220 CCXX. The Stray Boy (1/2)

”If I only had arrived earlier... he said it happened about a month ago... I should have reached Skjegg right after escaping from Mork Castle! She would have met me and maybe she would have given up on leaving for that diplomatic mission! What a stupid!” replied him, who seemed not to listen to Gridd's words and clutched his trousers in his hands, angrily.

”Oh, yes? That's what you think? In that way, now, not only would there be no Iron Alliance... even the Hammers Of Thor would no longer exist! If you hadn't returned to the Temple Of Orn, you could never have warned them of the danger and fought for your allies! Stop blaming yourself, brother, you can't escape your destiny. It's pointless to cheer like a girl, we'll find this Ragna girl and hope for the best” replied Gridd, who despite feeling partially ignored, continued to spur her brother, who was down in the dumps.

The platform, after a few minutes, reached the top of the Rocky Crown and the two siblings got off, along with other people.

Gridd kept looking at Dag, who reciprocated her gaze: his purple eye was less bright than usual as if expressing his mood at the time.

Without adding anything else, she grabbed his hand and shook it tightly.

Dag observed that loving gesture and then nodded his head, determined after finally getting his sister's message.

Once they moved from the wooden elevator, they made their way through the crowd of people who walked frantically through the city streets, which were much narrower and less spacious than Hevnen's.

”A house in the downtown... it's not that detailed, we should find out where...”

”Excuse me, sir, do you happen to know a young Shieldmaiden named Ragna? We are her companions, come from far away and we would like to bring gifts to her and her family for what happened...” asked Dag to a passer-by, completely ignoring Gridd's directions.

”Uhmm... Ragna? I'm sorry, boy, I don't know who she is” the man replied.

Dag repeated the same question to about ten different people, men and women of all ages.

”Hey, you! You, with that strange purple eye!” shouted a voice from the crowd.

Dag turned in that direction: a child with his face and hands completely dirty with soil and dressed only in rags was trying to attract his attention.

”Tell me, kid, do you know her? May I ask you where does she live?” asked Dag, approaching him at a sustained pace.

”Mmh yes, I can. But maybe I don't remember very well...” answered the little boy, looking up and pretending not to remember.

Without adding anything else, Dag pulled a gold coin out of his pocket and handed it to the stray boy that looked at it with twinkling eyes.

”Follow me!” exclaimed the little guy, beginning to run into the crowd.

”Wait for me, brother! Where are you going?! Fuck!” shouted Gridd, who managed to run after them with difficulty, because of the multitude of people who crowded that street.