SFL 3 - Defiant Heart - Chapter 8

Chapter 8

After washing up from their fruit-breakfast, Casey and Vibeke headed back up to the flat-topped hill where the longships were resting. They sparred there, with Casey keeping to Maude’s seax form so he could practice getting past the guard of a longer weapon like a spear.

A few of the other aspirants joined them in practice. The looming titan that was the Roaring Mountain in the distance pressing the aspirants into a more proactive mindset.

Breakfast was simple, bacon and potatoes fried in the leftover grease. The savory flavors were a good chaser to the sweet fruit that Casey’s group had enjoyed earlier.

He and Vibeke were the only ones who wandered further than the edge of the lake to wash or drink, with a few of the more forward drengr stripping to bathe in the lake. The fact that members from both genders did so without comment from the observers was something Casey made careful note of. He remembered the communal bathing and steam rooms from the towns, but this was something more.

Once everyone had stretched and relieved themselves, they all piled back on board the flying longships for launch and the last leg of their journey to the Roaring Mountain.

Unlike the previous day, where many retired to bunks and just dozed or lazed around, the deck was busy with people as the aspirants were all eager to finally reach the looming peaks ahead of them.

Casey could understand the excitement, as the Roaring Mountain was a sight to behold.

Soaring upwards at the center of the valley, appeared to be a lone peak that challenged the sky. No other nearby mountains or even hills challenged its height, though the land sloped upwards slowly to the foothills that surrounded the great mountain. Forests sprung up as well, wrapping in a broad ring around the monolith like a dense, green skirt.

More and more spirit beasts became common the closer they got to the mountain, with flocks of avian spirit beasts being the easiest to spot due to the tree cover. Mounted patrols also traveled the forest, while curls of smoke marked different small settlements that were under the protection of the Roaring Mountain. One that they flew over was a large, open mine that extracted and processed metals on site. The lack of black smoke from the forges surprised Casey until Maude explained to him.

They are likely powered by qi or smithies run by cultivators using their own abilities. The further from the clan’s center of power, the more likely you will be to find more traditional styles of doing things. But here, at the seat of the clan’s power? Everything will be run on qi, cores, or some advanced techniques. It’s a mark of pride and the Roaring Mountain has one of the four rulers under the High-King that guides the Nation.

More impressive to Casey than the towns and spirit beasts though was the mountain, and what lay at its center. It wasn’t until the flying longship they were in began to cruise in a wide angle on approach that the truth of the Roaring Mountain was revealed to Casey.

The mountain itself was split into four large peaks, each one reaching towards the sky like they sought to touch at the center. Large clefts divided the mountain partway to the top, regular in their shape and leaving broad expanses of polished granite exposed in the four cardinal directions. From the little bit that Casey could see, carvings decorated those faces as well as large stone bridges spanned the distances as well. These stretched higher and higher until they reached the quintet of peaks that sat reaching to the sky like a four-fingered hand topped in snow and ice.

“The Roaring Mountain,” Vibeke breathed from Casey’s elbow. She’d been just as excited as the other aspirants as they got closer to the mountain, regaling Casey with stories of heroes that had come from the clan and their exploits. “Here at the heart of Windsong Valley, the Roaring mountain gathers the four winds and channels them into the sky so that the Earth may sing to her lover, the Sky, that he will never forget her and one day return.”

Casey blinked at that bit of information, but Maude was quick to fill in the details that he was missing.

It’s an old legend, something that the drengr learned from the elementals when our people came to this land. While the Aesir and Vanir are the gods of the Nation, there are other gods for the other peoples. Earth and Sky are two of the gods for the elementals, and their love story is something that appeals to even the hard hearts of many drengr, so the Roaring Mountain keeps the tale alive to honor them.

Interesting, and it doesn’t bother the Aesir and Vanir? Casey asked as the longship swung further to the west and he saw a large, flat plateau come into view that housed hundreds of the ships at rest in a scattered pattern. Several tunnels that burrowed into the mountainside studded the hills, with a large entrance opening onto the field. The majority of the traffic was on the roads leading into the clefts between the four peaks to the mountain.

No, why would it? Earth and Sky are real deities, and they shared this world with the other gods when we came here. Drengr and elementals may prey upon each other, but this is the way of the land. Just as spirit beasts normally prey upon drengr and the other way around.

But what about the Roaring Mountain? They’ve made allies of the spirit beasts, Casey countered.

Not all of the spirit beasts that dwell in this land are peaceful with the Roaring Mountain. I guarantee there are wild packs and individuals that will seize the opportunity to prey upon the drengr for strength. Just as a hungry wolf will not be picky of the animals it hunts. Honoring the cycle pleases Earth and Sky, and it is through their blessings that the Roaring Mountain has prospered. You might not be able to sense it, but I can.

The finality in Maude’s voice was all that Casey needed to hear. He trusted his partner and guide after all, so if she said something was, then he believed her. Though he couldn’t help but wish he had that same ability to sense and communicate with spirits.

