Storyboards: Kessik

A journey | Back to Yar Nadrak | A job | A day in Sendar | A stolen ring | A strange man | Back at home | The lounge | In the early morning | The morning | After sundown | A duty

A journey
The old man looked all around and to the east, he saw a bar with a couple of the Cherek sailors with their typical red beard drinking beer. When he looked to the north, he saw the market place where the businessmen were. He saw some greedy Tolnedrans doing their business with a smile on their lips. There was even some Sendarians selling the fruits the got from their land. Among the people he could even see some Mimbrates and Asturians walking around and looking after something to buy or sell.
There were some merchants from the eastern countries too, but not so many as usual. The old man saw some scared Thulls and some Nadraks and even some Murgos, but not so many as usual, and the Murgo merchant at the corner was missing. To the west he saw the Nyissans selling drugs and poison to their particular customer. And the Drasnians walking around and doing business with all the other businessmen.
The legionnaires kept an eye on the market place as usual they do in places where Tolnedran did business. To the south he saw the Algarians selling their horses, and he saw some Drasnians there too. The Drasnians were talking to each other with their fingers and he wondered what they have discovered.
Suddenly he saw the missing Murgo merchant running through the market with an Algar following and attacking him. The Murgo merchant pushed all other merchants out of his way as he tried to escape from the Algar, but at the end of the market the Algar caught the Murgo merchant. The Murgo did not have any weapons and he probably did not have a chance to defend himself against the Algar who had weapons in both hands. I wondered why he has to kill the Murgo. After the Algar had killed the Murgo merchant, he walked to the corner of the square where the old man was, and the old man took the chance to ask the Algar the questions he had in mind.
The old man said, "Why did you kill the Murgo?”
“Why shouldn’t I kill him? He was a Murgo,” the Algar said, “and I don’t care so much about the Murgos.
The old man said, “I don’t understand why you should kill him. Can you tell me the reasons behind the fact you have to kill him?"
The Algar said, "Well, if you had grown up with all the stories about the Murgos," the Algar continued, "and heard the old Algarians talking about Murgos and what the Murgos have done to the Algarians and to my ancestors you should presumably understand.”
The old man said, "I knew that you are an Algar, but can you tell me your name and something about you? You have presumably visited many different places. I wonder if you can tell me something about your travels around the world?”
The Algar said "Well, my name is Kessik and if you want, I can tell you about one of my first journeys to Yar Nadrak.”
The old man said "That will be fine, I believe it could be a dangerous journey.
The Algar said "No, nothing really dangerous happened during that journey, but ok I shall tell you about one of my first journeys.”
The old man said "I wish to hear the story now"
Kessik said, "Well, here is the story.”

I remember one of my first travels to another country that happened in the late summer four years ago. I was at the Algarian stronghold and working together with the other Algarians. We were collecting more stone for the stronghold. It’s not the funnest things I
know and after a couple of weeks I thought its a really boring job. The nights were fine, sitting at the walls and waiting for Murgos was the best part of the job. But after some weeks, when I did the same thing everyday, I wanted some changes, so I decided to take a trip to another country. I decided that my first travel should be to Yar Nadrak and take a look to see if the beer tasted like they said, and if the rumours about the dancing Nadraks were true – that was my main reason to travel. Another reason was the fact the others didn’t think I worked hard enough, so I took the chance to leave before they could accuse me of being lazy.
I left the stronghold in the early morning when most of the others were asleep. I started my trip and rode next to the Aldur River. I reached the river at the sundown, and the first thing I did after reaching the river was to get something to eat. I caught some fish in the river. When I woke up the next day in the daybreak, I was ready to continue. I wanted to reach the lake Atun before the evening. When I arrived to the lake Atun, It was some hours before sundown, and I met some fishermen in a camp close to the lake. I was happy to meet these fishermen because they maybe knew something about the neighbourhood.
"I’m Rhordrick and he is Bherym," the fisherman said. Rhordrick gestured at the tent close to the fire. "Sit down my friend. Do you want some beer? Do you have any news from the south?” Rhordrick said. I told them they were the first people I have met since I left the Algarian stronghold.
"Take a couple beers and tell us what happened lately in Algaria," Bherym said. I told them what happened the last year in Algaria.
Rhordrick said, “The best tavern in Boktor is the West Gate Inn,” Rhordrick continued, "That’s the first tavern you will meet in Boktor, if you go on this way."
When the morning came, I had a terrible headache. I said farewell to the fishermen and rode towards Boktor. After a few hours, I realised I was going to reach Boktor before the end of the day, and that the first thing I should do in Boktor was to find a tavern, so I could get some food. After that I should look for someplace to sleep.
I arrived to Boktor in the early sundown and I was really hungry, so I decided to go to the very first tavern I saw and get some food. I remember the directions to that tavern the fishermen told me, so I found the tavern quickly.
"Greetings and welcome to my tavern. Please sit down, buy a drink and enjoy," the bartender said to me. I told the bartender I was really hungry and wanted something to eat as fast as possibly. The bartender said, "May I ask you to do me a favour? I will pay you well. If you are ready to do that the meal is on the house and I will pay you more after you have finished the little thing I’m asking for," the bartender said.
I told the bartender "Can you tell me what you want me to do so I have a chance to consider it?"
The bartender said "I urgently need to an important thing delivered. This needs to get to my wife as soon as possible. Her birthday was last week and I forget, which is the reason why I asked you to do that favour." The bartender said.
I told the bartender "I will deliver the gift to your wife, but I don’t do that for free and for that delivery you have to give me something better than just the food."
The bartender said, "Here are the directions to my wife’s house.”
I left the tavern right after that I got the directions. I followed the directions he gave me, and after a couple crossroads I met a man and asked which was the best way to the north gate, close to the house where the bartender’s wife should be.
The man said, "There is a short cut which should be good to take. You’ll save a lot of time if you take that way.”
I decided to take the shortcut. Halfway to the north gate, there were some people hidden in the shadows. Suddenly, I understood why the man told me the shortcut should be the best way instead of taking the regular way.
"Maybe little late to understand that at this point," I said to myself.
The thieves attacked me, but it was my lucky day. I almost killed their chief during their first attack. I told the thieves, "I’m going to let you live if you can tell me why the man down the street wants you dead".
The leaders of the thief said, "What? He was asking you to kill us?"
I said to the thieves, "Yes, he said to me you have been working against him. But if you leave me right now I’m going to let you go.”
The thieves said "we have to talk to that bastard now, and we shall show him we don’t like that way he is working.”
When I was back at the tavern and told the bartender that I had completed the task.
The bartender said, "Did you encounter any problems on your way?"
I said "Well, I met a man who showed me a shortcut to the North gate, and there were some thieves in my way.”
The bartender said, "I know him, he wasn’t successful in the Academy and been recruited by those thieves. He always begging for food and try to steal things from me"
I said "I don’t think he going to do that anymore”, and explained what happened when I met the thieves".
"I’m going to leave for Yar Nadrak in the early morning so I want some food and a room" I said.
The bartender said "The food is in the next room and I have a room for you on the second floor.” The bartender gave me a map when I was about to leave the room. "Here is a map to Yar Nadrak. You can use it on your way." the bartender said.
I left Boktor in the early morning and it seems to be a hot summer day when I went on my way to Yar Nadrak. Some hour later, I met two Nadraks on my way from Boktor to Yar Nadrak.
I said, "Hello. My name is Kessik and I wonder if you can tell me something about
Yar Nadrak".
The Nadrak said, "I am Broldec and he is Droldec. Droldec is my brother. What do you want to know about Yar Nadrak?”
I said "I want to know what have happened lately in Yar Nadrak and of course if you can tell me about any good taverns.”
Broldec said, "Well, we haven’t been in Yar Nadrak for over six months."
Droldec said, "We were in the mountain digging for gold and hunting for pelts, and the last two weeks have we spent in Boktor.”
I said, "Did you find any gold?”
Broldec said "We found quite a lot of gold but we wasted it all during the two weeks we were there.”
I said "I’m on my way to Yar Nadrak, and the reason is that I heard so much about it I have to see if what they told me is true.”
Broldec said, "Sure, we can show you all the good taverns and where the best dancers are.”
We arrived at Yar Nadrak at around sundown the next day.
Droldec said, "Shall we go to a tavern and get some food first?”
The tavern catered, it seemed, to shabby poor men, laughing and talking among themselves - gold diggers and hunters from the look of them. Broldec propped one foot up on a bench and settled him back against the stone wall.
“What is this for a sort of tavern?" Droblec whispered to me. “It looks like a tavern where thieves do business.”
Broldec said "Anyway, we need to find a hire soon.”
Oddly enough, some hours later someone offered us a different type of hire. Broldec was keeping watch on the door when he saw a man slip into the tavern room. All muffled in a dark cloak, with the hood up against the rain in the summer night, he was as the tallish side. When he approached the table, the hood slipped, giving me a glimpse of dark eyes and a face with scars in a cruel way.
“I heard from the bartender there were those who wish to hire,” he spoke with a difficult accent, “I might have a hire for you. I gestured at the bench on the opposite of the table.”
I said, “Sit down there and tell us that you will offer us.”
"I have an enemy," he whispered, "He insulted me, mocked me, and dared me to stop him, and he knows very well that I’ve got no skill with weapons. I will pay very high for proof of his death,” he said.
I said, "I don’t like you and I will never work for any Murgo.” The Murgo rose and dashed for the door, as if the dolt just realized that he has said too much to a stranger. “When did you ask the bartender if he got a job?”
Droldec said, "When I bought the beer.”
Broldec said, "I take a look, around here and we going to find out if we can eat here.” Broldec went to the kitchen hut in the other tavern, which was big as a small house.
In the thick smoke, some cooks were yelling at a squad of kitchen maids over the basket with bread and bowls with stewed cabbage. In that madhouse, a poisoner could slip all manners of things into the food and drink, but on the other hand, it would be near impossible to ensure that only the target eats the tainted servings.
When Broldec returned, he said, "We probably should not eat here. Maybe someone already tried to kill the victim with poison. Hey, there is a tavern down the street. Let’s check that tavern instead.” On the way to the other tavern we saw some Nadrak talking with the Murgo. My friend said "the Murgo is really scared maybe there is a bounty on his head.”
Broldec said "I shall talk with some of my old friends here about that I will be back in a moment.” He walked away along the street.
Some minutes later, Broldec came back. He said "I talking to some friends of mine. They said there is a huge reward on the Murgo’s head. They told me that the Murgo was guilty of the death of some merchant last month, and the merchant will pay well if we caught the Murgo. They want us to take the Murgo alive, because they wish to kill him themselves.”
I said, "Well, in that case, we can try to take him alive, but maybe we have to kill him anyway.”
Droblec said, "What will you do after we have killed the Murgo and got the reward? Will you continue forward or will you go back to Algaria?
I said "I don’t know, but maybe I shall go home for a while."
"And that was the end of the story" I told the o

