I sat on the small, musty cot and checked the descriptions of my two achievement drops.

Item – Cloak of the Northern Wastes (epic)

Type – Clothing

Description – Dhaulf’s journey took him deep into the icy wastes of the barbarian kingdom. The cold was almost too much to endure, until he was attacked by a great bear. The ensuing battle left him wounded, and the mighty creature dead. He gutted the carcass and made its body a home. Eat your heart out, Luke. The bear’s pelt was fashioned into the cloak that you now own.

Requirements – Str 8 Dex 8

Effect – Confers high resistance to cold damage. Chance to subjugate any ursine creature or have them flee in terror.

Misc – Aura of the Bearbane

I figured the aura was the same as the bears fleeing before me, but it was actually a combat buff that affected anyone within fifteen feet of myself, providing increased attack power.

“Nice!”

I pulled out my new stabber and found a long, white fang with a handle attached. I grimaced at the memory of my aquatic consumption and wondered if rows of the teeth had torn me to shreds.

Item – Skarktooth Assassin’s Dagger (epic)

Type – Weapon (1 hand/dual wield)

Description – Favoured weapon of the feared Nakilai assassin’s guild. These mysterious killers dwell on the sea. Their sleek black ships are often seen through spyglasses, only to disappear within the fog. The single recorded instance of boarding was met with failure when the crew was discovered to have completely vanished. One soldier swears he saw them watching him from within the water below. He was summarily dismissed and placed in an asylum for the rest of his life.

Requirements – Str 5 Dex 8

Effect – Increased critical modifier for stealth attacks

Misc – The tooth’s poison causes Mariner’s Lung on the victim.

I checked out the debuff and it sounded awful. It basically revolved around a build-up of fluid that filters into the lungs from the rest of the body, so you would feel your skin drying and cracking even as you were drowning. Even if the first strike didn’t kill, the subsequent poisoning would certainly do the job.

“Gross.”

I put the weapon away, feeling dirty for having touched it. The cloak was cool, but I wondered if I could use the dagger on someone. Laying back on the bed, I closed my eyes and tried to calm my racing mind. I’d bombed ships and averted a slaughter. For some reason, I doubted it would be the craziest thing I would do in Kherrash. I pushed out all thoughts and concentrated on Honey, my anchor to sanity and my old life.

**********

The morose pall of impending slaughter that had hung over Trystan’s camp was gone. The soldiers milled about with renewed vigour, thanking us as we passed. I knew in the back of my mind that the fight had only been delayed and that some of these boys would still fall in the battles to come. For today, however, they were safe. I guessed Marshal Theo had broken open his own stores, as the expensive wine was flowing as freely as the cheaper honeymead. Their heads would be splitting in the morning, and I smiled as they raised cups in our honour.

The tent flaps were tied back, the guards on duty looking enviably at their fellow soldiers. “Plenty of time later for that,” I said as we passed and they chuckled in agreement.

Hæfnir was sharing a goblet with Trystan and Theo. If I hadn’t known the events leading up to this, I’d have judged them to be long-time friends, such was the volume of their laughter. Even the commander cracked a smile or two.

“The conquering heroes return!” bellowed Theo, embracing us both. Even Sun allowed the marshal to show his gratitude this time, though her arms remained at her side.

“I almost can’t believe what’s happening,” said Trystan, sipping frugally at his own drink.

“Ride the high, mate,” I said, offering him a firm handshake. “We’re all alive, and we have new friends.” I turned to Hæfnir who nodded gratefully.

“Yesterday you arrived like a bolt of lightning,” Trystan continued. “We were outnumbered and outmatched. A single day passes, and instead of being massacred, we’re entertaining the leader of their armies.” He sat down heavily, as if it was too much to bear.

“Sometimes we get lucky.”

“And sometimes the gods steer us back to the right path,” added Hæfnir. “Might I beg a question of you both?”

“Go ahead,” I replied.

“Why did you honour Dhaulf?”

I waited for Sun to answer, but she motioned for me to voice the reasons instead. “Because whatever he may have become, he was still a fierce warrior and leader, who, deep down, only wanted more for his people. He just went about it the wrong way.”

