Nothing like a mission with steep odds.
Crystal lands at an abandoned farm outside town just as dusk settles over the Hold.
After donning her new armor and equipping her father’s axe, the two crouch down, facing the fortified Sannhet Burg. Weathered stone walls encircle the central town, with five ivy-covered towers built at strategic points.
“Calder said our best route is through the undercroft since the Gothi Temple is outside the walls,” Aura whispers, even though the only creatures able to eavesdrop on them are three wolly pigs.
Crystal scoffs, urging Aura away from the main gates and toward the walls facing the North Sea channel. “He was not present during the city’s construction.”
Aura chuckles to herself, recalling the plan to infiltrate the town. Crystal nodded patiently as Calder meticulously laid out their steps.
“Why did you not correct him?” the Princess asks as they slip under one of the sentry towers, which extends out enough for them to slide flat against the wall.
“He didn’t need to know our specifics. Besides, I think any change to his manicured plan would have shattered his frigid heart.” Crystal adds dismissively, her back pressed against the stone as she strikes the individual blocks with her fist. “The Jarl who built Sannhet was paranoid of his shadow and had hidden entries built into the exterior wall.”
At the next stone block that she strikes, the sound of grinding fills the air, raising Aura’s heart rate at the thought of being caught. A section of the wall opens inward, revealing a door built into it.
“You are full of surprises.” Aura slips into a chilly, pitch-black chamber.
When Crystal joins her, the thick door shuts behind them, bathing the women in momentary darkness before a faint orange glow emanates from the wyvern’s palm, as if flames fit her hand like a glove.
Aura gazes at her own palm and can still only create a small, bouncing fireball with a curly cue. Theseidrlooks much more adorable than it has any right to.
Crystal glances over, and her brow raises. “Is the flame sentient?” The fire squeaks in response. “Yes, it is. Interesting.”
Aura follows as they weave through the corridor concealed in the walls until stopping beside the outline of a door. Light illuminates the grate at their feet.
Crystal holds a finger to her lips, then whispers. “Use the hunter abilities, guide your senses. Merge yourseidrwith your instincts.Listen for movement outside the wall. Can you feel the presence of another person?”
Aura closes her eyes, feeling her senses heighten.
The power is unbelievable!
Theseidrflowing through her blood whispers to her, granting her a sense of control over her environment.
This must be what a predator feels when hunting its prey.
She hears a rat scurry further down the hidden passageway. Somewhere nearby, a person inhales, their nose sniffling slightly due to congestion.
“Someone is out there,” Aura whispers.
“Open your eyes, guide yourseidrto find their heat source. How many bodies can you sense?”
Aura squints as theseidrseems to cut off all her other functions while she focuses on the golden ambiance coloring around two figures. Adult men, by the looks of them. She relays the situation to Crystal.
“Perfection, darling. The ability will eventually become second nature for you.” Crystal nods in approval.
Aura places one hand on the outline of the door leading into the corridor and the other on the handle of her father’s axe, but Crystal shakes her head.
“Channel your mental hookingseidr. Push them into insanity. There are more ways to deal with enemies than to smash them with an axe.”
Aura hesitates, recalling the power wielded against her father during his imprisonment by Thrain and the restless nights it continues to cause him. She pushes it from her mind, creaking open the door and catching sight of one of the soldiers.
The mental hooking ability allows one to conjure a specific scene in someone’s mind. Crystal has advised using simple pain or pleasure points when wielding thisseidrinstead of the complex scenarios her father suffered.
Aura focuses on fire, burning, and death.
The soldier shrieks, collapsing to his knees. His hands clench inhis hair as he rocks back and forth. His violent reaction causes the other soldier to drop his shield and spear to help his companion.
