The Verdant Prince

Chapter 18: Escape from the Fires

I hissed as I got too close to an open fire. I didn't quite know where I was going but I knew it was somewhere to the right of me. I let out a sharp whistle- the same whistle I used to call for Bjorn. All was quiet besides distant yelling and the fires crackling around me. The heat grew more and more intense. Suddenly, a horse whinnied loudly, and then several more, all stomping and snorting in unison. I guided myself towards their distressed noises until I came in contact with a large rope, tied tightly to the stone post. I drew my dagger and began sawing unevenly at the bound rope. It cut away quickly, and I coughed as I felt my way to the nearest horse. The speckled grey horse belonged to Heskell. I felt my way around again, only opening my eyes when I most needed too. The smoke was growing too thick, too quick.

"Bjorn," I cried out. A horse in the back corner whinnied and I made my back until I touched the soft gleaming coat of Bjorn. I let out a sigh and pat his large muscular shoulder. I hopped on him and pushed forward through the crowd of horses. I whistled a common command to follow and the horses bundled together. I kicked Bjorn's sides and he barreled out of the unstable horse hut, an army of horses trailing behind us.

The smoke and fire had begun to fade as Bjorn lead us out of the fires that I had caused. I then took the leads and flicked them together, directing Bjorn and the hoard of horses to the Hero's Hall. Several warriors drew their swords as we entered but quickly relaxed, greeting their horses as they piled in. Olvadi, Loki's dark beast, trotted over to him, nuzzling her face into his arm. He simply pat her neck and slid on easily. The rest of the elite warriors jumped onto their steeds as well, and below us were two foot soldiers.

They looked broken with their shoulders slumped, their faces grim, and their arms slack besides them. The one man had a large cut along his cheek, it was crusted and infected already.

"Come on, soldiers! Get on!" Orgnar barked and the two scrambled for their horses. This left another five horses with no riders. My stomach turned disgustingly.

"This way!" Loki shouted over the increasing angry howls coming from the hallway. A wide passageway opened up in the Hall and we began piling through, one by one we reached the cool fresh air. The mountainside groaned and shuddered as Loki came out last. The door had closed noisily behind him and he brushed off his dark robes. He regained his proper royal like stance, straightening himself up and looking around cockily.

"We need to clear the area, we will assess when we find a safe spot," Orgnar shouted and as a group, we galloped away. We weaved in and out within the misty forest, the only sound was of the beast's hooves against the rocks and brush below. It was eerie, as everything else was in this Godforsaken place.

My mind was stuck on the thought I wished to think nothing of.

The children of the Jotuns.

I shuddered, I wanted to think of anything but them at the moment. What the monster inside of me wanted to do. What I wanted to do. I shuddered and dismissed the thought, though it still hung thick in the back of my racing thoughts.

As we moved along, the harsh bobbing of Bjorn begun to irritate my wounds. Asmund keeps glancing back to me, worry in his eyes as always. I could feel another set of eyes on me as well, cold, sharp. Loki Odinson. I straightened my posture though it pained me to do so. I did not need their help any longer nor do I want their help or pity any longer. I refused to disappoint again.

----

"Here," Orgnar said tiredly. Our intense silence eased as we all sighed in relief. We gathered around, creating a makeshift circle, leaving our horse's reins loose as we slid off of their backs. I exhaled as I pressed a particularly sore spot to the right of my torso. I breathed deeply again and brushed it off.