Kara and Doskev led the group through the labyrinthine caverns that twisted through the heart of Thor's tomb. Kara tensed and the group stopped. Her keen hearing picked up the chatter of the Dentinous pukje before the others could see them. Dentinous pukje were larger than most other pukje, with bulbous dead eyes and sticky fingers that could help them climb the slimy walls of the caverns. What gave them their nickname were enormous teeth that hung out of their jaws like a barrel full of practice swords. When agitated or excited Dentinous pukje gnashed their teeth together creating a cacophonous symphony, warning prey to flee. Doskev could see them now, a small band of twenty. They had killed many Dentinous pukje in recent days. Most of the group had taken some of the teeth either as a war-prize or for tools. The losses did nothing to slow the pukje's aggressive assaults.
Worse than the pukje were the renders. Solitary, renders were eyeless beasts with the strength of Red Loki. Many battles with the pukje were ended when a render ripped apart and ate many of them before turning on the Norgardians. Kara and the others had beaten the two renders they faced with concentrated, fierce resolve, but they knew if they were to be caught unprepared, they would be serving Odin in the halls of Valhalla.
When the Norgardians spoke; they whispered. Whispers amplified like screaming through the vast network of tunnels. Luminescent lichens and fungi became more common. Aesa had ground some of them into a grease which the group applied to their fingers. The Chosen Ones invented a soundless language of glowing signals to speak of danger, water, or food.
Doskev signaled for the others to wait and for Sigurd to put Dokflam in its scabbard. Sigurd extinguished the light source. The others were not afraid of the pukje but decided that the risk of alerting a render was not worth the excitement of a fray. Magnus was tense from the wait when Doskev gave the signal that it was safe to continue. They walked a short distance and noticed the ground was getting soggy. Soon they were in the area where the Dentinous pukje were spotted. Aesa was first to spot a body. A Dentinous pukje was strewn over some rocks in the mud. It's back was filled with arrows. Dentinous pukje carried poison darts which they used to subdue their prey, not arrows. The arrows were fibrous. Magnus extracted one from the body. Isgerd examined it. She made the hand gesture to indicate the arrow was made from some sort of fungus.
The other pukje were all dead; riddled with arrows. Two of them were shot in the chest and head, the rest were shot in the back as they ran. All had looks of terror on their faces. This tunnel widened into a marshy swamp. Several rafts were located on the shore. The pukje had made no attempt to get to the rafts. They were headed toward Kara's group when they were killed.
Isgerd examined the rafts. They were made of the same fungi as the arrows. Although simple craft, they were crafted with skill. Each could hold several people. Several paddles were available for each raft. Isgerd risked speaking. "We must risk taking these rafts. Whoever killed the pukje may know the way out of here. We can't go further by land, unless we missed a hidden passage," she whispered.
The others nodded. Doskev, Aesa and Kara took the lead raft. Magnus, Sigurd and Reikov took the next. Isgerd, Poksok and Hildagunn took the next. Vikar took the last. He had no trouble gripping the paddles but used his massive paws instead. The extra rafts were tied to Vikar's raft and filled with the group's provisions and extra gear. They launched their rafts. The sound of the paddles hitting the water were like a waterfall to their ears. Hildagunn drew upon the seid magic of the Bifrost and the paddles were silent as they struck the water. Doskev's raft hit something big and rocked as it passed over the object in the water. She latched onto it and tried to lift the object out of the water but it was too large. She flipped it over with her paddle and the glow from Sigurd's sword outlined a render. The massive creature wore a shirt of arrows. Dozens of the mushroom missiles pocked its body. The creature was sliced with blades at its joints. It drown when its legs could no longer support its weight.
When the others had seen the body, Doskev released it, allowing the corpse to continue on its path. Every drip from above or bubble popping on the surface had the group on edge. Whatever did this to the the render would be a dangerous foe.
The water deepened soon after they were past the render. They were on a vast lake but Sigurd soon discovered he could sheath Dokflam. The water was alive with Bio-luminescence. Under the surface algae, odd shaped fish and other bizarre creatures brightened the way with flashes of blue, green, yellow and purple. The caverns provided some light with lichens and fungi that also gave off fairy-light. The group became experts at spearing fish. Vikar found the task easy, filling up all day on as much as he could eat. Whatever killed the pukje and render were gone. A ripple rocked their rafts, reminding them to remain vigilant. No one viewed the behemoth, but legendary monsters lurked just beyond the mind's eye.
