Cathal prepares to move south with Dolan and the rest of the
warriors provided by Fulgrim. Njorna enters the yard, visibly distraught, and
rushes to Cathal, saying she has seen the blood of Thrumrsson’s hostages
staining the gold they prepare to send in payment for the Gryphon stone. Cathal’s
conscience takes control, and he commands his warriors to make ready for the
ride back to the bear lord’s hold.
The journey is quicker this time; they ride hard and know the terrain better. Cathal sends out scouts and outriders upon crossing into The White Witch’s Realm. One returns with news that Thrumrsson’s hold is under attack. Cathal, worried that the Yngvi captives may be in imminent danger, forces a march the rest of the way.
When they reach the hold, the Northern walls are under assault by another, superior band of Trygvaar warriors. Thrumrsson’s fortress is ablaze, and chaos calls out within. Cathal wastes no time. He gathers his swiftest and quietest followers, and scales the south wall of the fortress. They meet no resistance there. It seems all of the bear-chief’s fighters are occupied. Cathal orders a few warriors to the south-east gate to let in the rest of their band, ordering them to secure their retreat. He orders his three scouts to spy the battle-line, and to return to him should the captives be among those fighting. He and seven other warriors, including Dolan and Egil, move to infiltrate the main hall.
They find a group of Trygvaar women, children, elderly and sickly in the hall. Cathal briefly considers taking them back to Hogunmark with his band when they retreat, but errs on the side of practicality. He informs them that the Southeast gate is clear, and that if they wish to try their luck in escaping, they may. Only half of the Trygvaar take him up on the offer, the others grumbling stubbornly.
Cathal, Egil and Dolan ascend to the upper level of the hall, sending the other four huscarls into the cellars below, all searching for the Yngvi captives. Cathal’s group stumbles on a small team of Trygvaar warriors attempting to batter down a barricaded door. Caring little about for which side they fight, Cathal rushes them, killing one instantly and wounding another. Dolan and Egil fall in behind him and they make short work of the surprised Trygvaar. Cathal knocks on the blocked door and calls out, identifying himself and his intention. There is no answer, and the sound of fighting rises from below. The three of them rush to the cellars to come to the aid of the other Yngvi.
There, they find the hostages locked in crude iron cages, but three of their allies are locked in combat with some of Thrumrsson’s raiders, another is wounded on the floor. Cathal orders Dolan to free the Yngvi hostages while he uses his blood to heal the fallen warrior. He, Egil, and the man he healed then charge to reinforce their companions. Cathal fights ferociously, felling Trygvaar wherever he casts his blade, Egil also makes a brave accounting, and the Trygvaars’ nerve quickly breaks, though another Yngvi suffers a wound. The attacking force eventually breaks into the cellar, a deep, cavernous hall, and Thrumrsson’s men are forced to leave the Yngvi to their task, or be slaughtered between their two foes. Dolan has, by then, freed the hostages.
Cathal leads them out of the dungeons, and covers their escape. As he stands at guard, a large warrior, not one of Thorbjorn’s, calls out as the attackers breach the hall at the other end. He is a massive, black silhouette against the fires outside.
“IT’S HIM,” He screams, “THE ONE THE LADY SEEKS!”
Cathal calmly spreads his hands, gives the warrior his best leg and yells
“Tell your queen that I am flattered, but I really must be going!”
He and the other Yngvi mount up outside, and flee back to Hogunmark.
Upon arriving, they are given a hero’s welcome. Cathal is loath to rest too long though, and almost immediately prepares to depart for Rjuvik. Fulgrim informs him that warriors belonging to other Jarls have arrived in Veikanger, having heard of Cathal’s quest. Some twenty or thirty from all over Hogunmark, asking to join his band.
Cathal meets with them and consults Dolan as to which he should bring. The cagey mercenary offers his opinions, saying there are some whose motivations are not clear, and they must be left behind. Cathal thanks Dolan for his counsel, but chooses to bring them all in the end, though is careful to set up watches in which Yngvi always outnumber the newcomers among the waking.
