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Chapter 64

Hunt for Blackfur

She looked up at the stars.

She blinked.

I sent her my system maps.

I wasn’t going to point out to her that the village was exposed, Madonna’s idea, nor that the Jarl would either be in the field or near alone in his great hall, which was Kismet’s. To my mind, there were enough risks being taken.

.....

she said, and then as she left.

“You should be sleeping.” Jacob said, pulling up to one of the nearby plants.

“The Fenris is a mortal creature.” I said. “It has to be asleep some time.”

The sound and smell of urination came from his direction. “And you should sleep. Tomorrow we will begin early, and head toward this cave lair. About how far up the hillside is it?”

“I would be a poor judge of that matter.” I said. I waved the arm I no longer had.

[Serious injury: severed arm (healing)]

“I was quite unconscious when my fellows pulled me away from that fight. Honestly, I think if the Fenris wanted us dead, we would be.”

“Don’t count your luck holding.” He said, “Your losses were not inconsiderable. Your warrior-woman swore on her honor that you were dead.”

“It was not an unreasonable statement.” I said, wondering where he was heading with his line of inquiry.

“Ah, well she couldn’t wait to board a boat, any boat that left the island.”

“To be away from the Fenris?”

“Or your ghost. She didn’t stay to honor you with a final feast.”

“Huh. I suppose I’ll have to enjoy the feast myself in her place.”

“Hah. HAH! Well spoken, little reptile man. But come, let us both get back to camp. I would be beside myself were any of your band to be missing in the morning.”

[Lucid Dreaming successful.]

“By this ball of Celestial Heavens, I do summon...”

“Kid! Stop screaming. I’m right here.” Manajuwejet said.

“I would like to speak to Pongo, but hang around. I have questions about Lifeshaping, possibly from one of the Primal Powers.”

Manajuwejet made a slurping noise. “Kid, I cannot tell you how happy I am that we met.”

“Great Pongo!”

“Less Great Unapongo!”

“Is there ANYONE or ANYTHING else that wants any of these Norvik dead? Anyone with an interest in keeping them alive? Things are coming to a head tomorrow. Last call for quests.”

“I’ll be watching, Unapongo. Do me proud. The horned rat has made discreet inquiries about you.”

#

In the morning, I was drained of mana, and energy, and pretty much all of my health meters. It was as though every part of my being was in tatters, a feeling that I’d rather have never endured. I still had [Severed Arm], [Mortal Immortality Complex], and [Survivor’s Guilt].

It was a breach of the entire theory that serious injuries took thirty days to heal. Either that, or my mind and soul were just... nope, the statistics said human average.

Maybe there was something like mental and emotional biomass that hastened their healing?

Nah, I had enough problems. I added this line of thought to a list of things I would ponder in my spare time, if I ever had some. I imagined passing that list, unfinished, to my offspring through their system. Or did it even work that way?

I inquired of my System for settings or lists left by my mother.

[Error.]

Okay, that was new... I added it to my list of things to explore. If there was ever time.

Jacob, Feor, and eight others “escorted” my group up the side of the mountain. Kismet and Madonna were eager to argue about just where we were going, and I kept looking around as though baffled.

Or, at least, what I hope looked like bafflement.

Shortly after dawn, groups began their hunts. I had envisioned a line of warriors, from one side of the island to another. This ... was less organized.

In spite of our best efforts, shortly after the sun began descending from overhead, he found the cave, and the remains of the bears.

“Fool!” Feor screamed at him. “The Fenris is elsewhere. I sense no magical creatures in the cave.” She gave me a sidelong look, then turned her head and spat.

“Well, we can look anyway.” He said, lighting a torch and leading five of his companions inside.

“Three of them, three of us.” Kismet said.

“All three with bows.” Madonna said. “That’s not a coincidence.”

I sighed. “It’s not like they need us alive now that they’ve seen where the lair is.”

“Patience.” Kismet said. “It’s not like they need us dead, either.”

Feor squatted by the rotting bear carcasses, interested by something.

The cave must not have been deep, for Jacob returned promptly. “There is evidence of wolf cubs in the cave. Our warrior Fenris may have been trying to raise a pack from scratch.”

“Not so bad as if it were trying to whelp its own brood.” Feor said, “But it is also not without concern. Let us put the Cousin of Fenris to the roasting fire, and then be certain none of these pups grows to think of him as a pack alpha.”

“Yes, yes... No later than this morning, his tracks lead this way! Back toward the rest of the hunt. Curse it all.”

He led us up and along the far side of the hill, almost directly into Agnar Owen’s group.

#

Agnar Owen was red of hair and beard, rosy of cheek, and light of wineskins. He led a band of equally rosy men, one woman and a child.

“Jacob.” He said.

“Agnar.” Jacob replied.

“Not leaving the hunt, are you?”

“Not so early, no. I have a belief the Fenris is behind us rather than ahead.”

“Wait. I know that little furry one. She was with... Haha! Taking after Tyr, are you, ambassador?”

“I have great respect for Tyr, who willingly placed his arm into the mouth of Fenris Wolf. My injuries are ... not so willingly taken.”

“Ah, that is because you are a coward, from a cravenly people, those whom I’ve never even heard of on the field of battle.”

Oh, you’ve heard of my kinsmen on the battlefield. Usually before “and the army trembled in fear”. But not all truths need be told. I was a fair distance from that level of formidability myself.

“Fair enough.” I said. “I’ve lost my weapon hand, and have no intention of ever fighting the Cousin of Fenris again.”

“Be glad you travel with a group twice the size of mine, else I’d have skinned you for a pair of gloves. After a fresh shedding, that’s when you get the softest scales.”

“Come now, Agnar.” Jacob said. “It is too early in the day to be dulling our axes on each other’s helmets. We each believe the Fenris lies in a different direction, and only the Fates know the truth of the matter.”

Agnar turned his head and spat. “You trust in your pox-bearing fates, and I’ll trust to my axe. Come nightfall, you’ll remember why I always beat you in martial contests like this one.”

“Come, men, let’s go.”

“Aye, you’d best go, before my real men show you and yours how we treat mangirls.”

One of Agnar’s people made a kissing noise at one of the herder lads.

With a face calm as stone, the lad turned and thrust a spear into the man’s rib cage.

Things went downhill from there.

“Watch them kill each other.” Madonna said. “I hope mine dies!”

“Yours?” I asked.

“Oh, I’m not a virgin any more, and in so doing, I’ve got a marker on that one’s soul. I’ll weep for his loss, of course, all the while treasuring his feeble attempts to reach an afterlife as something other than my plaything.”

“I’ll hope he dies.” Kismet said. “Adults ought not to sleep with children.”

One of the dying screamed, but was silenced before he could finish. The oaths and promises, and offering of opponents to their various gods... it was horrible and yet fascinating to watch.

“Tch.” Feor said, “Not a single adept nor devotee among them. Hardly a reason to have a witch-eater like myself around.”

“Do tell.” I said, leaning against a tree. “What did you think you’d be doing?”

.....

[You have successfully tapped this plant for mana. You have 2/4 Nature mana remaining.]

#