Steelforged Legacy 4 - Chapter 4

Chapter 4

They retrieved an overstuffed Magnus from where the Gladewalker Elk was drinking from a bowl of vegetable soup at one of the tables. The fact that he had to lean over an unconscious drengr to do so and was getting that soup all over the sleeping man didn’t bother the Gladewalker at all, it seemed.

It turned out that all three of them had rooms in the east peak, with Einar being on the same row as Casey, and Vibeke only one row deeper into the mountain.

A helpful clansman directed them to the large central gate in the middle of the peak’s base, which opened into a tunnel wide enough to drive a pair of large carts through. This allowed Magnus to come along without any problems, and explained how they had space for all the spirit beasts that lived in the mountain as well.

Casey’s rooms were simple: a large front room with a table and chairs for meeting, talking, and other work with space to do practice drills alongside it.

Attached to that front room were two doors, one that led into an adjoining large room that was obviously a stable for Magnus with a trough, feed buckets, and places to store saddles and tack. The other door led into a private room with a simple but sturdy bed of rushes with thick wool blankets to sleep under. Racks for weapons and armor were attached to the walls, while a simple cabinet sat against the far wall for clothing.

The whole layout reminded Casey of the simple, one-bedroom apartments that he’d seen advertised for students back home. The rooms were spartan in their design, but comfortable enough. A single large hearth in the main room would provide heat, the chimney apparently merging with others to draw smoke out.

After checking his rooms out and letting Magnus inspect the bed of straw in the stable, Casey headed back out to the valley to await his friend’s return. With the storage belt, he didn’t feel a need to leave anything behind, so it was a quick process to check the rooms over.

It’s comfortable enough, though I wish there was more greenery about, Magus grumbled while Casey carefully strapped his saddle and other gear on.

“Not all that surprised,” Casey said, reaching up to tweak the berry-bramble that was threading through Magnus’ horns, making the still-green vines rattle. “Given your connection to such things. How do you keep this alive anyway? I’d have asked sooner if I knew you could actually answer me.”

Magic, Magnus replied cheekily while tossing his horned head. More seriously, though, the greenery bonds with me. It is the same as my roots and the moss in my fur. My kind bond with different plants as we grow and those can teach us their secrets.

“And what secrets does a blackberry bush have for you? If you are allowed to tell,” Casey asked, not expecting an answer.

You’d be surprised by the secrets that hide within a berry bramble, Magnus replied with utmost seriousness. They grow explosively and claim land rapidly. Persistence, speed, and the strength to defend what you take with sharp weapons are the lessons of the bramble. At least those I’m allowed to talk about.

That statement caught Casey by surprise and he leaned back to look at Magnus in question.

The Gladewalker Elk returned his look calmly with one large brown eye before leaning down slightly to bring the pointed tines of his antlers closer to Casey.

Drawn by the movement, Casey studied those natural weapons closer and was surprised to see just how sharp those tines were. Antlers could be sharp, but not the fine, almost spear-like, tips that he was seeing in Magnus’ rack.

“That… okay that is very interesting,” Casey murmured thoughtfully. “Maude?”

I hadn’t realized that, and Uncle Ullr never told me, Maude chimed in, equally surprised.

It is one of my kind’s secrets, Magnus replied smugly as he leaned back and pointed his nose to the sky. We are superior creatures, after all. Earth gave us this gift as we are her children like the elementals before. Ullr praises us for our elusive nature, but even the gods do not fully understand all the secrets the lands hold.

The way that Magnus said ‘Earth,’ and the reverence in his tone, told Casey that the spirit beast must be referring to the native deity that was the embodiment of the land itself.

Something like ‘mother earth’ and ‘father sky’ from back home, I think, Casey thought to himself.

To Magnus though, he directed thoughts of how proud he was of the spirit beast.

You are learning the bramble’s lessons well. Maybe you can teach me some of them when there is time. But only with its consent.

Naturally, Magnus replied with a snort. Now, finish doing up that buckle. I can hear Einar booming his way along the tunnel and we have ground to cover! I’m looking forward to the open plains again to work off some of this rich food.

You say that like we were forcing you to eat, not like you were gorging yourself whenever you weren’t being watched, Maude replied dryly as Casey bent to finish doing the buckles up.

