山丨ㄒ匚卄

Sitting across from Anja always felt eerie in a sense, though Somnus had learned years ago to not listen to the whispers of his mind that told him to keep distance to the witch. Anja had her own rules and laws to the world. She was witness, judge and executioner. And these forests were her domain.

His title as King weighed little here.

And yet they had come to a truce, a kind of mutual respect. They would not meddle in each others lands. Instead join hands, if there was a foreign threat coming for either of them.

Today it was him, who had asked her for directions. The future seemed so uncertain. And all she had for him were these grim and dark words…

Somnus’ face remained stoic for a moment longer, before he heaved a deep breath.

“You leave me with little hope today, Anja…”, he looked back to her an almost bitter smile danced around the corner of his lips, “Is that what your runes have for me? All of it…? If that is true, I will have to ask you for more than a glance into the future…”

And yet he did not admonish her. Instead he followed - having to duck through the narrow doorframe of the witch's hut. He would have no issues to keep up with her. One of his strides easily equalling two of hers. But she spoke as if that was a fact.

The little ravens that always accompanied her were huddled together at the top of the roof, eyeing the scene suspiciously. Their usual loud banter and croaking completely silenced. Death was sure they'd follow after, hopping from branch to branch high above.

Though he followed, too. Silently and right behind the witch, like a dark giant looming shadow.

There had been a window of time where she thought Death might gently take her by her hand to end the suffering of her father's cruel nature. Instead she had been the one to place her father's hand into Death's when she decided she would no longer be the one who lived in fear.

Ever since, her life had been drastically broken and reshaped into what it was today. It had been the birth of an audacious woman who led Death along a path less travelled.

A rain check...?

He looked at her with a silently questioning look. Had he heard correctly? Had the witch just demanded him to came see her another day? As if he was a mere visitor to the little hut tucked away deep within the forest.

Tilting his chin ever so slightly, his eyes seemed to bore right through her. And yet there was no harsh glowering in them, like so often. This was a first. Oh, he had had his fair share of fools, who thought themselves above a 'meeting' with him. But none of them had ever been as disarming, as she was. Their arrogance had been their end. Though she had none of that.

It was... almost amusing.

"Witch... do you want to claim you have no time for me?"

Oh man. How hard could it be to get a room for a group to sleep in for a few nights? They were trustable! And had coin... a bit. Well, not that much anymore, actually. But it was getting too cold to sleep outside all nights. And wet. Enok usually enjoyed every kind of weather. But slowly the rain was beginning to wear down on him. And he knew, if he was miserable from teh weather, Ariadne for sure suffered harshly. Even though he had given her his coat already. She hate dthe cold... He would have done anything for a week in a nice room with a fireplace.

"So... either I have to make some coin or ask the next inn...", mumbling, Enok was so captivated in his thoughts, that he only registered the raven's presence, when it already landed on his shoulder.

The brief confusion made way for a laugh and grin, as Enok recognized him.

"Fara!", he exclaimed, immediately reaching up. The raven didn't even have to demand scritches, Enok gave them freely. The soft feathers at his neck fluffed through and then smoothed back into place again.

"Where have you been? What have you been up to?", he asked, as if the animal would answer him. And in a way it felt like it did. Fara spoke differently than humans. And Enok couldn't understand. Not really. But he felt what the raven felt. He was doing good. he was fine. Happy. Fed well. And undoubtedly had seen a lot of the world. Smiling, Enok raised his arm, so the raven could hop along it and sit right in front of his face, like a proper conversation-partner.

"Hope you saw the most breathtaking sunsets and heard the most interesting stories.", nodding to Fara's croaking, Enok smiled, ignoring whomever townfolks looked at him funny for talking to the raven.