Magnus and his friends followed him quite a bit, until they arrived at a cobbled street.
"From here, you just have to follow the road, then you'll come straight to the castle.", said Magnus. "Take good care of yourself. These filthy Orcs are just lurking everywhere."
Agnar nodded to him and said goodbye to the men's. Then he walked alone along the paved street, always to the north, always towards to the castle.
It was not really a nice day to go out on a hiking tour. The path seemed endless and the rain was getting stronger.
Agnar went all day and only occasionally the weather improved for a while. It was an extensive stretch of land, which he had to cross. All the while, he remained vigilant and looked for Orcs and other threats.
It was almost evening when he was walking over a hill and finally saw his goal in the distance. The castle! He stopped and rubbed his eyes as he could not believe it.
The castle was huge and had tall, pointed towers in his middle. It stood on a high hill, amidst a vast, pristine grassland. Around the castle stood many houses, enclosed by a thick wall, and at the highest point waved a black flag, with a white raven.
Hungry and with aching feet, Agnar walked along the last meters of the road. The rain had warped and for the first time, the sun was shining between the dark clouds.
The path ended in front of a large wooden gate, that was wide open. When Agnar had crossed it, he came directly to a well-visited market square. Everything was much bigger and louder than he had imagined. Everywhere there were people, horses, and other strange beings. There was hectic and everything seemed like a big mess, but people seemed to find their way amidst all this.
He had finally arrived at the place to which Uller and Geirrod had gone; but now he did not know where he had to start with the search. There were so many stands that were close together. There were countless fabric stores,also weapons and clothing stores, but the most of them were groceries.
Agnar walked along the market square and tried to find Uller's booth, but that seemed hopeless in view of the size of the market square, especially as he was not familiar with it. It was therefore not particularly surprising that he could not find Uller's stand (if he still existed after such a long time).
It was dawning and the first people started to go home. Agnar took advantage of the decreasing hustle and asked individual dealers of Uller and his stand, but no one seemed to know him.
Hours passed, but then Agnar finally found a furler, who Uller actually knew.
"Uller?", the man asked and began to laugh. "Yes, I have not seen him for a long time."
Agnar was disappointed and began to despair. Then he told the man, who was called Flik, of Uller's and Geirröd's disappearance and of the happenings, that had befallen him on the way to the castle.
Flik scratched his head and thought. "Hmm!", he said. "It would be best to go to the castle and ask if they know anything. The king and his ministers generally know what is going on in Wala."
After all, what Agnar had previously heard from the King, he could not imagine to got much help from him. On the other hand, this was the only thing he could do, apart from going home again.
The sun went down and on the marketplace it was getting empty.
"You have to wait until tomorrow, if you want to go to the king.", said Flik. "Now it is too late."
At that moment, it began to rain again and Agnar thought about where he could stay the night. For a moment he had hoped that he could stay with Flik, but he lived not in town and wanted anyway to move on. Agnar said good bye to him and went quickly towards the old town. Somewhere there must be an inn. He thought, while the rain was soaking him.
After a short time he found the first inn and asked for a room. The sack with the gold coins that Sigurd had given him was well filled. He had enough money to theoretically overwinter in the city. Unfortunately, the inn had no free room, therefore Agnar had to search further.
In the second inn were also all rooms occupied and slowly he was annoyed. The whole journey seemed to be doomed.
In the third inn he got the same answer as in the two before, but this time the host gave him a tip:
"Not far from here there is an inn that still has rooms available. In front of the entrance is a pedestal, on which always a white cat sits. You can not miss it."
Agnar thanked him for this information and left the inn again. His food had long since been exhausted and his stomach growled like a bear of hunger.
With a quick pace he ran back through the rain, along the road. At a crossroad, he saw a an inn, from which bright light and loud music penetrated to the outside. There was a pedestal in front of the house, but no white cat. No matter, that must it be! He thought and stepped through the door.
The inn was well filled. The people in it drank, ate and had a good mood.
"Good evening!", said the host kindly to him.
"Good evening!", Agnar replied.
"What an abominable weather out there."
"This is true. Please tell me, can I get a room for tonight?"
"I'd like to give you one, but unfortunately I have no more for that night. I am sorry."
Great! It was going to be crazy. He had a bag full of gold coins and still all comes down, that he had to sleep on the street.
Before he continue his search for a place to sleep, he sat down at a table and ordered the half menu. A strong waitress brought him fried mutton, with fried potatoes; Rice, with boiled chicken; Pork loin, with creamy sauce and porcini; Noodles, with meatballs, in tomato sauce and breaded fish with salad. The people around him were very astonished at the quantities he devoured.
Despite the good mood no smile came over Agnar's lips. Too much he was sunk in his thoughts of Uller and Geirröd.
Suddenly he felt something move under the table. When he looked, he saw a white cat, running between his legs. She looked at him and sat down on her hind legs. It seemed to be the cat, which was supposed to always sit on the pedestal, in front of the entrance.