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Back to Yar Nadrak
I was on my way back to the Algarian stronghold, when I met the old man again. The man said,
"Hi. How are you? Can you tell me something more about your journey?”
I said, "Hi. Yes, I can tell you about when I came back to Gar og Nadrak, and they told me the reward on the Murgo that tried bribe us last I was in Yar Nadrak.”
The old man said "Can you tell me about that story?”
I said "As I said, so began that story when I came back to Yar Nadrak…

I rode towards Yar Nadrak, when I met some nadraks. When I asked them if they had heard any news, they said yes. One of the Nadraks said,
"Yes I have heard a rumour that there is a bounty on a Murgo."
The other nadraks said, "Go to the inn and ask the bartender your questions. He should know a lot more of that reward.”
When I arrived at Yar Nadrak, I asked the bartender in the first tavern I saw. I said "Hi! I wonder if you know anything about the reward on the Murgo?”
The bartender said, "I’m sorry. I’m remember the Murgo, but I don’t know anything about him.”
I said, "Do you know if there is anyone who knows anything about the Murgo?”
The bartender said "Well, you can ask the bartender in the South Gate Inn. The tavern is just before the south gate.”
I walked to the South Gate Inn and asked the bartender my questions about that Murgo. The bartender pointed to a man back of the room and said, "Ask him, he saw when the Murgo left Yar Nadrak.”
I went to the man the bartender pointed to. I said, "Hi, the bartender told me that you saw the accused Murgo leave Yar Nadrak.”
The man said, "Yes, I saw him running like hell out of Yar Nadrak.”
I said, "Can you tell me where you saw him?”
The man said, "It was just before the south gate. I think he is trying to reach Yar Marak.”
I said, "Thanks, here is some money, so you can buy a beer.”
I went to the south gate and asked the gate guard about the Murgo. The gate guards told me that they saw him riding towards Yar Marak.
I left Yar Nadrak at dawn. I followed the river Cordu until I came closer to Yar Marak. I reached Yar Marak just before the dusk. I went to the first Inn I found. I rented a room for the night, and decide to wait until next day, before I asked after the Murgo. I entered my room and fell asleep very fast. I saw the scared face of the Murgo in my dreams.
When I awoke up in the morning the next day, I realized that the Murgo should be more difficult to capture in the reality than it was in my dreams. They that lived were dressed in black leather clothes, which were stained of the red earth. I went in on a tavern and asked if there was anyone who could tell me something about that Murgo I sought after. I went to another tavern and put the same questions there. They responded that I should proceed further across the river Cordu to Thull Zelik and ask them about the Murgo. The man said they should know more about the
Murgo there.
When I cross the river Cordu and came to Thull Zelik so could I at once understand that Thull Zelik laid close to the Sea. It smelled saltwater and pliers. Thull Zelik consisted of grey house, which was made of stone. I went to the Harbour and asked if someone had heard something about the Murgo. But none had. I decided that I should ask the bartenders instead.
The bartenders usually hear a lot about rumours. I went to the first tavern and would just ask the bartender there about the Murgo. They had heard a fight between some people. When the fight ended, I asked them why they fought.
They pointed on the dead man and said, "He worked for a Murgo, and helped the Murgo kill a friend to us.”
I said, "Do you know if that Murgo is the same Murgo accused for being a murderer in Yar Nadrak?”
They said, "We don’t know, but you ought ask the bartender in the tavern which is close to the south gate, he ought to know.”
I went to the Eastern Dragon, which was the name of the tavern that was closest to the south gate. I asked the bartender at the tavern, if he had heard something about the Murgo. The bartender at the tavern told me that he didn’t know so much about the Murgo.
The bartender said "But it is rumoured that a trapper has seen a Murgo leave Thull Zelik. The Murgo travelled along the caravan route through Mishrac ac Thull, according to the rumour.”
I said "can you tell me where I can find the the Trapper?”
The bartender said "I think you can find him at the Eastern Sea Inn".
I went to the Inn and asked after the Trapper. A man told me that the Trapper should come to the Inn soon. After about one hour the Trapper came to the Inn. I went to the Trapper and said,
"Hi, people have told me that you might have seen the accused Murgo leave Thull Zelik. It was some days ago since he left, I think.”
The Trapper said, "Yes, I saw a Murgo. It was about three days ago and he fled very fast.” The Trapper continued, "Ride along the caravan route through Mishrac ac Thull.”
I said, “Thanks. Here is some money so you can get something to drink.”
I left Thull Zelik and rode along the caravan route through Mishrac ac Thull. I that I should ask about the Murgo in every village I passed by.
I rode to Gor been and stayed when I saw some Thulls and asked them if they had seen any Murgo. The Thulls told me that they haven’t seen any Murgos there. I asked the bartender on the tavern the same thing. I rode to the next village, which would be Thrinn, according to my map. The village was entirely deserted. I ended my search for any from the village, after that I had looked for them for more than one hour. I left the empty village and rode to Thull Wadtt. I asked the bartender at the Inn if about the Murgo. The bartender at the Inn told me that he never had heard anything about the Murgo. The bartender asked me if I want a room for the night, I told the bartender that I want a room. The bartender gave me a key and told me that my room first room to the left.
I went to the room, and fell asleep very fast. I began dream about the Murgo. In my dream was the Murgo in a small village. The Murgo was frightening the Thulls, who left the village in their escape. In my dream the Murgo said "You will never find anyone who can tell you, about me and where I’m going to be.”
When I awoke up the next morning, remember the dream. I said to me "maybe the dream was true, in that case I never have a chance to capture him. Suddenly, I remember the empty village and at once I understand what I should do to have a chance of capturing the Murgo. If the Murgo passed by a village, there should be someone who had seen him, or he must have managed to frighten away everyone so the village is empty. I decided that he must have passed Thrinn.
So I leaving Thull Wadtt and rode along the caravan route through Mishrac ac Thull towards Thull Mardu.
I arrived at Thull Mardu just before dusk the next day. I went to a tavern and asked after the Murgo, I was told the Murgo just left the t tavern and asked the guard, just outside the tavern if he had seen the Murgo. The guard told me that the Murgo went to the other tavern. I went to that tavern the guard told me the Murgo went to. Before I reached the bartender, I saw the Murgo and ran after him, but he fled out from the tavern.
When I reached the entrance to the tavern, I saw the Murgo running along the street, towards the north gate of Thull mardu. I ran after the Murgo and caught him just before the north gate. I told the gate guards that to hold the Murgo until I got my horse. When I had my horse and the Murgo’s horse I went back to the guards. When I returned to the guards, the Murgo seemed to have some more injuries: the Murgo had presumably tried fleeing and the guards buffeted the Murgo when they hold him. I began my journey back to Yar Nadrak and the reward they would give me when I came back with the accused Murgo.
During the journey back to Yar Nadrak, I was thinking about that fact it was too easy to capture the Murgo in Thull Mardu. I got a strange feeling about that I had made a mistake somewhere. When I came to Yar Nadrak they told me that I got the wrong Murgo. I understood that the Murgo whom I had tried to capture had fooled me once

