Signs of the Gods

[Freja]

Quest:

The winter chill was oddly enough set off with a spring breeze. The color slowly returning to the land, little snippets of green show through out the vast ocean of browns and white. The warm gust of air wrapping around my body like a sign from the God Odin. I am on the right path to finding what I wish.

"Freja Siggy Anders, quit your day dreaming girl and move your ass!" Floki billowed as I stared out towards the land of Raiaera. Glaring towards the mountain of a man that accompanied me; so much for peace this fine morning. "Shut it your ugly brute before I shove my dagger so far up your arse you will be my puppet!" I hollered back causing a thunderous laugh in response. A sinister grin leapt across my face before jumping down fluidly, landing next to the big oaf.

"Let us keep moving than!"

Shoving off the ground I pulled ahead of my company looking left to right. Bending down I picked up a leaf, letting it crumple in my hand; it again meeting the ground. Holding my nose up I inhaled deeply, drinking in the scents that surround me. The crisp winter air mixed with the smell of the upturn fresh soil assuming the farmers have now been able to break ground.

"Floki, get your slow ass up here!"

"Blast damn it woman, some of us can't move like the wind like you do!" The six foot seven inches of flesh finally met beside me moments later. Mumbling as he hunched over out of breath, "come on you fat man let's go!" Grumbling more I pushed at him, willing him to move faster. "How is it that you can shove your cock in anything that moves yet can not even go on a simple journey?" Another thunderous laugh came from my companion as he shook his head.

"Come girl we are almost where we need be."

[Cards of Fate]

The death screams of the local wildlife were haunting.

Vincent Cain stood silently and watched as three massive wolves with moss-matted fur ripped a large mountain elk apart with ease. Absently, he chewed his lips as he contemplated the damage these ferocious beasts could do on an armored soldier, or anything for that matter. The hounds quickly stripped all the flesh from the poor creature, leaving nothing left but partially dissolved bone and a pool of liquefied muscle.

"Alastor, Cerus, Atlas, Heel!" The Emperor snapped. The three hounds snapped to attention and bolted towards their master, digging their paws into the dirt to stop themselves as they halted right before the scholar. "Good puppies," Vince muttered patting each of them on the head and pulling a handful of acorns from a satchel at his hip and tossing each beast a few. They snapped them out of the air and let out playful barks as they began to pant, acidic drool leaking from their black lips.

Five months had passed since the purging of the Red Witch from Liderqualme, since the fated day Vince had slain the traitor to the Tarot Hierarchy. So much had happened all at once, his promotion to leader of his ancient order, the disappearance of his old boss...

It was bizarre that Vince had managed to find time to tame the most feral of creatures known to Raiaera. The three Dur'Taigen with him were the Alpha's of his pack, a large group of about thirty or so beasts. He had begun to take the more obedient hounds out of the cursed forest to go hunting and catch some fresh meat, a trial to see how well he could handle them in smaller missions.

So far everything seemed to be a success.

Atlas, the largest of the three let out a small yip to catch Vince's attention. "Yes boy?" The scholar inquired kneeling down. "What is it?" The hound pawed the ground and sniffed the air before letting out a small baleful how.

He smelled intruders, possibly Aleran spies.

"Find em!" Vince snapped, "But don't engage unless I say so!"

[Freja]

Floki simple ramblings where on the brink of driving me insane. Hitting him with the butt of my dagger in the stomach just to shut him up. "Enough with the damn talking! I want you to just shut the hell up, yammering away about nothing." His talking turned into groaning causing me to laugh a little at the pain I had inflicted on the giant brute. Sighing softly I pushed forward knowing he would catch up soon or later. The forestry thinned out slightly causing me to halt, holding my hand up closing my fist. The big bloke behind me stopped suddenly as well. Pebbles littered the ground around a small creek that ran over the rock, the singing of birds had stopped. Signs of enemies or a threat approaching, turning my nose up to the air. Inhaling deeply I couldn't tell exactly what but I knew the scent had changed and not simply because we were by running water.

"Floki, something or someone is coming be ready."

"Aye."

That said I gripped my dagger tightly unsheathing it from my left thigh holster. Flipping it in the air only to catch it again, the blade held on the inside of my forearm. Glancing at Floki he gripped his battle axe in hand a glint of excitement in his brown eyes. It had been more than three fortnights that we have shed blood and we craved to bathe in the crimson liquid of our enemies. The sound of pounding paws stirred slapping against the water, leaning back on my right foot giving my left foot leverage. The beasts came into sight charging forth before circling us like vultures. Kicking my foot out towards the jaw, catching it slightly with the tip of my foot. Yelping as it's companions growled closing the circle around us tighter. Floki had his back to me, his form towered over me easily as he swung at one of the monsters.

"Damn, Floki your aim is horrible no wonder you have no sons!"