Hæfnir rubbed his beard and smiled. “If I had even a sliver of doubt about our new path, you’ve banished it. You honour us, both of you.”

“The fighting is done. A new future can be built between barbarian and human. You’ll both be stronger for it. Nothing can stand in your way.”

“And that brings me on to my next point,” Hæfnir replied, “for which I am eager to hear from the marshal and commander.”

Everyone’s ears pricked up.

“The other clan heads are in agreement with what I have to say,” Hæfnir continued, turning to Sun. “We have a new queen, if she would have us?”

Sun looked exceedingly uncomfortable with the title and snapped, “I’m no queen. Stop with that nonsense or we fight in single combat.”

“Forgive me, Sunlith, but I only speak the truth. You have two armies floating offshore, ready to do your bidding. Out of all of us, you were the only one who had the bravery to flee when Dhaulf dominated us.”

“Bravery?” she scoffed. “I abandoned my people.”

“Yes, because you had to. And after all of that, you still returned to steer us back toward the shores of the Isle of Giants. No more deserving ruler exists in this world. The title is yours, whether you want it or not.”

“Or not,” she muttered.

“Sun, you have two loyal armies waiting for your orders,” I said, slowly. “Maybe we should use them?”

“I don’t want to cause more harm to my people,” she replied. “I’d rather they just return home and rebuild our fjords. The ogres too, as long as they maintain their vassalage.”

“Might I dare to suggest another path?” Hæfnir asked.

“You may dare,” Sun replied. “But I’ll probably ignore it.”

He wasn’t to be dissuaded and held her gaze. “You say you want to keep us safe? To keep us away from the fighting?”

“There’s been enough death here,” she muttered.

“And how much more do you think there will be if the goblins should prevail? Do you think those green abominations will be content with Kherrash? Their poison will spread across the world until everything we love is gone. Human, barbarian, ogre, everything.”

Sun looked away as the truth of his words sank in.

“Allow us to stay and fight. Allow us to earn the alliance that might follow if we can turn the tide. We have betrayed the Dawnstars, and we need to bleed to begin the healing process. Let our swords and shields sing with battle!” Hæfnir grew more animated as he spoke, and I felt a blooming pride that we had managed to turn these people to our cause.

Sun looked to me and I could see the conflict there. Her hatred had been reserved for Dhaulf. The warriors floating nearby were her kin, and it tore her up to put them in harm’s way. “I say let the brave barbarians fight,” I finally said.

“And the ogres?” she asked.

“They owe a blood debt too. Let them earn theirs while your people do the same.”

“You men and your debts,” Sun snapped, slumping into one of the chairs. “You make my brain hurt.”

“Might I inquire if that is a yay or a nay?” asked Hæfnir cautiously, unable to read her mood.

I’d only known her briefly, yet I already knew the posture to be one of weary resignation. She might not like the facts, but facts they were. The war was going to come to her shores whether she liked it or not. Fjord by fjord, until the barbarian lands were gone, then to Azor, the ogre kingdom. And beyond to the spice traders who she had mentioned briefly. Dominoes falling, one by one until the world was totally under Gutrender’s fist. Or was it Alwyn’s silken glove?

“Where would you go?” she sighed.

Hæfnir was ecstatic. “Wherever you wish!”

“Mark? What do you think?” asked Sun.

Theo and Trystan were the ranking men, but they kept well out of the conversation. I could sense the relief that we had brought with our intervention and their reluctance to try and force the matter in either direction. The barbarians weren’t their men to control. “My personal opinion? And please, chime in, gents,” I said to the leaders. “I think you should send the fleet south. Let them join with Milton and crush any attempt to cross the islands. If the three combined forces can then get a foothold on the south-western tip of Kherrash, they can push their way north. If we can hold at Pitchhollow and the wall, we can then push west. Our two armies will meet at the foot of Whitespear Mountain, and we can drive them back into the depths for good. What do you think?”

Trystan laughed, shaking his head.

“What? That bad?” I replied, a little bit crestfallen.

“Not at all. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were bred for war. Except you tell me you’re just a wandering nomad who wanted to help. Those words could’ve come from the lips of the grand marshal himself.”

“So, it’s not that bad?”

