The Sixth Castle is a fortified fortress city at the center of the Edge of the World. The exterior looks a bit rugged, but the stoneworks of the entire fortress are nothing to laugh at. It had endured centuries of upheavals and war up to date and one of the few that is still standing. Given that the country is in a civil war at the moment, this walls will never give in, not in another century at the very least.
As we approach the gates of the Sixth Castle, we were put into a halt by one the guards.
"Can I see some identification please?" said the guard.
"Oh damn! Hardnir, are you good? We have our identification with us as part of the guild, but how about you?" said Alayah.
"Do not worry about me. Go on, I will meet you later," I said back.
The three of them went to the guard and shown this necklace they got with a scythe and a reaper embedded to it. The guard noticed it immediately and he let them in.
I searched my bag if somehow I had something that they can identify me with. As my luck had it, I already lost my belongings way back four days ago, so I am not really expecting anything here.
Then I remembered what Endric said, "take this and hold on to it, you will need it once you get to the castle."
I started to look at the pouch he gave me and emptied its contents to the ground. The six gold coins I have left clinked into the ground and I saw this small piece of note that came out of it, picked it up and read it. It goes as follows,
"Whoever has this note signifies that I trusted them with my personal pouch and is directly acquainted to me. Should you need further confirmation with the identity of the holder of my said pouch, approach Galbrant the Stalwart of the Sixth Castle, he will speak on my behalf. Signed, Endric the Wandering Bard."
That tricky fox. I never knew he was acquainted to the legendary shield-bearer such as Galbrant the Stalwart. Is he even that famous of a bard? Who would have known. I came up to the guard and handed him the small piece of note.
"Where is the pouch?" said the guard after reading the note.
I showed the guard the pouch I have from Endric and he gave a slight nod.
"That pouch has the right mark on it. The crest of the Wandering Bard. But I wonder how you got it. Either you are a pickpocket, a friend or you murdered Endric the Wandering Bard and looted him. Let's go inside and meet Sir Galbrant the Stalwart just to confirm. Follow me." said the guard.
"Is that even necessary? My companions earlier are with the guild, they picked me up along the way and they need me for the completion of their contract. And also, I am not really sure if Sir Galbrant can even identify me with Endric's pouch," I said in an argumentative tone of voice.
"It will just take a wee bit of your time, adventurer. Sir Galbrant the Stalwart's quarters is just past these gates, right in front of the blacksmith's shop. I will not say it again, follow me," commanded the guard.
I half-wittedly heeded the command of the guard. I mean, I knew the legendary fame of Sir Galbrant the Stalwart, but I did not know him in person. I highly doubt this will end well for me.
We walked inside the city gates and the city is bustling. Lots of high pitched voices yelling their stuff to sell, blacksmith's anvil being hammered, children playing tag, conversations between the townspeople and animals in their pen.
We stopped by a house near the gates and I heard this awful loud laugh inside it.
"Act accordingly adventurer, I will call for Sir Galbrant now," advised the guard.
He knocked three times at the wooden frame of the door and knocked again for a several few until we heard a loud voice coming from the door.
"Who could it be at this time of the day? Speak!" said the guy with the loud voice.
"Guard patrol by the gates Sir Galbrant. We have an adventurer here that we needed to identify before letting into the city sir. He has the Wandering Bard's pouch with him with a note stating that should we need further confirmation of the identity of the holder, we should bring him to you sir," said the guard.
Then this huge man came out of the door and he immediately made eye contact with me. He was tall, probably the same height as a bear when it is upright. He had this bushy black beard and bald head, with a terrifying scar ranging from the left of his forehead until his mouth. I got a serious question with his outfit though. He donned a black bear fur mantle and wore a steel plated armor. What was the mantle for anyways? I would soon know for myself I guess.
Sir Galbrant approached me and said, "Are you not Hardnir the Strongbone?"
"I am, Sir Galbrant. Hardnir the Strongbone of Frelsmuth. How did you know me?" I asked in return.
"Oh I know you alright. Skedaddle little guard, I will take it from here," said Sir Galbrant.