I said to the old man "But I got a strange Feeling in the moment that I shall meet the Murgo again somewhere

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A job
When I was back at the Algarian Stronghold, they told me there was a man in Sendar I could ask if I want a job. I went to Sendar and asked at the Inn if they knew whom the man was which I could ask for a job. They told me that it must be Floyd I should meet, he allotted jobs to they whom wants job sometimes. I asked if they could tell me where this Floyd lived, they told me that I should follow that street until I came to the temple of UL and asking someone there about the rest of the way to Floyds place. I met some men at the market square.
I said "Hi, can anyone of you tell me where Floyd lives?”
The man said "go south and then west from here until you reach the River Bend Tavern and then Floyd’s house is to the left."
I said "thanks my friend." When I came to the River Bend Tavern I saw Floyds house across the street. I went to his house and knocked on the door, but no one open the door, so I went to the tavern and decided me to eat something before I went to Floyds house again.
After I got my food and some beer, I went back to Floyds house and knocked on the door again, and this time a young lady opened the door.
I said "Hi ! I’m Kessik, I wonder if you have any job you can offer me.”
The man in the office said "Hi! I’m Floyd, let me see if I got something to you". Floyd said, "I have one job for you if you are interested.”
I said, "Of course I’m interested, just tell me about the job.”
Floyd said "I hear rumors that the Cherek brewmaster needs a job done". Floyd continued, "Head for Sendarian Pavilion in Arendish Great Fair, if you want this job.”
I said "I will do that, I’m going to that brewmaster right now. I Left Floyd’s house and went to the tavern across the street. The owner of the tavern told me that I should go to the west gate of Sendar and then continue to the west. I rode along the road until I meet some people at a intersection. I stayed there and asked if they could tell me the way to the Cherek brewmaster in Arendish Great Fair. The told me that I should continue north until I saw a couple of house and asking more there.
About an half hour later, I met some people and asked them if they could tell me where the brewmaster was. A merchant said "when you reach the next intersection, go to the left and he is just around the corner. I followed the directions I got from the merchant. I found the brewmaster and said
"Hi! I’m Kessik, Floyd told me that you have a job that needs to be done.”
The Cherek brewmaster said "Hi Kessik. Well, let’s see what you can do for me, Kessik". The brewmaster continued "I have a job to you, if you are interested.”
I said "Yes, I’m interested in a job, just tell me about the job.”
The brewmaster said "I need an important message delivered as soon as possible". The brewmaster continued "This needs to get to the bartender at the Eastern tavern, in Seline. Good luck, Kessik, and farewell.”
I got a letter from the brewmaster, which was seal by wax". I said "I shall deliver the letter to the bartender in Seline as fast I can". I put the letter inside my jacket and went back to my horse. I began ride towards Seline.
When I arrived to Medalia, I went to the first tavern I found. I left Medalia in the dawn the next day and rode along the road to Seline. I came to Seline just before the dusk. I asked a guard if he could tell me the way to the Eastern tavern.
The guard said, "the Eastern tavern is just around the corner.”
I went to the tavern and gave the letter to the bartender. The bartender gave me some silver and said, "Thanks, for you have deliver the letter to me.”
I said "Do you have a room? I’m tired and need some sleep before I’m going home.”
The bartender said "I have a room for you". I got the key to the room and went to the room. I fell asleep very fast, since I was so tired.
When I awoke next morning I took my horse and began ride towards Sendar. I arrived to Sendar just before the sun was going down.
Now that I finished the job the brewmaster gave me, I decided me for that I should go home to the clan hall. When I was back I left my horse at the stable. When I looking around, I saw that the horses in the stable needed food, water and many other things. Someone had to take care of the horses, I decided me to find someone who want that job. When I walked around the clan hall I saw a young man in the kitchen.
I went to the kitchen. The young man said "I want something else to do.”
I said "Hello young man, I have something you can do after that you have finished the kitchen work if you want.”
The young man said “I shall finished this work, and after that you can tell me about what you want me to do.”
The young man said "I’m Rhyrmon and I’m so happy, I do whatever you want me to do. Everything is better than the kitchen work.” Rhyrmon asked, "can you tell me about what you want me to do?”
I answered, "yes, you can take care of my horse and the other horses in the stable, give them food, water and whatever else they need.”
When I left the kitchen and went to the lounge, I noticed that Rhyrmon had a strange expression in his face. It’s always good when I can make someone happy. It was nice to be home

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A day in Sendar
When I awoke the next day, I was hungry so I decided me for that I would have something to eat. And I skulked, looking around Sendar after my breakfast. When I saw the mess in the kitchen, I knew that the cook would be real angry when he sees this mess. When I saw the mess, I decided to have my dinner at some tavern instead of in the lounge. When I was looked around, I saw some pieces of cookies on the floor. I followed the pieces of cookies to Rhyrmon’s room, and understood he will meet the cook soon.
I went to the tavern. The bartender asked me, "Hello, what do you want?”
I said "just give me something to eat.”
The bartender said "I shall get some food to you.”
The bartender went to the kitchen and came back with some bread and a cup of coffee. While eating my food, I heard someone talk about how many thieves they had seen the last weeks. I noticed that there were a lot of beggars in Sendar too. I left the tavern and I saw a beggar just around the corner. I gave the beggar some silver coins and asked him if he knew anything about these thieves.
The beggar said "I have heard a rumour about some thieves which have stolen something valuable. But I don’t know anything about them or what they have stolen, but maybe some of the other thieves know who the victim was.” I said tavern when I saw a suspicious man.
I went to the man, and I asked him if he knew anything about the stolen thing. The thief tried to run away, but I caught him at the end of the street. The thief said "I don’t know anything about that.”
I said "If that was true, you ought to have told me that instead of running away.
The thief said "I don’t going to tell you anything, you can’t frighten me.”
I said "You will tell me what you know, because if you don’t do that, I will take you to the bar there the thieves meets.”
The thief said "So what? Do you think that would frighten me if you take me to that bar?” I said "yes, I think so Because I’m going to give you some money and say thanks for the information you gave me, in front of all thieves there are.” I continued. "And those thieves going to believe, that you have told me everything you know.”
The thief tried to escape, but it was easy for me to hold him. The thief asked "Will you let me go if I tell you what I know?”
I answered "Yes, if you tell me everything you know about the stolen thing.”
The thief said "I know that they meet at the bar. The stolen thing is a ring which belongs to a well known person in Sendar.” The thief continued. "And that they shall blackmail him later.” The thief asked "Can I go now?”
I said "yes, but if this is a lie, I’m going to find you and take you to the bar where the thieves meets.”
The thief said "It is true, you must believe me.”
I said "ok, you can go.” The thief left very quickly. I went back to the clan hall. When I came to the lounge in the clan hall, I saw Rhyrmon and Delminia talking to each other. Just before that I was going to rest on some pillows Rhyrmon came to me and said something very quiet.
I said "what did you say Rhyrmon, you must speak louder.”
Rhyrmon said "I wonder if you will teach us how to ride a horse?”
I said "just let me rest for a while, and I shall give you a lesson about how to ride a horse.” I continued. "But only if you have finished all your jobs in the kitchen.”
Rhyrmon said "I have done that job already.”
I said "ok, I will tell you when I’m ready for the teaching.”

