Chapter Fifteen

"Close your eyes and hold out your hands." Bjorn's demand jerked her attention from the deer stew she was currently working over the fire. The rich scent of carrots, venison, and blueberries almost overrode the slightly arcid scent of woodsmoke. Just a moment longer and it would be finished. 

"Why?" Suspicion tinged her reply as she looked up from the bubbling pot in front of her. He just looked at her, both of his hands suspiciously tucked behind his back. There was something mischievous in his expression but he had proven mostly trustworthy over the past several weeks. 

Without him, she couldn't have managed to kill the other five trolls they had run across. The strategy of his keeping the creature's attention close range while she shot it full of arrows from a distance, while a higher risk left Bjorn far more comfortable. The fact they both were fully dressed in blue troll hide armor that felt substantially more protective than the simple deer leather was the only mollifying aspect of having watched him dart around the monster's giant legs with nothing more than a flimsy wooden shield and crude flint axe.

"Fine, let me get this stew ladled out first though." She sighed before quickly portioning out the finished meal and sitting it on the small table that now graced the tiny living space of their house. Once empty the pot seemed to cleanse itself of any remaining residue and despite finding it eerie Katla really couldn't find it in her to be upset over not having to scrub dishes after every meal. 

Contented that the food was set out and while it was cooling, it wouldn't be cold, she turned around and closed her eyes while holding out both hands palms up. The feel of smooth wood was the first thing she could identify as the weight pressed against her palms. Reflexively her fingers curled around the item feeling the smoothness of the worked and flatened corewood. Her eyes opened to grin at the new bow. 

She had been so busy with readjusting their living quarters, growing and harvesting the carrots, and tending bees, that she had continued to put off making the newer bow; despite knowing it would be easier for their battles with the trolls. The bow was lovely, both supple and strong. The string bow string was a three-twine twist that would hold its elasticity for a long period and the fibers felt as if they were covered in a light coat of beeswax to make it moisture resistant. 

"Now you can throw that beat-up old bow into a chest and forget about it." Bjorn nervously rubbed his hand at the back of his neck, uncertain of how she felt about the gift; suddenly nervous that he had overstepped himself by creating the weapon for her. A nervousness cleared up when she looked up at him and cast a bright smile before test drawing and slowly releasing the bow. The draw weight was a bit heavier than the sad crude little bow she had made on the fly all those weeks ago. 

How many days had she been here now? Twenty-two, twenty-five? Katla wasn't certain as they just seemed to roll over onto each other as the various tasks of just living consumed their waking hours. Katla pushed the anxiety away that came with counting the time spent in this purgatory realm. With a deep breath, she carefully placed the bow on the table next to her bowl of food. 

"Thank you, it will be a huge improvement. The extra weight should give me a bit more distance and accuracy, more so using fletched arrows instead of the wooden darts I was using previously." She sat down on her chair before picking up her spoon to bring the fragrant stew to her mouth. Still steaming, she was careful with that first bite to avoid burning her mouth. A soft noise of pleasure escaped her.

The first meal since coming that wasn't just pure roast meat. The stew was rich with flavor, and the mixture of textures was reward enough for all the hours spent cultivating the garden, building the fence around the garden, planting the seeds, pulling carrots, replanting, and such until they had a sufficient amount of the vaguely sweet root vegetable to start using in their meals. The sound of the other chair adjusting drug her eyes up from her bowl as Bjorn joined her.

His appreciation wasn't as subtle or as careful. After a first bite, he set to devour the stew in furious spoonfuls. Katla's own measured pace was tidy and allowed her to carefully chew the bite-sized chunks of meat and carrot while she silently wondered how her companion didn't choke on his food as he seemed to completely skip the chewing process before going straight to the next spoonful. 

"How goes the construction of the Karve?" Katla broke the silence as they finished their dinner. The warmth of the fire and full bellies of hot food lulled them both. While she had worked on upgrading their food and living conditions Bjorn had been hard at work gathering supplies, smithing, and otherwise putting together the basics for a small version of a dragonship. It wouldn't be ideal for the open ocean but small straights or rivers were well within the small ship's capabilities. 

"Should have it up tomorrow. Do we have enough surtling to make one of those portals and another later?" They had discussed over and over what they should do about this homestead as their mission led them further away from their small home on the edge of the peaceful meadow. The portals had finally come up as they both were able to access the knowledge of how to construct one. The majority of the ingredients were common enough; gray dwarf eyes and finewood. All things they currently had in abundance. It was the surtling cores that were a bit more elusive to come across.

"No, we need more. We just had enough to make the smelter and charcoal kiln." Katla tipped her head as the familiar sound of falling rain broke up the twilight air. Tomorrow would be misty with the low fog that seemed to linger well past midday after each of these heavy evening storms. "Which means we will have to find another burial site to explore." The tone of her voice gave away her exact lack of enthusiasm. 