Agnar took a piece of the chicken and put it into her paws. Quickly she snatched the food and ran away.
Despite the large amounts of food, Agnar ate everything and went after that back to the door. The rain fell so heavily as never before that day from the sky and Agnar stayed in the covered entrance area of the inn. He leaned against the wall with crossed arms and watched to a man with a cylinder, who's lit the street lanterns on. Slowly the ideas went him out, where he could still look for a bed.
"You're looking for a room?", a voice said.
Agnar turned and saw the white cat, sitting before him.
"Did you just talk to me?", he asked the cat slightly irritated.
"Yes! Or do you see someone else here besides us?", the cat replied.
Agnar looked around and saw only the lantern lighter in the distance. "You are right, please forgive me the question. I'm just not used to talk to cats."
"This is not a problem. I am also not used to talking to people. I've heard that you are still looking for a room for the night, right?"
Agnar was completely surprised by the question and had to think about it for a moment. "Yes, that's right, but until now I have not find one."
"You seem to be a nice boy.", said the cat, while she licking her paws. "If you want, you can find shelter with my mistress tonight."
Agnar did not need to think long. "Yes, of course. Where does your mistress live?"
"Not far from here. Just come along." Then the cat walked with quick steps through the rain and Agnar followed her.
They walked through the narrow streets of the old town until they stopped in front of a narrow house. It was a beautiful house, with a white facade and a nicely decorated door.
"Wait here!", said the Cat and vanished in a gap under the door. The rain had not a bit improved and there was no place to stay dry. Hurry up, little cat! The rain soaked him from head to the feet.
Then the door opened and he
heard a voice.
"Come in!", she said.
Agnar went to the door and saw a woman standing in the doorway. She was beautiful and young. Her hair was long and golden, her eyes as blue as the sky, her white skin as soft as silk and her lips were red and full of passion. She wore a white, long dress with a round neckline that was close to her graceful body. Like an angel she stood there and smiled at him, while the light from the star lit her eyes.
Agnar was speechless and remained paralyzed in front of her. He had never seen a woman of such beauty.
"Do you not wanted to come inside?", she asked him with a smile. Thereupon Agnar tore himself together and went quietly into the house.
It was a strange house he entered there. The main room was a large hall, with a high ceiling, lit by a bright fire-place. In the middle of the room stood a large tree, around which flew many colorful butterflies and the roof was a single large window that opened and closed when it was necessary. Around the tree was a staircase that led to the upper floors and a swing that hung from one of the topmost branches. In front of the fireplace stood a golden harp, with silver strings. It was a paradise place that seemed so far away from the city and the hustle and bustle there.
"Come with me!", said the woman and went with him to a wide sofa, which stood before the fireplace.
Agnar looked with astonishment at the tree and read the atmosphere. There seemed to come a tremendous energy from this tree.
In front of the sofa were two cups of tea and a plate of pastries. The young woman sat down with Agnar and offered him one of the cups.
"Please, warm up first.", she said. "I'm Kerli, the mistress of the house. You have already met my cat."
Agnar took a sip of the tea and tried to bridge some time to his answer. He was very nervous and his heart struck him as crazy in her presence.
"I'm Agnar.", he began and took another sip.
"I know.", said Kerli. "You're looking for Uller and your brother Geirröd."
Agnar winced. How does she know this? Suddenly the white cat came out from under the sofa and jumped to her mistress's lap.
"Do not worry, I'm not a witch.", she said with a smile. "But my cat has been watching you the whole day." She crawled the cat behind her ears and looked at the fire. The flames crackled and spurted small sparks.
The hot tea warmed Agnar's whole body and he slowly began to open. He felt very comfortable in this house, almost as well as in his own. At that moment, the harp in front of them began to play by itself and played a lovely melody.
Kerli looked at Agnar and studied him in silence from head to toe. Especially she seems to be interested in his sword. She looked at it with a smile, as if she was just seeing an old friend after a long time.
"You can spend the night here, if you like.", she said.
"Yes, I like.", Agnar replied as he thought about her and this house.
Then Kerli stood up, took his hand and led him across the steps around the tree, to the first floor. In front of them, the many colorful butterflies flew, illuminating their way with their glow.
Kerli stopped in front of a large white sliding door. "This is your room for tonight. In there you'll find everything you need.", she said and took his leave at once.
When Agnar entered the room, he saw nothing than a large bed, lit by the light of a small lamp. As he walked closer, he discovered a bag that lay on the bedspread. It took a while until he recognized her. It was his backpack, which he had lost the day before in the fight against the Orcs. He recognized the wide hole that an Orc arrow had torn in.
Disbelieving, he opened the tabs and looked at the contents. He found the ceiling of Sigurd and the honey-glass of Reck. How does he get here? Kerli seems to have more powers than she wanted to admit.
Through the window in the ceiling, Agnar saw the rain-clouds turn slowly and the stars glittered like many small jewels. Then he took off his clothes and climbed into the bed.
