Lukewarm
After long ponderation the nine years old Kairn answered, "I want to be like a falling star, that burns brightly, incuting fear in the enemies and crushing them with the thunderous power of the heavens."
Dhurgal seemed surprised by the answer, "Do you mean that you will break free from any bond that will be bestowed upon you then?"
The kid moved nervously his feet, struggling to explain his intentions, "It's just the image that I see before me when I think of becoming a warrior, I didn't mean to be disrepectful father."
Dhurgal remained silent for such a long time that Kairn feared to have provoked his father's ire, he stood like a giant satue carved in stone, his facial features hidden in darkness,then, finally, he spoke, "We shall let the runes to decide, this will be very dangerous, are you ready to face the consequences?"
Kairn nodded with all his strenght.
Dhurgal tok a vase from under the spent ashes of the forge and made sign to Kairn to come near, "Now we are going to perform a ritual that will bind you to the power of the runes for all your life, if you really wish to not be bound by them but to still be able to know them trust your fate to draw the appropriate stone."
In saying this Dhurgal put the vase at the center of the forge, then, silently he poured inside an handful of ashes, after that he grabbed Kairn's hand and put it over the vase making a deep icision in the palm with a bone knife he took from his belt.
The kid didn't flinched when the blade cut his flesh, "Now", said his father, "repeat with me."
TIWAZ
URUZ
GEBOR
PERTHRO
TIWAZ
After reciting this incantation Dhurgal said to Kairn, "Rub your hands in the ashes until the blood flows no more."
The kid did as he was told then waited for his father next order.
Dhurgal took the vase from the forge and firmly holding it in front of Kairn said, "Draw a stone."
Without esitation the kid dug his hand in the vase and quickly retracted it grasping a polished green stone with a red symbol on it.
"Show it to me", intimated his father, and so the kid did opening his palm.
The expression on Durghal's face didn't change but long lines furrowed his brow while he was observing the stone.
"This is the rune of chance and luck, seems that your wish has been granted, all bonds will be tenuous as air to you", there was a hint of sadness in Kairn's father voice saying this,"but you will be subjected to the ebb and flow of fate, never knowing if your choices are really your own or were decided by the neverending motion of life tumultuous waves and the powers that control them."
The kid looked at his father clearly non understanding what he was saying, Dhurgal put his hand on the head of the boy in a rare display of affection,"Don't worry my son, no man is really the master of his destiny, but as long that he has strength and courage even the gods will aknowledge him."
Kairn smiled at these words conforted from the warmth of that big calluous hand.
The Kairn that was now a pariah and abandoned all behind himself moved uncomfortably inside his bear fur, sleeping the uneasy sleep of the hour that precedes dawn and continued to dream.
"My son, now that the rites are completed and you have been iniatiated to the porwer of the runes I will reveal to you the rune that has power over us as blacksmiths and the connection that runes have with our craft."
The kid solemny nodded with a serious expression ready to receive that secret knowledge.
His father continued,"here it's the rune that represent the ancient hero Thyer, who stole the power of lighting and thunder from Ymir's forge and donated it to Ku'l-Kulh-hain, father of all Cimmerians, this is why there is enmity between us and the Vanir.", in saying so he showed a red rock with a black T shaped mark that resembled a forging hammer.
"Kairn, you should know that Shamans call the runes the language of the trees, and metal is hidden and nourished by the earth as the roots of trees are, and as them it grows and branches when cooling after melting, and as them it creates seeds that will give origin to other metal.", in saying so Dhurgal kneelend on the ground near the trace left by the molten flow of the impurities poured out from the forge through an apposite opening at the base of the forge, Kairn observed his father as that callous hand raised from the ground holding a fistful of dirt, "lool Kairn, look" esortated by his father Kairn got closer, then he could notice little irregular shining spheres in the dirt, smiling he looked up to his father that was smiling back, a very rare sight, "These are the seeds of steel", said Dhurgal in a soft voice, "when put in the molten slag they will accrue and grow."
Kairn now was awake, his gaze fixed intently the rune in the entrance of the cave while memories of his childhood slowly faded away, that was a rune of ward, strangely modified tho, probably what Valdyr did the night before was some sort of shamanic ritual, Kairn wondered when and where he learned it.
Suddenly he turned his head just in time to get a glimpse of Valdyr diverting his eyes and exiting the cavern, it was well after dawn and Kairn raised from his resting place and followed the others out, greeted by the pale Northern sun.
