Lake fog swallowed the Nordling five-oar, slow and steady, till Tera lost sight of the vessel entirely.
Duiz lingered near the base of the promontory. “Come along, ’ere we’re missed," Tera told him half-heartedly. The hound promptly bounded several paces past her, retracing their prints south toward Castle o’ the Dunes. He glanced back to ensure Tera followed. Never a notion he didn’t think was his from the start. Not to be hurried, she snugged the hood of her cloak and strolled after him, as much as one could stroll in snow past her ankles.
Some soul in the boat had been watching them. It was him, I’ll wager—the big fellow with his face partly hid. Like a turtle among snails. Something was odd about his posture at the oar, too. Was he a giant, mayhap? Or troll-kin? She had never met either, or so much as a half-giant for that matter, and wasn’t certain she knew the difference. Well, in somewise, he was an unexpected sort. And unexpected is interesting.
“At least, I’d best hope so, yeah?" she asked her companion. Alas, Duiz loped well ahead now, nearing the long, gradual ascent from the lakeside to the sand-hills, and paid her no mind.
Those Nordlings were off to Castle Blent, no doubt. To what purpose? Warring with the savages beyond the western marches? Or they could be hunters, intent on capturing a tusked mammoth-beast or fetching a great-bear for their lord.
Tera wished to see a great-bear—from a distance. But demons and the like dwelt beyond the frontier, if the word of bards and soldiers held any water. She’d no desire to behold such terrors, even from afar.
Duiz abandoned their path to chase some vermin that evaded Tera’s notice. Indeed, why hasten home? There was plenty of time yet to go a-wandering before the sun slipped away and dinner preparations commenced. Till then, only needlework and idle chatter awaited her. Or some overly optimistic lordling would suggest a stag ride and her uncle would oblige her to humor him. Wright help me.
She stopped retracing her steps and veered west, instead, toward the falls. Who knows? Mayhap I’ll see a bear, or a goat-ox at least. A troll, if I’m misfortunate. The possibility excited her enough that she walked a little faster.
Mayhap someday, fierce Nordling raiders will abduct me and Duiz from the lakeside. Think what an aurochs in the kitchen that would be, once Uncle found out!Here at the edge of the world, anything was possible—like demons, giants, and trolls.