As you'll see shortly, this one is mostly Konall, but Kadlin and Aleena make it in time for the end.

It's a long piece, but it's very, very good. It moves the story forward by adding a bunch of twists and surprises. Some of Cameron's better Season two work so far.

 
Konall walked over another dune. He needed something to eat soon, preferably something he could kill to slake his rage while he was at it. Spaz was out looking for munchies now. Hopefully the imp would bring some back to share.

Tracks on the ground now. Whatever made these had tried to conceal them, but Konall was a trapper. He could kill some lunch. Or dinner by now. Desert wind tore through his cloak, the chill trying to leech through his thick Viking muscles and failing.

The tracks led to mounds of sand. Suddenly, the mounds disintegrated as lizard creatures dashed out, their bodies not much bigger than Konall's head. Covered in grayish scales and having blood-red claws, they tore after him. Konall pulled out a pair of hatchets and threw them, both bouncing off skulls and barely slowing the lizards.

The lead creature leapt at Konall, who already had his sword out. One swing sent the thing flying, although it hopped right back up again and charged, with only a slight cut on its side seeping a trickle of brown blood.

Another jumped the ten feet to Konall, who brought his sword down with a powerful overhand swing that would have killed a man in armor, a bear, and possibly even a yeti, in one hit. The thing slammed into the ground and immediately latched onto his ankle.

When the next one jumped, Konall managed to get his sword straight out to skewer it down the throat. It scrabbled forward, claws sparking against the blade, trying to reach him even as it died. While all this was going on, two more had slammed into his chest, their claws tearing through his armor.

Konall lifted his leg and the lizard at his foot held on. He swung it underneath his boot and then stomped down on it. It held on tightly. He ripped another off of him, but it took as much of his armor and flesh as it could before being hurled against a rock.

Three more slammed into him at once, and even as small as they were, Konall was stomping on one of their brothers and didn't have good balance. He hit the ground. They piled on top of him, all except the one scrabbling out from underneath him. Bits of flesh and armor were stripped away. At first, he was pushing them off of him as fast as he can, and mostly ending up with bites and scratches on his arms. Their teeth were sharper than most creatures, but it was their inch-long claws that were the worst, sharper and stronger than any blade Konall had ever made.

He picked one up by the body with his right hand and stuck his left into its mouth. Then Konall pulled back until its neck snapped. He repeated this, but the second wriggled out of his grasp and latched onto his wrist. The Viking flicked his arm and sent it flying, but heard something snap. He's probably broken a bone or lost a tendon; he couldn't move his hand.

The one directly on his chest he trapped in a bear hug, and he slowly heard bones breaking until it died. As he threw one more off, its kin bit hard into his throat and his vision began darkening. Frantically, he fought back, knocking them away with twin hatchets now. He wasn't trying to survive; it was too late for that. Now he was just trying to make it as hard for them to finish him as possible.

Konall woke up. He didn't feel his injuries any more. He stood and looked at the lizard creatures. They'd left him. He figured they were after a meal, but it turns out they were just in a mood to kill something. He walked up to one and brought his haxxor straight down on it. It made no attempt to dodge. His axe went right through it, stopping at the sand. The creature was unharmed, didn't even notice.

Looking back, he saw a massive piece of ravaged meat lying on the ground. It was his body. He was dead.

Well, it had to come sooner or later. It had been a valiant battle against fearsome monsters. The valkyries would arrive soon to take him to Valhalla. He had stood alone against these terrifying creatures. They were small, but that didn't matter, right? They had tough skins, impossibly sharp claws, and could move like liquid fire. The valkyries would surely be here any moment. And Kadlin would find him, if they missed this. She'd call them. He'd go to the afterlife. He wouldn't have to wander the earth for eternity, unable to do anything, slowly being driven to madness. No, he'd end up in Valhalla soon and there was nothing to worry about.

Nothing at all.

"You're not going to the afterlife," said a voice behind him.

Konall turned. He suddenly saw thousands of beings: ghosts who he would swear were millenia old though he didn't know why, men and women with the heads of various animals, an elk with a crocodile's head and a rooster's tail, a giant winged serpent-bat, and countless other creatures. These were spirits, no spirits he knew, but spirits nonetheless.

