Chapter VII: Revelations

[Purr]

Auri Grashaal the Insatiable

- Drakkar Ambassador to Asgard -​

Auri was ready. The huge Drakkar attempted to pluck Dina off of her mischievous feet until they dangled in the air. If this was succesful, Dina would find herself facing Violet in her background with Auri's face firmly in her foreground.

"That's the one thing about some hatchlings," Auri looked Dina in her very small eyes, "most of them see older people as never having been young like them. They think we've been like this all along.

"Dina, just a short while ago you spoke vigorusly about us trusting you. Do you not trust us? Trust Violet when she says these things are dangerous?

"You are less than 30 years alive. I am 320 years past that, and Violet here is an elf. Not to mention the rest of us." He pointed a hooked claw Violet's way. "'We cannot afford to distrust each other,'" he quoted Violet.

He placed Dina on the ground and crossed his arms. Auri took a few steps back to show that if she reached for them again he wouldn't try to stop her.

"Trust, Dina, is a two-way street."

* * *​

Unable to resist, he looked for a small chunk that was nearest to him. Hoping his leather gloves would protect him, Asher waited for a chance to quickly grab one and store it...

(ellipsis mine)

Auri had little reason to suspect Asher of taking one of the taint crystals, and unless chance played some part to the otherwise, Asher's thiefly ways were completely successful against Auri's level of alertness, especially now that he was distracted with Dina.

 

[Rekai Leon]

Faron Firestorm

- The Fiery Brawler -​

He turned to Faron. 'Let us do as our honourable Commander Rains has suggested. Being far less skilled in flame magics in comparison, mayhap I can impose on your most excellent talents to set about burning these remains?'

Faron nodded, before flicking his fingers towards the dead wolves. They then quickly burst into flames in his sadness as he also wished he could carry what was left from the wolves with him, instead of having to burn them down like that. "Guess that's the best thing we could do," the Drakkar said, sighing a bit before making sure that all the corpses had been reduced to ashes, and moved on.

But soon they were through, and they found themselves suddenly next to a great chasm as the mountainside opened up and stretched around them. They were surrounded by the peaks of the Frostbacks on all sides, plunging down into the abyss whose far bottom could not be distinguished in the fog. Before them, unexpectedly, a bridge. And not a thing of rope and wood swaying in the breeze, but a bridge made of stone. Old, even ancient, but appearing as firm and unyielding as the very rock it was built into.

"Never trust random bridges," Faron's first gut instincts reminded him of what he had learned through both others and his own - needless to say, painful - experience. It looked safe, but it should not be judged by its cover. There was no way to know how long it had been there, or verify its inner structure, so whether or not his team could cross it safely was mainly luck-dependent. Unless… the bridge was enhanced with some kind of protective spell. Faron's ability to manipulate earth could be utilized to manipulate and hardened the structure of that bridge, making it relatively safe to cross. The problem was that, the bridge was really long, and he was not sure if he would be able to do it by himself. Even if he was able to do so, that would drain him a tremendous amount of energy. And what was the point of being able to cross the bridge if he would be too exhausted to deal with the dragons later on?

There, having emerged out of the lowest of the grey clouds and continuing to move just underneath them, was the massive, unmistakable form of a dragon.

The black shape moved fast and straight against the grey backdrop. Within just a few seconds it was already over the chasm. Ten more seconds and it overflew them, disappearing into the sky behind them. It happened fast, and it took the now alert company by surprise. The question that lingered in the dead quiet of the frozen mountainside was obvious.

While the Drakkar's mind was still occupied with finding an efficient way to move his team towards the other side of the chasm, the dragon soared into the sky, which startled Faron a bit. He was grateful that he had not been attacked while being caught off-guard by the bridge, and reminded himself to not forget why he was there and pay more attention to his surroundings next time. He quickly turned his attention towards the maleficent creature and observed its movement carefully, trying to catch as many details about it as possible before it flew away.

As the discussions continued, Faron agreed with the other dragon hunters that luck had been on their side when they had not been attacked by the dragon in such a disadvantageous position. When their attention were turning to the bridge again, he knew that they had to cross the chasm in one way or another quickly, before another surprise came, and when it did, it would most likely be a nasty one.

"Well, I can think of one thing that could be done to ensure our safety while crossing that bridge. If some Earth magic is casted on the bridge to cover up any of its vulnerability that could put us in harm, then it would be relatively safe for us to cross. I can do it, but with one that is so large and long like this, I am not sure if I am able to do it myself. Anyone willing to help or give other suggestions?" Faron said.

 

[Wolf Rawrrr]

Date: October 12th (Sunday), year 3321
Location: The Frostback Mountains
Weather: Overcast, gloomy, and cold.

• Dann / Kaerri / Jack / Parrot
• Andei / Rekai

• 
  Around 12:00 h
  Somewhere in the Frostback Mountains
  
  
  Her intentions thwarted unexpectedly by Auri, Dina went quickly from surprised to appearing as if she might get seriously angry. But the flash of anger came and went quickly, even if that's what it was, replaced by something more akin to annoyance. Once her feet were back on solid ground, the young girl looked up at the huge drakkar without so much as a hint of fear in her eyes.
  
  "Fine speech, Auri," she told him. "But even if you are ten times older than me, about the Taint you know ten times less than I do. Even Violet knows more than you do, and I trust that she thinks these rocks are still dangerous, but I also know that she doesn't know for certain. I'm the only one here with real firsthand knowledge of the Taint, so why am I not trusted then? But you know what? You don't have to trust what the only person who knows what they are talking about says. Be my guest. Spend your time sifting through the ashes! Shoot magic all over the place!"
  
  Dina threw her hands up in a gesture of frustration, then turned around and marched off, stopping again a few feet away.
  
