//------------------------------// // Fortynine // Story: Under The Northern Lights // by CoastalSarv //------------------------------// Tuva had pressed against the ice wall of the tunnel, her teeth chattering for other reasons than the cold that seeped through her clothes and fur. Saga, meanwhile, had taken a few steps back and were staring at the ancient lich. “More reindeer,” said Wiglek, raising a hoof and lowering his head to get at the hatchet. Somewhat clumsily, he batted at it inefficiently until he could tear it loose. He pressed his hoof against his head and the bone started to flow like water, knitting itself together. “More reindeer,” he repeated, “coming for their friend, no doubt. Good, good!” He smiled, or at least pulled at similar muscles as reindeer do when they are happy. He turned his balefire eye socket towards Tuva, who whimpered a bit. “You are terrified of me, and yet you are obviously a warrior,” he said. “You find me dreadful, don’t you?” Tuva swallowed and nodded. “Of course,” he said, “of course you do.” he looked down at himself and sighed, as if a bellow full of holes had been used. “Dead flesh walking. Cursed by the gods. I think I dropped something of me there.” He tapped his icepick-wearing hoof at a dark brown spot on the ice, and the colour drained and seemed to travel up the metal into his leg. Tuva gagged and turned away. “If… If… I could still feel it, but not much,” he said, conversationally. “If I leave a bigger piece, I can feel it better.” He turned to Saga who looked on with morbid fascination. “I left my good eye with my son,” he said, and turned the balefire socked towards her. “I can… see him… always… in his tomb…” He made a sound somewhat like a sob and somewhat like a snort, and looked at nothing, or maybe at his son. “You are afraid of me,” he said to Saga, “but terrified you are not. So you must either mad… or a witch. Which is it?” “Some of column A, some of column B,” said Saga. “What?!” snarled Wiglek. “Stop speaking nonsense!” “It - it’s a new phrase, your… mister… sir!” said Saga. “From after you… disappeared. I meant… both. I’m a witch, though just an apprentice, and a temple fawn. Your… curse, it’s.. it is interesting.” Wiglek stepped closer to her, snarling. “So… my curse is ‘interesting’...” Saga was about to step back again, but stopped. “You were a mighty warlock, sir,” she said. “You must have found magic interesting.” He stopped and shook his head, and started to mumble to himself. Saga sought Tuva’s gaze and she nodded and started to rise. “Sit!” shouted Wiglek without turning towards her. Tuva collapsed on the ground. “Temple fawn.., tell me, what gods do reindeer worship these days?” said Wiglek, suddenly with a more pleasant tone. “Well, Skinfaxi and Hrimfaxi,” Saga said. “Ah!” he said. “Still Hrimfaxi, after all that happened… You are not one of Skinfaxi’s healers, fawn. You are of the cult of Hrimfaxi. Shadowcrow and dreamdancer.” He pointed his right hoof towards Saga. “...yes,” said Saga. “Good, good!” said Wiglek, nodding vigorously. “You might be useful! Did you know I founded the cult, yes? Because of a visitation by the Moon Mistress.” “Oh yeah,” said Saga, nodding just as vigorously with a nervous grin. “We… keep your antlers as a holy relic in the main temple, sir.” “You do, do you?” said Wiglek. “And I… we used them to find you, sir,” said Saga. “We… I used the summoning ritual for piercing the veil…” “Hoping to lure my shadow from the Summer Lands, I bet,” said Wiglek. “Uhm, yeah!” said Saga. “But then we realized you must be up here, sir, so we came here to… to free you!” “You did, did you?” said Wiglek. “Now why did you want to talk to me that much, daring the worst winter ever, the wrath of the gods and the country at war?” How did he know about the war? Saga was sweating despite the cold of the cave. “It is the winter that made us come!” said Saga. “We can only stop it with the Sampo, and you’re the only one who knows where it is and how to safely use it!” “‘Safely’?!” Wiglek’s