A Cold Wind Blows

[Théodred Heavenshield]

Well with this turn up for the books, Théo was not exactly in a relaxed state of mind. Although Velkar was not a 'person' to go around killing people for the sake of it, there was more than enough reason to be on guard around him. Yes this God had killed people, when directly or indirectly, intentional or not, the history is there and in legend of the tales of Midvinter. There is very good reason why it is forbidden to speak of this one, or worship him. Regardless of his great deeds in the battle against the Hag. But what were they to do about it? nothing.

Théo let out a long sigh of resignation and he could only hope that Velkar's intentions were not to get them all killed. But he was going to take no chances if he could help it. "I shall take the watch", he said to the room. It was time for them all to get as much rest as they could, Yula could have the bedroom being the only female present and Connor and Boo would have to flip a coin for the small bed in the other. Théo would remain awake and keep an eye on Velkar who did not need to sleep, and left alone and bored most likely would get up to something that would result in their demise. Like the cottage set ablaze for the fun of it.

At the mention of his grandpapa, Théo flashed a disapproving look at the God although he had to admit that Velkar and he shared the same opinion at the fest of Averlorn after the battle, but regardless he would always defend the honour of the Dawnbringer. "You keep my grandpapa out of this, whatever you are intending to do by coming with us. I hope you realise that if anything was to befall us .. you will pay". The payment would not come due by any mortal hands but by that of another god.

But regardless of Théo's words, Velkar just smiled as if relishing the prospect of an 'argument' betwixt the Dawnbringer and himself. "Get as much rest as you can, we will start early in the morning". With that he made himself comfortable on a chair by the fire.

The night would pass without incident, Velkar vanished bored with the silence of the group and sort whatever entertainment elsewhere (much to Théo's relief) until such time as the group was ready to leave. The horses would remain in the village of the Falls of Crystals, and they would go on foot for the rest of the journey. Once they are packed and food provisions divided among them, Théo handed them all a long length of rope, including Boo. Everyone had to have it just in case because not everything can be fixed by the use of the force.

Théo stifled a yawn as he awaited the others.

[member="Boo Heavenshield"] | [member="Yula Perl"] | [member="Connor Harrison"] ​

 

[Micah tol Powl]

When he had returned from his prayers, the young Pantoran had found everyone starting to settle down for the night.

Except Théo, who seemed like he wanted to watch over the house. Or the occupants in it. Probably a combination of the two.

So, Boo stayed with Théo. In part because Boo was used to not sleeping in a bed. He'd gone a long time before he'd ever slept in a bed. And Théo's were perfectly good alternatives to beds.

The Pantoran was practically crawling all over the man, either stretched out across his lap or else draped over Théo's shoulder. And talking about any thing that came to mind. The latest hologame that Boo was playing. The last episode of I Need A Hirou that he'd watched.

Eventually, the Pantoran knocked out. With the snugglesnek coiled up with Boo.

For her part, Azi stayed up to keep the vigil with Théo. In fact, at one point, the amphistaff had returned from patrol of the premises with a dead mouse in tow. Like any good soldier, the dead mouse was presented as a war prize for Théo.

In the morning, Boo was no worse for the experience. Coi was draped across the boy's shoulders like a serpentine shawl, while the amphistaff wrapped around his waist like a utility belt, napping intermittedly.

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"] | [member="Yula Perl"] | [member="Connor Harrison"]​

 

[Yula Perl]

Yula recoiled viscerally from the wink. Usually, she had better self control—especially when it came to—well, actually, no. She kind of didn’t. Hopefully Velkar was only a minor irritant.

Speaking of which, the God was busy shooting the breeze with Master Harrison while exchanging snips with Théo, and the blue kid was…

Okay, yeah, this was getting a bit weird. But at Théo’s suggestion, how in the right mind were they supposed to get some sleep with that guy hanging around? He made Yula uneasy, but the fact that he was Vik’s father was weirder to her still. While she was wary, there still was a small part of her that did not want to make a bad impression. Whether she had already done that or not remained to be seen, and whether it was out of self-preservation or approval from Vik’s family was another matter entirely.

Predictably, the night did not pass easily for Yula. The smuggler was no stranger to caf stims and had the foresight to carry a few with her planetside. When you don’t know where your next cup of caf is going to come from, you make sure you’re prepared.

As they prepared for the journey, Yula covered her mouth with the back of her hand as she yawned. “So…” She asked, voice tentative and still a bit sleep-grouchy. “Where’s our new friend?”

