Cold, snow and hard rock- that is all we’ve known for the last few days. We entered the mountains, the five of us- my usual companions and Faelsian’s bastard son Middaeg. The first day or so passed by without incident, moving swiftly into the foothills before finally reaching the mountains by the end of the day. All the while Faelsian’s evil working is tickling behind my ear, urging me ever forward, no matter how much I desire to turn, even if just for the sake of spiting his will.

We’ve all of us heard tales of this land, of the wild men who wear nothing but paint and eat the flesh of other men, and worse things still. Yet that first night as we camp, Middaeg seems to have no fear, and I can’t help but wonder if he plans to take us into an ambush of some kind. I cannot trust a man who has been so long at Faelsian’s heel, no matter how reasonable he may pretend to be. So as the others chatter with him, I go to be on my own and manage to trap a rabbit to add a little variety to our diet. I’m glad to have Gwynaeth’s company for that little task, although we said little to one another as we worked. It is good and wholesome to be working- I’ve missed it. This is what I was born for, although I regret that Hengist had never taken me into the mountains that I may know my way around more easily.

The next night as we camped, I just had that itch that told me someone was watching us, and after alerting the others, I decided it was best to go and look around. Gwynaeth joined me yet again. After looking about for a short while, we found the place where our watcher had been seated only minutes before. We decided to continue looking, and soon found a body of a youth that seemed to have been slain by some wild beast, most likely a wolf or wild dog. After we were sure that whoever had been watching us was long gone, I declared that I wished to bury the body, and took it back to camp. Middaeg knew not how they treated their dead besides eating them- something that I will not be doing, although I can imagine Faelsian and his brood enjoying it- so I determined to build him a cairn. With Gwynaeth’s help, we managed to do it in short order and we bedded down for sleep, although I agreed to take the first watch. It shall forever be my shame that I fell asleep quickly- thankfully we were not attacked.

The next night as we camped I could again sense something about, mostly because the mules were so skittish. Before I could even evaluate what or where it was, a huge beast leaped from the darkness, it’s huge clawed paw striking down across the flank of one of our precious mules. I tried to scare the beast away with the fire of my torch, as such things often shake wild animals, but it was to no avail- and much to my chagrin I had to dash back inside for my axe and shield. By the time I turned back, Gwynaeth had once more proven her mettle as a warrior of great merit, lopping off the very top of the beast’s head and neatly slaying it with no nonsense or wasted time. I feel that she is truly destined to be a hero of our age- and I am honored to be a part of her destiny.

Everyone had been struggling with the cold these last few days, despite the heavy clothing we had brought with us, and I thought it may be a good idea to skin the beast and use it to keep us warmer. Still, it reeked enough to make the mules skittish, and I should have guessed that the scent would carry to other beasts, or even the mate of the one we had slain. I suppose that I did, but I had hoped it would discourage it from attacking us rather than giving it a trail to follow. The next night we were attacked by another of the beasts, not that I witnessed this battle either- by the time I untangled myself from my blankets this giant lay at Gwynaeth’s feet once more, with her sword dripping again with blood.