The guard went back to the city gates, heeding the command of the legendary shield-bearer. While this guy I am with was obviously observing me from head to toe.
"Okay, so you got Endric's pouch, and you are here. Tell me Hardnir, why did you go all the way here in Sixth Castle?" said Sir Galbrant.
"I am afraid you still have not answered my question Sir Galbrant," I answered back.
"Like what question? How did I know you?" asked Sir Galbrant.
"Yep. That one," I replied.
Sir Galbrant took a sit in a wooden chair near the pavement of the road and replied, "nonsense! I have known you for ages my dear boy. Me and your father used to school you in swordsmanship if you already forgotten it."
"I always knew there was another man who used to train me. I forgot who that was and I did not know it was you! I was like four or five years old at the time, forgive me for forgetting," I said.
"Do not worry Hardnir, that is fine. You may have forgotten about me, and I may be old, but my ears are still sharp. I was really proud when I heard you earned a title for yourself my dear boy. It was not an easy feat to be branded 'Strongbone'. It was Endric's favorite song whenever he is in my house. Hence, you are his favorite person, so I knew it was you when the guard showed that pouch. Forgive this old man, I just want to know, how did you earn that title?" said Sir Galbrant.
"It was mostly through contracts, no matter how much the pay, no matter how hard its gonna get, I get the job done. I may or may not have been in situations close to death, but I managed to survive. That is why the lord of the Fifth Castle bestowed me the title of Strongbone, from years of hard, back-breaking work. It is not flashy as yours Sir Galbrant, but I am good with it. It kind of grew on me," I replied.
"Bah! Your title is as good as mine and as any other. Who cares about the intensity or the level or how grand it is. It's an achievement and we should wear it. If your father is still here, he would be so proud knowing your achievements. So tell me again, why are you here my boy?" he asked again.
"Not here Sir Galbrant. Too many ears, too many eyes. It is that private," I said in a soft voice.
"Alright then, care for a little walk lad?" he answered back.
"Anywhere will be fine," I added to his remark.
Sir Galbrant stood up from his chair and said, "Follow me then, we will go hunting."
Just when I have entered the Sixth Castle did I find myself leaving it right away. This conversation that would be taking place in a few minutes, must be kept secret at any cost since it was a matter related to Joachim Red-eye and the rumors of "it" that Endric mentioned. We passed by the gates and the guard who let me in was surprised that I was leaving with Sir Galbrant of all people. In my discomfort of the fame of the person next to me, I started up a conversation.
"What do you do nowadays Sir Galbrant? There is this civil war going on and I am surprised you are not in the front lines," I asked my past mentor.
He immediately replied as if taking a hint to my discomfort and said, "well, they will not let me join until it is the decisive factor to end the war, so I am sitting ducks all day, polishing whatever and laughing hard at my grandkids for what they do as, you know, kids. I am getting tired of this ridiculous back and forth with that lord of the Seventh Castle and the First Castle King squabble. They need to meet in battle and make the other face their creator if I were to be asked."
I was stopped at my train of thought with that commentary. It was too serious coming from a man of his esteem. If someone heard that, it might ignite a fire somewhere. There was this brief moment of silence while we were walking towards the wilderness until I found the right thought to open up again.
I stopped and asked him, "what do you think of this rumor spreading around that whoever goes near Joachim Red-eye as a threat, 'it' appears to rip them apart with black magic?"
He turned around to face me, as if he heard something really unpleasant coming from me. Like an insult, or something more offensive. His eyes widen in shock, he brushed up his beard, and scratched his bald head before he said something.
"Now that is worrying. Where did you hear this? Who told you that?" said Sir Galbrant.
"Endric told me about it just when I met him four days back at Beaver Farm. So what do you think of it?" I probed him.
"Why would Endric tell you that? Tell me boy. What is it you are trying to ask me? Why are you here in the Sixth Castle?" said Sir Galbrant, shying away from the topic.
"Why won't you answer me Sir Galbrant? Just tell me what you think of it," I replied.
"Why are you here Hardnir? Again, why are you here?" he answered back in haste.
I stopped for a second because if I got too heated in this conversation, I might say something I might regret afterwards. I decided to tell him what transpired during my capture in Throne's Deep and in Frelsmuth to see where it will lead.
