Wolf Within

CHAPTER FOUR

The new day dawned warm and bright. As soon as the sun peeked over the horizon, Raoul was out of bed. He had bathed, dressed and eaten by the time the sun was fully over the horizon and still Dabria slumbered. Raoul sat beside her and brushed her hair away from her face. She looked pale and drawn.

“Dabria?” He said softly.

She frowned in her sleep.

Raoul pressed his wrist to her forehead and felt his pulse jump. Dabria was ice cold. Raoul stood and gathered several large furs from around the tent and piled them onto Dabria. Feeling lost and inadequate, he ventured out of the tent again.

Seeing a woman stoking one of the fires, Raoul trotted up to her. “Mistress?” He asked. “Is there a healer among us? Perhaps even a midwife or a hedgewitch. Anyone like that.”

The woman nodded, “Aye.” She pointed to a small tent. “Her name is Ana. She can help you.”

Raoul went to the little tent and cleared his throat, “Ana? Have you woken?”

A young woman with long black hair peeked through the tent flap, “Aye… oh! Master Raoul!” She scrambled out of the tent, “You have need of me?”

Raoul nodded and glanced around, “It's Dabria.” He wrung his hands self-consciously. “Come with me please?”

Ana grabbed a small sack from her tent and followed Raoul to his pavilion. As soon as she saw Dabria, her brow furrowed. She pressed a hand to Dabria’s cheek and gasped.

“She's like ice!” Ana said. She leaned in to listen to Dabria’s breathing and shook her head. “Her breathing is fine. Help me prop her up.”

Together they arranged Dabria so she was nearly upright against a mound of cushions and furs. Ana took a small jar out of her bag and opened it, holding it under Dabria’s nose.

After almost a minute, Dabria coughed and blinked, squinting against the light. She looked at Ana and Raoul’s concerned faces and her forehead wrinkled.

“What is it?” She asked. “What's wrong?”

“You were pale and cold, your majesty,” Ana said. “Raoul was worried about you and called on me. It seems you were just sleeping particularly deep.” The girl smiled, “I'm glad it was just that.” Looking between Dabria and Raoul, she gathered her things, “Well, I think I'll head to get a bite to eat. I'm famished.” She winked at Raoul and left.

Raoul waited a moment and asked, “Were you just asleep?”

Dabria winced as she swung her legs off the bed, “Yes.”

Raoul was shocked to realize that she was lying to him. He knew she was lying just by looking at her. He knelt to look her in the eye, “Dabria, that dream I had…”

Dabria blanched and searched his face, “What dream?”

“I saw you… take Asger to the pit. And then talking to Hel,” he whispered, almost pained to voice the words. “Tell me what happened.”

Dabria shook her head, “You wouldn't believe me if I told you.”

“I know you weren't just having a normal sleep. Something happened. Tell me.”

Dabria snorted, “You already know.”

Raoul squeezed his eyes shut, trying to keep the disbelief out of his voice, “I came back hours ago. Where were you?”

Dabria looked him square in the eye, “Walking among the dead.”

“Why?”

“I…” Dabria faltered. “I needed a spell.”

“A spell?” Raoul asked. “For what?”

Dabria stood, “This is folly. I shan't be mocked.” With that, she flung open the tent and walked away.

Raoul cursed and slammed his fist against the bed. He sighed. Confusion didn't even begin to cover the range of his emotions. When Dabria told him what she was, what she saw, what she did - he believed her. Objectively he would've said it was all impossible, but somehow he didn't doubt that something had happened.

Dabria was nowhere to be seen when he left the tent, but he had a hall full of expectant warriors awaiting him in the hall. Steeling himself, he walked inside.

Raoul had never been one to make a spectacle of himself. He hated being the center of attention. He didn't like it when everyone looked at him. Yet here he was, the newly appointed leader of a company of powerful men, about to make some kind of speech. The words he'd rehearsed while he'd bathed seemed silly, but he had to say something.