I went to the stable and looked at the horses there. There was one of the horses which could be good for teaching the children how to ride a horse. The milkmaid asked me if there was something I needed. I told the milkmaid that the Rhyrmon had asked me if I could teach them how to ride a horse.
The milkmaid said "I understand now why Rhyrmon visits here so much lately.” The milkmaid continued. "What do you think he’s going to say if I asked him to help me?”
I said "I don’t know. Ask him.”
The milkmaid said "I will do that.&

I went back to the lounge. I saw Rhyrmon there.
I said "Hi Rhyrmon, I can teach both you and Delminia about how to ride a horse, later today.” I continued. "I shall take just another round to Sendar first.” I went to Sendar, and asked the bartender at the tavern if he had heard a rumour about a stolen ring.
The bartender said "Yes, there has been a rumour about a stolen ring.”
I said "Do you anything about that rumour?”
The bartender said "I don’t know anything. You have to go to the Black Bird.” The bartender continued. "There are usually many strange and odd people.”
I said "Thanks.” I left the bar and began walk back to the clan

When I came back to the clan hall, I found both Rhyrmon and Delminia at the lounge, waiting for their lesson. I told them to follow me to the stable. We got a horse at the stable and went to the meadows. Rhyrmon told me that he wanted to be first to have the lessons. They both did it very well, as long as they were on the horse. Later that evening I asked them if they wished for more lessons later. Both Rhyrmon and Delminia said "Yes”.
I said "I can teach you more later. Maybe you should have a smaller horse.” I continued. "But I’m going to sleep now.&

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A stolen ring
When I awoke the next day, I got a little headache and I got a feeling about that fact I had too much beer last night. I decided that I would rest before I went back to the tavern and asked more about the ring. I came to the tavern just after the dinner. When I went to the market square, I saw that there’s a festival which is coming to town. I decided to join the festival. The first thing I did when I arrived at the festival was to find the chief of the festival.
When I found the chief I told him that I could show the spectators how to ride and use a horse during a fight. The chief said "this is the last day we are in Sendar.” The chief continued. "We will leave Sendar tomorrow.”
I said "I can do my horseshow this evening.”
The chief said "That would be nice, anything you need for your show.”
I said "Yes, that would be nice if you can lend me some big dolls.”
The chief said "I have some dolls which people throw knives against, you can borrow them.”
I said "thanks, for you offer me the dolls.”
I got my horse and rode to that field there the festival was and began to prepare for the show. I put some dolls at those different locations in the meadows, and vaulted onto the saddle. I let my horse take a walk around the meadows and after that I began my show. The first round I just rode around the dolls. The next round I had the horse jumping over every second doll. The third round began with me showing some tricks with my weapons and after that I took my sabre and cut off all the dolls head I passed by the dolls on my horse.
I picked up the head of the dolls from the ground in the next round. The next thing I had decided to do was to put every head on the different pole which was in front of the spectators. I stand up in the saddle, and put a head on every pole.
The last round I let my horse jump over some of the dolls when I was standing on the back of the horse. I ended my show with a somersault and landed besides the horse. I went to the chief, after that I had finished my show and told him that I was grateful for the dolls.
The chief said "It was a nice show, but I have to repair the dolls.”
I said "But it the price you have to pay for the show.”
I walk around among those who looking on the show. I saw the thief there and asked him if he got any news about the stolen ring. But the thief told me that he didn’t have any news about the ring. I took my horse to the stable and went back to the clan hall.
No one was in the clan hall when I came back, they were probably still at the festival. I went back to the tavern in Sendar and asked the bartender if he had heard anything news about the stolen ring.
He said "Yes, I’ve heard there is a thief at the festival who knows something about the ring.” The bartender continued. "The thief did some tricks with knives at the festival. It’s all I know.”
I said "I shall look for that thief”, and told the bartender that I was grateful about the information.
I went back to the festival and asked the chief of the festival where I could find the thief who used knives in his show. The chief gave me the directions to the place there the thief ought to be. I went to that place and found the thief. I asked the thief if he could tell me anything about the stolen ring. The thief told me that I ought to be in the tavern tomorrow night if I want any news.
I went back to the lounge. When I was back in the lounge, Rhyrmon asked me when I could get a pony for him. I told Rhyrmon and Delminia that I would look for some horse traders soon and maybe I could get a pony for them.
When I went to the tavern the next night, I saw some new thieves there. There was a Nyissan poisoner among the new thieves. About ten minutes later, the thief I met at the festival arrived at the tavern. The Nyissan poisoner went to him and they began talk to each other. The thief from the festival left the tavern immediately after he finished talking to the poisoner.
I get on my feet and followed the thief at a distance. The thief walked to his horse and rode along the road to Muros. I took my horse and continued follow him at distance. The thief stayed at a house just outside Sendar. I sneaked until I was close to the house. When I looked through the window, there was a man in some dark clothes talking to the thief. I went back to Sendar and to the room at the tavern where the thief lived. I made a decision to wait for the thief in his

It was early morning when the thief came back to his room, I told him to be quiet and that he would tell me everything he knows about the ring.
The thief said "But I don’t know anything.”
I said "Tell me the truth, don’t lie to me.” I continued. "I followed you out of Sendar to that place where you met the man in the dark clothes.”
The thief said "I shall tell you the truth The man in the dark clothes is working for some Murgo.”
I asked "Is the Murgo still in that house?”
The thief answered "No. He left the house when I went back to Sendar.”
I said "What do you know about the Nyissan poisoner and the Murgo?”
The thief said "Nothing more than he is probably halfway to Nyissa now.”
I said "I shall look in the tavern and see if there’s anyone who know anything.”
The thief said "I think they are all dead, this poisoner is one of the best.”
I said "I must check the tavern anyway.”
The thief said "You can ask the horse trader about the poisoner, since he sold the horse to him.” The thief continued. "But I don’t know anything about the Murgo. Maybe the poisoner knows.”
I said "It was good you told me that."

I went to the tavern and saw that everyone was dead. I looked all around the tavern, but I could not find any news about the stolen ring. When I had explored the tavern I went back to the clan hall. When I was back in the lounge, I met the cook there.
The cook said "I wish the children didn’t sneak around in the kitchen at the night.”
I said "Do you want me to tell them that?”
The cook said "NO, I shall tell them about that tomorrow.”
I said "Don’t be too hard on them.”
The cook said "No, I shall only give them a warning about what can happen if they continue stealing my cookies.”
I said "Well I shall tell them that I’m going to give them some more lessons about how to ride a horse after my meeting with the horse trader.” I went to bed for a few hours of sleep before my trip to the horse trader. I fell in a deep sleep immediately...

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A strange man
This day began just like all days; I had my breakfast and went to the market square after that I had finished my breakfast. When I arrived to the market square, the first men I met were two farmers who talked about no one wanting to buy their meat anymore. I asked one of the farmers why they couldn’t sell their products. The farmer answered that those who used to buy their products had found and bought cheaper meat this year.
I told the farmer that I would see if I could find any reason behind that fact that no one wanted to buy the farmers’ meat. The farmer said 'we think we know who he is.' I asked the farmer 'who is he?’ The farmer gave me a diary. The farmer said 'I wrote this diary when I followed the man who tried to find the man behind the reindeer killing'. I began to read the farmer’s diary.

Page 1... Darkkan and I went to the stable and took our horses and began the trip to Cherek since we already had decided to meet a friend there. It was really nice weather during the crossing from port Sendar to the harbour in Val Alorn. We decided to ask the butcher in Val Alorn if he had any meat he wanted to sell. Darkkan said ‘do you have any meat for sale?’ The butcher answered 'I have a lot of cheap fine meat I can sell to you.’ I said 'what kind of meat do you have?’
The butcher went to another room and came back with some meat. Darkkan said 'the meat looks really strange. The butcher said 'yes it is because the meat is from a reindeer.’ I said 'who sells meat from a reindeer?’ The butcher said 'it is a long story, but the seller was a strange man and he promised me that he could get more of this cheap meat for me if I wanted.' Darkkan said 'we should start looking for that strange man.’
We went to a tavern just before sundown. The tavern was large and a huge chandelier provided the tavern with light. There were a lot of people in the tavern. We bought some beers and took them with us to our room at the hostel. When we woke up the next morning, Darkkan decided that we should ask all the other taverns if they had seen that strange man who sold meat from a reindeer. After we did the research we found that everyone had bought meat from that strange man.
We decided to go to the harbour and ask someone there if they knew anything about the strange man who sold meat. We saw a captain in the harbour and walked down to him. Darkkan said 'hi can you tell me something about the man who sells meat from a reindeer?’ The captain said 'I heard that the strange man already have left Val Alorn for Tol Rane'. I said 'do you know where strange man got all the meat he sells?’ The captain said 'no, but I believe the meat was from someplace in the western countries'.
Darkkan said 'when will the next ship leave Val Alorn?’ The captain said 'I shall sail to port Sendar in the morning'. We told the captain that we would follow him to port Sendar. The captain said 'you two have to be at my ship in the early morning if you shall follow me'. Darkkan said 'we will be there in the morning'....

