Storyboards: Kessik (part 2)

Part 1 - The Algar

Part 2 - Hafwen
The lounge | In the early morning | The morning | After sundown | A duty | Boktor | Back to Sendar | A message | Back in Sendar | Childhood: the early years

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.

top

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.

top

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."

top

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.

top

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.

Kessik looked at the painting he had put against the wall, the painting was a picture of the wedding.
"So you really think the painting is good?" Kessik asked Hafwen.
"Yes I do, it is a very good picture of the wedding" said Hafwen and kissed Kessik.
"I have one more thing I bought for you" said Kessik, smiling.
"What is it? Said Hafwen,
"Just a second I shall show you" said Kessik as he walked out from their room. Some minutes later Kessik came back to the room carrying a big bouquet flowers.

"I bought some flowers for you too" said Kessik and gave the bouquet to Hafwen. Hafwen looks at the flowers and tears well up in her eyes.
"I love you so very much" said Hafwen. Hafwen sat up in the bed and stretched.
After a minute, she stood up and pulled her clothes on.
"What shall you do?" Said Kessik when he saw Hafwen walk towards the door.
"I shall go and get a vase for the flowers" said Hafwen. She opened the door and walked out of the room. Kessik looked around in the room and saw an empty place on the wall. He took the painting and walked across the room. After hanging the painting in the empty spot, he walked back to the bed.

Some time later, Hafwen came back to their room in the Inn. Kessik looked at her and then looked at the painting.
"You have put the painting on the wall" said Hafwen, smiling at Kessik.
"Yes, I thought that spot was a good place for the painting as long we stay at this Inn" said Kessik. He looked at her when she walked towards the painting. "Is there something wrong with the place?" said Kessik when he watched what she was doing. She looked at the painting with a smile on her lips and then she placed a vase on the table below the painting.
"With the flowers below the painting it is perfect" said Hafwen. She smiled at him.

"How long shall we stay here in Boktor?" said Hafwen with a strange smile on her face.
"Why do you wonder that?" said Kessik.
“Oh, you will find out that soon," said Hafwen with a smile on her lips.

top

Boktor
Kessik woke up when he heard there was someone knocking on the door to their room. He walked to the door and opened it.
"Is there any problem?" said Kessik to the page that stood outside the door. The page shook his head.
"I got paid to deliver this letter to you," answered the page. He handed Kessik a letter. Kessik took the letter and took a fast look at it. "Is there anything I can do for you?" asked the page.
"No, you can go back to what you were doing," replied Kessik to the page. Kessik saw the page walking away along the corridor and then he closed the door. After locked the door he went back to the bed and sat on it. He opened the letter and began to read. The letter began with "Thank you for saving the child…" Kessik looked closer at the letter but he couldn't find any evidence about who the author of the letter was.
"I have to wait until Hafwen is back," muttered Kessik quietly to himself

Some time later, he heard a quiet noise and then he saw the door open and Hafwen walked into the room.
"There was a page who gave me a letter which I think was supposed to be delivered to you,” said Kessik, handing the letter to Hafwen. She looked at the letter and then put the letter in her bag. "Do you want to follow me, I shall take a ride outside Boktor?" Kessik asked her.
"Yes, any particular reason?" she asked.
"No, I just want to take a ride so we can be alone without being disturbed," answered Kessik with a smile.
"Let's go," said Hafwen.
Some time later, they came to a bend in the river and let their horses cross the river. Just in front of them was a beautiful valley with green grass and some small trees scattered around. The river could be seen winding through the valley and birds could be seen up in the sky.
"Oh it is so beautiful here when we can look out over the whole valley," said Hafwen. She smiled at Kessik. They stayed there for a while, then Kessik looked at Hafwen and thought she looked tired.
"Shall we take and return to our room at the inn?" asked Kessik to Hafwen.
"Yes, let's do that," replied Hafwen. "Have you been in Boktor much before, I noticed that you know a lot of places and people here?" said Hafwen.
"Well I have been here a couple times in the past," answered Kessik.
"Do you want to tell me about it, I want to know as much as possible about you," said Hafwen, blushing.
"Of course I will, I start when we are back in our room in the inn," said Kessik.
"Ok," said Hafwen. They rode silently together back to Boktor.