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"] | [member="Boo Heavenshield"] | [member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

After putting the last remaining items in his pack, Théo stood and stretched his back still stiff of the night of sitting in the same position. For the most part, although when Boo shifted in his arm he took to opportunity to move as well, hoping that blood would return to his legs and buttocks. At Yula's question Théo looked around as if the man would appear out of the wood work, but no there was no sign of Velkar. "Don't know, maybe he changed his mind". He turned to her and grinned knowing full well it was wishful thinking. For all Velkar's faults of which there are many, he was not a murderer, did not kill for the sack of it and in fact deep down there was a sense of compassion in him, he just did not recognise it as such.

"Is everyone ready?", he turned to face the rest of the group, "We have a long way to go", and with that Théo pulled out the rough sketch of a map of the trail leading up the side of the mountain. He laid it on the table for all to see, "This is the stair way up to the top of the Falls, the trail takes us across the face of the mountain directly behind the village to his point", he tapped the paper, at the part of the sketch that showed a parting in the mountain face, a small valley of rock between the peaks. "This is uncharted and once we pass this point we are out of range for any help".

After they had a look, Théo rolled up the parchment, the last thing to place in his pack. "Well... lets go". He was the first out the door, and first to feel the biting cold on his skin. Down in the valley below the Falls of Crystal, the day was clear but here high up they are among the cloud and mist. The group proceeded to the falls tumbling over the edge of the cliff, the trail clear enough from here, steps carved into the rock face and upward they climbed to a viewing platform for any sight seekers. But from there they would turn north effectively and start along the path toward the crack, every onward and upward.

This was the easy part of the journey. And there was still no sign of Velkar.

​

[member="Boo Heavenshield"] | [member="Yula Perl"] | [member="Connor Harrison"]​

 

[Micah tol Powl]

The young Pantoran was second out of the door.

Literally bounding out of the house, the boy threw his arms out in an excited yell as the welcome cold hit him. For her part, Azi immediately shifted up higher. Arcs of electricity flashed like a storm across the biot's serpentine body, causing Boo's already wild hair to stick out slightly.

As they made their way, the boy looked out over the valley. "Why do they call these the Falls of Crystal?" he asked, curiously.

He'd paid somewhat attention to the map, after all.

Still, anything with the name crystal in it was cause for concern. The last time he'd gone down to a planet looking for a crystal, he'd come back with an amphistaff that had claimed ownership of him.

 

[Yula Perl]

Maybe he’d changed his mind, Théo said. Yula didn’t know how she felt about that. On one hand, Velkar made her uneasy. On the other hand, she was sort of insanely curious about him. Was that a good thing? She shrugged. “Maybe.”

As the group began their ascent upwards, it became clear that this would be the easy part of the journey. The steps etched into the mountainside disappeared beyond the platform, signaling exactly what Théo had said—they’d be on their own from there on out. Maybe that was something that should have bothered her, but Yula managed to live through her fair share of precarious decisions, so she was confident they’d survive this one. Excited even.

“Did you brush your hair this morning?” She reached out absently to try and smooth out some of Boo’s wild locks. The natural wave of Yula’s own hair and been weighed down by its length, but her brother had teased her about it plenty as a child. Accordingly, they’d broken plenty of hairbrushes.

Her other hand went to wrap her scarf around the lower half of her face. Midvinter was indeed cold.

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"] | [member="Boo Heavenshield"] | [member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

He turned his head back to the Falls, now a few hundred feet below them but the mist of the waters still rose up this high, and then Théo turned to Boo. "Well, the elders tell me that the waters that tumble over the edge back there sometimes have crystals in them, they said you can see them on a sunny day sparkling in the waters before they fall to the valley below", It was these crystals that Théo was most interested in, they had to come from somewhere and couple that with the tales of the caves, it seems obvious to him of their origins.

Yet there was no sense of a powerful property in the waters, or a sense of something extraordinary in the village either apart from their cultural differences which were unique to Midvinter. But something or someone? was leading him to seek the caves. They may find nothing of consequence just a cave filled with pretty crystals that should be traded at the markets for other goods or, something more useful.

Théo chuckled at Yula questioning Boo about his and he had to think if he remember to brush his own and realised he hadn't. "The better question would be to find out if he cleaned his teeth". He gave his son a playful nudge with a full smile to Yula.

"Come on", he pointed to the crack in the mountain face, "Not far to go now before we start our journey proper". Once they reach that point they are out of reach of help, or sight for that matter if the villages are watching there progress from below. The steps began to get hard to stride, the incline increasing and push the muscles of his legs to work. The crack, a long fracture in the rock possibly formed from seismic activity thousands of years ago, was no wider than ten meters and narrow at others points, ice clung to the sides which seemed just as old, and from now on they would began to climb using their equipment.

"We best put on our ice grips", he stopped and found something to sit on to secure the grips to his boots.

​

[member="Boo Heavenshield"] | [member="Yula Perl"] | [member="Connor Harrison"]​