I fell asleep after that I have read the first page in the farmer’s diary.

I continued to read in the farmer’s diary when I had got my breakfast the next morning.

Page2... The ship left the harbour at sunrise and the crossing back to port Sendar took two days. We arrived to port Sendar in the sundown and went directly to a hostel and got us a room for the night. We started our trip to Muros the next morning and we run across two hunters some hours after that we had left port Sendar. We decide to ask the hunters if they had heard any news about the strange man.
Darkkar said "hi I am Darkkar and he is Vard, we wondering if you have heard anything about a man who sells cheap meat.” The hunter said "we don’t know anything about that man since we hunt our own meat and don’t visit the butchers shop.” Darkkan said "well we have to continue looking after him.” The hunter said "but take a look in Muros they maybe have heard anything about that man.” Darkkan said "thanks, we will do that.” We continue our trip to Muros after that we had spoken to the hunters. We came to Muros just after the sundown and we went to a tavern for some food and a room for the night.
The tavern was small and only lit by some smoky torches. We got our food and began eat when suddenly several drunken men began pummelling each other with fist and clubs. Darkkan went to one of those men who remained sitting then they other began the fight. Darkkan said "hi, I wonder if you have heard anything about a strange man who sells cheap meat.” The man said "yes, he had been here, but he left Muros for a while ago.” Darkkan said "do you have any idea about where we can find that strange man?” The man said "I suggest Tol Rane and I know that he’s already been in Cthol Murgos.” Darkkan said "Cthol Murgos, are you sure about he’s been there?” The man said "yes, I was there myself and I saw him with my own eyes.” Darkkan said "thanks for the information, that can be useful for us when we looking after him.”
Some hours later when we had return to the room we had rent for the night I asked Darkkan if he got any idea about who the strange man was. Darkkan told me that he had no idea about who the strange man was. Darkkan said "but we must sleep now, it will be a long day tomorrow...”

I began to become hungry and decided that I should have some dinner before I read page 3.

It is now seven days since we left Muros and began our journey to Tol Rane. The first two days on the journey was easy, but we had to fight against some strange animal the third day. It was a dreadful fight and I suppose we survived only just for we were lucky that day. We found a house the next day. The owner of that house was a healer who could heal some of our wounds. It was just before sundown so the healer let us stay at his place for the night so we could continue our journey the next day.
It took us three days to pass the rest of the forest. The forest was filled by bones from those who had been killed in the war between Asturians and Mimbrates for a long time ago. It is now one week since we left Muros and we are now just outside Tol Rane and shall begin our research after the strange man tomorrow.
We entered the west gate to Tol Rane the next were to find a tavern for some breakfast and try to get some information about the strange man. We asked a man and he told us how to find the best tavern. When we had entered the tavern Darkkan went to the bartender and began a conversation.
Darkkan said "hi, do you know anything about a man who sells very cheap meat?” The bartender said "no, but ask the man who stands at the end of the bar.” The bartender pointed on a man who stands alone at the end of the bar. Darkkan moved to that man and asked if he could tell us about the strange man.
The man said "why should I tell you anything at all?” When the man said that Darkkan took a knife and showed the knife to the man. Darkkan said "answer me now that you know, because the next time I’ll use my knife instead of asking you.” The man said "well the only thing I have heard was that he had been working someplace around Boktor.” Darkkan said "if this is a lie you know that you will meet me again.” The man said "it is true, trust me.” Darkkan went back to me and told me that we should ride against Boktor tomorrow. We decided us for that it was time for some sleep before that we should leave for Boktor...

I decided that I should read the next page in the farmer’s diary tomorrow and went to bed.

I awoke in the morning just before the sunrise and decided me for that I should continue read in the farmer’s diary.

Page 4....

We left Tol Rane in the early morning and rode towards the borderline between Algaria and Gar og Nadrak. The journey to Gar og Nadrak took us about eight days. We found a manor which had a lot of guards and asked if we could stay there over the night. The owner of the manor told us that we could stay if we want, but we must be ready to leave the manor really fast since they expected an attack from an enemy in the next few days.
We went to our room and fell asleep instantly. The owner came to our room early in the morning. We were awakened by the noise the owner made when he opened the door to our room. The owner said "Hi. This is strange, I know, but you must trust me.” The owner continues "it is very important that you two pack your possessions so that you can leave the manor immediately.” The owner continued, "hurry up there is no time to wait, the manor is well protected but not invulnerable.” Darkkan said "we are ready to leave within a few minutes.” The owner said "good.” We left the manor about five minutes later and rode towards Yar Nadrak.
We run across a group of men some times after that we had left the manor. The bandit leader said "you know why we are here, hand over your weapons and your equipment and no one will be hurt.” The leader continues "but if you resist it shall be a waste of your life.” Darkkan said "you and your group are fools if you believe we would trust your benevolence.” Darkkan said "step aside and you and your lackeys will survive.”
The leader said "I’m sorry that you two feel that way.” The fight started just after that Darkkan had told them that we don’t trust them. The fight was hard and we had killed some of the bandits when a group of warriors came to our help. Darkkan said "thanks for scaring away the bandits, we are really grateful for that.” The warrior said "no problem, we trying to hunting down those bandits.” Darkkan said "can you tell us anything about this area?”
The warrior said "I suppose you are asking of the immediate north, such as Gar og Nadrak"? The warrior continues "unfortunately no, we don’t know much of the area north of here.” Darkkan said "thanks for the help, we have to continue northwards.” We continue our journey against Gar og Nadrak.”

After that I had read the first four pages in the farmer’s diary I begin think about who the strange man could be. Maybe I should find out more after that when I read the next page.

I continued to read the diary after that I got some food. I was sure I would find the answers about who the strange man was since page 5 was the last page in the diary.

Page 5...
We arrived to Yar Nadrak at sundown the next day and as usual we went in first to the tavern and ordered us some beer. Darkkan asked the bartender if he know or had heard anything about the man who sells cheap meat. The bartender answered yes, but he wasn't alone. Darkkan said "was there someone with him?” The bartender answered "yes and they are at the tavern, which is close to the south gate.”
We run directly towards the south gate and there were some men and a dead man. Darkkan asked the men around the dead one if they knew if he was the strange man. The men said, “we don't know if it was the strange man we killed or if we killed someone which helped him.” Darkkan said "well we had to wait and see if he shows up again.” Darkkan and I went back to the tavern for the night.

The diary ends with the dead man in Yar Nadrak. I decided that I should ask the farmer if he continued the story in another diary, but went back to the lounge first and talked to the others for a short while.

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Back at home
I remember one day for not so long when I came back to the lounge and saw a new girl there. She seemed to have grown up in some of the foreign countries. We began talk about different things. I explained that I found an old diary which once had belonged to a farmer and I journeyed to the locations the diary describes. She asked me why I went to those countries.
I told her that I liked to explore the past and I didn’t have many reasons to be home in my loneliness. I introduced myself to her and said my name was Kessik. She told me that her name was Hafwen and that she came from Tol Honeth. I asked her how life was in Tol Honeth and said that I wished to learn about the country where she was born since I hadn’t been there much. She answered she could describe how the life was in the country there she was born. She continued, “But there is a thing I have to do before that I can describe that country where I was born for you.”
“Wait.” I said. “I have to leave now. I shall ride to the border between Drasnia and Gar og Nadrak.” I stood up from the pillows and wielded my weapons and was just about to go when she came to me and gave me a hug and told me that I should be careful. I answered her that she should be careful too and I concluded with that I should be back one month later and we can discuss more than I am back.
I walked out to my horse and rode northwards. Some hours later I saw a small building and asked a man just outside the building if I could stay at his place during this night. The man said of course you can stay if you pay me for that. I asked the man how much he wanted for one night and he told me that he wants only some silver. I gave the man some silver and put my horse in the stable and went back to the man and he showed me a room which I could use during that night.
Just before I fell in sleep I wondering why I was so restless and don’t have the usually longing after spend a lot of time in foreign countries. When I fell asleep I dreamed about the usually things I always dreams about, but after a while the dreams change and I saw the girl from the lounge in my dream. When I awoke in the morning and begin wonder if that dream was a sign of some sort. I rode further against the borderline between Drasnia and Gar og Nadrak, I arrived to the borderline one week later.
One of those Nadraks in the small village came to me and asked if I was the man they were waiting for. I told him that I got a letter some weeks ago from the old man in their village where he asked if I could help him find his treasure. The man said thanks for coming, and that old man was his father and he had disappeared. We begin searching for his father. We found the old man three days later in a cave where the old man and his treasure were.
I begin my journey back to the lounge and wonder why I was so happy to get back home. The journey back took only a week but I wonder why the journey back felt so much longer than it really was. I arrived to the lounge just before the sunset. The first person I met in the lounge was Hafwen who gave me a big hug and asked how my journey had been. I said the journey was good but I felt it was boring to be away by some reason.

