The Voyage – Part 2

If you haven’t read Part 1 of The Voyage, you can find it here.

Yrsa’s head swam, she attempted to focus on what was in front of her but could barely make out a blurry tree line. Her head was throbbing with pain, but before she could think straight a tiny voice sang to her.

“Are you okay?”.

Quickly she glanced around and saw a small girl wearing strange clothing. Yrsa’s instinct was to jump up and raise her shield and axe. 

“Wow lady, you must have hit your head pretty hard. Were you out with your friends LARPing or something?” Questioned the small girl, whose hands were on her hips looking up at Yrsa.

“LARP? What?” Yrsa was lost.

“You know, live action role playing? Pretend fighting? That’s pretty good fake blood on your face!” Sang the little girl as she pranced up to Yrsa.

“I just landed here with my clan, this isn’t fake blood, I just killed three soldiers.” Said Yrsa bluntly.

“You’re really taking this seriously!” Laughed the little girl. “I like your costume!” As she tugged on Yrsa’s trousers. 

Realizing slowly that she was no longer in danger, Yrsa relaxed and looked around. “Where are we?” She asked calmly.

“In my backyard basically! But it’s huge, so I don’t blame you for getting lost!” replied the girl.

It was warm out, the sun beating down on Yrsa. When she left home it was dreadfully cold.

“What…. Is it Sumar?” Yrsa could feel the panic rising in her chest. 

“Is it what?” The girl responded. “Do you need to call your friends or someone? You can come to my house, my mom will let you borrow her phone!” She sounded excited at the idea of bringing home a visitor. 

“A phone? What is a… phone?” Asked Yrsa, becoming more panicked by the second. 

“Maybe we need to take you to a hospital… I think you definitely hit your head too hard. Follow me!” The girl pranced off in the opposite direction.

What do I have to lose?  Yrsa thought to herself as she followed the girl.

…

Soon the tree line broke, and they approached a building unlike anything Yrsa had seen. It was a strange color, impossibly large, and stone pillars lined the front. 

“Come on in! I’ll get my mom!” She said as she bolted through a door. 

“MOM!” Yrsa heard the girl yell. “I brought a friend who needs help!”

The first thing Yrsa noticed after walking through the door was a huge square shape displaying strange images. 

What is this place? She thought to herself. 

“Hello?” Called out an older woman’s voice.

Yrsa turned and saw a beautiful woman, soft green eyes and flowing hair kissed by flames. 

“Are you okay? Ava said you hit your head pretty hard playing some game with your friends?” The woman asked. As she handed Yrsa a mug of water. 

“I… I’m fine.” Yrsa was trying to think smart about this, maybe her brethren were still out there.

“Okay…” The woman trailed. “Do you know how to get back to your friends?” 

As Yrsa was trying to decide what to do she chugged the glass of water and handed back the mug. “I am grateful to you.” She said. “I am starting to remember, thanks to your brave daughter.” 

Ava beamed up at her.

“I’ve told her not to talk to strangers.” The woman laughed awkwardly. “But she always feels the need to help people.”

“Well…” The woman continued. “If you know where they are, you should probably head back so they don’t worry.”

“Indeed, thank you for your kindness.” Yrsa responded. “And thank you Ava for saving me.” 

Ava practically danced to Yrsa’s words. “Hey, do you think I could LARP with you and your friends sometime? We could play in my backyard!” Ava’s eyes were glistening with hope.

Yrsa could see the woman getting agitated with her daughter, clearly because she was so naive. Yrsa grinned to herself, a seed of thought growing by the moment. “I think that could happen one day.” She said softly and patted the girl’s head. 

…

On Yrsa’s trek back, it dawned on her that this must be some sort of magic. Was Odin testing her?

She couldn’t doubt it. She decided to head back to the place she fell and examine what magic befell her. 

It didn’t take long to reach the same rock formation, Yrsa’s tracking skills were superb. She crouched into the dirt and looked closely at each rock. As she was going over the center rock Yrsa gasped when her eyes connected to runes carved in the rock. She recognized them instantly, some of the fabled runes Odin found when hanging from Yggdrasil. 

Why would that be here? She thought to herself. Was Odin truly testing me? She had no choice but to believe it now. She placed her hands on the runes, closing her eyes and focusing, but nothing happened. 

“Think!” She yelled in frustration to no one.

It dawned on her after a few moments in silence, she had hit her head on the rock. She reached up and touched the sore spot for the first time. It felt warm, and wet. When she brought her hand back into view her fingertips were sticky with blood. 

“Blood!” She grinned to herself, and with her axe she slowly sliced her hand with the blade.

 Immediately blood began to pour out of the wound.  Yrsa stretched out her arm and exposing her palm dripped blood over each rune. Suddenly the runes began to glow an iridescent blue. Not long the blue shifted to a deep purple as each rune absorbed the blood, practically sucking it from the stone. It grew darker around Yrsa, as dark clouds rolled in a deep thunderous roar shook her and the rocks. She grinned up at the sky, welcoming Odin to take her back. 

In a vicious whirl of colors and thunderous lightning Yrsa was pulled forward and almost instantly shot hard into the earth. Yrsa scrambled for her axe and shield, frantically looking at her surroundings. It quickly became clear she was back, and the battle was over. Her brethren had won. Many of them were already drinking ale, and some were resting against trees eating mushrooms. When she reached her Hersir she pulled him aside. 

“Odin has tested me, and has shown me where to go.” Yrsa spoke, a hint of excitement in her voice. “May I address the others?”

Her Hersir nodded and motioned for everyone to give their attention to her. “Yrsa has words for us!”

Yrsa was sure of herself now, Odin had indeed sent her on this journey for a reason. 

“I have discovered a wealthy land for us to raid with endless treasures! If you will have me, I will lead us to this realm! Odin has shown me the way!” Yrsa finished by pumping her fist in the air. “FOR ODIN!” 

Soon everyone in her clan began hitting their shields in unison and chanting louder and louder. Yrsa grinned to herself, she was on the precipice of greatness.

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Thanks so much for reading!

-Clever & WTF