The Voyager and the Rogue

Chapter 27

Seeing Laeli interact with someone from her background was a weird feeling. I didn't quite know how to process it. Hilda suggested we leave them to talk, as we both figured there was much to discuss.

"How long has he been here?" I asked.

"Eh, a week, give or take," Hilda explained. She informed me that initially, Maui had gone to New Berk, seeking Laeli, but was instructed to come to this village since Laeli knew Hilda's mother, Zyrah. At some point, they figured Laeli would find Hilda eventually. Acting only on a hunch, Maui flew out here.

He was lucky he didn't have to wait very long.

"Lucky coincidence," I commented, taking a sip of warm reindeer milk offered by a young woman named Áila, a friend of Hilda's.

"Or an act of the gods." Hilda contradicted. The three of us sat around a fire in the center of the village as night was falling. Laeli and Maui were still in the chief's tent, catching up.

"I don't particularly run with the idea that the gods play Maces and Talons with our lives," I remarked. I, too, was raised with the belief in Odin, Thor, Freyja, Loki, and all the other deities like many in the archipelago and mainland. But as I'd grown, I was no longer fond of the idea of being a pawn in a higher powers game—just one of many reasons I chose to do things my way.

"I don't know. Seems too good to be a coincidence for me. The Norns have a path for everyone, whether you like it or not. And I'm sure Laeli understands that the gods... they know." Hilda reminded with a knowing look. While she had adopted the beliefs of the Sámi, she had been raised with the Norse pantheon alongside her brothers. It made me wonder if she ever struggled with balancing two different religious and cultural beliefs.

"What makes you so sure of that?"

"It's part of what I do, Eyarr. It's my job to understand the messages from the divine. Us Sámi, we believe in the forces of nature. But since I was also raised with Odin, Thor, and Freyja... I also balance the belief in the gods and their creations. You and I both know humanity was created by the sons of Bor..."

"And then Odin gave them their souls. I know the stories, too."

"And so you must understand... we cannot avoid the fate given to us."

I stared at her closely, and she stared at me back.

"What do you know?" She valiantly fought back a smirk that she knew I saw, but she didn't answer my question.

"May I remind you that Ana was my mentor. I learned a lot from her, more than you might think."
"Wait, Ana?" She nodded.

"Yep. Give her my regards when you get back."

Having enough of Hilda toying with me, I ended the conversation and left her and Áila's company to find Cliffire in the woods.

As I strode past the chief's tent, I was able to catch the sound of her and Maui talking briefly. And even though I'd never heard her native tongue or heard her speak it before, I could only imagine how comforting it was to be able to speak to someone she knew again.

Upon rejoining Cliffire and Riptide, I sat down by Cliffire's side, thinking intently. Everything that had been going on was... overwhelming. It also occurred that I still had so much to learn about her.

She had proven to be more resilient than I expected, and frankly, she was way smarter than me. Her navigation skills alone that brought us here were beyond impressive and way more accurate than some astronomers I'd met. To be fair, she was used to a different night sky, but that allowed her a broader view to learn from.

Gods, I loved her.

I genuinely, fully loved her.

And I wanted to do whatever it took to protect her and keep her motivated to find the answers she was looking for. She'd mentioned that if she was given the opportunity to see her family again, she would take it. That being said, as long as she was happy, I was too.

Several days following Laeli's reunion with Maui, Hilda requested our presence at her residence, the Demi-god included.

It was mainly to remove the stitches I'd done for Laeli's wound. Hilda sat Laeli down, offering her a rag to bite on just in case she felt discomfort as she removed the stitches.

"How did that happen?" Maui inquired. I caught Laeli's frantic gaze and figured that she hadn't told Maui, and I couldn't blame her for not wanting to. I just came up with the first thing that came to mind.

"Eh, a broken tree branch caught her in the face." I casually explained. I didn't... enjoy lying, and I really did not enjoy having to lie to a Demi-god, but given Laeli had implied that she didn't want him to know the real reason, then lying was acceptable.

"So, what's the next step for you two?" Hilda inquired. I choked on my spit a bit before realizing what she implied.

"Oh. Uh, well, the next plan is to fly south to return another object to its people." The young shaman quirked an eyebrow, indicating for me to share more.

"To the Celts. My parents kept this golden bowl that bears symbols of their culture. I don't know if it belongs to a specific clan, but I figure they'll be able to handle that."

"Noble mission," Maui complimented.

Meanwhile, Hilda finally removed the last stitch from Laeli's cheek, "Just be careful; apply this until it's finished healing. Though it will leave a scar."

"Lovely."

"Hey, you and Eyarr are matching," Maui observed, crossing his arms. Laeli glanced at me, fingers grazing over the healing wound. It hadn't occurred to me, but I realized she was right.

"Y'know, it's kinda funny," the Demi-god continued, "Laeli's parents both have tattoos around their right bicep. Not the same design, but the same placement. They swear it wasn't intentional." Laeli stared at her uncle incredulously.

"Okay?" She rolled her eyes. Hilda rerouted the conversation about her older brother and Zephyr's relationship. I didn't have much to add, so I just listened.

"I do know that he does need the occasional reminder that being engaged to Zephyr also means becoming chief." Hilda chuckled.

"Mhm! My father had to go through the same when he started courting my mother." Laeli remarked. Even as I sat there, listening and contemplating, I could consider today a success. But now it was a matter of returning the Celtic bowl.

The Celts always fascinated me as a people. They lived on the islands to the south and a good chunk of the southern mainland. As far as I knew, though, the Celts as a people were vastly diminished by the Anglos and the new religion of Christianity. I hoped that we could at least locate one group.

That evening, I pulled Laeli aside.

"Our final stop in returning the bowl is even further south."

"I guess it's going to be a longer trip?"

"Likely. I'm just hoping there'll still be some remaining Celtic groups. Most of the population has shrunk due to invasions. They may be hostile, so we have to be vigilant."