Chapter 2: Quest Accepted

**Previous Chapter - Chapter 1: To Lazuli!**

As the sunlight slowly crept across the floor and fell on River's face, she groggily opened her eyes and lazily tried to shield her face. At first she wasn't aware where she was, having slept far better than she expected, but things came together after blinking the sleep from her eyes and taking a long yawn. Propping herself up on her elbows, she looked around to find Gladstone curled up beside her, and her equipment resting against the chair in the corner. Strangely that was all though, her host was absent. Bella's bed had been immaculately made, looking like it hadn't even been slept in, despite her distinctly remember Bella having bundled up the blankets as a cushion when she entered last night. For all her strange mannerisms and odd turns of phrase, Bella was apparently quite courteous.

Stretching her arms out over her head, she sat fully upright and spotted a small folded note sitting on the table. Careful not to disturb Gladstone, River inched closer, plucked the paper off the table, and unfolded it between her thumb and forefinger. "*Thanks for the fun night*." was written in the neatest handwriting River had ever seen.

Yeah... Bella was definitely an odd one.

River soon awakened Gladstone as she gently shook him away, who in question slowly opened his eyes, well the one eye as he stared at River. "Time to awaken Glady, we got work to do." River said as she walked over to grab her sword as prepared herself as Gladstone though slowly hovered onto her shoulder as she began to fix the bed itself, making it clean and neat though she did not put it back where it was before leaving the room.

"Where's that Bella girl?" Gladstone questioned as River began to walk down the corridor of the tavern.

"Not sure, she did leave a note saying 'thanks for the fun night', no idea what she meant since we were in different beds." Ruver commented as she got to the main hall where yet another surprise visit from someone she did not expect to see. "U-Uther?!" River shockingly said when an elderly man with white hair in body armor turned to face.

"Ah! My girl River! A wonderful morning, was not expecting you to be here as well" The elderly man identified as Uther bowed. "I say, you are VERY far from home my dear."

"Yeah, a bit too far but... nothing we can do about that." River looked down in solemnly.

"Yes... a tragic night that was when she climbed those hills carrying the Spear, but let's not dwell on the past and look towards the future!" Uther raised his voice as he followed River outside. "Going on this 'secret quest' I see?"

"Yeah, I am not sure but I am compelled to do it." River answered as she got to her carriage and climbed aboard. "Come up, we can take ya to the meeting spot." River invited Uther who smiled with gratitude and climbed on. "Anyways, what's the Order of the Light doing here?" River asked as she began to drove the carriage to the meeting destination.

"Oh? I am alone, as I am also compelled to take this, I sense... something from this, but I can not pin point it." Uther mysterious explained as River and Gladstone took in what Uther said to heart. "We'll get to know the true purpose of secrecy soon enough."

Not long after, River steered the cart into a small pavilion, wherein a large number of people had gathered. She recognized a good number of them from the night before, but there where many more she did not. All where adventurers though, that much was obvious. They where clearly in the right place. Parking her cart with a handful of others, River, Uther, and Gladstone all disembarked and headed for the crowd, which had begun gathering around a small stage at the pavilion's far end.

"Hm, I guess that is where we'll get the information needed." Uther commented as he along with River and Gladstone waited before Brokkr showed up next to them.

"So, has it started?" Brokkr asked when Gladstone shook his head no. "Good, I want in as well, might be something interesting for once."

Not even a minute later, one of the adventuring guild receptionists stepped up on the stage and addressed the crowd. "Excuse me, can I have everyone's attention please?" Slowly the conversations died down, and all eyes turned to the woman on stage. "I'm sure you all know why we called you all together. Ekanite has been plagued by monster attacks for the last few months. Far too frequently and growing bolder by the day. Worse yet, some report that the attacks are organized in some fashion." Some of the adventurers scoffed at that comment, others laughed out loud. But despite this, the receptionist carried on. "We've been tasked with putting together an expedition into the nearby mountains where we suspect the monsters are coming from."

"What kind of monsters should we be expecting here?!" One of the adventurers interrupted.

