As my body hit the ground with the blade still in my gut, I could feel my heart in my chest pounding. And hear it in my ears, was this indeed the end for me? Was it not enough to die like this but now I must suffer slowly as my mind began to slip away. What I thought would be the last thing is to see. Was my killer walking out? I noticed, however, that he had a marking on his neck that looked like that of a snake. I could stay awake no longer as I began to slip into darkness.
Well, boys, it looks like we are going to dine on meat tonight!
But how are we going to take all this back with us? We aren't enough to bring all those beasts with us.
Your right. The leader said
Basil, Ragnar, grab joluts and frins horses, ride back to camp and come back with a wagon.
But what about the bodies, the 2nd man said.
Leave no one going to care about some dead farmers.
The three men mounted back onto their horses; two of them grabbed the reigns of the dead men's horses. Time seemed to pass after they left slowly. The clouds slowly began to block out the sun. But those men were utter fools because they forgot a precise detail. If you're going to kill someone, you better make sure they are dead.
I slowly began to open my eyes. As I regained my thought, I could feel excruciating pain in my stomach. The dagger? The dagger was still in my gut. How is it that I was still alive? I tried to move. To get up, but it was of no use. I could feel the blade piercing and cutting more of me. With every move I made. So I was left with no other choice. I had to remove the knife. I grabbed the grip of the blade And slowly started to pull it out.
GAHHHHHHHHH!
As I pulled out the knife slowly. I felt a pain that I could only describe as hellish. Funny how a knife going out hurts more. Than a knife going in. I steeled my resolve as the blade was almost out of my body. Blood began to gush out from my wound. If I did nothing, I would bleed to death. I knew what I had to do. The only way to stop the bleed was to put back the very thing that was inside. In the first place, I struggled to get up using what time I had with the knife out. I grabbed onto the tree to stump to push myself up. Blood still pouring from my got. I don't know if I dare to put this back into my body. But as I turned around to see naillas corpse. The image of her throat being gashed open, Flooded me with enough rage at the world at reality and, most of all myself. As more tears began to drop down my face, I shoved that blade back into my gut. No one could deny the grief I was feeling. I was conflicted with the need to survive. And the want to lay down and join them in death out of my guilt and shame. But as I stood over their bodies. I resolved myself to one goal. I would not die not until their murder is food for the worms!
I made my way back into the house and grabbed the black blade from the table, unsheathing it. I made my way to the fire chimney in the center of our home and put the edge to the fire. I was still wrenching from the pain of the blade piercing my body. Finally, the tip of the sword began to glow with the golden flame. I had once cut my hand. It was small, And father used this method to stop the bleeding. Gods let this not be for nothing; I quickly removed the knife. I was holding in my screams; I lifted my bloodied tunic and pressed the blade to my wound.
The blade started to seal the wound while the smell of burning flesh filled the air. I could only take the pain for so long before casting the sword aside. I wanted to rest, but there was no time, for they would surely be back. So I walked outside limping back to nailla and father and fell to my knees.
I'm sorry, I'm sorry I was a coward. I promise you. Those men will pay, and I won't join you a moment sooner...
I turned to father
And I promise father that what they couldn't take from you in life, they won't take from you in death.
I could slowly walk. But still, I could walk. As the clouds moved in the sky, I let all the animals lose—the pigs, the cows, the chickens, all of them. I went into my room and got my traveling clothes, brown pants, and a grey shirt when I was done. These were the only things I owned. I went into my father's room and grabbed the small pouch of silver. He always kept around just in case. When I had everything I needed, I went into the back. There was only one creature I did not free, gale our only horse. Black as the night sky. A beautiful stallion. I dragged both of my family into the house. I wanted them to rest here at our home. Grabbing one of the firewood, I lit some spots in its warm embrace.
Soon the flames began to devour all the wood it could find, and the smell of ash wood started to fill the air. Then, walking over to gale and attaching our leather saddle, fastening the straps tightly but not too much to not discomfort her. I looked back at my home for the final time. It was already engulfed in the arms of the flames, creating a big cloud of smoke in the sky. when the air started to grow damp, and the tiny droplets of water came falling, I mounted my horse and rode south along the king's road.
I rode for days and nights, only stopping to eat and sleep. The silver my father had left behind was running out. I had thought a lot over the past sunrises and sunsets. About nailla, my family, and the days I took for granted, but if I was to avenge them, I would need to learn to fight. To wield a sword at least, and becoming a squire was not an option for me. I trained and practiced swinging my sword, but in the end tiss all, I was doing swinging a blade back and forth. One day when the clouds in the sky provided no shade and my body was exhausted from swinging around a metal stick. I had noticed something intriguing about the blade, a symbol engraved laying at the bottom of the grip. It looked like the shape of the tip of an arrow, with a bow right beneath it. Such a funny thing, my blade held so many different markings and engravings, and yet I could not understand a single one of them.
The day began to wane, and the map that I had retrieved from my father's room. Said the border between the north and the south would be coming up soon. I remember a town being there when we had gone to sell crops. By the time the sun had begun to set, I had arrived in the small town. There seemed to be only a single tavern/inn in the whole area, so I tied gale to a post and entered with caution.
When I went in, the tavern was filled with different types of strangers, some drunk on ale telling their own tales and stories, while others remained silent and still. Finally, I went to the far end of the tavern to speak with the maiden at the back behind the bar, assuming she was the owner.
Excuse me, do you have a room for rent? I asked
We do, but someone else is using it. We have some horse pens in the back. If you don't mind sleeping there, it's yours.
That's fine. I have a horse with me anyway. Best to stick close to her. That way, no one can take her.
She smiled as it seemed she was joyful that I was not a man of arrogant pride that would curse at her for such low hospitality and complain. when her eyes turned from me to slightly to my left
That's a fine blade you have there. Where did you get it?
From my father, as a gift.
Interesting.
How so?
That symbol on the grip I've seen it before.
My eyes widened as those words left her lips, to have seen this elsewhere. Indeed that must have meant that there was someone who knew of its meaning or even its origins. To learn more about this blade meant to learn more of the last thing my father had ever given me.
Where have you seen it? I asked.
On a necklace. the maiden replied
It belongs to a man named isul. He lives over by the cliffs of ironmans bay. He sometimes comes by here for some ale and food then leaves.
Thank you, thank you very much—seven blessings on you.
As I returned outside, releasing gale from the post, walking her to the back of the tavern where their two-horse pens stood. I couldn't help but wonder. So many questions filled my mind father had told me that this sword was a gift from a knight. Could this man be the descendant of that knight, or man that shares the same blood? Either way, I would find out more and ride in the morning, as the cold night wind began to set in gale had laid behind me. Putting her head on my lap to keep us both warm, the last thing I saw before I drifted into the cold slumber of the night. I could see a bird a strange bird land on the roof of the drinking well.
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