  "There's more dark power in me than there was in all these sorry dead beasts while they were still alive. I could probably make these dead crystals dangerous again if I wanted to. Bring the wolves back to life! Who knows, I might be the most dangerous thing on this mountain! But when I tell you that I don't feel any darkness left in these rocks, by all means, choose not to trust me - better yet, accuse me of distrust on top of it. It doesn't make any sense at all, but by all means!"
  
  Having said her piece, Dina calmed down enough for Violet to try and get a word in.
  
  "Dina," the elf gently addressed her. "I'm sure that what Auri meant was simply that there's no reason to take any unnecessary risks. It's not about trust, really. I know you trust me, you just think that I'm wrong about the danger. And I trust you when you say otherwise - but even though you know more about this than I do, that doesn't mean you can't still be wrong. Do you see that, at least? I just really don't want a repeat of what happened in Raziel's temple. And for all that you've been through, for all that you've learned, you haven't actually been in direct contact with the Taint since. Think about it. Couldn't something bad happen, still? Why tempt fate?"
  
  Violet's reasoning seemed to work on Dina. The girl frowned, glancing down at the other scorched carcass that she was now closer to. The glance turned into a stare, and whatever thoughts went through her head, she did not, in the end, choose to pick up another tainted shard. She let out a long sigh that drained the rest of her frustration, and when she looked back at her companions she seemed her usual self again.
  
  "Fine," she yielded. "I still think that nothing could happen to me, though. At least nothing like last time. Not after what Ilhirel did for me - but you don't have to trust me, of course."
  
  "I do trust you, Dina," Violet replied. "It's the Sorceress that I'm not so sure about. A while ago, you wouldn't have been so sure, either."
  
  "What I'm sure of," Dina answered, "Is that the next time someone decides to dangle me in the air like a toy, they will learn a thing or two about the Taint. Now I'm going to climb what's left of this hill," she announced, turning before she was even done speaking. She hadn't forgotten to fix Auri with a mildly upset glare before that, however.
  
  Violet waited until Dina was out of earshot.
  
  "I'm sorry," the elf apologized to Auri. "She wouldn't actually go that far, you know? She just gets easily frustrated sometimes and then says whatever comes to her mind. I still wouldn't do that again if I were you, however. We're not supposed to pick up our queen and dangle her in the air. In fact, I do believe it's my job to stop people from doing that, among other things," she grinned, already in a good mood again. "Oh, and I'm not nearly as old as you make me out to be," she added with a grin.
  
• 
  Around 12:00 h
  Somewhere in the Frostback Mountains
  
  
  Commander Rains raised a brow at Faron's proposal, then looked to the group's mage, Areon, who after a brief consideration replied: "Earth sorcery may be used to reinforce a bridge, true. I've no such talents myself, but I've seen it done. Though as he's said himself, working with this much material would surely be quite taxing."
  
  Rains spit into the snow. "Save your strength, Faron. There's a dragon that we may have to face earlier than planned. Let Ingvar and Varys check things out first. They at least stand a chance at remaining hidden, whereas a... person of your size would obviously find themselves at an immediate disadvantage. If they find the bridge lacking, I'll call upon you to do what you can to help us across."
  
  Whispers and chuckles followed when Rains briefly stopped to consider what to call Faron (settling on "person of your size"). Some of the hunters evidently found something funny about the situation. Then one of them, a red-haired man of ironically less than average height, looked up to Faron with a question that made everyone shut up. "Wait. Be you drakkar not descended from dragons yerselves?"
  
  

 

[Purr]

Auri Grashaal the Insatiable

- Drakkar Ambassador to Asgard -​

"What I'm sure of," Dina answered, "Is that the next time someone decides to dangle me in the air like a toy, they will learn a thing or two about the Taint. Now I'm going to climb what's left of this hill," she announced, turning before she was even done speaking. She hadn't forgotten to fix Auri with a mildly upset glare before that, however.

"I'm sorry," the elf apologized to Auri. "She wouldn't actually go that far, you know? She just gets easily frustrated sometimes and then says whatever comes to her mind. I still wouldn't do that again if I were you, however. We're not supposed to pick up our queen and dangle her in the air. In fact, I do believe it's my job to stop people from doing that, among other things," she grinned, already in a good mood again. "Oh, and I'm not nearly as old as you make me out to be," she added with a grin.

"My point, which she completely disregarded, was that all of us are older and more experienced than she and she would be wise to at least listen to us. Dina wants trust? Perhaps friendship? Something besides blind obedience? Then this aged drakkar believes our opinions should mean something to her too. But they don't. Because Dina lacks compassion and empathy. You must see it too - Dina has more in common with The Sorceress than she may know.

"Now that Dina has gone so far to threaten me with Taint when I acted only on behalf of her safety, and even you have seen fit to warn me of such future actions, I am of a mind to let Dina walk off whatever cliff she will.

"Understand, good-hearted Violet, even if Dina does not - I am nearing the end of my long life. I refuse to spend what little time I have left on Asgard as some obsequious babysitter to a close-minded, spoiled creature less than one-tenth my own age. It is not my way nor is it the way of the drakkar. Respect matters. Except by the heart of the team - by which I mean Maggie - I am no prized friend here; I am but a gray audience upon which heavy expectations have been laid. Expectations I cannot hope to meet." He glanced at Dina and shrugged then grinned at Violet.

 

[Parrot Parfait]

Carn Barley

- The Iron Wall -


​

Leaving the crystals alone looked best despite Carn disliking the idea. As he made another attempt at a solution, the young queen made a motion right before Auri snatching her up. Carn could have smirked at that moment. The sight of Auri dangling the young queen like a newborn puppy stirred some memories of when he dangled his siblings. However, with the atmosphere too dour and Carn too worried, his face remained stiff, leaving him to witness Auri’s reproof of the queen's behaviour. And there was a small satisfaction in Carn when his senior talked sense into the queen. However, despite Auri’s wise words, the queen was unmoved, no, livid, before her countenance softened to a less angry emotion. By the time Auri had set her down, she was already rolling out her retorts.

