624 DCXXIV. The Bark (2/2)
Dag's companions continued to travel following Gridd and in just under thirty minutes reached the top of the hill, on the opposite side of Karl's house, which was on the other side.
The first house on the street was the farm of Asa, from whose fireplace came a thin strip of white smoke.
”While you will stop here, I will continue along the way and go and greet my parents... they will definitely be worried for me and Freydis and will not react well when they'll know that she has chosen to follow Dag to Krypstorm... besides, I hope my father's condition hasn't gotten any worse since I left...” Karl said, slightly pulling his horse's bridles and slowing down his pace, adjusting to that of Light, who next to Aslan opened the line.
”Of course, you are free to go and do what you believe... if you want, when you're done you can visit us on the farm. We have many things to talk about to my mother and I haven't seen her in months too” the Shieldmaiden replied, turning her gaze for a moment towards her partner and smiling as if the atmosphere of that place had made her return to good humor.
Egill also sensed the friendly gaze of the two friends and as Karl moved away spurring his horse and running across the hill, he and Gridd approached the modest dwelling.
As in Dag's vision during his ethereal journey on the Hlidskjàlf, few animals populated one of the two small fences near the farm entrance, a few meters away from the drinking water well, where often little Dag had to go and drop the bucket to supply the house.
A ramshackle carriage, one side of which was half broken and patched with two planks of wood of different colors was parked near one of the two fences, the one used as a warehouse, in which a new horse was drinking some water.
”Eirik's carriage is here, my brother must have come back a little while ago” Gridd said, spurring Light and pulling Aslan's bridles, allowing them to tackle the steep, slow-paced climb.
”I didn't know Asa had a third child... isn't he around with members of his Clan?” Egill asked, who ignored Eirik's identity, having never met him before.
”No, my brother is not a warrior. He decided to continue my father's work as a lumberjack. The two of them sold wood at Jernhest Market and when Stein died, Eirik was able to continue with what he had been taught, expanding the stall and creating a real shop. It's only thanks to him that my mother hasn't been completely alone since Dag also started traveling” Gridd replied, trying to give her traveling companion a clear picture of the situation.
”I got it. Well, I can't wait to meet her then! We haven't seen each other for years!” Egill said eagerly, getting off his horse and approaching walking towards the animals' wooden fences.