"I was captured by the King's guards four days ago, mistakenly. They thought I was part of the resistance, which I am not by any chance, by any means. I was just passing by when it all fell down in Throne's Deep. They captured Joachim Red-eye and they put us in the same cart. We reached Frelsmuth, and they were planning to execute Joachim Red-eye," I paused for a moment before I continued.
Sir Galbrant was listening attentively to the details so I went back and said, "and it is by means of the gallows. And then my eyesight went pitch black and when I got it back, everyone was turned inside out. I was too shocked at the moment to be able to comprehend anything and then a King's guard took me to Beaver Farm after the event, as I was innocent and nothing to do with the whole jig. But there was this one thing," I paused again while reminiscing what happened four days back.
"And that is?" asked Sir Galbrant.
"As I was leaving Frelsmuth, when I looked back at the gallows, there was this black hooded, wrinkled old man smiling back at me. When I blinked, he disappeared," I added to the narration.
"So that was your question earlier then, what is my take on the rumor. Now I see why you are interested to know about 'it'," said Sir Galbrant in response. "Curious. Because there were only a few who managed to survive 'it'. I am one of them, and I have the reminder of it," he followed, pointing at his left eye.
"Wasn't Reginald Reavis one of them too?" I asked in response to the remark he mentioned.
"He crossed blades with Joachim Red-eye, but he already retreated when 'it' appeared in the battlefield. Can not count him as one," said Sir Galbrant in disgust.
"So it is true then? What is 'it' anyway?" I followed up on the thought.
"You want to know? Show me how you handle yourself first. Consider this as a test. I will answer all of the things you want to ask, but prove yourself first. If you can not handle yourself, then you are not ready for this bit," said Sir Galbrant. "Up ahead, there is this brown bear. I will lend you a shield, but you are on your own. I will be watching, but I will not be helping. Come on, hurry it up," he added.
"What?! I am going there with no coin involved? Oh by the Gods, no. I need motivation," I answered back.
"Alright alright, forgot that you are also a mercenary. Ten gold coins, and all questions answered. Not bad of a deal, eh?" said Sir Galbrant.
"That is more like it. Feeling all pumped up now," I boasted, and he laughed so hard, I heard his voice echo in my ears.
I lowered my posture while I approach this brown bear that we have spotted. It was as big as Sir Galbrant but its wide. And it was circling a ground in a small dirt patch in which I think, a place where it will take a nap. I drew my sword as quietly as I could and at the very least, try a sneaky surprise at it. And with a moment's breath, I rushed in its neck to claim the kill.
But this bear was not that type of bear.
It was alert. It hastily went on all fours when I rushed in for the kill, roaring like a beast it is. The bear and I watched each other as we do a dance. We circled its resting spot, stepping in and out. It roared at me, and I intimidated back by swinging my blade. I saw the old man, with his foot on top of a rock, looking at me and laughing. I failed the attempt, I got it. And now, I am in danger. That is no laughing matter. I have a shield, so I might want to have a few hits to test out its strength.
"Damn old man, laughing at me at my time of peril. I can do this. I can do this," I said to myself to get into the groove.
And on short notice, the bear ran up and tried to slash its claws on me. Good thing I have the shield on the ready, I blocked its menacing blow. But boy, my arm was tingling by receiving that attack. How heavy is this beast? And it went again for another blow, I managed to block it, but I got knocked down on the ground. I stood up in haste, not to give it any advantage, however, I can not feel my arm anymore.
"You are forgetting to use your hips my boy. Shield tactics volume one chapter one, 'keep your feet firm on the ground and lower your hips to reduce impact.' I taught you that, didn't I?!" yelled Sir Galbrant.
"Thanks for the reminder. That was like, what? Twenty-seven or twenty-eight years ago?!" I said in response.
This bear was persistent and kept coming at me. I saw a pattern in all the dust and the sound of my shield banging. The bear was just charging at me at a single direction. I might have to test my guess.