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The lounge
Kessik rode along the small path on his way back to Sendar. The shadows from the trees beside the path began to grow. It was still a couple hours before it would be dark. Kessik had spent the last two weeks in Algarian stronghold visiting his parents.
He arrived to Sendar just after sundown. The street in Sendar was empty now when the evening had begun. Kessik rode through the eastern gate and went north and continued to the stable that belonged to the clan hall.
The clan hall was dim and quiet and every movement could be heard. Kessik opened the door to the clan hall and walked into the foyer, which was empty. He went to the lounge and took a seat on some pillows in the corner and began to write down what happened during the time he visited his parents.
The lounge was almost empty when he took his seat, the only one in the lounge was Hafwen who nodded politely. Hafwen held a dagger in one hand and a flask in the other hand. She took some sips now and then. Kessik took a short fast look at her she and noticed that she had brown short hair and was dressed in clothes which made it look like she had been travelling for a long time. With a closer look, noticed she looked nervous and tired since she fingered her dagger and constantly looked up. Kessik looked at Hafwen and noticed that she yawned and stretched and he asked her if she was tired.
"A little," said Hafwen, "and I have travelled a lot the last month."
Kessik continue to write about what had happened the last week. Hafwen seemed to be lost in dreams, she just fingered on her dagger and took a few sips from the flask now and then. The light flickered and Kessik realised that it was late when he saw Hafwen leave the lounge and walk to her room.
Kessik finished the notes he was writing and thinking about Hafwen she seems a little bit strange but in the same way he recognized that she wasn't so different from him, she only speaks a lot. After finishing the note he felt a little bit tired and decided that it was time for some sleep. Kessik stood up and went to his room. There were still many hours left of the night when he fell asleep.
When the first ray of sunshine arrived to the room it woke Kessik up and he went to the lounge to get something to eat. Kessik saw the cook in the kitchen and went to him.
"Do you want something to eat?" said the cook, when Kessik arrived to the kitchen.
"Yes it would be nice if you can give me something to eat," answered Kessik.
"You can take a seat in the lounge during the time it takes me to prepare the food." said the cook to Kessik.
Kessik went back to the lounge and was looking at a scroll, when he heard someone coming. When he looked in the direction he had heard that noise, he saw Hafwen enter the lounge. Hafwen took a seat and looked still tired and her hair had all the signs of that she had just awakened.
"Here is your breakfast Kessik," said the cook. "Do you want something to eat?" the cook asked Hafwen. Kessik looked at Hafwen when she twiddled her thumbs and looked at the food the cook had.
"Maybe a little food would be good." said Hafwen. The cook went back to the kitchen.
"Have you slept well?" asked Kessik.
"Yes." answered Hafwen. The cook came and gave the food to Hafwen and she began to eat.
"I can see you were really hungry." said Kessik to Hafwen.
"Yes I was." answered Hafwen.

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In the early morning
The night was clear and it was almost completely quiet. Only the soft sound from the wind could be heard. Kessik waiting for Hafwen to climb down from the roof. Suddenly she came down from the roof.
"Ok shall we take a walk?" said Hafwen quietly to Kessik.
"Sure, I just was waiting for you to come down from the roof" said Kessik to Hafwen and began walking along the street. They walked together to the park without saying a word to each other.
Kessik looked at Hafwen as they wandered to the park. She was unusually quiet, and Kessik wondered why she was so quiet. As they walked around in the park, a duck was easy to see in the sharp light from the moon. They stood and saw the ducks paddles around. They were just looking at the ducks without saying a word to each other. Kessik looked at Hafwen again and began to wonder why she didn’t speak at all during the walk to the park or when they looked at the ducks. He thought that if she didn’t want to say anything he shouldn't disturb her, she must be thinking about something important since she usually wasn't so quiet. They walked around in the park for about an hour and stopped when they returned to the pond again.
When they stood there at the pond Kessik looked at Hafwen again and thought for him she looked a little confused and it was maybe time to walk back to the clan hall since it was close to daybreak.
"You maybe wished that we had walked back to the clan hall a long time ago" said Kessik to Hafwen.
"No, it's been fine with the walk here in the park, but we shall maybe go back to the clan hall now" said Hafwen.
"I was just a little worried that you were cold since you were so quiet, let's walk back to the clan hall now" said Kessik to Hafwen. They went back to the clan hall.
Back in the clan hall Kessik went back to his room. He saw Hafwen walking along the corridor to her room. "Or maybe back to the roof," thought Kessik to himself. Kessik thought back on the evening and when they walked around park. Hafwen had been so different about what she said and did during the time spent together in the park and the hours they had spent together earlier compared to how she acted when there were more people around.
Kessik thought sometimes it could be fun to able to speak in the way that Hafwen usually does. Kessik looked out and saw the first ray of the sun and decided it was time for some sleep.

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The morning
The sky was clear and the shadows grew longer. It was already several hours since daybreak but Kessik was still awake and couldn’t sleep. His memory went back to the time he had spent with Hafwen in the park and outside the clan hall this night or maybe this early morning.
Kessik looked out through the window and saw the park a little bit away, the ducks were still paddling around there. The park seemed to just as peaceful now in middle of morning as the park had been when he walked there together with Hafwen. She had been really different when they had done the walk in the park, different from the way she usually was when there were a lot of people around. Different but not so different from himself since he could in some strange way understand her and see the similarities they had. The more he thinks about it, the more he sees the similarities and wondered why he didn’t see them before. It was really strange how some things can be so hard to see in the first place when they look so easy to understand when they have been detected. After he had thought about the walk in the park for a long time he fell in sleep.
When Kessik woke up the shadows from the trees were long, it wasn’t many hours left to sundown so he had to walk down to Sendar now before it was too late. Kessik got up from the bed and walked out of his room. He closed and locked the door and walked towards the entrance. Hafwen was in the lounge.
"Hi! How are you?" said Kessik to Hafwen.
"I am fine, how are you?" said Hafwen.
"We have to talk more later, I have to go and do some errands now." said Kessik to Hafwen.
"Yes that we can do" said Hafwen, a little quiet. Kessik walked out of the clan hall and walked down to Sendar.
Kessik walked through Sendar. When he saw the shop, he walked in. "Oh hi, I have the equipment here if you wish to look at it," said the shop owner.
"I can look at your new equipment you have for sale?" said Kessik to the shop owner. The shop owner went back to the room beyond the desk. He came back with 2 swords and 2 shields and handled them over to Kessik. Kessik took a quick look at the swords and the shield and then gave them back to the shop owner.
"I'll come back later and decide if I shall buy any of them," said Kessik.
"Ok, but just so you know it is not sure have them you have decided you said," the shop owner to kisser. Kessik walked through Sendar to the park, the park was absolutely peaceful. Kessik went back to the clan hall after he had walked about 10 minutes in the park. After he had been in his room for a while, he went back to the lounge.
Hafwen came to Kessik and said, "I have go and do some errands, but when I come back I'll be looking you up.” Hafwen gave Kessik a short and fast hug on her way out. Hafwen turned around when she came to the door and said "Ok see you later."

