Elfborn

Tables Turned

At that bold statement all of the Nordmen stopped and slowly turned to face Max, who found himself grinning ferally even as his heart pounded in his chest. The emotions were flooding back and, soon enough, they would render him useless. If they waited but ten minutes more, they would easily overcome him no matter his strength and speed!

Without a gram of emotion on his face, the big man rumbled.

"They are the sinners," he answered simply. "We have sworn to release all of their cursed people from their shame. It is the least we can do. If you stand in our way, you will share their fate."

"That might not be as easy as you think," a woman's voice growled from behind Max and a bright blue light abruptly washed over him at the same time the familiar tingle of magic warmed his body. Max glanced to his right and found Naneen standing there, a ball of blue fire hovering above her outstretched left hand. The crunch of snow beneath boot made Max look the other way to find Ollie standing there, face grim as he slowly spun a staff in his hands.

"A wizard," the big man noted flatly. "And another one of these boys that seem to be faster than any mortal man." He slowly hefted the massive axe he was carrying in his right hand. "It would seem that we have some things to take care of yet, my friends."

Nodding, the Nordmen laid Thodin onto the ground and began drawing their weapons. But the movement of being put down on the uneven, cold ground brought Thodin back to some semblance of consciousness. Looking groggily about, he spotted his men approaching the three Elfborn standing in the road. And felt a cold chill travel through his body.

"No," he croaked, just loud enough for them to hear. Heads immediately snapped back towards him.

Seeing that everyone's attention was once again on him, Thodin slowly pulled in a lungful of air.

"We must stop this fighting and make peace with these three," he said in the Nordman tongue, making the broad shouldered, dark haired man frown.

"Why's this, Thodin?" he replied in the same language. "They impede our rightful duty in slaying the Gypsy sinners. It has been our tradition since we began to write our histories down."

"Because, Vulf, these three have been sent to us by Thor, God of War, to prepare us for battle against the Fire Lords."

Vulf snorted in disbelief and smiles sprouted on several faces. No one, however, laughed out loud nor spoke against Thodin's words. No one except for Vulf.

"Surely the loss of blood has addled your senses, Thodin," he bluntly declared, his voice dropping even more. "Battle the Fire Lords? Creatures out of our most ancient stories? Who told you this? Thor himself? Has the God of War come down from Asgard to proclaim that the Nord people will go into battle against legends?"

"No," Thodin croaked, fumbling for something at his waist. "The Elves did tell me." His bloodied fingers found what he was looking for and, with a grunt of effort, he pulled it free.

"With this."

"Burn me to ash," Ollie husked softly. "That Nordman has a sigil stone!" All three Elfborn stared in disbelief as the familiar object in the giant's hand. Then Max was nodding his head.

"Well, that explains a thing or two," he pragmatically observed, cleaning his sword with a handful of snow before he sheathed it over his shoulder. "Time to go make peace!"

Holding his hands out in front of him, Max slowly began walking towards the group of Nordmen clustered around their fallen leader. It didn't take long before they took notice of his advance.