Turning to face the room, he spoke, “Men of honor,” he said. “Men of valor.” He gots some grunts of approval. “Men of power and prowess.” A few fists thumped the tables. “We have a duty. An.. obligation.” He cleared his throat, “I heard Asger speak and I know some of you were eager to follow him into all the wealth he promised, but we are not pirates. We are not bandits. We are Vikings.” A few voices spoke in agreement and Raoul felt himself steady, and spoke with more confidence, “Historically we and our brethren have been nomads and scavengers. Taking lands and wealth and people because we had none of our own. We worship the gods, but we have no righteousness. Where is our dignity? We go to war, but to what end? We often go in with insufficient numbers and inferior war power, but we battle anyway to prove that no Viking will ever back down from a fight. This is folly. We will squander our wealth and lose our lands and people if we continue on this way. What I propose is simple - we fight only to establish ourselves. Let us be a nation, or if we cannot, let us avail ourselves to the great kings of the world to further their kingdoms and thus provide our people with stability, dignity and honor. Let us not raise our young on the sidelines of battle. Let us not rape and pillage and die for nothing. A true warrior fights for an idea. A true warrior fights only because he must. Let us be true warriors.”

Though some of the men seemed torn, the cry of agreement was still loud enough to deafen him. Raoul walked among the men and made himself known to them. He would not be aloof and condescending like his predecessor. If he was ever going to be free, these men had to fight and die and win with him.

Raoul approached the cave at dusk, determined to make things right with Dabria. He wasn't sure if they owed apologies to each other, but he couldn't sleep knowing that she felt he didn't respect her.

The tunnel flickered with firelight, and Raoul realized he could hear raised voices. He walked as quietly as he could, his heart constricted in his chest.

“...not live out an eternity this way!” Dabria was shouting.

“Then you will suffer the consequences!” came the bellowed reply. Raoul felt a tingle of recognition at the voice.

Peering around the edge of the rock, Raoul saw Dabria with fists clenched, facing a hooded man who stood head and shoulders above her.

“Why did you even come here?” Dabria’s voice was choked with emotion.

“You have flouted the rules for the last time! Your sister came to me for the first time in centuries last night to scold me. To SCOLD me! Me! And all over a couple of mortals! It's blasphemy! Were she not so vital in her post, I’d have had her thrown from Asgard!” With every word, the man leaned further towards a cringing Dabria.

Seeming to regain her ferocity, Dabria snarled, “You are a foul abomination of a god, demanding our obedience whilst you wander and satisfy yourself. I have grovelled at your feet and served your body and done your bidding, and for what? When have I ever even asked you for anything? I ask this one tiny favor and you would deny me?”

“A tiny favor?! What happens when this becomes the dropping of ranks of all your peers? You will be the very destruction of Asgard!” Suddenly the hooded figure looked at Raoul, who quickly ducked into the shadows. “I am not done with you Dabria.”

Thunder shook the cave, and Raoul thought it might collapse. When he looked back, Dabria was alone, sobbing wretchedly into her lap as she sat on the hard ground.

Raoul approached her quietly. He sat down beside her and waited. Dabria sounded as if she was trying to heave her lungs from her chest.

After long minutes, Dabria stilled and brought her skirt to her face to dry it. She took a deep, shuddering breath and stood, walking to her work table to fill a pipe. Raoul went and sat on the bed.

“Who was that?” He asked.

“Didn't you recognize him?” Dabria asked hoarsely.

Raoul raised an eyebrow, “Should I have?”

“You met him.”

Raoul felt realization hit him, but he shook his head in disbelief, “Not possible.”

Dabria snorted, “If only.”

Raoul said reasonably, “Dabria, Odin is a child’s tale. A fable. A legend. He’s not real.”

Dabria looked at him with anguish in her eyes, “I envy your ability to disbelieve. I have no such luxury.” She lit the pipe and inhaled deeply, closing her eyes as a cloud of smoke snaked from her lips. “I have no choice but to believe… to obey.”

Raoul rubbed his face, “Let us behave, for a moment, as if I believe what you're telling me implicitly. What is it exactly that Odin is trying to deny you?”

“It doesn't matter now.”

“The hell it doesn't,” Raoul said, walking over to her. He grabbed her hips and pulled her to him. “Whatever it is, it matters. You matter. Your desires matter.”

Dabria’s eyes were glistening as she said, “I can't tell you. I just.. I can't. Especially now.”

Raoul thought about what he’d overheard, “That spell you were looking for, what was it?”

Dabria wouldn't meet his eyes, “Mortality.”

Raoul felt his heart stop for a moment, “As in.. humanity?”

“As human as I could ever be, but yes. I would age and eventually die.” She drew deeply on the pipe again.

Raoul said softly, “I hate to assume, but is this… for me?”