Periods of hunger and sleep provided assurance of the passing of time. Aesa had so many conversations going on inside her head she was not sure which voice was her own. Not speaking aloud was a torture worse than any a pukje could imagine for her. She waved her glowing fingers around in wild, meaningless patterns. Magnus could see her torment and snorted. The peace from her endless prattle was a boon he remembered to thank the Norns for each day. He drank from his cup, trying not to laugh. Sigurd pointed to Magnus's head careful not to get his hand too close.
Magnus's eyebrows furled. Reikov did laugh. Scrawled in black pigment on Magnus's forehead in Thorsen were the words, Aesa was here. The same words were on his drinking cup. They did not ponder how Aesa had pulled off this stunt. Aesa's luminescent tongue wagged a raspberry in Magnus's direction at the sound of the laughter. The laughter hid for a moment the sound of the current.
They had come to the mouth of a tunnel on the wall of the cavern. It was wide enough for several rafts, but the ceiling was only as high as two men standing on each other's shoulders. The current was pulling them in that direction. Isgerd made the hand signal to proceed. They settled in and let the current take them.
The current carried them at an alarming rate through the winding tunnel. The rafts dipped under rapids, bounced up and hit the walls before continuing down short waterfalls. It was all they could do to hold on. The light was not as good here, making navigation more difficult. At one narrow section, the ceiling of the tunnel was so low that they had to lay on their backs to keep from injury. Nothing prepared them then for the sudden plummet. Screams could not be heard above the roar of water crashing below them. Magnus and the other Norgardians prepared to enter Valhalla.
The rafts hit the surface of the pool and plunged below the surface, keeping them from air for several tense moments. When the rafts surfaced they were speeding down a wide underground river toward an island. The island grew as their rafts slowed to a safer speed. Doskev made a signal that she was going to stop on the island. The rest of the group paddled for the shore.
The island supported a half submerged building. Shadows danced between a few torches that blazed in rusty sconces. Serving as a colossal arch, an enormous, but rusted bronze statue of a naked, mature man guarded the ingress to the building. A gold trident, almost as long as the island rested on the shore. A bearded head, covered with moss lie on its side near one of the statue's feet.
"It looks like a Welkin temple," said Aesa. She read some of the inscriptions. Praise Poseidon, earth-shaker, horse-friend, god of the sea.
"This temple is a long way from Welkin lands," said Sigurd.
"Yes, something is not right about this," said Isgerd.
Kara noticed the pool near the Welkin temple. It glowed from within with gold. It must contain many fine treasures. She began wading into the viscous fluid. It felt like pitch, but it was warm. "All you desire are in the water. Drink. Dive deep. Rest on the bottom. Soon you will be mine..."
The voice was alien and cold, but wrapped each syllable around her soul, squeezing her resistance, enticing her to rest in the warm waters of the pool.
"Aunt Kara!" Reikov shouted. His youthful eyes could see well in the shadows and he was first to notice Kara slip into the pool and dive in. He saw something hideous in the darkness of the temple and started to shout out again in warning. It was then he noticed how enticing the pool looked. Reikov had never been in a pool, but his mother had described how wonderful they were. "Come child, see what your auntie found. She is alright. Come, the water is pleasant," said the voice.
Magnus heard the voice. It was shrill and demanding. "Come to the pool. Your kin is waiting," it said. Magnus shield bashed himself hard. Blood ran down his face. His lip turned up into a pleasant grin as he gripped Frosik with his iron fist. His legs churned as he released a fierce battle-cry. He headed to the dark interior of the temple to seek out the hidden things within.
The others heard Reikov's shout and were snapped out of their reverie. Isgerd noticed Kara as she dove to the bottom of the pool. She called for others to help. She saw Reikov wandering toward the pool, but he did not look like he was going there to help Kara. Doskev got in his way and he tried to push past her. A fight between them ensued. Aesa was climbing the colossal statue's leg. Sigurd, Hildagunn and Poksok seemed normal and were looking for leadership. Vikar trotted to the pool where Kara was last seen. He growled and jumped in.
"Go help Magnus. Poksok and I will help Kara," said Isgerd.
Hildagunn used her seid powers to weave an aura of protection on herself and Sigurd. Then they rushed to the temple to find Magnus. When they arrived Sigurd and Hildagunn discovered it was very dark. Sigurd unsheathed Dokflam and allowed its light to fill the inner temple. Both Sigurd and Hildagunn could hear several distant voices imploring, "Let us have a taste. I can feel its mind weakening. There are others here. Oh, they are thinkers. Mmmm."