Though the woman grumbled under her breath, she answered in short order. "We couldn't say for sure. Mostly ogres and trolls, but a large assortment of wild beasts and demi humans have also been reported." A murmur spread throughout the adventurers, but all fell silent when the receptionist raised her voice to continue. "Make note of anything you find. defend yourself if you need too, but remember you're job is largely a scouting mission. If there truly is some for of organization to these attacks, we will contact the royal army to deal with the problem in steed. You will be paid either way, and your rations have already been requisitioned. If you have any preparations to make, make them. The convoy will set out at noon today."

"A scouting mission? That seems like a bunch of hogwash." Brokkr complained. "I'll still tag along, may as well since ya lot will need it." Brokkr joked as he left with River with a curious look.

"A scouting mission eh? Not my usual operation, but good pay." Uther commented before turning to River. "I'll get myself prepared, you do so as well my dear River." Uther bowed before leaving also, with River and Gladstone as the other adventurers also departed to get ready.

"You ok River?" Gladstone asked River looked with a serious expression.

"I have a bad feeling something is going to appear, and I am not looking forward to it. The compulsion to do this... I am not sure what it is." River said as she turned to her carriage. "I'll leave this here, only slow us down and we'll join the convey at the gate." River said as she left, of course having told Brokkr about the carriage which he said he was fine to look after as long he can use it to his advantage, River had no issues with that.

At the gate, River was already geared up in her heavy body that with a large sword, already standing out among the adventurers as only had low to mid quality gear, nothing coming close to the exact quality of the Armour of Midgard. "A lot of people are staring River." Gladstone said nervously who held onto the armored shoulder.

"None of them have any good quality gear." River answered as her sword embedded onto the ground in front of her, with her two hands on the pommel. "I'd be surprised if most of them survived."

A grim prospect, but admittedly it came with the job. One that clearly River was the only thinking about though, as a jovial voice called from behind her. "Hey... River? That you in there?" Turning her head slightly, she found Raptor standing behind her. She didn't respond, but seeing her react at all was all the answer he seemed to need. "I got a proposal for ya. You've got a cart, right?" He asked, not waiting for an answer to either statement. "Can ya come with me real quick? I swear this'll be worth your time."

"Yeah I am here." River answered as the helmet that's been hiding her head began to disassembly as it glides to the back of her head as her ponytail falls down. "What is it?" River questioned as she began to walk with Raptor, though is on guard due to what transpired last night. "We're about to head out, best to get it out or you'll distract yourself and others." River's tone visibly changed that of what a adventurer would to an commander almost.

Caught off guard by her tone, Raptor backed away slightly. "W-well yeah... But I had a brilliant idea last night. It'll make me a ton of money, and I'd be willing to cut ya in if you help me out." He led her around the corner to a small tavern, where four large barrels waited by the entrance. "I bought these last night." Raptor announced, standing next to one and patting the lid. "This trip is likely to take at least all week, and all week for sixty odd adventurers with no booze will feel like an eternity. Unless of course someone has some handy to sell each time we stop to make camp, for a fair price of course." He added with a proud nod, looking back at River hopefully. "I uh... Just need someone with a cart to help me lug em around..."

River stared at at the barrels before glaring intently. "Do you think that is wise? As we leave this gate, we'll be surrounded by hostile intent, any moment in the trip to the destination can ignite into an assault, we leave, we are no longer safe." The helmet reforms around her head as she pulled her sword and slammed it in font of her, the tip embedded in the ground. "Are you really going to get drunk and when you can not even stand be devoured alive as imps clawed your lungs out and drink the juices from your eye sockets?" River told him as she placed the sword onto her back. "Do you wish to die a painful death, or would you rather have the power to defend from monsters that is weaker then the average person?" River's entire character shifted as if she is a entirely different, her voice filled with such power and force, but also a hint of caring. "Think about it what is best at this time, but I will not help you, sorry." River bowed her head slightly before walking away from Raptor.

Her response left him stunned. Not so much that he turned him down, but more so that she essentially broke down how poorly thought out his plan was. "W-well, I..." Was all she heard before rounding the corner and rejoining the group, just as the gate opened and the first cart pulled through the city gate.

