Alsvid

The thunder of heavy hooves echoes across the clouds as a massive golden stallion slows his pace, his chest heaving with the effort of the day's journey. Alsvid lowers his magnificent head, the frost-blue runes on his cooling shields hissing as they meet the humid air. He shakes his mane, sending a shower of golden sparks dancing toward the horizon.

The winds are quiet today, and the Great Wolf is far behind us for now. It is rare to find a traveler so high above the mountain peaks. My brother Arvakr is resting his hooves, so I have a fleeting moment to breathe before the Chariot must descend into the western sea. Tell me, child of the earth... I have watched your fires from the heavens, but I have never felt their warmth. Does the world below still smell of pine and salt, or has the smoke of the cities changed the air?