As he lay there, he thought about the happenings of the day. Especially Kerli no longer went out of his head. He would have liked to know more about her, but slowly the exhaustion in him gained the upper hand. In spite of all, he did not forget why he was there and what he had to do on the next day.
When he fell asleep he heard the gentle sounds of the harp, from the lower floor, which gave him pleasant dreams.
The Sword of Tyr
Agnar slept a peaceful sleep, until a warm beam of light woke him. The sun was just rising and shined through the skylight, on his bed. He sat up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. At the end of the bed sat Kerli's cat and looked at him.
"Good morning!", she said. "As I see, you had a pleasant night."
"Yes, I had.", Agnar replied, with a happy face. His bed was soft and the laundry from the finest silk, which had placed like a second skin on his body.
It did not take long, until he remembered on Uller and Geirröd again and that he wanted to go to the King that day.
"Come down with me! There is breakfast!", said the cat and left the room.
When he reached for his things, Agnar noticed that someone had washed them. The shirt was white and ironed and the pants were free of dirt.
After dressing, he went down the stairs around the tree and found Kerli sitting at a long wooden table. The table was empty except for two plates and two cups. No food and nothing to drink were to be seen. Across from her stood a free chair, which was obviously intended for him.
As Agnar came closer, she smiled at him and because this his heart to beat again so strongly started that he was afraid that one could hear it. He sat down on the free chair, as Kerli clapped two times in her hands. Thereupon the many colorful butterflies flew from the tree crown and circled over the dining table.
As they turned back, the table was until the brim full with gorgeous food. In a wooden basket there were different varieties of bread and rolls and in glass cups were drinks of all kinds filled. Also from the selection of sausages one could not complain. There was everything. Kerli was a generous host and even if she was a witch, then definitely a good one.
"Please let it taste you.", she said, what she not had to repeat.
No word was spoken during the entire breakfast. Agnar would have liked to know where she had his backpack and why a tree was standing in her house, but he did not want to be rude.
When they had finished, he grabbed his bag and made his way to the castle. Before that, he wanted to pay Kerli for the room and for the breakfast, but she refused.
"Just do me a favor.", she said. "After you were by the King, come back to me. Do you promise me this?" Agnar nodded. At the same time, he wondered what she wanted from him and why she did not told it directly. Then he said goodbye and went out.
When he was back on the street, he felt like he was in another world. Something seemed to had happened in Kerli's house with him. He suddenly felt an unknown force flowing through his whole body. In addition, he had new hopes that Uller and Geirröd would be okay and that he would found them soon.
As he walked through the Old Town, the light of the day grew brighter and warmer. There was nothing left from the rain, the night before. It was still quiet on the streets, but the first people were just beginning to leave their houses.
He soon returned to the market place, where the first sellers had already built up their stands. From there it was not far to the castle.
Agnar walked along a broad road until he arrived at a mighty wooden bridge. The bridge was the only way to the entrance of the castle and was guarded by many soldiers. Before he entered the bridge, one of the soldiers came up to him and stopped him.
"Stop, passport!", he shouted. Agnar looked at him surprised.
"What for a passport?", he asked.
"The passport to the castle!", said the soldier.
"I do not have a passport. I have to go to the king because…", but the soldier did not let him finished.
"Without a passport, no one will go to the castle and
now go away!", he interrupted him and pointed back to the path. Agnar had no choice as to go back the way he came from.
After a few meters he stopped and leaned with crossed arms against a wall. Great! He was disappointed and angry at the same time. So it can not end. Somehow there must be another way to the castle.
He looked around and saw an ivy-tendril behind him, that led to one of the walls. From there it was possible to climb over the roofs and avoid the bridge.
Agnar touched the tendril and drew lightly at her. It seemed to be stable. Then he looked to the left and then to the righ,t to see if anyone was watching to him, but there was no one to see. Quick as a flash, he climbed up the ivy and rose to the wall. The roofs were relatively wide, but he had to be careful not to fall down.
From up there one had a wonderful view over the whole city. At each of his steps, the roof tiles creaked, which made him move very slowly. At the same time, he also had to be careful not to be discovered by one of the guards.
The climbing was still the lightest in this action. It was difficult when Agnar was on the other side of the bridge and had to go down again. Everywhere were running soldiers and there was nothing to climb down. He hid behind a chimney while he pondered what he should do.
Suddenly he saw a tall pile of straw, right below him, and decided to jump in as soon as the time was favorable. It was ten meters deep, but also the only way to get undetected from the roof.
In an unobserved moment, Agnar collectet all his courage, jumped from the roof and landed safely and uninjured in the straw with a quiet "Rumps". It was done. Now he could quickly go over the meadow to the castle. None of the soldiers there stopped him or asked him for a passport.
It was not long before he stood by a large drawbridge, which was locked by a thick iron gate. Behind the gate was a door, behind which stood a guard. Confidently, Agnar went to the guard and asked for entry.
The Kingdoms of Wala: Agnar and the battle of the Firemountain (1) Page 6
