<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(235, 107, 86)">Sabina heard Will stirring beside her, waking her from a deep, dreamless sleep. She listened to him quietly shuffle out of the tent and take his bag with him before she turned on her back, stretching out her arms and legs in an X formation. She'd slept soundly, last night. If she were honest with herself, she'd slept better than she had in a year, despite the disturbing events of the evening before. The girl shook her head, refusing to go down that path right now. Instead, she dressed for the day and rolled up her bedding before climbing out of the tent. Finally standing upright, she finished her morning chores before heading down to the fire for breakfast.<br/>
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She ate the porridge without a second thought, hearing catcalls and cheers in the distance. She turned her head to find the reason for the change in atmosphere and chortled when she saw Lia putting on a show for the men. She returned to her breakfast, again losing herself in thought, this time considering the events from the night before, focusing on the language she'd heard Red and the woman utter. She'd picked up on a few words that sounded similar to some of the north-western dialects of the Empire's Common Tongue. If the words were the same, then the journey before them was much more dangerous than she'd realized.<br/>
<br/>
A chill settled around Sabina's shoulders, and she tugged her cloak tighter around her. Standing with the remnants of her large bowl of porridge, she headed over to the giant. She had seen a glimpse of him finishing her stew and bread the previous night, so she would offer the last of her breakfast as well. Just as she had the night before, she placed the bowl down beside him, but this time, she looked into his large eyes, refusing to let nerves overtake her. <br/>
<br/>
"Please eat the rest of the porridge, if you are hungry," she spoke in a clear voice. Her mind flitted to the scars that had glittered in the moonlight, but they were covered once again. "Thank you, Red, for what you did last night." She offered him a shy smile and turned to ready herself for the journey.<br/>
<br/>
As she rode in position, the air was tinged with an ominous gloom, so different from the cautious excitement of the previous morning. Losing a comrade in arms had to be difficult for the soldiers. In silence, she again let her mind drift to the old woman's words and Red's response. She removed a small parchment and pencil from her pack, placing the parchment on the pummel of the saddle and jotting down the four words that were familiar. <br/>
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<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'"><i><span style="font-size: 18px">Odin</span></i></span><br/>
<span style="font-size: 18px"><i><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'">Valfader</span><br/>
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'">Helgrind</span></i></span><br/>
<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua'"><i><span style="font-size: 18px">gjallarbrui</span></i></span><br/>
<br/>
If memory served her well, then she didn't need to understand the rest of the old woman's words to know that this journey was going to be more than a struggle of mortals against nature. Perhaps, they were going to struggle against powers much larger than they had anticipated. She was grateful, indeed, for Red because if they were to face a foe of gigantic proportions, then they would need a giant of their own to face it.<br/>
<br/>
Suddenly, a cry broke into her reverie, and Sabina pulled on the reigns, whispering, "Állj meg, kedves barátom" to her steed. She watched as their leader broke from the rank and galloped ahead, and then she watched as a soldier retrieved Will and escorted him to the front. Dread tingled down her spine when she saw soldiers gather a bundle and dig into the earth beside the path, burying their burden. She sent a prayer to the heavens, and then spurred her mount when the others began to move. Soon after, Lia pulled back near her and Red and began speaking to the giant, slapping her body to punctuate her words.<br/>
<br/>
<b>"How's that for sign language?"</b> she asked Sabina with a wink, and the linguist smirked, her eyes twinkling with mirth.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, let's just say it is good that you also spoke your question or he might get the idea you want him to toss you over his shoulder and spank your bottom," she replied, continuing, "and as much as playful spanking can be fun, I doubt Red's are gentle." <br/>
<br/>
With a wave and a wish for luck, she clicked her tongue and tapped her horse with her heels, moving to catch up with the others.</span>