roar again came out of nowhere, and then just as suddenly his voice became calmer. “Why do you think you need the Sampo?” he said. “It is cursed. A joke played on creation by Äitsi the Trickster. It brought me naught but doom. Naught but doom for my son, my brother and my country.” “I… I’m a seer,” said Saga. “I… I know that, and… the gods themselves agree. I had a vision… a vision from Karhu-Akka. A vision that Prince Vigg Peivasson could use the Sampo.” “Vigg?” said Wiglek with a frown. “Vigg… So that is his name… Go on.” “Vigg is the reindeer your Skoll took prisoner!” said Tuva. “I know he’s here! Please, sir, you must release him - so he can save Potasula! And then you must show us the Sampo, and…” “Why should I care if winter dooms Poatsula?” said Wiglek. “Well… you live here?!” said Saga. Wiglek looked at her. “Okay, you’re not alive and… and you don’t care about cold… but… but there must be something you care for…” Saga began. “‘Care for’?” said Wiglek. “I only cared for three other beings in my life, Thrall of the Kin-slayer! Three beings only ever treated me with kindness: My dog, my brother and my son. They are all dead these thousand years. My dog and my brother have become dust and my son ice. Why should I care about Poatsula?!” “But… have you no compassion for others?!” said Saga. “Think of all the people who’ll die! The whole country will be devastated forever! Vaja and sarv and fawns, animals and plants… even the trolls and the skoll will die!” “Compassion?!” shouted Wiglek and grabbed Saga’s shoulders with his front hooves. “Just Look at me, ‘seer’, Look if you can find any compassion within this wreck!” Saga, shocked, followed his order and even met his gaze. She held it for a long time and to Tuva she even seemed paralysed. Then she started sobbing. “No, no, noo…” she said, pushing off Wiglek. “You can’t… it’ll… you’ll destroy everything…” She pressed herself against the ice wall and looked more terrified than Tuva had done. “Like what you see, little witch?” Wiglek said. “Still think I have any compassion? I only care about two things: the peace of death and vengeance upon your Mistress! You’ll give me both! I’ll sacrifice you to her - what an ultimate blasphemy - and her rage - I know her rage, I have seen her rage - and she’ll annihilate me! I’ll be free - free! And damn this country and all its herds to Niffelhel, and your Mistress too!” Saga tried to kick him, and Tuva leapt at him from behind, trying to gore him. “I call by sacred pacts,” Wiglek shouted as he pushed Tuva away to, “to give me the The Ever-Nimble Five-Clawed Paws of Hubbodamaster!” Suddenly, dark purple light oscillated in the ice chamber, and two tentacle-like arms of the same magic force seemed to spout from Wiglek’s sides. They bore five-clawed paws the size of an adult reindeer, with strange, eerie toes, moving like segmented worms. The Paws of Hubbodamaster grabbed the two vajas and held them fast. “I’ll throw in you in the bargain, warrior,” Wiglek growled at Tuva. “I’ll have to invite those despicable Skoll to get a suitable congregation, and I’ll need to feed them!” “Please! Stop this!” shouted a voice from behind the curtain. Wiglek suddenly stopped. “Vigg?” said Saga. “Cousin!” said Tuva. “You,” said Wiglek, his snarl and growl gone. “Go back, fawn. This is none of your business.” “Oh yes it is!” said Vigg when he pulled the curtain aside with the spear he was carrying. “I’m sick and tired of adults telling me that, no matter how old they are! Sir, I cannot let you hurt them.” “You cannot stop me, fawn,” said Wiglek matter-of-factly. “And don’t try, because I don’t want to harm you… son.” “But I have to!” said Vigg . “Those… those reindeer are my kin! If I cannot stop you from harming them, I’m barely better than a kin-slayer! Would you want me to do that?” “Kin, what kin?” said Wiglek with irritation, his eyes on Vigg’s spear, which he kept gesticulating with. “Tuva,” said Vigg and pointed at her, “is my cousin, my father’s brother’s daughter, and my father was