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After sundown
Kessik looked out through the window and saw that it was dark already. The time from when he came back to the clan hall after the errands he had done and until now seemed to be shorter than it in fact was. Kessik opened the door and walked through the door and looked around and decided that he should go to the lounge and sit there and read a little.
Kessik took his usual place in the lounge and begin read a scroll. Suddenly there was some sound which could be heard from someplace outside the clan hall. A little while later there was a creak from the door at the entrance to the clan hall. Kessik looked at that direction and saw that Hafwen had entered the clan hall. Hafwen took a seat in the lounge and sighed loudly.
"Hi, how are you? It looks like you are a little tired and thirsty" said Kessik as he looked at Hafwen.
"Oh, I didn't see you. Yes, something to drink could be nice" said Hafwen. Kessik looked around and saw the jug with milk, but he remembered that he had some beer at his room. Kessik went to his room and got two beers, one for himself and one for Hafwen.
"Do you want a beer, or shall I get you some milk?" said Kessik to Hafwen, when he got back to the lounge.
"A beer would be fine since my bottle seems to be empty now" said Hafwen. Kessik gave one of the beers to Hafwen and kept the other one for him. Kessik looked at Hafwen and saw that she had some new scars on her leg.
Kessik looked once again at Hafwen and wondered what happened since she got those new scars on leg, it seemed like it only was one mark on her leg before. With a closer look at her he saw that she got new bloody wounds at her leg and that her leggings were ragged. "Wonder what have happened to her since she got wounded," said Kessik to himself quietly. He looked at his beer.
"Aren't you thirsty?" said Hafwen and looked at Kessik.
"Yes I am thirsty" said Kessik. Hafwen looked at Kessik and said, "Why aren't you drinking anything then?"
"I was thinking about other things" said Kessik. Kessik sipped from the mug and looked at Hafwen. "What happened to you, when you got those new wounds?" said Kessik to Hafwen. Kessik looked at Hafwen's new wounds and realized that those wounds must hurt. "How did you get those new wounds?" said Kessik to Hafwen. Hafwen looked at the rag on her leg.
"You mean this little wound?" said Hafwen and pointed at her leg. "It is nothing more than a little cut," said Hafwen. Kessik looked at the blood-soaked rag which Hafwen had pressed against her leg.
"Those wounds must hurt" said Kessik.
"No, not really" said Hafwen.
"I can see in your face that those wounds hurts you" said Kessik to Hafwen, "Shall I get something to clean the wounds?"
"That would be nice" said Hafwen and moved her still bleeding leg.
Kessik stood up and walked away along the corridor towards his room. Kessik opened the door and entered the room, walked to the corner and got some bandages. Kessik left his room and walked through the corridor back to the lounge. "Here are some bandages" said Kessik and gave the bandage to Hafwen. Kessik looked at the many scars Hafwen had on her leg. "You have a lot of scars on your leg" said Kessik to Hafwen.
"I've been in a lot of fights" said Hafwen.
"I can see that" said Kessik and looked at hers scars again. Kessik touches Hafwen's scars and looks at the newest one little closer. Hafwen flinches slightly when Kessik touches her legs, then blushes. "We have to clean the wounds" said Kessik. "Shall I clean the wounds or do you want to do it yourself" said Kessik to Hafwen.
"You can do it " said Hafwen as she blushes again.
"Can I borrow your dagger?" said Kessik to Hafwen.
"Of course you can" said Hafwen. Kessik took the dagger which Hafwen gave to him and cut up the clothes so he was able to see the whole wound on her leg. Kessik took a part of the bandage and began to clean Hafwen’s wounds.
"Did that hurt?" said Kessik. "The wound is clean now, I shall only bandage the leg and then I am finished with your wounds" said Kessik. Kessik took the bandage and wrapped the bandage around Hafwens leg. "So how it feels now?" said Kessik to Hafwen.
"It feels pretty good now" said Hafwen.
"So how did you get these wounds?" said Kessik to Hafwen.
"Oh I met some thief on my way back to the clanhall" said Hafwen.
"What thief?" said Kessik.
"I just met a thief on my way back to the clan hall" said Hafwen.
"Did the thief do those wounds?" said Kessik and looked at Hafwen's new wounds.
"Yes" said Hafwen.
"Do you know why the thief attacked you?" said Kessik.
"No, I have no idea about why" said Hafwen.
"Do you have any ideas about where he was from?" said Kessik.
"I didn't see anything which could tell me where he was from when I searched through his corpse after I killed him" said Hafwen.
"Well, we maybe will find something about him sooner or later" said Kessik. "Ok, stand up and walk around a little" said Kessik. Kessik looks at Hafwen when she walks around the lounge. "How does it feel now when you walk around?" said Kessik to Hafwen.
"It feels good" said Hafwen.
"But you don't feel like the wounds should be a problem in the future?" Said Kessik.
"No everything feels good, it's just the bandage which prevents me from moving fast" said Hafwen.
"Good, then you will recover very well" said Kessik to Hafwen.

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A duty
Kessik took the bandages which were left and walked along the corridor back to his room. The room was dominated by a wide bed and a table made out of wood in one of the corners. Kessik first lit a candle and then put the candle on the table in the corner. Kessik put the bandages on the table before he went to rest on bed. Kessik lies down on the bed and read some notes on a scroll in the soft light from the candles. He thought back on those things which had happened during the day. Kessik put his armour in the corner next to the bed and put his swords so he can reach the swords immediately if he had to.
Kessik woke up for a short while in the middle of the night from his dreams to the sound of thunder and lightning from a thunderstorm. The next time Kessik woke up it was daybreak. He walked to the lounge for breakfast after which he got dressed. After getting dressed, he went to the market place where all the wagoners and merchants are.
"Hi! Do you know if any of those wagoners and merchants have any need for hiring people?" said Kessik to the first wagoner he met.
"I don’t know, but you can ask him over there" said the wagoner and pointed at a thin man dressed in green clothes.
"Thanks for the information" said Kessik to the wagoner. Kessik crossed the market place and walked right to the thin man dressed in green clothes.
"Hi, the wagoner told me that you maybe need to hire people" said Kessik to the thin man.
"Yes, I need to hire guards" said the thin man. "In fact I need to hire two guards for a caravan. Do you want the job?"
"You have to tell me more before I take the job" said Kessik.
"I shall try to do that for you" said the thin man.
"Thanks. So what is that job you will offer me?" said Kessik to the thin man.
"I want someone who can guard a caravan to port of Sendar and I want someone who can guard the caravan to Jarviksholm and back to Sendar again" said the thin man. "Do you want the job?" said the thin man to Kessik.
"I’ll take the job as a guard from Sendar to the Port of Camaar" said Kessik to the thin man.
"Ok that’s good, but can you be in port of Camaar and meet us when we come back from Jarviksholm?" said the thin man.
"How long will it take before you may be back in Camaar?" said Kessik.
"The voyage to Jarviksholm will take three days, one day in Jarviksholm and then three days back, so the whole voyage will take seven days" said the thin man. "So you have to be back at port of Camaar in seven days from now" said thin man to Kessik.
"I’ll take the job and I will be back in port of Camaar in the morning seven days from now" said Kessik.
"I will be soon, I shall only try to hire another guard before I go to port of Camaar" said the thin man. "I know one man, I shall ask if he wants the job as a guard from Sendar to Jarviksholm and back to Sendar again" said the thin man to Kessik and then he walked away along the main street. The thin man returned to the market place around a half hour later.
"We can leave Sendar now, I hired the man I was talking about." said the thin man to Kessik.
Kessik rode just before the caravan the whole way from Sendar to port of Camaar. "That was an easy journey for you so far" said Kessik.
"Yes I know that and even if I don’t have anything really valuable it is always nice to have an easy journey" said the thin man.
"Ok I will be here waiting for you seven days from now" said Kessik to the thin man.
"Thanks for that" said the thin man. The thin man disappeared into the ship. Kessik watched when the ship left ship port of Sendar and then he rode the straight way back to Sendar. Kessik arrived to Sendar around one hour before sundown. He took his horse to the stable and then walked to the lounge.
The lounge was empty and quiet but suddenly he heard a sound and then he saw Hafwen coming toward him. "Hi, how was your day?" said Kessik to Hafwen.
"I have only done a walk around Sendar, but what have you been doing? I saw when you left the lounge in the early morning" said Hafwen to Kessik.
"I have been guarding a caravan from Sendar to port of Camaar and I have to be in Camaar again six days from now for guarding the caravan back to Sendar" said Kessik.
"Interesting" said Hafwen.

Kessik woke up sometime before the sunrise and walked towards the lounge for breakfast. He met Hafwen on his way to the lounge.
"Are you on your way to do that duty the thin man hired you for?" said Hafwen to Kessik as they walked towards the lounge.
"I shall have breakfast first and then I shall go to the store before I go to Camaar," said Kessik.
"Will you come back to the lounge before you go to Camaar?" said Hafwen.
"I shall be back here for a moment before I go back to Camaar" said Kessik.

