Lachlan turns to me in question and I explain. “He sacrificed his arm to cage Fenrir, and thus helping to defeat Loki. He’s often known as the Feeder of the Wolf.”
Boudicca claps her hand together. “He’s also known as the most valiant, and victorious. Warriors would scratch his runes onto their blades before battle to ensure their victory. There’s several of Tyr’s runes marked all along the mountains here. You might see them when you go to the cave.”
Lachlan shifts so that he’s closer to me and blocks some of the wind that’s causing me to shiver. “Aye. Which brings us to our next problem—getting there.”
“What do you need?”
“We’ll need a horse and maybe a cart to drag it into the mountains. And you wouldn’t happen to know of any other stones like the Wayfinder that are here or elsewhere?”
“I think Odessa gifted another stone like that to Ishtar midway through her reign, before either of your existences.” She smirks at us. “It is hanging in their town square. She claimed it was a moonstone blessed by the goddess. But I’m not aware that she ever gifted anything to Olundy.”
I turn to Lachlan. “I guess that confirms our plans for our next stop.”
“It’s a bit late to go to the Wayfinder now.” Boudicca gazes up at the night sky. The northern lights flicker across her face. “How about I set you up in my spare room for tonight? You can head out first thing in the morning?”
The night air has turned colder, and I pull the cloak tighter around me. “That would be great, thank you.”
We follow Boudicca back through the village, stopping off to collect our packs from the boat and then up a winding lane until we get to a quaint stone cottage. It’s at the top of a hill overlooking the entire village and surrounded by a lovely garden of wildflowers. The vast ocean is visible to the east, right over the side of the cliff, and just behind the cottage is a dark forest. It’s illuminated by the northern lights, but it still looks dark, shadowed somehow even as snowcapped mountains rise out of the canopies and into the sky.
Boudicca nudges open her front door, the hinges rusted with age creak as she holds it open for us. A blast of heat chases the chill away thanks to the fire that roars in a stone fireplace. Its ample size takes up most of the back wall. To the right of the fireplace is a short hallway with two doors and to the left of the fireplace, visible beyond the arched opening, is a kitchen with a small wooden table. It’s covered with bowls full of oranges and potatoes. It’s so cozy, everything is easily visible from the steps of the front door. It’s decorated in warm tones, hand-stitched quilts, and watercolor landscapes. Torin would love this place.
“I have just the one spare room, so you’ll have to share,” she says a bit apologetically.
Lachlan and I share a look. “That’s not a problem. Thank you for having us.”
Boudicca leads us down the hallway to the right and points to the door in front of us.
“That’s the spare bedroom, and this door to the right is the bathing room. We’re a bit more rustic here than in the capital, so the water takes a while to heat up.” She frowns before shuffling out of our way.
“Perfect. I happen to love rustic.” I smile gratefully at her while Lachlan nudges the door open with an elbow and heaves the packs through.
It’s a charming room with a spacious iron bed covered in pelts and flannel quilts. It reminds me of the mountain cabin that my parents and I used to stay in during the winter months.
“My room is on the other side of the kitchen. Shout if you need anything,” she says, before turning and leaving us alone.
Lachlan stands on the threshold, staring at the bed.
“Ah man, I guess we’ll have to share the bed,” I tease, waggling my eyebrows.
“Aye well, I wasnae about to sleep on the floor,” he jokes back. Before quickly glancing up at me, eyes flaring. “Unless ye insisted and then I guess I could make do.”
I smother a laugh behind my hand and shake my head.
“You’re a bit too old to sleep on the floor. You might hurt yourself.”
Lachlan shifts his feet into a defensive stance while crossing his arms over his chest and arching a brow at me.
“Are ye insinuating that I’m old?”
My gaze sweeps along him intentionally, before shrugging. “Not old per se.”
Lachlan chuckles loudly before walking further into the room and falling backwards onto the bed.
“The last few days ha’ certainly made me feel a lot older than I am.”
“I feel that.” I sigh and fall backwards next to him. My body bounces against the firm mattress before I shimmy in close to his side.
“How are ye really?” His arm slides under my head and he pulls me flush against him.