"Why?" said Konall. "I did everything right. I followed the warriors path, I died a valiant death. What more do I need to do to prove my worth? I've faced armies, slain monsters, fought every opponent I could. WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT FROM ME? I'm ready for the next life, ready for the challenges. I don't care what you need me to fight, I can kill it. Let me join the final battle."

A whirlwind approached him, another spirit. "You have proved your worth, warrior. We are not sending you on to the final battle to defend all worlds because you are needed to defend this one."

Konall dropped his sword, he didn't even remember drawing it. "What's this threat?"

"Your sister."

Konall wished he hadn't dropped his sword. The spirit continued. "To be more precise, she has come upon a sword of ancient power, one you are familiar with. It is deceiving her, giving her a taste of power and knowledge so that she'll let it enter her mind bit by bit. That sword contains an ancient evil beyond your comprehension. A foolish mortal trapped it in that sword so he could gain a weapon of great power. And while that sword could kill even one of the gods, if the evil within were to be released it could shatter this world."

"So you want me to kill it?"

"You can't kill it."

"Destroy it?"

"It is a prison. If it were destroyed the being inside would be freed."

"What then?"

"Convince your sister to give it up. Then find the deepest, darkest hole you can and drop it in."

"I want Valhalla."

The whirlwind sighed. "If you forsake this quest, your world and the world you occupy now will be destroyed, as well as countless others."

"You're spirits and I'm a man. You can handle this yourselves. Send me to Valhalla."

"Your sister will be corrupted and be used as a puppet for centuries before finally dying a slow death at this evil's hands."

"Fine. I'll help you. But I'm dead. Gonna be a problem."

"We know. We weakened you. Not in a large way, but in a thousand small ones. A distraction of the mind, a slip of the foot, a twist of fate, a slight boon to the Mzarduks you fought. It was enough to turn a possible victory into a certain defeat."

Konall clenched a fist. "You killed me."

"We assisted your demise."

"You cheated!"

"It was the only way we could speak to you. We'd tried other methods of communication; you weren't listening."

"So what are you going to do about it?"

The whirlwind slowed its spin. It spoke in a majestic tone. "You have died a valiant death. We, the spirits, pronounce you einherjar. You are worthy to be a defender of all worlds. We send you on a gaes, to stop your sister, to recover the sword, and to ensure that no mortal touches the blade again. You accept."

It wasn't a question.

"I do," said Konall.

"We send you to your battlefield; fight and conquer."

Konall rose. He was back in his body. "All right," he said to the air, and presumably the spirits still around him. "You want me to fight, help me. Bless me, my sword, my equipment, my body. And finish healing my wounds for Thor's sake."

A voice breezed through his mind You speak without respect and ignore the proper rituals.

Konall shrugged. "I don't have time for children's games." The lizards, or Mzarduks as he supposed they were called, were turning toward him again. "Either you let me have the victory you cheated me out of, or I die here and none of us get what we want."

We have no choice but to reward your insolence. You walk a dangerous path, mortal.

Konall felt power flow through him and close his wounds. He felt, stronger, faster, and wiser. His sword shone with power. He was coated in an transparent armor.

He grinned. The lizards flew at him, but his sword batted them away. This time, with the spirits helping instead of hindering, his blows left gashes and severed limbs. Something drove three Mzarduks to fight amongst each other leaving him free to drive his sword through the one trying to gnaw his leg. Another leaped off a nearby rock toward his face, but he threw his sword and impaled it against a nearby tree, the blade jammed down the beast's throat and out its back.

He punted another Mzarduk and picked up a third, slowly crushing it between his hands while stomping yet another with his foot. As he finished the one in his hands, he pulled out his haxxor, backed up, and used the axe to crush a lizard. Then he plowed through the three fighting Mzarduks, sending them flying. The one remaining one charged him and was cut in half by the haxxor's blade. The three lizards that had been haxxor-borne were easily dispatched with arrows.