She had an innate dislike of the subterranean labyrinths and the disconcerting skeletons that lurked within. The way those black empty eye sockets seemed to have some spark of intellect within them; or how their parted jaws seemed more mocking than just simply lacking the muscles to keep their mouths closed. Just the clacking of their bones sent shudders through her, but it would be one step closer to getting them to their next mission and hopefully finding other humans. 

"Hmm. Then I suppose we should get an early rest. Do you have enough arrows and premade torches?" Bjorn inquired as he watched both their stew bowls cleanse themselves before he stacked them and put them carefully into the chest near the food preparation area. Neither of them knew what to make of this world's quirks. Not having to butcher out their kills or do dishes, was a definite bonus. Having to avoid being killed by angry compost heaps, monsters with too little clothing, and skeletons with way too much agility for something made of nothing but bone and spite was not an ideal factor. 

"I have both. I have made enough extra food for us to take with us so that should help too. Hopefully, it will be a bit easier with our newer gear and the bronze tools we now have." Katla replied as she leaned back in her chair, contentedly watching the flicker of flame cast shadows along the walls of the small house. Their next home would need to be a bit larger to accommodate the list of other items that were becoming available to them. The main one was a fermentor; the promise of mead made tending the cranky insects a rewarding chore. 

"Good, good," Bjorn grunted waiting for her to rise first, always watching and waiting for something. Katla couldn't decide what he watched for but each night he waited for her to seek her bed first. Not since her last round of nightmares had he joined her on her narrow cot and now he seemed at a loss right before sleep. She did the only thing she could do and put the new bow into her rucksack before heading off to her small partition of a room. Katla lay there for a moment, listening as Bjorn clambered into his bed. The soft sound of rustling dried grasses, the creak of the crude boards that held it together, and the sigh of the large man were enough to lull her to sleep. 

The next morning came sooner than she would have liked, but at least her sleep was deep and dreamless allowing her to rest and wake without the disorientation that came with those dreams. As she had guessed the outside weather was misty, with some of the low-laying fog having perfused through the rough walls of their home. The mist swirled around her ankles as she walked through the home to stir up the fire once more, breaking up the gloomy gray with the cheery orange flicker. The heat helped dispel some of the damp air, warming up the surroundings enough to ease away the goosebumps that danced over her skin. 

Out of routine, she started their breakfast, another round of the filling stew, while roasting some extra boar and deer meat to pack up for later. Outside she could hear the soft snuffling of the pigs and piglets confirming that Bjorn was already awake and doing the routine first of the morning chores that would wait for no one. Just as the stew was completed the door opened and with dual thuds Bjorn stepped inside after using the threshold to knock off any clinging bits of mud. 

"Ready to leave after breakfast?" They didn't bother with morning pleasantries. There was no need for the polite greetings between them and daylight was precious enough that they tended to go directly to business of the day. Katla just gave a soft grunt in reply before dropping into her chair to start eating. 

"I think we should try the North Eastern part of the forest, we haven't explored there yet. My pack is empty outside of the essentials so we can turn it into a foraging run as well." Katla broke the silence between them midway through their meal. Bjorn looked up from his meal, his gaze considering before giving a little nod of agreement. 

Once their meal was complete and items put away they set out. Comfortable enough with the graylings of the meadows, the random boars that occasionally charged, and the lone gray dwarf their pace was quick but relaxed; pausing only to gather the random raspberry or mushroom. The easy air they carried the meadows only ebbed slightly as they stepped into the darker interior of the forest. A new area to explore they set forward carefully, watching for the signature purple flames that signaled a gray dwarf nest or the blue and lichen-green of a troll lurking through the trees. 

Occasionally Katla would pause gathering up more blueberries, several handfuls of carrot seeds, and more mushrooms. Their keen ears listened for the clinking and faint grinding sound of skeletons on patrol. The random gray dwarves that did appear were easily dispatched between the two of them with only one random Brute and Shaman combo catching them up. The green miasma of poison combined with the harsh blows from the brute forced them to each take a gray dwarf with Katla shooting down the shaman while Bjorn killed the Brute. 

"Ugh... nasty things" Bjorn grumbled while they both took a moment to catch their breath. The forest was silent outside the harsh rasp of their breathing and soft laughter that Katla gave at Bjorn's dry remark. As if they had run into anything but nasty, hateful, and violent creatures in this world. Even most of the wildlife wanted to kill them; though deer remained deer and were more than happy to run away. 

"All the nasty, except the one we are looking for." Katla snorted as she put her bow back into her sack to continue their hike through the forest. Her head tipped as she scanned through the trees trying to see any sort of stone formation that might give away the location of a burial site. 

"Can't ever be easy, can it?" Bjorn grumbled before setting off through the forest. Katla snorted in return before jogging to catch up with him. The hours were marked by the changing angles of the dappled shadows through the tree and Katla was certain they would be finding a rough space to camp before finding another burial site. Finally, they heard the telling clank of bones and the hard chittering of fleshless teeth clicking together in the strange communication shared between the monsters. 

A sigh escaped them both as they shared a look of excited anticipation as they followed the sounds. Instead of a cairn that protruded from the earth, they found a hole in the ground with a set of stone stairs to guide them down into the crypt beneath. The flash of metal gave away the location of the skeletons that guarded the entrance. Without much thought they both darted from brush to rush down the stairs, avoiding the guards before the skeletons could be alerted to their presence. 

