Bloodlines of the Ancient Pantheons 191 CXCI. The Flock

He approached the hammer at his hips and immediately the magnet pulled it towards it, locking it on the belt. 

Then he tried to pull it out quickly and the weapon detached without any difficulty.

"Yes, the new belt is perfect too. The extraction of weapons is much faster than before, it will allow me to be ready for combat even during surprise attacks" Dag said, after putting the Giantbane on the appropriate space. 

"Well! I'm glad you like Turid's job, Captain! My quiver has also undergone improvements, now it's much more capacious" Reidar exclaimed, showing everyone else the new piece of his equipment.

"Are you sure you don't want to stay with her, Reidar? If you wanted to stay here, you could use Fort Skjonnet as an operating base, being our Clans allied" Dag continued, trying to figure out what his companion's intentions were.

"Captain... I just told you that I had my quiver modified, what do you think I'm going to do?" he replied, walking to the barn and beginning to harness Ace, who was waiting for him impatiently.

Dag smiled, without adding anything. 

Reidar, in addition to being a reliable ally, had also become one of his closest friends and the fact that he wanted to follow him everywhere gave him a sense of tranquility, being his team full.

All seven warriors left the fortress, like a full delegation, ready to travel to Mount Torden.

"This way, friends. I'll lead the way, follow me" said Gridd, who knew by heart the way to Jordstäl. 

When they left Hevnen, the Sun was high in the sky, and the warriors could feel the warmth of spring on their skin.

During the journey, Gridd's two pupils approached Dag's horse, beginning to ask him so many questions, curious to know more about the fighting style of the warrior who had defeated their Master, Taya.

As he spoke to one of the two young warriors, Dag noticed something moving on the branches of a tree near the hydrothermal springs surrounding the plain around the city.

It was a crow, whose black feathers glistened in the Sun.

Although he was very far away, Dag felt his sight, managing to distinguish the details, probably thanks to the magenta blood of the hawk, which had greatly increased his senses.

The bird had purple eyes: he was spying on them.

"Reidar!" exclaimed Dag, interrupting his conversation.

"What happened?" asked Reidar, alerted by his captain's tone.

"On that tree over there... there's a crow. Not a normal one, one of those" Dag continued, pointing his finger in that direction and stopping the horse.

Everyone else did the same, without understanding what was going on.

"Captain, I don't know how you did it, but that bird is so far away! To hit it, I have to get a little closer" said Reidar, who could barely see the target.

Dag nodded, with a focused expression.

Reidar rode to the tree and before scaring the bird, he fired an arrow at it, hitting it right in its body and causing it to fall to the ground.

"Dag! What was that? Why did you hit a crow? That poor bird had done you no harm!" said Gridd, not remembering when his brother told her about the animals possessed by the Xis.

He approached her and, leaning out of his horse, whispered something in her ear, refreshing her memory.

"Really? I want to see it up close!" she exclaimed, curious to see the magenta blood with her own eyes.

Dag stood in front of her horse, blocking her road: "Let's move on, we have a mission to accomplish. There will surely be other opportunities, sister" he replied, trying to make Gridd realize that she should not speak so explicitly in front of strangers, the two young warriors of her Clan.

Gridd got the message and turned the horse, continuing down the street, amid the questioning glances of her two pupils.

"What happened, Master? Why did they hit the crow? I don't understand" said the young Shieldmaiden, approaching her.

"Nothing important, Lara... my brother and his men love to play weird games, things between them" she said, smiling.

As they got back on the road, Dag and his companions looked into each other's eyes, telling them to stay alert.

Aslan accelerated the pace and Dag positioned himself next to Gridd, on the front line. 

She looked at him, noticing his gaze focused on the road. 

Without saying anything, the warriors continued to travel until late afternoon.

"The Sun is setting more slowly this season... I think we can wait to camp and..." 

"Ouch!" 

Gridd's words were interrupted by Lara, who uttered a verse from the back.

"Lara! What happened?" asked Gridd.

Immediately, she too was hit by something on her shoulder, at great speed.

She turned quickly and was hit again, behind her back. 

"Up!" shouted Dag, who had his eyes pointed at the canopies of the few trees in the area. 

"What the fuck?!" said Karl, after looking up.

Dozens of crows were perched on the branches and were attacking them in a dive.

"What the fuck do these birds want from us?" asked Gridd, pulling the bridles of Light, who was frightened after realizing she was under attack.

"Move!" exclaimed Dag, descending from Aslan's back and entrusting his bridles to Gridd, who retreated.

"Karl and Reidar did the same, leaving control of their horses to Agnes, who remained on her man's, positioning herself next to Gridd and the two warriors.

The crows began croaking in unison, producing a loud noise that spread across the muddy plain around them.

Dag stood still, his hands resting on his weapons as if he was a gunman ready to pull out his guns in a duel.

Meanwhile, Reidar charged an arrow, generating two more magic ones, which fired at the birds, striking three of them that died instantly.

Chapter end