Spaz returned in time to help him skin and bone his prey, at least those that hadn't been crushed into jelly. He added their claws to the sizeable stack of hide and meat he had. They'd make interesting shears or something.

* * *

Caedmon halted his party and signaled for them to dismount. Horses were smart, and they'd flee at the first scent of Mzarduks. His people were going in to fight. Sometimes horses were smarter than people.

He had consulted with the druidess about what his people should do. The Mzarduks were spreading. Soon there would be no hunting grounds left. And they dared not risk a war with the bandit clans. And yet, if he sent his hunters to fight, they would surely die. A lone Mzarduk, maybe two could be killed by a group of skilled warriors. But he had seen thirteen in the nest.

The druid had consulted the spirits and given him a prophecy. "All who fight this battle against the Mzarduks will be slain. And yet, one warrior will live and triumph and slay them all. The one who triumphs will be named chieftain of our village and go on to lead us to glory."

The prophecy was confusing and useless as always, but he asked for volunteers anyway. Twenty-six of the village's greatest warriors and hunters set out on this quest. One would return, maybe, if the prophecy was anything close to dependable. Caedmon was already village chieftain. This did not bode well for him. But he had a duty to his people.

He crested the next dune and looked over it. This was where his death and the death of his trusted friends and companions awaited. But perhaps the salvation of the rest of his tribe. There was a man there, talking to himself, sitting next to a pile of bloodied remains.

"So can I count on you to help me out like this from now on?" He said to no one. "What do you mean, 'no.'?" A pause. "Well are you going to resurrect me again at some point?" Another pause. "Good. We're agreed that didn't count as a real death." The man stood up. "Whatever. I'm not counting it as a real death. Next time, I stay dead and I go to Valhalla and smash the dark gods' faces in, agreed?" He was gesturing wildly. "Great. Now can I at least call on you guys from time to time?" His expressions betrayed annoyance now. "I know you guys won't be back in my world, but at least I'll be able to call on a few spirits from time to time if not a hundred at once like I just did." Pause. "Good."

The rest of Caedmon's warriors stood crouched behind the rise, looking to Caedmon for guidance. He signaled them to hold their positions.

"Who are you?" said Caedmon.

The man looked up, drawing a sword. "I'm Konall."

"You're in great danger, Konall. That area is filled with Mzarduks. They are terrible beasts that-"

"I know. The Odin-be-plagued beasts are hel to kill. They're splattered all over here."

Caedmon was shocked. "You slew them?"

"Yes."

"How many?" He said "them." Surely he couldn't have fought two at once.

"Twelve."

"You're not counting the smashed one," said a small flying mouse or something.

"Right," said Konall. "Guess it was thirteen."

The man was insane! He was standing in a Mzarduk nest, and had claimed to kill them all singlehandedly. That explained why he was standing next to a pile of offal that… included grey skin and brown blood. And were those red things on the ground… impossible!

Caedmon stood up. "Mind if I come down there?" The man shrugged in response.

Caedmon ran down the dune slope. Sure enough, there were enough pieces of Mzarduk to represent thirteen of them. Eleven at the least, but if there were any left alive they'd be set on murdering this man.

"Who are you?" said Caedmon.

"I'm Konall, like I told you before."

"No, I mean who are you? How did you manage to kill all these things."

"I'm a Viking berserker. I'm on some sort of berserker juice right now, and a bunch of spirits helped."

"You commune with the great spirits?"

"I'm sort of new to this, but I yell at them and they seem to help when I need it."

Caedmon shook his head. "There are no words. Very well, would you come to our village? These beings you just killed were causing us great trouble. We would like to honor you."

Konall paused in thought. "Sure, let me pack my stuff."

Caedmon whistled an his warriors came over the rise. Konall tensed for just a second, a warrior's response to forces he was unfamiliar with, but calmed just as quickly. Did this man honestly believe he could eliminate Caedmon's war party? Perhaps he could.

Konall threw the bits of Mzarduk into a giant sack and hoisted it over his shoulder. As they walked toward the horses, Caedmon had to comment. "You treat the blood diamonds with such disregard. Among our people, they are a treasure of incomparable worth."

