Bloodlines of the Ancient Pantheons

Chapter 201: CCI. How Does It Feel?

After drinking some water, the adventurers rode horses and left for Mount Torden. 

Gridd looked back, with a heartbroken expression painted on her face.

"I feel very sorry for Lara" Dag said, looking at her sister out of the corner of his eye.

"She was a very promising young Shieldmaiden... she always said that I was his inspiration. She faced the enemy to defend me, I should have stopped her!" she said, in a tone of remorse.

"You couldn't have known that that man would kill her in cold blood like that... Gridd, we're lucky to be all alive. We're going to avenge her... she and all those who have suffered, do not lose hope" Dag replied, trying to ease her pain.

Gridd looked forward, trying not to think about it anymore, determined to achieve the next goal.

"I didn't know what to do and I freed her horse, who ran towards Hevnen" Agnes told Dag, referring to Lara's horse.

"You've done more than you need, Agnes. Thank you on behalf of all of us" he continued. 

As the Sun began to fall, the adventurers reached the Grey Mountains chain. 

"From here on, I'll lead the way, sister" Dag exclaimed with a smile, overtaking Gridd's horse and leading the line.

"How does it feel, Dag?" she asked, her eyes lost in a vacuum.

"What are you talking about?" 

"In a short time, you have discovered that your powers are connected to something else... something bigger. It doesn't happen to everyone to discover such an incredible thing. How do you feel about it?" she replied.

"Even if I pretend to be sure of what I do, I assure you that I am very confused. Yes, it's true, this is incredible, but... it's not easy to discover something without the slightest help. One thing is certain, if I had not decided to become a Berserkr, maybe my powers would never have emerged and I would never have endangered all these people, now dead because of me" Dag replied, looking sad and serious.

"Don't even joke about that! Your destiny is to become the strongest warrior on the planet, I'm sure of it. You have something no other warrior has... I'm not talking about your unique powers, I'm talking about your heart. Lara and everyone else sacrificed their life for you, but it was their choice. When you choose to dedicate your life to the steel of weapons, every day may be your last one and if you know you are fighting for something bigger... well, it's rewarding. I don't want to die, Dag, but I would sacrifice myself for you with pride if I must" continued Gridd, who couldn't stop thinking about what had happened in the last few hours.

He turned his gaze towards her, who smiled at him.

"Together we will do great things, no one will have to sacrifice. Life is the most important gift we have been given... we have to show these damn aliens how much we're worth. When we were little, you asked me if it was possible to defeat them... till today I did not believe that it was possible".

"Still, you succeeded, we succeeded! Your teammates have also been very strong, especially the archer. I've never seen anyone use bows and arrows with so much skill. And his bow is magnificent! It's a magical weapon, isn't it?" replied Gridd, curious to know more about the Failnaught, which had caught her eye. 

"Yes, it is. Like my Giantbane, it was forged by Weland, the God. But, think about one thing... both my axe and Reidar's magic bow, did not cause any harm to the Xis. The powers these weapons unleash are divine in nature, as are our skills, which draw energy from the Gods, right?" asked Dag.

"Yes, but... I don't understand, what's the point?" 

"I am convinced that the Xis are immune to divine powers. Weland told us what happened to Asgard when the great and powerful Aesir were driven from Earth. Even the great Odin, the Alfather, and his son Thor were forced to bow before this unknown breed. If the Gods are the most powerful form of life on the planet, it means that escaping the control of the Xis is virtually impossible" he continued, thinking out loud.

"Odin?! The great Alfather knelt before them?! I can hardly believe it! I want to know more, tell me what you know about Asgard, please!" 

The two siblings continued to speak until it became dark, and Dag told Gridd the story of Weland, who described the misfortunes that struck Asgard immediately after the Dark Day, arousing in her a deep sense of anger, in the face of the heresy of the alien race, whose powers outweighed those of the Aesir. 

"Captain, perhaps we should stop at this clearing for the night. The horses look tired" Reidar said, interrupting Dag and Gridd, who were still talking.

"You're right, let's stop here. We'll be back tomorrow morning, Mount Torden is not so far" he confirmed, getting off his horse and tying Aslan near a tree.

After the long and tiring day, they had managed to cover more than half the distance and about 3 mountains separated them from their destination.

In the middle of thick wood, they camped in a clearing, which seemed to be made on purpose. In its center, flowed a small stream, from which they could quench the horses and fill their water bottles.

In the dark of night, Dag and the others lay on the ground around a fire.

He stood still and looked at the sky, while his companions discussed about this and that, imagining the faces of Egill and Dargeon when they discovered that the Sons Of Freya had accepted their alliance proposal.

"Are you all right, Dag?" asked Gridd, lying next to him, much more apprehensive than usual.

"You're behaving like our mother, indeed... even worse! Hahaha" he chuckled, teasing her.

"Today I thought I'd lose you for good, you idiot! Wondering how you feel at the end of such a busy day is the least I can do" she muttered, slapping him on the shoulder.