About the author

I was 23 when I started writing. No one inspired me to write, I just

had a need to. Now I have a young daughter who has given me an
urgency to get on with it.
A man in my middle years, Ive had a varied working lie, rom
starting lie as an apprentice in Newcastle !pon "yne to working on
the railways or some years. I then travelled through #urope working
in orests and on building sites in both #ast and $est %ermany as well
as all over #astern #urope. &ere I worked with many interesting
people, many o them perhaps should not have been there or various
reasons. #ventually on returning to #ngland ater some seven years
give or take I did some orestry work in Northern #ngland. '"his
involved cutting down the trees and hauling them out by horse.(
&orses have always been a part o my lie and are now a part o my
daughters.
Ater this I moved south to )evon and worked in the building trade
but when the recession hit I became a ta*i driver.
I have throughout my lie written poems and iction but never taken it
seriously until now. I have a seven year old daughter who has been a
steadying and inspiring inluence in my lie and so now I am taking
my writing seriously. I am in the middle o writing a trilogy o an
historical antasy novel. "he irst I have completed entitled +"he ,aga
o -arak, the second I am in the middle o entitled +.and o the
/icts. 0y writing is now a big part o my lie. It is easy or me to ind
time to write but I dont have a speciic place. I something comes to
mind I just jot it down no matter where I am. ,itting in the ta*i
waiting or ares gives me lots o time to think.
I dont come rom an articulate background and so my writing may
not be precise or rom a writers view, +well written, but it is a story
the way I would say it.
Although I have enjoyed most o the various jobs I have done, nothing
gives me more passionate eelings than when I am writing. I cannot
e*press how I eel to see my work published and, %od willing, a best
seller.
I would like to dedicate this book to all who believed in me,
all my amily, e*tended amily and especially my daughter
#llie10ay who gave me the incentive to go on.
Davi d Br i e r l y
THE S AGA OF BARAK
2opyright )avid -rierly
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been asserted by him in accordance with section 33 and 34 o the
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Any person who commits any unauthori7ed act in relation to this
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A 2I/ catalogue record or this title is available rom the -ritish
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2anary $har
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Acknowledgments
I would like to thank all the people who have helped me get this book
published. ;irstly, without my daughters inspiration I would never
have got to the end o the irst book let alone be halway through the
second and thinking on the third. "o my very good riends .orna and
-ill as to when I did not have a computer slaved away trying to read
my long hand and typing it up or me and to .orna who has pushed
me every step o the way and still does.
A special thanks go to my publishers, Austin 0acauley or believing
in me and especially the editors as without them this book would not
have come to ruition. I never really appreciated what editors did until
I saw all the work those guys put in, getting my book ready to go on
the shelves.
;inally to you or buying my book. I hope you enjoy it and look
orward to the second in the trilogy.
"hank you all.
)avid
Introduction
Part One
The Saga Of Barak
-arak is at once the ultimate hero, or perhaps anti1hero> he is a giant o a man
who stands nearer seven eet than si* eet tall.
"he ?gre has o course immense strength and awesome physical power, and
is an e*pert in all orms and manner o weaponry.
;or over three decades now -arak has stood out supreme over his
contemporaries and the great slayer has seen most o them come and go, o to
meet with their various very hard o hearing gods.
"he giant is a erocious looking man, a man who is completely tattooed
rom the top o his big shaven head right down his huge body all the way to his
great booted eet.
"he great slayers well1kept teeth are iled sharp and dagger1like into little
more than wol1like angs. "his somewhat painul operation the ogre had
undergone some years earlier to join a tribe he once lived with in the darkest and
most dangerous part o the Arican jungle. &owever, the end in this particular
case, well, it more than justiied the giants means.
,till though, it must also be said -araks eating habits were at best described
as most dubious, and perhaps even a little more than sinister.
-ut then again as the old saying goes, +to each his own.
And now at ity years o age -araks vast physical and mental powers had
neither wavered nor in any way had they waned. And as well as this, besides
preserving all o that awesome natural power, the giant was still just as stubborn
and uncompromising as he always and ever had been.
Now ater commanding a campaign or the eagles o @ome the ogre had at
last inally returned with his mission, as always and ever, accomplished>
returned back to his adopted home.
;or the giant -arak, home now lay nestled under the southern side o the
great wall o the long dead #mperor &adrian.
;rom both o these cold grey shores, rom the westerly and turbulent Irish
,ea to the cold great grey North sea on the eastern side o the island. "his,
impressive towering wall stretched out, winding its way in a snake1like ashion
across the bleak rugged landscape o cold wild northern -ritain. &adrians great
wall, just as planned when constructed years ago to separate the more civili7ed
@omani7ed -ritain rom /ictdom. %rateully the wall kept apart the savage
ruthless barbarism that lay in the dense orests and the ever snow1capped
mountains beyond rom its most northerly province.
"his mighty construction with its many turreted garrisons and its ever
growing settlements was commonly known as the +$all in the ,ky. And as said
it was also the #mperors arthest lung and bleakest northern outpost in @omes
still vast but dwindling #mpire.