Soon enough, my partner, Maude said lightly, and he could hear the laughter in her tone again. You grow so quickly that I expect you will rapidly complete your first Journey along the Drengr’s Road. Though we need to be careful now that we are under observation, otherwise you will raise questions about how quickly you grow.

That thought was enough to keep Casey silent and thoughtful as Vibeke continued to rattle on, telling  different stories she’d heard about the Roaring Mountain itself and how the clan worked. Those drengr of the Roaring Mountain watched with amusement while the other aspirants either listened or joined in with their own nuggets of wisdom.

All too soon, their ships descended and came to a stop with a light thump against the cradles set out to hold them. The ramp was placed and people set about the flurry of offloading, with the aspirants gathering their few remaining possessions and rushing to disembark while those from the patrol assembled to receive their orders.

“Aspirants, this way!” called a deep, woman’s voice from the ground. “Gather up, all of you. One of your riders came ahead to let us know the basics of what happened, I need a headcount. Aspirants, gather up on me.”

Casey had already packed his things, he just needed to duck into the cubby to retrieve his pack and toss Magnus’ saddle and bags over the animal so that the elk could carry his things off the ship.

He’d gotten more than a few curious looks from the Roaring Mountain drengr during their trip, but most had been satisfied with his story of how Magnus had decided to follow him after Casey had healed him. It wasn’t how their clan normally did things, but they couldn’t argue with the fact that the Gladewalker Elk ignored others and kept close to Casey.

“Come on, Casey! We can’t leave the testers waiting. Things are going to be hard enough with our missing gear, I don’t want to make it worse by annoying the folks in charge,” Vibeke worried, having already collected her small pack of possessions.

“I wonder if there will be a place I can buy new things,” Casey mused as he quickly did up the straps to hold the saddle and packs on Magnus. Since he wasn’t planning to ride the elk or have him carry much for a great distance, he didn’t worry about doing them all up. “I learned to get by on the road with little, but even I need a pot to cook in.”

Vibeke’s nose wrinkled at that and she shrugged, obviously not having an answer for him but also wondering something along the same lines.

They’d been forced to abandon most of their extra supplies and comforts in the flight from the Bronze Fist. Things like cooking gear, spare food and clothing, or trinkets were left behind in the forest to not slow them down in their headlong flight.

Casey had abandoned his cooking gear and tent, as well as any spare tools he didn’t need. Since he’d been living out of his pack for so long, he hadn’t really had much to begin with. Magnus had helped to transport supplies and the injured for him, using his saddlebags to carry shared food.

“Aspirants, this way. I’m to get you settled with the others at the heart of the mountain. Bring any supplies you have with you because the patrol ship is going to need to get back to its work!” shouted the female voice.

Vibeke opened her mouth to hurry Casey along again, but stopped at a chuckle from Dunbar, who was sitting on the deck nearby with his bear companion.

“Easy there, lass. One would think you were his wife with how you hound him. That or a pushy sister,” teased the older man.

Vibeke blushed furiously and turned to glare up at Dunbar with one fist on her hip and the other wrapped around her spear haft.

“I am not! I just owe Casey, so I want to make sure he doesn’t get in trouble at all.”

“Sure, lass. Don’t worry too much though, Estrid is fair and will have been told of the situation.”

“Better not to annoy her regardless though!” called one of the other drengr nearby, setting off a laugh from those still aboard the ship.

“All right, let's get moving,” Casey said, patting Magnus on the hip to get the elk into motion.

Magnus shot him a look that told Casey that the elk was considering ignoring the order just on general principle, but after a moment of thought he started walking up and out of the airship.

In the time since landing and them emerging, more people swarmed near the landed airships. The remaining aspirants, recognizable due to their lost or guarded expressions, were clumped next to a tall woman with a strong jaw and slim shoulders. As Magnus led them down the ramp, the woman was studying her charges and clearly counting them from how her lips moved quickly. Her build was at odds for how deep her voice was when she spoke.

“Is this everyone?” she called after a moment in a loud voice before turning when one of the aspirants said something to her. A pointed finger guided her attention to Casey and Vibeke, the motion making her short-cropped blonde hair dance with the sudden movement.

“Ah, two more. That makes seventeen of you that made it,” the woman said with a pained look on her sharp face. Bright blue eyes lingered on Casey and the elk for a moment before glancing to Vibeke and narrowing. “Or is it sixteen? You must be the extra that was picked up?”

“Sure, if you want to say that,” Casey said with a shrug, holding up a hand to quiet Vibeke. He had no idea how much the information of their fight on the border had disseminated, but this tall and slender woman didn’t appear to have all of the knowledge yet.

“Right, you’ll be able to camp wherever there is space. Each of the subordinate clans will have space set aside for them, so if you’ve made friends with the Oak Horde aspirants, they might welcome you. Same for any of the others,” the woman said tersely, her eyes darting back to Casey.

He could see the question behind those blue eyes. It was obvious the tall woman was curious and a little suspicious, but she didn’t appear ready to press them.

“Casey would be welcome with us,” Vibeke volunteered, along with a few nods from the other aspirants as the three of them approached. “But I think you said you had friends you were hoping were here?”

