The Twelve Stars

Chapter 22

The realm instantly became darker. The thought of Quentin's body having to dwell in eternal slumber within the dark grounds of Svartalfheim unsettled me. I made a promise then and there that after finding Draupnir, I would return for Quentin's body to take it back to New Midgard.

We took careful steps down the steep cliffside that dropped down into the misty valley below. The atmosphere took a drastic change upon our descent. The harsh climate that had painted the sky in a crimson red disappeared through the mist that hung around us, leaving only the desert ground visible at our feet and the silhouette of trees through its thick haze beyond. From the cliff, the mountain hadn't looked so far away. Now on ground level, the distance appeared futile.

All I could hope for at that moment was for us to make it safely across the treacherous landscape. With me in the lead, we found our footing, and trudged on. Robyn kept close behind me with Thad in league. Finn kept watch on his every step, being at the rear. It was difficult to talk through the howling wind that pulled at our clothes from every side.

"We need to take cover in the trees!" I shouted.

"We need to rest!" Robyn stated.

"Too dangerous!" Thad answered.

"SHUT UP, THAD!" we all shouted in unison.

It wasn't so much a storm that we were walking through. Regardless, the thick fog sure did make it difficult to see the path ahead. The sandy terrain slowed our pace drastically until a sudden shriek stood our hairs on end. We waited it out, frozen in place.

"Dark Elf sentries!" Thad informed. "Doing rounds. Scouting for intruders. If they don't find us, the Draugr surely will. You still want to risk our lives for one reckless decision?"

"I'd rather have the strength to fight than run breathless the rest of the way to the mountain if we are captured!" I said. A second shriek sent my legs running and the distance to the forest no longer appeared unreachable when our lives were in danger. The group followed in haste. It was closer than I anticipated when the forest emerged from the thick fog, giving us a boost of speed. It was also when the group split up, getting lost in the labyrinth of trees. Suddenly, I could no longer see Finn or Robyn. I just hoped Robyn still had Thad in her sight.

Branches wacked my face. Twigs scraped across my skin. Leaves covered the sky. Eventually, the trees gave way and I fell into open space: a clearing. The wind died down, being protected by the surrounding trees. Brought to a standstill, other hurried footsteps scuffled around me amongst the shrubbery, invisible until a second person burst forth.

"Finn!" I said, relieved to see him. He came towards me. "Where's Robyn?" I asked.

The sudden exploit left him red in the face. "We were separated," he explained. "I tried following them but..."

Then Robyn and Thad appeared, running towards us, confused and shaken. With consideration to my own startled appearance, I wasn't one to judge.

"Good. You're both here," Robyn said.

The unnerving silence didn't last. Whatever had caused that deranged shriek was still on our tail. To prove me right, it sounded for a third time, having tracked us down, signalling its brethren to close us in. The four of us stood back to back, keeping close to each other. Skofnung still in my hand, I brandished it out at our incoming enemy. Robyn removed her own sword from its scabbard while Finn readied his dagger.

The trees rustled around us provokingly. It's thick tangles of vines and dense shrubbery shielding them from our sight. An arrow shot through the air and would have hit me had Thad not pushed me down. Having missed, the undergrowth sprang with life. Elves in battle armour appeared on ground and in the treetops, circling us on all sides with their weapons raised.