-ut bleak and ar lung or not, it was here in this place upon this small green
island the giant had planned upon spending the rest o his remaining days.
Aye it was here the ogre would bide in a bliss, ull retirement hunting down
the swit deer and the lurking wol in the dark woods. It was here he would
course the leet hare in the lush meadow, and it was here the great slayer would
ish or trout in the great ,almon @iver. "his was a river that started its lie o
springing up as no more than a trickle in the land o the /icts. -ut then ater
lowing or many a winding mile, the now mighty river ended its resh water
days surging boldly into the cold grey North ,ea.
&ere with the great wall on one side o his home and the river on the other,
here was where -arak would bide.
$ell anyway, this was at least the giants well thought out plan or his
retirement and his uture. -ut then again, plans o course as everyone knows did
not, nor indeed still do not always work out as they are =uite intended.
Chapter One
It was late summer moving into early autumn, but even now the leaves upon the
trees o the orest were changing colour rom a deep lush green to a rich golden
brown. Aye, and it was also the irst mild rost since the ending o the last
,pring> this early chill giving the promise o a long and hard cold winter ahead.
,moke dwindled slowly skyward on that windless morning rom a cluster o
tur1rooed hovels in the early morning hal1light at the start o a crisp day.
0angy hal1starved cur dogs yapped and cringed at the approach o a stranger
meandering slowly down through the early morning mists.
"his lone rider had emerged unheralded and unannounced rom a dense
orest o ancient oak, ash, birch and chestnut trees. It was a orest that lanked
the southern side o a great wall, and this was a wall that was both high and
broad. ,o broad was it, why two chariots that were even hard driven could pass
by each other with plenty o room still to spare. Aye, indeed, this stout loty
wall, was considered by most to be =uite a marvel o its time. And this high
broad wall, well it was also a long and lengthy thing. Indeed here was a high,
mighty construction that stretched rom coast to coast across the islands wol
inested wilderness. &ere the @omans last northern ortiication ran all the way
rom the western shore by the Irish ,ea, across the cold rugged land to the
bustling and prosperous harbours o the east coast. "his great wall spanned the
most northerly and perhaps also the most inhospitable part o -ritain.
-eyond the great border wall there was nothing, well nothing anyway but
/ictdom and savage primitive barbarism. Not only was the now deceased
#mperor &adrians great wall the most northern part o -ritain it was also, as
already said, the most northerly outpost in the whole o the still vast but now
dwindling @oman #mpire.
"he $all in the ,ky the men o the legions called it. $hile there were
others in the ranks who would unlatteringly say it was simply the end o the
world, well at least the end o the civilised world. ,ome o them, well these men
just called this place the end o the very road itsel. No, no, oh no, the great wall
was perhaps not in the least way a avourite and sought ater posting or those
who hailed rom the warmer climes.
-ut still and no matter, the lone rider wound his way slowly on down past
the peasant hovels o the peat diggers and the pig keepers. "his grim aced,
somewhat unorgiving looking man sat astride a huge mountain o a horse.
And this beast was a huge %aelic war horse. A great hairy legged powerul
looking thing with a long lowing la*en mane and a silken tail that trailed all
the way down to the very ground. "his creature was at least, so it seemed by its
striking appearance, a most well cared or animal. It was both a well groomed
and a well ed thing with bold dapples upon its broad backside that testiied to
its good condition. Also as well as all o this, the great hairy legged thing was
resh shod all around with the very thickest o iron shoes. And this same big
chestnut gelding with the long la*en mane and the e=ually long tail carried
upon its big broad back, sitting there most casually and regally, a very giant o a
man. In a most rela*ed ashion this huge man was sat perched upon the big
chestnut horse. It must be said that both horse and rider looked most impressive.
And the warrior, or warrior the big man obviously was, sat enclosed in a very
e*pensive high1backed high1 ronted Arab saddle. And here was a comortable
saddle that supported the warriors huge rame most snugly. ?bviously this
intricate e*pensive piece o wonderully handcrated leatherwork had been
designed to it both horse and rider.
"wo tall grey long eared mules, gaunt but strong animals, ollowed on
behind the horse and rider, submissively in tow. "hese were both weary1worn
looking creatures, and also heavily laden. ?ne o the mules carried the big
mans weapons o war, his well1worn chain link armour and a small round
spiked metal shield. Also there was a long lance and perhaps some hal do7en
throwing spears. "his honest uncomplaining beast also carried an impressive
looking longbow made o black wood inset with ine ivory writing o some sort.
All o these weapons the docile creature carried as well as a "urkish crossbow.
