Utgar sniffed the air. It was the sort of musty smell one finds in old tombs. This was strange because the smell came from the outside. Utgar kept moving. He felt drawn to this place to think. It was the sort of area one could just be without any worries at all. Utgar brushed aside a tree branch and ducked inside the small outcropping into a cavern. He sat down.
***
20 years ago
Einar glanced over at Utgar. "That's him, Thormun over there."
Utgar looked across the room at the elder kyrie. For his supposed age, he appeared rather healthy and his wings were larger than the other kyrie. His eyes seemed so much older than the rest of his body. He was nursing a simple earthen mug taking a sip from it every so often. There were rumors about him. He was rumored to have found some sort of magic that extended his life and granted him powers yet unknown to the kyrie. Sometimes Utgar felt, things just called to him and right now for some reason he felt drawn to the old kyrie.
“I’ll be right back.” Utgar said. He approached the old kyrie moving slowly so as not to startle him. “Hello.” He said.
Thormun eyed him suspiciously with his own good eye. “Do I know you?”
“Not yet. I am Utgar. Pleased to make your acquaintance.” Utgar extended his hand to him.
“Go bother someone else.” Thormun waved his hand away and returned to his mug.
“I wanted to speak with-“ Utgar’s sentence was cut off as quickly as he began.
“NO YOU DON’T!” Thormun retorted, punctuating the sentence with a slam of his mug. “You’re like the rest of them. You want to know how I became the way I am. Will you all leave me alone?”
Utgar breathed in and then spoke calmly to him. “I wished to know more about you that is all. If you do not wish to be disturbed I will leave you.” He turned.
“Wait,” the older kyrie said. “I’m sure an old kyrie can regale you with at least one tale.”
Utgar smiled and sat down. Thormun glanced to either side and leaned in close and spoke in a whisper. “Can you keep a secret?”
Utgar nodded.
“It’s a wellspring. Not like the ones we have in the capital, but different. There’s something about them, something strange. I was drawn to one of them. I was thirsty and so I drank. I felt stronger, bigger, faster, like I could do anything.”
Utgar raised an eyebrow. “So this wellspring is?”
“Oh, I’d rather not say just yet. I’ve stopped drinking from it. I’d rather no one else have to deal with it.”
“Deal with it? It sounds like the stuff of legend. I’m surprised you haven’t shared it with everyone.”
“That’s because you’re young. These things, they come with a price. I’ve seen things. Visions of war torn battlefields, armies of strange creatures marching to battle with each other. I continued to drink and the visions became worse. They’re terrifying, pock marks across my brain. Thoughts of war in a time of peace. I’ve stopped drinking and the visions have ceased. I have only my memories of them. I also feel the spring’s power fading as well. It is a price, but a price I am willing to pay.”
“You give up power because of a few bad dreams? That sounds awfully weak of you.”
“Then you do not understand weakness.”
Utgar sat there stunned for a second and then leaned in. “Why tell me?”
“I’ve only told the Archkyrie and a few friends. They’ve agreed with me that the wellspring is too dangerous. I haven’t told a soul where it is,”
He paused, looking Utgar in the eye “and I don’t intend to. I told you because I could tell by looking at you that you would not stop until you were sated and it would seem that it would be better for me to guide you than for you to embark and stumble upon the hazards I found. Take a lesson from an old kyrie. It’s not worth it. Put it out of your mind. There are much better things to do than spend your life chasing after power. It’s not weak.” He emphasized these last few words then added as an afterthought. “I’d prefer you didn’t speak of this. I can’t actually stop you but will you respect an old man’s wishes?”
Utgar nodded. “I promise.”
He walked back over to Einar and sat down next to him. The other kyrie leaned over and whispered. “What did he say?”
“He asked me not to talk about it.”
“I see. And you gave your word?”
“Yes. And I intend to keep it.”
Einar paused and then nodded. “Very well then. I shall not pester you about it any further.”
They sat in silence for a few moments and then Utgar stood up. “I’m going to see Lyrina.”
Einar smiled at him, “You’re not going to tell her now are you?”
Utgar rolled his eyes. “I said I gave my word.”
He turned and exited bumping into another kyrie wearing a hood as he left. “Apologies.” Utgar said.
“Think nothing of it.” The kyrie responded and as he looked up, Utgar recognized the kyrie underneath the hood. “Have a good rest of your day then Vydar.”
“Oh I will.” Vydar smiled. His thoughts then turned to what he had heard recently.
“You and the old kyrie need to be a lot quieter. This will make me a pretty penny.”