“Yes,” Casey said, intending to leave it at that. But when the woman, Estrid he guessed from Dunbar’s previous statement, turned a questioning look his way, Casey elaborated.

“The Silver Hammer were actually the ones who pointed me this way. Have they arrived yet?”

The question got a snort of amusement from the tall woman, who nodded.

“Yes, they showed up about a week ago. Been asking me if I’ve seen a loner wandering in every day, I’m guessing you are him?”

“Most likely. I made a good impression on them some months back, so it’s likely they remember me from that,” Casey answered, feeling his heart lighten. He was about to ask after Einar when another voice cut across their group.

“Estrid, there you are!” Another woman’s voice, this one far harsher than Estrid’s, had barked from the crowd of people. Like the echoes of her voice had split them, the crowd parted to allow the speaker through.

She was shorter, the crown of her head maybe reaching Casey’s nose, and clad in thick leather armor that had runes embossed over it, with a broad-bladed axe on her belt. The leather chestplate left her arms bare, exposing corded muscles and more than a few scars. Her dishwater blonde hair was also cut short, barely a finger-length, and sat in a windswept mess.

“Ragna, what does the council need?” Estrid asked, turning to face the harsh-voiced woman with a stiff posture that told Casey this was someone relatively important.

“I’m here to bring the clanless to them. They want to question him about the reports. I’m also to retrieve the surviving clan-members so that all three can give a full accounting and answer questions.”

“I’m here, Drengr Ragna,” Harald called from behind Casey, the broad-shouldered man hurrying along to join the harsh-looking woman. “Toric will be right along, he’s just sending my Shargra and his partner to the stables to rest.”

“Then the clanless?” Ragna demanded, raking her eyes over the group of aspirants huddling around Estrid like chicks under a mother hen.

“That’s me,” Casey said bluntly, the woman’s demanding attitude rubbing him the wrong way. Even though he knew that he’d be expected to answer questions about the whole debacle along the border, he hadn’t expected to be snatched directly off the ship like this.

And the fact you were excited to see that big lug Einar again doesn’t affect it, right? Maude teased him gently. I can’t fault you love, he was a good friend before and I am eager for you to reconnect with him.

Ragna’s sharp eyes turned to Casey and she studied him from boots to eyebrows before snorting and gesturing for him to come.

“The council of the Roaring Mountain requires your attendance. You will accompany me to them and answer their questions. Any attempts to attack the council will be met with force. Attempts to deceive them will result in you being expelled from the lands of the Roaring Mountain.”

Casey saw Vibeke stiffen out of the corner of his eye and gestured for her to calm down. The fiery spearwoman was quick to jump to his defense, and he couldn’t help but worry she’d say something to offend this woman who clearly had authority. The desire to prevent Vibeke from getting in trouble allowed Casey to hold in his temper.

“Understood. I had not expected to be called before them already, so I hope they will understand my travel-stained appearance,” Casey replied, turning his attention back to the armored woman.

Ragna snorted and looked away, as if such concerns were beneath her.

While they waited for Toric, Casey held a whispered conversation with Vibeke.

“This is the height of rudeness,” Vibeke insisted. “They shouldn’t be treating you like this.”

“It’s probably just her,” Casey reassured the younger woman. “I’ve dealt with worse and you remember how suspicious Lucas was initially. It’s fine, Vibeke. You don’t need to take offense for me so quickly.”

“But—”

“But you finally got here, to the Roaring Mountain. Don’t blow your chance over some rude words,” Casey cut her off quickly. “I need people I can trust to watch my back here. So far, I only have you and hopefully a friend or two from the Silver Hammer.”

Vibeke grimaced but nodded in understanding, before separating from him and going to join the others from the Oak Horde. Based on her expression, it was obvious she wasn’t happy, but Casey would take that and her still being here rather than offend and be kicked out.

Toric quickly joined them, the quiet drengr falling in beside Harald with a serious look and a friendly nod to Casey.

When Ragna turned to lead them across the field towards the nearest tunnel that led into the mountain, she made it three steps before glancing back to ensure they were with her. When she saw Magnus following after Casey, she shook her head and pointed at the animal.

“The elk stays out here. He can either go with the Oak Horde aspirants, or to the stables.”

“You are welcome to order him all you want,” Casey replied with a shrug. “Magnus does what he wants to do. Magnus, do you want to go to the stables or with Vibeke?”

The elk blinked at him placidly before glancing towards Vibeke and then back at Casey. It was only because of Casey’s time spent in close proximity to the animal that he recognized Magnus was playing dumb. He could see from the glint in the animal’s eyes that Magnus was wary.

When the elk stepped up to lean into him, Casey returned his attention to Ragna with a shrug.

The armored woman narrowed her eyes at Casey, and then at Magnus, but she didn’t press it. Apparently, the elk’s attitude that where Casey went, so did he, quelled the woman’s concerns.

Ragna turned and began stomping over the packed earth of the field once more, trailing the three men and the elk behind her in a strange procession that led into the heart of the Roaring Mountain.