Chapter Eleven
The morning was strained between the two of them, filled with a sense of awkwardness that hadn't been there prior to the crypt and events that occurred within. The larger space of their home allowed them to move around each other versus the constant ebb and pull that came with constantly being in near contact with each other. Breakfast was easily made while weapons were repaired and gear rechecked to make certain they had everything needed for their mission.
Despite the ease of their divided labor the silence between them yawned into an exhausting void that threatened to shatter into something violent at the wrong expression. Katla kept her thoughts to herself, ignoring her discomfort as she accepted the repaired bow along with her spear. Her pack empty except for the packaged meals needed for the day she was amply prepared to face the day as they headed away into the murky gloaming of the early morning.
The soft sound of their breath, the breeze against the tall grass, and soft noises of the necks splashing in the low eddies of the river became the symphony of their exodus. A concert that ended as they reached the clear delineation between the meadows and the denser heavier Black Forest. The rustling in the undergrowth could be accounted for by the normal ravens that nested within, a stray deer perhaps, or the larger and more formidable Gray Dwarfs. Here the strained silence couldn't continue as each of them debated the next course of action. Katla sighed before breaking the tenuous truce between them.
"I think we should stay closer to upward slope of the mountain." Katla motioned towards the game trail that looped up through the trees, leading past a few thickets of blueberries, small trees, and jutting stacks of rocks. The path was mostly clear with a good vantage for the terrain below. "It will allow us to scout the area better and make a plan." Katla justified the selection as Bjorn looked at her; his brow furrowed in confusion as he looked between the path she had selected.
"Following along the waterline would be easier." He motioned along the slow moving river and the slightly smoother terrain. As the river looped around a small jutting arm of land the path faded from easy visibility as the trees thickened along the way. Katla frowned slightly as she weighed the difference between the two different trails. Both were valid options and had their own negative potentials as well as the positives. Her teeth worried over her lower lip as she debated silently over the options.
"Maybe, we take the higher route and then return back along the river when we are tired?" Katla offered the compromise as an olive branch. Bjorn's grunt and sharp nod was enough agreement for her to continue forward. Together they stepped forward before falling into single file as they worked along the narrow path pausing only to gather a few handfuls berries. As they worked along the dark undergrowth the pair took turns tackling the aggressive gray dwarves that rushed from the underbrush. Larger, stronger, and faster than the graylings found along the edges of the meadow they proved a menace but were loud enough in their approach Katla and Bjorn were able to avoid being caught unaware.
The trek further into the dark interior of the forest was staggered as they paused to forage an odd handful of berries, some white flowers that ended up being carrot seeds, and the odd branch to add to their packs. At midday they paused, taking a seat on an outcropping of rock with greenish veins laced through. The forest was thinner there and the bright sunlight that filtered through the brushy pine branches heated the stone beneath them easing away the fatigue of their march. Their meal was spent in silence, as Bjorn handed out the portions of roast deer, while Katla portioned out the raspberries prepared for their meal.
"At least this is nice." Katla broke the silence between them. Her face tipped back into the dappled sunlight allowing the diluted warmth to bask over her skin. A soft breath escaped her as she gave herself the opportunity to relax even that tiny little bit. Bjorn just hummed under his breath, shifting slightly as he leaned back against the support offered by the stone, his hammer still within easy reach.
"We need to find another one of those crypts." Bjorn reluctantly broke the moment of ease between them. The time for leisure had since passed and the remains of their picnic was discarded into the brush. Grease from the roast meat wiped away on the leather of their clothing as both shouldered their packs back on and picked up their weapons.
"I know. We can shelter overnight in one so we don't have to worry about travelling in the night." Katla picked up another stone as they walked, adding it to the stockpile needed to make a small campfire. The sharp clack of bones caused them to pause as the pair of them searched through the thick shadows; hunting for the source. A slab of rock jutted straight out from the ground and around it stood three skeletons, one armed with a bow, while the other two carried swords and shields. At Bjorn's jerked nod Katla shifted her pack around to fish out her bow. Carefully she adjusted her stance before nocking an arrow taking aim at the bow-skeleton first.
As she released the arrow, she briefly felt the brush of the fletching against her cheek and the sharp sting of the bowstring slapping against her forearm where her stance had faltered just slightly. The sting was easily dismissed as she watched her target stagger and she quickly lined up another arrow before it could recover. Her second shot brought it down as the other two skeletons sighted fully on the pair off them and started their charge.