Floki chuckled but only to have a wolf creature nip at him in warning. The pack animals seemed to be stirring us some way though not keen on wanting to flow but not having a choice. Yipping and snapping at us if we tried to go a different way than what they wanted. After a few more twist and turns we were only a few meters away from a lone man. "Ahh so this is where the pups wanted us to come." Floki billowed as he gripped his battle axe ready to throw it. Holding up my hand he dropped his axe to his side once more mumbling protest.

"Call off your pups before I slit their throats and pull their lungs out. We are here just as you told them to fetch us."

[Cards of Fate]

Vincent eyed the two before him with slight amusements. He had found vikings instead of Alerans apparently, especially one with no manners. He felt the visions of fate stirr slightly in the back of his mind, haphazardly letting the scholar know that this was possibly more than a mere coincidence. He turned his sapphire eyes once more over the stranger pair, the man standing only a few inches over him, and the woman a head or two shorter than him. They looked tough, but he had three of the deadliest predators known to this side of the world on his side.

"A lot of talk ma'am," Vince cooed raising his arms in a calming manner "for someone who wouldn't be alive if I hadn't told them not to kill you." he waved to the green wolves, acid dripping from their jaws as they circled. "The acid that drips from Atlas over there..." Vince continued motioning to the largest of the trio, "...has eaten through steel." He snapped his fingers and the three hounds broke formation and returned to Vincent who promptly tossed them each an acorn.

"Anywho, my name is Vincent Cain. I just needed to make sure you weren't Alerian spies." He chuckled for a moment and with another snap of his fingers, and a shower of blue sparks, he pulled out a decanter of amber liquid in one hand. The other seemingly reached out and pulled three cups from a shower of blue as well. "Perhaps hunting dogs was a bad way to start off, care for a drink?"

[Freja]

"I have smelled Floki's breath in the morning after he poured enough ale down his throat and bedded whores the night before and survived. Their spit would not be as bad."

Floki shoved at me causing me to stumble but laugh, tossing my elbow into his gut. "Your breath is no better woman! Non the less don't want to make this she devil angry with your empty threats." His thumb jabbed towards me causing me to roll my eyes at the name she devil. Looking or more like examining the wild beast, their color of green slightly matched the color of my orbs. They are indeed lovely to look at of all things, uncommon to anything I have ever seen. They looked as if they belonged to the forest or maybe the Earth itself. It was indeed an interesting thing to stare at and yet all that hard work for a simple nut. Watching how they react to the so called alpha command them and they obey.

"Freja, Freja! Dear Gods woman stop day dreaming. The man was offering you a drink!"

Tilting my head slightly which caused my blonde locks that were half up in a tight puffed out braid whilst the rest fell freely around my face to sway. Eyeing the man I arched a slender eyebrow. Send rabid beast after us than offer us something to drink, simply seems strange to me. Looking over at my sack of meat for an escort, his shoulders broad and strong, his sharp jaw line and dark brown hair. He also eyed the cup the man offered a stern look on his face as he tightened the grip of his axe.

"Floki you drink first so if it is poison you only die instead of us both."

A small giggle left my lips as I looked back towards the man before me that was somewhat offering us some strange sign of hospitality. Though I was indeed thirsty I simply wasn't going to take the first drink and die. Loosening my hold on my dagger, flipping it in between my fingers skillfully avoiding to cut myself. The big bloke glared at me and shook his head furiously glaring, cursing me in our native tongue.

[Cards of Fate]

Vincent raised and eyebrow at their skepticism and filled the three cups effortlessly, snapping his fingers once to dismiss the decanter and taking one glass with his free hand and effortlessly draining it in a single toss. Grinning he offered the other two with an outstretched hand. "There, if it's poison I will die before you." He crossed the gap between them with several strides and handed a glass to each of them, wary of any sudden movements.

In truth, Vincent Cain didn't need the wolves if push came to shove. He had fought worse in his days, and had even played a roll in killing would be dark goddesses. Two vikings that he could cut down before they had their weapons drawn didn't scare him too terribly much. Instead he chose to bask in the brisk sunlight. Spring was coming and the mountain snows were beginning to thaw. Soon the air would be filled with the mating calls of birds, and the trees filled with squirrels scrambling to discover their troves from the past fall.

The scholar took several steps away from the group and fetched the decanter once more from thin air, pouring himself another glass and shrugging. "Now then, since I've determined you are not in fact spies, who are you and why are you crossing the border illegally?"

[Freja]

I watched him drain the cup with little to no effort than simply closed the gap between us. His hand out stretched offering the cup, if it were poison it would have kicked in by now; right? Floki the dumb brute took the cup with out a second thought and drained it. A sigh of relief left his cracked lips before letting out a ghastly burp. Rolling my eyes I took the cup he still offered me, sniffing the liquid inside it almost smelled like ale. Licking my soft pink lips I eyed the man one last time before taking a long swig. Swallowing it a soft moan caused me to tilt my head back in satisfaction with only having drank water from streams here and there. Another few swigs and the contents were gone before I knew it frowning sadly inside the glass. I hadn't realized that being on the run for so long I would miss the little things like drinking ale and enjoying carefree things. A small pout sauntered across my lips as I sighed softly before looking at the unknown man.

