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Olaf, the Witch-Breaker?
Gotta love these Viking names.
“And where does mighty Olaf live?” Ere asked, his subtly mocking tone and innocently widened eyes making a look of confusion pass over the farmer’s face.
He couldn’t help it. The name Olaf, even attached to the modifier “Witch-Breaker” failed to make Ere quake in his boots or even straighten his spine with respect. It brought to mind the snowman fromFrozen.
Notat all intimidating.
“Uh…a mile or so east of here,” the farmer answered, not sure what to make of Ere’s thorns and edges. Deciding that he was laughing with him rather than at him. Even though he hadn’t said anything humorous.
“Not far. It just so happens that he is hosting a feast tomorrow night for the entire village. Midsummer festival, you know. You will be welcomed as my guests. I will gladly pay tribute for you.”
Ere kept the chatty farmer company for a while, giving his taciturn mate a reprieve. Sorin stepped back, leaned against one of the wooden beams that held up the longhouse roof, and simply listened. Keen intelligence shone in his golden eyes.
The farmer revealed that there had been several raids in nearby villages recently. Today’s attack had been the first in his own village. It wasn’t uncommon for warrior chieftains to fight to amass more territory, farms and slaves.
This area was particularly fertile, both in terms of the farmlands and in the bountiful sea nearby. There had been more than one warlord who tried to usurp Olaf the Witch Breaker, but their Jarl had always triumphed.
Ere couldn’t wait to meet the man. Both because his curiosity was piqued and because he needed to make progress in the quest. Like yesterday.
After supper was laid out, and after he and Sorin dined with the family, Ere collected a large portion of each dish, along with a giant bowl of stew, onto a wooden board and excused himself.
He and Sorin exchanged a look, and the warrior dipped his head slightly in acknowledgement. It seemed that Kai wasn’t planning to come back inside to eat his food, so Ere decided to take the food to him.
He found the man sitting against the base of a gigantic oak tree with his eyes closed. But Ere knew that Kai was fully aware of his surroundings and anyone who might come upon him.
When they’d been dragons, Ere had tried many times to sneak up on Kai, using aerial ambushes to surprise him. But Kai was always ready for him.
In fact, the earth dragon was the one who always managed to startle Ere by making himself practically invisible amongst boulders and trees. His dragon scales had the ability to change colors, allowing him to blend into his surroundings like a chameleon.
Who was this male now, Ere wondered. How had he changed?
“I brought you supper,” Ere announced as he approached the big brute, setting the wooden board next to him.
“The rest of us have already eaten. There’s more inside if you want.”
Kai slitted his eyes open slightly and grunted.
That was his only acknowledgment before he tore into his food, shoveling and slurping the stew with swift efficiency. A minute later, he was already halfway through.
Ere grimaced as he watched, sitting with his legs bent next to the warrior, forearms draped over his knees.
“You know, it’s beneficial for your digestion if you chew your food at least thirty-two times before swallowing,” he related.
“You don’t seem to be chewing even once…”
Kai speared him with those fire opal eyes and flexed his jaw. But it looked more like he was grinding his molars in irritation than actually chewing.
“I’m just saying. Now that we’re all human for the duration of the quest, we gotta be nicer to our frail mortal frames. Stomach ulcers are a thing. So are diarrhea and constipation. And us stuck here without bidets and toilet paper. You shouldn’t take more risks.”
Kai glared at him, the fire in his ever-changing eyes swirling ominously.
“Talk too much,” he growled through a mouthful of food, the words barely coherent.
But Ere got the gist.
“Communication is a wondrous thing,” Ere quipped, unperturbed by the fulminating glower.