"Is that so? Wait, diamond?"

"Yes, those creatures' claws are red diamonds. It is said they gain their color from the blood they shed in anger. When a hunting party kills one, they divide the claws among themselves, as proof of their courage and prowess. On rare occasions, a man who desires a woman greatly, but who cannot win her heart, will set out to hunt a Mzarduk. If he somehow succeeds, he has the claws crafted into a necklace and presents it to his love. Such has only been done four times in our history, and not once has such a gesture been turned down. It is the ultimate expression of love. I gave one to Maura, and she has borne me many sons."

"I'll keep that in mind."

* * *

Konall stepped off the horse and considered the huts of Caedmon's village. Simple housing that was easily taken apart and put together again. These people didn't stay in one place.

The whole village, probably two, three hundred people was assembled, talking among themselves. They were probably waiting to see who of Caedmon's war party would return. Now they seemed to be wondering who the big Viking was.

Caedmon stood and gestured at Konall while explaining about the killing of the Mzarduks, valiant fighting, friend of the spirits, blah blah blah. Konall was told there'd be a party. That meant booze and food. He'd just done some killing and that always made him hungry. His mind had been opened to the depths of the spiritual world and his duties as a man and a brother, and that always made him want to get sloshed out of his gourd. Throw in some attractive women and hopefully he'd soon forget all of this for the time being.

The food was simple and spicy, but good. Nothing like Kadlin could cook. She was probably learning black magic from that stupid sword now. He… he drained his cup of what passed for alcohol here and grabbed another.

He was seated at the head of the table, next to Caedmon and his wife on the left and some old crone on the right. They'd been talking about something, he'd been responding without thinking. Something about the history of the tribe. They'd asked him questions about his past and he rattled off some answers halfheartedly.

Some of the girls had walked over to his end of the table, asking if they could bring him anything. Their mouths said food or drink but their eyes said something else. It had been too long, and now that he had a golden opportunity he was inundated with thoughts about the spirits and Kadlin and "ALCOHOL!" he snapped.

"What?" said the redhead.

"Uh, yeah. Could you bring me something to drink, something strong." She started to leave. "All of you," he explained.

Four of them returned in short order carrying a keg half as tall as they were, and as round as all four of them put together. "This is the festival brew," the redhead said. "We normally save it for-" Konall stood and picked it up with both hands and began pouring from the spout directly into his mouth. The redhead continued "But I suppose if this isn't a worthy occasion what is?"

Konall kept guzzling, half the stuff running down his face and throat, soaking his shirt. He ended up downing at least a third of the keg before he was seated. That'd take the edge off… whatever.

Caedmon stood. He started talking. Konall caught snippets "As you all know…" "…prophecy…" "…Mzarduk threat…" "…brave warrior…" "…new leader of our village." The villagers sat silent for a moment and Konall stopped eating to glance up. They were looking around, whispering to each other. Then one man stood, turned to Konall, and applauded. His wife joined him, then others. Soon everyone was standing and cheering.

Konall turned cold "Wait, you're making me the new leader?"

Caedmon smiled "Yes. You have shown your worth. Normally such things are decided with trial by combat, but that's hardly necessary now. The spirits themselves name you our chieftain and champion."

"No," Konall said.

The crone stood. "What do you mean, 'no.'"

"I mean I woke up this morning believing this world, the people in it, even my own life were only part of a test to separate those worthy to fight in the coming world from those who were unworthy. I just found out I'm an einjerhar, um, one who fights beside the gods. Only I'm sent back to protect a bunch of stuff I didn't think mattered. And my sister is… I won't get into that now. Oh, and apparently a bunch of spirits decided I'm their new pet and I'm not entirely sure how I feel about that. As to leading a bunch of people, that's a decision I'm not ready to make right now. I've either been drinking too much or too little." It was a joke. No one laughed.

He picked up the keg and turned toward the door. "I need to take a walk, do some thinking, sleep on it. I'll give you my final decision tomorrow. Or the next day." He strode out into the night.

There was a lot to think about, too much to think about. Another gullet full of this sweet, spicy liquor they served here would make that thinking thing go away. Things would be easier. He set the keg down and left it behind. It was going to be a long night.

