The Seeress

Chapter Ten

Edwin was terribly glad that nothing happened. Those guards merely passed them by like regular citizens, without care for them. He should be happy then, that such a case happened for him.

The group continued to walk along until John signalled them to stop. Harold looked at his uncle, unsure of what happened. It was all a blur, and the chaos that unfolded was too quick and too much attention-seeking for their own good. 

"What is it?" Harold demanded.

"Take a breather," John said as they all proceeded to rest. Those guards have probably given them much of a fright, no doubt. Edwin had pretty much done trying to guide the stubborn horse, coughing as Agnetha distanced away from him. John took the time to shake his head at his son.

"Well, do you think we should go back for the Eldunian?" John said to Harold. His curlish beard on the older Westener didn't hide much of his happy expression, as he took a bow to him.

"A damned shame, he was very useful back there," Harold said as he looked back in the direction of Jernby. Who was he kidding, his worth was more on his mistake.

"Well, shame or not, we are still alive," John said as he coughed away his fears. The authorities will be more consumed on the body count back there, than some Western merchants with a Nordic servant. All's well for them, after all.

Meanwhile, Harold saw his cousin once again being near Agnetha. He saw how Edwin looked at her as if he was mending her needs. Assuredly enough, he did not like that, not one bit. 

...

Their journey was thankfully more boring than the skirmish that happened last morning. They spend their days walking into the snowy woods. With an occasional deer lingering around to be hunted, there was not much company for them. The most that they could entertain themselves is by talking to each other. Even then, they either got into a heated argument or merely to a stop as they were too tired to continue.

Despite their efforts, the night is coming fast for them. They only have such a small window in Nordlund, as the Sun only lingers less than the Moon. Without even a torch, they had to settle down for the night again. Harold and Edwin could only bring in wood to be burned for warmth.

"Only seven hours that we can travel in a day," John said under his breath as Harold dumped the wooden branches down.  Faizal of all struggled badly, coughing loudly for everyone to hear. 

"You're sick?" Edwin asked.

"This place... definitely colder than Westhaven for sure," Harold said while he breathe heavily. Edwin, even with his limited memory of his own home back then, still missed Westhaven. He remembered the never-ending fields of grasslands and the river which cuts through them. But there was no use fantasizing about it now. 

"Why don't you try to collect some wood with me?" Edwin asked as Harold did not want to waste time going along with him. Meanwhile, Harold sighed at his uncle. Yet another problem came up.

"Old man, is there something on your mind?" Harold said. "Can care to speak up?"

"I'm beginning to suspect that the journey would be longer than expected," John said as Agnetha came to him. Even if he was a great archer back then, his body still aches against the snow. "Is it because you are travelling less in a day?" Agnetha said to John. 

"It's none of your concern, lady," John said as he turn to face Harold. However, Agnetha poked John's shoulder to get his attention.

"I know an outpost, it is near Jernby," Agnetha said, as Harold glared at her back in anger. As if both betrayed and relieved.