the eldest of his siblings, so I’m obliged to her. And Saga is…” “More cousins?” said Wiglek with disdain. “No,” said Vigg and swallowed hard. “She’s my… beloved.” “Beloved?!” said Wiglek. “But… you… Are you married?” “No… but betrothed!” said Vigg and looked into Saga’s eyes. She raised a quizzical eyebrow. Wiglek seemed to shrink, then straightened his back. “And what if I do not care, young one?” he said. “Then… I’ll have to attack you,” Vigg said, “and you said yourself that you didn’t want to hurt me.” “Son, you cannot really harm me, and I don’t need to hurt you,” said Wiglek. “I know a galder that will turn you to ice unharmed until I say so, and can crow it quickly. I… I…” Suddenly, he seemed distraught. “If I only had used my wits… and used it on you… I mean on my… on Sampo…” Vigg breathed deeply and put the spear tip under his chin, raising his head. “Can you cast it before I press my head down?” he said. “Vigg! No!” shouted Saga. “What… no, what are you…?” Wiglek muttered. “You weren’t fast enough to save your son with it,” said Vigg. “Dare you try to be quicker now? Because if I cannot save my kin… I’ll die rather than live with the shame.” To his credit, he only blinked slightly when he pressed his head a little bit down. “S-stop that!” said Wiglek. “Listen to the lich, Vigg!” said Saga. “Good!” said Tuva. “I shoulda known you weren’t a wuss, cousin. Show the old corpse what our herd is made of! Death before dishonor!” Saga and Wiglek both looked with horror at the grazer, who grinned as tears started to flow. “Look, Wiglek, I will count to ten!” said Vigg, his voice unsteady. “If you don’t let my kin-deer go, I’ll do it!” “No, you…” Wiglek began. “One,” said Vigg. “Don’t do it, Vigg!” said Saga. “Two,” said Vigg. “Sorry, Saga, he’s forcing my hoof.” Wiglek, seemed to have words on his dried-out lips, almost saying them. “Three,” said Vigg. “Not for me or you, for Poatsula!” said Saga. “Without your help it dies!” “Four,” said Vigg. “It’ll die anyway, since that selfish old fart won’t help you. Might as well be done with it. And five.” “Don’t… don’t talk about me like that…” said Wiglek. “Six,” said Vigg. “After all, you said it yourself, Saga, better to die before it happens.” “I didn’t mean it like that!” said Saga. “Seven,” said Vigg. “He’s right, Saga,” said Tuva. “I guess we get to go earlier as well.” “Eight,” said Vigg. “If any of you survive, give my regards to… to my mother… and uncle Vidar… and…” “Nine!” he interrupted himself hoarsely. “And Spike and Twilight…” He raised his chin as if to rise up and then descend and thrust the spear up into his head and shut his eyes. He swallowed. “T-ten, “ he said and pressed his head downwards. “No!” shouted Wiglek. The purple paws released his prisoners. “Stop! Stop!” Vigg opened his eyes. “I implore you, do not do it!” said Wiglek. “Dismiss your magic,” said Vigg. The purple light faded, and the reindeer saw how strange gangly bipedal spirits flew away from Wiglek, chattering with relief. “Now, promise me not try to harm my kin again,” said Vigg. “I - I promise,” said Wiglek. “Swear it!” said Vigg as Tuva helped Saga up. “By something that matters to you!” “I… swear, by my son, and my brother, and my dog,” said Wiglek and raised his right hoof, “that I will never harm your kin, Sa… Vigg Peivasson.” Vigg let the spear go and let it clatter to the ground. Then, as if on cue, both he and the old lich sunk to their knees, Vigg breathing deeply because he was out of breath, and Wiglek because of old habits. Saga shook her head and hugged Vigg. “This is, in stories, where you tell people never do that again!” she said, shaking him. She nuzzled him, then got up. “Master Wiglek,” she said approaching the lich, who looked down at the floor, “I know something which can free you of your curse.” He slowly raised his head. “What,” he whispered. “The Elements of Harmony,” she said. “You know what they are, don’t you, sir?” “Yes…” he mumbled. “My mistress in magic is a pony, the element of magic, Twilight