[i]collab between KuroTenshi and idlehands[/i]

[i]Nightfall, the woods two miles outside Trelleborg[/i]

The sleet had tapered off to a fine icy mist and the men had a strong fire going. Einnar sat with his back against a tree, his bow string laid near the flames to dry out and he reached to pull out the spear head. He looked at it, noting the dent in the iron tip, and he sighed inwardly making up his mind to call of the search for Bjorn and just try to get everyone back to the fort alive. Who knew how many draugr were in the woods and how the cold might affect them. He wished he knew more about the creatures and racked his brain to think of any stories his mother might have told him involving the draugr. 

The hunter watched Vigi patch up the old trapper and he felt the pain in his ankle when he moved his foot. He set the spear head down and reached for his boot, unlacing the waterlogged leather thongs with some difficulty before pulling it off. He examined his ankle, it looked swollen already though the cold would keep it minimal. Slowly he rotated and flexed it, at least it was not broken but it would slow him down. 

Einnar pulled his cloak around him tighter, his hair hung in his face as he stared at the flames. Around them the woods were dark and quiet save for crackle of brittle leaves and occasional twig snapping under the weight of the ice. He found himself thinking about his mother, about growing up in the woods as he did under her haphazard care with his siblings and his unpredictable father. He glanced at the seidrmadr who seemed so sane and grounded, other than his appearance Einnar would not have guessed he was a shaman. Thinking about his childhood made him itch for mead and he muttered a curse remembering he had finished the flask he had found earlier. There was no use hunting around in the dark though he probably had some stashed, he thought he recognized the grove they were in but his mind was still muddled from drink and the panic of the attack.
 
The young trapper, Leifr, rummaged through his pack and brought out some dried fish and hard bread which he passed around. He had seen Vigi bandaging his father but from the scowl on the old man's face he did not bother him about it. He knew Ulfr was capable of taking care of himself, he had spent his years trekking through forests and vast tracks of land farther north. The knowledge did not stop him from worrying about his father's fading eyesight as the seasons passed or his arthritis that was probably causing him pain from the wet cold weather. He pulled an extra cloak he kept aside and handed it to Ulfr who frowned at his fuss but took it anyway, moving stiffly as he shifted it around his shoulders. 

Einnar spoke up between bites of the leathery fish, [b]"We will take turns watching the camp, we can't afford not to tonight. I'll take the first watch, the rest of you get some sleep if you can. At first light we'll make our way back toward the fort, we'll go around. There is a game trail that will pass the river at a more fordable area. It's a longer way around but I don't think any of us wish to go back way we came."[/b] 

He shifted, gingerly putting his damp boot back on and he shivered as it touched his skin. Einnar stood up, gripping the tree trunk and yanked free a limb that was still green enough to exude resin. The hunter stuck it in the fire and watched the end flare up. He gave Vigi a look and began to hobble off, torch in hand. 

Vigi frowned watching Einnar limp off into the dark woods, quickly finishing his bread before getting up. [b]"I'll be back in a moment."[/b] He said to the rest of the group before following after the bright light of the hunter's torch. [b]"Has the alcohol dulled the pain of your ankle any?"[/b] He asked him when he caught up with the dark haired man.

Einnar heard the slight rustle of the lithe seidrmadr following him and when he spoke he did not turn around. He kept the torch up, watching for movement in the woods. 

[b]"It does as does the cold from the water,"[/b] he replied after a moment. [b]"Being numb has it's benefits. You should probably go back."[/b] 

He finally over at him and thought once again how in this light the man could have been a lovely elf maiden. The hunter looked away quickly and focused on the darkness ahead of him. He both hated and loved the forest at night. It was peaceful and silent but in that silence strange noises could send even a brave man shivering. Wolves and bears he knew and understood but the idea that a hungry troll or one of the draugr could come out of the shadows kept him on edge. 

The rain had stopped and the wind had fallen, leaving the woods quiet but for the sound of their footsteps and occasional icy rattle of twigs. Despite his hermit existence there were times even he did not want to be alone, [b]"Vigi, if you want to stay, I'm fine with it. But can I ask you something?"[/b] 

He glanced at the fair man, [b]"How did you get to Trelleborg? Did you come with a company?"[/b]

Vigi frowned at the question and sighed after a moment of debate with himself. [b]"I was with a group of people, for a brief amount of time. During my time with them their numbers were cut in half by the draugr. They thought I might have been responsible somehow, that I was cursed or I was bad luck so they made me leave. Luckily I was only two days away from the fort, so I was able to survive well enough on my own until I reached the walls."[/b] 

He tilted his head to the side slightly, the beads in his hair clicking softly together. [b]"Why do you ask?"[/b] He inquired.