River simply walked beside the convey carriages carrying the adventurers with her helmet on, not once looking tired or fatigued all the while being on high alert. She is not exactly aware how far their destination is, but she is assured she'll be able to perform the task regardless of her physical status. Uther followed closed behind however, not once as he looked towards the carriage.

"Uther." River called out. "You should get one the carriage old man, a old paladin like yourself shouldn't push yourself."

"Push myself now?" Uther laughed. "You know me child, with the Light of Alah Alaf looking over me I have nothing fear, tiredness and fatigue shall not overcome me as long I have my faith in the Light." Uther said to her, River is not a particularly religious individual, never truly believed in some undefined faith. Even if their deities are true, who to say they are actual deities but people with supreme power. "I am more worried about you, you wouldn't had taken this job unless something peaked your interest."

"I am here to earn a living for myself, nothing more." River explained but Uther knew under her helmet, something is amidst compelling the two to this job. "Besides, someone got to look after these maniacs." River joked and chuckled at her own joke.

"Oh? See yourself as a guardian, do you?" A low, yet irritatingly smug voice came from next to River. She looked to her opposite side to see Bella walking along beside her. She hadn't even noticed her until she spoke, but Bella had yet to so much as look her direction. For someone who carried a bundle of what looked like six or seven weapons in a bundle across her back, not to mention a rather small traveling pouch, she moved almost without a sound. "Tell me, do you really think our odds of success are so bad?" She asked with a small smirk and half open, yet sharp eyes.

"From what I seen of this world, you be surprise how terrifying monsters can be, even the weakest of them all can cause more damage then you expect, and I seen my fair share of monstrosities in my brief life." River said as she looked over to Bella. "For a organized raids done by monsters, someone must be powerful to command them."

Covering her mouth with her sleeve, Bella looked off into the distance. "Oh my, how very frightening." Though the lower half of her face was hidden, it was very easy to picture her smiling for whatever reason. "Well, I'm happy one as well traveled is accompanying us." She lowered her sleeve and, just as expected, was still smiling. "Very reassuring."

The travel took little over a week before they finally arrived to the ghost town of Ekanite. The town itself was destroyed, buildings charred, dead animals from the farms and weapons all over the dirt. However the one thing that is not there were bodies-not a single body can be located in the town as the group walked in. Brokkr surprisingly tagged along and was just as confused.

"Wasn't this place ransacked? No bodies to be found anyway." Said the dwarf before he stopped and look up at one of the roofs of a charred building. "Hey River, C'mere!" Brokkr yelled out to her as River walked to him with a question look. "Frostmourne there, I forgot to mention you can throw it and recall it back to your hand. Now, look on that charred rood, and tell me what ya see." Brokkr pointed to one of the buildings which River began and oddly enough a strange bird, green in color and looks transparent. "I want ya to aim Frostmourne and throw it as hard as ya can at that there bird." River gave a questioning which Brokkr just gestured to do it anyways. Grabbing Frostmourne and reeling back, she throw the war axe with great force and struck the strange bird but it explodes leaving no body. "That... is not good." Brokkr as Frostmourne returned back to River's hand as she faced the dwarf.

"What is it?"

"That bird... that is called a Raven of Odin, used by a god from where I am to basically watch over, and certain people can cast a spell to summon one. So that is either from Odin himself, or someone else summoned and has been watching our evert move at some point." Brokkr explained as River thought on, a raven that acts as a visual aid of some kind to their summoner. "River if ya see anymore, destroy it as it'll eliminate the watching gaze of whoever it is."

"River?!" Raptor's voice called, and the two turned to find the young blond half jogging towards them. Though, even when he was within speaking distance, he kept his eyes locked in the direction she'd just flung her sword. "Did you see something?"

"Kinda shocked you did not see the axe return? Not like that is a thing here ya know!" Brokkr pridefully told Raptor as he came by. "And no, she was only testing the recall feature I made into the axe."

"R-recall feature?" Raptor repeated in disbelief. He quickly realized he wouldn't be getting a more in-depth answer and decided to just move on. "Well... Me and a few other scouts just finished securing the perimeter. Looks like we're going to be camping out here for the night." He looked around once more, at the chard skeletons of former homes and smashed farm equipment already beginning to be reclaimed by nature. "Hopefully we'll figure this out quick. This place gives me the creeps."