***
Present Day
Utgar tossed a few rocks at a small makeshift target he had made on the far side of the cave. It would need to be replaced soon. He bent down to pick up a rock and noticed the crack on the wall of the cave. It was larger than last time. He felt along it. It was no longer a crack. There was a rift here. He wedged the rock into the crack and found the rock gave a lot more than expected. He pushed the rock in further and he hit a small bump. The rock slipped out of his hand and crackled down falling a lot further than he expected. Utgar took a step back. He would need to get inside the wall. Something was calling him from behind this wall. He could feel it.
***
Lyrina smiled at him and he smiled back. “So why are we all the way out here in Volsunga? It can’t be because you just wanted to go on a nature hike”
“I’ve been thinking.”
“Oh? What about?”
“I can’t really say. I gave my word.”
“Not even to me?”
“What kind of kyrie would I be if no one could trust what I said?”
“Well then maybe we can just enjoy the lake, tarn, whatever it is. I know it calms you. You do like the tarn?”
He smiled and looked at her. “Yes I do like the tarn. There’s just places that make you feel alive don’t they?” He breathed in the air coming off the lake. It was a fresh smell that cleared his mind. “I’m going to need to find something. I’d like you to come with me.”
“Oh Utgar, that’s sweet. What are we looking for?”
“I can’t say.”
“Mysterious. Even better." Then she stopped. “This isn’t another power trip against Jandar is it?”
Utgar grimaced. “That self righteous-“
“No, you really need to put this behind you. I know you two don’t like each other but can’t you at least tolerate each other? Do you always have to outdo each other?”
“Lyrina, he said I was weak. I'm not weak, am I?”
“Of course you’re not. That was just bravado coming from a man who is certain he is doing the right thing. And so are you. You don't need to crush him. Only learn to tolerate his perceived holiness. In time, he'll learn to be kinder as will you. And whatever this thing is you're after, it will only bring you misery.”
“Thormun said the same thing.”
“Thormun? You’re after whatever he found?” she looked at him incredulously. “Utgar, you don’t need to do this.”
“Yes I do. Thormun couldn’t handle it. I can.”
“I know you can do so much, but please don’t-“
“I’m doing this. That’s that. I need to. For me. Not for my feud with Jandar. I need to know I’m strong.”
“You are strong.”
Utgar paused. “Not when I look at myself.”
There was a quiet as the two looked at their reflections in the lake. Lyrina grasped his hand. “I’ll come with you. Keep you in check. But promise after you see that you are strong you’ll stop this mad quest to outdo Jandar.”
“I promise. You have my word. And you know I keep my word.”
She smiled. “Good.”
***
He had returned with a large warhammer. It would not be missed. He hefted its weight against the wall right at the crack. A sickening thud echoed against the cave walls. There was something here. He knew it. After several more thwacks, he wiped sweat off of his brow. The crack was no larger than it had been before. He picked up a rock and wedged it into the crack and began pounding again. The wall began to crack and give way. Soon he was staring at a hole in the cavern wall. He stepped in. Something was definitely calling him.
***
“So where is it, whatever we’re looking for?” Lyrina asked.
“I don’t know. Thormun didn’t say.”
“Are you sure you want to do this?”
“More sure than anything else.”
A slight shiver went across her face. “More than
anything else?”
Utgar didn’t answer. He continued climbing the mountain moving rocks and brushing aside branches as they made their way slowly upward.
“We could just fly.” Lyrina said “We have wings.”
“We’re getting a better view from down here. Whatever it is, it’s hidden so we wouldn't see it from a quick flyover.”
“Why are we looking here of all places?”
“It’s as good a place to start as any. I know Thormun’s been out here.”
“Thormun’s been everywhere. He might be as old as Valhalla itself.”
Utgar chuckled.
“A laugh. Didn’t think I’d hear that. I miss that part of you Utgar.”
He didn’t answer and just continued climbing. Several minutes later they were sitting atop a cliff on the mountain’s face. Utgar scanned the horizon. Nothing appeared out of the ordinary. Lyrina came up behind him. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“Really?”
He slammed down a small knife of his into a tree. “No. I’m not fine. I just need to-," He stopped and looked again near the base of the cliff. He pointed. “Do you see that down there?”
“Where?”
“That. It looks like something has been moved there recently. Let’s go check it out.”
He began to slide down the cliff face on both feet. He heard Lyrina shout down at him. “We have wings.”
He looked up and laughed at her. “This is more fun. Einar and I did this all the time. Come on.”
She hesitated and then placed a foot out and began gliding down the cliff face with him. After a few seconds, her apprehension melted into enjoyment and she began laughing with him. After a few seconds of shared laughter, Utgar heard a rumbling noise behind them. He turned and saw several large rocks joining them on their descent down the cliff face.
“Look out.” He shouted. He managed to reach the bottom of the cliff and dive out of the way as a large boulder careened past him. He heard a crunch. He turned and saw Lyrina, with one of the large boulders pinned on top of her. She released a loud scream and the rock shifted again causing her voice to sputter out and stop. He ran over to her.
