Deathbeds[✓]

2;11

The morning came too soon.

Before daybreak, Pjetur came to Horndew Lodge to take Killian from his parents. Anais tried to keep her tears at bay, but they slipped carelessly from her eyes as she kissed her child's cheek. Bishop ruffled Killian's hair and smiled.

"He will be fine," Pjetur assured them. It still didn't make their departure any easier.

They walked side-by-side to Agnar's longhouse. The sky was streaked in lavenders and oranges, the sun not yet a burning hole on the horizon. Jalma was waiting for them on the stairs and quickly ushered them in,

At the table were Agnar, Valfred, Thorlogh, and the brothers Svegard and Ulgar. On the table were a map of Falskaar, plates of bread and cheese and fruit, and steaming mugs of tea. Anais and Bishop joined those gathered.

"Captain, Traveler, Hjorgunnars," Agnar started. "This is the most important mission I would ever send you on. We must stop Yngvarr before he can open the Heart Chamber. Brother Thorlogh has been deciphering the book Pjetur and the Traveler retrieved from Vizemundsted. He knows where the Chamber is located..." Agnar slammed the point of a dagger into the northeast mountain range. "Here, at Mountain Mist Temple."

There was a collective nod around the table.

Brother Thorlogh raised his chin and looked at each face before he spoke. "We know that the five keys are needed to open the Heart Chamber itself. Yngvarr's advancement to the Temple with a contingent of thieves and wizards tells us he plans an attempt to bypass the barriers."

"So we are few," Ulgar lamented.

Svegard thumped his brother on the shoulder. "We have the strength of many."

"There was a traitor among us," Anais reminded them. "Solvi has been trading our secrets and betrayed Amber Creek for Yngvarr's usurpation. We can't be certain there are more among us."

"You are the few that I can trust wholeheartedly," Agnar agreed. "That is why the few of you must go."

Ulgar and Svegard straightened their backs and put a fist over their hearts. "Of course, my Jarl."

Agnar pulled from beneath his shirt an amulet and laid it down on the table. "The Key of Leadership."

Svegard and Ulgar searched their bandolier until Ulgar pulled out his own amulet. "The Key of Strength."

Valfred placed his amulet on the table with the others. "The Key of Shelter, thanks to the Traveler."

"Yngvarr has the Keys of Wisdom and Wealth," Thorlogh said. "These are the remaining keys needed to open the Heart Chamber."

"I thought we were supposed to be hiding these," Bishop worried.

Silence.

"We cannot simply kill Yngvarr and hope that the Heart Chamber will remain safe..." Thorlogh trailed, looking at Anais.

Bishop felt that cold wash over him again.

"I'm going to return it," Anais lamented. "I'm going to summon Ahkrinviing."

Bishop slammed a fist on the table, startling the company. Anais tried to keep her face passive, but she couldn't bring herself to look at Bishop.

"It's always something, isn't it?" He fumed. "Always another fucking dragon."

Anais finally met his eyes. Bishop flinched at the pain behind them. He took a deep breath to quell his nerves.

"I wish there was a way," Thorlogh offered. "The captain agreed, knowing the implications... since she is the Dragonborn."