Chapter VII: Towards Helskorn
Synopsis: The Path Through Shadows
The north wind howled like a wounded wolf as Thorlund and his party set out for the frozen mountains of Helskorn. Fenrir's wolves, led by the imposing Skoll, marched in front, their silvery silhouettes silhouetted against the snow and the shadows of the forest. Each step they took brought them closer to the Valley of the Wandering Souls, a place shrouded in legends and ancestral fears.
Thorlund, as he advanced, concentrated his mind on the runic magic Helmara had revealed in his dream. "Magic is not just power, ” he remembered her words. “It is wisdom and will, the balance between what you control and what controls you.”
With each gesture, the air around him began to change. He could feel the energy of the wind responding, forming invisible barriers that dissipated over time. The Drengrsvard sword glowed faintly, as if it were absorbing that power.
Preparations for the march
The group had become accustomed to working in perfect synchrony, but the cold and the exertion of the journey tested even the strongest.
Bjorn, with his imposing figure, was stepping forward to lead the march, using his shield to push his way through the snow flurries that were mercilessly attacking them. “This is worse than fighting an army,” he growled, his breath freezing in the air.
Eirik, as always, seemed unstoppable, despite the skin-chilling cold. "If the ring is worth what Helmara says, then this wind is nothing. let the challenge come! “ he roared, as he adjusted the handle of his massive axe.
Ivar, however, was more attentive to the hidden dangers. His green eyes moved quickly between the shadows of the trees and the nearby hills. "This place is too quiet. Something is following us. And it's not just the wind, “ he muttered, tightening the knives on his belt.
Sigrún, who was walking gracefully through the snow, had his bow ready, with an arrow resting on the string. “Whatever it is, it won't last long against us," he said confidently, though in his tone there was a hint of slight concern.
The Pass of Shadows
They reached the Pass of Shadows, a narrow gorge that led directly into the valley. The dark rock walls seemed to whisper incomprehensible words, and a dense fog began to surround them. Skoll stopped abruptly, raising his head and sniffing the air.
"Something's here, ” he growled, baring his fangs. His wolves began to circle the group, forming a protective circle.
Suddenly, the shadows on the walls came to life. Dark spirits, wreathed in blue flames and distorted shapes, emerged from the mist. Their screams were like a thousand voices merged into one eternal wail.
"Prepare yourselves! ” shouted Thorlund, raising Drengrsvard, who began to glow brightly in response to the danger. The runes on the sword lit up, and a magical barrier formed around him, blocking the spirits' first attack.
Bjorn and Eirik advanced together, the former blocking the onslaught with his shield while the latter smashed the spirits with his axe. Ivar, meanwhile, studied their movements, looking for a pattern. "They are not invincible. Attack the flames at their core, that is where they reside."
Sigrún fired with pinpoint accuracy, his arrows enchanted with runic magic thanks to Helmara's advice. Each shot shattered a spirit, dissipating its essence in the mist.
Thorlund and the Power of Runes
Thorlund closed his eyes for a moment, letting Helmara's teachings flow through him. “Know the enemy, and turn his weapons against him.”
In one fluid motion, he traced runes in the air with the sword, summoning a gust of wind that caught the spirits and hurled them against the walls of the gorge. The runes began to echo, and the screams of the spirits faded away one by one.
When the last shadow disappeared, the group gathered, breathing heavily.
"That was just a warning, ” Skoll said, his silver eyes shining brightly. “The valley is near, but the ring guardians will not be so easy to defeat.”
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
/
Search inscriptions