?h, and some other items o the big mans other personal aects. 0eanwhile the
other mule was laden down with cooking implements such as large cast iron
potbellied stoves, as well as an array o copper pots and pans. ,trange items
these seemed indeed or such a mighty man o war. Also as well as cooking pots
and pans, there were sacks o seeds and plants, none that hailed rom this cold
green island. Aye, there was all o this, as well as strange e*otic ruits and
vegetables. ?h, and these edibles also hailed rom warm distant places that lay
ar ar away to the east o this island. ,lowly and wearily the tired animals
laboured on down then upward along a well1worn path to an impressive looking
castle. And know you this, it was a stone castle mind you, not one o those
hastily thrown together timber and mud aairs. Nor was this castle topped o
with either tur or straw thatched roos to keep out the sting o driving northern
rain and the cold winter snow. ?h no this tall mighty castle made o stone, had
sitting upon its shoulders a blue slate roo which was obviously cut, then itted
by the very best o cratsman. "his place where the stout castle stood was called
2oriosopium. &ere, was both a settlement as well as a small garrison> this place
was one o many o such situated in measured distances along the great northern
wall.
Now the big chestnut gelding was reined up close alongside the thick solid
oak gates o the castle. 0eanwhile the big man sitting upon the big horse
knocked upon the stout door with the great boars head iron ring inset there. "he
stern aced man waited only or but a moment beore banging once again, this
time though the warrior knocked a little louder and a little harder.
+$ill you open up these gates now or me you oolish rusticsA the large
warrior demanded gruly. +?r must I tear the very things down mysel to gain
entry hereA "he rider roared this out somewhat impatiently. +;or I must say to
you all now, I do have upon me the most ravenous o hungers. Aye, and also an
even more powerul throat1burning thirst. ?h yes, and also ools, as well as
these immediate needs. $ell, I would most urgently bathe mysel in the very
hottest o soapy sudsy scented waters. Not though that I would e*pect many, i
any, o you earth worshiping ditch dogs to understand that pressing need o
course. "he huge man rumbled these words out with just the slightest hint o a
sarcastic chuckle. ;rom behind the great gates the big mans keen ears could
hear movement and men talking nervously in hushed whispered voices. And the
large warrior by the by, was now becoming more than a little irritable.
? a sudden an armed guard shouted down a little timidly an order rom the
battlement above to the guarded gateway below. And then, almost at once the
thick heavy oak doors began to creak themselves slowly open.
@umbling and grumbling the big man spat, then the warrior growled and
grunted with discontent. Aye and all o this while he cursed out loudly at being
kept waiting or so long a period o time. A moment later when once this
complaining was done the warrior urged his big mount on with a nudge to its
ribs and it trotted orward into the castles stone cobbled orecourt. As ever the
big grey mules ollowed on behind the large mounted warrior, obediently in tow.
?nce inside the stout gates the big man yawned as he looked all about him.
,eemingly the warrior was taking in all and everything at a single glance o his
dark eyes. $hen this observation was done with the huge man looked down
rom his saddle a little reproachully at those who stood there beore him. Now
this huge horseman looked down at the ive castle guardsmen standing there a
little uneasy and more than a little cowed beore him. "he very big horseman
atop the big chestnut gelding knew only one man o their number. And that man
was &ubert. &ubert was a long time soldier and servant o the castle, and was
the eldest o the small group o most dejected looking men. &ubert, well it must
be said this particular castle guardian indeed looked a most sorry orlorn and
downcast igure. Aye indeed, he appeared to be a worn out weary looking shell
o a man, a man who was perhaps starved o many a good nights sleep. As well
as the weary looking &ubert there were also two young -ritons with a most
vacant e*pression about them. It was an e*pression these young men wore
whilst they were stood standing there =uaking in their worn out boots. "hese
badly bred looking things, well the pair o them were little more than spotty
gangly nervous idgety looking youths. Bouths, who, by their stale and earthy
stench were also inre=uent bathers, and strangers to soapy water. 0eanwhile
the other two brave and noble guardians o the castle gates, who were a little
older than the rank smelling -ritons, these were doubtless o %erman origin.
-arak was the name o the huge rider, and he reasoned this =uite rightly judging
by their ish scale armour and their general dress. ?h, and also o course by their
bulging goatskin drinking gourds that hung heavily at their ample waist. And
also this unwashed duo rom the @hineland, well they were both =uite unsteady
upon their booted eet. "his while their stale breath, smelling strongly o beer
would have got a nun drunk.
And the %ermans, well here was a breed o men who seldom wandered or
went very ar without a strong drink o some sort strapped at their side. "hat
whether it was in peace time, or even in a time o ull blown bloody warare.
&owever, though, this was a habit that in the big mans opinion was not to be
considered in any manner a ailing on their behal. ?h no ar rom it, this, the
large warrior thought was a most wily and astute practice that lay to the
%ermanic tribesmans undying credit. Ater all i you are indeed marked or a
slow lingering death in battle, or even while ploughing a ield or that matter,
well then, why on top o all that misortune, as well as everything else should
you also die a thirsty manA
?nce again the large rider looked about him as he observed all and
everything. A worthless, skinny, hal1starved collie dog cur yapped then
scratched at its sad lea ridden body. Also a trio o large white geese gaggled
and hissed out loudly as a drunken soldier who had stayed out ar too long
stumbled across their path. No doubt, this the ool did while trying to ind his
way back to his home. ? a sudden the big mans dark, almost almond eyes
settled once again upon the man &ubert ai*ing him with a steady most stony
stare.
