#odyssey

"I hear it" A chuckle shrug "So it is"

"Star is proud and smart. Treat her kindly and she will be sweet. Won't you, girl?"

"OF course. Oats please" Star says

Primly

the folks stare

She poses, with a flick of her mane. They should stare.

Symon rolls her eyes. "Lovecraft, stay with her and maybe there are some things scurrying in the haylofts or near the oatbins for you."

Lovecraft says Chicken?

"I'll see. But I bet there might be mice. They're like chicken of the stables."

"And we'll save something from dinner." Dag promises.

Lovecraft hops up to to the haylofts

Symon nods to Dagmar, ready to proceed on.

And they come to a small hut . Their friend is knocking "Shadekurst?"

"Go away, " A sigh

"If you please? We're on a quest."

"A quest?" the voice whispers. And opens

"Yes'm."

And the sluagh stares at them, a wizened woman andshe mutters "kithain"

"mm?" Ulfnor says "What?"

She scoots a touch to the side, revealing Symon.

He places a hand on his chest and bows a little.

"Mistress."

"Ulfnor... I want to talk to thse two...alone "

"Thank you."

He looks a little surprised to find a sluagh in this land of Vikings.

Dagmar is a touch surprised, but surely Symon knows how to handle this! She follows his lead, placing a hand on her chest.

"Mistress Shadekurst, I am Symon Lee, and this is my friend and boon companion, Dame Dagmar Hammerstrike. ... and I think you know WHAT I am, and what she is? Her lodge is lead by one who is our analog to your Silverhand... she is known as Chieftain, Shackle-breaker and Grimhand."

Ulfnor walks off muttering

Furrow. "I hope we didn't insult him..."

"No. I did if anyone did" She says truthfully "Get in get in"

Dagmar ducks in through the door.

He slides in easily.

"You are the last people I expected to see" She says "Actual Kithin. Don't worry, they don't see us as our meins, but as humans. It fits the storyline"

"How did a sluagh end up here?" A blink. "You're not lost, are you? If you wanted to go back, we could show you the way..."

"The mortal world is colder than usual this year. You may like this place better. Svarts and all." A small frown.

Grunt of agreement.

"No. I'm doing a favor for the man who first wrote this place. Do you know Sir Vali?"

A toothless grin. "The very Beaumayn who sent us on this quest. We've been across Concordia and back again seeking the other four pieces. This is the last..."

Nod- nod.

"Ah, so he is doing it" She says surprised

"We've faced grim and vile darkness inside and out, found warmth in places nearly forgotten and in people newly reborn. Mistress, we seek the piece you hold."

In this fantasy land, he finds it... a bit easier to speak clearly. It's almost like writing for one of his campaigns.

"I don't hold it. It was in the boat, and now is in Ulfnor's hands" Amusement "Fatee is funny like that."

"He knows we're looking for it. Wants me to go hunt boar for it. Could probably claim it as a boon for saving him from that river... rusalka?"

"I guess Dagmar will get to go on that boar hunt after all. It's interesting to see a sluagh here... in a way, I feel that we're alike... I was also 'adopted' more or less into a Lodge." Showing her the bracelet that is carved to show him as a pillar of the mountain.

"I don't actually like hunting that much." She mumbles.

He reaches out and lightly rests a hand on her arm before it slips away. "Then we'll find something else."

"This is a land dreamt of adventures. There's bound to be something. You've already fought the Svarts and saved hapless dumbasses from a Rusalka."

Oops, there is Symon slipping through. Good ol' Symon.

She shrugs. "Vali swears this is worthwhile."