Lufner stirred from rest. Out of everyone, he was the last to wake. His eyes opened to his wife laying side him who turned at once to loom over him like a hawk.

She was skeptical of him and he wondered what it was he had done to betray her trust.

"Why did you not tell me?"

"Tell you what?"

"That there was a-"

"BEAR!"

Both their eyes went wide and Lufner sprung to his feet and cast a hand behind him.

"Stay here."

Namitha did not dare move.

The voice was Usoff's and Lufner ran out to meet his frantic friend.

Usoff was red in the face and clearly out of breath. He pointed to the West.

"Is it alive?"

"No. It is dead."

Both he and Sangard had headed to the West to seek food.

The cook waited by the carcass until Usoff and Lufner arrived. He saw that Namitha was some ways off behind a tree. The sight of the massive beast no doubt terrified her. Women were the most superstitious. Surely she thought that by mere chance the beast would return to life and tear each and every one of them to pieces. But that was not the case. Namitha only wanted to see it for herself.

What killed it was more important. Another bear? A pack of wild wolves? It was strong enough to escape but eventually lost all will to live.

Lufner checked the animal and found that its head wound resembled that of an axe gash.

He seethed in excitement. Respected the weapon that was capable of doing this. But a weapon did not move in accordance with free will. It had a wielder that Lufner could not wait to meet him.

They went back to the camp and around the fire, they made decisions of what to do with their discovery. Its fur and skin were valuable so it was decided that they would skin the animal and take its fur. It deserved no burial. Instead, it would serve as food for the wild animals.

Soon, Zollo arrived. And just as Usoff did, he lead them to a spot between some trees. There laid a body.

This time, the first to approach was Namitha.

It was a man. A rather large man and Lufner was certain he was the mortal who battled with the bear. His spirit left him hoping that he was not left for dead. He sure looked it.

"Is he dead?" Namitha asked. She knew not who the man was but had a willingness to help him.

"I didn't check."

Zollo cared not. The others were merely curious. Namitha checked the man over. His face and skin had swallowed, snow and eyes crusted his beard, lashes and hair. His body was alarmingly cold but to much relief, she found a pulse.

"He lives."

She ordered the men to take him back to camp. Those who objected had the luxury of choosing either to carry the man or bring the camp where he laid. They all chose the former, fashioning together a raft of logs to transport him, lest there be broken bones.

They laid him on his side by the fire on and Namitha was quick to bundle him with all the cloth and fur she could find. His hands and feet were clad with glove and boot protecting them from frostbite. His coily, coarse hair was long enough to protect his face and ears.

Namitha checked about him but could not locate a single wound. Any injuries must have been internal but the main focus was to warm him by the fire. If he had been left out like that with no one around to help him for another day, he would have been a dead man.

Lufner waited by his wife's side for the strange man to wake while the others prepared the meal and went about exploring the terrain.

"Why do you help him?" he asked. Namitha sat vigilant and still, looking for any other signs of movement. Just earlier, once warmed by the fire and cloth, the man's breathing steadied. Before it was as if he did not breathe at all.

"Who would not want to be helped once lost, attacked by a bear and left for dead in the snow? And besides...," Namitha leaned against her husband's warmth. "He has a kind face."

Lufner watched her close her eyes for a light rest. She had only eaten little, tirelessly nursing the man, dutifully throwing him the rope of life he let slip past his fingers.

All that she did, she did not have to. It was all owed to innate human compassion which Namitha, Lufner knew, had reserved by the trunk-fulls in her heart.

"It is you who is kind," said Lufner in a whisper. He spoke loud enough for only his ears to hear.

He looked on annoyed and impatient at the laying man's figure. Bushy faced, large-bodied like a whale. His arms and legs were short but built and he looked old enough to have seen at most fifty summers. But age came with experience. This man no doubt had a world of stories to tell.

Namitha's redirected attentions did not sit right with Lufner. Especially to a strange man they knew nothing of. Nevertheless, it might procure some good.