+All is not well here in this place my old riend, the warrior said evenly. +I
sense it, I smell it, aye and above all else I do know it. In a solemn tone the
horseman said this while easing himsel down rom his mount onto the stone
cobbled courtyard. "hese ive idgety onlookers noticed the huge warrior did
this somewhat a little stily rom his high backed e*pensive Arabian saddle.
At the irst sight o the very big man sitting atop his very big horse it must
be said the other our guardians o the gate, who were unamiliar with the
warrior, had been taken very much aback. In act the our o them were in all
truth shocked, aye, and perhaps even araid in a strange way by the giants
earsome appearance. Aye, and all o this even though the warrior had come to
them as a riend, not as a oe.
+,peak up man, the giant demanded o the downcast &ubert. +;or have we
not many years ago hunted down the savage /icts together over the great wall o
&adrianA $hy, we have drank and diced and we have slept in the snow together,
aye all o this we have done with our blue stained itchy enemies not a sling shot
away rom where we lay. ,o with this in mind tell me my riend, why am I now
to be treated as no more than a stranger here in this solemn placeA Aye, and a
stranger who must guess and be let to ponder, as to what dark misortune is
obviously aoot hereA
&uberts hairy weather1beaten ace wrinkled as he ought back tears. "he
troubled man bowed his head as he umbled nervously with his ample ever
greying beard.
+-arak my .ord, you are indeed as ever and always correct in all things, he
mumbled in a most distressed ashion. +Aye and all is not well here at the great
castle> no, no, it is not well at all my .ord.
&ubert spoke these sad solemn words in an almost hushed and mumbled
whisper as he stood there with his bearded raggy head bowed.
Now the huge man in reply to these words grunted and scowled as he gave
o a most disconcerting growl. And this as the warrior prepared himsel or the
bad tidings that he already guessed was obviously sure to come. $hile silently
contemplating this disaster, ne*t the overly large warrior swayed his bucket
si7ed head that had atop o it a well1worn chain link helmet. A much repaired
chain link helmet at that, draped down to -araks broad shoulders. "he huge
warrior swayed his head gently at irst rom side to side this way and that, and
then he gave it a sudden violent jerk. &is great heavily muscled neck creaked
then clicked itsel with a loud crack into place. $ith this done the giant, or
giant the man truly was gave out a low lion1like growl o both relie and
pleasure. And this he did beore once again continuing to speak out in a low
rumble.
+/lease believe me, that much I had already surmised riend &ubert, the
man called -arak said rankly and evenly. As said previously it was in a
somewhat sti and painul manner by the looks o things that the giant had
dismounted rom the big gelding ater his long ride. Now ater clicking his thick
neck back into place the ogre stretched his huge arms skyward. $ith this done
the huge warrior began stamping some lie back into his big booted eet, and
indeed so hard that the ground it air shook.
,tanding there now towering high above the castle guards -arak was indeed
a true giant o a man. Aye indeed -arak was a colossus o a man. And a man
who in appearance was every bit as awesome and as earsome as he had been
described and depicted to these our new sentinels in the past weeks and months
they had eagerly awaited his return. Indeed it would be true to say -arak was
without any doubt the most rightening looking warrior in the very e*treme.
Now this ogre stood standing there, well he was indeed nearer seven oot than
si* oot tall. ;rom the top o his huge shaven head, aye and also over almost
every part o his massive body the amed slayer was adorned with the most
elaborate o tattoos. Civid colourul images o scaly dragons and giant jungle
serpents intertwined in their bloody heroic death battles covering almost every
inch o this huge being. #tched all about the giants massive rame were the
likenesses o strange animals none there in that company had ever beore set
their eyes upon, or or that matter ever would. ,o tattooed was the giant that
only through small spaces between these lie1like dragons and serpents could
you glimpse his tanned weather1beaten skin. And thus make out big -arak was a
#uropean not an Asian or a 0oor o some sort.
$hen this painted giant spoke his teeth lashed white and these were most
pointed things> in appearance the teeth were just like the angs o the orest wol.
.ong ago these teeth had been iled and sharpened or the most dubious o
reasons. ?bviously this little piece o dentistry o course only added to the
warriors already earsome and most rightening appearance. Also this man o
wars huge body was like that o a man some twenty years younger than his
approaching ity years o age. Aye, -arak was trim at the waist while being
massive at the chest and shoulders, and his arms, well these hung by his side like
huge ham shanks. ?bviously the giant was immensely strong, and his vast body,
well this it did air ripple with an awesome power and a raw savage vitality.
.ong years o bloody carnage and warare as well as the years he had spent
hunting down his ood> this coupled with his harsh vigorous outdoor liestyle
had given his lesh no time to decay or to soten. Nor had the ogres great body
become wasted or jaded in any way, or his great strength, as his great muscles
were orever in constant use. ;or i indeed the huge warrior had succumbed at
all to the ravages o the years and the constant non1stop violence and warare,
well then he would o course been a long dead thing by now. Aye or it was only
the strongest, the most cunning and the most ruthless o men that survived in his
blood spattered trade. -ut in the here and now, well then here was a true man o
war, here was a killer, here was a slayer o both man and beast. -arak lived it,
indeed he even breathed it. Alas the ogre, well or his many unaccountable sins,
had in the not so ar distant past supposed he once even loved it. ;or warare and
the slaying o his oemen and his enemies had been all he had ever really known
since being little more than an ungainly very lanky boy.