Magnus, as he was wont to do when confronted with something he didn’t like, refused to acknowledge Maude’s point and elected to simply ignore it.

<><><>

When they were done sorting through everything that would come with or be left behind, Einar and Vibeke joined Casey and Magnus out on the lawn. The two had changed over into one of their new uniforms, showing the badge of the Roaring Mountain embroidered on their chest.

By that time, it was nearing on noon and the celebrants had either dragged themselves back to tents to sleep off the last of their merrymaking, or they—like Casey and his friends—had packed up their gear and were either leaving the Roaring Mountain or moving into rooms as new clansmen.

“It’s still surprising to me,” Einar muttered as the group trotted along the ring-road to get to the western edge.

“What surprises you?” Casey prompted when Einar trailed off and didn’t resume for several long minutes.

“Ah, sorry. Just that they aren’t being more… intentional with our training,” Einar explained, rolling his shoulders to shift his pack higher on his back.

Both he and Vibeke had refused Casey’s offer to carry their things in his storage belt, citing that it was an opportunity to train themselves and that it would be some time before they could afford such a tool, and didn’t want to become soft.

“Plus, we have to work hard if we are going to catch up to you,” Vibeke had said with a light of challenge in her eyes, to which Casey just bowed in understanding.

“So where are we headed?” Casey asked from his spot to the right of the other two. Magnus trotted along on his right, the Gladewalker Elk as silent as ever despite the fact they were traveling over bricks rather than grass.

“Well,” Einar started, tugging the rolled scroll they’d received out of his pouch to study it. “The Tinderfox tend to roam most of the valley, but their monarch dens out east and south of the mountain. That means the highest concentration of their kind is that way.”

“So basically we flew over a part of its territory then?” Casey asked curiously and got a nod from Vibeke. “What about you, Vibeke, I don’t think you ever declared who you were pursuing. Or are we just getting this oaf taken care of first?”

“Hey!” Einar protested, but he was laughing at the jab.

Vibeke was quiet for a moment, clearly thinking hard as she relived the events in the heart of the Roaring Mountain, in the cavern system known as the Womb of the Earth that had been their final trial.

“I saw two different spirit beasts, actually,” Vibeke admitted after about a minute of silence where Einar swatted playfully at Casey, and the smaller man dodged each blow with the grace of his Step.

“Oh? Which two?” Casey asked, and Einar turned to listen intently to the woman as well, clearly interested.

“The Steel Eagle appeared to me and paced me while I ran across an open field, but the Gale Cats also showed up along the way and drew my attention to a hidden wellspring where I received the rest of my vision,” Vibeke said, her face flushing faintly as she glanced towards Einar.

Wonder what the rest of her vision was if she’s already blushing just saying that much, Maude chuckled in Casey’s mind, and he sent her the sensation of a kiss to quiet her.

“Well, it sounds like both were roughly the same to me, if they both came to you but didn’t speak,” Einar said, but Vibeke shook her head.

“I think the Gale Cat was stronger. I only saw two of the Steel Eagle overhead, but it was an entire pride of the Gale Cat that escorted me to the spring…”

“And foxes are basically just cats pretending to be dogs already,” Casey suggested with an eyebrow wiggle of his own. “So you two should get along just fine.”

Einar blushed immediately, while the flush of color on Vibeke’s cheeks deepened rapidly as well.

Rather than continue to tease the two and possibly ruin what he saw as a budding romance, Casey changed back to the original conversation.

“So which way to find the Gale Cats?” he asked after letting them be embarrassed for a few moments.

“S—south,” Vibeke squeaked, clearing her throat before continuing. “If we head south, then we should have no problems finding them.”

“South it is, then. Since it takes us towards both groups. How long do you think it’ll take us to locate some of them?” Casey said with a nod before turning the question towards Einar.

Magnus interjected with his own commentary before the big man could speak.

I put money on one of them finding you all first, Magnus said smugly, flicking his head upwards with a sharp grunt. Einar makes so much noise as he walks that it would be impossible to sneak up on a spirit beast.

“Hush, you,” Casey retorted to the magical elk before turning back to the group.

Einar just cocked an eyebrow questioningly at Casey while Vibeke spoke aloud.

