"It was a dark night and we had just made camp when we both heard a rustling in the bushes. Since we couldn't see far in the darkness we both grabbed a torch and our bows to be prepared, just in case what we would soon find was of the unpleasant kind.
My heart was racing and I could hear the blood rushing in my ears like a thundering river in the midst of a storm! I had nearly accepted my fate to fall at the hands of Jormag himself when a gigantic boar broke through the foliage and rushed into the midst of our camp with bloodshot eyes! I swear, the wild boar was out for blood that night!
Not hesitating we both donned an arrow and let loose, skewering the wild boar in its flanks and nailing it to the ground with our arrows! While it was still blinded by the sudden pain from its wounds I drew my dagger and with a jump impaled the wild boar under my weight!
Afterwards we feasted like kings, still high on our blood-rush. I swear I've never felt so alive before!" Alvar spoke passionately about the first hunt he had been through while Olaf knew full well that some things were a little bit exaggerated. But that was something completely normal in most tales told by the Norn and he wouldn't change anything about that little fact!
"You truly have grown, little Alvar. Soon you will be a man to be proud of." Alvars grandmother spoke while smothering the slightly indignant Alvar under kisses and cuddles, causing the lad to splutter in protest, though was completely ignored in the end so all he really could do is endure. His uncle and grandpa meanwhile where grinning from ear to ear like lunatics, barely containing their laughter at the pair's antics.
After he had been through the wringer by his grandmother Alvar was sent to bed, since today promised to be a long night, as they would later join the other Norn of Hoelbrak at the large fires in the great hall to listen to the story tellers, Havroune, hunters and warriors while celebrating into the name day of Alvar and some other children.
With a tired yawn Alvar slumped into his bed and soon afterwards fell into a dreamless sleep, as he had been up since before sunrise, and the long trip back to Hoelbrak was still rather taxing on his growing body. Even for a Norn like him, who was born with a stronger constitution then a normal Human for example, it was exhausting to travel through the deep snow of the wilderness.
While Alvar was sleeping the three adults remained at the firepit and continued their conversation though the topic of their choosing had taken on a rather gloomy disposition, judging by the blank faces the three adults wore.
"I have been looking for trails but the harsh snowfall of the last few days up in the mountains has made it increasingly harder to find anything really. The new snow added too many new layers onto the footprints that I could find. No doubt that Jormag and his servants are behind it. I will soon go out again to look once more since, now that spring has come, the prints are harder to erase or get covered by the weather and we may be able to find another hideout of the sons of Jormag before they start another raid on us." Uncle Olaf spoke with a grimace when he thought back to the last time the sons of Jormag had ventured down the Shiverpeak mountains and attacked those that were working outside of Hoelbrak and its safe walls.
"Even if we discover another hideout the chance to find Knut is by now none existent. It has already been 8 years since we last saw of him and many men, no matter how tough they may be, would have broken under Jormag's consistent whispers…" Alvar's grandfather spoke with a grim face that showed the deep wrinkles adorning his face in the warm, flickering light of the bonfire they were sitting around.
"I don't care! I will not let my brother suffer under Jormag, despite…what Knut has done… I promised Hilda such on her deathbed and I'll be damned if I break my promise!" Uncle Olaf spoke with a growl while anger flowed freely from his tongue though he managed to keep his voice down in order not to wake his nephew up who he knew could have a light sleep at times.
"We know son and we are thankful that you still keep on looking. I do not doubt Hilda is watching from beyond the mists just as we are. And yet, I cannot advise you enough to not lose yourself in your anger. Jormag will know and use it against you if you do. Just like he did with Knut…" Alvars grandfather spoke with a slightly trembling voice while his wife supportively took his old hand into hers, equally marked by time.
"We are old, son. It will not be too long until we will join our ancestors in the mists but before we go we need to see this through to the end. Not to mention young Alvar. He should not have to take over such a burden from us once he becomes old enough to call himself a man…" the old man said with a sigh while watching the flames flicker from one place onto the other, dancing and playing with their brethren while consuming the wood underneath them.
"We will find him, I promise." Olaf spoke to his father and mother with confidence and a silent promise lacing his voice, to which they could only smile sadly as they knew from the very beginning that the chances of success were slim.
After their discussion had quietened, Olaf left the old couple to themselves and walked out the door to go converse and convey his findings to the ones responsible to deal with the sons of Jormag and help prepare for the upcoming feast and festivities. After all his nephew would only once become 11 years old. An event their whole family had been looking forwards to for some time now. It always was a joy for the elderly to watch the young ones grow up and become men and women themselves.