Shamir was seated by the bed of his master, three days had passed from that fateful night and the mage was still unconscious, the apprentice was frightened remembering what he saw and heard, or what he thought to have seen and heard at least, in that crimson haze inside the circle, how he helped Mordek to get up and reach his bed, the terrible stare in his eyes, and the expression disfiguring his face.
Worse, he was in fear of the king, twice already he sent away with an excuse the guards that had come to their quarters asking for a response, and now he was lost unsure on what to do next, then a coarse voice called his name startling him, the mage was finally awaken.
Mordek slowly passed his hand on his face, as still unsure if he was sleeping or not, slowly he turned his eyes towards the apprentice, his facial features resemled the ones of a toad, swollen, with deep dark circles under the eyes, "I am back," he said in a whisper, "Yes, I am back" said now with more convinction "back from where no one has come back before", now he was looking straight in the eyes of shamir that looked horrified at the sight, "I have come back from .. the Abyss...yes, yes, I did.", there was triumph now in his voice.
"Bring me that bottle of black wine from Ophir.", the apprentice immediantely raised up, "Yes master.", and in saying so he left the room.
Mordek shivered in his bed as memories flickered behind his closed eyes, the inesorable figure chasing him up the slope, the lights of the nine sisters going off one by one, and then the brink of the precipice and the fall, no he didnt want toremember the fall, what he had passed through and the bottomless pit that swallowed him.
But now he was in his bed, unreal as it felt to him, shamir returned with the bottle and he eagerly grabbeb it taking a big gulp from it, a wicked smile of satisfaction appeared afterwards on his face, yes, the wine was helping, but he needed something more, his eyes onbserved intently the apprentice, "What do you think?". Shamir seemed uncertain, "About what master?", Mordek grinned, "About what you saw and heard, very few had the privilege to give succh a deep look into the Abyss, as a pursuer of magic you should be thankful for such a rare opportunity."the kid didn't seem very thrilled to be honest, "Go, leave me alone now." said the mage dismissing the apprentice without awaiting for an answer.
When alone Mordek took another long sip from the bottle, pondering that was about time to complete shamir 'apprenticeship'.
It was dusk when Kairn and his companions finally reached their destination, for all day the excitement and anticipation had grown with eaxh step and now they couldn't restrain themselves anymore, crass jokes and insults flied as well as burst of laughter, an now they practically howled in seeing the frame of the tavern in front of them, "Come out Antoninus, filthy Aquilonian renegade, your best customers are here." they shout.
"Finally I will see my Gertrude", said Unnarr, at this word the door of the tavern opened and the fattest woman Kairn has ever seen appeared, Cimmerian women usually were lean and strong as their men of which shared the hardships, "Look what we have here, a band of lonely pups begging for food and affection.", in saying this the woman advanced towards them waying her hips, an astounding feat considering her mass, she was clearly an Aesir with two long blonde braids, Unnarr exploded in a loud laughter, "Yes sweetcheecks, I am in desperate need of your affection.", in saying so he encircled her with his arms firmly grabbing her buttocks and squeezing them, she acted all offended, feigning a modesty that she clearly didn't have, "Behave like a gentleman, you rude bear.", Unnarr let her go, "Sorry honey, is just the happiness to see you again.","Sure, sure, 'happiness' he calls it, by the way don't stay here in the cold, the other girls and I will prepare a warm bath for you all, follow me.", in saying so she headed back to the tavern with Unnarr closely after her, the others followed.
Kairn joined the others inside the big wooden tub that occupied a large room on the right side of the tavern, in doing so he had to overcome his reluctance to let go of his weapons, besides he wasn't used to warmth baths, he still preferred the cold clear streams coming down from the mountains, while the others were enjoying themselves throwing water at each other and mocking each other's manhood Kairn's diffident nature made him took place in a corner where he could have in sight the whole room and his companions as well, so he noticed that while all of them sported the scars of many battles two of them were an exception even if for different resons, Valdyr's body showed the most terrible scars, clearly procured by torture and others that only a slave could have, Kairn quickly turned off his gaze, afraid of offending him, the other was Ulfir, his body didn't show any visible sign of wounds of any kind, quite strange considering that he was obviously a seasoned warrior, Kairn wondered briefly how that was possible before returning to meticulously cleaning himself with one of the rags that the girls brought into the room.
