The Sage of Einar

Chapter 57: Besieged in the blizzard

In the snowstorm Sven and his group had difficulty moving forward, their feet getting caught in the thick snow slowing their pace. They used their hands to cover their face from the cold air and prevent their eyes from freezing.

“Jarl Sven we should start moving faster, as the blizzard will increase with intensity, if we stay here we may die”

Sven who was worried just put his serious face and looked forward where he could see a black silhouette.

“Let’s walk a little faster because in a few kilometers there is something big in front of us.

Possibly we can find some cave in which we take refuge since I do not know in this blizzard, where the forest is. “

They all silently nodded and started walking towards the black silhouette that seemed to be a mountain.

Upon reaching the slopes of what appeared to be a mountain, they could see a cave in which had on the outside had some runes engraved. At that moment, Sven realized that Ansgar and his group must have rested instead.

But at the moment they did not have time to read the runes, so they all entered the cave.

Once inside Eskol with the help of Jensen, they prepared the fire in the place where Ansgar and his group had made a fire.

“Sven from what I can see in this place, Ansgar and his group most likely rested a few days ago.

But it is impossible to say when they left or why they left, most likely we will find the answer in the stone they left outside … “

One of the warriors who had entered the cave interrupted Eskol “Jarl Sven and Eskol, I think they will have to come with me, I found something important.”

Sven and Eskol looked at each other and started walking towards the dark cave, which was only dimly lit by the light from the small fire they had made.

When they reached a certain depth in the cave, they frowned, as they smelled the smell of rotting meat that came from under a mound of stones that appeared to be a tomb.

Next to the stone mound, they could see a stone that had some runes that had Kaj’s name.

Sven stroked his beard and exhaled a little, before looking at Eskol “Let no one come near this place, as it is our partner’s grave.

I’m pretty sure the runestone outside the cave mentioned Kaj and perhaps gives us a clue as to where Ansgar’s party would have gone.

Although depending on what I have written I will decide if it is worth looking for them or returning to the camp, whatever it is we will have to mark the cave because here lie the remains of Kaj.

But of one thing I am sure and that is that there are no animals in this place because his grave does not seem to have been disturbed by any animal “

After saying those words, they all prepared their skins to be able to sleep on the floor of the cave, as there was no point waiting for the blizzard to end.

Eskol and Jensen had to stand guard at the entrance of the cave to prevent some dangerous animal from entering the cave.

While this was happening in the forest, Max had his own problems because of the large number of animals that had been killed.

Many white bears began to besiege the camp and added the effect of the blizzard that did not allow them to see beyond two meters.

The warriors in charge of the defense were suffering because although they fired their crossbows towards where they believed the bears were.

Many times their bolts failed to hit the target, so the bears came dangerously close to where they were. The only tranquility of the warriors was that the traps placed around the camp had stopped the advance of the bears.

But Max knew that although the traps could have stopped the beasts they could overcome the traps because he did not know the number of bears that surrounded the camp.

“Goi orders the warriors in reserve to boil as much fat as they can.

We have to be prepared in case the bears get dangerously close, so if someone calls for help, have them load the pots with boiling fat, and prepare to toss it through the log barricade.

If we allow them to break through the defenses of the camp, it will be the end. “

Goi nodded and ran to where the warriors were, waiting for them to be called to help where they were needed.

Despite the fact that the camp was small, it took him some time to get to the center of the camp because the snow and the different objects in the place made him walk slowly.

When he reached the center of the camp, he found a group of warriors who were sitting around a small shelter.

“Guys, I have orders from Herald Einar that he needs us to build some fires so he can boil fat.

Because we will use it to launch it towards the white bears that dare to approach. “

After saying those words, everyone got up and using the shelter as a cover from the blizzard began to prepare fires in which they put the steel pots with grease.

While the fat was boiling, Max who was defending the northeast part of the camp could smell the characteristic aroma of the fat being cooked.

So feeling a little more relaxed, he continued to point his crossbow towards where he thought the bears were.

Either way, he could be sure that if necessary he could throw the fat at the bears, causing them to be knocked out or flee due to the pain of the burns.

During the following hours, the entire camp did not stop firing, reaching a point where the bolts began to be scarce, so they must have left their crossbows to take the makeshift spears they had.

This measure caused some white bears to get quite close to the southwest area of ​​the camp.

So it was at that time that the reserve troops made use of the fat they had been keeping boiling, for this, they held the hot pots with their gloves and carried them towards the barricade

Once they arrived, they threw the boiling fat towards the bears that had approached. They growled as the boiling fat stuck to the skin, causing even their eyes to explode because of the heat.

It didn’t take long for the camp to become a true bear killing ground as the screeching of white bears and the blizzard gave the place a mystical and disturbing atmosphere.

Some warriors could see how many of the bears that had suffered burns ran towards the traps since they preferred to die before continuing to suffer the pain they were feeling.

When the blizzard calmed down it was, then that everyone could see the balance of that battle, bears and censuses were found dead, some by traps or bolts, and others were lying dying for the burns they had.

Max then realized that at least over forty white bears had been killed, which was an impressive achievement, but it also made him feel a little scared, for if this large number of bears could have made it south.

Then perhaps his family and the entire village would be in danger and because only they were on the island and the number of animals was insufficient to feed all those beasts.

So perhaps the only way they would have would be to attack the town causing a great catastrophe in that place.