,till though besides all o that, nothing the spotty local youths or the hal
drunken %ermans had ever even heard or ever imagined about -arak and his
rightening appearance> nothing, no nothing any o them even wildly e*pected
had =uite prepared them or this most rightening ormidable slayer.
Now then, here standing beore them in huge booted eet was a man you
could ollow into war, any war. -arak was a giant o a man, a man who could
lead you and your riends and brothers in arms headlong into any battle> this no
matter how savage or bloody the ray may be. ?h yes under his great vast
mighty shadow a lesser man could eel sae, aye very sae, why he could eel
conident, protected even.
$hile -arak talked with &ubert the %ermans drank rom their gourds as
they spoke to each other in their own native tongue. And this the pair did
somewhat e*citedly about the arrival o the much amed notorious giant -arak.
"he slayer listened intently as he grinned wol1like on hearing their words. ;or it
just so happened, the %erman tongue was one o the many languages -arak
spoke with ease. In act the %ermanic tongue, as well as Norse and o course the
language o the -ritons was perhaps his most avourite language o all. ,till the
giant listened to them chattering away or but a moment or two longer then he
spoke up answering the =uestion the %ermans had so carelessly put to one
another. And the giant when he spoke back to them both easily and luently,
well this gave the men o the @hineland somewhat o a shock. As this o course,
ater all was something neither o the men were =uite e*pecting. -arak, when he
spoke, the ogre even mimicked and mastered their "huringen dialect o to
perection. Now the warriors rom the @hineland, both o them at once glanced
at each other most sheepishly. At once the %ermans instantly both bowed,
apologising or their unwise and perhaps ill1chosen comments.
&owever, the giant merely grinned as he had taken no oence on hearing
their words. In act -arak was =uite used to such slightings and ohand
derogatory comments. Ater all is said and done the ogre had a lietime to get
used to them. ,trange though it is how sometimes even the slightest o slurs can
be taken as more as an ohand compliment than an insult.
-arak handed the reins o his big horse as well as the mules lead ropes to the
humbled looking %ermans. "his done the giant most politely bade them to care
or and eed and water his honest and weary animals. All three beasts, -arak
instructed, were to have double corn as well as the very best o hay. And this as
it so happened was a task the %erman guards were both most keen upon
undertaking. Ater all it is not every day you get to assist such a slayer as -arak,
this even i the task is a little bit on the menial side. Now the giant in the
meanwhile, he walked casually o with the still very downcast sullen &ubert
across the newly cobbled stone courtyard toward the inn o the ,even ,tars.
+$hat did you say to them my .ord -arakA &ubert asked while looking
back over his shoulder toward the %ermans. $ho, by the by were already
drinking their own brew o rothy beer rom their gourds as they made their way
to the stables. +;or I do think my .ord, whatever it was you said caused them to
take a right. &ubert said this with just the slightest trace o a smile crossing his
craggy bushy ace.
"he old guardsman liked the %ermans well enough as they were good
company on the gate and even more so in the tavern. ,ometimes though the men
o the @hineland did just have that little bit too much to say or themselves, but
this was more so in drink. -arak gave a thin smile then he answered his old
riend.
+"he %ermans spoke to each other saying I was some sort o a cannibal,
&ubert. Apparently the @hiners had heard that I was an eater o mens lesh, can
you believe that my old riendA -arak said this with a most sinister and
dangerous grin about him. +?h I dont know &ubert, you see some people just
dont reali7e how sensitive a man I truly am, the giant added with a weary sigh.
-arak then yawned, this ollowed by a cough as he ne*t spat onto the cobbles.
"hen, the ogre cleared his throat beore once again continuing to speak to
&ubert. +,o anyway my riend, I merely told them, our beer drinking sausage
eating cousins, I only eat men when there is nothing to catch. Nothing else about
i you know what I mean &ubert, because ater all men are not near as leet as
the stag nor are they as big and erocious as the bear are theyA Aye and I do
suppose all in all, and taken on one at a time I must admit I do ind them, men I
mean very poor sport. $hy I do suppose they are not much more e*citing in the
hunt or the kill than catching and killing a rabbit, the giant went on in all
earnest.
