29. Uncertainty

The hallway feels smaller and almost claustrophobic as you make your way down it, as if in a daze. You glance over at the end of the corridor where the door to Rurik's chambers stands. The hallway seems to elongate while simultaneously grow narrow and you feel a wave of nausea wash over. Swaying slightly, you place a hand on the wall to steady yourself and the surface feels oddly warm under your cold palm. Closing your eyes, you take a deep breath before standing up straight and trying to walk again. As soon as you do your legs buckle and you feel yourself grow slightly faint. Leaning your back against the wall this time, you try to calm your breathing. Turning your head to the other side of the hall you straighten up slightly when you catch the corner of Ulf's cloak slip around the bend around the stairs. Keeping your hand on the wall you take a step in that direction and find that you no longer feel so ill. After another couple of steps the feeling completely passes. Pausing at the top of the stairs, you glance over your shoulder at the hallway. It looks completely normal now but you still quickly turn and make your way down the stairs.

Trying to keep a safe distance, you slowly follow Ulf down the stairs and through the keep. He walks out of one of the doors that leads outside and you pause a moment before continuing behind him. There's a good amount of people moving about outside as they go about their duties. Trying to appear calm and unassuming you allow some more distance to grow between you and Ulf. The amount of people around starts to decrease as Ulf continues making his way further down the courtyard. Eventually, you see the stables up ahead and he walks inside them. You can hear people inside and decide to hang back for now. Keeping your hood up, you lean against a nearby tree and watch the door out of the corner of your eye. Eventually, Ulf comes back out and walks around to the other side of the building before disappearing behind it. Once he's rounded the corner you quickly get up and walk down to the stables. The doors are open and when you pass by it you see his men inside getting their horses ready. Quickly turning your face away from them you briskly walk past the doors. When you round the side of the building you're surprised to find it vacant.

Looking down you see a trail of footprints and follow them down the side of the building. When you round the next corner the footsteps end but there is still no one in sight. Frowning, you stare down at the untouched snow as you wonder what to do next. Before you have time to figure it out you hear the sound of snow crunching behind you and turn around. Ulf is making his way around the side of the building that you had just come from, as if he had been the one following you. You look down at the bare snow to your side before looking up at him in confusion. You continue staring at him questioningly as he makes his way up to you. He chuckles lightly at your expression before pulling up the side of his cloak. When you glance down you see one of the corners is wet and still slightly caked in snow. Turning around you take a closer look at the snow and see that it's not actually undisturbed, just smoothed over. He walks past you and looks down the other side of the of the building. Hesitantly, you follow him before glancing around the corner and you see where his footsteps resume. It appears that he just used his cloak to wipe away enough of his footsteps to throw you off. Then all he had to do was continue circling around the stable to end up behind you.

"Not everything is such a mystery." While his voice sounds playful there's a slightly dark undertone to it. "Are you here to try to stop me, little one?" He leans over you slightly as if to emphasis the size disparity between the two of you. When he sees your brow furrow at his question he appears to relax slightly. Scoffing lightly he starts walking down the side of the stables and says, "Of course my brother wouldn't share anything with you." Your breath catches in your throat as his words remind you why you're here. "But you will?" Ulf pauses at your words before he turns around. His blue and green eyes flash slightly as he slowly smiles and says, "Haven't I already done that?" He laughs deeply when you blush at his words then turns around and continues walking. You're annoyed with your reaction but still determined and quickly follow after him. He enters the stables and when you walk in after him you see that his men have already left. Ulf walks over to where his horse is penned before shrugging off his fur cloak. The wolf skin thuds loudly against the ground and you feel yourself shiver lightly when you're reminded of the vivid dream you had.

Ulf ignores you for the moment and keeps his eyes forward as he begins bridling his horse. Taking a deep breath you finally ask the question that's been most recently consuming your thoughts. "Are you really Rurik's brother?" Ulf's eyebrow raises slightly when you hear him address the King by his name but doesn't stop what he's doing. "Only through blood." It's an odd way of saying 'yes' but at least now you know. Although, with that answer comes a whole host of other questions. "That is all a story for another time." Ulf continues as if sensing your impending questions and finally turns to face you. "You already have the answer to the question you should be asking." Tilting your head you slowly mull his words over but can't make sense of them. Ulf moves forward and you find yourself paralyzed as he walks towards you. When he reaches you, he leans down, and you feel his warm breath on your ear as he whispers, "Which path are you going to take when you reach the crossroad?"

He pulls away and walks back over to his horse, leaving you even more confused than before. You want to ask him more questions but can't seem to get any words out. Sighing, you turn and start walking towards the entrance of the stable. When you reach the doorway, you pause for a moment, then glance over your shoulder. Ulf is facing away from you and you tense slightly when you see him start pulling his shirt off. You're unable to take your eyes off of him as the shirt slowly slips up and over his frame. When it's off you feel your heart drop to your stomach. In the mid part of his upper back is the exact same tattoo you had seen in your dream. As if sensing your eyes, Ulf slowly turns around and a wicked grin spread across his face. Your eyes widen slightly before you turn and quickly walk out of the stable. You try to shake the image of the tattoo from your thoughts as you make your way back to the keep. It's not until you're back in Rurik's chambers that you feel slightly less anxious. Still, you can't completely relax as Ulf's strange question still echoes in your mind.