“What did he say? I can’t wait to be able to communicate with a spirit beast like that, I’ve been wanting to ask what Magnus talks about since the ceremony…”

That she’s too good of a person for Einar. But at least the big lug will take care of her properly and work to become the kind of person Vibeke deserves, Magnus helpfully answered, snorting and shaking his head.

“Firstly, he thinks one of the spirit beasts will find us first,” Casey said while suppressing a laugh. “Then he went on to say what a wonderful person you are, Vibeke.”

That’s not all I said, grumped Magnus inside his skull.

And I’m not insulting Einar like that or making another crack about their relationship. Hounding them about it will only slow or damage the potential connection and I’m not going to have that on my conscience, Casey sent back, this time speaking to the elk internally through their connection.

He’s right, Magnus, Maude added. The two of them are as awkward as newborn foals around each other, and still trying to figure out where to go next. It is better to not wind things up too much and just let it go where it will naturally.

Magnus didn’t reply with words, just huffing in annoyance and elevating his nose with the air of an offended nobleman.

“Something tells me that wasn’t all he said,” Einar prodded with a chuckle.

“No, but it’s what I’m willing to tell you. Magnus is still learning manners,” Casey replied, turning back to the other two.

I’ll show you manners, Magnus quipped, increasing his speed to get ahead of the group and Casey saw the telltale flip of the elk’s tail that was his warning.

“Magnus, no!”

<><><>

Once they had exited the environs of the Roaring Mountain and headed out onto the plains, the quartet opened up into the same ground-eating lope that they’d used a week previous when they left on their hunting trial.

Casey knew he could move faster if he wanted to, it was partially an effect of being so much further ahead of the other two. But they were a group, and besides they were out here specifically for Vibeke and Einar, so there was no point in leaving them behind.

Magnus had no such hesitation. The Gladewalker elk vanished as soon as the road wound away from the Roaring Mountain and into the rolling foothills. He would reappear, and then vanish again at will, whenever he seemingly felt like it.

“Aren’t you worried that someone is going to take a shot at Magnus?” Vibeke had asked the third time the elk ducked into a small stand of trees and vanished from sight.

“If they can catch him,” Casey replied with a shrug. “Magnus knows what he’s doing. If he needs me, he’ll come back. I just have to hope he’ll come back if I need him.”

Of course I’ll come back if you need me, brother, Magnus sent through their connection. That’s part of why it took so long to forge the bond myself, and why it’s better than the fancy circle arrays that the Roaring Mountain has. Sure, their array can help a lazy, indifferent, or just not as smart spirit beast do something close, but you have me!

So humble, Maude teased with a snicker.

You know I am, oh magnificent Maude, Magnus fired back.

As the two conversed in his head, Casey did his best to tune them out and chat with Einar and Vibeke. The two were fonts of ideas for how they could train and improve to catch up or keep up with Casey.

Einar even offered to help teach Casey more about shield-work now that he had one, while Vibeke promised to show him some tricks on spears and javelins. In exchange, Casey offered to teach them what he knew about knife and sword combat when Maude suggested it, since it was only fair to continue.

And the day wound away slowly, the trio trotting along the packed dirt road down into the plains and small forests of the Windsong Valley.

<><><>

Making camp for the first night, Casey had followed his normal habits of going about a quarter-mile off the road before finding a stand of trees that would shield them from view of the road.

Magnus had reappeared and paced them for the last hour as the sun was winding towards the horizon, the elk clearly knowing that it was coming in on dinner time now and not wanting to miss out.

After the day of exerting themselves in travel, all three were content to get some rest and accepted Magnus' offer—through Casey—for the Gladewalker to keep watch.

Casey was woken twice in the night, the first time by rustling movement near his tent that Maude advised him was Einar as she could sense better with her odd, spirit-based senses. The second thing that woke him was a distant bellow of some large predator many miles off. After listening for a minute or two to make sure it wasn’t coming closer, he’d accepted Magnus’ urging to go back to sleep.

Waking first the next morning, Casey got to work making breakfast with a yawn and a smile.

“I really did miss being out on the land,” Casey muttered as he stirred the small pot of porridge over the slowly regrowing embers of the fire.

Same, Magnus replied from his spot sprawled out in a sunbeam. I don’t mind the new den, and having others of a like-mind around will be nice. But the land’s voice is so much louder out here, and she sings so beautifully.