Dabria’s chin trembled, “I… I have been alive for so long. I have served so many. Never have I ever… felt this way. I couldn't bear the thought of watching you die in battle and not being able to join you. Odin understands, better than anyone, but he's in one of his moods right now. I will ask again another time.”

Raoul kissed her neck and her jaw and her nose and her lips. He buried his fingers in her hair and said without words how her revelation made him feel. He kissed her with such passion that he felt as though he might begin to cry as well, especially as Dabria began to kiss him back.

“I love you,” Raoul said finally. “But I will take you however I can get you. Mortal or not. You're perfect.”

Dabria laughed and smiled and kissed him again. Raoul eased her against the wall.

“This body is perfect,” he said, softly gripping her breasts. He kissed her forehead, “This mind is perfect.” He lifted her skirt and wrapped one of her legs around his waist, “And making love to you is perfect.”

Some hours later, Raoul said, “If you feel that this spell will offer you the life you want, you should do it.”

Dabria propped herself up and looked at him, “Raoul, I told you, I can't.”

“Forget Odin, damn him. You are an individual with free will. You are no one's slave. You are capable and allowed to make your own choices. Do what suits you.”

Dabria was speechless for a moment, “I can't just turn my back on it all. What if Odin kills me and it's all for nothing?”

Raoul stroked her cheek, “Then you will have died in the pursuit of freedom, happiness, joy and love. All things that Odin has denied you.”

Dabria nodded, “It's true. I have longed for a connection. Something real. Given all I've experienced ive oft considered that I might be better off without it. I've seen and felt such betrayal. My fear is that I will sacrifice everything for that bond and I will be destroyed by it.”

Raoul sat up and looked her in the eye, “I am not a perfect man, by any means. I may not be as devout as you or have the faith you possess, perhaps ever. Yet I would never present you with my love only to rip it away.”

Dabria brushed her hand through his hair, “I want to believe you.” She shook her head, “You were never supposed to know. I didn't want you to know what I was giving up.”

“You're not giving up as much as you think. You still have yourself, who you are, what you've seen and done and felt. You can keep your faith, or pursue new faith, if you want to. I'm not going to change you, and I wouldn't want to. I was captivated by the woman you are, not anyone I think I could turn you into.”

Dabria laid back and was quiet for long moments, “If Odin won't grant me my gift, I will pursue the spell.”

CHAPTER FIVE

Raoul had chosen a few lieutenants from among the men in his company. They were a diverse bunch, three of whom had come from other stations in life and become Vikings through merit. Two were born into the life and had been raised as soldiers. The last was a berserker as Asger had been, but a finer man there was none. His name was, ironically, Bjorn.

Raoul had gathered these men to peruse the maps of the world that were available to them, many of which had wide swaths of uncharted and perhaps undiscovered territory.

Bjorn cleared his throat as he set down his map, “M’lord? What is we looking for, exactly? I mean, as ye said we ain't looking to wage war if we don't have to. I just wonder how ‘tis we’re gonna be able to provide for our people. We’re not well off. We've got nothing to trade. Tis an enormous task to set down roots and start fresh. We know nothing about these blank spaces on the map. What if we walk into a trap?”

Raoul nodded, “That's a fair question. I can't promise we won't find trouble. The point is this company is going to stop seeking it out. I'm not interested in politics.”

Liam, a tall, bearded man with a braid to his waist, pointed to a spot northeast of Greece, “This here’s uncharted. Greece is embroiled in their usual nonsense but we can probably avoid it.”

Raoul looked at the spot, “It’s further south. Warmer. We know there's good farming south of there so the chances are good the land is fertile. It's a very long way, but it's as good as any place. What do the rest of you think?”

The men talked for a long while about the arduous journey ahead if they set out for this place, and discussed the potential benefits. In the end it was decided that they all agreed to the journey, but that they wanted to put the idea in front of everyone and give them a choice to make the journey with them or not.

Raoul joined Dabria in their tent and told her what was about to happen.

Dabria’s eyes lit up, “We’re leaving this place?”

“Aye,” Raoul nodded.

“Thank the gods,” Dabria breathed. She kissed Raoul, “Thank you. When do we leave?”

Raoul rubbed his chin, “Soon. We’re going to give everyone a week or so to decide if they're coming with us. That gives us time to gather supplies for the journey and break down camp.” He sighed, “We need horses. We can make carts, but I have no idea what we have to trade for horses. Or where to find someone with enough.”

