Ear splitting battle cries filled the air as Skarobjorn warriors swarmed in from the surrounding forest, launching spears and crossbow bolts at the troll.

“va, jagh!” The troll howled in pain from the first volley of arrows penetrating its flesh. It thrashed and tried to rip at the chain that Torag and half a dozen other warriors were straining to hold.

“Easy, Úlfeóinn,” a deep voiced Skarobjorn with dark skin surprised him. Gentle hands half dragged, half carried Ethan away from the carnage. “Torag will see to the death of the beast.”

“My friends-“ he struggled against the forced retreat, frantically searching for Alera and Leah.

“Bransam will get them back on their feet,” the warrior reassured him as he propped Ethan against a tree. “They are safe.” The young Skarobjorn flashed him a familiar smile of bright white teeth.

“Tie off those chains!” Torag roared amidst the chaos. “Gorm, I need my axe!”

“Yes, father!” The warrior who had been rescuing Ethan, grinned at him again, and unsheathed a huge double bladed axe from his back. “Duty calls, Úlfeóinn.” The young warrior took off at a sprint towards Torag.

I didn’t know Torag had a son, Ethan thought sadly as he watched the man throw the axe to his leader.

Thud! Clang!

Thud! Clang!

Two more spears buried deep into the troll, expertly thrown by warriors out of his field of vision. Ethan could see much clearer now that the spears of the Skarobjorn had spring loaded tines, that once they had penetrated the troll’s enormous body sprung open to brace from being pulled out. Around him, the Skarobjorn ravaged the troll with blades and bows. The heavy chains attached to the spears were tied to thick trees, immobilizing the monster.

“vIta'laHbe'” the troll shrieked in its guttural native tongue as more roped crossbow bolts penetrated its flesh.

Torag led the charge of nearly a dozen burly Skarobjorn in butchering the monster. Axes and swords carved deep gashes into the beast as it struggled against the restraints. Ethan could only watch helpless and in awe as trained warriors slayed the troll.

“juppu' jIH vIneH” the monster whimpered as it succumbed to the onslaught and fell to its knees, its arms still outstretched from the bindings.

“You will terrorize our people no more, monster,” Torag snarled, his face contorted in fury. He heaved his axe through the troll’s neck, severing its head.

As quickly as the Skarobjorn had descended in chaos, they quickly calmed. War cries and shouts in anger were replaced with laughs and over exaggerated brags about their performance in battle. Ethan waited anxiously for any sign of his companions. Gorm had said that their healer would be attending to them but he still did not see either woman.

Shit, did they die in that last attack? He panicked as the craned his neck to try to catch a glimpse of them through the throng of boisterous Skarobjorn.

“Torag!” He cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted for the tall Skarobjorn.

“Úlfeóinn!” Torag spread his arms wide and grinned wider as he approached him. Gorm ran up and retrieved his axe before disappearing back into the crowd. “Taking a little nap, brother?”

“I can’t move my legs, the troll broke my back,” Ethan shifted as best as he could with his upper body. “The two women that are with me, where are they?”

If Leah was still alive, her Druidic magic could heal any long term injury, including paralysis. If she wasn’t... he hoped Hertha could do something if Torag could get him to Skaro.

“Healer Brasam is still attending to them,” Torag waved to a passing young woman and whispered something to her Ethan couldn’t hear. The warrior sprinted away in the direction of the troll’s corpse. “He will be here shortly.”

“Are both of them alive?” His heart pounded as he asked the question. I should have been paying attention better!

“They are fine,” Torag squatted down next to him and clapped him on the leg. “Your wives will be along shortly.”

“Neither of them is my wife, Torag,” Ethan blushed and looked down at the hand on his leg he could not feel.

“Really? Not even the fire touched one?”

“No, she’s married to a friend of mine,” he looked awkwardly around, hoping for Leah to appear to heal him and relieve the awkwardness.

“Good,” Torag moved his hand to Ethan’s shoulder. “Remember, you can’t truly fight beside someone you love.”

“I remember,” he sat up straight and waved his arms in the air when he caught sight of Leah’s red hair. “Leah!”

“Ethan!” She shouted, sprinting towards him. “What happened?” She knelt down next to him and immediately green light began to flow through her tattoos.

“Broke my back on the tree,” he explained. The rush of healing magic felt good, but he still couldn’t feel his legs. “I’m paralyzed from the waist down.”

“Oh,” immediately the flow of magic ceased only to be replaced by a blindingly bright flare of viridian light.

A wave of pins and needles rolled down his legs as feeling began to return. He felt the bones in his back crack and realign as the muscles in his legs twitched uncontrollably. Magic is pretty incredible, he thought to himself as he stared transfixed by the intent stare on the Druid’s face.

“You truly are blessed by Mother Ve,” Torag gazed in wonder at Leah. Ethan looked at her, expecting confusion at the mention of the Vættr of Life.

“She is all around us,” Leah said without breaking her focus on the spell. “Ve wouldn’t abandon someone She loves, and She loves everyone.”

A pain of emotion dug into Ethan’s stomach, despite the healing energy radiating through him. Leah’s words echoed what Reás had said to him at the inn in Grassmere.

“When you are done, sister of my brother,” Torag kept his eyes focused on the stream of energy as he spoke, “several of my war party were injured by the troll. Nothing as serious as Sorry, but I’m sure that Healer Bransam would appreciate your assistance.”

“Of course,” Leah smiled enthusiastically. “You saved our lives, it would be my honor.” She stopped channeling and looked at Ethan. “How’s that feel?”

Experimentally, he tried to wiggle his toes in his boots. To his complete lack of surprise, all ten moved easily.

“Much better, thank you,” he smiled at her. “Never doubted you.”

