Sigurd's Saga, Part Two

• Posted by Jake Dassel August 4, 2012 - 716 views

  The cold mountain air went down like a knife in my throat, after centuries of stale, musty air in the crypt, the brisk east wind came as a painful bliss,  I lay there for hours, just breathing.  My mortal body, however, needed other nourishment, and I soon found my way down the mountain I had ascended in the first age.  I noticed that the old road was still intact, along with the markers Skorm and I had placed, so many years ago.  At the end of the trail I came across two hunters feasting on their morning's game, upon seeing me, one of them waved me over, "greetings traveler!" he said, "Don't see many folk come down that mountain these days, a strange air hangs around the place."  I merely nodded and told them I had gotten lost, I feared what would happen if I told them the truth.  "You look famished! help yourself!" the other exclaimed, "there's no need to starve when the woods are teeming with all manner of game!"  As we ate, the hunters laughed, and remarked that I ate more than than a Dragon in the springtime, that remark sent a chill down my spine, my appetite gone, I asked, "what makes you say that, have there been dragon's about?"   "Oh by the eight, no! they excaimed in unison, "They are certainly dead and gone forever!"  "By the eight?" I asked, puzzled, "there were nine divines, last I checked,"  "Have you not heard? Talos has been outlawed by the empire! in the pact they made with the elves? surely you've heard of the great war?"  The two hunters now looked uneasy, who could this strange man be, with no knowledge of the events around him?  I smiled, and said, "friends, I mean you no trouble, I have been out of the loop on recent events for many years, please, do not be alarmed."  They appeared satisfied with my excuse, and asked no more, we finished our meal, with them handing me a large pack, filled with cured meat, ale and a map of the villages and settlements.  "Friends," I exclaimed, "if we meet again I swear to repay you for the kindness you have shown me today, may your arrows strike true, and Kyne's blessing be upon you!"  We said our farewells, and headed in opposite directions,  as I examined  the map, I noticed that few of the old garrisons were in use, much less intact, it saddens me to see the hard labor of my forefathers fall into ruin, to be used as a hideout for thieves and murderers.  I decided to make my way to Darkwater, a small mining camp, it looked small, out of the way, and peaceful, the perfect place to get my bearings.