625 DCXXV. The Heretic Words (1/2)

After they tied all three horses, a sudden bark blew the two adventurers.

A small dog with a ringing voice continued to bark at them after they had woken him from his sleep and he had run in their direction from inside the cow and pig fence.

”Hey! Who are you? I've never seen you here, have you just arrived?” the blonde-haired girl exclaimed, as if the dog could answer her.

Not fearing in the slightest the unintimidating barks of that little dog so small as to pass under the wooden fence, Gridd lowered herself towards him and stroked him on the neck, making him calm down.

The door of the farm suddenly opened and the yellowish light of a torch illuminated the faces of Gridd and Egill, standing next to the horses and grappling with the dog.

”Well, even if it's not very big... it looks like he's a good watchdog, brother” Gridd smiled, standing up and spreading his arms toward Eirik, who had the torch in his hand and a confused expression painted on his face.

”Gridd?! Hahaha! Is it you! Little sister, come here and hug me!” he exclaimed, whose voice had changed completely when he became a real grown man.

In addition to his dark hair tied behind his back, a thick beard filled his face, making him more similar to his dad Stein.

Gridd and his brother hugged each other in a fraternal embrace and Egill stood on the sidelines looking at them, smiling.

Before Eirik could ask Egill who he was, someone else walked out the door and uttered Gridd's name aloud, walking towards her and hugging her as Eirik had done.

Asa's long white hair, gathered in one of her unmistakable braids shone in the living light of the torch, and the old Shieldmaiden squeezed her daughter into her arms, resting her nose on her hair and getting lost in the smell she so much missed when she was away.

”My daughter, you're back! And you're prettier than before!” Asa exclaimed, grabbing Gridd's shoulders and pushing her a few inches away so that she can see her better.

When she pushed her away, her eyes fell on Egill, who without saying a word, was still watching that moving scene from afar.

Asa left Gridd and walked forward, unable to believe her eyes.

”It can't be... is it really you?” she asked, advancing cautiously due to age-related joint problems.

”Yeah, I think so… here we meet again, my friend” Egill smiled, handing with his usual elegance a hand towards the Shieldmaiden, who immediately shook it, as a sign of affection.