129 CXXIX. The Protection (1/2)
Just then, from the hut behind them, they all came out.
One of the old men said something to his people, pointing to the corpses that were still on the ground. They were probably organizing to bury them.
Then he approached Dag, who put a hand on the man's shoulder and together they walked away to speak, on the sidelines.
”We spotted a man on horseback. He was spying on us from the top of that hill. We think he could be one of the bandits who managed to escape” Dag said.
The old man looked at him with a worried expression, without saying anything, as if waiting for words of comfort to come out of Dag's mouth, which sighed before continuing.
”Perhaps it would be better to try to pinpoint the origin of the bandit raids that periodically come to plunder your village. I think as soon as the darkness falls, we're going to get out of them” he continued.
The old man's eyes lit up with hope.
”Son, I don't know you, nor do I know your friends. But you've already managed to save us once... If you could eliminate the scourge that has plagued us for months, we would be grateful for it for the rest of our lives. I will sing your names until I'll have breath in my lungs and everyone will know the strength and goodness of Dag of Jernhest, the liberator” he said.
Dag smiled. The man's words were sincere, he could read it in his eyes.
”If I had the necessary strength, I would have come with you and killed those bastards, to the last. All the young men among us died, the bandits killed them first, thus eliminating the defenses of our small village. I don't know how many are and where they are established, but I think it's not far from here, judging by the frequency of the latest attacks” the old man continued.
”Kjetil”.
A female voice interrupted the conversation.
Dag and the old man turned around: Agnes was behind them and Karl was next to her.
”Dag, I think Agnes has some information that might come in handy” he said.
”Tell me, Agnes. I'm listening” Dag replied.
”I heard the bandits talk to each other once. I hid inside a closet in my house and they came in. Fortunately, they could not find me, but I was able to listen carefully to their words. They talked about someone called 'Kjetil', saying that the women in our village were too old and ugly to satisfy him” she said, shyly.
”Are you saying their boss is looking for a young woman to satiate his sexual appetites?” asked Dag.
Reidar, too, approached to listen to the conversation, which was no longer private.
”Yes, I think so. They talked about how displeased he was and the punishment they would receive by not bringing to their boss what he had specifically asked for. That time I thought I'd turn myself over to them, thus avoiding further bloodshed... but I couldn't... I didn't have the courage!” the young woman continued, resting her hands on her face and beginning to cry.
Karl hugged her, trying to console her and looked at Dag.
He nodded with determination.