To own the dead

The trip towards the smoke set Erik at ease at first, the peace was a welcome sound compared to what had been some very hectic days.
Kespin rattled on about the shadows and dragons, but no one really payed him any mind, while Dyvia tried to squeeze more information out of Tiella and keeping a careful eye on Erik. Luna carried on in silence, which had been the case for much of the trip.
Looking around, he suddenly became filled with a sense of dread as he realized a key element. The peace was total, no noise from the birds, the insects, it even seemed as if the wind had died.
Dead was a proper use for comparison, for soon the group became assailed with a foul breeze.
"Odins beard! What is making that God's awful stench!" Dyvia raised her arm to shield her senses as the group began to gag.
"I know this scent, it reminds me of a woman I once knew.....but that's not it." Kespin scratched his head as he coughed into the other.
They pushed on however, more curious as to what the source was than the smell itself. Even Erik's great height didn't give an advantage.
Then he felt it, a rush of familiar magic that hit him like a wave. Stumbling to his knees, he noticed the others had felt it too.
"THE MAGIC, THE DEATH MAGIC!" Kespin was crouched on the ground, his head in his hands as he screamed his dire warning.
This was the last peice that made Erik's blood run cold.
" We must leave, now!"
Dyvia took a deep breath from her dry heaving and shook her head," I agree, this is to much."
Tiella was helping Luna to her feet,who had the same look as Kespin.
"What is the cause of this??" Tiella looked to Erik, just as Balar ran through the brush.
" We have to move, NOW!"
Picking Kespin off the ground, Erik looked as Majvok and Jorrik joined them, adding more horrified looks to the group.
"I have seen the face of death!" Majvok mumbled this line absently, which made Balar shove him forward to move.
Tiella had enough," What is it?? It takes a lot to make you this concerned Balar."
Balsr looked grimly at his wife.
"The Valkyries have taken flight."
Then the group began to move away from the fire.