“The Cu-saeng?” Melcorka repeated, trying to concentrate on the conversation while a hundred demons banged hammers on her skull. “A Druid told me that same name. Do you know what it is like?”
“I do not,” Thorfinn said, “and nor does anybody else.” He gave a small smile. “The men of Sutherland told me that it controls the moors and lonely places, and people disappear. It is an evil that nobody sees and survives, but at night even the staunchest, strongest of warriors lock their doors and have their spears to hand, in case the Cu-saeng comes.”
“Is it powerful?” Bradan joined in the conversation as he tried to avoid Astrid's intense gaze. He knew that Melcorka was looking at him, her eyes shrewd, despite the drink.
“It is said to be more powerful than any god,” Thorfinn said. “Although as nobody has seen it, I don't know how they can judge.” He took another bite of chicken, examined the remaining meat and threw the bone to a dog. When he looked at Melcorka, there were dark shadows in his eyes. “I am not scared of men, gods, devils or anything that walks on two legs or four,” he said, “but when I heard of the Cu-saeng, I felt a chill in my bones. Some things are best left alone, Swordswoman, however skilled you may be.”
“That may be the evil I fight,” Melcorka said. “Thank you, Thorfinn. At least I now have confirmation of my enemy's name. And thank you for the warning. I will not take this thing lightly.” She glanced at Bradan. “We will not take the Cu-saeng lightly, and we have faced many evils across the world.”
“If you see it,” Thorfinn said. “Try to survive long enough to let me know what it is like. I will be curious to know what sort of creature kills you!”
Melcorka joined in the laughter of the reviving Norsemen. She looked at Bradan, whose smile was a little crooked, and at Astrid, who returned her gaze with an open stare that hid some secret thoughts. Melcorka nodded, leaned over to Bradan and touched his shoulder.
“We'll be on our way soon,” she said. “I hope you had a restful night. You can tell me later.”
“You have a test or two ahead,” Thorfinn said. “The Headhunter may be only a man, but he is formidable, and the Cu-saeng sounds infinitely worse.” He shook his head. “I do not like to send you away unprepared and alone. I could furnish a band of men; after all, you saved my daughter.”
“Halfdan is with us,” Bradan said. “He knows this land better than we do. Once he has defeated the Headhunter, he can guide us northward.”
“And that I shall do, by Odin's beard!” Halfdan was not a man to hide his feelings. He looked up from the table on which he had been supporting his head. “Once the hounds of Loki stop hammering at my skull I will join you both.”
Astrid joined them at the table. “The hammering is nobody's fault but your own.” She glanced at Bradan. “Thankfully, not everybody needs such stimulation to prove they are men. Or even that they are warriors.”
Melcorka understood the attack. Retaining her smile, she pulled Bradan close. “I am glad that Bradan does not need to prove himself as a man to me. I have had many years of such proof, and many more to come.” She allowed her gaze to harden until Astrid eventually looked away.
Outside the hall, a raven called, with another answering as they circled the settlement. Their eyes took in all that was happening as their great wings beat a slow tune in the air.
Chapter Twenty
“Your next test is near.” Erik winced as the words slid through his head. He looked at the grey man who stood 10 paces away.
“I don't wish any more tests,” Erik said. “I don't wish to butcher anybody else or rape another woman, or murder another child.”
“You agreed to the contract.” The edged words cut into Erik's brain.
“I want to end it.”
As the first peal of laughter gouged into Erik's mind, he recoiled from the memory of the agony it brought. “No, please.”
The laughter continued, driving Erik to his knees, with his hands pressed firmly to his ears in a vain attempt to block out the sound.
Erik looked downward, gasping in horror when the ground opened beneath him. He saw layer upon layer of soil, with living things of all sizes crawling through it, and then rock, compressed by time. Erik descended, down and down until he saw something staring up at him. He tried to recoil, but the rock closed around, holding him firm and all the time the laughter sliced into his mind.
When the laughter ended, the silence was worse. It was not the quiet of peace but the nothingness of the abyss. A dark silence of hopelessness pressed Erik.
Two eyes glared at him; red and hot, they promised unspeakable evil. He tried to run, but could not. He tried to fight, but could not. The eyes stared, unblinking, until the name burst into Erik's mind.
Cu-saeng. Cu-saeng.
The name meant nothing.
The pit closed up, inch by inch and Erik was back on the surface, lying face down on the soil. Around him, grey granite slopes reached to an unsettled sky where a fidgety wind played with dark clouds.
“Get ready.” The words replaced the silence.
Erik crawled to his feet, shaking from his experience. The grey man stood 10 paces away, watching with eyes the same tint of red as the thing underground, but eyes that gradually changed to a matt black.
Cu-saeng.
“What is Cu-saeng?” Erik asked.
He was not surprised that there was no reply.
“Get ready for your next challenge.”
“I won't,” Erik said. He waited for the laughter. When he did not
