The Lost Tale

A Sudden Storm

With all the preparations made, the three of us stare into the water-like portal at the end of the cave. Sleipnir looms over us, looking ever larger the longer time he spends with us, and soon we all three sit atop the monstrous horse. Asger stands to one side nodding approvingly as we say our goodbyes. "I'll be here once you are back- do your best little bird."

I give him a curt nod with a forced smile as Sleipnir starts towards the portal and as we pass through it a cooling sensation pulses beneath my skin and I shiver slightly as a dark tunnel opens up to us. As we are carried deeper into the tunnel Sleipnir begins to change more physically- the muscles beneath his skin ripple heavily as runes appear in a blue lightning like hue along his body and neck.

After a few moments we decide to get off of him, we can walk until we need to ride. Ove and Eluf look out of place- they've never experienced this side of the world; and they have a lot of surprises ahead. "Make sure to stay close- I've never been to this place but I have been in the realm... Things aren't exactly normal or solid here."

We can't see the end of the tunnels, so we follow Sleipnir- the echo of his hooves against the stone walls filling our ears. Eluf becomes more curious as we move through the pathway, each bend and crook catching his focus as if he expects something to jump from them. My eyes trace the symbols glowing against Sleipnir- the blue light the only illumination we have.

My attention shifts often in the dimly lit carved tunnel, from the mission- to my friends- to my mother. I try to shake the thoughts of my past away as we move. This is no time to get lost in your own head. I work to focus instead on pushing through the tunnels- to reach the adjoining of worlds.

Soon we hear movement up ahead and the guys boost me onto Sleipnir's back as they tuck behind separate stone pillars against the walls. I take my bow out and ready an arrow before the horse and I move toward the rustling sounds- though I see nothing as we move several yards ahead of our friends.

With a crease between my brows I call out to Eluf and Ove to come out, and they look as confused as I am. The shuffling from ahead continues- and I stay on Sleipnir as the guys on each side of us keep eyes open for whatever we may come across. No matter how fast we move or how far- the noises stay just far enough away that we can't distinguish it's source.

The clatter of Sliepnir's hooves- and the thump of our feet against the ground take over our hearing capabilities, and we continue forward as the tunnel leads us slowly. The darkness begins to subside as we start to see the end of the tunnel- a grand stone archway reaching for the skies. Past the arch, it looks like home- a mountain range extends to one side and beautiful valleys to the other. Sleipnir bolts forward into the long grass, whinnying comfortably as he grazes.

Ove and Eluf follow behind me as we join the war-horse, our eyes wide as we take in every scene. Towards the bottom end of the valley, we see a river running wild before it cascades over a cliff we can't yet see. Cool blue water's roll over light gray stones as the current flows forward.

Small winged creatures flit between flowers, their flighted dance elegant as they chatter in their high pitched voices. They eye us curiously as they chirp in their language; laugher falling off their lips as they whirl in the air- almost looking like butterflies in spring. I smile and give them a small wave as we walk down-river still a few hundred yards away from the grande current; We have to see more of this place.

Glancing over my shoulder I notice that from behind the mountains a momentous tree breaks through the ground; there are levels of land miles above us- rings around the tree hanging in the air. My breath catches in my throat, this must be Yggdrasil.

The great tree spans miles around- I can't even put it into words how large it looms above us. It makes the mountains and plains below look small; and in comparison I feel insignificant. I stop walking for a moment and I take a few deep breaths and reach into my pocket; the trinket and Odin's parchment meet my fingertips and the page unfolds as I pull them out.

"Okay little charm- help me find..." My eyes scan the list- the top item is my only concern- the image drawn beside it is a silver Mjolnir necklace. The thin skribbles don't give me a lot of detail- but I push my intentions to the charm in my hand "Odin's pendant".

The charm pulls lightly north, and as we adjust our direction I notice that we'll need to cross the river. For a moment I focus in on the powerful rushing of the water- crashing against boulders and ridges that the water has worn down over so many years. It would be dangerous to cross on foot- luckily we have Sleipnir. I imagine it'll be easy enough for us to get across on the mighty steed in minutes so there should be nothing to worry about.

"The sun is bound to set in a few hours- and I hope to get decently close to the first relic before we make camp." I talk in a low voice to myself. Wind whips around us as we walk, Ove and Eluf banter with one another over who would win in a fight against this creature or that... I find it harder to relax the farther from the stone arches we get.

Sleipnir seems to feel like me- though his nerves are more of excitement and playfulness instead of inherent worry. What did I expect from a war horse? Eluf and Ove look back to us for a moment- the eight legged horse had been keeping pace with me. I look between the two young men, giving a convincing smile as they return their vision forward. Suddenly everything became unusually dim- the sunlight obstructed.

Clouds roll above us and the sky shifts from it's bright blue to a soft violet- and as I look up I see the sun darkened as it is overtaken by the thick blues and greys in the thick clouds. A low rumble rattles through the sky; " A storm is headed in". Ove calls over his shoulder from a few yards ahead and we all scan the area for a good place to shelter.

This land seems to be more erratic than our own- its shifts and changes are unexpected and immediate. There are boulders and dotted spots of trees along the edge of the river up ahead- and we decide to speed up the pace towards a circle of large rocks nestled below a few tall trees. Sleipnir beats all of us there- his hooves thundering against the ground as a visible excitement taking over him as the clouds roll in ever thicker- and the world around us darkens.

Eluf and Ove make it to the rocks, ducking between them into the snug clearing as I catch up. Sleipnir turns upwards towards the sky as I reach him- and I shudder as a loud booming rumbles the earth and air. Red flashes of lightning burst in the air; the light painting against my surroundings like blood. Ove pokes his head around one of the large stones, "Get in here- this is no storm we've weathered before."

I nod and follow him- though I turn around to see Sleipnir still intensely focused on the clouds above. "Sleipnir, come on; we'll wait it out." My voice is soft- though the pitch raises slightly as another long streak of red bolts through the sky. The horse glances from me to the sky- and before I can register what's happening- Odin's war horse takes to the air.

Tempted to bolt after him- I have to remind myself that I couldn't catch him if I tried. Flashes of red line the sky- the heat of their light energizing the air. Just like that Sleipnir was gone once again, vanished like a shadow into the storm.

Ove stands behind me in silence. My jaw is clenched tight as I turn around- the heat in my face surging my face pink as I push past him into the inner clearing. Without the warhorse- or our equipment he'd been carrying we now only have our weapons and chainmail. Top of the fucking list.