"We'll need watchers to keep a eye on our perimeter then young one." Uther spoken soon after, who worn what seems like heavy armour with a sword. "I'll organize patrol parties and shifts, is that alright with you Lady Ponds?"

"That is fine Uther, just make sure they're fully prepared for whatever comes and to show the the patrol routes." Uther nodded in agreement as he left to organize the patrol parties. "Raptor, we'll head back to make camp and to have a plan of action for tomorrow."

A little taken aback that the others had formulated a plan so quickly, Raptor nodded along and followed River back to camp. "So... What do you think of all this?" He asked, still trying to take in the surroundings. "Everyone says there where a lot of casualties, but... I don't see any bodies..." They rounded the corner of a large, partly crumbled barn, to where a majority of their supply carts had gathered and a number of tents and campfires where being assembled. ""This whole situation feels... Off."

"That is odd, we'll find out when we're done our scouting, but let's just rest." As River said this, Uther had already done the patrol parties and they had already began their routes, but Uther himself began to feel unease towards the hill. Uther walked up the hill and was able to see most of the town as he looked back but when he looked forward, something froze him, a woman stood in tattered clothing with a large hat that is dirty and ruined.

"W-wait, Hecate Fay?!" Uther called out as he ran towards her. "You survived, but ho--" However he stopped when Hecate herself and the sight made him have his heart fell. "No, you're a undead?!" Uther cried out but the only response he got was silence as the undead Hecate stared, glowing red eyes. "I'll end your suffering old friend, find peace in the Light." Uther softly said as he began to charge an Divine spell with his left, but before he could react, an dark armoured figure body slammed into him, causing him his balance. "Oh by the Light!" Uther cried as he pulled out his sword to block the next assault, now locking in a dark blade. "Wait.. Ector? Is that you?!" The armoured figure now identified as Ector sent out a growl with a stench of decay in its breath. "To see... that you had fallen as well, as an Death Warrior." Uther pulled out and clashed against the Death Warrior.

At camp, River began to grow anxious having yet to seat down and rest, deeply concerned on something as she paced. "River, you're gonna wear yourself out if you stop worrying, I am sure he's fine." Gladstone said as River not even looking responded with a sense of concern.

"I know, but he is not the one to be gone for so long, the first patrol shifted other to the next one already, where is he?" River questioned as she has yet to stop.

Having watched this for the past twenty minutes, Raptor wasn't sure what to say. for the last little while, he munched at a small ham stake he'd pulled from one of the campfires, but seeing River pace back and forth before him apparently made it hard to keep an apatite. Finally, having picked the last bit of gristle out of his teeth, he cleared his throat and stood up. "Do... You wanna go looking for him?" He asked, brushing his hands clean on his tunic. "There was a hill over that way where you could see for miles." He pointed off to a small mound in the distance, outlined by the reddening sky of the setting sun. "I can take ya there, if ya wanted. But I'm sure the old man is fine."

River looked towards the hill as she stopped pacing, but she just stood there staring at the setting sun and not once moved a inch. Gladstone hovered in closer as he stopped next to her side. "River? You ok?" Gladstone grow worried when no response. The helmet re-appeared suddenly as it encased her head and face.

"Get ready!" River suddenly shouted out to everyone as she pulled out her sword and before anyone realize, Uther came flying hitting the barn's roof before landing onto the dirt with a loud smack to the back. River quickly sprinted towards Uther "Uther What---" River was stopped mid-sentence when an Gate appeared as a dark armoured figure emerged and clashed against River, blades locking in. "Who the hell do you think you are?!" River shouted angrily as the two began to engage sword as they dodged evaded each other. Brokkr on the other observed the fight as the other did.

"That ain't goo-- YA IDIOTS, STOP YA STARING AND GET UTHER OTTA HERE!!" The dwarf suddenly shouted at the adventurers as he began to walk towards the fight between River and the dark armoured. "Well, a Death Warrior, that is a undead I did not expect to see here." Brokkr softly said as both Raptor and Gladstone flew next him.

"Death Warrior?" Raptor questioned as Brokkr nodded.