#ven under these present somewhat sad bleak diicult circumstances &ubert
could not help but sneak out another slight smile. -arak, as always and as ever
had a grim and a sharp ready sense o humour about him. "his was a common
trait so it was said amongst the men who spent their lives under the constant
shadow o death. In act it was well reported and rumoured the gladiators o
@omes arena mocked at their peril1raught unlucky lot most o their waking
hours> well at least that was the rumour. -ecause ater all said and done, bitter
tears coupled with complaints as well as screaming and cursing at the distant
moon and the stars above well this would not change a single thing in their
violent, bloody and mostly short lived lives would itA
+?h by the by, anyway &ubert while we are talking o meat, -arak
continued. +Dnow you this with the right sauces, with some good spices and a
ew resh herbs thrown into the pot. $ell, I do swear you can just about make
anyone taste like a nice roast chicken, or even a rabbit come to that. ?h, oh I am
so sorry &ubert, I mean o course you can make anything taste like chicken or
rabbit. -arak added this very =uickly thus hopeully correcting his somewhat
careless slip o the tongue.
&ubert, well the old guardsman in a very diplomatic ashion simply made
out he had never =uite heard -araks verbal blunder. Ater all too much
inormation can at times oten spoil a perectly good riendship.
"he two men ne*t walked slowly over to a heavy much used oak bench. It
was an oak bench that o course was sat outside o the small sturdy stone built
inn. "his was the only inn within the castle walls as it so happened. Aye and
truth said it was =uite a prosperous little place at that was the inn o the ,even
,tars. And there above the doorway to the place hung a black wooden board
carved in the shape o a star, this with seven gold painted stars embla7oned
neatly upon it. -arak, once there outside the premises, banged loudly upon the
taverns door with a great ist, the ogre demanding loudly and urgently drink and
ood be brought or both himsel and the downcast &ubert. Ater but a short
while in waiting had passed them by it was a bleary, bloodshot eyed innkeeper
that opened a small window above the tavern door. It must be said the landlord
was perhaps not at all best pleased at being so rudely awoken so early on that
chill morning. -ut beore complaining and once seeing who the huge caller was
at this early hour the innkeeper very wisely saved his insults or another less
large and less dangerous customer. &astily the landlord at once dressed himsel,
this done he ne*t hurried himsel downstairs to attend to the giants urgent
needs. ,o with some ale inside them, both -arak and &ubert sat there outside by
the bench while they talked together at some length. "he early morning drinkers
were brought yet another jug o cool ale rom the deep, well stocked cellar o the
,even ,tars. And this one was to ollow the other three which had already been
hastily consumed. Also, as well as the cool rothy drink there was a large platter
o goats cheese, this with slices o thick cold meat the at red aced landlord
kindly provided, aye and all o this was ree o charge.
&ubert was a tired tearul man now with a ew drinks inside o him, oh aye
the old guardian o the gate was ull o sorrow worry and woe. -arak scowled,
grimaced then lit up his long clay pipe with the e*pertise o a man who was well
used to striking lints. -arak sat puing away on his strong black mountain
weed> he said nothing or now, no the ogre said not a single word. As now the
giant chose instead to let the distraught &ubert pull himsel together. And this
-arak did instead o pressing him and badgering or any immediate orced
inormation as to the cause o his obvious distress.
"his castle, this impressive stone castle had been built =uite recently by the
@omans themselves, it had been a present, a git no less, as a token o thanks to
Ding Aulric. It had been Aulric who had helped the northern legions o @ome in
the long years past with border wars, aye Aulric had assisted them wage war
against the savage /ictish raiders. Ding Aulric, who years ago when he -arak
and &ubert had been much younger men, had tamed and ought nonstop against
the savage warlike /icts who dwelled north o the great wall. "hen, as well as
deeating the savage but primitive /icts, Aulric with big -arak as his warlord
had also united the scattered euding northern clans together. #ven the warring
unruly tribes and the outlaw bands had all sworn an allegiance to both Aulric
and the old hated enemy that was @ome itsel. Aulric was just a young chietain
then, tall strong and proud he had always been and still was a highly principled
most moral man. -ut back then in those ar o days Aulric was both a brave and
earless warrior, as well o course as also a good leader o men. "imes though
they are ever changing, it had now been many years since Aulric had been
orced to take up his sword. $ell, this other than to knock apples down rom a
tree or the children o the village.
-ut that though was perhaps another story.
Anyway at long last ater several jugs o the landlords good i not very
strong beer &ubert had at last spilled out his tale o woe to the patient pipe
smoking giant. Aye and when he inally did so, well what a sorry tale it did
indeed turn out to be once delivered. -arak sat there both silently and patiently
while puing away upon his long clay pipe, the slayer was still at this time not
saying a single word. No, the ogre instead listened most intently as &ubert told
him o these recent sad, very strange very sinister events.
Apparently Aulric had hidden himsel away these past days hiding inside his
great hall> the king was now both a weeping and broken man. Aye Aulric sat
even now in an empty hall. And it was a hall that had been in only the recent
past, a site o great ban=uets and lavish estivities. It was this hall, or well it least
had been, a place o great merriment, a place o high ellowship that was open to
all rich or poor alike. -ut oh how things had changed though, aye and they had
all changed in less than just a week. Now the kindly kings beloved son, the
good and noble /rince Dye lay a broken dead thing, all struck down with
assassins arrows. And then on top o this dark sinister tragedy, there was yet
another liberty, this just as oul and just as cowardly. Aulrics daughter, the
/rince Dyes much loved popular younger sister #llena had simply vanished
without a trace. "his double disaster had all happened when brother and sister
had been riding out together in the dark woods south o the castle. /erhaps sadly
she too had been slain, and mayhap her body or now was merely concealed.