Bjorn lifted his shield and moved to provide a barrier between Katla and the advancing skeletons as she lined up another shot. This one missed, sailing neatly over the lead skeleton's head and sticking in a tree, the white feathers bright and mocking against the dark bark of the pine. Katla didn't pause to sulk, ignoring the burn along her arm where the string had struck, as she lined up another shot, this one caught the second skeleton's shield throwing it off balance long enough for Bjorn to step into the first skeleton. His shield bashed against the monster's as the man used his greater weight to push the creature off balance. As the skeleton jolted back, Bjorn used the momentum of his movement to bring his hammer to bear, striking with a harsh cracking as the stone head shattered along brittle rib bones. The skeleton shoved back, throwing Bjorn back enough that Katla was able to catch it through the eye socket with her next shot.
"Bjorn, to your left!" The shout left her lips as she reached for another arrow, she could feel her arms shaking at the strain of pulling the bow one in such quick succession. Her teeth grit as she lined up another shot only to glance along the skeleton's shoulder. Bjorn didn't waste the breath to reply instead turning as he used his shield as bludgeoning weapon catching the monster along it's right side. The turn continued as he swung his arm around the hammer's strike sent shards of skull flying as the skeleton dissolved into so much dust before its body could even reach the ground.
They didn't waste time, each of them darted forward despite their exhaustion, towards the opening in the ground plunging into the stagnant dark chamber within. The dim sickly green-yellow glow of the mushrooms within barely illuminated the room straining their eyes to peer past the shadows. Much like the last one there were three openings, two with no doors and a third with a door.
"Torch, Katla. We will start at the right and work our way around." Bjorn seemed to have recovered his footing faster than her. Katla rubbed at her sore forearm, seeing already the blooming of a large bruise along it, as she pulled the supplies needed for the torch and setting it aflame.
"Sound enough plan. Ready?" She shifted to take point as they had agreed. Her careful breech into the hallway lit the way as she held far enough to one side that Bjorn could easily push past as needed. A tactic that sounded better than what actually occurred with their first run in with a group of skeletons. Instead of falling back Katla acted with instinctive panic and swung her torch at the first skeleton to pop out, striking it hard against the shoulder, leaving both her and the Skeleton screeching.
Bjorn's hard jerk on her shoulder pulled her back hard enough she fell on her ass, hitting the ground hard enough her teeth clicked together and she tasted blood from where her teeth caught her tongue. Her vision swam as she worked to find her breath again, the vision of Bjorn slamming into the horde of skeletons with just the hefty oak shield between him and the pitted iron of their blades, flickered between orange hued and pure shadows.
The moment passed and she was back on her feet, breathing again under control, as she held the torch up giving Bjorn space as he slammed through the last two skeletons. The fight over he turned, his expression almost frantic as he looked her over. "Behind me, the plan was to fall behind me" The words were half shouted, accusatory as he reached to grab her wrist, pulling her further down the hallway. "Stay close this time. I will take lead." The anger leached away from his voice with each step. The first branch was just a small nook with two of the glowing sertling cores on their iron stands. Without question both were gathered and shoved into Katla's rucksack.
They continued through, the small fights were more organized as they entered each branch with Katla slipping ahead to open the doors while Bjorn pushed forward to strike the monsters before they could push through the doorway. By the end of their exploration they had gathered a good handful of rubies, a total of five cores, several handfuls of gold coins, amber in various forms, and even some iron tipped arrows. Dusty, exhausted, and covered in a mixture of bone dust and sweat the pair retreated back to the entry chamber.
"Decent enough haul, camp here or risk the trip home?" Katla asked before she plopped onto the ground. Bjorn gave a short laugh in return as he joined her on the hard rocky ground.
"Good thing I packed dinner. Set up a fire and settle in?" He didn't bother to qualify the reply. Instead, he turned directly towards rummaging through the pack to pull out another wrapped bundle of roast deer meat while Katla constructed the fire pit. Warmth and light established, they settled shoulder to shoulder to eat their dinner.
"So, how should we work sleeping arrangements?" Katla was the first to broach the obvious subject that loomed into the evening air as the adrenaline drained from their systems leaving them simply tired. "Shifts or?" The crypt was silent outside of their breathing and the soft crackle of flames.
"Help me move that rock there to block the entrance. We can sleep the whole night that way." Bjorn groaned as he leveraged himself to his feet. Tired and sore they worked together to push the large stone over the opening blocking it from anything wandering inside. Contented, they both slumped down again before the fire, Katla attempted to adjust the lumpy hard surface of her rucksack into something resembling a pillow before giving up to curl up on the bare ground.
"Come here.. just for tonight. It is chilly." Bjorn lifted his head from his own equally lumpy pack, offering a spot against himself and the somewhat softer surface of his arm to rest on.
"Just tonight." Katla didn't hesitate before crawling against him, resting her head against his bicep, letting the heat of body and steady beat of his heart lull her towards slumber.
"Just tonight." The rumbling agreement came as sleep took them both.