Having spent the night in the hunters' camp near the northern forest, the group of travelers finally decided to venture into the wildest parts of Nordrune. Apart from small lumberjack camps, there were no settlements here. The rugged terrain with its gorges and mountain rivers made this area inhospitable for settlement, so the tana's domain practically consisted of only a dozen villages around the forest and an impenetrable wild thicket.
"Hilda, do you even know where you're going?" Grain shivered nervously in the saddle.
"Roughly," the young valkyrie looked away shyly.
"And what does that mean?"
"Well, I was here three years ago, but who knows what could have changed? A bridge could have collapsed or a tree could have blocked the road... Lady Hel isn't particularly concerned with land improvement."
"How did she even become a tana with such an attitude?"
"My mother said that Hel is one of the strongest and oldest warriors in Nordrune," Helen, who had joined the group, continued the conversation, "she was specifically appointed as the tana of these lands to protect the country from them."
"Protect from what?"
"Do you remember the origin of that poison?" Hilda frowned and pointed to the spot where her father was wounded, "That's exactly where its carriers abound. The land further north is soaked in demonic blood, and that's why completely eradicating those creatures is impossible. And, unfortunately, we couldn't find an antidote."
"So she protects neighboring villages from those cursed beasts? That explains why the hunters spoke so highly of her."
"Well," Hilda blushed slightly, "I think they like her not only for that. But in general, you're right; she doesn't do it alone. She catches all the monsters that infiltrate from the south, and the northern forest borders are protected by the white dragons. Hel is one of the few Nords who have a very close relationship with dragons."
"I thought you all worshiped them almost like gods," Asura was a little surprised.
One thing is to worship, another is to interact. Hel can speak to them on equal terms, while for us, they are always welcome guests but still outsiders."
"But the forest is quite large; it takes at least two days to go around it."
"Considering the fords and bridges, it's almost four days."
"So, how many warriors does she have to patrol such a forest?"
"Oh, don't worry about that; she's there alone."
"Alone? Managing such vast lands?" The princess's skeptical looks pierced Hilda's back.
"I told you she has a special connection with other species, not just dragons. You'll understand everything soon enough," Hilda stopped at a fork in the road.
"You mean she watches over the forest with her pet animals?"
"If you could see these 'pet animals,' you wouldn't be mocking."
"And she manages to do that?"
"So far, no monster has managed to get out of the forest. True, when they organize into large packs, there are significant battles at the forest borders. But those creatures always chose human settlements as their first targets, so they managed to defend themselves."
"That's why that small village had such an impressive palisade."
"Yes, even if Hel doesn't care much about her lands, she still cares about the people who live here..." Hilda continued to think hard about something.
After five minutes, the companions began to suspect something.
"Um, Lady Hilda, could it be... that we're lost?" Grain shivered in the saddle.
"Of course not! I remember the way to this place exactly..."
"Isn't it because there were clear landmarks at the previous forks, like a waterfall or a fallen tree?"
Hilda shamefully lowered her head.
"Well then, we're in the wild forest with an incredible number of dangerous beasts, plus a gang of killers living around here, and a suspiciously reclusive warrior. I didn't miss anything, did I?" Grain scolded the last shreds of the white princess's self-assurance.
"What can I do... there was less snow back then... and from here, you could see a tall rock in the shape of a funny face... but now it's not visible because of the fog."
"I told you we should have asked the hunters for a map."
"Yes... it's alright, we'll ask someone for directions..."
Only a gust of icy wind was the answer to the princess's inadequate proposal.
"Come on, but don't ask everyone at once, otherwise you won't hear the right answer in the cacophony of responses," Grain grew more irritable with each gust of wind.
"Mmm..." Hilda didn't want to admit her mistake so easily, "Someone!!! Guide us to Lady Hel's palace!!!"
Of course, the forest was in no hurry to respond.
"Somehow not many volunteers..." Grain remarked.
"Don't worry; someone will answer... we just have to wait."
And indeed, in response to Hilda's call, someone stirred in the snow-covered bushes next to the road.
"Oh, we should check it out," Hilda briskly jumped to the roadside and parted the branches.
From the small grove, a head... or rather, a muzzle... of an enormous, fanged white wolf peered out, its size almost exceeding that of a human head. Asura slowly reached for her katana.
"Step back slowly; if it attacks, I'll stop it."
"Wait-wait-wait!! Don't attack him!" Hilda stood up in defense of the wolf. Meanwhile, the creature stood up on its hind legs and shook off the snow. It was a surprisingly large wolf, almost reaching Hilda's chest; it wouldn't have had any trouble biting her head off in one go.
"What are you talking about?"
"It's alright; this is one of Lady Hel's pets; I remember seeing him at the fortress... well, at least, I think it's him."
"You THINK?"
"Well... I hope so," Hilda gave a somewhat foolish smile, but the wolf didn't seem intent on attacking. "Well, little one, won't you lead us to your mistress?"
The wolf peacefully panted, surveying the travelers, but then simply started walking along the road, possibly indicating the way to the Princess.
"I told you someone would help us!" Hilda was beside herself with joy, though her companions didn't show such exuberance.
"I just wanted to clarify something," Grain timidly raised his hand, "We are in the wild forest with no humans around, don't know the way, and we're simply following a huge wolf, possibly not averse to human flesh, who might lead us to its pack's lair and attack us?"
"Yes, seems like it," Asura clicked her tongue in annoyance.
"Well then, I'm at ease now; I thought I was still dreaming."
The wolf wandered along the small paths that were hard to notice for an ordinary traveler, but it seemed to know where it was going. After several hours of wandering along the edge of the forest, an ancient castle appeared. It had been eaten away by time but still able to withstand a long siege.
"This is an old fortress created by the necromancer kings. Hel is the only one who dared to settle here over so many centuries."
Leaving the travelers on the road leading to the castle, the wolf jumped into the forest and quickly disappeared into the white haze.