* * *

Konall felt someone touch him lightly, to wake him up. The redhead from last night? He didn't remember what he'd done or who he'd done it to, but maybe she wanted a second helping.

He opened his eyes. It was the crone from last night.

He shuddered "Did we…?"

"No," she shouted. "You paced around the edge of the village for hours last night mumbling to yourself. Then you finally collapsed on the ground. I just arrived to wake you."

"Can you stop screaming?"

"I'm talking in a normal voice. Your body is shouting at you because you drank too much last night, though not as much as you could have, I suspect."

"I had some thinking to do. I didn't want to be drunk." She just stared at him. "Okay, I didn't want to be too drunk. I'm not used to making important decisions without at least a little alcohol in my system."

"And what have you decided?"

"Nothing, yet."

She stood up, the sun at her back. The light! "You are a warrior, yes?"

"I am."

"You fight because it is your duty, yes?"

"And because it's fun. And it impresses the women. And sometimes it pays."

"So without those things you wouldn't do it? You would run for your life and avoid battle?"

"No. I've always wanted to be an einjerhar, a sacred warrior."

"You long to fulfill the duties given to you by the gods, to protect mankind against unimaginable foes?"

"Yes."

"Good, you are a man who recognizes his duty and puts it above all others."

"So?"

"So, you are now leader of this village."

Konall sat up. "I haven't accepted the job yet."

"Whether you accept or not is irrelevant. The spirits have spoken. You were pronounced chieftain. You are now the chieftain just as you became einjerhar when they pronounced you so. It is a fact. Your denial or acceptance changes nothing. What matters is if you fulfill the duties you were given."

Konall had slept in the side of a dune, a quick walk from the village. There was a fire nearby, with Spaz still asleep in it. The demon had probably started it to keep him warm. Konall looked at the crone. "Don't I have a say in this?"

"You served under a chieftain once, yes?"

"He was a king, Mtiger, but yeah."

The crone poked him with her cane. "When he gave you an order, did you call for debate? Did you demand an explanation from someone with more wisdom and experience than you explain his thinking and the lifetime of learning that led to the decision he made? Or did you trust him and do your duty?"

"I obeyed."

"Good. It is the same now. Lead this village. Find your sister. Work with the spirits. Recover the sword. This is your gaes, your sacred quest."

"I don't want to."

"You must."

Konall looked down. "I can't."

"What do you mean you can't."

"I've led men in battle before, but they died. It wasn't a big deal at the time. I mean, they went to Valhalla. That's cause for celebration, not mourning. But now that I realize that there are things in this world worth protecting, and people need to remain alive to do it… What if I make a bad decision? What if someone dies because of me? What if everyone dies? I've never led this many people before, and I've never had to worry about them."

"You were assigned a task by the spirits. They will see to it that you have what you need to complete it. If even with their help you were unable to succeed, the task would not have fallen to you in the first place."

Finally Konall smiled. "You really want me to be chieftain, don't you."

"No," she frowned. "I don't know you. I see a man who's too used to being on his own and who has not once had responsibility for something important. I see a warrior who knows nothing of how to solve problems without resorting to combat. The spirits see promise in you. I do not."

"Then why-"

"Because I have a duty, too. I am the tribe's druidess. I do as I am told by powers beyond my comprehension. I must trust their judgment. So, whether I enjoy it or not, I am to train you in the ancient ways and prepare you for the life ahead of you, and much preparation will you need."

"This is a helish start to the morning."

"It gets worse, child."

* * *

Aleena landed next to Konall who was pacing on the outskirts of some village. Kadlin hopped out of her hands and transformed back into her normal self.

Kadlin moved toward Konall. "You've got some drugs in your system that-"

"It's taken care of," Konall said, snatching the glaive from her hand unexpectedly.

"What are you doing, brother?"

"The sword's corrupting you. I'm taking it."

Kadlin laughed and snapped her fingers. Instantly the glaive was in her hands again. "You didn't think it'd be that simple, did you? You did, didn't you. You never learned a tenth, a hundredth of what this thing can do."

