Blood From the Past

Prologue

Lost Earth, Winter, Ashtake Mountains-

The dying light of evening shone thru the grimey windows of the inn, occupied with only a few mottley travelers gathered around the small fireplace to warm themselves.

A sturdily built man sat apart from the others, his heavy fur cloak drawn tightly over his broad shoulders, and cowl masking his face in shadow. Beside him rested a massive blade wrapped in a worn leather sheath. the gentle murmuring tones and crackling flame lulling him to sleep, head sagging and cat-like eyes fluttering closed.

The door flew open with a freezing gust, choking the flame and nipping at the patrons; an old man and young woman entered. Hurriedly closing the door, the young woman followed her companion to the fire where the pair began peeling off the dripping outer layers of their worn clothing, revealing patched underclothing draped over their starved frames. The innkeeper, a short woman in her late forties, hustled in from the back room,

"I'll hang your coats," she greeted gruffly, loading the slushy wool over an arm,

"Thank you," the old man weakly acquiesced, reaching into his pocket to pull out a few chipped coins, "and a meal, please."

She nodded, shouldering the load of coats and hats expertly and sidling gracefully to the backroom. The young woman looked around the room with wide eyes, staring at the other grim faced patrons before looking back to the fire, hugging her threadbare shawl tightly to her shoulders.

The conversation stilled, then awoke with a murmur as the other occupants slowly resumed their business; behind the kitchen doors the cookfire blazed and the smell of venison wafted enticingly into the dining hall. The newly arrived young woman sat uneasily beside her companion, her exhausted gaze grew still and distant as she stared into the hearthfire flames, then with a wakeful start she glanced about the room again, watchful.
Her elder had looked around the room once, pausing for a moment when his eyes fell on the burly man in the corner, then he relaxed in his seat, fighting off sleep as he rubbed the feeling back into hands and answered the occasional question from the young woman in hushed tones.

The innkeeper returned from the back room, setting a steaming bowl of noodles, meat and a cup of tea before each of them. The young woman dug in ravenously, shoveling in mouthfuls, while her elder turned to the innkeeper,

"That man in the corner," the old man gestured, "he is Ayumu?"

"Yes," she nodded slowly, "you know of him?" As she answered, The young woman paused her eating, glancing back at the hooded man nervously as her elder continued,

"I seek a favor from him."
"You seek a favor from Ayumu?" She repeated with a shake of her head, "tread with respect," she warned before walking away from the pair.

The old man sipped his tea reflectively, then continued his meal.

"Grandfather, THAT man is Ayumu?" She whispered to her elder, eyes loced on the cowled man in disbelief, "we... we found him?"

"It seems so, granddaughter," he nodded.

Her eyes widened anxiously, "We... did it? Lets speak with him! Finally our clan can be avenged." She started up from her seat.

"Be still." The old man grumbled, and immediately she quieted. "Eat first, I will think then speak with him myself. If we do not speak with care, we may offend Ayumu."

"Yes Grandfather," she said breathlessly, eyes darting to Ayumu as she fidgeted and did her best to finish her meal.

After what felt like too long of sitting in her chair and waiting, she was on the verge of pestering her grandfather again about approaching Ayumu, when her old man suddenly rose and started towards the stranger. She immediately sprang up and followed her elder.

"Ayumu," the elder greeted with a bow as he stepped before the man.

"Why do you trouble me, mortal." grunted Ayumu, averting his fox like eyes.

"My father spoke of you, and what you do. Me and my granddaughter have followed the whisper of the land for many years, and have finally found you here."

"And what is it that I do? What have you heard?"

"You slay the immortals and divines that overstep their boundaries. You are Ayumu, The Spirit Walker, The Celestial Render; many are the all-powerful beings you have slain and immortals that you have humbled."

Ayumu shook his head, "You assume much, old man."

"Have the ancient stories lied?"

"Not entirely. And you still have not told me of your purpose here."

"You have heard of the one they call Blood River?"

"The Valkyrie of Carnage and Ice? Yes, I have heard of her; and of her defeat at Rek'Sai pass, from the hands of what rumors call 'a humble mage'."

"Yes, but have you heard the truth? That she was not slain, but fled this world before her defeat; running from the battle?"

Ayumu's eyes narrowed, "And where have you heard these rumors?"

"The great dragon, Grah'Morikki has seen her in the streams of time and prophesied her return."

"Grah'Morikki himself has spoken it?"

"We have traveled to his domain, and listened to his words in person."

The young woman drew breath and added, "and is it not your duty to slay this cowardly immortal, the one called, Blood River?"

Ayumu's eyes narrowed, "I will go to the battlefield where The Ice Valkyrie was defeated; there, the earth will tell me if Grah'Moikki speaks true."

"I will come with you," replied the woman, "I will help you find and slay her."

Ayumu stood, "I need not the help of mortals."

"The Valkyrie is a powerful foe. I will make myself of aid."

"You doubt my own prowess? And think that I need aid?" glared Ayumu,

The woman matched his gaze, "I have seen hers first hand, only a fool would think Blood River an easy opponent. You are no fool."

"Forgive my grandaughter her trespass," gasped the elder, stepping between them, "she is young yet."

"I will let what may come judge her tongue," answered Ayumu as he started towards the door, pausing to glance back at her as he put a hand on the exit, "should she fall by the way, she will indeed be of no help," and with that, he opened the door and stepped out into the howling blizzard.

She turned to her elder grimly, "I will go and follow him."

"You would go back out in the blizzard?" he gaped, "the frost on your coat has turned to water, to leave now would surely freeze you! If you must follow him, leave in the morning when the storm has passed."

Reluctantly glancing back at the door, she shook her head, "he is testing me, I must follow now or lose my chance to exact vengeance on Blood River."

The old man was silent for a moment, his eyes narrowing in dispute; then his shoulders suddenly slumped, "I know that there is no detering you, you have the stubbornness of your mother. Leave now with my prayers, go forth and avenge our clan."

"I will grandfather," she nodded, "take care, and may peace be with you."
With that, she turned and stepped to another patron, "I will need your coats, you may take mine instead."

The seasoned hunter she addressed sneered in response, "your apparel is worth half of mine, if you wish to follow Ayumu to your doom, do so in your rags, so that your corpse may remain of no worth when you fall by the roadside."

Whap

The man started in surprise as a knife dug into the wall beside his head, then paused as he saw the three other knives held between her fingers, ready to throw, "I am in a hurry to leave lest I lose my guide. Remove your coats."

The inn was dead silent as he slowly reacted, removing his coats and dropping them to the floor as she waited.

Nodding approval, she cautiously took his coats and backed to the door where she disappeared into the blizzard.