"Yeah, Death Warriors, powerful undead, almost as powerful as the Death Knights even, but they're way more agile then the Death Knights." Brokkr explained. "But to see one here in this world is unheard, someone must've made one." Brokkr said as he began to shout at River. "Oi River, it be best to use the Blades of Surtr, that is your only viable option to win!" River looked back and quickly leapt high into the sky, performing a back flip as she revealed twin pairs of blades on each hand, who ignite into flames. "Where the hell is Bella? BELLA YA LITTLE GIRL, GET YA ASS TO ME THIS INSTANT!" Brokkr suddenly shouted.

On the other side of camp, a lone woman lay atop a half collapsed barn roof. The angle the roof sat gave her a great view of the setting sun, though she had her eyes shut and her fingers interlocked behind her head. To any onlooker, she would've appeared to be taking a nap, save for the occasional time she'd lift a small sake jug to her lips and take a small sip. From the small smirk on her face, it seemed like there was nowhere else she'd rather be.

Her apparent bliss was broken when a bellowing voice echoed over the camp. "BELLA YA LITTLE GIRL, GET YA ASS TO ME THIS INSTANT!"

She opened a single eye, turning her head in the direction of the shout to see adventurers all around her jump to their feet, arm themselves, and dash off in the direction the shout had came from. She sat upright, resting her arm on her knee, and watched a growing commotion in the distance. All the same, her smirk persisted. Reaching to the other side of the roof, she retrieved a bundle of sheathed swords of just about every style, and began unlashing a short, black katana.

Tucking the weapon under her arm, and with her sake jug still in hand, Bella hopped off the roof and followed the other adventurers to the scene. What she found was the beginnings of a battle. She approached the dwarf, who's name she wasn't sure she remembered, but knew was the one who shouted for her. "You called, master blacksmith?" She spoke softly, offering the smallest bow. "Lovely night, isn't it?"

"I need ya to up that hill, something is up there that needs to be dealt with. A Death Warrior can not throw a man from that hill to here, no matter what one may think when it comes to the undead." Brokkr requested. "If ya need motivating, I can get ya something real nice, what ya say?"

Bella slowly turned to look up the hill. Though it wasn't clear exactly what was up there, it was obvious a battle was going on. "Oh, is that all?" She half chuckled, flipping the cork into her jug and pushing it at the dwarf. "Hold this for me, would you?" She said, not waiting for a response. And with that she was off, walking at a moderate pace towards whatever it was that had beset them.

As Bella walked towards where Brokkr said, the undead Hecate appeared from the hill, her right hand glowed with mana as an 4th-tier spell was generated, with a growl the undead witch casted a explosive fireball aimed directly at Bella. Contacting with a explosion, however to the dismay to the undead, Bella stood there completely unfazed by the 4th-tier spell.

Slowly, Bella glanced down at herself, focusing most on the slight char on the sleeve of her kimono. "Hmm..." She hummed, patting the smoldering garment out. "Shame. I was fond of these clothes." She took a quick step forward, flicking her sword out of it's sheath with her thumb, but stopped abruptly and glanced over her shoulder. "Hmm... Nobody in sight... But, better to be cautious." With her eyes off the undead, another fireball ignited in it's hand, and she lifted it towards Bella.

Without even looking back, Bella flicked her sword out from under her arm and caught it, using the still sheathed blade to knock the undead's hand upwards, loosing the spell high into the sky. As it detonated overhead, she twirled around the creature, drew a knife from her thigh pouch and plunged it into the back of the creatures neck. The creature instantly went limp and, when Bella withdrew her knife a second later, dropped to the ground completely still.

Moments before, River equipped the Blades of Surta, a pair of twin short blade that soon ignited hot flames and heat as she landed onto the ground, waiting for the death warrior's approach. The warrior quickly sprinted forward, using its sword as a spear. River waited and used an skill attributed to the blades, holding the chains attached she charged and spun the blades in circles. The blades reaching high above her and down, as it struck the death warrior, stunning and staggering it as the flames charged and one massive strike downwards, causing a intensified heat and eruption as the death warrior was pushed back and onto his back.

