Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 18)

The storyteller looked up at that. "Oh?" He looked toward the other man. "Is that so?"
"She could have heard that from anywhere," the man said stiffly. "We're both fairly well known."
"But to a Southerner?" The storyteller set down his pencil. "We've not ever been South. No Drummer has."

Jerica looked between them. “That’s you two, then?”

"It is," the storyteller said before the other could answer. "My name is Speaker. That's Stur there; he's the head of our order."

“Oh… Jerica Ainsley.” She offered him a hand to shake.

"Pleasure to meet you." Speaker shook her hand firmly. "Liar or not. How are we to help, then?"
"If we're to help," Stur said with a frown. "Which I have not yet decided."

Jerica pulled her hand away and frowned at them both, offended. “I’m not lying.”

"But again, can you prove it?" Stur asked. "What was this spokesman you mentioned?"

“They came from Strithr to me,” she said. “They said I’m to enlist your help in preparing the hearts of the people to be ready for the re-ascension of the gods. They will wake during the long night. The people must be ready before then.”

Speaker shuddered again and gripped Stur's shoulder tightly, whispering something to him in rapid Nortung. Stur nodded quietly, maintaining eye contact with Jerica. Then he set down his drum.
"I believe you should accompany us back to our halls," he told her. "We may be able to assist further from there."

“…where is that?” She asked.

"Several leagues the west, in Yrdnul. It would be a bit of a trek."

“Oh… okay.” She nodded. “I’ll have to talk to Them first but I think that’s what They wanted, eventually. When are you going back?”

"Two days from now," Speaker replied.

“Oh… that’s… soon…”

"It is," he agreed. "We could post--"
"We will leave in two days," Stur said firmly. "If you wish to join us then you will join us. If not, you're on your own."