“Not at all. If Hæfnir takes the fleet and reinforces Milton, we can pack up our camp and move our entire number to the wall instead of being sat here, less than useless.”

“How long would that take?” I asked, well aware of the ticking clock and the large pieces I’d placed on the war map in Randulf’s keep. Where would they be now, I wondered? How successful would Finneus’s raiders have been in pecking at the flanks of the greenskin army?

“We could be at the wall within the week.” He saw the look on my face. “Not good enough? We’ve got thousands of men and provisions to move.”

“I know it’s not easy to move an army. I also know that our time is limited in the north. Days matter. Hell, even hours could matter.”

Trystan pursed his lips sagely. “I understand, Mark. But reaching the battle with exhausted men will be suicide. Knowing what’s at stake will put a spring in their step, I can assure you. I’ll get there as soon as I’m able.”

“Thanks, mate.” I turned to the port marshal. “Theo, what do you think?”

“I think you’ve given us hope, young man. You both have,” he said, addressing Sun too. “Never in my wildest dreams did I dare to believe that I would be here, taking a goblet of wine with the leader of the armada at our door. What you say of reforging alliances rings true. I’ll support it when it comes to Milton’s council for a vote.”

Hæfnir bowed slightly at the promise before turning to Sun. “With your leave, my queen?”

I feared she would punch him in the unmentionables, but she agreed instead. “Hæfnir?”

“My queen?”

“Could you ask the messenger who reaches Dhaulf’s fortress to return with word of my parents?”

His tattooed, bearded face wrinkled in a broad smile. “I’ve sent the fastest ship with orders to do that already. They should be back within the week.” He bowed once more and set off to their new war.

“Well,” said Theo, clapping his hands together. “This has been a rather unusual day, hasn’t it? What say I break open another bottle of wine and we go and join the men? Tomorrow the hard work begins of putting this old place back together again. I’ve got a lot of people to move back in, a lot more people to find across the land to bring home, and many, many ships to build. If I were a pessimistic fellow, I might say the ogres eating me would’ve saved me an awful lot of trouble.”

“True.” I chuckled. “But you don’t want to be remembered as a steaming dollop of shit on the docks, do you?”

“Now that you mention it, not really,” he replied, popping the cork and giving us all a top-up. “We’ll be right outside when you’re ready.”

I waved them off as they left us alone. My own celebration would be sipping at the drinks while they quaffed gallons. I wanted to be away at first light, back to the people I’d helped; most notably Astrid and the horses. I missed her more than I’d expected. I guess it was down to a sense of almost fatherly responsibility. The thought of her so close to danger made my heart heavy. Edric, Romund, Maewynn, Inga, Rowena, and the others would be a close second on my list, as well as Hilde. I needed a dressing down from a beautiful lady other than Sun. I noticed she was looking far more miserable than someone in her position should. “You ok? I thought you’d be happy?”

“I am,” she replied. “I just don’t want to be their queen. We haven’t had a monarch in centuries.”

“I think with your power you can abdicate,” I replied.

“Abdi-what?”

“It means to give up the crown. You step down basically, normally to pass it onto an heir.”

“I have no heirs.”

“I know that. When I said step down, I wasn’t necessarily talking about having children first. You said the clans all used to work in unison, by a kind of democracy, majority voting kind of thing?”

“Yes. That way everyone gets a say.”

I kept the line my history teacher had taught me to myself; democracy is two wolves and a sheep voting on what’s for dinner. Compared to an authoritarian ruler, it was slightly less terrible. “Why can’t you go back to that? Act as an overseer to the proceedings and keep the heads of the clans in check. I don’t mean to be a dick, but you don’t want another Dhaulf rising through the ranks, do you?”

“Without the ogres waging war against us, there should be no more danger of people being made into nomads. In some ways it was all our own fault. We always worked together, but kept to our respective clans. I think we will need to be taking in those who have nowhere else to go rather than leave them to the wilds.”

“That sounds like a solid plan. Now, shall we go and have a bit of a party with the others?” I heard chords begin from a string instrument somewhere in the camp. “I’m sure Cuthwin would like to dance.” I managed to duck in time as the half full goblet sailed past where my head had just been. “It was just a suggestion!” I laughed, racing from the tent before she could find something heavier or sharper.