Wymund
Chapter One: The Beginning
Eldgrimr trudged along the road that led up the hill. He was always several paces ahead. I remember him clearly, though we never got to spend much time together. He was very fair-skinned, hugely tall, heavyset, big-boned and big-muscled. He had a rough tunic and a pair of trousers, which he wore with a bearskin jerkin and waterproof sealskin shoes. The grey streaks in his red hair and beard were as smoke to the flaming mask they made, and all you could see were his watery, blue eyes. He held his massive battle-axe in one hand, (strictly speaking, it was a two handed battle-axe, but his bulging biceps took the weight with ease) a sword was in his belt, and a shield strapped over his back. He was a berserker, one of the crazed shock-troops from Norsca, had a strong accent and the habit of using strange expressions such as "If I don't fight soon, my blood will dry up."
It was the shield on his back that I stared at, as even with his clear ageing, he was faster than my short legs could manage. Hanging back with me was a sister of the Shallyan order. Magdalyn was her name. I don't remember her so well at that time in my life, those many seasons ago, even though she was such a presence in my life. Maybe she wasn't so striking. She was short and slim and wore her blond hair short, and had, I think, brown eyes. She carried no weapon but a stout walking staff, and wore the long white robes of her religion. She wore a golden teardrop-shaped pendant. I had only twelve summers at the time, and my legs were tiring, so she guided me along.
I myself was twelve, and short. I wore my hair not too long, and I was garbed in cheap but decent clothes, well, they were decent when I got them. They were ripped and filthy, but I didn't mind. Six years of living on the streets had made me not mind. I had no shoes or gloves on against the Brauzeit chill. You might not think it now, to look at me, but I was living off the Shallyan temple's charity at the time, and nobody donated shoes or gloves. They were too expensive not to get as much use as possible out of. At least we were walking on dirt and not irregular, hard cobbles. Anyway, I had a long dagger by my side - as good as a short sword for me - and a few worthless trinkets in my pouch. At the time, that was all I had to my name.
A motley crew we were and always had been. Magdalyn had taken me, her favourite orphan, under her personal care. She had been kicked out of the Shallyan Temple for something - I didn't know what, but I thought that it must have been bad, for she said it was lucky that she was still allowed to be part of the Church - and took me with her when she wandered the country as a friar. Eldgrimr had been wandering round the Empire for weeks, and met us in a tavern back in a small village. I can't remember why he wanted to join us, on account of the ale I had drunk. It had good ale there, I recall. I think I've worked it out since though. He was constantly reminiscing about his wife and son, who he'd not been able to protect against a Beastman attack. I think we reminded him of them.
"If I ton't fight soon, my blut vill trrry up," said Eldgrimr to nobody in particular.
"You'll get to," said Magdalyn, rolling her eyes. "Adventurers wanted, said the sign."
Adventurers, that's what they called us. The cheaply available vagabonds working as fighters and odd-job-men that were probably running from conviction in another town. We'd been variously employed as gong scrapers, hired muscle, scouts, and charged with clearing out a nest of rats. What a day that was.
We reached the crest of the hill and could see down into the little village. It was a cheerful-looking place, with well-tilled soil even in this winter. People, both townspeople and wanderers, were filing into the town hall and chattering. We relaxed slightly as we made our way down the hill. The last few people moved into the town hall, apart from a lanky person who was rushing quickly but gracefully towards the town hall as if late. Seeing the line end and the man dash, we decided we were late and started to run. As we approached, some very strange things happened.
There was a bright flash, then a shockwave of hot air which concussed us and blew us all several yards backwards to land upon our backs, and then, a loud roar. I passed out. That is all I remember.
Chapter One: The Beginning
Eldgrimr trudged along the road that led up the hill. He was always several paces ahead. I remember him clearly, though we never got to spend much time together. He was very fair-skinned, hugely tall, heavyset, big-boned and big-muscled. He had a rough tunic and a pair of trousers, which he wore with a bearskin jerkin and waterproof sealskin shoes. The grey streaks in his red hair and beard were as smoke to the flaming mask they made, and all you could see were his watery, blue eyes. He held his massive battle-axe in one hand, (strictly speaking, it was a two handed battle-axe, but his bulging biceps took the weight with ease) a sword was in his belt, and a shield strapped over his back. He was a berserker, one of the crazed shock-troops from Norsca, had a strong accent and the habit of using strange expressions such as "If I don't fight soon, my blood will dry up."
It was the shield on his back that I stared at, as even with his clear ageing, he was faster than my short legs could manage. Hanging back with me was a sister of the Shallyan order. Magdalyn was her name. I don't remember her so well at that time in my life, those many seasons ago, even though she was such a presence in my life. Maybe she wasn't so striking. She was short and slim and wore her blond hair short, and had, I think, brown eyes. She carried no weapon but a stout walking staff, and wore the long white robes of her religion. She wore a golden teardrop-shaped pendant. I had only twelve summers at the time, and my legs were tiring, so she guided me along.
I myself was twelve, and short. I wore my hair not too long, and I was garbed in cheap but decent clothes, well, they were decent when I got them. They were ripped and filthy, but I didn't mind. Six years of living on the streets had made me not mind. I had no shoes or gloves on against the Brauzeit chill. You might not think it now, to look at me, but I was living off the Shallyan temple's charity at the time, and nobody donated shoes or gloves. They were too expensive not to get as much use as possible out of. At least we were walking on dirt and not irregular, hard cobbles. Anyway, I had a long dagger by my side - as good as a short sword for me - and a few worthless trinkets in my pouch. At the time, that was all I had to my name.
A motley crew we were and always had been. Magdalyn had taken me, her favourite orphan, under her personal care. She had been kicked out of the Shallyan Temple for something - I didn't know what, but I thought that it must have been bad, for she said it was lucky that she was still allowed to be part of the Church - and took me with her when she wandered the country as a friar. Eldgrimr had been wandering round the Empire for weeks, and met us in a tavern back in a small village. I can't remember why he wanted to join us, on account of the ale I had drunk. It had good ale there, I recall. I think I've worked it out since though. He was constantly reminiscing about his wife and son, who he'd not been able to protect against a Beastman attack. I think we reminded him of them.
"If I ton't fight soon, my blut vill trrry up," said Eldgrimr to nobody in particular.
"You'll get to," said Magdalyn, rolling her eyes. "Adventurers wanted, said the sign."
Adventurers, that's what they called us. The cheaply available vagabonds working as fighters and odd-job-men that were probably running from conviction in another town. We'd been variously employed as gong scrapers, hired muscle, scouts, and charged with clearing out a nest of rats. What a day that was.
We reached the crest of the hill and could see down into the little village. It was a cheerful-looking place, with well-tilled soil even in this winter. People, both townspeople and wanderers, were filing into the town hall and chattering. We relaxed slightly as we made our way down the hill. The last few people moved into the town hall, apart from a lanky person who was rushing quickly but gracefully towards the town hall as if late. Seeing the line end and the man dash, we decided we were late and started to run. As we approached, some very strange things happened.
There was a bright flash, then a shockwave of hot air which concussed us and blew us all several yards backwards to land upon our backs, and then, a loud roar. I passed out. That is all I remember.
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