The wind was growing stronger around them, the warm air swirling over their skin. They observed as Sindri snarled and growled uncontrollably, her pupils transforming into eerie slits. Something was driving her wild. She clawed at the ground with her nails, struggling against her red gown that seemed to be suffocating her. With a swift tear, she ripped her skirt in half, giving her legs more freedom to move. It was a chaotic day for first impressions, with the high lord missing and the high lady losing her mind. Running off into the open path of the sacred trail, she searched desperately for her beloved, tasting the air as she went. Opening her mouth, Sindri let her jacobs organ seek him out.
The scent of him lingered on her senses as she took off in a full sprint once again. Sindri's run was clumsy, her body not made for such a motion. Her old form could handle it, but the human body was meant to stand upright. Mercury and Feginn trailed cautiously behind, their duty to protect the high lady overriding all else, even their own lives. They were sworn to serve the majesties, and so they followed deeper into the forest as Sindri pushed forward steadily. She paused occasionally to catch the scent of Lord Asger, getting closer with each step. Yet, where she was leading them remained a mystery, even to Sindri herself. Above them, a raven flew, cawing down at the group as they continued their pursuit.
A head, mercury, and feginn spotted a cave opening, believing the raven had led them there. They suspected Lord Asger may have entered and gotten lost. Mercury and feginn were determined to unravel the mystery and move past the strange encounter. The high lady suddenly stopped in her tracks, standing tall and catching her breath. Her eyes remained narrowed as she let out a chilling call in the language of a lynx, calling for her mate. She repeated this call until a response echoed from deep within the cave. Sindri let out a growl and walked into the darkness of the cave.
Her two guards were left in stunned silence. Cats may have had no trouble seeing in the dark, but for a bison and moose like them, it was a different story. Feginn reached into his guard bag and pulled out a small oil lamp, quickly lighting it. The weak glow provided only a faint light in the pitch black surroundings. They had lost sight and sound of their majesty. Determined to press on in search of the lord and lady, they set out on what felt like a rescue mission. Meanwhile, Hemming decided not to join them, opting instead to gather other slaves for assistance. Ropes, lamps, knives, and shovels would be needed for the task ahead.
Zarda observed Hemming's return with a concerned expression etched on his face. The scent of fear lingered in the air, catching the attention of Oridian, the wolves, and the bears. All eyes turned to Zarda, awaiting his response.
Observing their worried expressions, he gave a nod. "Clearly, something is amiss. Just moments ago, Lady Sindri and her guards walked by. I thought she was meeting Lord Asger? It's strange for her to leave us at the cabins and rush past us without him. Let's go find out what's going on," Zarda commanded.
Deciding to pursue the queen, he ended the conversation with Thurston.
"Farewell, my newfound friend. It was lovely sharing melons and time with you," Zarda said, bidding farewell to Thurston before leaving.
With a smile, he looked up at them while they waved goodbye. Their leisurely walk gradually transformed into a gentle jog and then escalated to a rapid run as they made their way towards the thrones of the lord and ladies. Zarda noticed several slaves of the lords and ladies busy gathering an assortment of strange tools and organizing them into tidy piles. Without hesitation, Zarda hurried over to them.
Zarda asked firmly, "What happened? Why did we see the high lady pass by us and you running back without her? Wasn't she supposed to go see Lord Asger?"
The ram was startled by the sternness in the lion's voice, causing him to stop in his tracks before replying.
"My lady and lord must be in trouble or perhaps both losing their minds," said Hemming, sounding sheepish.
Zarda couldn't comprehend the meaning behind his statement. Confused, he couldn't determine if they were in trouble or not.
'Which was it?' He asked himself.
Zarda responded, "We will accompany you. If they require assistance, having additional eyes and capable bodies should be beneficial."
Hemming remained silent, his fear mounting as he wondered where they had gone. He knew the path they had taken led to two destinations: the dark cave of Hellir or the sinister sacrificing portal known as húsl. Both places held dark memories for him - the caves were too foreboding, and the húsl was where he and other slaves had been taken every nine years as living sacrifices. The mere thought of these locations filled him with dread, and the scent of them grew stronger, causing even the predator animals to recoil. Zarda and the others had to cover their noses to escape the overpowering odor.
Zarda could sense the fear emanating from them. "Why are you all going if you're scared?" questioned Zarda.
In response to Zarda's question, the slave ram hrutr replied promptly without intending to be impolite or cause any further delay. "We have pledged to protect, serve, and even sacrifice our lives for the high lord and lady of Havardr. It is not within our rights to violate the oath we willingly took. We are bound by duty to be courageous."
