Chapter 187

187 Servant of the Axe, 87 – Welcome to Deep Forest

Chapter Type: Character Development, Light Activity

[You have accepted a quest to rescue Igrun Sivert, and avenge her upon her wrongdoers.

Required: Slay Sigmund Findseth, Reward: 10 quest points, not accomplished

Required: Slay Olaf Findseth, Reward: 10 quest points, completed

Required: Slay Victor Findseth, Reward: 10 quest points, not accomplished

Required: Free Igrun Sivert from slavery, Reward: 10 quest points, completed

Optional: Restore social status to Igrun Sivert, Reward: 5 quest points, not accomplished

Optional: Slay Agnar Oen, Reward: 5 quest points, completed

Optional: Slay Jacob Hoyland, Reward: 5 quest points, completed

.....

Optional: Slay Odmund Kampen, Reward: 5 quest points, not completed

Optional: Slay Svein Bjornson, Reward: 5 quest points, not accomplished

Optional: Slay Tomas Istre, Reward: 5 quest points, not accomplished

Automatic Fail status: Death of Igrun Sivert]

Honestly, it felt like a cheat to have so many goals complete, and so few of those slain were at our own hands.

“We must make haste to the woods.” I said.

“Because that worked so well last time.” Madonna said.

“Excuse me.” Igrun Sivert said. “I’m a free woman, and thus entitled to a say. If it’s death from the Jarl, a human, or death from the Fenris, I chose a human death at human hands.”

“What? No.” I said, “If you stay here, death is certain. If we can get to the northern part of the island, death is much less likely.”

“If I steal away now, I will never regain my honor. Do you have that way back?”

“Actually, we do, but it involves the deaths of the jarl and his brother.” Kismet said.

“I know you meant AND there rather than but.” Igrun Sivert said.

“Can we please discuss this on our way to the woods, or better, in the woods when we’re safe?” I asked.

“Stop being a coward.” Madonna said.

“No, it has the right of the matter. We have two stops, and then we should be away.” Igrun said.

The first stop was by the matron’s closet for clothing. “Curse the woman, has she never heard of pants?” Igrun complained.

I grabbed a sewing kit. “Pick a spare dress, we can weave it into pants.”

She shrugged. “I’d rather have leather, anyway.”

The second stop was by the cul-de-sac containing the town’s smithies. The smith looked up, returned to hammering out what looked like a knee protector, and then looked up again. “By the blood of Thor! Is the Fimbulwinter coming? What possesses you to wear a dress, cursed niece in law?”

“Hah, I’ll have pants if you have them in my size. Please tell me my armor and weapons are safe in your care, uncle.”

“They are not, but give me four days, and you’ll have new ones to bear into battle.”

“Can we at least get the gambeson today?” I asked.

“Go ask a worker in cloth.” He responded.

Without asking, Igrun picked a spear and axe that were displayed on the wall. “Four days?” she asked.

“I can do it by then, I swear it.”

Igrun smiled. “My aunt speaks of your work habits, uncle. Make it eight days, a week and a day. There is a need for haste, but not so severe that you need strain yourself.”

“Well, I suppose I could make it in six, but do you still have the muscles to wear it?”

She flexed her limbs, as though uncertain herself. “I hear the woods are a hard life, uncle. Build the armor to my old frame, not the new.”

He nodded, and we were off, out the east gate, and skirting the coast.

#

There were horns announcing the jarl’s coming even before we turned north.

“Damn your forced marches, we’re no good if we’re run into the ground.” Madonna said.

“I find myself willing to exercise.” Igrun said.

“Kismet?” I asked.

“I’m just enjoying the sea air, for now. Compared to what we just went through, camping is easy.”

I let up on the pace somewhat. “I suppose we have a bit of lead before the jarl learns that Igrun is free again.”

She snorted. “Why would he follow me? I’ve not the prowess to be a threat to him.”

“But your family had the connections.” Kismet said.

“Or else he wouldn’t have slaughtered them so completely.” Madonna said. “But why do you want armor and weapons, if not to avenge yourself?”

“I can’t imagine any woman can go through what I have and NOT desire to be armed and armored. To face the next time with blood and honor, and die on the field of battle.”