Carn should have been afraid when the young woman with ungodly powers became angry, but he didn’t. Whether it be his drakkar instincts picking up on desperation, Dina seeming more like a person, or an experience reminding him of some rowdy siblings, he did not know. As the young queen continued to vent her emotions, Carn lazily crossed his arm over the other, a habit of his when dealing with stubborn siblings.

When the queen finally finished with her speech and flew off in a rage, Carn let out a small breath of relief. He was content that he’d no longer had to bear with a brat’s incessant rantings when a small thought, nothing more than a whisper, called from the back of his head. He ignored it. In response, the thought pushed itself forward. No, he snapped, not my responsibility. His mind became quiet, but he felt it poised with its arms crossed, ever silent and waiting. When those unbearable moments had passed, he asserted No- and then he felt its disapproving gaze. It was expecting more from his promise. How could mere inaction satisfy it? Carn forcibly pushed his breath through his nostrils and remained still for a moment as if to brace himself.

“I’m talking with Dina,” Carn announced shortly Violet had finished with her age. Then, with a sudden motion, he made large steps over the snow towards Dina, muttering verses on how one should treat others mixed in with the phrase “Maker, and why am I doing this?” With a stride like his, little time passed before Carn was only paces behind Dina. What he would say, who knows. He only knew that he had a job and that it needed to be done.

 

[Wolf Rawrrr]

Date: October 12th (Sunday), year 3321
Location: The Frostback Mountains
Weather: Overcast, gloomy, and cold, with even colder gusts of wind.

• Dann / Kaerri / Jack / Parrot

• 
  Around 12:00 h
  Somewhere in the Frostback Mountains
  
  
  Although with steps tiny in comparison to Carn's, Dina walked uphill with quite some determination, and had made it almost to the top when Carn's heavy footfalls were heard scraping along the frozen rock closely behind. The girl threw a quick glance behind her and, upon seeing who it was, let out an exasperated breath.
  
  "Yes?" she asked without stopping. Her head was covered by the hood of her fur coat once again, in defense against the cold wind that was starting to sweep the mountainside again.
  
  
  *** *** ***​
  
  A little ways down the hill, Violet was looking apologetically at Auri, but also Maggie.
  
  "I'm sorry," she said. "As I said, she is not usually like this. I mean, she gets stubborn and such, but not like this. She certainly doesn't threaten people - and I don't believe that she really meant what she said. People will say things when they're upset, you know? Whatever they think will make them feel better in that moment. You two never met before yesterday, and even Maggie has only known her for but a few days, but I do hope you'll believe me when I tell you, as someone who has known Dina for a long time, that this isn't her typical behavior. I'll speak with her," she explained, watching as Carn strode ahead to catch up with the girl.
  
  "I'm worried about her. I don't think that she is fully aware of the effect that this... infection has had on her. Even if it's been contained, even if it doesn't spread further and cause physical harm, I can't even begin to imagine the psychological effect that it's had. Not so long ago, she was infused with the power of Nature, as the Spectral Council saw fit to do. Then she was cursed with the Taint. Now these two conflicting forces clash inside her, the power of both at her fingertips, yet both trying to influence her at the same time as well. I don't know that there's ever been a person in her exact situation. It would mess anyone up."
  
  "And on top of that," Violet continued as she put away her dagger and rechecked her gear, "She spent two full days with the Sorceress. And not chained and tortured away in some dungeon, as I feared all along, but in her close company, treated like some kind of protege. I still don't know what to make of that. Perhaps that was what she wanted her for, why she abducted her - to convert her to her cause? Did it have anything to do with the Taint itself? Or her status as one of the Chosen? Or perhaps simply because she is a Tenárus?" She closed her eyes and took a long breath to calm down.
  
  "The last time that the Sorceress took such an interest in someone, my people lost their princess," she declared, glancing over at Asher but not mentioning the fact that the self-proclaimed master thief assassinated said princess not two days ago. "I don't know what the Sorceress did to Niara, but she's long ago forsaken her people in favor of her. I do not wish that to be Dina's fate as well - not as her friend, or her subject. Before the Chosen, Dina was alone in the world. She had me, and then us, and now she has the Resistance - but if these things fail her, or push her away, she will surely be driven right into Ilhirel's hands. That's what I'm afraid of the most," she said, wearing a grave expression on her face. "So please, do not judge her entirely based on this one thing, on these few words spoken hastily on the side of a frozen mountain. Give her a chance, whether you think she deserves it or not."
  

 

[Purr]

Auri Grashaal the Insatiable

- Drakkar Ambassador to Asgard -​

Auri witnessed Dina's stomp-off with good-natured Carn having to chase her uphill through the snow. He sighed and shook his head. Inwardly, the vision of the two of them now had said it all. This, apparently, was what proud, haughty Dina expected of the whole party - absolute, obsequious servitude - mission be damned.

"You are a true friend to Dina," Auri replied calmly to Violet without taking his eyes off of Dina and Carn, "but I wonder if you are not enabling her? The one who should be apologizing is Dina, not you, and no other. Just as much if I had wronged you and Maggie came to my defense - I am responsible for my actions. No one else.

"It is not my life's responsibility to bow and scrape, please and satisfy one whom, as you have accurately put it, I have known for only a matter of days. That goes both ways too - Dina has not known me for any longer, has she?