Aye, hidden in a woodland thicket, or maybe and at very best she had been
kidnapped. /erhaps she had been abducted and kidnapped or a ransom yet to be
demanded. -ut i so, then by whom and or why was the wonderment o it allA
As o yet no one knew the answer to these most perple*ing o riddles, all were
let to ponder. ,o ar there had been no contact rom the killers o the /rince or
rom the abductors o the /rincess, who were o course obviously the same cruel
callous people. And as well as all o this, these cruel perpetrators had no
apparent reason or this heartbreaking outrage. $ell at least none other than
perhaps greedy bounty. -ut then, with this being so why then had there been no
ransom as yet been demandedA
-arak ater some while sitting deliberating upon the bench seat arose to his
big booted eet somewhat stily. Ne*t the ogre yawned as he stretched his huge
arms out with the weariness o his long travels. ?nce again the slayer moved his
great neck rom side to side, and this he did, until once again, just as it did
earlier, creak then click itsel into place. $ith a grunt o both pleasure and relie
-arak ne*t bent over to speak to his long time riend. Now the slayer shook
&uberts hand, this while thanking him kindly or the inormation the guard had
at long length managed to convey over the past hour or more.
+Bou say our good riend Aulric is right now in the great hall o the castle
&ubertA -arak asked this =uestion with yet another long stretch and another
mouth gaping yawn.
&ubert took a drink o his ale then nodded his head.
+Aye -arak, but he will see no one my high .ord, the Ding is uelled with
too much drink and uelled with even more black sorrow. ,adly I must say this,
our riend the king is not at all the same man he was when you let to retrieve
the lost @oman ,tandard.
-arak grumbled something in a strange tongue as he smiled thinly and
peered down at the bearded much troubled &ubert.
+$ell my old riend, king or no king, believe this, he will most certainly see
me, the ogre said this with some element o conviction. +?h yes please believe
me my old brother in arms, we will talk Aulric and I. ;urthermore we will waste
no time, we will talk now without any urther uss or delay -arak rumbled out.
+Dnow you this &ubert, I was there on the day o the birth o both those children
Eaye also I was charged with guarding them, to look out or their saekeeping
and protection. -ut now alas or my wanderings and my other many sins I have
ailed them both. -arak sighed a little sadly as he ne*t spat then cursed once
again in that same oreign tongue, this whilst he stared up or a moment towards
the angry grey skies above him. "he weather in the north o -ritain was ever
ickle, it being bright and sunny one minute, then dark and stormy the ne*t. Aye
the weather in this part o the turbulent ever changing world, well it was more
than just a little like the moods o the giant in many ways.
+&owever my troubled riend, as I say things are not always as dark as they
might at irst seem to be &ubert. -arak said this ater several moments o grim
silent contemplation. +Anyway &ubert, I must at once send o now, this very
moment in time, an important message. Aye and then with this message once
dispatched I will go to speak with the much distressed Aulric. ?nly ater we
have this conversation, will I decide what must be done to make all right once
again. ?h aye, also o course, in what manner we must do it. &ubert stared
ever upward at the giant slayer with tear1illed eyes rom where he still sat upon
the wooden bench. -oth men had long been and were still close to the Ding and
also to both o his children. &ubert in act had known Aulric all o his lie,
indeed they were brought up as boys together in the harsh northland. "ogether as
children they had hunted played and ished, aye together the lads had also
plagued the very lie out o the @oman soldiers. All o this when they were no
more than but snotty ragged children dressed in itchy woollen rags. -arak ater
but another moment or two o deep thought changed the subject.
+-y the way &ubert, this innkeeper who has tended us is not "om. ?h no, no
it is not "om with the purple nose and the ew uneven teeth in his head. $here
is he &ubertA "ell me whereabouts is the "om ellowA "he giant asked this
whilst sucking upon a painul rotten tooth at the back o his mouth. And here
was a tooth that by the by had o late orever been troubling him. +&e is a good
man to drink with, the "om ellow, -arak stated in a matter o act ashion.
+And this despite the act he does not put his hand into his pocket as oten as he
might or a wealthy man. Aye and believe me on this &ubert, "om upon this
early hour would have charged us or the ood and drink we have breakeasted
upon. ?h yes, and also this service would have been costly too more the likes.
And this just or rousing him rom his blissul drunken slumbers. &ubert gave
only the hint o a smile in reply, and a nod o total agreement at these words
ollowed by just a slight chuckle. Ne*t though and only a moment later the old
sentry smiled as he scratched at his ample bushy beard beore speaking.
+Bou know the big at merchant #dward, the one with the dyed black hair
and a gap in his top teethA ;or just a moment the giant was thoughtul then
grunted as he gave a slow but positive nod. Ater all what was big #dward to
&ubert, well he was only little #dward to -arak.
