Balduin and Dain was the death of Uller already known and also their hearts were hurt, as Agnar told of the way of his death. It was disgusting how the Orcs treated their prisoners. Evil, barbaric and disgusting, were just a few of the words the Orcs were called in the course of the conversation.
"Tell me Agnar!" Balduin began. "Did you know anything about the motives or the intentions of the Orcs?"
Agnar did not need to think long, because he knew well what Gymir had told him. "Yes!", he said. "It seems as if a black knight named Surt were behind all the disaster."
Suddenly Balduin and Dain shook themself and looked at him with disbelieving eyes.
"Surt?", Balduin asked. "Are you sure with the name?"
"Yes, Surt.", repeated Agnar, who did not understand the surprise. "He called himself" the desert king"and threatened Gymir's people with death and devastation, which then happened so."
"But that can not be!", Balduin continued, shaking his head in disbelief. "Surt is dead! He died for more than twenty years ago."
"Who is that Surt?", Agnar wanted to know.
"Once upon a time, he was the ruler of the desert town in the west of Wala, beyond the sea frontier. For a long time he was a faithful and reliable ally, until one day he fell upon us and tried to seize the power. He plunged the world into misfortune, and caused war and suffering."
"And how was he defeated?"
"It was Tyr who laid him down. That is why I do not understand all this." Then Balduin stood up and looked out of the window with crossed arms.
"There are many strange things in this world.", Dain said.
"Yes.", Agnar replied sighing.
Then there was a moment of rest, in which each of the three deepened into his thoughts.
"What are you doing now, Agnar?", Balduin asked him, after a while. "Have you any plans yet?"
Agnar had to think for a long time, because he had not thought about it yet. "No!", he said finally.
Then Balduin went up to him and gave him a friendly look.
"Men like you can use us well here.", he said. "How would you like to join my army? You would then be a soldier and fight for the flag of Wala. What are you saying?"
"Me?", Agnar asked, quite astonished.
"Exactly!", said Baldwin, laughing. "You might become a great warrior, just like Tyr in his time. You already have the courage and the mind."
This offer came so surprising for Agnar that he stuttered. His plan; to go home again seemed to be no longer as tempting as before and the possibility of becoming a soldier was what he had always dreamed of. Oh, Geirröd! Agnar thought again. How should it go without you. No! Still it's not all day's evening. I still do not know whether he is dead or just caught somewhere.
"Prince Balduin, I'll join your army!", he said finally. No matter how, Agnar wanted Geirröd to search further and not return until he had found him.
"Fine!", Balduin said. "So be it."
Dain was not so happy about Agnar's decision. He'd rather have been able to go home with him, but it was how it was.
"All right!" Dain said, wiggling with his nose.
On the same evening, the King of the Mouse entered the way home. He was not worried about Agnar anymore, because after all, he knew Agnar was able to protect himself all alone.
Uller's body traveled with him, which was certainly not easy. Eight rabbits were needed, until the cart began to move with the coffin.
With the words:
"Take care of yourself," the mouse king said goodbey to Agnar and rode with the last ray of light, the passing sun away.
It was not so that Agnar felt no homesickness, but his decision was firm.
"You have made the right decision!", Balduin said to him. "I'll take you to the barracks tomorrow, and your training will begin. But I doubt that there are many things I can teach you."
Agnat nodded and was already looking forward to tomorrow. He did not regret the decision to stay at the castle.
"You can sleep here tonight.", the prince suggested. "I will make a guest-room for you."
Just as Agnar wanted to accept his offer, he noticed that the stone around his neck began to shine. He glowed only weakly so that no one could actually notice it, but Agnar saw it. At the same time, he felt his heart suddenly beat faster and a warm feeling, slowly rising in his chest.
"No thanks!", he said. "I already have a place to sleep."
"As you wish.", Balduin said, shrugging. "We'll see us tomorrow. There's still a lot to think about for me."
Agnar said goodbye and rode on a direct path to Kerli's house. It was already dark and the streets were empty except for him and the lantern man. So it was not long before he stood before the beautiful white house, with the nicely decorated door.
Agnar had already lifted his arm to knock on the door when he suddenly hesitated. Did I just imagine the lighting?
At that moment, the door suddenly opened and Kerli stood before him. Everything was just like their first encounter. She wore the same white dress, with the round neckline, and again she that charming smile on her lips that made Agnar's knees melt away. Looks as if I had not imagined the glow.
"Come in!", she said, pulling him slightly over the threshold of the door.
The moment the door closed behind him, Agnar felt again that tremendous energy that seemed to flow through the whole house. He was astonished at himself, as he was surprised at the magic of the house, despite his knowledge.
Together they went into the main room and sat down on a sofa, in front of the burning fireplace. They were silent and did not look at each other.
While Kerli looked into the fire-place, Agnar tried to look unobtrusively at her face. Her long, golden hair stroked her back while her delicate hands wrapped a cup of hot tea.
"I'm sorry, Agnar!", she said suddenly. "I'm sorry about what happened to your friend Uller."
Agnar's mood clouded and in spite of the warmth of the fireplace, he suddenly felt cold.
"What about Geirröd?", he asked, after a short pause. "You said I will see him again."
"You'll see him again!", Kerli said.
Although Agnar was afraid of the answer, he asked:
"Will he still live when I see him again?"
For some reason Kerli waited to answer the question, but after a short time she said:
"Yes!", she said. "You will find him alive."
Actually Agnar would have had to look forward to this answer, but Kerli's gaze suddenly became so sad and painful, that he simply could not feel joy.
Then she reached for his hand and came close to him with her head.
"I've seen death!" she whispered in his ear. "I saw fire. I saw a burning city. I saw a castle made of black stones. A black warrior with a burning sword stood on a bridge to the sky. I have seen a being made of shadow and blackest despair."
Agnar could feel the fear rising in him and his heart beating faster. His breath stopped and a terrible sense of helplessness spread through him.
"Do you see the things that happend, or could be happend?", he asked Kerli; but she did not answer.
A moment of silence passed, until she made an ambiguous statement.
"In some way it will happen, but I do not know how."
It was not a particularly satisfactory answer for Agnar, but somehow he felt better. He could not really understand it, but something in Kerli's words gave him the feeling that everything was all right.
They sat for about two hours or longer and listened to the crackling of the fireplace fire; until Agnar walked into the guest room and went to bed. He was proud of his deeds and could not wait until his soldiers training began.
Despite his optimism, Kerli's words had not passed him without a trace. He couldn't imagin the things she had described. Especially a reunion with Geirröd seemed to him to be in the far distance.
While he was lying in the bed, he thought of Uller and about his death. Uller once told him, that for anyo
ne who has shown courage and strength in life, a reward awaits after the death. A ship will bring the fallen ones a river up to a castle whose doors have turned northward. In this castle there is a hall, where the Heavenly Heavers receive the fallen sons and daughters and give them never ending glory.
At this place Uller was now and with that certainty Agnar fell softly asleep.
END OF PART 1
continue reading in part 2
The Kingdoms of Wala
Agnar
and the shadow of the desert King
coming January 2017
120
The Kingdoms of Wala: Agnar and the battle of the Firemountain (1) Page 13