Zarda looked at him with a sneer.
"Standing here, I can detect the scent of your fear emanating from you. You're failing in your sworn duty to be brave," Zarda retorted.
The rams came to a halt, gazing at the imposing group before them. The tension between predator and prey was palpable. Unamused, the rams had finished gathering their final item and were eager to move on quickly. Led by Hemming, the six rams marched forward, with Brusi bringing up the rear. Zarda and his companions followed closely behind. The woods fell silent, save for the rustling of their footsteps on the trail. The sight of the animals moving along the sacred road stirred up chatter among the locals, with whispers spreading through the village. Even Bjorn and the other females couldn't help but take notice.
Irabel broke the silence in the line by speaking up softly, wondering out loud about where they were being taken.
Oridian and Emeryn walked beside her, appearing clueless. They were confident that their questions would be answered soon, knowing that their leader Zarda had a plan. Zarda led the company from the front, with Vidar and Randolf providing cover from behind for the three females. They were close behind the six rams. As they approached the majesties tracks, Hemming's worst fears were realized - the Lord and Lady had entered the cave. He halted to communicate with his small group in their shared shippish language.
The fearful lead ram warned the group that Lord Asger and Lady Sindri have entered the dark cave of Hellir. He advised them to prepare by trimming their lamps before entering.
Zarda shouted to the ram with a powerful voice.
"What did you say to them?" he inquired.
The ram tilted its head slightly. "We need to enter, King Zarda. Be cautious of the dark depths awaiting us inside. The mysteries lurking within the city of Hellir are unpredictable," it answered.
Zarda questioned, "How can you be certain they went inside? I can detect their scent, but they may have continued on, intentionally trying to mislead us."
The ram pointed up to the rave of ravens, who had perched themselves upon the cave entrance walls and tree limbs above.
"Do you see the sign from Odin. They are inside. There is no denying the gode of the ravens. We have the community of Hellfir who lives inside, but the majesties never visit unless absolutely necessary. They send messengers instead. This is odd behavior for them both. We must go in no matter what. If they travel the wrong path, they can be lost forever, moving further away from Hellir." replied Hemming.
One by one, the slaves entered the mouth of the cave.
Zarda addressed his companions, "If anyone wants to retreat now, I won't blame you. Things may not go as we expect."
Emeryn, feeling like a nervous bird unfamiliar with going underground, decided it was best to turn back with the others at the cabins. Irabel agreed, and the two began to backtrack. However, Oridian, curious and intrigued, wanted to stay with Zarda, who stayed close by his side.
Zarda gestured for them to proceed as he addressed the male members. "I request that some of you gentlemen remain behind with the females and little ones. Should any trouble arise, having additional strength available to come and assist us will be beneficial. It's also important to have someone safeguarding our group at camp." Zarda stated.
Vulpix, Randolf, and Alvis offered to accompany Emeryn and Irabel back. There was no need for so many males underground as they already had the perfect team with Zarda leading the group of Osborn, Vidar, Dane, and Draugr with Oridian close by. The six of them ventured into the cavern, where Zarda used his staff to activate the power of the amethyst, filling the cavern with a bright purple light. They no longer needed lamps from the slaves, and as Zarda held the staff, the slave Búinn, a big horn ram, was captivated by its power.
"What beautiful magic is this you wield? Are you a mage, Sorcerer, or warlock?" Asked the curious creature.
Zarda shifted his staff, observing as the ram's gaze closely followed.
"I am not any of those things. I am simply the Lion King, and this is not magic, but rather the power of my master. This staff is a gift from him, carrying his magnificent light. The purple glow it emits is a reflection of me. My aura is purple, symbolizing royalty," Zarda explained.
The other four rams were intrigued and listened attentively. They had never heard of such things before and were eager to learn more.
"Is it your god that you serve as your master?" one of them asked.
Zarda nodded. "Yes, it is the only true god in my life. You must meet him one day and discover true freedom," he replied.
Interrupting the current discussion, Hemming exclaimed,
"Look, I see footprints heading towards Hellir. The lord and lady are safe!"
The ram suggested, "Let's follow them. King Zarda, come with me. I'll lead the way, and your light will illuminate our path. It's not as frightening in here when we have your staff."
Zarda observed as the fear dissipated from the ram, both in sight and scent. It was evident that the calmness of his master was radiating into the air. Zarda consented to comply with Hemmings' straightforward request.