Zollo was wary of their guest. Lufner was too. Who he was and where he was going could only be revealed in a matter of time. He had the air of a warrior although dressed in serf's clothing.

Just then, Namitha jerked and looked frantically about her.

"What's wrong?" Lufner asked.

"Something isn't right."

A sharp chill ran through her and she stood to walk to where she could see a clearing in the trees and observed the skies above.

It was just as it was before she slept: stripped, grey and still. But now it was too still. And that stillness irked her nerves like never before.

"Usoff, Luffy. Go find the others. We have to seek shelter elsewhere. There is not a moment to lose. A storm is coming."

They felt nothing amiss but moved once they saw her seriousness. Soon all were gathered and the tent was taken down and they sought refuge in a mountain cave. Usoff knew of its whereabouts. It was nearest to where they found the dead bear. Big enough to shelter them all comfortably and tall enough for them to stand and more. It was no doubt his cave for when it was found, it was empty.

"This is ridiculous," said Zollo.

It was not the hard work that upset him, having to move both man, tent and logs, but the meaninglessness of it all. Why abandon a perfectly good camp all because of a supposed storm? This very day had the best weather they have had since their coming hither. He also did not enjoy taking orders from a woman.

Sangard and Usoff were quick to ready a fire to set alight the dark cave. A promising colour was returning to the unconscious man's skin. The heat alone from the fresh fire would do him some good. He laid motionless on the makeshift raft of logs.

"Trust Nami," Lufner said. It was all so strange to him but he had faith in his wife.

He turned to her.

"You are certain."

"I am. This storm isn't one to be reckoned with."

Suddenly, the sky dimmed dark grey and the wind howled like it had picked up wolves in its wake. The snow fell and danced along with it and it piled and piled and piled. The trees bore the rapids and every four-legged beast and flying creature of the heavens had long gone to seek higher and safer ground. Only fools braved this sort of weather.

"I've never seen a storm such as this. This is mad." Zollo hardly believed his eyes and ears.

Usoff added, "If we had stayed out in this weather, we would all be-"

"Dead."

All turned to Namitha who sat near the fire. The flames danced in her eyes and glossed her red hair. She tucked the man in and drew her coat closer to her breast. She sighed, leaned against a wall and looked appreciative at the cave's high walls. Now it was colder than ever but soon, the cave would be heated enough to warm them all.

The men exchanged looks in wonderment and they became afraid. On the other hand, there was sweat on Lufner's brow as he stared outside at the rampage of snow. It did not help that Namitha appeared so calm while they held the countenance of men who had seen a fair share of ghosts.

"Which god have you shared your bed with, witch?" quipped Zollo. He wanted answers. No mere man, no woman could have known this was going to take place.

Njord and Oden must have frequented her quarters and as they did she must have stolen from them knowledge beyond man's understanding.

Sangard swung a swift leg at the swordsman which he avoided with ease. He very much wanted to cut out the bastard's tongue.

Namitha, still seated, stopped him as well as her upset husband. Lufner was not far behind.

Her bow and arrow were well pointed at Zollo's heart. No longer would she listen to his backhanded talk. She felt the need to kill him on the spot and now was the perfect time. All they had to do was throw his body out to be buried by the snow and later unearthed and eaten by common dogs.

"The only man worthy of my bed is not the gods or you or anyone but my husband. You wanted a navigator. Surely a navigator of any kind is capable of this and much more. It is a shame you would not live to see the day I take to the sea to prove myself for your road ends here."

When the men saw that she was serious, their mouths and eyes were wide open. Lufner and Usoff tried to intervene but suddenly, the man they saved coughed and heaved, sitting up to catch his breath. He gathered saliva in his mouth to dampen his parched throat.

All stood still. The man tore open his tight tunic and revealed a mark on his chest that the men recognized right away.

It was the like mark Arlock and his men shared.

The same thought ran simultaneously through their minds as they gripped their weapons with one thought and one thought only.

This man must die.

To be continued...