His band, now close to seventy strong, makes for the south. There they must seek out an ancient barrow; a time-haunted burial mound near the fetid swamps of Dankmaar, and within a day’s ride of Viborg, where the Reaver Queen is said to have her hall.
The journey is quicker this time; they ride hard and know the terrain better. Cathal sends out scouts and outriders upon crossing into The White Witch’s Realm. One returns with news that Thrumrsson’s hold is under attack. Cathal, worried that the Yngvi captives may be in imminent danger, forces a march the rest of the way.
When they reach the hold, the Northern walls are under assault by another, superior band of Trygvaar warriors. Thrumrsson’s fortress is ablaze, and chaos calls out within. Cathal wastes no time. He gathers his swiftest and quietest followers, and scales the south wall of the fortress. They meet no resistance there. It seems all of the bear-chief’s fighters are occupied. Cathal orders a few warriors to the south-east gate to let in the rest of their band, ordering them to secure their retreat. He orders his three scouts to spy the battle-line, and to return to him should the captives be among those fighting. He and seven other warriors, including Dolan and Egil, move to infiltrate the main hall.
They find a group of Trygvaar women, children, elderly and sickly in the hall. Cathal briefly considers taking them back to Hogunmark with his band when they retreat, but errs on the side of practicality. He informs them that the Southeast gate is clear, and that if they wish to try their luck in escaping, they may. Only half of the Trygvaar take him up on the offer, the others grumbling stubbornly.
Cathal, Egil and Dolan ascend to the upper level of the hall, sending the other four huscarls into the cellars below, all searching for the Yngvi captives. Cathal’s group stumbles on a small team of Trygvaar warriors attempting to batter down a barricaded door. Caring little about for which side they fight, Cathal rushes them, killing one instantly and wounding another. Dolan and Egil fall in behind him and they make short work of the surprised Trygvaar. Cathal knocks on the blocked door and calls out, identifying himself and his intention. There is no answer, and the sound of fighting rises from below. The three of them rush to the cellars to come to the aid of the other Yngvi.
There, they find the hostages locked in crude iron cages, but three of their allies are locked in combat with some of Thrumrsson’s raiders, another is wounded on the floor. Cathal orders Dolan to free the Yngvi hostages while he uses his blood to heal the fallen warrior. He, Egil, and the man he healed then charge to reinforce their companions. Cathal fights ferociously, felling Trygvaar wherever he casts his blade, Egil also makes a brave accounting, and the Trygvaars’ nerve quickly breaks, though another Yngvi suffers a wound. The attacking force eventually breaks into the cellar, a deep, cavernous hall, and Thrumrsson’s men are forced to leave the Yngvi to their task, or be slaughtered between their two foes. Dolan has, by then, freed the hostages.
Cathal leads them out of the dungeons, and covers their escape. As he stands at guard, a large warrior, not one of Thorbjorn’s, calls out as the attackers breach the hall at the other end. He is a massive, black silhouette against the fires outside.
“IT’S HIM,” He screams, “THE ONE THE LADY SEEKS!”
Cathal calmly spreads his hands, gives the warrior his best leg and yells
“Tell your queen that I am flattered, but I really must be going!”
He and the other Yngvi mount up outside, and flee back to Hogunmark.
Upon arriving, they are given a hero’s welcome. Cathal is loath to rest too long though, and almost immediately prepares to depart for Rjuvik. Fulgrim informs him that warriors belonging to other Jarls have arrived in Veikanger, having heard of Cathal’s quest. Some twenty or thirty from all over Hogunmark, asking to join his band.
Cathal meets with them and consults Dolan as to which he should bring. The cagey mercenary offers his opinions, saying there are some whose motivations are not clear, and they must be left behind. Cathal thanks Dolan for his counsel, but chooses to bring them all in the end, though is careful to set up watches in which Yngvi always outnumber the newcomers among the waking.
His band, now close to seventy strong, makes for the south. There they must seek out an ancient barrow; a time-haunted burial mound near the fetid swamps of Dankmaar, and within a day’s ride of Viborg, where the Reaver Queen is said to have her hall.
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