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Chapter Eight
“A hungry wolf is bound to wage a hard battle.”
—Laxdaela Saga
“Valkyries, trolls and Draugar… what next?”
Ere threw the question between the both of them as he and Sorin sat in a torchlit cavern at the base of the ice mountain. They had arrived a while ago and were shown to their already paid for ice house for the night.
Ere was pleasantly surprised that Kai had apparently settled their accounts. He didn’t know what he’d do otherwise for payment, for they only had some stocks and provisions that the donkey carried, but no “treasures” for the trolls.
Ere would never, even over his dead body, part with the feather pendant that Sorin had given him.
It contained the precious blood from Sorin’s beating heart in the calamus, like sparkling liquid rubies. ItwasSorin’s heart. All of his love condensed in the form of a golden feather on a golden chain woven from his hair that heated Ere’s body from the inside out.
In dragon form, the feather became an amulet embedded in Ere’s chest. He had no proof, but hefeltthat it gave him more power. More strength. Most of all, it emboldened him, filled him with the unwavering belief that he could conquer anything as long as Sorin was with him.
But beyond the beautiful necklace which the trolls did indeed eye avariciously, and which Ere had to clutch in his fist to protect it from view, they had no coins or other valuables on their persons. That Kai was thoughtful enough to pay their way made Ere all gooey and toasty inside.
Aww.
The big lug cared.
Even if he’d never admit it.
Their horses were led to a structure that housed many other animals, while the donkey was strangely fussed over by the trolls, who gave it its own stable. Two trolls set about grooming its long, matted hair while another two saw to its water and food.
Ere felt like the beast was getting better treatment than him and Sorin, damn it. What was so special about the wooly creature? Perhaps he ought to add it to his running list of strange beings encountered on this quest.
He took a sip of his honeyed ale and scanned his watchful eyes around the cavern.
“What other magical beings might we meet next?” he mused.
“At least a Red Witch, if she really is a witch,” he answered his own question, since Sorin was mostly silent as usual.
“Or perhaps a madwoman who spews random prophesies,” he muttered.
“As per standard protocol on these adventures, we have no way of knowing whether we’re even headed in the right direction. On the right track. The Jade Emperor is a real piece of work, coming up with all these confounded wild goose hunts. It’s entirely possible he’s sitting somewhere in the Celestial Realm laughing at us while twiddling his thumbs.”
The cavern contained a main hall where travelers and trolls gathered for food and drink. Off to the sides were tunnels that led deeper into the mountain. Sparsely placed torches punctuated the darkness with warm, albeit eerie, glows, but most of their surroundings were still hidden in shadows.
There weren’t many people, only a few tables. The only other humans sat at a small table in the corner. A man and a woman bundled in furs. Ere made a mental note to dig them for information before they settled for the night.
“What do they all mean, do you suppose?” he asked his Mate while keeping his eyes on the few patrons and workers that came and went.
The trolls were terribly unhelpful when Ere peppered them with questions earlier. The small ones only grunted or scurried away. The larger ones stared blackly down at him and breathed foul odors upon his face.
Shifu had mentioned that wherever they were sent to, no matter the time and place, they would have the ability to communicate with everyone they met. Apparently, trolls were the exception, for Ere couldn’t comprehend a single intelligent thought from their grunt and snort patterns. He didn’t catch them speaking to each other in their own language either.
“Moreover, are the quests related in any way?” he continued to speculate.
“You have theories,” Sorin finally spoke, his low voice a vibration that hummed throughout Ere’s body to hear it.
“I always have theories,” Ere agreed. “Well, less theory and more a collection of clues or common denominators.”
“Let’s hear them,” Sorin prompted.
“Each of our quests have to do with dragons, that is clear,” he began, gathering his thoughts.