"Put yourself in an old drakkar's place for a heartbeat or two. Do you or she expect that I just blindly throw what remains of my long life and aged limbs into harm's way for her? Perhaps upon command?" Auri mock-flailed for a moment. "'Ohh, my Queen! Allow me to die for you!' All this for a person who demands trust and respect purely out of station instead of making the slightest attempt at earning it?

"What is one to think? I try to help her against a threat even you alerted her against, and she threatens me with Taint while you throw in a warning to me against any further attempts at helping her not kill herself? And she meant it in the moment. You both meant it and still do. I feel if say, right now, we both saw Dina blindly in her rage, heading stepping off of a cliffside to fall down into a snowy doom, that if I tried to grab her again from danger, you have both told me I can expect to suffer your wraths for my risks and efforts. To which I ask the universe, to where has good sense fled? Where must I go to find it again?

Dragon-headed cane in hand, Auri continued along at his own pace, but he continued on instead of saying his farewells here and now to the Chosen and going back to the village and eventually to the fine, if temporary, comforts of Alicante. "No, I feel Dina will not apologize or follow the road toward friendship. Violet, may your chat with Dina go better than Carn's good-hearted attempts and mine, because it looks to me," he pointed towards Dina's childish antics as Carn had to chase after her like some apologetic lover in a bad stage-play, "that my fellow drakkar is not going to get any farther with Dina than any of the rest of us."

 

[Parrot Parfait]

Carn Barley

- The Iron Wall -


​

Tell him off, ignore him completely, not gasp in shock at the sight of him, Carn was expecting something angrier. Of course, though, she hadn’t been expecting him to be here. Carn hadn’t been expecting himself to be here, and yet his conscience placed him there. He scratched the back of his neck, sighed, and then asked his question.

“What can I do to make you happy?” Carn asked, in a gratey tone of voice. A few years have passed since he’s used that question. Probably why it sounded raspy, or that and the fact he’s using it on a stranger, not a sibling. He often gave this offer to obstinate siblings on the condition that they’d finish their chores, and considering Carn saw Dina as being a little brat, he’d give this offer on the condition that she’d cooperate through the whole mission. He pressed the bridge of his snout in the embarrasment that he's actually doing this before placing his hand down.

 

[Wolf Rawrrr]

Date: October 12th (Sunday), year 3321
Location: The Frostback Mountains
Weather: Overcast, gloomy, and cold, with even colder gusts of wind.

• Dann / Kaerri / Jack / Parrot

• 
  Around 12:00 h
  Somewhere in the Frostback Mountains
  
  
  Auri's questions left Violet arching her brow. She didn't seem to know quite how to respond at first. "Auri, I really think that you are making this out to be far worse than it is. I've known Dina for years. I think I have a good understanding of what she's like and what she means and what she doesn't when she speaks - better than anyone else here. But if I still can't convince you, then you are free to think what you will, of course. As for the things you mentioned, of course you are not expected anything of the sort. You are a foreign ambassador, or perhaps just a member of the Chosen now if you so choose, but in either case loyalty and service towards the throne of Asgard are not things that are expected of you."
  
  She stopped short of following in Auri's footsteps and took a deep breath, clearly intending to hang back for now. "What is expected is that all of us will be able to work together and complete this mission. That's all that matters. We can settle differences and opinions later."
  
  
  *** *** ***​
  
  Dina paused and turned around then, and Carn could see the look of awkward surprise on her face. Whatever she'd been expecting him to say, it clearly wasn't that. "What an odd thing to ask," she said with a thoughtful expression and an entertained smile beneath, then turned and resumed climbing. The top of the hill was within reach. When she got there, she remained standing with her back towards Carn.
  
  On the other side, the mountain simply continued rising, sharply, too steep to scale without special equipment. Fortunately, the path continued in a straight fashion from here, wide and level, between the drop on their left and the even higher cliffs towering above to their right. It would be easy for a while, it seemed, but with no cover to shield them from the cold eastern wind.
  
  "You wish to make me happy?" she turned to him with an innocent smile. "I thought you didn't like me."
  

 

[Parrot Parfait]

Carn Barley

- The Iron Wall -


​

“I still don’t,” He shot bluntly, narrowing his eyes down at Dina. “but I’m stuck with you for this mission. So, in exchange for a boon of mine, I want you to act more like an adult and listen more to your superiors.” He lifted a hand towards the rest of the group, gesturing individually to Auri, Maggie, skipping over Asher, Violet, and Laurolf. Upon placing his arm down, Carn turned back to Dina with a cold gaze. “They have been here longer than the both of us, and I’m pretty sure they also have a keener sense for danger, taint or not.”

* Sorry Jack ;')

 

[Wolf Rawrrr]

Dina's smile quickly disappeared. She stared Carn down (or up, as it were) with a tired, annoyed gaze as he spoke.

"Really?" she said when he was done, then turned sideways, and her next words did not seem to be meant for the drakkar. She did not even look at him. "Of course. What else?" Pausing for a while, she later added: "I don't care," and simultaneously turned fully away and kept on marching down the frozen path. She seemed disappointed, dejected even. She wrapped her arms tightly around herself and continued on like that, against the wind, not checking how far the others were behind her.

 

[Kaerri]

Maggie

- Priestess of the Maker -​

Maggie could only look from one to the other of the group as they spoke, snapped, stamped off, and spoke again. Everyone prated about "needing to get along" but it seemed that what some meant by that was that everyone else needed to get along with them. She turned away for a moment, closing her eyes and offering up a brief prayer that they managed to stay in one group long enough to accomplish their actual mission.

..."now she has the Resistance - but if these things fail her, or push her away, she will surely be driven right into Ilhirel's hands. That's what I'm afraid of the most," she said, wearing a grave expression on her face.