“I can do that for you,” Dabria said.

“You can?” Raoul raised his brows.

“I have a knack with animals. If we can't trade for them… I don't mind stealing a few. I know it's better to trade, but unless I can find wild horses I may have to take them.”

Raoul nodded, “I’ll leave you to it.”

“There is something i’d like to do before we leave here. Will your gathering be long?”

“I'm not sure, but i’ll do my best to be done before sunset.”

Dabria nodded, “That’s fine.”

Raoul kissed her and walked to the hall with the rest of the people from their camp. Dabria watched him go, eyes alight with anticipation.

The full moon was rising above the trees when Raoul returned. Dabria was seated in the middle of the floor, apparently meditating. The smell of herbs burning was intense, but not entirely unpleasant. Raoul touched her shoulder and Dabria opened her eyes.

“I'm ready,” Raoul said, “what are we doing?”

Dabria stood and brushed off her skirts, “Come with me.”

Raoul followed Dabria into the woods beyond the brook that ran to the west of the camp. The moonlight barely reached through the trees, but Dabria's stride was confident and unhindered. For nearly a mile, they walked in silence until they approached a grove of poplar trees near a small clearing.

Dabria turned, “This is the moon closest to the spring solstice. It's the perfect time to find your wolf.” Dabria took Raoul’s hands, “Call to it.”

“What?” He said softly.

“With your mind,” she said gently. “Don't doubt it. Just feel the beast within you and call to your wolf. Look into my eyes.”

The moonlight illuminated Dabria’s deep brown eyes and the black ring that surrounded her iris. In the night, the color was indiscernible, but he could still feel their allure. He stared into them and found himself wandering through strange thoughts. Pondering the cosmos, the ancient gods and their legends, the mysteries of the world. Raoul felt himself stirring as that strange primal rush uncurled within him. He felt attuned to the nature around him. There was no rage this time, just an intense acuity to his senses. He latched onto the feeling and imagined letting his head fall back to howl. He could hear the sound in his head so perfectly that he almost reached up to cover his ears. The howl seemed to take over the fire of his mind, growing in volume. Dabria's eyes seemed to take on a warm glow as he anchored himself to them, a foothold in reality.

To Raoul's intense shock, a large gray wolf lumbered to the edge of the clearing across from them, head lowered as it smelled the air. He led a pack of at least eight other wolves that Raoul could see through the trees. Dabria let go of Raoul’s hands.

“You must take his strength,” Dabria said. “With each blow, thank him. Do not let his death be in vain.”

“You want me to fight a wolf, not just kill it?” Raoul asked dreamily.

“Yes,” she whispered.

Raoul walked into the open, feeling entranced. The wolf snarled but it didn't run.

“Come to me, brother,” Raoul said softly.

The wolf inched forward with hackles raised, growling low in its throat, but Raoul felt no fear. He reached for the knife he always had tucked at the small of his back and palmed the hilt.

“Come on,” Raoul hissed.

The wolf lunged and Raoul felt as if time slowed. Effortlessly, he slid to his knees and tucked his shoulder for impact, driving it into the wolf’s belly and sending it tumbling.

“Thank you,” Raoul whispered.

The wolf rounded on him and sunk its fangs into Raoul’s sword arm. Raoul clenched his teeth and switched the blade to the opposite hand.

Two more wolves dove into the clearing, their jaws open as they leapt towards Raoul. He jumped to one side, blade slicing the air. A shrill yelp echoed through the trees, but all three wolves turned and kept advancing. Raoul snarled at them and the wolves bared their teeth with answering growls.

Raoul raised his arms over his head and ran towards the trio, smashing the first wolf he came to with the hilt of the blade. It fell and lay still, but Raoul could see its ribs expanding as it breathed.

The first wolf raised his ears and tail as he snarled, demanding Raoul’s submission while his other companion retreated to the trees. Raoul crouched and prepared to run, locking eyes with the beast in front of him.

The beast began to circle him and Raoul matched his movements. When his back was almost to where the pack waited in the trees, Raoul tucked and rolled forward, past the wolf and sprang to his feet, expecting the whole pack to meet him. His blood thundered in his ears. Instead the alpha attacked alone and made the mistake of baring his throat as he lunged.

“Thank you brother,” Raoul said and drove the blade up through the soft flesh under the wolf’s jaw into its brain.