The bear went in for another attack with its weight and claws, and I managed to dodge to its right side. I swung my blade in its open area. And to my surprise, I found myself knocked to the dirt again and almost got a scratch on the skin of my stomach. This bear swiped to its right side after missing me. Thank the Gods I have a leather breastplate. Its claws almost went in this bloody thing and have me disemboweled.
"Good attempt. You took advantage of the opportunity but you have not fully executed it. Get up, try again," yelled Sir Galbrant.
I stood up once more and observed while blocking and dodging the bear's attacks. I might have to try to counter it when I receive its blow. I put that to the test.
When I turned to face the beast, I stood frozen by what I saw.
The bear stood upright in front of me. Its whole weight came crashing to my shield and I felt the impact of the blow through my back. I did not get anywhere with guesses and tests. I took damage without having a single hit in this beast.
"You could have dodged, you moron! Look what you got yourself into! Don't just stand there, move!" yelled Sir Galbrant in the distance.
"This shield hinders me, God damn it!" I screamed and threw the bloody shield away.
Finally free of the shield, I felt a little light. I jumped twice to check if I could still move about, and I was near damn fine. I used my feet against this beast. Ran towards it several times and dodged, and all the while, attempted to slash it with my blade. And that, of course, got stopped halfway because of its uncanny ability to swipe to its sides, so, I dodged instead of completing the action.
As I have dodged its attacks several times, I noticed something was off with the bear. The bear's attacks lost its charm unlike earlier and it was getting easier to dodge. This bear was getting exhausted. I took advantage of it. I ran up to the bear and dodged its frontal attack. Tried to slash its left side, and it swiped, so I stepped back. But this time, I stayed on its side and stabbed it with my blade.
"Nice hit. Although you may have to do something with your sword," yelled Sir Galbrant while pointing at my sword.
My sword was reduced to half its size after that hit. Why in the world would my sword break after one hit? I looked at the area where I got the hit in, and there were no signs of anything. How thick is this beast?
"Swordsmanship volume three dash five, 'beasts of the Edge of the World are made of thick skin and fur to endure its harsh climate. Normal methods do not apply to the aforementioned beasts. Slicing its thick skin and letting it bleed to death is the most appropriate course of action.' Have you not read any of my books boy?! I swore your father has a library full of our books!" said Sir Galbrant in an awfully loud voice that I heard it as if he was just beside me.
"I was not always a reader old man! I prefer experience rather than reading it from texts! I appreciate the advice!" I yelled back.
I took out my dagger hidden at my back and went in with the advice the old man gave me. The bear was getting slower and slower as we do this crazy dance. I dodged its attacks whenever I get near it and sliced it anywhere the dagger find its mark. I kept at it while dodging its attacks.
The bear roared aloud and made an attempt to bite my head off. And it hugged me around my ribs and roared at my face with all its saliva spewing into my face. I already found it hard to breathe in a matter of seconds.
Just as it was about to bite my head off, I gathered all my strength and breath to stab the open wound on its neck. I kept wriggling my hands and arms to open the wound a little wider so that it bleeds out. I kept at it until I almost went out of breath.
I was freed from its grasp and fell to the ground. I am gasping for air as I was nearly crushed by the beast. The bear went on all fours before it finally took the ground. Blood kept streaming down its neck and into the dirt. I heard the bear let out a soft growl before it went quiet. Apparently, the dagger I purchased was a good one, sharp enough to slice its way into this beast's skin and end it.
I heard footsteps behind me and a set of clapping hands.
"Job well done, although, you my boy, almost got crushed to your death. Is this how you do things for a living? You live a hard life lad," teased Sir Galbrant.
"Oh shut up will you? I did it. I got the job done. Your end of the bargain, if you do not mind," I replied.
Sir Galbrant tossed in a small pouch of ten gold coins into the ground and mentioned, "in addition to that, all questions of yours will be answered. But I swear boy, we have much to discuss about this bear scenario. I can not pass on and greet your father in the heavens knowing you perform so poorly," said Sir Galbrant.
"Yes, yes. If you say so. Before we head back, would you mind carrying me? I think I broke at least three or four ribs," I asked Sir Galbrant.
"That will be ten gold coins," said Sir Galbrant with a grin on his face.