"And if she pushes us away?" Maggie asked under her breath. She couldn't keep a hint of bitterness out of her voice, but she could at least manage to stay quiet enough that it was unlikely anyone who wasn't standing right next to her would hear. She remained facing away from the group, trying to get herself back under control. It was so frustrating to deal with people who didn't want to listen to each other. It was at times like this that she really felt her young age; for all her training, there were times when she just wanted to knock heads together for lack of anything better, and that would never work.

She stopped short of following in Auri's footsteps and took a deep breath, clearly intending to hang back for now. "What is expected is that all of us will be able to work together and complete this mission. That's all that matters. We can settle differences and opinions later."

Maggie shook her head as she moved up to walk next to Auri. "All of us need to be trying to work together," she replied pointedly. She stopped, realizing that she was doing just the same as everyone else, and tried to make her next sentence gentler. "Poking and prodding, sniping and scolding, that's a good way to divide. If Dina can't learn that out here in the freezing north, that bodes very ill for her success as a queen." She sighed. "And yes, I am worried about her. You just ran through the whole list of reasons why she isn't acting like herself -- but don't you see, that's what makes her hard to predict even for you. And I am very worried about what long-term effects her time with the Sorceress will have. I had only a few minutes' conversation with her, and it was disconcerting how likeable she can make herself. She appears young and attractive, as well, which adds to the effect. Even without any magical influence, what sort of influence could her sheer personality have? If I act like I don't trust Dina, it's because I don't trust how she is now -- which is very different from what she was when I met her in Dunn. She's gone from being afraid of the Taint to believing she knows everything about it; from knowing the Sorceress is her enemy to trusting that the magic she did use on her was completely benign!" Maggie shook her head again. She'd said far more than she'd intended to, and wondered if even Violet would understand. When she spoke once more, all the frustration had left her voice, replaced by weariness. "I just hope this trip is over soon, before we snipe each other too far to finish it."

 

[Parrot Parfait]

Carn Barley

- The Iron Wall -


​

Carn was taken slightly aback when Dina gave her annoyed remark. But what could he have expected? With an apparent adult, making such an offer had all the likelihood of shooting the moon from the sky. Sadly, this gambit was his best one he could think of, and it failed, leaving him with nothing else to say as Dina turned away, expressed her disappointment, and began walking away.

In those moments, Carn was ambivalent over what to do next. He wanted to call it “good enough” and return, but the nagging feeling from earlier still pestered him. Perhaps he made the situation worse than it was? He shook his head. She’s the one causing the friction. She didn’t even need to be here, and why chase after the wind when it refuses to be caught? He sighed before turning around but did not move beyond that. A quietness settled, only broken up by the crunching of footsteps and the whistling of the wind. Moments of calm passed, and then one more idea passed by. At this new development, Carn pressed the bridge of his snout before turning back around. His pace was quick, zooming right past Dina before Carn stood in her way.

“We need to talk to each other,” Carn calmly demanded with arms crossed, “because if I want this mission to go well, I need to know why you’re like this, and you need to know why I’m like this.” He put on a slightly angrier face, his pointed teeth showing at the ends of his mouth before resting his face to his usual neutral state.

 

[Wolf Rawrrr]

"I understand," Violet told Maggie. "I don't think that you and Auri are wrong, but I also don't think that Dina is as far gone as you make her out to be. Yes, she may push us away, like you say. We have little control over that. But we do have control over how we react to what she does. We can try to make things better, or we can make them worse." The elf sighed, staring down the way they'd come from. "As her friend and as her protector, I have no choice but to stand by her side. I would die for Dina, if I had to. It will take much more than this one incident for those feelings to change. Needless to say, I don't expect all of you to go to the same lengths."

Nearby, Laurolf paid Violet a meaningful glance, but said nothing.

*** *** ***​

Some distance away, past the top of the hill and thus out of sight of the others, Dina was forced to stop when Carn abruptly got in her way.

"Why am I like this?" she repeated. "Alright. I am like this because for all the talk of me being distrustful, I was the first one to be distrusted. By the very same person who then proceeded to accuse me of distrust. Ironic, no? Not to mention wrong, because I do trust my friends. So I am not at all certain that Auri, who has only just joined the group, even knows what the word means. Despite all his fabled years of experience, given how easily he throws the term around, not worrying whether it's true or not," the girl explained, her gaze underneath her hood only slightly less angry than Carn's.

"I am like this," she continued, "Because I was interrupted and dangled in the air like a child, by someone who has, once again, just joined the group, and whom I do not know. His intentions might have been good, but that does not mean that I have to appreciate the way in which they were executed. Auri may be older and more experienced than me, but that does not undo my own age and experience, nor mean that I automatically don't know what I am doing and need to be treated like a child. I won't have that, not in the group where I've earned my place, and not when it comes to the few things that I do know something about. All this doubt and suspicion being cast on me is only making me want to prove you wrong more."

"Satisfied?" she asked the drakkar, looking up defiantly. "And why are you like this, pray tell? If I need to know?"

 

[Andei]

Ingvar Sindram
- Seeker of the Maker -​

Ingvar nodded, and patted Varys lightly on the back (he had to reach up slightly to do it). 'Well then, best that our honoured Bridgemaster-elect not be kept from his duties,' he said with a wry smile.

Beckoning to the younger man to follow, the dwarf turned to head back to the bridge with the quick but light-footed steps of an inveterate huntsman. As he did so, he thought about whether there was a way to make the crossing safer for the two of them. I could hammer a piton into the ground here, and tie a rope to that, but the earth might be too soft. Or on the other hand, it might be solid rock underfoot and the hammering could be too loud and alert the beast. Another option is that we could tie it to a more secure section of the bridge? No, we do not need to cause more strain on the structure any more than we need to... perhaps I am being over-cautious. Heh, if there is such a thing when there's a dragon flying overhead...