Sparkle,” said Saga. “She has been ordered to help Poatsula by Skinfaxi. I’m sure I have her ear, and can make her realize that this is what is needed. And Vigg is friends with her son, she’ll listen to him too! She can gather the Elements and they can cleanse you of the Nightmare!” “Yes,” said Vigg, “I’m sure it can be arranged! Skinfaxi… Skinfaxi set me as her champion, to help us out of this Winter. She must listen to me if I say it is needed.” “And you would do that, only out of the goodness of your hearts?” said Wiglek. “To be honest, no,” said Saga. “But I wasn’t lying when I say we need something only you can do. And I’m a Seer… I didn’t freak out because of your spirit, it was because of what I saw could… would happen if you draw down Hrimfaxi’s wrath over this place…” “‘Freak out’?” said Wiglek. “Lost her mind,” said Vigg. “Listen, it’s your best chance, Master Wiglek!” “You… you might be right,” said the lich and rose to undead hooves. “You might be right. Just let me gather my wits…” “WIGLEK!” thundered a voice from outside, echoing within the caves, shocking the four reindeer and actually waking the collapsed Kvalhissir, though he didn’t rise. “What!” said Wiglek and turned towards the tunnel to the outside. “Who dares…?” “WE KNOW YOU’RE THERE, AND WE KNOW YOU HAVE PRISONERS!” thundered the voice again. “RELEASE THEM AND COME OUT PEACEFULLY!” “Twilight!” said Saga. “They must have found us! What a good timing! Since you wants us no harm, we can just walk out there and...” There was a horrible howling, barking and screaming outside. It sounded like two kennels fighting, and as he listened Wiglek’s hairless muzzle was contorted into a scowl. “So!” he barked. “The Skoll have not learned to sit and behave?! And they have brought some new prophetess… of Hrimfaxi?! They dare threaten me?!” He quickly turned and stepped up to Vigg, gripping the stunned young sarv in a big, fatherly hug. “Don’t worry, Sampo!” he said as he patted Vigg’s back. “I’ll protect you! I’ll protect you and your kin, young Vigg, from the Skoll and their sorceress! I’ll show them why they call me the Wicked!” Laughing maniacally, he started chanting and magic shapes formed around him, aery spirits and strange ghosts. “But…” said Saga, “that’s…” “Listen, Wiglek,” Vigg said, “you can’t go out there!” Wiglek, seemingly done with his chanting, crackling with magic, turned to him again as he walked out from the room. “Why?!” he said. “I am no coward, whatever they say… or said.” It was then Vigg made the next big mistake. “Please, don’t go alone!” he said. “We’ll follow you, and…” “No!” said Wiglek. “I won’t let you down, Sampo! Not again! I will face the enemy alone, and you can stay here… in safety!” As he said the last words, he kicked his icepick foot into the wall, and suddenly a wall of ice descended into the opening. The three reindeer were left staring at it. “I was gonna say that we’ll follow him and tell them there is no need to fight!” Vigg raised his front hooves into the air. “Aaagh!” Saga started pounding on the ice wall. “Master Wiglek! Master Wiglek, come back here! IT’S NOT WHAT YOU THINK!” Tuva as silently looking around the room. “Can you two fools be quiet?” she said. “I’m trying to find a way out.” “Digging through the walls?” said Vigg with disbelief. “No, but whatever thing he built to move the wall must have a… doorknob, somewhere in the walls,” she said. “I’m a true Grazer, Vigg. I’ve been staring at ice and snow all my life looking for patterns.” “How do we know there is one on the inside?” said Vigg. “She’s right,” said Saga. “Somedeer like Wiglek will be so afraid he’ll want a door locked behind him. Let’s know if there is someway to help you, Tuva!” “You two come up with someway to stop that fight once we get out,” said Tuva. “Alright,” said Saga. “Sooo… he thinks you’re Sampo? The reindeer, that is. Why?” “Sometimes,” said Vigg. “I think I must look a lot like him. Wiglek’s… not sane.” “Well, that I realized,” said Saga. “Tell me more. What did you learn about him?”