[b]"They blame the gods then and by proxy, you,"[/b] Einnar mused. [b]"The seidrkona that used to advise Helge died last summer, I know he sent out word for another to take her place. I was curious if you were the one who would have taken the job. I doubt you cursed though, Vigi, I've known those who are cursed by their stars...or the gods, or their own making...where ever you wish to lay the blame. You do not seem as one of those."[/b]

Einnar winced when he stepped on a stone, making his bad ankle turn. [b]"Let's pause here. It's blacker than Hel, I can't see a blasted thing anyway."[/b]

He sat on fallen log and grunted, [b]"Perhaps I'm the cursed one, eh? This damn ankle...it's a good thing the draugr do not move quickly."[/b]

The sky was still thick with clouds, blotting out the moon and starlight and the torch only projected it's warm light a few feet around them. The scent of snow was in the air, the hunter's nose told him it would fall before sunrise. Einnar wished again for a flask of mead, the sweet honey wine like liquid sunshine warming him through. Alas, he could not fumble around in the woods at night seeking out his hiding spots, it would have to wait until there was light.

Vigi stopped walking, moving a bit closer to Einnar as he eased onto the log in case he fell. [b]"I know I am not cursed."[/b] He said, brushing a hand through his wet hair. [b]"I did not hear of the passing of the seidrkona, but I was urged to the fort by visions."[/b] He mused out loud, leaning back against a tree that was facing Einnar so his eyes were on the darkness behind the hunter should something emerge. 

He looked down at the hunter, just able to make out how bloodshot his eyes were and how heavy they seemed. [b]"Do you want me to look at your ankle? Perhaps I can do something to help it?" He offered, motioning down to the injured limb.[/b]

Holding the torch out, he shrugged, remarking with a bitter tinged voice, [b]"Do what you wish, healer. Follow your visions."[/b]

Einnar was silent for a moment, the mead had loosened his tongue and there was something about Vigi, perhaps the exotic looks or the gentleness in him that made him want to talk. He was unused to the feeling and did not trust it but could not hold back either. 

[b]"The seidrkona was my mother,"[/b] he said, [b]"That's how I know he sent for another. No, keep your condolences. She was a mad woman, some called her a witch. Even among the practitioners of seid, she was feared and pitied. We lived out in these woods, it is why I know them so well. None in Trelleborg or the villages would have my parents among them. They were both touched by Odin, she had her visions and he had his fury. So we lived among the trees, brave people would venture to see my mother, to have her read their runes and my father...he took care of us, in a manner of speaking.[/b]

The huntsman fell quiet, embarrassed at his rambling, and wished once again for mead, even a nice strong ale. Awkwardly he shifted on the log and glanced at Vigi,[b]"I apologize for chewing your ear off, mead makes me wordy. And being here brings back memories."[/b]

Vigi looked up from tending to the man’s ankle when he began to speak, surprised by the tale he spun. Such personal information he imparted without hesitation to him, a complete stranger. He looked back down and listened to his deep voice as he spoke, the bitterness tainting his words obvious. "You don't need to apologize." Vigi said softly, pulling out some soak wrappings to bind the ankle. [b]"My madir too was a seidrkona and she too served a Jarl...My fadir."[/b] He chuckled, a hint of bitterness in his own voice. [b]"Though, I've been told to not refer to him as such anymore."[/b] He said, standing up when he finished binding his ankle and turned his attention to the trees around them. [b]"You need a crutch, it will make walking easier and you will have something to knock back draugr."[/b]

[b]"So you're a Jarl's pup, Vigi the Bastard,"[/b] he teased with a slight grin. [b]"I'm sure once he saw you would not be one of his spear hounds he pushed you off to the side. I've seen it before. One last question, was your mother allowed to live in the Hall?[/b]

He asked out of curiosity, he had never met another child of a seidrkona and wondered if it was similar to how he grew up. He looked over at his bound ankle, turning it and admiring the job. 

[b]"It's good that you are a healer. That is a practical skill, much more needed then reading rune sticks and the entrails of birds,"[/b]Einnar said, feeling the headache coming on from the mead wearing off. He rubbed his forehead a moment and tried to make it seem as he were concentrating on a thought then ran his hand down his face, huffing out a breath. He could feel the stubble on his jaw, he had not shaved in a couple of days but no matter, it was time to grow his beard out anyway.

[b]"You will be in demand this winter, that is certain,"[/b] the hunter sighed.

Vigi did not find the taunting amusing, but he had heard worse so he was able to brush it aside. [b]"Of course she did. Had she not I wouldn't be standing before you."[/b] He said poking around in a bush before grabbing onto a strong looking branch to start pulling on it. [b]"My healing skills are essential, but they'll be useless if I end up dead."[/b] He grunted, pulling out the sturdy branch from the bush with a soft rustle. He pulled out his dagger and started to carve off the smaller branches. [b]"That troll of a man Harald has a target on my back. I can tell he is afraid of me, but he has devious eyes that Loki would be envious of."[/b]

[b]"Harald...ah the one who beat his slaves before we left,"[/b] he recalled, watching Vigi work on the makeshift crutch. [b]"And you helped them after it was over. I saw that, you were in quite a discussion with him."[/b]

Einnar took the crutch from him, fitting it under his arm and handed the torch to Vigi. [b]"A man like that enjoys what power his cruelty brings. Not a good man to have as an enemy...or a friend for that matter. Best to avoid him and his slaves, keep out of his business."[/b]

He hobbled less with the crutch to support him as they completed the circle around their campsite. They could see the fire flickering through the bare branches of the trees as they approached. The trappers sat close to the fire, the old man sleeping and the younger dozing off, his chin against his chest.