Kessik went to the weapon shop. "Did you get any new weapon yet?" said Kessik to the shop owner.
"I am sorry, I don’t have any new weapons yet" said the shop owner. Kessik left the weapons shop and went back to the lounge. The cook looked at Kessik when he arrived to the kitchen in the clan hall.
"Do you have any food I can take with me during my journey?" said Kessik to the cook.
"Yes, I can give you some food" said the cook. The cook put some food in a bag. Kessik took the bag which the cook gave to him and when he came to the lounge he saw Hafwen there.
"Shall you go back to Caamar now?" said Hafwen to Kessik.
"Yes, I am on my way back to Caamar" said Kessik. Kessik took his bag and left the lounge, walking towards the stable.

Kessik opened the door to the stable and walks towards his horse.
"Do you want your horse?" said the page to Kessik.
"Yes I want my horse, I shall ride to Camaar" said Kessik to the page.
"I’ll get your horse for you" said the page.
"I’ll wait outside the stable for you,” said Kessik to the page. After a while the page arrived to Kessik.
"Your horse is ready now,” said the page.
When Kessik prepared the horse for the journey to Camaar he heard a noise and looking at that direction the noise came from. Suddenly he saw Hafwen walking towards him. Hafwen stayed just before the stable.
"Do you want to go with me to Camaar?" said Kessik to Hafwen.
"Yes, I will follow you on your duty if you don’t have anything against that" said Hafwen shyly to Kessik and blushes.
"Of course you can, I am glad you want to come with me" said Kessik quietly to Hafwen. Kessik looked around after the page. "Can you get Hafwen’s horse too?" said Kessik to the page.
"I shall do that directly," said the page and went back in to the stable to get Hafwen’s horse.
After getting their horses Kessik and Hafwen rode along the road towards Camaar.
"When are we supposed to be in Camaar," said Hafwen.
"We don’t have to stress, its still much time left until the ship will arrive" said Kessik to Hafwen.
"Do you want to explain your duty for me?" said Hafwen.
"Of course" said Kessik. "I was hired to protect a caravan back to Sendar from Camaar" said Kessik.
"What things are being carried on the caravan?" said Hafwen to Kessik.
"I don’t know, I never asked" said Kessik. As Kessik and Hafwen rode along the road towards Camaar they meet mostly travellers, which were on their way to and from Camaar, but some of the men the saw was hiding in the forest.
"Do you see those men in the forest?" said Hafwen to Kessik.
"Yes I saw them, we have to be aware of them when we are on the way back" said Kessik.
Kessik and Hafwen arrived in Camaar some hours later. "I shall go in and ask if someone know if the ship has arrived yet" said Kessik to Hafwen and walked to the tavern. "Do you know if the ship has arrived to Caamar yet?” said Kessik to the bartender.
"I don’t think there has been any,” said the bartender. Kessik walked back to the pier.
"The bartender said that he hasn’t heard about any ship coming to Camaar yet," said Kessik.
"I asked a fisherman and he said a ship will come soon," said Hafwen to Kessik.
"There is a ship at the horizon it can be the right one" said Kessik as he looked at the sea.
"Probably, let’s wait and see,” said Hafwen. Kessik nodded and then he went to sit just beside Hafwen on the bench to wait for the ship to arrive.

"It is quiet today," said Kessik as he looked at the square.
"The reason can be that it is still early," said Hafwen and looked around the place.
"No, I dont think so," said Kessik.
"Why do you not think that?" said Hafwen.
"Usually there is a lot of activity at this time and I wonder why it is so quiet now." said Kessik to Hafwen.
"Let’s take a around and see if we can find out why it is so quiet, then" said Hafwen. Kessik nodded and stood up. They walked across the square where they saw a fisherman.
Kessik went to the fisherman. "Do you know why it is so quiet today here?" said Kessik to the fisherman. The fisherman took a long look at Kessik and Hafwen.
"I’m not sure, but there have been a lot of rumours about that ship which is coming to Camaar this morning" said the fisherman as he looked at the harbour where the ship had just arrived.
"Do you know anything about the people who asked about the ship?" said Hafwen to the fisherman.
"No I don’t, maybe someone who works at the harbour knows something,” said the fisherman.
"Thanks for the information," said Kessik to the fisherman. Kessik and Hafwen walked to the ship in the harbour.
Kessik and Hafwen stayed at the gangplank waiting for the captain and the thin man. It took several minutes before the captain and the thin man arrived to the place where Kessik and Hafwen were.
"Hi, good you are here,” said the thin man to Kessik.
"I told you I should be here,” said Kessik to the thin man. The thin man nodded and looked at the seamen who unloaded the ship.
"I have bought a lot of equipment,” said the thin man.
"I can see that" Kessik smiled.
"It will take an hour before the ship is unloaded, so you don’t have to be here now if you don’t want," said the thin man to Kessik.
"Shall we take a walk?" said Kessik to Hafwen.
"Yes, why don’t we." said Hafwen.
They walked around without speaking for a while. Hafwen looked at Kessik with a strange expression on her face.
"What is it?" said Kessik to Hafwen.
"Oh I only wonder what you are thinking about" said Hafwen as she looked closer at Kessik.
"I was just thinking about us and the future" said Kessik.
"Do you want to tell me about it?" Hafwen asked.
"I just wondered if you wanted marry me" said Kessik as he blushed. Hafwen blushed, looking startled.
"Yes, I think I do." Hafwen smiled and took Kessik’s hand as they walked along the street back to the harbour and ship.
The thin man was waiting for them and there was a mountain of equipment beside him.
"I have placed the equipment depending on which towns they are supposed to go to." Kessik looked at the equipment piled on the pier. "There is the mining equipment which I shall deliver to Yar Gurak, there is one which shall be delivered to the Algarian stronghold and the last one shall be delivered to Boktor" said the thin man.
"What do you have for Boktor?" said Hafwen to the thin man. The thin man looked at the pile. "I have deliveries to the jewellery shop and to the clothing shop in Boktor. Which caravan will you join?" said the thin man to Kessik.
"Which one do you think we shall take?" said Kessik to Hafwen.

It was still dark outside, just before sunrise, when Kessik woke up.
Kessik looked at Hafwen who was lying in the bed close to him. The last few days had gone really fast. The journey from Camaar to Boktor seemed to only have lasted a couple days. Kessik looked at Hafwen again, thinking back on the wedding and everything else that happened yesterday.
Kessik took a last look at Hafwen before he got up to get dressed. After he got dressed he went to the market place. Kessik ran into the thin man just in the end of the market place.
"You look really bad,” said Kessik to the thin man, noticing that the thin man had a lot of bruises. "What has happened to you?" Kessik asked.
"Well you remember when you and Hafwen left me after we had unloaded the wagons?" said the thin man to Kessik. Kessik nodded.
"Yes, you said you would go to the tavern," he said.
"I went to the tavern and then I got a little drunk. I got these bruises when the guards throw me in to the jail" said the thin man.
"Did you spent the night in jail?" Said Kessik.
"Yes, I have and I lost my keys too during the late night," said the thin man. "I was thinking on one thing when I was in the jail, have you bought anything for Hafwen?" the thin man asked. "I have told a painter to do a painting of us,” said Kessik.
"Good" said the thin man. "I shall go and get the painting now" said Kessik.
"See you later and I hope you and Hafwen have the time to help me find my keys" said the thin man.
"We can probably help you with that sometime during the day, I'm going now" said Kessik as he walked away along the street. Kessik walked along the street until he reached the corner where the painter's shop was. He opened the door and walked through the hallway to the painter who was at the end of the hallway working.
"Hi," said Kessik. "Have you finished the painting?" He sat down on the empty chair.
"I just have a few moments left,” said the painter who continued his work on the painting.
"I'll come back later," said Kessik to the painter as he stood up
"I will have finished the painting in one hour," said the painter "So you can come back then."
"I will do that," said Kessik. Kessik opened the door and walked out to the street. The street was very empty at this time of the day, but soon when the shops open for the day, people will go to the shops.
After walking around for about an hour Kessik went to the flower shop, which just had opened, and bought some flowers. Kessik took the flowers and walked back to the painter.
"I have just finished your painting,” said the painter, proudly showing it off.
"It is perfect." Kessik stared at it.
"You can take it. The paint should be dry now," said the painter.
"I will,” said Kessik. He gave some coins to the painter.
"Thanks. Please come back sometime." said the painter.
Kessik walked back to the room where Hafwen still was half asleep. Hafwen looked at Kessik.
"What do you have there?" she asked.
"Oh, I just bought some flowers for you and got the painting I ordered." said Kessik.
"What painting? Let me see." Hafwen was surprised.
"It is just so we always will remember that day," said Kessik. He gave her the painting. "Do you like it?" said Kessik.
"Oh it's great,” said Hafwen.

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