Upon reaching the bridge, Ingvar took a long, sturdy rope from his pack and handed one end to Varys. 'If you would be so good as to secure this around your waist,' he said as he himself began to tie the other end around his midriff with practised efficiency. 'My proposed plan is thus - I will cross first, followed by yourself. This ensures that there will always be one person to secure the other should the stones give way. If needs be, use the parapet for support, but it is my humble advice that it is best to avoid undue stress on the bridge. After all, we must ensure all members of the company make it across, and it is an unspoken truth that there are one or two individuals among us who in their single-minded pursuit for physical strength have not been quite so diligent with maintaining our bodily weight as you or I.'

He gave a small cough hidden by another mischievous smile that were it not for the remnants of the icy wind would have sounded a lot like 'our friend Gorski, for one'.

Having ensured his end of the rope was tight and trusting that Varys had done the same, he took a moment to pray: 'O Creator of all things, guide my path... if it be your will that the life you breathed into this body be taken today, let it be so - I give it willingly. If your plans for this humble servant extends yet further, I beseech you... be my strength, that through me you may deliver my companions to the other side of this peril. Keep Varys and all our company from harm that we might live to praise your name.'

With one final nod to the man entrusted with the other side of his lifeline, Ingvar faced the crossing before him. 'Now, before these old feet get any more frozen,' he breathed as he began to cross, 'let us step into the unknown!'

 

[Rekai Leon]

Faron Firestorm

- The Fiery Brawler -​

Rains spit into the snow. "Save your strength, Faron. There's a dragon that we may have to face earlier than planned. Let Ingvar and Varys check things out first. They at least stand a chance at remaining hidden, whereas a... person of your size would obviously find themselves at an immediate disadvantage. If they find the bridge lacking, I'll call upon you to do what you can to help us across."

“Copy that, Commander,” Faron replied, nodding. He was a bit confused when being referred to as a “person” though, because it implied that he was being associated with other humans, which he was clearly not, in terms of both his origin and shape. Then others started to discuss it, but the Drakkar did not really care.

Then one of them, a red-haired man of ironically less than average height, looked up to Faron with a question that made everyone shut up. "Wait. Be you drakkar not descended from dragons yerselves?"

He startled a bit at the question and the silence that came afterwards. “Drakkar descended from dragon? What the hell are they talking about?” Faron thought, “that can’t be. Our appearances are not even close to being similar to those wingy creatures. But, it would be hilarious if that was the truth. Would that mean, I am trying to hunt my own species? And because they are dragon hunters as well, they are supposed to hunt… me? That just sounds… funny, and somewhat scary at the same time.”

“Well, I don’t think Drakkar have anything to do with dragons, at least not until there exists one with a fully grown pair of wings on their back, which will most likely never happen. We are our own species, it’s that simple,” Faron said, hoping that he had clarified things well before any axe was thrown at him for being a dragon, “but I do know a group of Drakkar who believed so,” he referred to the Dragon Cult, “and let’s just say, they do nasty things.”

 

[Parrot Parfait]

Carn Barley

- The Iron Wall -


​

Though none of his reactions showed, Carn inwardly flinched at the queen’s argument. In some sense, she was right. Anyone unfairly judged would be rightfully angry, as he had when he was a youngling, but as he thought about it, this situation was completely different, which sapped all sympathy away from Carn. Carn looked upwards with a small, frustrated huff as he brushed a hand across his horns.

“First thing, it’s the taint in your arm,” Carn snapped as he looked down to point a finger, “Whatever it is, it’s a danger to the group and to you. Especially after seeing those animals, that thing being here right now makes me nervous beyond all hell. The other thing is you brought that Sorceress’s so called blessing with you.” An anger molded Carn’s face into something unpleasant as the sore subject rolled in. “I don’t know about you, but my friends died because of her, and I have a good lick of sense to think that dragon was her’s. It makes my blood boil to think you have the gall to bring it to the mission when you could have gotten the angel’s help, not to mention parading that curse around all high and mighty as if it’s a blessing from my Creator. It’s no wonder why Auri didn’t trust you.” Carn shoved his face downward, talking in a softer but more focused tone, “I will work with you because you are here and because I need to get this mission done so that my brothers and sisters are safe, but trust you, I refuse to do that, not until you say sorry to everyone else while getting that thing out of your arm the next chance you get.” He quickly retracted himself and quickly turned around to give a disgruntled heave. After a moment, he spoke again, interrupting with one last thing. “I just don’t want to see death again, especially not in that way,” he lamented, sounding more tired and morose than mad. He then began walking down to the group, too tired, too worried, and too everything inbetween to remember he was to have a discussion.

 

[Jack Elarithon]

Asher

The Jaded Shadow​

Though worried at first, Asher found it was surprisingly easy to sneak several chunks of crystal into his satchel. With the focus being on the argument with Dina, it would not be too difficult to help himself to some of the treasures that might line the groups pockets, but decided that it was best not to tempt fate.

Asher watched from the sidelines thankful his own conversation with Dina was so short. Trusting Dina was never a question for Asher because he didn't really trust any of them, especially after what happened with Meric. No, he didn't need to trust anyone. It was enough that everyone just do their part in taking down the sorceress.

Those that don't might as well be the enemy, Asher thought. He would not let something like what happened with Meric happen again.

 

[Wolf Rawrrr]

Date: October 12th (Sunday), year 3321
Location: The Frostback Mountains
Weather: Overcast, gloomy, and cold.

• Kaerri / Jack / Parrot
• Andei / Rekai

• 
  Around 12:00 h
  Somewhere in the Frostback Mountains
  
  
  It seemed as if the conversation between the young girl and the drakkar had come to a halt, but even with Carn walking calmly back towards the group, this proved not to be the case after all.
  