The wolf went limp and Raoul shook it off of him. He wiped his blade in the grass and looked around for Dabria. She was still watching, leaning against a poplar tree, her arms wrapped around herself; for warmth of comfort, Raoul didn't know.

“Carry him with you,” Dabria said.

Raoul hefted the heavy wolf over his shoulders and winced as his wounds pulled. He stood and followed Dabria back through the trees. In the silence he pondered what had just happened and the correlation between him trying to call a wolf with his mind and one appearing immediately after.

“Did you know the wolves would be there?” Raoul asked.

Dabria shook her head, “No. If they have a den nearby I've never been able to find it. I would have liked to take a wolf pup to raise.” She walked a few paces, “I raised a bear cub once.” She stopped talking as if the story pained her.

“What happened?” Raoul asked.

“I had the bear for nearly twenty years. His name was Heimdallr, after a dear friend. He was a magnificent creature and as loyal as anything. Big enough to ride and so I often did. We cut an intimidating picture…” She seemed to wipe her face, “Then a young lad came along and came to where I was at the time. I was more aloof then and lived in a cavern far above any camp. I could fly out from that place to any of the Vikings’ armies and return alone to rest. Heimdallr was my only companion.” She sighed, “The lad was made a berserker by Odin, and to complete the rite, he had to slay a bear. Of all the bears in the world, he chose to kill my Heimdallr and wore him with profane joy into battle.”

“Who was this lad?” Raoul asked, feeling he knew the answer.

“Asger of course.”

“So he was always a bastard,” Raoul spat.

“Verily,” Dabria nodded. “I was so overwrought at the death of my friend that I didn't see Asger come up behind me until it was two late. He had a spelled blade and he threatened to end me if I didn't come down to his camp. We carried Heimdallr down together and the people made him their king for killing my bear and forcing a Valkyrie into service.”

Raoul shook his head, “What a terrible recommendation to be a king. Could they not see how upset you were?”

Dabria shrugged, “Their belief in what I am robs me of any humanity and therefore excuses them for inhuman acts against me. To them it was of no concern that I was bereft or that I might not be loyal. All they saw was a lad who’d killed a powerful animal and enslaved its godly caretaker.”

Raoul squinted as they stepped out of the trees into the moonlight, “I would find you another bear cub if you like. Or a wolf pup. Anything you want.”

Dabria smiled over her shoulder, “I would like that.” She led him into the cave. “Set the wolf here,” she said, indicating her longest work table.

Raoul noticed the table had long grooves running down the middle and sides, with holes at each corner. He touched the grooves.

“Is this for blood?” he asked.

Dabria nodded and patted the table adjacent to the one the wolf was on, “Take your clothes off and lay here.”

Raoul did as he was told, taking care not to slide against the wood of the table as he climbed onto it and lay down.

Dabria removed her own clothing and donned a black sheath made of crow feathers and bits of silver and gold. She gathered a basket of herbs and walked to the hearth. Dabria took a deep breath and began to speak in a guttural language that Raoul didn't recognize. It wasn't Norse or Latin or anything he’d ever heard. The harsh syllables raised the hair on his arms.

The fire roared and began to turn purple as Dabria spoke. She threw handfuls of herbs into the fire at punctuated intervals in her incantation. The smell was overpowering and Dabria seemed to grow in power and strength. Her head snapped back as she chanted, dropping the basket to the floor and raising her arms over her head.

Purple light began streaming from the fire into Dabria’s open mouth and eyes. She moaned and Raoul felt his body stir at the sound. When the last of the weird purple glow had disappeared into Dabria, she fell to her knees, beginning to speak again in the odd, disturbing tongue.

When Dabria turned to walk toward Raoul, he felt distinctly afraid for a moment. No reasonable explanation could explain away the blazing purple light in Dabria’s eyes, nor the aura of power that advanced with her. She lifted a silver blade and shoved it into the wolf’s belly, slicing it open with barely any effort. Blood pooled on the table and ran through the channels to be funneled into clay bowls on the floor beneath the table.

With precise and practiced cuts, Dabria skinned the wolf. After severing its spine, she cracked the bottom of its skull open and scooped out its brain and eyes with her fingers. Seemingly unaffected by the gore, she put the organs into an urn and continued her now hushed spell recitation. She lifted the wolf skin and stretched it over pegs in the wall near the fire. The smoke seemed to be driven toward it even when Dabria turned back to the carcass.

