Hrafnholm did not live up to its story's expectations.
It had once been the heart of Skjoldur, where raven banners snapped proudly above innumerable forges and hammer-strikes rolled like thunder. Now, Brynhild and Runa walked through streets that looked more like tombs than avenues — carrying with them the grim truth the rebels could no longer deny: the machines were learning magic.
The shadows of the city extended far over its ruins as the black cliffs on the northern edge of the city rose like sharp teeth. Restless flocks of ravens swarmed across every rooftop, their caws resonating like a dirge. It sounded to Brynhild as though the birds themselves were aware that the city was already half-dead.
The marketplaces were empty. While some vendors continued to sell dried fish or bruised apples, the majority of the stalls were empty and their goods long spoiled. Taverns had become shelters, Some still spoke of waiting out the war.
It was as if everybody are expecting magic to fall like rain, As if everybody are expecting magic to fall like rain, soldiers patrolled in pairs on every road, their eyes turning not only to alleyways but also to the skies. It was a heavy, raw fear. Despite the fact that no Draugr appeared, everyone pretended to be watching from every stone, bird, and shadow.
Brynhild cocked her head, looking up at the skylines. She could only feel disappointed "Oh I wish I had seen this city in it's glory days" she thinks to herself. Her voice was flat with disappointment, although she had a sharp smile on her face.
"The city is dead. After a long march, it smells worse than Runa.
Next to her, Runa tugged her disguise's hood down over her face. Dressed as a regular girl, she blended in well enough — slender, soft-featured, her eyes hidden in shadow. Her tone was sharper than usual, though, and it would seem that she was angry.
"we are not here to smell the air Brynhild "
Brynhild's teeth gleamed. "Obviously not. I came to get my mind straightened out. A slight alteration in the surroundings.
She stared at a group of long-haired, pale-eyed Skjolduric women who were wearing rough furs to protect themselves from the cold. She smiled wildly.
"And the view's not bad, eh?"
Runa's mouth squeezed. She could see exactly where Brynhild's thoughts were going. She was also aware that "clearing her head" was a bad sign.
Brynhild began before they had even gone two streets.
"So shy, little one." Brynhild says with a low voice. "If you smiled for me, you'd look cuter."
Runa's head turned in her direction. "Stop that. We're in public"
Runa's ear was tickled by Brynhild's breath as he leaned closer. "What's wrong? Are you worried that someone might mistake you for being mine?
Runa balled her fists she is as angry as she is embarrassed "Idiot, you'll blow my cover!"
Brynhild laughs showing no concern at all. "Don't be concerned. No one is observing me. Wickedly, her eyes glinted. "They're too busy staring at you."
Runa almost fell. She hissed through her teeth: "I swear, one day—"
"—You'll kill me?" Brynhild stopped laughing and in a playful serous tone says "Promise?"
Their banter caused a few looks from bystanders, but Brynhild did not care for any thing, so and glance they attracted was lost almost immediately. Rúna on the other hand is so pissed off.
By evening hunger has begun to gnaw at Brynhild, so she entered a side street where a crooked sign says "Resturant" Rúna do not care to eat she was a machine after all but she still followed Brynhild into the place.
The restaurant was dim and shabby. The cracked plaster on the wall where already coming off, smoke from the kitchen filled the air, to add to the discomfort a weak fire burned slowly in a hearth but it gives of more smoke than heat.
The stew smell was strong — meaty, but old.
The benches are creaking, and only a handful of customers eat quietly.
The owner if this eatery was a heavyset man with gruff beard.
Brynhild notices something it was the daughter if the man.
She was young, strikingly beautiful despite the weariness in her eyes — a face made for laughter, but hardened by long days and restless nights. Her pale hair caught the firelight as she leaned to set stew before them.
Brynhild's eyes never left her.
Runa noticed. Of course she noticed. She kicked Brynhild and tells her "Hey we are here to eat only and after that that we leave don't get any other ideas "
Brynhild only grinned, ladling stew. "Get what ideas, besides all my ideas are good"
Runa muttered, "You're insufferable."
But even in her anger she felt somthing, like something is not just right around here.
A low hum that vibrated against her senses a signal. She began scanning everywhere hoping to make sense of the information that she has just picked up on.
It was Draugr signal it was faint but close is if there have been effort made to hide it.
But obviously she did not tell Brynhild about this.
Halfway though the meal Brynhild sees her window of opportunity. She pushes back her chair and tells Rúna.
"I'll be back in a moment. Don't miss me too much."
Rúna looks at her she been preoccupied with something more serious says. "Stay out of trouble."
Brynhild winked, and walked toward the back.
The toilet was a crooked little room, with half-rotted wood and cracked stone. This was Brynhild's window of opportunity because she knows that the owner's daughter was already there, she was washing her hands at a chipped basin.
Brynhild slid in behind her, shameless as ever. Her voice was low, husky with amusement.
"I didn't expect to find a beauty like you in a place like this."
The girl wa startled, her eyes widen "Who are you—"
Before the girl understood what was going on Brynhild had grabed her breast, the girl screammed.
Before Brynhild can stop her the door slammed open. The owner himself stood there looking at Brynhild holding his daughter in an ungodly way in anger he says.
"You filthy witch!
The girl gasped, stumbling back.
Brynhild only smirked, hands raised as if in mock surrender. "Well I guess I didn't properly introduce myself"
The man roared, grabbed her by the arm, and all but threw her out of the back door into the filthy alley.
Brynhild hit the ground laughing. She dusted herself off, unfazed, and leaned against the wall.
Runa stormed out moments later,
"What the hell happened in there I told you not to get any ideas"
Brynhild shrugged, "what did you expect me to do, that was a beauty right there"
Around them, a few bystanders kept whispering and pointing at them.
Runa's fists clenched, she wanted to say a lot of things, but before she could continue, something made her freeze.
The signal she had lost before has returned — stronger now, pulsing against her bones. She turned in a slow circle, looking everywhere hoping to catch something.
But is signal it was everywhere.
The signals spiked but strangely enough it was coming from beneath the stones of the street.
Brynhild noticed the shift in her face.
"What is it?"
Runa's voice was low, grim, and shaken.
"I sense them everywhere…"
She scanned the street again. people shuffled past, vendors shouted weakly at corners, a beggar girl tugged on a soldier's cloak. All ordinary. All human.
"…but where are they?"