  "Do you think that I asked for this?" Dina followed him, having stopped before getting too close. She did not sound angry or irritated anymore - more tired and lined with something akin to despair. She didn't wait for Carn to turn around and acknowledge her, either.
  
  "This thing that makes you nervous, how do you think it made me feel? A simple accident, curiosity getting the best of caution for a second, and suddenly I was marked for death. Or a fate worse than death. I spent each day in fear and uncertainty, wondering what would happen to me, all the while having to hear the Taint whispering in my mind. And no one could help. Not the Chosen. Not the Mages Guild. No one that I could approach for help. Until I met Ilhirel. You were at the war council. You heard my story. I did not come to her for help - I was brought to Alicante against my will, but when she saw what was happening to me, for whatever reason, she decided to help me. Not for a price. Not under some condition. She just did it."
  
  "Even I do not know why," Dina continued with a sigh. "Maybe it was a calculated move, as everyone seems to believe. Part of some greater scheme. Maybe allowing the Taint to claim me simply interfered with whatever plans she had for me. Or maybe she just took pity on me. Whatever it was, suddenly I was going to be okay. Instead of fear and helplessness, I felt hope. I wasn't going to end up consumed by this unnatural corruption anymore. Instead, I felt the Taint withdraw from me in fear. We were still connected, but suddenly I was on the winning side."
  
  "Yes, perhaps you are right. Perhaps I should have let the Hellguard sever the link. But in doing so, I would have lost my control over the Taint, and I simply wasn't sure that that was a good idea. Not yet, at least. Not while there was still a war to be fought. Now that I was able to use it without paying a terrible price for it, would it not be wiser to turn this power against our enemies? And what of the Taint itself? If this is some rogue dark force rising, would it not be helpful to have someone like me who is able to counter it? If we come across it, as it now seems we will? That is why I did it," she explained, calmly now, as if begging Carn to understand. "The sad truth is that I am simply more useful with this power than without it. When that is no longer so, I will gladly ask for the Hellguard's help in getting rid of it. Until then, the very reason why you or the others are wary of me might be the same reason why I am able to save someone's life. And that will make it worth it," she concluded, and added with a sad expression: "Even if it kills me in the end."
  
  
  *** *** ***​
  
  At about the same time while Dina and Carn were speaking atop the hill, and while Maggie, Violet, Asher, and Laurolf were climbing said hill, something crossed the overcast sky. The dwarf had been the first to spot it as it flew from behind the cover of the clouds into the open, disappearing quickly again as he called it out, but then showing itself once again as it soared higher and further north.
  
  A large winged creature, much too small to be the dragon that everyone expected, yet it was no ordinary beast either. Almost beyond belief, it was a winged wolf. The winged wolf, as white and uncanny as the legends described it. Laurolf named it out loud as he pointed at the sky, then swore even louder. He clearly did not take this as a good sign.
  
• 
  Around 12:00 h
  Somewhere in the Frostback Mountains
  
  
  Varys followed Ingvar's lead, doing as he was asked to while maintaining a mostly serious expression. The two of them made slow but steady progress - though not as slow as Ingvar might have expected. The frozen bridge proved to the surprisingly solid. They encountered no significant damage and nothing that would indicate that its safety was compromised in any way. Within a short time, they were able to cross its entire length, reaching the other side without difficulty (apart from the danger posed by the ice itself). Even the wind was of no issue, with the walls of the mountain rising high around the bridge and the chasm which it spanned. A wide tunnel led on from there, bored straight through the rock in an impressive feat of engineering considering the location. It wasn't very long; they could see the light at its end, perhaps as far off as the bridge itself was long.
  
  Seeing their success, Rains spared no time. "Good enough," he'd said when Varys signaled them from the far side, and the company began to slowly move across, eager to reach the safety of the tunnel. The bridge, as it turned out, would not be a problem at all. The hunters progressed in pairs, spaced out but not waiting for each other to fully cross, either. The group was altogether about halfway across, when the worst imaginable thing happened.
  
  The dragon came back.
  
  Spotted immediately owing to the number of restless eyes that were constantly scanning the sky above them, it appeared from behind the clouds and immediately dove with full speed towards them, letting out a shrill, terrifying cry. It was almost as if it had been waiting for the absolute worst moment to strike. The great black monstrosity would be upon the scattered, half-prepared hunters within seconds.
  
  

 

[Parrot Parfait]

Carn Barley

- The Iron Wall -


​

When the Queen caught up to him, Carn was a bit startled that she actually followed him. Surprise, however, isn’t enough to change one’s mind as indicated by his not so kindly expression, but he made not comment and silently listened as the Queen spoke. As he did, Carn began to understand some of the pain that this girl has gone through. Her speech certainly inspired some sympathy in Carn, but it was still insufficient in convincing him, which made his dilemma all the more difficult. When the Queen stopped, there was a short silence followed by Carn giving out a confused and frustrated snort as he pressed his snout.

“What am I gonna do with you?” Carn mumbled, completely lost over how to resolve the issue. It was at that moment an idea appeared, and with Carn being so perturbed, the thought just popped out of his mouth.

“Couldn’t you just have asked the Hellguard to swap out the taint for another power?” Carn blurted the idea out as if it was obvious despite having just. “Whatever the Hellguard can offer, it’s probably better and safer than... whatever it is the Sorceress gave you.”

 

[Wolf Rawrrr]

"Ilhirel gave me no power," Dina told Carn, wrapping herself tighter against the wind, "Save the ability to resist further spreading of the Taint. Did you not hear what Uriel said at the meeting? If it is truly a divine spark that shines within me and protects me, it is no less a blessing for the fact that it came from a fallen angel. My power was granted to me by the Spectral Council when it put together the original Chosen; the power over Nature itself - the very counterpart to the corruption of the Taint. Somehow I have come to wield these two opposing forces, but though the children of Nature do not approve of this, as they keep telling me, they have yet to abandon me for it. Rest assured that, if I have to choose between them, I will not choose the corruption," she said with quiet determination.

