Chapter 10
On the long handle, there were a lot of runes carved in steel and at its end, a raw obsidian pommel.
"This is the most magnificent weapon I've ever seen in my life… yes, my life is not so long but…this axe is awesome. Was your father's?"
– asked Dag. He kept watching the axe. "Yes, it was his."
– Gridd caressed the axe's handle, then she closed and locked the chest.
The room had plenty of war items and weapons: a bow and arrows, a s.h.i.+eld, spears, and a sword, alone in the opposite corner of the chest.
"This one is my mother's. A day I will kill the b.a.s.t.a.r.d that stole my father's Emblem with this sword"
– Gridd picked lifted the sword. It emitted a slender sound when she swung it as if it was cutting the air around them.
It seemed to be very sharp, despite it was abandoned in that room for years.
The hilt of the sword was made of two golden wings, united on the straight, silver blade.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?"
– asked Gridd, looking at the sword as if under an enchantment.
"Yes, of course"
– said Dag. She put the weapon back in its place, then looked at Dag:
"Dag, there is a precise reason why I told you about my father Brann"
– whispered Gridd.
Dag remained silent.
"He was an earthling, like you."
– he opened his eyes wide:
"What? An earthling? I never thought humans from Earth being capable to become great warriors! Please, tell me more about him! I beg you!"
– Dag clenched his fists.
"I know nothing more than what I've told you yet. Only Asa knows about my father's past, but she will never tell you, or me, or anybody… the times she described my father, she felt a deep pain in her stomach. I think she would get mad if she knew I'm showing you this room. I had to steal the keys she keeps under her bed"
– answered Gridd
– "now we should get out from here, someday
They left the room and Gridd locked the door. Then, they get back in their bedroom and she hid the keys under her parent's bed, with stealthy steps.
In his bed, Dag couldn't sleep.
Was Asa so kind to him because he reminded her about her husband? Who was the man that stole Brann's 6th Emblem? Sons Of Freya, Hammers Of Thor, Lies Of Loki… who was good and who was evil? And what were they fighting for? They had supernatural powers given by the G.o.ds?
The more Dag stayed awake, the more the questions increased. It was late at night. He slowly fell asleep.
The day after, at the sunrise, the rooster started singing. This time Dag wasn't alone in the room. Asa was the only one missing.
One by one, each one got up from the bed. Once entered the main room, Dag noted the exit door open. Outside, Asa was milking a cow, filling some buckets.
"Anyone up for some warm milk?"
– she asked joyfully under sunlight.
"Warm milk is for hard workers, please ma, give me some!"
– Eirik walked out of the room, moaning and stretching his arms.
Gridd looked at Dag:
"good morning brother, did you sleep well?"
– she blinked.
Dag perceived the humor in those words and blinked back to Gridd.
For the first time since Dag's arrival, they had breakfast together.
In half an hour, Eirik and his father moved towards the woods on their coach, with their axes, ready to chop some trees. In the meanwhile, Dag started down the road to town with his sister.
"This night I couldn't sleep well. I was thinking about your father, and the story you told me"
– said Dag.
"I did so for 10 years of my life, at least."
– answered Gridd.
"Did he possess divine skills? I mean, powers from the G.o.d Thor?"
– he asked
– "My mother told me that once when they first met on the battlefield, he arose his hand to the sky and a thunderbolt hit him, but he held its power and then released it into the ground, pulverizing dozen of enemy soldiers in coming in front of him"
– "What?! It's impossible, I can't believe you!"
– jumped Dag.
"Hahaha I know, it's hard to believe, but… G.o.ds are powerful, and so are the powers coming from them. You will see with your own eyes"
– said Gridd.
Dag was still doubtful, but that story excited him so much that he couldn't wait to know what future deserved to him. He was determined to become a legendary warrior, like Brann.
Once arrived at the Arena, Dag and Gridd parted and started their training individually.
"Today we start with a one versus one test"
– Taya gave the order, and in a minute, the messy crowd of young warriors tidily set in groups of two, one facing the other.
A random guy occurred against Dag.
He held a sword and a s.h.i.+eld, while Dag had only one sword in his right hand.
Without a signal, the boy charged Dag, trying to hit him with his sword. Dag took a breath and started thinking on Gridd's first lesson: she said that holding one weapon instead of two makes you more vulnerable, but faster.
So in a second, he fainted a parry, raising up his sword and then, when the boy was sure to hit the target, Dag rotated on himself, dodging the hit and striking his opponent with a clean sword swing.
The boy fell down.
Dag was out of breath and held his wooden weapon with both hands, pointing on the enemy.
Taya clapped on the scene, she was watching:
"What happened to you, kid? Did the night bring to you fighting skills?"
– "I just need time, Master Taya. I'll be a quick learner."
– answered Dag.
"I liked that move. Keep on fighting now!"
Another day of training was over.
Dag discovered himself stronger and more focused than he expected.
"I saw you, good job brother"
– said Gridd
– "this is only the beginning".
Dag didn't answer. They walked out of the Arena.
He said
– "I was thinking about the Clans. I will help you"
– "helping me doing what?"
– asked Gridd.
"We will find your father's murderer, and we will reclaim his Emblem, whatever it takes."