Holly.
Snow went up to the
longhouse, and knocked on the think double doors. “Hello? Is anyone
there? We are members of Her Imperial Legion, and we would like to
speak to someone in charge.”
There was another burst
of faint, and this time somewhat heated, whispering. Then a thud as
the doors were unsecured. They opened just enough for a giant man
with greying hair to squeeze his way out, then slammed shut again.
Several loud bangs suggested it was being barricaded again.
The man towered over
all the Hounds. He looked down at Snow fearlessly.
“My name is Asbjorn
Martinsson,” he said in a deep voice. “I speak for the village. If
it is food you want, please take what you will and go. We have
nothing else of value.”
“We aren’t raiders,
good sir,” said Snow. “We mean you no harm. I am Captain Tobias
Snow. As I said, we are members of Her Imperial Legion.”
“Yes. I heard you. That
means nothing to us. What do you want?”
“Information perhaps?
We are on our way to Vollumir.”
“On foot, it’s three
days journey north. Stay on the main roads, and do not go into the
forests.”
“That’s very helpful.
Thank you,” Snow said politely. “Have you seen any other soldiers
on the roads, or perhaps moving cross country? Elves perhaps.”
“No. No one comes out
here, except the occasional tax collector.”
“No one at all?”
Asbjorn Martinsson’s
face was perfectly blank. “What difference does it make? If there
is nothing else, please be on your way.”
“There is no need to be
afraid of us, Mister Martinsson. We are here to help.”
At this, Martinsson
snorted. “Help us? What help do we need?”
“You are aware of
the... unpleasantness occurring in Vollumir?”
“In my experience,
there is always unpleasantness in Vollumir. It makes no difference
to us.”
Caellix shook her head.
“There’s a civil war brewing in your country, and it doesn’t matter
to you?”
“Why would it? What
does it matter to us who is in charge? We stay out of the way, and
no one gets hurt. Now, please, I must insist that you leave.”
“Or what?”
“Sergeant,” Snow said
gently. Caellix fell silent. He turned back to Martinsson. “I’m
sorry for any inconvenience we may caused you. We will be on our
way.”
Martinsson took a step
backwards to the door of the longhouse, but didn’t go back inside.
He glared at the Hounds as they retreated back down the street.
“Definitely not happy
to see us,” commented Serrel.
“He’s hiding
something,” said Caellix. “I could smell it on him.”
“Most likely he was,”
said Snow. “But whether it has anything to do with us is another
matter. So unless they’ve managed to squirrel away an entire army
in one of these little houses, I think maybe we should move on.
Once the Legion’s passed by, he might feel more inclined to speak
with us, especially if we offer him gold in return for his
time.”
“We’re here to help
them,” put in Holly. “Shouldn’t they want to talk to us,
anyway?”
“They’re just afraid. I
mean, look at the Sergeant. Wouldn’t you be afraid? You could try
to be a little less intimidating sometimes, Caellix.”
Caellix scowled under
her war paint. “I am being less intimidating.”
During the entire
conversation with Martinsson, the group could hear a deep rhythmic
booming sound that grew steadily louder and louder. Now as they
watched, the Imperial Legion marched up the track in perfect
formation. Over a thousand armed men and women in their green
uniform, and at the very lead was the shining figure of General
Dillaini riding on horseback. It was an imposing sight, and one
that was hardly going to go unnoticed.
“Should she be up front
like that?” Serrel asked.
“Our new General is
very bold woman, Caster,” Snow replied.
“Or very sure of her
immortality,” put in Caellix in a low voice.
They stood to attention
as Dillaini rode up to them, accompanied by two soldiers in
matching steel armour and
Snow went up to the
longhouse, and knocked on the think double doors. “Hello? Is anyone
there? We are members of Her Imperial Legion, and we would like to
speak to someone in charge.”
There was another burst
of faint, and this time somewhat heated, whispering. Then a thud as
the doors were unsecured. They opened just enough for a giant man
with greying hair to squeeze his way out, then slammed shut again.
Several loud bangs suggested it was being barricaded again.
The man towered over
all the Hounds. He looked down at Snow fearlessly.
“My name is Asbjorn
Martinsson,” he said in a deep voice. “I speak for the village. If
it is food you want, please take what you will and go. We have
nothing else of value.”
“We aren’t raiders,
good sir,” said Snow. “We mean you no harm. I am Captain Tobias
Snow. As I said, we are members of Her Imperial Legion.”
“Yes. I heard you. That
means nothing to us. What do you want?”
“Information perhaps?
We are on our way to Vollumir.”
“On foot, it’s three
days journey north. Stay on the main roads, and do not go into the
forests.”
“That’s very helpful.
Thank you,” Snow said politely. “Have you seen any other soldiers
on the roads, or perhaps moving cross country? Elves perhaps.”
“No. No one comes out
here, except the occasional tax collector.”
“No one at all?”
Asbjorn Martinsson’s
face was perfectly blank. “What difference does it make? If there
is nothing else, please be on your way.”
“There is no need to be
afraid of us, Mister Martinsson. We are here to help.”
At this, Martinsson
snorted. “Help us? What help do we need?”
“You are aware of
the... unpleasantness occurring in Vollumir?”
“In my experience,
there is always unpleasantness in Vollumir. It makes no difference
to us.”
Caellix shook her head.
“There’s a civil war brewing in your country, and it doesn’t matter
to you?”
“Why would it? What
does it matter to us who is in charge? We stay out of the way, and
no one gets hurt. Now, please, I must insist that you leave.”
“Or what?”
“Sergeant,” Snow said
gently. Caellix fell silent. He turned back to Martinsson. “I’m
sorry for any inconvenience we may caused you. We will be on our
way.”
Martinsson took a step
backwards to the door of the longhouse, but didn’t go back inside.
He glared at the Hounds as they retreated back down the street.
“Definitely not happy
to see us,” commented Serrel.
“He’s hiding
something,” said Caellix. “I could smell it on him.”
“Most likely he was,”
said Snow. “But whether it has anything to do with us is another
matter. So unless they’ve managed to squirrel away an entire army
in one of these little houses, I think maybe we should move on.
Once the Legion’s passed by, he might feel more inclined to speak
with us, especially if we offer him gold in return for his
time.”
“We’re here to help
them,” put in Holly. “Shouldn’t they want to talk to us,
anyway?”
“They’re just afraid. I
mean, look at the Sergeant. Wouldn’t you be afraid? You could try
to be a little less intimidating sometimes, Caellix.”
Caellix scowled under
her war paint. “I am being less intimidating.”
During the entire
conversation with Martinsson, the group could hear a deep rhythmic
booming sound that grew steadily louder and louder. Now as they
watched, the Imperial Legion marched up the track in perfect
formation. Over a thousand armed men and women in their green
uniform, and at the very lead was the shining figure of General
Dillaini riding on horseback. It was an imposing sight, and one
that was hardly going to go unnoticed.
“Should she be up front
like that?” Serrel asked.
“Our new General is
very bold woman, Caster,” Snow replied.
“Or very sure of her
immortality,” put in Caellix in a low voice.
They stood to attention
as Dillaini rode up to them, accompanied by two soldiers in
matching steel armour and
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