Turning towards the elk curiously, Casey was treated to an absolutely bizarre sight.

Magnus lay in the grass on his side, head down in front of him and antlers up. The pose reminded Casey somewhat of a dog sleeping on his belly. But it wasn’t the pose that made it so strange.

It was the hundreds of butterflies clinging to the antlers and hide of the Gladewalker Elk.

Tiny blue butterflies, massive orange butterflies, and a mixture of yellows and reds speckled about. The small insects simply clung to the spirit beast, their wings spread and pumping slowly like they were little bellows working away to inflate Magnus. It looked a bit like he was a grass-covered hillside strewn with flowers, actually.

When did those get there? Maude asked curiously, answering one of Casey’s questions before he could voice it. The little insects had gathered without either of them noticing.

Oh these? They are just little flutter-brothers. They like to come and trade rumors, Magnus answered without moving.

A breeze picked up, rustling the curtain of butterflies draped over the animal and dislodging a few that flapped rapidly to return to their perches.

The scene was idyllic and Casey was happy to just enjoy the colorful coat that had settled over Magnus. Now that their trials were done, there wasn’t much in the way of urgency hanging over him.

Except for that dream, Casey thought, the memory floating up to drag him back from the bright vision in front of him.

It’s fine, brother, Magnus huffed, sending a trio of blue butterflies into the air with his snort before they spiraled back into place. If the woman you saw was real, you’ll find her and help her before it’s too late. The monsters… Well, we just have to do our best. We aren’t the only heroes in this world, remember that.

He’s right, Casey. There are others, far stronger than us right now, that are tasked with protecting this world as well. Just because you saw a vision of a threat doesn’t mean it is your job to avert the entire thing, Maude said gently.

“I know,” Casey said quietly, returning his attention to the porridge in front of him. “It’s just hard at times to accept that something is beyond my control.”

Casey could feel that Maude was about to say something, but before his lover could there came a loud yawn followed by a grunt and then yelp of surprise from Einar’s tent.

That the human yelp of surprise was followed by a high-pitched and animal yip of the same emotion had Casey on his feet and reaching for Maude at his waist.

It’s not anything dangerous, Magnus urged him. Aww, you scared all the little rumor-mongers off. And they were getting to the juicy stuff.

A glance back showed Casey that his motions had indeed scared the butterflies, sending a whirling cloud of colors and wings fluttering into the air and away, but his attention immediately returned to the tent as he heard Einar muttering before the flap at the front flicked open and the big man stuck his head out.

Einar normally took surprising pains with his appearance. He owned half a dozen combs and as many small jars of creams or oils for his beard and hair. When Casey had asked him about it once, Einar had insisted that his father had taught him that an ordered appearance was the sign of an ordered mind.

So when Einar stuck his head out of the tent and looked like he’d been stuffed into a barrel with a hundred angry crabs that were set on rearranging his beard and hair into the most ridiculous nest possible, it was startling to say the least, especially since he was bare to the waist and only wearing a set of the loose linen shorts that qualified as underwear here.

“Casey?” Einar rasped, his voice hoarse from sleep as he crawled out of the tent with one arm held close to his chest. “Tell me I’m not going crazy, what is this?”

Einar shifted so that Casey could see what he had tucked into the crook of his arm.

A tiny red creature, its fur shimmering the colors of a coal from the fire behind him, lay snuggled into Einar’s chest. A pair of large, pointed ears crowned its head and a long, plush tail the same shimmering color as its fur was tucked over a pointed muzzle with the tip poking out from under the tail. Two eyes like points of glittering gold shimmered from behind the shield of its tail.

“Where did you find that, Einar?” Casey asked in surprise.

“I didn’t…” Einar started then huffed in irritation. “I woke up to find it sleeping on my chest and about pissed myself. Now tell me what this is so I know if I’m going crazy or not?”

“That’s a Tinderfox kit,” Casey said, still just as surprised as his friend.

The tiny Tinderfox kit, barely as long as Einar’s forearm, chose that moment to pull its muzzle out from under its tail and give a loud and long yawn which produced a tiny jet of flame from between its teeth.

Told you that the spirit beast would find you all first, Magnus said smugly from behind him.