“Awesome, I’m going to go top off Alera and then I’ll find Bransam,” Leah said, standing up and dusting off her knees.

“Is she okay?” Ethan grabbed her hand, his anxiety that something had happened to the rogue surprising him.

“She’s fine,” Leah reassured him and squeezed his hand tenderly. “We both got stunned by that boulder, Alera just took more of the brunt than I did.”

“Oh,” was all that Ethan could find to say. Why did that scare me so much? She’d just respawn, not like there would be permanent damage.

“I’ll be back shortly,” Leah half smiled at him before she walked away.

“Your friend is very powerful,” Torag continued his look of amazement as Leah left. “Maybe you are unlucky she’s not your wife, I don’t think you’d have to worry about her.”

“Gross, she’s like my sister,” Ethan scowled, as he watched Leah leave. “What are you all doing out here anyway?” He turned back to Torag.

“Troll hunting,” he said with a slight frown and a bob of his head.

“Well that’s lucky,” Ethan adjusted himself and prepared to stand up.

“Not especially,” Torag easily stood up and pulled Ethan back to his unstable feet. “That monster attacked a small homestead on the outskirts of Skaro. We had been searching for it for three days.”

“Oh.”

“I recognized your horse as it fled on the road, and guessed you had found our quarry,” he grinned at Ethan. “I did not expect to see Sorry Úlfeóinn lay broken on the ground, you are the lucky one.”

“I guess,” Ethan watched the gathered Skarobjorn continue their boasting for a for seconds before realizing something was missing. “Where’s Siv? Shouldn’t she be here?” He asked, suddenly ashamed he hadn’t even thought to look for her before.

Siv Horrisdottir had been his primary combat instructor when he’d spent weeks in Skaro on his class quest. Between her and Torag, they had trained him in a variety of weapons while War Shaman Hertha Korisdottir had helped him connect to the Vættir.

She had also gifted him the bracers he currently wore before he left..

“The War Leader doesn’t need to worry about one lone troll,” Torag laughed and shook his head. “Besides she has more important issues on her mind these days.”

“What’s going on?” Blood drained from his face, if the War Leader had “important” things going on, that would probably mean a war that would prevent the Skarobjorn from assisting them. “Is she safe? Who would provoke a war with Skaro?”

“Ha!” Torag’s laugh caused several warriors to turn their heads in confusion towards their leader. “No one would be so stupid.” He grinned and shook his head. “Her betrothed has kept her occupied in planning for their upcoming wedding.”

“Her betrothed?” Ethan blinked rapidly.

“A battle maiden, Annika, finally mustered the courage to ask, and the War Leader agreed.”

“Oh,” Ethan chewed on his lower lip

“Fret not, Sorry,” Torag chided him with a friendly smack on the shoulder. “Their celebration will not happen for some time, we still have to feast your completion of the trials. I am sure the War Shaman will be overjoyed at having her student return.”

“I hope so,” Ethan absentmindedly scanned the Skarobjorn as they began to retreat. He still hadn’t seen Alera appear amidst the crowd. “I need a pretty big favor.”

“Favors are best discussed over good food and better beer!” Torag grinned. “Come, we should return to Skaro to celebrate victory and your return.”

“Yeah,” Ethan said, still scanning the gathered warriors. “Let me find my companions first.”

“Of course, brother,” Torag gripped him on the shoulder. “Find me at the inn when you return home.”

Ethan felt rigid and tense weaving through the Skarobjorn. Leah said she’s okay, but where is she? His heart raced as he searched for a blonde woman in grey armor amidst the twenty or so rowdy men and women.

Finally, sitting on a shattered tree trunk next to a colossal boulder sipping from flask, he saw Alera next to Gorm, the young warrior who’d helped him earlier. They looked to be relaxing, passing the flask back and forth while laughing.

“Oh thank God,” he exhaled and made to walk quicker to her but stopped himself when she rubbed his bicep and rested her head on his shoulder after laughing uproariously at something he’d said.

Why the hell was I worried? He mentally admonished himself. Leah may have said she still cared for me, but she’s flirting with Torag’s son.

Ethan ground his teeth and clenched his fists, I still need her to make the introduction to the House of Whispers. Just have to get through that and I can ditch her in Startesgarde.

He took a deep breath to calm himself down before approaching the two of them.

“We need to leave,” he said coldly, his eyes briefly flicking towards Gorm.

“Ethan!” Alera practically spat out her mouthful of whatever was in the flask. “I’m so glad you’re okay, I saw you crash into the tree right before the boulder hit us.”

“Leah healed me,” he crossed his arms over his chest. “But now we need to get going.”

She looked up at him, her brow furrowed in an expression Ethan couldn’t read.

“Okay,” she practically leapt to her feet, causing Gorm to blink rapidly in surprise. “Let’s go.”

“Find Leah,” Ethan started to turn to leave. “I’ll meet you back on the road after I find my horse.”

“Please, Úlfeóinn,” Gorm stood up as well, “allow me to show you where we left your mount.” He crossed his fist over his chest and bowed his head. “It would be my honor.”

“I can find her on my own,” Ethan turned his head away from Gorm and Alera, pretending to scan the crowd. “I’m sorry, I honestly don’t remember your name, but I’m sure Torag would want you to finish assisting the warriors.” He turned back to Gorm, his expression cold and stern. “I can lead us back to Skaro.”

“O-of course, Úlfeóinn,” the young warrior said quietly and saluted him again, looking crestfallen. “I will find my father, if you do require assistance, I will do my best to be at your service.” He turned and saluted Alera as well before rushing off into the throng of Skarobjorn.

“You’re an ass,” he pretended not to hear Alera's quiet statement and her look of disgust at him as he turned on his heel and marched back into the forest.