[color=RoyalBlue][h3]Hammerstone - Broken Hammer Clan[/h3][/color]

The journey from the Hammerstone to The Twins along the Rauða River in the summer was a peaceful one and Asger had enjoyed it throughly. The days were long, lit by the sun for the full cycle, and warm, melting much of the towering peaks so that the river ran strong and fast. Here, only a kilometre from The Twins, the river was wide and ran with a noticeable ripple that concealed the jagged rocks below. 

The landscape was impressive here, the great peaks had pushed away from the river bank leaving a wide strip of lush grassland on either side that spread to the treeline. The last of the "Hardboxes" was falling away behind them now. Built as resting places for travellers when night fell, these heavily reinforced stone structures built out over the river provided protection from the Pale-men for those seeking to make the long journey from Sea to Sky. Each was provisioned with frozen food and firewood, enough to last a few days at any rate. No one made the journey in the Dead Month when the sun vanished completely from the sky for thirty full day cycles. That was when anyone with an ounce of sense stayed home.

They were sweeping around the final bend now, the river was gentle enough during the majority of the year that you could sail or row the entire length between Hammerstone and The Twins. Here the valley grew even wider, so wide that it would take a full day to cross from one side to the other. In the middle, straddling a narrow point of the river, towered two huge stone pillars, joined high above the water by a bridge built in forgotten ages past.

The Twins. The Ancient Ones fortress, repurposed by the Jotunn, was the furthest north settlement of any note in the Broken Hammer territory. The two pillars of solid granite reared hundreds of feet into the air and the Ancient Ones had carved tunnels, galleries, high windows far above the ground, evidence that perhaps they too had fought with the Pale-ones. The lower hundred feet of towers had been carved completely smooth by some skill the Broken Hammer no longer possessed, so smooth that no Pale-one could find purchase on the surface to climb upwards. Entry to the fortress was accomplished by way of a pair of wooden elevators worked from within the twin spires of stone. 

The Twin on the right, the Bloody Twin, so called for a red streak in the granite, had been partially hollowed out in the base with the only entrance facing the water. Visiting vessels could put into the harbour where they could spend the night in safety, their crews in the fire warmed halls above. All loading and unloading of vessels was done on a great stone pier that ran along the riverbank at the foot of the Bloody Twin. During the winter, when the rivers were frozen, the harbour and pier would be left to the Pale-ones. 

Asger could see a pair of local guardsman watching him from the Pier and he gave them a wave, which they returned with toothy smiles. Visitors were always welcome here for news was almost as valuable as food. The Ships Master shouted orders and the oarsmen backed their oars slightly as the Dragonship slid gracefully into a spot indicated by a female Jotunn. 

"Well met Asger!" She called out, red hair swirling about her blue skin as a cool wind whipped down the mountains in the distance.

"And merry meet to you Sabra!" He replied as he jumped ashore. His cargo on this trip was Blue Coke, a mineral found only at the bottom of the Fjords. It burned with a slightly bluish colour, generated an extraordinary amount of heat and was bright enough that the Pale-ones avoided it wherever possible. He would leave with his boat loaded down with the latest furs.

Asger remained, quietly watching as the cargo of Blue Coke was carefully unloaded and placed into the containers built specifically for hoisting into the fortress. He counted the loads, as he knew Sabra was, for he would receive twice their weight in furs when the time came to leave. 

One by one the carts were wheeled to the pace of the Bloody Twin and a crane swung out it's long arm, dropping a carved metal hook that was used to draw the precious cargo upward. It took the better part of the day for all of it to be stored within and Asger passed the time making small talk with Sabra and the others who came and went on the pier. 

When the last cart had been stowed away Asger and Sabra each took a stone chit with the number "14" carved in to it. She would give hers to the Stores Master above, and when Asger produced his matching one, he would get his payment. 

"Hospitality is given." Sabra stated as she nodded at The Twins and Asger glanced upward. He had nine full days of sunlight left and he wanted to get on his way but knew that his men had earned a rest. 

"It is accepted." He replied and his men grinned. 

They were separated into two groups and waited as the first elevator lowered from above. It was a sturdy thing, built of heavy wooden planks that could support six of the boats crew at a time. It was not terribly fast however with all the weight on it, and the whole thing creaked as they rose slowly into the air. At length it reached the ledge and Asger stepped off onto the first floor of the Bloody Twin. He and his men surrendered their weapons to the guard and passed through a heavy wooden door reinforced with steel bands to begin climbing the stairs. Already the smell of food and the sound of song reached down to them. It was a fine at The Twins.