic? I have been... Struggling." I admitted

"Sigurd can help you with this. Trust him. He Will help you make the blood stone. This stone will help us balance our powers. I am a part of you now, Kaida. We will learn together." He stopped talking and turned the meat.

"Are you sure Sigurd is up to that task?" I wondered.

"Sigurd will help you, he needs this." He assured me with a nod.

He leaned over in front of him and pulled two horns from the earth. I was watching him with amazement. He blew into one, wiping out a small spec of dirt. He smiled at me and passed it. I wasn't terribly surprised when I looked inside, it was filled with fragrant red wine. I took a deep smell off the rim. It had notes of strawberries, cinnamon, and something that reminded me of the forest, it smelled delicious. I took a small sip at first and held it in my mouth. It was the best thing I have ever tasted. I could taste the strawberries, blackberries, the cinnamon, I could even take the grapes like I just plucked it off the vine. I took a much bigger mouthful for the next drink.

Stolen novel; please report.

"That is amazing." I told him happily.

"The privileges of being a dream." He smirked. Pulling the meat off the fire and tearing off a hot, juicy piece, he blew on it slightly and passed it to me. I took it with pleasure and took a bite immediately. If this is what I could expect during my time with Aadi, I was never going back. I didn't speak, I just ate until my hand was empty. I looked at Aadi after licking a bit of juice from my finger and cleaning my hand on some material cloth on the side of the platter. Looking up, I smiled at Aadi.

"I also like good meat." Aadi said and laughed. I joined in.

"Thank you, Aadi. I will not disappoint you, or Loa."

With that he nodded, bowed his head with a sad smile and said, "Be careful Kaida, Kai will not hold back, he will try to find you and stop you. He loves Amaia as much as any man could love. He has been groomed to be hers for decades. He is closer to gaining the power he needs to open the doorway between the realms, then he lets on."

"Great. I guess that means I better my arse in gear. Any chance you got a magic spell hidden that could just make me all powerful awakened?" Again, we had a laugh.

For a few more minutes we drank and enjoyed more dream meat, which is what I decided to call it.

"Until next time, Kaida." He said as he stood. In the same moment, like I had just blinked my way out of a dream, I was sitting in front of Sigurd, who burst out into a loud, excited, "GLORY!" And jumped up.

"You did it. You found Aadi. You were great." He said happily.

"Same thing? Torch girl?" I asked.

"Yeah, a bright torch." He clapped.

"He's right!" chimed in Aimee, who had come to watch me.

"Did you talk to Aadi?" Bellator asked me.

"Yes, Sigurd, do you know what Aadi wants you to help with?" I asked him.

"I do. We need to find a few things. I will do what I need to." He explained

"Okay, so what's the first thing?" Bellator asked.

"That's up to Kaida. The items we need will be items that mean something to her. What's your favorite memory, Kaida?"

"I have many..." I was thinking. "When my father gave me my first sword to train with. In the field and the small training post he put up kept falling down. We spent most of that day laughing and trying different things to keep it from falling." I smiled.

"Then we will start there, let's go to the field. Does the post still stand?" He asked.

I nodded, it did still stand, I made sure it did. One summer I filled in the bottom of the post with mortar, even though now, it was more of a beat up fence post. Both Aimee and I slashed it with swords and daggers for years.

"We will start tomorrow then." He got up and walked outside.

"I think we should ride into the village after Sigurd and I have finished our task. I want to see if anyone has new information about the valley of Gweiadur. Aadi mentioned that he is closer to bringing Amaia here then he leads on." I told Bellator.

"Agreed, I will also leave in two days to the village of Bregea. I know people there, I will ask them to help our cause." He told me.

"Alright. How long will you be gone?" I stood up and stretched. I was tired and needed to rest.

"A week, give or take a day or two. Depending on the weather." He stood up and stepped near me. I leaned into him.

"Just be safe. I need you on this journey." I smiled. He kissed me.

The next morning was cold, our breath frosty as we hiked up the snowy hill towards the field. It had snowed overnight, and the field was full of thick untouched snow, just about over the top of our boots. Aimee who had weaseled her way out of her morning chores in the livestock barn, promising a boy called Grigor from one of the working families on our farm, that she would be kinder to him if he did them for her.

"What are we looking for?" She asked Sigurd.

"I don't know. That's up to Kaida." He explained.

I shrugged when she looked at me. "It's a learning process, Aim."

Accepting this, she ran ahead of us and fell into the snow. Both Sigurd and I laughed.

Reaching the post which wasn't too far in, I looked at Aimee rolling herself out of the snow, and pulled out a dagger. I poked the post softly, I was worried if I hit it too hard, it would just break and crumble over.

This thing has been beaten to death, I thought.

Aimee came over and joined me in softly poking it with her own dagger. We both giggled and put our daggers away.

"What now Siggy?" Aimee asked.

"I think I know." I pried out a bit of the wood from the post. I looked at Sigurd holding it out.

"Exactly. Now we need to break it down." He turned and walked back to the house.

"Oh, that was not as exciting as I thought that was going to be." Aimee said disappointed.

"Yeah, I wasn't too sure what to expect either." We laughed and ran after Sigurd. Aimee tackled him into the snow when she reached him, causing Sigurd, Aimee and I to throw snow at each other for the next little while.

Arriving at the house looking like snow beasts, we shook off the best we could and hung out frozen cloaks by the fire.

"What happened to you?" Bellator asked me amused.

"Aimee and Sigurd." The four of us laughed.

Bellator shook his head. "Did you get what you needed?"

I nodded and pulled out the thick sliver of wood. "That's it?" Bellator asked.

Sigurd took the wood and put it in a pouch. "There's more we need first." He tucked it away in his pocket and smiled. Turned around and found Willow who was cuddled up in front of the fire.

"Are we done today Sigurd? I need to go to the village for information." I was annoyed he wasn't telling me much.

He nodded. I looked at Bellator, who could see I was annoyed and grabbed my cloak walking out the door.

I was going to get my horse ready for travel. I also wanted to make sure I had some arrows with me, in case I saw another deer.