"Sorry can never be to careful with somethings, where I come from I once watched a Princess poison her own brother for nothing more than a simple disclaim over the throne."

Shrugging slightly I offered my cup to Floki who also shared the same sad smile I had. Taking it from my grasp before sheathing my dagger that was on my upper left thigh. My face twisted as I had realized I hadn't introduced myself or my companion. "I am Freja, Freja Anders and this is Floki Lorinbrook. He is like a body guard that doesn't do much but bitch and complain because he is getting old a fat." As on que his thunderous laughter shook the earth damn near as clutched his stomach bent over. Shaking my head at his annoying laugh waiting for it to die down which didn't take long as his laughter turned into groans as I yanked on his beard.

"Nice to meet you Vincent Cain, thank you for the drinks."

Pursing my face as the conversation went straight from light greetings to heavy questions. Illegally? I really need to start listening to all that he says.. This lack of sleep is getting too me.. Chewing on my lower lip unsure of how or what to act like with such a loaded questions. "Have you not heard of wonderers? Do you not have merchants that simply walk the land? How do you illegally cross a boarder when myself and Floki do not know where the hell the boarders start for one land and end for another?"

There were lots of questions that need to be answered and this man better give them to me as my defense is now on high alert. "And also what do you intend to do with us Vincent Cain since we are breaking your law? I promise I will not go down easy for simply not knowing the silly rules of this foreign land." Arching my eye brow my face remained blank but on the inside a storm raged on as my heart thundered in my chest awaiting such answers.

[Cards of Fate]

The scholar raised an eyebrow at the fiery woman's words, either she was much stronger than most, incredibly brave, or plain stupid. A smile crossed the scholar's lips, her temper reminded her of himself a long time ago, when this world was also fresh to him. He snapped his fingers and muttered a few hushed tones to the hounds before they set off in a sprint out of the clearing, howls trailing behind them. "Trust is very important when it comes to travelers meeting for the first time. Whatever you're looking for, I doubt you'll find it any further east from here. The land beyond is known as Raiaera, if you did not know, and it's currently a shell of its former self." The scholar stretched and cracked his neck, letting out a grunt as he did so before continuing.

"Unless you're looking to earn glory in combat with the unending hordes of undead that plague the land, you'll find little else here. The purging of the Red Forest is long over, so there's no glory to be found there." The wind gusted slightly through the clearing, causing the scholars cloak to flap slightly in the breeze. "Tell me, from where do you hail? What do you seek? Perhaps I can help you?"

(Short Im sorry, when we get into whatever we actually intend to do my posts will get bigger.)

[Freja]

"You don't not just give trust to a stranger, that is how someone dies. You Vincent must earn mine and Floki's trust as we must earn yours. Though this very intense conversation simply lends to us just arguing in circles." Sighing softly I slightly leaned against Floki, the endless days of rough traveling slowly starting to drag me down. Floki wrapped a beefy, protective arm around me supporting more of my weight than I was. My forest green orbs wondered to the wolf like beast as they followed their leaders command. A soft smile dances across my pink supple lips, oh what it is to be free, to only answer when called and follow a few orders than released to do as you please. A small nudge brought me back from my day dreaming. Glancing up at Floki he looked worried, his leathery aged face etched with concern as I gave him a soft smile or reassurance.

Clearing my throat I felt a small dry spot, "I don't wish for any of that, just a place to lay low and regroup is all." Standing up straight again Floki still kept a warm hand on my shoulder giving it a small squeeze. "It doesn't matter of our past, there isn't anything there for us any more. I come from an old land where Vikings rule. Floki and I fled from someone that wants to rip my heart from my chest and eat it." Floki let out a small growl of disgust while spitting on the ground mumbling a few curse words in our native tongue. Patting his hand to calm him down before looking back at the male known as Vincent. "We don't want any trouble but I didn't just flea my homeland to come to another just to be locked away."

Glancing over at where the beasts had run off too I lifted my nose up into the air sniffing slightly. Glancing over at my companion he nodded before he ran off into the woods. Chewing on the inside of my cheek I looked back at the male that seemed a bit confused.

"There is someone coming so unless you summoned back up you better getting ready for whatever is coming because there is about-" Closing my eyes I focused and sniffed again smelling three different scents that seemed off. "Three people and there is something off about their scents that is off..."

[Cards of Fate]

The scholar chewed his lip as his mind raced. Who else could possibly be lurking in these mountains? He snapped his fingers and pulled out an ornate Damascus blade from a shower of blue sparks. He silently cursed the fact the he had dismissed his hounds so quickly, such a fight would be infinitely easier with a pack of hounds at his side.

"I have no clue who they could be, but given the nature of this territory we should be ready for anything ranging from undead to dark elf spies" he flourished his blade a bit and cracked his neck. "I hope you're as good with blade as you say you are."

(Its short but I felt bad for making you wait so long. Bring the baddies in and we can start cracking skulls!)