"Hell yeah, that is my creation by the way." Brokkr arrogantly told Raptor, who looked on with shock on his face as he watches River perform yet another skill. Stabbing the ground with the two blades, a wave of fire swept towards the death warrior, causing fire to erupt from underneath. Quickly, River ran forward and slashed at the death warrior before it can get its bearings, holding onto the chains as she swing the blades with great intent and focus before reeling them in and suddenly changing stance. She leapt forward, holding onto the blade as she swiftly slashed and disarmed him before delivering a final kill blow by not only stabbing under the helmet, it ignited from the inside as the death warrior falls onto the ground, finally dead. River walked back before collapsing. "Oh.. yeah, those two skills would take a lot of stamina, should've told ya that." Brokkr said as he walked beside her.

"Not.. that, just very very hot and got hard to breath." River hacked and coughed as she felt her throat dry up. "Damn, the hell are these?" River questioned as Brokkr shrugged.

"Hey guys!" Raptor came dashing over the hill, having left with the group ushering Uther away. Returning now to see the fight had already ended seemed to take the wind out of his sails, even as his eyes fell on the charred corpse laying in the dirt. "Is... It over?" He asked, looking around once more. "That felt... Kind'a small for a horde of undead, no?"

"Don't think it was a horde of undead, or else we wouldn't be talking." River commented as she was given water to drink by Brokkr before standing before looking down to see a hint of shimmer. Walking towards and kneeling, she tore the armour the death warrior and pulled out a hand-size golden coin. "No... way, it's the Coin." River said with awe and wonderment.

Looking over her shoulder, Raptor raised an eyebrow. "Coin? that thing?" He repeated in disbelief. "That thing looks more like a medallion to me. A hell'a expensive one at that. Nice find."

"It once belonged to a man from long ago, it was suppose to be with a sword but why does this death warrior have it?" River questioned as Uther mended and properly treated called out to the group.

"That is because Hector of the Light perished during Fourth War River Ponds, the sword Durandal destroyed alongside with him, but that Coin remained." Uther explained as he slowly walked over to them with a female adventurer magic caster coming from behind.

"Uther! You are still injured, you shouldn't be moving!" The female magic caster said as she raised her right hand a faint gren glow emitted from her hand as a healing spell was used.

"That medallion holds the power to increase any weapon depending on the sun's position." Uther went to explain as River handed the Coin over. "It was said my friend, Hector of the Light was able to wield the power that surpass the limitations of Man and at high noon, the sword was even able to cut space." Uther raised the Coin. "But I do not know how to use it or to bond it to a weapon." Brokkr listened in to the story as he got closer to the object.

"How intriguing, mind if I have a looks-see?" Brokkr asked as Uther looked at the dwarf with a inquisitive look.

"Why should I?"

"Wanna know how to use it or not?" Uther reluctantly handed over the Coin as Brokkr inspected. "From how ya described it, it could be a world-class item," as Brokke said that, everyone looked simply confused at the term which Brokkr realized. "Ah.. just.. fancy... stuff" Brokkr coughed. "Anyone, it be best if I held onto it until I figure out how to use it." Brokkr said and while Uher did not like it, the dwarf was right and agreed. However the old paladin turned to the death warrior before walking over and kneeling.

"Ector, Son of Hector, to see you in such a state." Uther solemnly and saddening said as he raised both hands. "By the God of Light, shall you be sanctified and pass on peacefully." Uther performed a divine spell that enveloped the corpse of the death warrior and it vanishes entirely, leaving nothing behind. "There, it is done but we need to be cautious, a death warrior is something I was not expecting."

Not following the conversation, Raptor fell to the back of the ever growing crowd returning from battle. It was obvious he understood very little of what was being said, but as he began to do a headcount, someone in particular stood out as still having not returned. "Hey uh... Has anyone seen Bella?" He began rounding the group, making sure he hadn't just missed her somewhere. "Did anyone see where she went?"

"Her? I sent her to where Uther and the undead came from, I suspect something might be there and I asked her to investigate. Why ya ask? Cause she was not helping and anyone that thinks themselves so HIGH and mighty, may as well let them deal with it." Brokkr explained. "So she went over that hill over there, I wonder if she was able to find anything."