After the bath they all wore wool tunics and clean underwear offered by the owner of the tavern while their clothes were washed and the furs cleaned with soap and ashes in the lavatory, Kairn, as the others, secured the belt with his weapons at his waist and took place at a long table in the front room of the tavern where a big fire was lit, over it a pork was roasting.
The dinner was rowdy but with little talk with them all too busy eating a real meal after so long and drinking beer, now, near the end they all began to eye the girls which services obviously didn't end with meals and baths, Unnarr winked to Kairn that was seated in front of him, "You can't say you have been with a woman until you sleep with a fat woman, there there is enough for the two of us",he said nodding towards Gertrude,"what do you say?".
"You don't know what a real woman is." said Ulfir chewing the last bite of his meal, "Like you have any idea considering that you only love blood.", mused Ramiras, "With 'your' tastes you'll better shut up." retorted the Vanir.
"Enough", said with a cool voice Valdyr, "remember that we are among friends here there is no reason to fight.", he didn't look directly at them but his commanding tone clearly sorted its effect.
The others meanwhile were busy discussing about which girl they would chose, Kairn had already noticed that other than Gertrude where was three younger girls , Aesir and Vanir, and two older women, one from the Borderlands and a Brythunian, he also noticed that the wife of the owner had set his gaze upon him, she was a mature beauty with a streack of gray in her hair, noticing that Ramiras leaned towards him whispering, "Seems that you catched her interest, she likes to 'service' the customers from time to time if they strike her fancy" Kairn turned towards the Zingarian, not very pleased at that show of comeraderie, Ramiras continued,"you are lucky, this time is your turn, Antoninus doesn't mind, so don't hesitate."
A boy and a girl came out of the kitchen and began to clean the table,the girl was probably seventeen years old with two long braids of black hair, Valdyr looking at her stiffened, the girl noticing his look stopped what she was doing and asked in auncertain Aesir, "Do you want to sleep with me tonight sir?", her attitude was meek almost as of resignation, was then that Kairn noticed the marks of shackles on her wrists and neck, a slave, Antoninus came quicly at their table, he was heavily sweating, "Don't be silly Nora I have told you to stay in the kitchen and not disturb our customers.", he grabbeb he by the elbow and directed her towards the back of the tavern, "Sorry guys she is new and has not learnt well what her duties are so...", "Antoninus.", Valdyr voice was cold and sharp as a blade, his eyes spoke of a terrible rage.
The owner turned towards him visibly pale, drops of cold sweat rolling down his cheecks,"Vaaldyr, don't misunderstand...", at this words the warrior raised up in all his height, "You know how it is, I needed help and...", Valdyr was walking towards him and the girl, every step tense and heavy,"Look, it was for her own good, if I hadn't bought her w-w-would hav-v-ve been worse and...", Antoninus stuttered and then stopped talking, now Valdyr was in front of him, for long instants he looked him in the eyes then turned towards the girl, their gaze met and many unspoken words were said between them in those few seconds, at this point Valdyr's back impercettibly relaxed, "The girl comes with me.", he said heading towards the bedrooms upstairs, she immediately followed him, Antoninus couldn't hold back a sonorous sigh of relief when they disappeared from sight.
"I will go to bed too", said Ulfir rising up, "alone.", and then left.
The boy ended cleaning the table and seated near Kairn, "You look younger than me", the Cimmerian looked at him coldly, he was rarely in the mood for chit-chat, and he disliked the boy, he looked 'soft', something that Kairn despised, then he relized something else, the boy had a smell similar to the girls in the tavern, perfume he realized, "Would you like to sleep with me tonight?", asked the boy giving a furtive glance to Ramiras, visibly afraid of him, this completely surprised Kairn that didn't know what to answer, "Hey, Kairn", Unnarr attracted his attention, "the others had already chose", he said indicating the lively group going upstairs, "so, ready for Gertrude?", here the Aesir winked again.
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A)Go to bed alone.
B)
Bring the boy with you, he will sleep in a corner, this will piss off Ramiras but who cares.
C)Bring the boy with you, he will 'sleep' in your bed, in this case Ramiras can even forgive you.
D)Go with Unnarr and Gertrude, an unforgettable experience awaits you.
E)Antoninus'wife is very attractive and very experienced.