IP: 23.241.59.14
Posted on February 8, 2017 at 08:31:44 AM by GUNNR
I did not put my time to idle use. The horse I captured must be broken and be appointed for my needs and such things required the skill of others. The first was to break the creature of its bothersome habit of flame, but that was no true challenge. A leather-backed gauntlet proved proof against the heat, while a slap of the long rein against the nose provided the reason to cease. There were those that tried to complain, that reached for the long-rein, but a hand on my sword-hilt quieted them soon enough. This was not some princeling’s pleasure-mount. He was – would be – a war stallion and would be treated as such. Still, it would not do to underestimate their meddling and I barred his rented stall with my own lock. The key remained with me at all times, secure beneath leather armor. Let them try for it, I often thought. I would relish a fight with them, with anyone! No one worked for free, so without a lord I was forced into doing menial work for my few necessities. Hunting, weaving, even dragging Firetouched to do his share with hauling for one merchant or another. There was nothing glorious in this work and the few coins pocketed each night did nothing to improve my temper. But food was included, as was a room in the local inn, so I swallowed my loathing and kept working. At long last I had enough for a battle-ready saddle and bridle and could leave, but I found myself finding reasons to stay a day longer. To patch a house here, or drive off would-be vikings. I would be packed to leave, then see a problem… and another… and another. I didn’t know why until one day I heard people in the inn buzzing about a castle. That was what I had been waiting for. Word of a King and a castle, spoken in hushed tones that I could only catch snatches of. They stared when I leaned closer in to listen, however, so I signaled a wandering singer instead and relaxed back into my chair. The beer here was excellent, if nothing else. Singers knew history, even if their history was usually a garbled mess of events. More than that though they knew places even when those places weren’t open to all. It paid to be civil to bards, as I’d watched many kings forget. A man’s reputation, his life… ah, but here he was, and a gold coin rolled back and forth against the table had him talking soon enough. He spoke of a castle and a shield, couched in language so flowered I briefly considered snatching the gold back from him. Utter nonsense, but what could you expect from a singer? I got the name of a place to see this fabled castle and waved him away to return to my drink. When the innkeeper came back around I flicked another coin toward him and informed him I’d be leaving in the morning. The next dawn I retrieved my gear and set off. Firetouched was still half-trained for the saddle, but a few solid whacks sorted him out well enough. Today he reared as I mounted and as I fought for position I dug my heels to make him jump forward instead. A quick take off would be far more useful than his current behavior, but it was better than the wild bucking of days past. With a shrug I resettled my armor and gigged him toward the dock the singer had mentioned the night before. Go to the docks, he’d said, to the docks and then ask for the castle. Might give you some questions about why you’re there, but they’ll take anyone that asks beneath the water. I shook my head at that, as I had when he first told the story. A castle beneath the water? But here were the docks and not a single ship floated against the horizon. Instead they just.. appeared, always from behind an outcropping that prevented me from seeing exactly what was there. I snatched the reins in pure frustration and pushed the horse forward to stare at the man unloading the ship. No people in this one, just things. Empty food barrels. Trunks waiting to be filled. Nothing that didn’t scream “I had passengers and threw them overboard”. It took only a minute to barter for the price of one person and one horse to the castle. It no doubt helped that I was armed and my horse was restless enough to snort fire, but I still had to pay more than I had intended for my fare. A bitter sigh, an exchange of coins, and a ride… they bound me as well as any fate and we set sail as soon as was possible. It would be a short ride from one island to the other, I thought. It was anything but that. I clutched at the railing as the ship sank, whirling to glare at the captain. He was, I thought, no sailor if such a calm sea could sink him. The water reached greedily for us.. then stopped, repulsed by something I couldn’t see. It arched around and above us and it was all I could do to keep my jaw from dropping at this display of magic. A castle underwater no longer seemed like such a farfetched idea and I raced to the front of the ship, looking down on a world I’d never expected to see. It was not meant for men, nor such as I, and I intended to drink every drop of the view. Strange creatures floated about, distorted from the shield that surrounded us, and plants rioted in colors I’d never expected to see underwater. It was fascinating, but eventually fascination faded and I wished only to see the castle. If there was such a thing, anyway. My doubt was not to last long, as it exploded from the darkness we’d fallen into. Thoughts of Hel had entered my mind, I am not ashamed to admit, but the color that surrounded the castle convinced me I was not in the dull confines of Hel’s realm. It was an eternity of waiting to reach the magic surrounding it and when we breached it I didn’t hesitate before leaping from the ship. I dismissed it with a wave and jogged toward the castle, my mail catching the glow of a light that was not the sun. I was glowing, a shining beacon to call men to fight with me, but I had no gold to keep them. I needed a warlord and this.. this is where I would find one so I waited outside for the castle to waken and notice me. I was a challenge, but what would the response be? That thought caused me to smile. Today would be interesting. |
Replies:
- *you pull the trigger just for fun; - By TARQUiN July 2, 2017 at 08:38:46 AM
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