Gautiir glanced at the other who remained in the tent.  He leaned close and spoke softly, not wishing people to overhear words of dark things.<br/><br/>"The old women speak of tales of long ago, and of things not so long ago.  The draugar are the dead who walk.  they feed on the living, cursed to never rest.  It is said that they are moved by the spirits that have not been given to Hela or to Frejya, those doomed forever to wander the earth feeding on the living to keep their bodies from falling to pieces."  One or two of the travelers near them nodded, and one ran his fingers over the heavy leaden amulet of the Thunder God.<br/><br/>Outside, the horses were slowly, carefulyl rounded up.  Signy caught the reins of the warhorse, who tossed his head tiredly, but did not try to escape.  Goti stopped walking, and hung his head, as though weary and hopeless.  The other horses were easily caught as well, which told of how long they were traveling.  Flecks of foam showed on many of their mouths, and one collapsed onto it's side, chest heaving as it's eyes rolled.  Goti, however, nickered softly, and swung his head to look at the young soothsayer.<br/><br/>Sabine and Rydis could see the capture of the lost horses, and heard soft gasps of horror, and at least one mother crying out at her children and forcing them away.  The horse was brought around, presumably to be led to a healer or husbandmen, and they could see the long, slender cashes of black along it's rump, the marks of claws that had grasped, but not caught.  The wounds were deep and festering with dark ichor,<br/><br/>Adisa would have recognized the deep wounds and terrible fear int he animals easily - she had seen them before, seen what had caused them.  And, if the words of the denizens of the Holdt were to be believed, Rurik's people would be fleeing next.<br/><br/>Soon, word was being whispered of the terrible fate that must have befallen those who lived in the town these sad, troubled refugee beasts had come from.  And almost as if to answer the whispers, a bell was being rung in the Great Hall, a call to all who were strong of body and stout of heart, who did and did not live in the Holdt.  A gong that spoke of the Lord of the Holdt wishing to speak to one and all who could bear arms or speak wisdom.<br/><br/>Lord Rurik was demanding a council of war.