HEIM OF GODS

The moon cast its silvery glow over the sleeping city, casting long shadows across the streets and homes. The air was crisp and cool, carrying the scent of blooming wildflowers and the distant tang of salt from the ocean. In a small, cozy house on the outskirts of the city, a young man named kael lay tossing and turning in his bed. His dreams were filled with vivid images of a woman, her long hair flowing behind her like a river of gold. She was calling out to him, her voice a desperate whisper that seemed to come from all around him. Kael sat up with a start, his heart racing and his sheets drenched with sweat. He looked around his darkened room, trying to shake off the feeling of unease that lingered from his dream. The wind outside seemed to pick up, rustling the leaves of the trees and causing the shutters on his window to creak. He threw off his covers and got out of bed, padding over to the window to push it open. The window, a traditional Norse "gluggi" with intricate carvings of vines and leaves, swung open with a soft creak. Kael leaned out into the night air, feeling the cool breeze on his face and gazing out at the stars twinkling above. The galaxy stretched out before him like a canvas of diamonds on velvet, the constellations shining brightly in the clear night air. Kael felt a sense of wonder and awe wash over him as he gazed out at the stars. But his peace was short-lived. As he stood there, lost in the beauty of the night sky, he heard his name whispered on the wind. Now this time it wasn't a dream, he was much awake. "Kael..." The voice was soft and raspy, sending shivers down his spine. He spun around, trying to locate the source of the voice. But there was no one there. The room was empty, the only sound the creaking of the old wooden house and the distant hooting of an owl. Kael's heart was racing now, his senses on high alert. He felt like he was being watched, like unblinking eyes were trained on him from the shadows. Suddenly, he heard the sound of footsteps outside, light and stealthy. Kael's instincts told him to follow the sound, to see who or what was making it. He quickly pulled on some clothes and followed the sound down to the street. The street, known as "Gata" in the old Norse tongue, was narrow and winding, lined with tall wooden houses and overhanging eaves. Kael followed the sound of the footsteps down the street, his heart pounding in his chest. As he turned a corner, he saw a figure darting into the stable at the end of the street. The figure was dressed in a long, flowing cloak, and kael could have sworn that it was the woman from his dream. Without hesitation, kael followed the figure into the stable. The air inside was warm and musty, filled with the scent of hay and horseflesh. Kael's eyes adjusted slowly to the dim light, and he saw that the figure had disappeared. But then, he heard a sound that made his blood run cold. A horse was lying on the ground, its legs thrashing wildly as it let out a loud whinny. Kael rushed over to the horse, concern etched on his face. As he reached out to touch the horse's mane, he felt something sticky on his fingers. He looked down to see that the horse's coat was covered in a dark, tar-like substance. Kael's heart was racing now, his mind filled with a sense of foreboding. And then, the horse rose to its feet, its eyes glowing with an otherworldly light. Kael stumbled backward, tripping over his own feet as he desperately tried to get away from the horse. As he fell, he saw that the horse had grown a pair of twisted, curved horns, like those of a goat. Kael's mind was filled with a sense of horror and dread as he realized that this was no ordinary horse. He scrambled to his feet, turning to run from the stable as fast as he could. But as he reached the door, he felt a hand on his shoulder, spinning him around. It was the stablehand Thorold, a grizzled old man with a bushy beard and a twinkle in his eye. "Are you alright, lad?" he asked, his voice low and concerned. Kael tried to speak, but his voice caught in his throat. He gestured wildly towards the horse, trying to convey the horror of what he had just seen. Thorold followed his gaze, a look of confusion on his face. "What's wrong, lad?" he asked again. And then, kael saw that the horse was back to normal, its coat shining and healthy in the dim light of the stable. Kael: "I...I saw something. The horse...it was...it was..." Thorold: "What are you talking about, lad? The horse is fine. She's a bit skittish, but that's all." Kael: "No, no...I saw it. The horse...it grew horns. And its coat...it was covered in some kind of dark substance." Thorold: "Lad, you must have been dreaming. You're shaking like a leaf. Thorold: "drengr"? Kael: "No, I'm telling you...I saw it. And I heard a voice...whispering my name." Thorold: "A voice, you say? Lad, you've been having some strange dreams lately, haven't you? Maybe you should talk to the Völva Kaida about it. She's got some knowledge of the old ways you know...might be able to help you figure out what's going on." Kael: No! It's... It's not necessary, I'll be fine. Thorold: "Well, lad, you're safe now. Why don't you head on back to bed? I'll make sure the horses are secure for the night." Kael nodded, still feeling a bit shaken. He said goodnight to Thorold and headed back to his house.