Raptor raised his brow, as did a number of other adventurers. "On... Her own?" a few looked in the direction of the hill the dwarf had indicated too. There where no sounds, no indication that a fight was going on. It didn't take a genius to figure out how that could either be very good, or very bad. "Y-you um... Mind coming with?" He mumbled under his breath, knocking on River's armored shoulder. "If she needs backup I..." He paused a moment, glancing at the spot where the death warrior once lay. "Don't know how much help I'd be..."

"Fine, lets' check it out." River agreed as she along with Raptor began to make their way to hill as directed by Brokkr, who as he said sent Bella there to investigate. However as they got there, it seems everything was sorted. There she was however, her clothing burnt but on the ground was a corpse of a undead. "Hey Bella," River called out to her. "What undead was it? Brokkr said the one I fought was a death warrior."

Again, Bella was slow to respond. She seemed preoccupied with cleaning a long kunie with a torn bit of cloth, leaning on a partialy destroyed stone wall while facing the setting sun. Holding the item up to inspect, she finally gave a small shrug. "I couldn't say. I'm not very well versed in the types of undead in this land." Content with her cleaning, which seemingly made the blade shimmer in the fading sunlight, she stowed her weapon back in it's pouch and turned to face the two. "But, it died all the same. I hope your battle went as well as mine."

"It went ok, though with these Blades of Surtr, it was easier then I thought, huh how did ya made these actually?" Rive then questioned Brokkr who simply scoffed for some arbitrary reason.

"Ya wanna know? I'm a Niðavellir Dwarf of YGGDRASIL, a far-away fairy tale place you lot would think me as insane, but seriously no one here knows better smithing of weapons and items then me!" Brokkr boasted arrogantly. "Those blades aren't named the Blades of Surtr for no reason." Brokkr said as Uther walked past them as well past Bella to kneel over the undead dead's corpse.

"Hecate, even you have been taken." Using the same spell on the death warrior, Uther sanctified the body as it becomes nothing, ashes in the wind as he stood up again and faced Bella. "Hm, you know for your looks, you are the true representation that looks can be deceiving, I'll be sure to not underestimate you in the future."

Unbeknownst to everyone, Bella stole a quick glance at Brokkr. Though everyone appeared confused by his words, Bella's eyes narrowed ever so slightly. Though, her smirk grew by about the same margin. By the time Uther was done with his spell, she shifted her gaze to meat his, but her smirk remained. "You flatter me, sir knight. But I'm afraid I'm just a simple warrior. Nothing special."

Raptor snorted at the comment. "A simple warrior who never failed to complete a quest." He half laughed. "Or lost a fight."

Again, Bella giggled into her sleeve. "Oh, I've lost plenty of fights before." She pushed off the wall and approached the group, running her hand across Raptor's check on the way past, causing the young rouge to blush. "If you manage to get me drunk enough, I might just tell you about it someday." She strolled past him, stepping around the spot where Hecate had just been put to rest, and approached the old Dwarf. "Now, master blacksmith, I believe you have something of mine." She said, holding out her hand.

"Oh, do I now princess? I did promise ya something to do the job, what exactly do ya want? I can craft anything you ever want!" Brokkr declared as he began to walk back to small smithing workstation.

Though she kept her eyes on the old dwarf, she didn't follow him. "I was referring to my drinking jug." She said, slowly covering her mouth with her sleeve. "Don't tell me you've forgotten where you put it, master blacksmith. That ale was beginning to grow on me."

"oh... yeah I still got it, lemme get it." Brokkr said as he reached into a small bag and pulled out a a staff-looking weapon. "
I forgot I had this." Brokkr commented as he put it back in then pulling out the drinking jug. "Here ya go, I put a lid on it too." Brokkr as he passed the jug over. "Now, how about getting gear, hm?"

Tilting her head slightly, Bella strolled forth. She took the jug from the dwarf's hand and lashed it to her him beneath her sword. "That's quite alright. I'm afraid I'm a bit rough with my weapons. I wouldn't want you to put effort into making something I'd only just end up breaking in a fight." She snickered to herself, spinning on her heel and heading off for the edge of camp once more. "I think I'll retire for the night. Something tells me... We're in for a long day tomorrow."

**Next Chapter - Chapter 3: Finding the Trail**