+Aye, aye I think I know the ellow well enough. I I remember rightly the
man is a ool, he is a ool with ar too much mouth, also with ar too much
money is he notA the giant asked.
+Bes, yes that is the same man, and indeed he is the same ool, &ubert at
once agreed beore continuing with what he had to say. +$ell anyway "om he
sold this #dward a horse, a black horse, a mare called Date. "he giant at once
smiled then ne*t scratched at the snow white well groomed goatee beard that
adorned his huge s=uare jaw.
+Dicking DateA the giant ne*t en=uired knowingly.
&ubert at once nodded, +Aye my .ord -arak that is the very same beast.
?nce again the giant smiled, most wryly this time, and then he spoke.
+,ay on &ubert, or that mare I think was perhaps just ar too much animal
with ar too much ire in its heart or at #dward to handle. &ubert, well he was
now thankully perhaps not =uite as orlorn as he might have been just a short
while ago. In act the castle guardsman now in these last moments even seemed
to be enjoying himsel just a little in the giants company.
+$ell that black Date she struck #dward so hard with one o her back
hooves one morning, I was there -arak, I saw it, unniest thing I ever did see,
&ubert chuckled. +It was a bright sunny most busy morning this summer gone,
aye in this very s=uare too. #dward being #dward, well the ool sought as ever
to impress the market day crowds with the black mares turn o speed, so he
gave her the whip over her backside. -ad idea -arak, and all this in his best
chariot too, a chariot that very =uickly ended up as kindling wood. $ell, as you
know #dward was a most oolish man beore that morning, but now, well now
he is even more o a total idiot -arak. &ubert once again chuckled to himsel as
he took a drink o ale beore once again continuing with his tale. +$hy, poor
#dward, since that kick cannot now even string two words together without
stammering and stuttering. Aye and all o this while spitting and slavering all
over his ruit and vegetables. Dnow you this also my .ord -arak, by the time
the man eventually manages to shout out the word FcarrotG, or FturnipG. $hy by
then the rest o the stallholders have sold up, packed up and gone home, money
in their purses with their days trade done and dusted. "he giant irst chuckled at
these words, but then he leant back with hands upon his hips as he laughed out
long and loudly as he imagined in his big bucket si7ed head the comical scene.
+And so, so tell me, where is "om now &ubertA -arak asked at length when
his laughter ceased. +"ell me, or I will ind him and drink with him on my
return rom this venture I must very soon undertake. -ut only to drink with him
mind you, I have no intentions o buying a horse rom that rogue.. &ubert
chuckled as he wiped beer roth rom his beard beore answering the giants
=uestion.
+"om, once away rom here bought the %reyhound Inn, which lies in the
village o 2ondercum. And this inn, well, it sits nestled by the great wall. ;rom
this place the %reyhound is only a days ride to the east rom here on a good
horse, or two days ride on a bad one. -arak on hearing this grunted then the
ogre gave a nod o approval at "oms choice o a new inn.
+%ood tavern, I know it well. Aye and 2ondercum, it is also a small but
growing garrison with many thirsty soldiers, very astute o "om, the giant
muttered to himsel. +-ut anyway besides all o that, drinking with "om or now
it must wait.. -arak o a sudden ai*ed &ubert with a riendly look. +Now you
hear this, and hear this now what I say to you, but most o all believe it &ubert..
,uddenly the giants ace now changed and this in but an instant, and now it
contorted into an angry grimace. And this just as suddenly as it had earlier
broken into a broad smile which had then cracked into laughter. +!pon my good
dragon1sword, I do swear here and now I will hunt these dogs down. Also, I do
swear these ools will all die screaming or their mothers or whatever other
sickly thing it was bore them into this savage world. -arak promised this in all
earnest as he ne*t put a huge reassuring hand upon &uberts drooped shoulder.
All o a sudden a cold shiver ran up the -ritons stooped broad back. &ubert
had never or one moment thought he would or could have possibly elt any pity
or these men -arak would hunt down. -ut somehow now he did, or they were
all in his considered opinion no more than walking dead men. "hey each and
every single one o them were all men who were merely living on borrowed
time. And this was time these brigands had beore meeting with what would
doubtless be a very violent, very sudden demise. -ecause simply or this very
reason, not even the wildest stormiest o seas, or a desert, however vast and
barren. Nor a mountain range, however high and snow1capped or the darkest
deepest o orests. All o these natural elements would neither slow nor deter
-arak upon his blood hunt. Nor or that matter even any dark demon or
imagined demi1god could stand against the wrath and power o the great war
.ord. ?h no, oh no, these oolish callous men who had brought so much sorrow
and woe to the castle, whoever they were, these men would all die screaming.
And o that simple brutal act &ubert, well the guardian o the gate was in no
doubt whatsoever. As sure as night is dark and day is light and the old world
turns each day as it does, these ools would all meet their well deserved end by
-araks massive broken hand.
-arak ater a little while longer bade a much happier &ubert a good morning
then the slayer strode o purposely towards the Dings &all making just a slight
detour on his way. "here was so much to discuss so early in the morning and
-arak despite being a little travel weary was keen to be getting on with it.