Sigurd could see Magnus in a struggle with a slimy pink skinned monstrosity. Many tentacles flailed about wrapping themselves around Magnus, caressing his face. One tentacle hung limp in Magnus's mouth. His eyes were wild and lidless. For a moment he stopped fighting and looked at the creature with an empty stare. Then his eyes filled with rage, he chopped at the creature with Frosik with such intensity his ax and most of his arm had passed through the creature's head and lodged in its thorax. Magnus continued to chop, bite and kick long after the slimy thing began its death throes.
Hildagunn and Sigurd felt a wave of oppression leave the temple. They still heard the other voices, but those voices seemed lost in indecision. Sigurd rushed a smaller copy of the pink monstrosity that Magnus fought and pierced the creature with Dokflam.
Doskev rushed in from outside to help. Hildagunn drew on her magic. She made a gesture and a ball of intense violet energy crackled in her hands. She made a throwing motion and the ball of magic flew beyond her kin and landed behind the nightmare creatures. There was an intense flash of light and a thunderous explosion sent chunks of the now burnt creatures raining down on them. Doskev and Sigurd finished off the dying creature they faced and went over to help Magnus. Magnus was awash in oozing fluid. He howled in rage, attacking Sigurd with a fierce swipe of Frosik. Doskev blocked the blow with her trollspear, preventing Magnus from decapitating Sigurd. The sound of the weapons clashing echoed throughout the otherwise silent room.
Magnus stopped. Frosik fell from his hand. He left the temple, head down and did not speak. Sigurd had turned white. Then his face flushed red. He stomped after Magnus and grabbed his arm.
"What were you doing? You could have killed me," shouted Sigurd.
Magnus jerked his arm free without looking up or commenting.
Sigurd stopped him again. "If you try that again, I will kill you,"
Magnus stopped. His intense blue eyes stared through Sigurd. "You should save your boasts for lesser men."
Sigurd considered striking Magnus with Dokflam. Magnus watched; a smile forming on his face. His eyes were dangerous. Sigurd took his hand off of his blade, " I would never kill a kinsman," he said.
Magnus continued to watch Sigurd as he walked away toward Isgerd. "No, you would not." he mumbled.
When Isgerd and Poksok got to the pool Vikar had already pulled Kara from the sticky pond. Vikar shook her like a ragdoll. She spewed slime several times and then gasped and coughed.
"Let her go Vikar," said Isgerd. Vikar growled, keeping a strong hold on Kara and inching away from the godi. Poksok poked the bear with a needle from a blowgun he had pulled from a hidden pouch. Vikar let go of Kara and turned to confront the assailant. Poksok screamed and passed out. Vikar collapsed; dropping Kara.
Isgerd ran to Poksok and woke him. "Did you kill Vikar?" she asked.
"Nnnnoonononononononno! Only...ssssssleeep," he said.
"Good job, Poksok!" Isgerd said. She tried to pat him, but Poksok moved back as if she were about to strike him.
"I mean it. Thank you," she said. She did not try to pat him again.
Isgerd checked on Kara and Vikar. They would both live. She ran to Reikov. He was lying face down. With effort she turned him on his side. He was breathing, but his eye was swollen shut. Doskev had knocked him out to prevent him from drowning in the pool. She motioned for Sigurd to come near. Sigurd approached, a look of anger in his eyes. Isgerd did not ask, but said, "Help me sit him up."
Sigurd complied. Reikov started to revive. They helped him to a sitting position. Once he could sit on his own, Isgerd left him to deal with another problem.
Magnus was shouting at Aesa. She had climbed the colossal statue of Poseidon and had written in thick paint, AESA WAS HERE, right above the god's bronze penis. She was standing on it for support.
"Your games bring you no honor. Why was Aesa marking up fake gods when the adults were in battle gaining glory? Maybe she is a coward or a fool," said Magnus.
"Maybe you slept with your face in the chamber pot Magnus. The words you speak smell of it," said Aesa.
"Maybe we should leave you here to enjoy your time as an artist if you are so inclined to be useless," he said. Magnus kicked the statue.
"What good are you and all your glory Magnus? Have you found Thor's tomb? His treasure? Have you found a way out? What makes you think you are a hero?" she asked.
"Enough!" shouted Isgerd.
The colossal penis snapped off and Aesa plummeted. She tried to catch herself but the statue was coated with too much moss and fungi at the rate she was falling to get a handle on it. Magnus caught her just before her head struck the rocks. When she was safe, he let go and walked away. Aesa landed on her butt and scowled at the back of his head.
"What is wrong with us?" asked Isgerd.
"Ask him," said Aesa pointing at Magnus.
"We need to get off of this island," said Isgerd.
It was then they noticed the rafts were missing, along with their extra equipment, treasure from Hyrrokkin's hoard and food.