“Lyrina?”
She gasped. “Can’t breathe.”
He pushed the rock. It had managed to wedge itself between two crevices in the cliff face. His best attempts barely even budged the rock. He tried a few different angles. “I need to get help.” He shouted. He knew help was too far off. By the time he arrived with others, the rock would have crushed her lungs. He grabbed the rock again and tried to move it. Nothing. He looked around for anything to push or pull the rock from where it had cemented itself. His best attempts only resulted in cracking whatever improvised tools he was using and broke his knife. Finally he knelt down next to Lyrina.
“I’m sorry. I can’t...I can't move the rock. I’m not strong enough.” He could barely gasp out. “I’m weak.”
Lyrina’s breathing had shortened and her face had lost nearly all of its color. “It’s okay Utgar. You’re always strong to me.” She reached out a hand and he grasped it.
“I…I…” He was searching for words. She looked at him and smiled.
“I know. I do too. You’re strong Utgar. I know it. You don’t need whatever you’re after. You’re already strong. You’re my strong Utgar. Don’t-"
Her hand dropped from his as her eyes closed. He stood up as a small rivulet made its way down his cheek. His hand crushed the remainder of the knife hilt in his hand. “No, I’m not.”
***
This new hole in the cavern led down much deeper than the exterior would have suggested. Utgar’s torch illuminated a cavern that had not seen light in centuries, maybe longer. That something was drawing him in closer. He could feel it was close. He stepped through a small underground stream and that’s when he heard a strange humming. He followed the noise taking him deeper and deeper into the caverns. After a few minutes, the humming was pounding through his eardrums and he saw a strange light. He lost his breath for a second at what had appeared before his eyes.
***
Utgar came back to find the town nearly empty. As he landed, Thormun and the Archkyrie were standing there with stern looks on their faces. He put on a strong face and approached them. “Where is everyone?” he asked doing his best to maintain his composure.
Thormun gave him a look. “It would seem that someone let slip about a magical wellspring. Apparently they said there was a whole host of them. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that would you?”
Utgar looked at them. “What? I would never do such a thing. I gave my word not to speak of it.”
The Archkyrie nodded, “And yet here we are with people off to find these mystical powers for themselves. Tell me, were you looking for these mysterious wellsprings?”
Utgar looked the Archkyrie in the eye. “Yes. Yes I was.”
“I see. Even after Thormun suggested it was a bad idea?”
“I said I would tell no one. I never said I would not seek them out myself.”
“Where were you?”
“The Tarn of Volsunga. I was there with…with Lyrina.”
Thormun raised an eyebrow. “And where is she?”
“She perished in a rockslide. I tried to save her, but I was too weak.”
“Apparently in more ways than one.”
“A kyrie has died! You could show a little more courtesy.”
“I mourn her death now as I have mourned many other deaths, but would she have been there if YOU were not so headstrong? Examine your own self. You may find yourself wanting. Especially since you seem to know the location of my wellspring.”
Utgar looked at the old kyrie. “What?”
Thormun shrugged. “I don't know how but you seemed to have figured it out somehow or maybe you had a lucky guess. Either way, in your ill preparations you put a young kyrie girl in danger and she paid the price for it no matter how noble or ignoble your intentions were. Think on that. I told you there was a price," The kyrie grumbled under his breath and then unfurled his wings, "I am going now to do what I should have done a long time ago and destroy that wellspring so this madness can be behind us. I’ll bring the girl back and we can properly bury her.”
The Archkyrie looked at Utgar as Thormun took off, “There will be grave consequences for you if you follow him. Do something productive and round up as many of the others as you can that have gone off on this fool's errand. Tell them to put this nonsense of magic wellsprings behind them. We will get on as we always have. Oh, and since you were responsible for Lyrina’s death I think it only fair that you should tell her family.”
Utgar hung his head. “Yes sir.”
***
He turned and another rivulet streaked its way down his cheek.
Here it was. A large glowing underground pool giving off a strange humming stood before him. There was only one thing it could be: a wellspring. Thormun was supposed to have destroyed the only one. Whatever lie that sneaky underhanded rat Vydar had made up and then had him take the fall for was against all odds true. And he had found it or one at least. If this one existed, the other kyrie may have found some by now. He would not be surprised if Jandar had already discovered one but that would not matter. Not now. He had his own wellspring. He knew what he needed to do. He approached the pool.
"I will never be weak again." Utgar said and plunged his hands into the wellspring bringing the water to his lips. The visions flooded his mind. He saw the armies and the battles. He would find these warriors. He would lead them. He breathed in deeply. "I am no longer a kyrie. I leave behind those despicable creatures. I am a VALKYRIE now and Valhalla will know that I am strong."
December 20th, 2013, 04:34 AM
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