Kessik went to his bag and got a book which was made out of leather. The book had a picture of a horse on the Front Page.
"Here is one of my books where I write down some of the things I have been doing," said Kessik while looking at the brown leather book he held in his hands.
"It is a big book,” said Hafwen glancing at the brown book in Kessik's hands.
"I have more books in our room in the clan hall," said Kessik. He opened the book. "I shall read from this book just as I were at the place it talks about," he explained for her. He opened the book and began to read loudly.

Page one. Kessik continued along the street until he reached a sign with the words 'North Sea Tavern'. He rode his horse to the tavern. He dismounted and attached the horse's lead to a pole just beside the entrance door to the tavern. Kessik opened the door and walked in to the tavern. The tavern was incredibly unclean, there were papers and half empty glasses in every corner of the tavern and at other side of the bar was a barrel containing beer. A big fat man with a dirty cigar in his mouth stood beside the barrel. "Good day, is it you who owns this tavern?" Kessik asked the fat man. "Yes it is, what can I do for you" answered the fat man.

"You can give me a big mug of cold fine beer,” answered Kessik. The owner opened the barrel and filled a dirty mug with beer from the barrel, then handed the mug to Kessik. Kessik looked at the dirty mug. The beer in the mug contained both dead flies and several other bad things. Kessik frowned at the beer when he saw the flies and discovered how unclean the mug was.
"Is there a problem?" asked the fat man when he saw Kessik's expression.
"Yes there is. Do you want to give me a mug of good beer in a clean mug?" answered Kessik. "I don't want beer which contains dead flies and I don't want a dirty mug either" said Kessik to the owner.
"I am sorry but that is the only beer I have," answered the fat man. Kessik stood up and walked towards the door. "Hey, you forgot to pay for your beer,” yelled the fat man to Kessik.
"I ordered a big mug of cold fine beer, not a dirty mug containing more dead flies than beer" answered Kessik the fat man. He walked through the entrance door out to the street.

"That was the very first page in the book" said Kessik to Hafwen and smiled. "Do you want me to continue read from the book? I can do that if you want," asked Kessik of Hafwen.
"I shall just order something for us to drink and then can you continue to read from your book" answered Hafwen. She opened the door walked along the corridor towards the stairs to the ground level.

About one hour later Hafwen came back to the room at the Inn and she saw Kessik sleeping in the bed. She put the beer on the table and looked out through the window and saw the shadows from the trees had moved a bit since she left and realised that her small errands had taken longer than expected. She sat down on the bed looking at him when he opened his eyes.
"Hi, honey" said Kessik to her as he tried to wake up. "I just took a little nap when you were gone" he continued.
"I am afraid it took a little longer to get the beer since I did some errands too" said Hafwen, blushing.
"What errands?" asked Kessik looking at her.
"Nothing special just usual errands. Are you ready to read more from your books?" asked Hafwen. She looked at him with a smile on her lips. "I shall do that, after I drink some beer." He answered her. He took the bottle of beer from the table and, after taking some sips, put the bottle back on the table. He took the book and continued to read.

Page two. He walked along the street until he saw a big sign which told him he could find the Silver Nugget Saloon in that house. There were maybe twelve or thirteen guests in the saloon when he arrived. Some of them stood close to the bar and another group people sat around a table playing cards. The people inside the saloon turned around and looked at the stranger, then continued to talk to each other with quiet voices. Kessik walked towards the bartender who stood at the end of the bar. "What do you want?" asked the bartender.
"I want a beer and some information?" Kessik answered the bartender. "What do you want to know" asked the bartender while he filled the mug with cold fresh beer. The bartender gave the beer to Kessik who took a sip from the mug. "I want to know if you know where the farm is which is owned by two older brothers" Kessik said. "You are not from this town" answered the bartender quietly, looking around the saloon. "That's right, but you already know that" said Kessik to him. "It is you who was at the North Sea Tavern" asked the bartender. "That's right, too" Kessik replied. The cold look in Kessik's blue eyes made the bartender suddenly afraid to ask more questions. Instead, he said that the two brother's farm was southwest of the town. "You just have to ride south until you pass the narrow pass called the gate and then you can't avoid seeing the farm" said the bartender.
Kessik nodded. "Thanks for the information" he said to the bartender as he walked towards the entrance. When he left the saloon he could hear the other guests talking loudly to each other. He didn't care about what they said, he just got up on the horse and began the ride southwards towards the pass. When he reached the river he changed his mind and took a ride around the pass so he should arrive to the farm from the opposite side. Two hours later he came to the remains of a wagon.