"You don't understand. There's an evil trapped inside there that-"

"I understand there's a being trapped in there. I have no intention of releasing it. But I wouldn't call it evil."

"Sister, I've felt it in my mind. It's nothing but evil, and it's getting to you already."

"Wait, what's going on?" Aleena interrupted.

"Konall wants me to give up this sword. He believes that since it's beyond his comprehension, it's beyond mine too."

Konall clenched a fist. "My sister is playing with some dark stuff that's going to get everyone killed."

Aleena paused. "In my travels, I have heard of, and seen, magical equipment that had been cursed. A practical joke from one mage to another, or something more sinister; but always hidden. But by the same token, one does not discard magical equipment without good reason, especially if you don't know who will find it later. What evidence do you have that it's harmful, Konall?"

"It's not simply cursed," said Konall. "It's a prison for a being of ultimate evil. And I'm going to make sure no one can ever find it again. I don't need evidence. I've wielded it myself in the past. I know how it works."

"Kadlin, is it not possible Konall could be correct? Kwadlin's drug is also pretty subtle too."

Kadlin scoffed. "Konall is an idiot. He doesn't know anything about the spiritual side or the true nature of power. It's said that even a blind squirrel finds a nut, but I wouldn't count on it."

"Insulting your brother will not get us anywhere. Do you truly know the nature of the entity in your blade? It is a lot harder to fake good than be evil; have you tried to test it?"

Kadlin thought for a second. "I suppose I haven't. I've been so absorbed in the knowledge this thing has been giving me, I haven't thought to learn about the entity itself. I will do that."

Aleena turned to Konall, "Is this sufficient for the moment?"

Konall spat. "I can deal with it for now."

Aleena braved a smile. "With that out of the way, let's deal with what, and why we are here. Some mage called Kwadlin has... infested our bodies with some drug that acts both chemically and magically on us. It seems tailored to us. It made Kadlin try to fight me, and it made you try to fight Dash."

"I can help with that," Konall said. He laid a hand on Aleena's forehead. "Spirits, she's poisoned. Heal her." He stood for a moment. "Fine. Spirits, I call upon you to strike poison and sickness from this child of the earth... Oh, right she's not of the earth. Um."

Kadlin laughed. "You think you have what it takes to be a shaman? You don't know the true names of any spirits. You haven't been trained in the rituals from childhood like I was. You don't even have the discipline to focus. You'll be the worst shaman I've ever heard of."

Konall growled. "You're the worst shaman. I'm not going to destroy every world I can get to."

"Hey!" Aleena shouted. "Sibling rivalry and all, but this is just ridiculous! The drugs are making you want to fight each other! Don't give in!"

"All right," Kadlin said. "Let's go pay Philler a visit and see about getting these drugs out."

Konall hefted his haxxor. "Sounds good. Oh, Aleena, I got you something." Konall pulled out a necklace with over a hundred red diamonds on it shaped like claws. They had gold trim around the sharpest parts. He handed it to her.

"Oh, goddess... don't." Aleena trembled, and fell to her knees, clutching the necklace. It looked amazing, and though it was a simple gesture to gift, she was touched by the effort he must have gone through to make it.

"What's wrong?" Konall asked.

"The drugs... they make everyone else want to fight. They have a... different effect on me," Aleena let out a soft moan.

"Are they killing you?"

"They make me need sex," Aleena replied, gazing up at Konall with hungry, predatory eyes.

"Oh," said Konall. "I'll see about finding us a tent to borrow. I kind of own the village over there."

"Again?" said Kadlin. "You should be good for a month."

"What's this about?" Konall asked.

"You're better off not knowing," Aleena and Kadlin replied at the same time.

A very happy ending

Extensive. Amazing. Impressive!

Yeah, I really enjoy rereading this one. It's amazing to see such development from Konall when he started as a much simpler character. Having him around really adds to AiL. And of course, the arrival of Kadlin and Aleena made a satisfying ending.

We'll get to see some more of the trio later on, but Zanther Wolf is next, followed by more of Dash and the others, Dash and Aleena, and then a little Becky Joy!