Lying naked on a table next to the dismemberment of a beast was at first a distinctly uncomfortable experience for Raoul, but with his head turned to watch Dabria work, he felt a certain awe and fascination. She harvested each of the major organs and added them to the urn.

Dabria stripped the intestines from the carcass and carried them to the fire, tossing them in. The fire snapped and hissed as it consumed the offering.

At last all that remained was muscle and bone, and to Raoul’s revulsion, she began chopping it into sections and putting the pieces into her large pot. Raoul realized with some nausea that before the night was over, he was going to eat the wolf he’d killed. It felt almost like cannibalism. He tried to ignore the thought.

Taking one of the blood-filled bowls from beneath the table, Dabria brought it over to Raoul. He shivered as she dipped her finger into the dark liquid and used it to paint symbols on his skin, returning to the bowl again and again. When his entire body began to feel stiff with dried blood, Dabria wet her fingers and brought them to Raoul’s mouth. He opened his lips and Dabria smoothed the rich blood over his tongue.

Unsure if it was the dense, coppery flavor of the blood or the sensual caress of her fingers in his mouth, Raoul moaned as his body hardened. Dabria smiled and with a last return to the bowl, Dabria covered his throbbing member in the last of the blood. Raoul passed out.

There were no dreams in this unconsciousness. Instead, Raoul heard voices just soft enough that he couldn't make out the words, and a constant spinning sensation as though he was caught in a whirlpool. Raoul fought for control but he was powerless. After what seemed like years of struggle, he surrendered and his eyes fluttered open to the waking world.

Raoul was laying on the bed. He could still feel the symbols on his skin, but when he looked down at himself, he was clean and dry. Dabria was quietly tending the wolf’s hide, rubbing the skin with mashed organs from the urn. Raoul couldn't decide how he felt. His tongue felt heavy with unspoken words, but his mind was blank. He watched Dabria work in silence and drifted back to sleep.

When dawn broke at last, Raoul was relieved to see that all the spellwork was over. The evidence of the ritual had been cleaned up and Dabria was sleeping peacefully next to him.

The wolf’s hide still hung by the fire, now fitted with rubies in its eye sockets. Raoul sat up and stared at it. He felt growing pride in his success. He had taken on and slain a beast on his own. Whatever guilt he had was outweighed by the idea that he was now a full wolf himself, with all the benefits of being a man as well.

Raoul considered the upcoming journey to the east. His ability to protect his people would be extremely useful, especially since there were at least a dozen of Odin’s chosen who had decided not to make the journey. Nearly all of the women were in favor of leaving and Raoul had taken their vote as their own, with or without the consent of their spouses. Odin’s dozen or so chosen, along with their kin and acolytes made up about a fourth of Raoul’s company. In the abstract it seemed like a dire loss, but practically speaking it would be easier to travel with fewer people. Raoul just wished more of the loyal were soldiers. It would be difficult to defend such a large group with only a third of them being warriors. He hoped they didn't run into trouble on the road.

Rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, Raoul stood and began to dress. The sound of a throat being cleared made him turn as he was pulling a shirt over his head. A young man was standing just inside the tent flap.

“What is it, lad?” Raoul asked.

“My father asked me to tell you that our group is moving out today. Myself I'm hoping we join up with Ragnarr Loðbrók, but I wish we were just going with you in any case,” the boy blushed. “Sorry.”

Raoul smiled, “You have a choice, you know.”

The lad shook his head, “‘Tisn’t about my father. My mother is with child again and already has children underfoot. She'd go mad without my help.”

“That's honorable, lad.”

The boy nodded and ducked out of the tent.

Dabria sat up, “Guess I’d better go find those horses.”

Raoul nodded, “Aye. Seems everyone’s made their choice. As soon as everyone is packed, we’ll leave.”

Dabria slid out of bed and Raoul couldn't help but pull her close, running his fingers over her bare skin as he kissed her deeply.

“I love you,” he told her.

“I love you as well,” she smiled.

While Raoul was occupied helping their comrades stow their belongings for the journey, Dabria set out on horseback through the woods. In her wanderings over the long months since Asger had brought them to this place, she'd found a herd of horses. They appeared to be broken, though she’d never seen anyone tending them.

Her horse shied as they approached the valley where the horses were grazing. Dabria patted his neck.

“It's alright,” Dabria said soothingly.