At about the same time, Dina spotted the Winged Wolf as well. She turned her head to track it as the beast flew high past them and, unmistakably, gazed down upon the group. It had seen them, too. Yet it did not appear to care. It continued to soar upwards and away, moving in a straight line higher into the mountains until it finally disappeared from view behind the clouds.

 

[Parrot Parfait]

Carn Barley

- The Iron Wall -


​

Carn clearly understood that the taint was not given by the Sorceress. His issue was that the Queen was relying on the enemy’s borrowed power to use the taint (which was something that the Queen should not be using anyways) despite there clearly being a better option through the angels. What more, if she has the power of nature by her side, why in her right mind would she dare allow the Taint to remain in her? Those two clearly don’t mix. Those two facts added to Carn’s growing confusion over why Dina is so stubborn in keeping the taint and the Sorceress's "blessing". He couldn’t keep himself from rubbing his eyes at how many holes there were in Dina's thinking.

“Look here,” Carn shot, “That just sounds like a pile of cow dung. Why keep the taint at all when you could have something better with the angels? …You listening?” Carn asked that when he noticed Dina’s attention was up in the sky, prompting him to turn around and see what she was looking at.

“What in the?” Carn muttered as he watched the winged wolf gliding through the sky. It was a sight to behold and certainly one that was incredibly bizarre and alien to Carn. The wolf's flight seemed rather regal actually, were it not for Laurolf's swearing in the distance. When the wolf had disappeared into the clouds, Carn was the one to break the silence.

“I think we should head back to the group. Laurolf was swearing down the mountain, and I don't think that's a good sign. I’m gonna check what’s happening.” Without hesitation, he began jogging down the mountain, but seconds later, turned his head to check if Dina was following him.

 

[Wolf Rawrrr]

The others had just about caught up with them at that point already. They stood now atop the hill, overlooking the camp a little ways down below where the scorched pyres were the only things that marred the otherwise uniform gray-white of the stone and snow. The winged beast above them had come and gone, but just as soon as it did, the very ground beneath the party's feet started to tremble! The whole mountain shook with an audible groan, as if it were suddenly alive and waking up! It was an earthquake, an uncommon occurrence in Asgard and equally unpleasant - especially if one happened to find themselves high up in the mountains.

The movement started several avalanches almost immediately, all around. Luckily, the party did not seem to be in the way of any. Violet and Laurolf were both looking quickly this way and that, scanning their surroundings to confirm that. All that they'd have to do, it seemed, was hold fast until the ground settled down. They could see the path far down below them get erased entirely by a huge amount of snow that fall from a nearby peak. Had they still been down there, there would have been nowhere to go.

It was over before long. The whole thing might have lasted ten, perhaps fifteen seconds, and then everything was still once again - minus the ongoing landslides, mostly beneath them. The path ahead of them remained largely unaffected, somehow.

"Thank the Maker," Violet sighed. "That could have been a lot worse."

Laurolf shook his head, frowning. "There could be more. Usually are," he said, looking suspiciously around.

 

[Parrot Parfait]

Carn Barley

- The Iron Wall -


​

When the group met up with them, Carn couldn’t help but be concerned that a rather large person was missing. Had it not been for their faces, Carn would have inquired about Auri’s absence, but instead, he decided to ask later at a more opportune time.

At that moment, Carn was looking down at the small campsite, pondering different subjects. His line of thought was sharply interrupted by the sudden trembling of the mountain. To his knowledge, he’s never quite experienced something like an earthquake at the farm, which was probably why his immediate reaction was to quickly gather everyone closer from Dina to Laurolf. However, when it became apparent that the group was not under any immediate trouble, Carn settled down a bit as he watched an avalanche engulf the encampment where Aron could have been. When the trembling was over, Carn gave a sigh of relief.

"Thank the Maker," Violet sighed. "That could have been a lot worse."

Laurolf shook his head, frowning. "There could be more. Usually are," he said, looking suspiciously around.

“I hope not,” Carn added onto Laurolf’s comment. A few moments passed before something hung on his mind, something important he couldn't place a finger on. Then, his eyes went wide.

“Aron,” Carn muttered before speaking more audibly, “Good Maker, Aron is still on this mountain.” Carn onto held his head, prayers and verses pouring out of his mouth in a sharp stream of hope and anxiety.

 

[Kaerri]

Maggie

- Priestess of the Maker -​

Maggie had been quiet as they continued their trudge up the mountain. Partly that was because she was pondering Violet's words, but also because she was trying to resettle her own mental balance. It was so cold up here, it was distracting. Then something happened more distracting yet.

A large winged creature, much too small to be the dragon that everyone expected, yet it was no ordinary beast either. Almost beyond belief, it was a winged wolf. The winged wolf, as white and uncanny as the legends described it. Laurolf named it out loud as he pointed at the sky, then swore even louder. He clearly did not take this as a good sign.

Maggie stirred from her introspection and followed Laurolf's pointing. From the expression on her face, she didn't take it for a good sign either. If nothing else, it had still seen them, and even if it didn't seem to care, and surely didn't know what they were up here for, the priestess didn't like the thought of anything associated with Ilhirel (as this was, at least in popular opinion) knowing they were up here.

All thoughts were cut off by the earthquake that followed the winged wolf's disappearance. Maggie instinctively dropped to her knees for more stability, her lips moving in silent prayer that none of them be injured or swept away. Whether by luck, divine grace, or something else, all the avalanches avoided their position, but she nodded to Carn as she stood, brushing snow off her robes. "Let's see if we can't catch up to him and the others quickly, then. If they were in the wrong place, they'll need help."