30. Crossroad

A month has passed since your encounter with Ulf but his question still lingers in the back of your mind. You thought about asking the King about he and his brother's strange relationship but ultimately decided not to. He's remained rather distant and when he is around you feel as if he's never truly present. It's as if he's on edge and anticipating some unknown future event. That evening you find yourself alone again in his chambers and pace around the room anxiously. Rurik is still in his study and likely won't be joining you joining you tonight. The snow melted a couple of weeks ago but has been replaced by a series of rainstorms. You can tell another one is brewing tonight as the sky grows darker with each passing minute. As you continuing circling around the room you slow down when you pass by your side of the bed. Tilting your head slightly, you find yourself walking towards it. You slip your hand under the mattress and pull it back out a moment later before sitting on the bed. When you slowly uncurl your fingers the metal talisman Ulf gave you is revealed.

You sit back against the headboard and slowly turn the object over in your hands. Some lines are carved into the cross and the wolf head at the top is intricately detailed. Running your finger along the bottom of the head you frown when you feel a rim. Upon further inspection you see there is a small gap wrapping around the base, indicating the head is detachable. However, try as you might you find you're unable to pry it free. Exhaling, you slide down on your back and hold the object up over your head. Firelight glints against the metal as you continue to inspect it but ultimately discover nothing. Sighing again, you lower your hand and continue staring up at the ceiling. Eventually, your eyes start growing heavy and it's not long before you feel yourself drifting off. After you fall asleep you find yourself slipping into another strange but vivid dream. You're back in the forest behind the keep and walking down a long dirt path. It seems to be late in the day as the sky is a mix of reds and oranges, indicating it must be sunset. Pausing, you take a moment to look around but can't tell which direction the sun is setting in.

You keep making your way down the trail and note the uncomfortable silence around you. As you continue walking you start making out something in the distance before you. When you get closer you see that it's a large wooden post with three signs on it. Each sign points in a different direction and you see that the path before you splits off in different directions. You walk over to the sign to try to figure out where each path leads. Instead of runes you find a different depiction of an animal on each plank of wood. The sign pointing to the path straight ahead has a carving of a wolf head and you're quickly reminded of Ulf. The sign pointing to path to the right has some type of bird carved on it. A raven perhaps? Frowning slightly, you find yourself thinking back to some of your strange encounters with Rurik. Was it just a coincidence that a Raven often happened to be around? Finally, you turn to the sign pointing to the left and are confused to see a depiction of a bear.

Before you have time to think about what that could mean you feel your eyes shoot open. Sitting up in bed you look around the room, feeling somewhat disoriented. There's no one around but you know something must have woken you up. Your confusion is answered a moment later when you hear shouting outside. You rush over to the window and look out to see the King's men running around. Rain is pouring down heavily outside and it's hard for you to make out anything else. As you're staring out into the darkness you hear a door out in the corridor slam open. Quickly pulling away from the window, you run over to your own door and throw it open just in time to see Rurik brusquely stride down the hallway towards the stairs. The deep blue cloak he was wearing when you first met him is draped on his shoulders and when he turns the corner you see he has his leather armor on. He disappears around the corner and you pause for a moment before turning around. Your cape is thrown over the side of a chair in the corner of the room and you quickly walk over to it.

You pick it up with one hand and realize Ulf's talisman has remained clutched in the other this entire time. Hesitating briefly, you eventually slip the rune into the pouch inside your cloak before throwing it on. You slip into your boots, and pull the hood of the cloak over your head, then slip out of the room. Following in Rurik's footsteps, you quietly make your way down the dark flight of stairs. When you reach the bottom you can hear voices in the distance and decide to head towards the servants quarters. Pulling your cloak tighter around your body, you keep your head low as you slip through the group of attendants rushing about. Thankfully, they're all too preoccupied to notice you and you're easily able to slip outside. Harsh wind and rain cuts across your face as you step outside. Keeping close to the keep wall, you can hear men shouting in the distance, but keep moving forward. The wind is too strong for any torch to stay light and you find it difficult to keep your footing in the dark. The ground has turned into a thick sludge that holds you back with each step. You keep making your way forward and stop when you hear Rurik's strong voice over the wind.

Your eyes are slightly more adjusted to the dark and you can see the town's wall several yards ahead. Rurik's voice seem's to be coming from somewhere in that direction so you move towards it. You're not sure why you're out here as you're likely putting yourself in danger. Still, you feel yourself compelled to move forward and eventually reach the wall. Once you reach it you're able to make out a few of the King's men to your side some 20 yards away. They don't appear to notice you but you keep your back pressed against the wall nonetheless. Suddenly, you see a dark figure rush forward towards the men and after a moment they're all down. The figure's back is turned to you and you see him pause after the last man falls. It looks as if he's about to turn around but a sudden shout in the distance draws both of your attentions. You recognize Rurik's voice and it appears as if the figure does as well as he quickly starts running. He heads in the direction of the wall and you see him throw open the small door attached to it. You watch as he slips through and is followed a moment later by the King. Rurik has his large blade drawn and though you can't see his face you get an uncomfortable feeling when he walks by.

You pause for a moment waiting to see if any of the King's men are going to follow but it seems none of them were in earshot of the event. When you walk by the group of slain men a flash of lightening piercing the sky and illuminates the blood covering their bodies. Shivering slightly, you walk through the frame of the door and follow in the direction of the men. Your fingers brush past rough tree bark as you hold your hands out for guidance while making your way into the dark forest. It's grown quite cold but at least the trees provide a little protection from the wind and rain. You're not sure which direction to go in and decide to just continue walking straight. Another flash of lightening streaks across the sky, briefly lighting up the path before you. During the moment of brightness you see something carved into the tree before you. The moment quickly ends and you're left in darkness again. Hold your hands back out you hesitantly start walking forward until your finger tips connect with wood. Running them up along the bark they stop when they reach the carving. After feeling around for a moment you recognize the outline to be the same rune tattooed on Ulf's back.

Reaching into the pocket of your cloak you pull the talisman out and hold it in your hand. As you're running your thumb along the wolf's head you suddenly hear noise in the distance. Keeping the object in your hand you take a deep breath before heading in the direction of the sound. When you grow closer you can hear Rurik's voice but can't make out what he says. Hanging back a few yards you slide behind a tree and lean your head out slightly. You stare ahead in the direction of the voice but can't see anything until another lightening bolt cuts across the sky. Time seems to freeze for a moment as you take in the scene before you. Rurik is standing to right with his sword drawn out and his long cloak is tossed over one shoulder. You can see he's already taken a hit as there's a long gash running across his bicep and his shirt is stained in blood. To the left, however, is a figure you don't recognize at first. Tilting your head further you slowly study the imposing man and your eyes widen in surprise a moment later when you realize it's Sten.

His hair has grown slightly longer and hangs down the left side of his head but he's kept the other side shaved. A long scar runs down across his cheek into his short beard and you can see two similar ones on his neck. It looks as if some large animal took a swipe at his face since you last saw him. A large battle hammer is in his hands and he's covered in blood but it doesn't appear to be his own. In a second the light is gone and you exhale the breath you realize you've been holding. Your grip around the talisman tightens and you stifle a light gasp when you feel the wolf's head come off in your hands. You shake the now opened container but don't hear anything inside. Furrowing your brow, you slowly raise the talisman up to your face so you can try to see into it the next time there's lightening. You're surprised when a strange odor reaches your nose and a moment later you feel yourself slip into unconsciousness. When you open your eyes you find yourself where you had left off in your dream, standing before the crossroad.