New characters: Aksel (Denmark)


CHAPTER SIX


Sadiq hadn't been being overdramatic.

More than once—travelling up the worn path of the mountains—the three were forced to stop because of sudden snowstorms. They'd huddle in whatever safe space they could, the animals crowding in with them, making it an altogether awful affair.

"Not again!" Yong Soo exclaimed as the wind began to pick up.

"There's a cave," Xiang said, indicating it with a hand. They hurried towards it, leading the horses after them (they'd resorted eventually to just going on foot, it was harder on horseback). Ducking into the cave, Yao let out a loud puff of breath as the snow began to whirl outside.

"Stupid snow," Yong Soo declared, making a face at it.

As they shifted further inside, Yao paused. He thought he had heard a shuffling noise—he turned away from the cave opening, which Yong Soo and Xiang were looking out of, and peered towards the back of the cave, shrouded in shadows. It was too dark to make anything out, but he loosed his sword in its sheath regardless. He heard a sudden dull scraping sound and stiffened.

"Hey, hey," drawled a voice. Yong Soo jumped and whirled around, peering anxiously towards the back of the cave. Xiang went tense next to him. "What're you doing in my place, huh?"

Yao urged the two younger men back, staring at the dark, trying to see. He caught a flicker of movement—a darker shadow amongst the blackness, and heard the sound of something behind hefted. In a flash, he'd drawn his sword, lifting it just in time to block the enormous axe that was swung down. He only just kept his knees from buckling and he gritted out a "ngh!" from the effort of blocking the blow.

"Brother!"

"Stay!" Yao barked when he heard a rustle of movement behind him. "You too—ghk!—Xiang!" He stared forward, trying to discern his attacker's face as the axe blade screeched, grinding against the blade of his sword.

"I'm not lettin' no bounty hunters take me," he caught his attacker mumbling.

"Wait, we're not—"

Yao had to dart to the side when the man lifted the axe to swing it towards his head. He ducked, hearing the weapon whistling through the air above his head and was glad he was quick. "—bounty hunters!" he finished. "We're—" he ducked another swing "—not!"

"Huh?" His attacker paused, tone becoming confused. "You aren't?"

"No!" Yao exclaimed.

"Oh. Whoops." He heard the man shifting, a dull thud as he set down the axe. Then, the cave was flooded with yellow light as the man pulled a blanket off a large lantern. "Really, you're not?"

"Really. Really, really, we're not," Yao insisted, blinking to get used to the sudden light. The man was ridiculously tall, with spiky blond hair that reminded him a little of Lars. He had bright blue eyes that shone in the lantern light. He wore a thick red and black coat and, shifting, he leant his axe against the wall.

"Sorry, then," he apologised, lifting a gloved hand with a grin. Yao grudgingly sheathed his sword.

"Whoa, brother, you fended off that guy's axe! Way to go your own way!" Yong Soo voiced this with an accompanying thumbs-up. Xiang sighed and rubbed between his eyes with his forefinger and thumb.

The man blinked at them, then looked down at Yao. "Hey, you did! I guess you're tough, for such a little guy!"

Yao glowered.

"So, whatcha doing on the mountain?" asked the man brightly, oblivious. He fell into a crouch on the floor, gesturing for the three of them to sit with him.

"We're going to Bavonia!" Yong Soo told him enthusiastically, plopping down.

"Bavonia?" The man blinked. "Why d'you wanna go t such a boring place? Full of prudes who get mad if you get into an awesome fight in the middle of the street." He flapped a hand.

"It's confidential," Xiang said at the same time Yong Soo said, "We're going to bring a letter to the king!"

"Damn it, Yong Soo!" Yao seethed and smacked his head.

"Ow! Brooooother!"

"A letter, huh?" Well, I won't tell anyone about that if you don't tell anyone Aksel the Great is living in the mountains!" exclaimed the man, flashing an arrogant grin.

"Deal," Yao said tiredly.

"So, then," Aksel began, folding his gloved fingers together. He leaned forward, his eyes reflecting the lantern light. "Why dontcha tell me the whole story?"


Aksel 'the Great' (self-proclaimed) was a man with a huge bounty on his head. He'd come to the mountains since the bounty hunters wouldn't just 'leave him the hell alone'. Apparently, they were reluctant to travel through the dangerous, snowy mountains, combing the peaks just to find a crazy man with an axe (though he didn't say 'crazy man with an axe', he said 'awesome fighter'). Yao was unsurprised. At any rate, Aksel listened to the whole story, seeming a bit grumpy when he heard that Yao was 'pals' (as he said) with bounty hunters but not caring just so long as those hunters didn't come after him.

"Sounds like you're dealing with some dangerous people," said Aksel after he'd heard it all. His eyes glowed. "Seems like a blast!"

"I don't know about a 'blast'," Yao said doubtfully.

"No, it's definitely great. I wanna rough up these guys that are after you." He licked his lips, seeming eager. Yao wanted to bolt out of the cave all of a sudden, but the storm was still going strong, cheerily keeping him trapped.

"You should! They broke down brother's door and everything!"

Aksel let out a 'tsk'. "Bastards."

"Yong Soo, we couldn't take them all on if we tried," said Xiang gravely.

"You just need reinforcements!" Aksel said vigorously.

Yao looked at him warily. "What do you mean?" he asked slowly.

"I'm sayin', I'm gonna tag along when you leave," said the man, grinning. "I want a chance to have at those guys." He slammed a fist into his gloved palm with a smack.

"I don't think that's—" Yao began but Yong Soo threw his sleeves around him excitedly. "—oof! You just smacked me in the face! What is it?"

"That'd be great!" Yong Soo told him. "C'mon, please, please, pleeeease, brother?"

"Yeah, please, brother?" Aksel asked.

"Why am I becoming everyone's brother?" grumbled Yao, though he was secretly pleased. "Oh, whatever." He exchanged a tired glance with Xiang, who shrugged his shoulders helplessly. Aksel and Yong Soo whooped excitedly, the latter pressing a kiss to his cheek. "Aiyah! Off, off!"

"This calls for a feast!" Aksel declared, rising to his feet and grabbing his axe. "I'm gonna go kill that cow I was saving!"

The three heard an alarmed moo from further back in the cave.


END CHAPTER 6


I really liked writing this chapter. I wonder how well I've portrayed Denmark. I picture him as rash, cheerful, and stupid while being aggressive in ways.