Again they were faced with three doorways. Two without a door to block, the one straight ahead and the one to the left, with the rightmost door closed with the flickering light of a lit torch seeping out through the half-rotten slats. Katla sighed as she weighed their choices. No skeletons came charging out of the hallways immediately to make their decision easier. 

"Left?" Both of them looked at each other as they spoke in tandem. It made sense to start on the outside and work their way in. In agreement, Katla pulled out a torch and lit it brightening the gloam enough for them to see better as they started winding their way through the catacombs. The left side was easy, routine, complete with a couple of evil bone piles that Bjorn made quick work with using his mace, and Katla was able to fend off the skeletons it spawned by using her torch as a club. The new armor blocked most of the damage that came from the dull swords striking against ribs and limbs and Katla found herself almost enjoying watching the skeletons fall into little heaps on the ground. 

Center was much the same, though, unlike the left which had only yielded a few treasure chests, provided a stash of four surtling cores. The final right side had them pausing. It was getting late, probably already sunset outside the crypt. Katla was tired, but the idea of trekking out of the forest at night was worse than spending it awake and exploring the rest of this crypt. 

"Let's eat, then finish. We can decide what to do after that.." Bjorn decided for them as he took a seat on the raised steps that led from the entrance of the crypt. The diluted sunlight still so much brighter than the absolute dark of underground offered a relative sense of safety. 

"I could eat." Katla grinned before dropping down next to him. She passed out the small travel portion sizes of boar jerky, roast deer meat, and roast boar. Perfect portal foods that increased their energy and helped them take a moment to breathe before starting the next portion of their exploration. Carefully she shifted her rucksack, adjusting it and the weight it had taken on over the day. They ate in comfortable silence between them before they rose and with a sigh turned towards the final door.

"I feel a little nervous about this.." Katla uttered as they opened the door. She didn't waiver though as she stepped forward, holding the torch high to give them the best line of sight. The first few rooms were nothing surprising. A handful of skeletons, a few alters with small pearls of amber, some coins, and chests filled with mundane but useful items. As they approached what seemed to be the final turn and doorway of the branch Katla had decided her feeling was just a symptom of exhaustion.

"Ready?" Bjorn placed his hand on the door, ready to shove it open. The final doorway offered the hint of glowing and flickering red that usually indicated a chamber filled with surtling cores. A bonus find to add to the ones they had already found. Katla took a deep breath before releasing it and giving a little nod.

"As I ever will." At her words, the door was shoved inwards and both braced for skeletons to emerge. Nothing but a purply black cloud that swirled malevolently in the center of the stone chamber ahead. Both stared at it in confusion, trying to decide if they should step forward into the room or hold. The decision was ripped from their hands as the cloud came forward and ran straight into Bjorn. The shout that escaped him was a combination of surprise and pain. 

Katla didn't think as she lunged forward, swinging her torch through the misty darkness. Wicked evil red eyes glowed through the swirling purple black cloud. A cry of pain escaped Katla as the ghost lashed over the bared flesh of her forearms leaving angry red gashes behind. She didn't stop swinging the torch as she shoved herself further toward the cloud, pushing it off Bjorn while swinging the torch through the creature. Her arms and face burned with open seeping cuts along them as both she and Bjorn stumbled back out of the ghost.

Suddenly as it started it was gone. The heavy oppressive weight in the air was suddenly gone along with the misty form of the ghost. Bjorn dropped to the ground with a groan and Katla joined him with an echoing whimper. Shoulder to shoulder they sat in the relative safety of the small stone room and its lit torch and the three additional surtling cores. Slowly the wounds stopped burning and Katla watched as the ones on her arms and hands slowly sealed up. 

"The fuck was that?" Katla spoke first, her breath finally caught and her voice found as the worst of the stinging pain eased away. 

"No fucking clue but it ate right through my armor. Hurt like a wicked bitch." Bjorn groaned as he leaned forward his arms draped over his thighs as he breathed through the process of his wounds sealing and healing. 

"Well, it didn't like fire." Katla filed away the knowledge along with a mental note to avoid more of those purple-black murder clouds. Healed enough to stagger to their feet the duo claimed the last of the hardwon cores before limping their way back to the entrance. The main chamber was just as dark as the rest of the catacombs giving away that it was dark outside. Night had fallen and Katla dreaded trying to make their way home in the dark and cold. 

"Let's just rest here for the night. We have enough food and we could use a respite." Bjorn offered as they sat down on the hard stone ground with their backs against the slightly damp cool stone wall. Absently he fished out a handful of jerky to chew on as he worked on cataloguing his injuries. 

"Good, I am tired down to my bones." She didn't bother to hide her relief as she tipped her head back against the stone using it to stretch out her sore neck and shoulders. Sometime during the night, she drifted off, unaware that they ended up leaning against each other as they dozed lightly, alert through the fog of exhaustion.