I rubbed my eyes. “We have a plan. You don’t need to die just yet.”

“You have a reputation for skirting death. I am merely mortal. I do not expect to survive this, but I will NOT be taken from my bed again, and led to the slaughter.”

She rubbed her face. “It doesn’t even feel real, that I’m free of mask and collar, yet.”

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Madonna got that toothy smile of hers. “ARE you free, while he lives?”

“I am a free woman.” Igrun said. “And he will learn what THAT means, soon enough.”

They were the right words, but I saw her, when she thought we weren’t looking, drop her hand to her branded thigh. But that was much later, and on that day, she exuded confidence to match Kismet.

The sound of horses charging along the shore behind us never came. Neither arrow nor spear emerged from the woods as we made our way north. We forded a stream without incident, and angled under the eaves.

“We should camp here, by the river.” Madonna said.

“I can go further.” Igrun said.

“Nope.” Kismet said, pointing to a circle of stones. “Someone else camped here, and I don’t want to face them on less than a full night’s sleep. Besides, berries.”

“Oh, those can’t be ripe.” I said, examining them. “Leave the berries for now. There’s enough forage. Let me gather that, and firewood.”

“Camp is easy enough to set up, without that massive tent.” Madonna said, throwing her bedroll out near the fire.

“Hey, why do you get a bedroll?” Kismet asked.

“Because unlike the rest of you, I was smart and wise enough to steal one.” Madonna replied.

“Sigrun, have you the energy to chop wood?”

“Not with this axe, but I’ll go with you and take my turn with yours.”

We left the two of them to bicker, which seemed an increasingly common past-time for them.

#

“So, what was that argument at back there actually about?” Igrun asked.

“They are of different temperaments, and have been under a great amount of pressure. Better for me to be clear of that, rather than brought between them.”

“A near-human wisdom.” She said. Something about it... no, I could put up with that attitude for a week.

I called upon Commune With Nature, and took inventory of the nearby animals. “Nothing that would feed us all, but we’ll not lack meat for tonight’s meal.”

“How do you know that?”

“Commune With Nature from Shaman, and Detect Animals from Hunter.” I said. “As for vegetables, there’s a wild potato there, though they’re probably small at this time of year.”

“And, if I may ask, why are we passing this number of fallen branches?” She pulled one from the underbrush, long as she was tall and half again as wide.

“I suppose I am being overly picky, looking for an entire dead tree.”

We gathered what wood and foodstuffs the forest offered naturally. We didn’t eat like kings, but there was enough for a stew rather than soup, and a salad with tea.

“Rhishi, get me some long fibers.” Kismet said. “I need to be making us something to sleep on.”

“I’ll be fine in the river shallows, there.”

“Not. The. Point.”

“I need to climb a coconut tree anyway.” I said. “I’ll get you more fibers than you can weave in what’s left of today.”

They weren’t long, and they were in the form of a bamboo branch rather than free fibers, but I did get them.

.....

“And, two drinking coconuts.” I said.

“We’ll need to begin in the morning heading that way.” Igrun said, “Assuming you wish to avoid the swamp.”

“There are many useful herbs we can get from the swamp.” Madonna said.

“Nope.” Kismet said. “Swamps mean mud and bugs. Get your herbs on your own time.”

“And fish.” I said. “We might want the swamp nearby, even if I agree we shouldn’t live there.”

Kismet was suddenly sitting up. “Uhm. Lady Igrun, do you have friends among the clanfolk?”

“Ha. They call themselves pastors or herdsmen. Not so primitive as you are led to believe.”

“Yeah... but do you have friends among them?”

“I have relatives among them, by blood and by adoption. Why do you ask?”

Bow still strung, one of them, festooned with foliage, stepped into the firelight. “Because we are here, beloved among nieces.”

“Uncle Caeso! Is father Titus with you?” Igrun rose, and not-quite-ran to embrace him.

“Your adopted father is not far from here.”

“Adopted father? Please tell me the story there isn’t that long.” Madonna said.

“Not so long as the walk back to our camp in exile.” Caeso said. “In fact, I’ll gladly start while you roll up your blankets and properly break camp.”

#