Odin was ultimately soothed by this establishment, with its lowered lights and dark scents. It was a place for animals, and he was closer to being an animal than he would ever be to being human.
He knew the ale was good even before he took his first swig, simply by observing the subtle, satisfied expression on Josen’s face. He was inclined to agree with the mercenary to the fullest extent; his initial experimental taste was immediately followed by a heartier swallow.
They sat in an unpleasant piece of silence before Josen asked a question that Odin wasn’t surprised by.
“Maybe you could tell me more about this castle to which we are going: where it is, what the journey there will be like and what dangers we'll face once we're inside."
The shifter gave himself a moment to ready the long-winded answer that was the only reasonable reply. He thought of the cryptic way he’s spoken first of the castle and what existed there, and gave an inner snort of self-satisfaction. He remembered his younger days, when his elders had fed him similar exaggerated stories about magical places. They had never bothered to tell him he had control of something just as powerful as any type of magic.
“Very well.” He thought about being patronizing, and asking something along the lines of, “What would you like to know?” But the message was clear, from Josen’s tone and the way his eyes held the shifter’s with no visible sign of intimidation. He wanted to know everything that Odin would tell him about the place, and probably much more that the shifter would not.
“It’s close to here…it is a place that my people call Alaak Shayenn, which means ‘Tree within Tree’, translated very roughly. It requires…skill…to find. It is a place that is hidden in many ways. The journey to the Entrance won’t be difficult, it’s the portion that lies thereafter that will require full use of the current resources of you and your friends.”
Odin paused for a swallow of ale, then continued in the same monotone as before. “I believe I described the dangers inside, but I hope that I didn’t make light of the fact that they are very real threats. Just because they exist on several levels doesn’t mean that this dangerous is unakin or any less serious than any other. It is very likely that not all of your comrades will make it through alive.” He thought of a certain individual that he already knew would not, and avoided Josen’s searching eyes for a moment until the thought passed.
“Although you didn’t specify, I’m sure you’re wondering how I know that answers involving your son are to be found in this place. Or why, if I know anything about him, I don’t tell you now. And, naturally, how I know anything about your situation in the first place.”
You must become closer to these humans…
“As you’ve probably already guessed, I do have certain…abilities. They’re very similar to what can be glimpsed in Tamy and Dase.”
That seemed somewhat sufficient, anyway.
“I also can…absorb, somewhat, if you will…the energies that are coming from the place I spoke of at this time. They are strong, and cannot conceal what they’re hiding in all of its entirety. But although I have a vague idea of what we’ll find there, it’s nothing specific. In short, I know it’s there, but I don’t know what it is.”
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