121 CXXI. The Flower (2/2)

”A girl gave it to you... tell us the truth...” Karl said, touching Reidar's shoulder with his own.

Reidar smiled: ”Yes. Someone's waiting for me in Hevnen. I have agreed to follow you on this mission not only because I share Dag's ideals... but also because I hope to see Turid again. She's the love of my life”.

Dag smiled back and approached his friend.

”I know what that means, Reidar. I have someone waiting for me, too. You're going to see your Turid again, no matter what. Is it part of the Sons Of Freya Clan?” he asked.

”No, she's not a Shieldmaiden. She followed in her father's footsteps and she's now one of Hevnen's best seamstress, despite being only 17 years old...” continued Reidar, clutching the pendant on his chest.

”Then she can make some improvements to our armor! I'd like to have a tailor I can trust!” continued Dag, trying to cheer his friend.

”You have to know that this idiot had the brilliant idea of falling in love with my sister” Karl interrupted, referring to Dag.

”Hahaha! Really? Is that why you know each other?” asked Reidar, laughing.

”Karl and I met when we were kids. We started training in the Arena around the same time. And yes, it's all true… her name is Freydis” Dag said, with melancholy.

After uttering her name, he felt a squeeze to his chest.

He was deeply in love with her.

”Obviously without my help, he would never have been able to win her heart!” said Karl, devaluing Dag's manhood.

”Hahaha!” laughed Reidar.

Laughing and chatting, time passed and the night fell.

Reidar had already fallen asleep and Dag began his guard duty.

The situation was similar to the previous night: absolute silence reigned in the forest.

The only difference was that this time Dag and his companions had left their weapons at hand, ready to take them if they were needed.

As Dag threw small stones into the pond, trying to pass the time, he sneezed.

Then another sneeze, right after.

He didn't notice much and continued to throw rocks into the water until he heard a noise coming from behind a tree.

He immediately stood up and picked up the hammer from the ground, beside the fire.

He stood still, waiting to better understand where the noises came from. They looked like footsteps.

From behind a tree that stood a few feet in front of him, a hooded person came out, walking toward him.

Judging by the sheer stat and the walk, she looked like a woman.

”Who are you? Show me your face, otherwise I will be forced to hit you!” said Dag.

After these words, suddenly rose again the Sun, which illuminated the hooded figure, which stopped before him.