The Lost Tale

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Sleep doesn't keep me for long, my sore muscles creak as my eyes open groggily into the dim light. A fire burns, Asger and Eluf work together to skin and cook three rabbits as I sit up. Ove still sleeps, though he groans as I move from between him and Sleipnir- the beastly horse looking like just a colt as his large eyelids flutter with sleep.

"Bout time you woke. Come help." Asger calls over, a short blade knife in one palm as he rips through the skin of one of the rabbits. I nod and grab one to myself, and using my dagger I tear the skin of it, the three of us working in unison to clean the small animals.

Eluf looks at me every once in a while, his icey eyes studying me with caution. "What happens if we fail?" his voice fell soft against my ears as blood splatters to the rock floor. I purse my lips with thought, though in reality I can only imagine one other outcome.

"If we fail- I know Odin will have me dead..." I let out an exasperated sigh before continuing, "I'm not really sure what the outcome for the both of you would be." My gaze falls on Ove, he sleeps soundly- his arms folded over his slow rising chest. "Be assured, I plan to get the job done."

The redhead nods slowly, but no words escape his tightly shut lips. Asger's eyes dart between the three of us; Ove, Eluf and I as he tosses his cleaned rabbit carcass on top of a flat rock. The skin falls to the floor as I toss my rabbit into the pile- and I move to stocking the fire with wood as Asger shoves three sticks through the rabbits.

Cooking is finished by the time Ove wakes- the midafternoon air pours in through the sky light in the back of the cave as he stumbles around us. Sleipnir grunts at him as he passes, and I pause from running my hands along his neck to smile at Ove with warmth. Asger mumbles that we have to work on a doorway into the nine worlds- the tunnels of travel along the tree of life needs an opening for us.

Ove takes to caring for Sleipnir after we eat- the guys heading out with the horse as I stay with Asger. We work with herbs, the fire from earlier smoldering into a pillar of smoke as Asger chants to himself. He instructs me to take the herbal paste we've ground together and spread a straight line across the back of the cave floor. My fingers trace the barrier, and as I finish a wild wind rushes through the cave- sending goosebumps along my skin.

Asger stands beside me and I repeat after him the chant he calls out to the spirits. I feel the pull of energy from the other side of the line I've drawn and I want to move towards it- but his hand catches my wrist before I can. "If you step through now then you will die. It isn't stable yet." I nod and step back again- we continue the ancient chants.

Several moments pass before a wall- almost looking like still water shoots from the herbs on the ground and up to the roof of the cave; the wave of energy nearly sending me backwards. The smoldering smoke fans back into flames from the pressure. I hear the shuffling of feet behind us as Ove and Eluf come in- Sleipnir close behind them as they look at us astonished. Asger nods to me, the job is done.

As I step back I turn on my heels, the weakness in my legs a sign of the magic Asger and I just channelled as I go sit on top of the furs again. Asger sighs as his skeleton form creaks across the floor. He moves with intent but takes a seat on his furs across the fire from me. Ove and Eluf join us, and glance at each other before glancing to the portal.

"That's how we access the life tree." I say, my voice falling dully in the air as I pull my knees to my chest and stare into the flames. "So Asger- any words of advice?" My gaze turns expectantly to the old man, his boney figure showing as a silhouette to me through the flames. The portal is open, now it was time for action.

"Travel smart, and don't die." He sounds like a croaking toad as he shrugs. "I don't have any knowledge that will prepare you for the journey you are about to take." At least he is honest. We sit around the fire- none of us sure what the real plan is- Eluf's eyes bore into me.

With a deep breath I nod, and push myself up onto my feet again. "Well I say we should probably enjoy what time we have left today- because tomorrow starts an entire new adventure." Everyone nods as I stretch my arms in the air- the heaviness from the last few days pulling against my muscles as they contract. "Asger I'm assuming you'll be here to watch the cave while we travel between the worlds- we can make our way back here with Odin's items until we have everything to deliver to Asgard."

With my plan communicated I decide to head out of the cave- my feet carry me to the stone arch entrance and I lean against it as the sun warms the rocks around me. My hair falls against my back and I pull it into a thick braid as the light pours onto my face. The hot air fills my lungs and I look all around me- the trees' green leaves flutter with the breeze above.

Eluf steps out from the shadow of the cave as I let out another deep sigh. "You know I don't blame you- right?" his voice is lower than normal- though I don't feel his words ring true to how he feels. My eyes dance across his face- where once I saw my friend I see a scared man.

"I know I'm not to blame- but that doesn't mean that you have no right to blame me. You wouldn't be in this at all if you'd never met me." Song birds chirp overhead as I run a frustrated hand over the braid I've just formed. "If you will regret risking yourself for this- then it is your call."

The redhead shakes his head, "No, Ove is right- you are our friend and you need help. I can't let you do that alone." His eyes spark a brighter blue than his normal ice- and he continues, "So where do we even start?"

I pull the trinket from my pocket curiously along with the folded parchment that Odin had given me. "I guess we just start at the top of the list; Odin's pendant."