442 CDXLII. Your Fame (2/2)
”Yes, absolutely yes. That way is Tungvek, the capital of the Giants Of Ymir... I think they're heading right there. There is nothing more to do here, we can order all the soldiers to return to Fort Hvit, the threat is averted, there was no trap” she said, and soon after she got up from the bush where she had remained hidden until then and headed for the rest of the troops, telling them of the decision to turn back.
With the help of Skaldr and Orvar, the soldiers gathered in a row and marched in the opposite direction to Dag's, following the same snowy path they had traveled to get into the forest, knowing that in an hour they would return to their shelter.
...
Dag, Egill, and Reidar continued to ride silently behind Kranus, when the young Master joined the wizard, trying to extrapolate other useful information and familiarize with him a little, feeling their relationship still hostile.
”When we got here to Krypstorm we didn't know what we were going to find, on our geographical atlas, the knowledge of the navigators stops in the Great Deep See. This makes us the first true exploratory team of the West that ventures so far from home.”
”It's not hard for me to believe you. Our knowledge of Okstorm is slightly higher but still incomplete. About fifty years ago, one of the ships of the Giants Of Ymir returned from your continent with only one man on board, a bard who had been spared by the soldiers of I do not know which Clan. He managed to write a book, describing what he had seen, but his age advanced, and that book, now jealously guarded in our libraries, was never finished” Kranus answered, who unexpectedly explained to Dag the details of their exploratory history.
”To unite our two great nations in the battle against our true enemies would be a victory greater than anything. With your huge army and knowledge, this goal could be achievable someday. But our King, King Einar, is totally oblivious to this mission” Dag confessed, making it clear to his interlocutor that the only leader of those men was him.
”So you didn't leave on your sovereign's orders? Isn't he the one who sent you here to avenge the men you lost because of our siege?”
”No, absolutely not. I've never even met him, so I doubt he knows who I am.”
”Believe me, boy. I'm sure your King knows your name and your deeds well. You may ignore it, but by now your fame has made you very well known in all Skjold's landmass” Kranus continued, turning to him and looking at him.
Dag was astonished by the answer, which seemed to him anything but grumpy: that man, despite showing a clear grudge against him, having seen his powers and realizing that his age did not make him as inexperienced as he believed, had drastically changed his attitude towards him and was now downsizing his way of answering questions.