She slid from the saddle with an armful of leather lead reins. She hefted the lot over her shoulder and walked out into the field. The horses looked up at her, ears flicking back and forth, nostrils wide as they smelled her. Dabria began to sing a lullaby, gentle and light.

A young mare, with a lovely pale yellow coat and a white mane and tail, snorted and walked over to Dabria, bumping her snout against Dabria’s arm. Dabria ran her hands over the beautiful mare. She continued singing as she felt the mare’s legs and checked the mare’s teeth and eyes. Satisfied that the mare was sound, she slipped a lead rein over the horse’s head and tugged gently. The mare followed without complaint.

In less than two hours, Dabria had a string of twenty sound and beautiful steeds. She wrapped the rein from the front of the line around her saddle horn and urged her own horse forward.

The long train of horses trampled noisily through the brush, so Dabria raised her voice above the noise, singing another calm refrain lest the horses be spooked.

When they returned to the camp, they were met with the awed and surprised expressions of everyone. After a moment, a cheer went up.

Raoul stepped out, grinning widely.

“You did it!” He said.

“You doubted me?” Dabria teased.

Raoul winked and looked at the line of horses, “They all look healthy. You did well, love.”

Dabria smiled, “I'm eager to be abroad.”

Raoul nodded, “Tomorrow, hopefully. The next day at the latest.”

Dabria dismounted and said to the crowd, “Don't just stand there smiling at me! Take these beasts and give them some water!”

In a flurry of activity, the horses were taken to be rubbed down and watered. A few of the older men looked them over again, only to nod to Dabria in approval. She smiled at them and went to pack her own things from the cave while Raoul continued to help the others.

When night came, Raoul was glad to eat quietly next to Dabria and rest his tired muscles. He'd done everything from lift heavy bundles to run after children while their mother’s packed, whatever was needed. He was glad they'd all almost finished. They wouldn't leave tomorrow, but the next day. He was eager to leave.

Dabria retired to their tent and Raoul followed soon after.

Dabria stoked the fire in the clay oven in their tent, a tired smile on her face. Raoul sat on the bed and filled a pipe, humming a tune.

Suddenly, a crack like a lightning strike boomed through the tent and Dabria shouted as her body arched and her eyes glowed in an odd swirl of colors. She seemed to vibrate with power.

An unfathomably deep voice shook the tent, seeming to emanate from all around them.

“LITTLE SISTER,” it said.

“Heimdallr,” She rasped.

“I WOULD CAUTION YOU.”

“Speak freely.”

“ASGARD WILL FALL. IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT. STILL, YOU WILL SOON BE WITHOUT THE AID OF THE GODS. WE WILL BE SCATTERED TO THE WINDS. YOUR NEW HOME WILL OFFER YOU SURPRISING GIFTS. BE CAREFUL OF THEM AND THOSE WHO DWELL THERE.”

“I will not be reckless,” Dabria said. “Where will you go, brother?”

“I KNOW NOT. I KNOW ONLY THAT ODIN LEAVES US VULNERABLE AS HE QUESTS AND LOKI HAS STRIVED EVER HARDER TO UNSEAT ME AND PERHAPS BETRAY US ALL. WE WILL PERISH IN ICE AND FIRE. IT IS THE END.”

Tears streamed down Dabria’s cheeks, “I am sorry, Heimdallr.”

“I LOVE YOU. BE SAFE AND LIVE WELL. YOU WILL FIND WHAT YOU SEEK AT THE END OF THIS ROAD.”

Dabria gasped, “Thank you.”

“IF WE DO NOT MEET AGAIN, KNOW THAT MY HEART WAS FULL FOR THE LIFE YOU PURSUE. AT LAST YOU WILL FIND YOUR DESTINY. THE ANSWER YOU NEED IS INDEED AMONG THE DEAD, BUT IT IS NOT A GHOST YOU SEEK.”

With a rumble like thunder, the presence left.

Dabria fell to her knees, gasping. Raoul helped her to the bed.

“Sounds like we’re going to have an interesting journey,” Raoul commented dryly.

“To say the least,” Dabria panted.

“Are you alright?”

Dabria nodded, “Heimdallr is a great god. It takes a great deal of energy to be a conduit for a being such as he is. Even for… someone like me.”

Raoul helped her undress and tucked the blankets in around her, “Sleep. We have many long days ahead of us.”