"It begins to be late,” said Kessik while looking at Hafwen, who nodded
"We should go to bed soon" said Hafwen.
"Do you want me to read more?" asked Kessik.
"No, lets go to bed now" she answered and began to prepare herself for going to bed.

Kessik woke up when the first ray of the sun reached his face at daybreak. He walked to the toilet so he could wash his face and then walked back to their room and sat down on the bed. He looked at Hafwen and realised how happy he was to have her at his side.
"Morning love," he said when he saw her stretch and tried to wake up.
"Morning, how long have you been up?" she asked when she opened her eyes and looked at him.
"I just woke up some minutes ago," he answered her. He stretched trying to wake up a little more. "Shall I read more from my diary?" He asked her looking at the brown book lying on floor just beside the bed.
"You can do that if you want, but first I shall go to the toilet," answered Hafwen getting up from the bed.
"I will begin to read from the diary when you are back and ready for listening," said Kessik.
"You can begin to read now," said Hafwen when she was back. "I shall pack our bags so we can leave Boktor," she continued. She took one of the bags and begin to put clothes in the bag. Kessik took the book and opened to where he stopped reading the night before.

He looked at the remains of the wagon and dismounted when he saw some footprints in the dust. He followed the footprints and the tracks from the wagon eastwards towards the small grove he could see some bit to the east. When he came to the grove he saw that someone had buried someone there. He guessed it must have happened during the last few days. From there, there were tracks from only one horse. The tracks lead southeast towards the valley. He followed the tracks down to the valley, where they seemed to continue across the valley. He stopped to think and decided that he should leave the tracks and ride directly to the two brother's farm. He thought that the tracks might lead to the farm in the end. He reached the farm just before sundown. The farm was empty and there were no signs that there had been anyone there the last couple days, so he decide to ride back to the town again.

"That was all I have written about my last visit here,” said Kessik to Hafwen as he put his diary back in his bag.
"What happened after you came back to Boktor?" Asked Hafwen as she packed down more things in their bags.
"I am going to read more in my diary for you later, but I think I have to begin to pack down my things, too," he answered looking at the bags she had packed. "I am ready to leave now," he said when he saw her waiting patiently for him to finish packing his bags.
"Let's leave now,” she said, opening the door.

top

Back to Sendar
Kessik took his bags, walked out and closed the door to the room. They walked from the Inn to the stable and got their horses, and began the journey back to Sendar. "Can you tell me more about your earlier travels?" Asked Hafwen, looking at Kessik. "Sure I can, I can start right now if you want" answered Kessik. He reached for his bags and pulled a book from one. "You dont have to read from the book, you can tell me something you remember of your journeys," said Hafwen. "Ok I can do that, you know all algarian people are pretty good riders" answered Kessik. He paused to look around. "What are you looking for?" Hafwen asked, looking all around the path. "I always try to know the surrounding area, so I can avoid surprises," answered Kessik and he pointed to a group of trees, to the far east. "You see that group of trees?" He asked. "Yes," Hafwen answered. Kessik looked at her. "We can take a rest there if you want," he said. She nodded. "Lets take a rest there and you can read more from your journeys," she said. Kessik nodded and they continued riding along the path towards the small group of tree. Kessik got off his horse, took the rope, and attached that rope to a strong tree so the horse could not go away. He looked at Hafwen and saw that she did the same. "I will make something to eat, you can start reading from the book if you want" said Hafwen, taking some food from her saddlebags. Kessik nodded and he opened the bag and took the book out. He opened the book and began to read.

Dawn. That gloomy grey light from the sky reached Kessik where he lay just beside the campfire and he stretched, trying to wake up. He stood up, walked to his horse, and took some food from his bags. He put more sticks into the campfire, then stopped to enjoy the warmth from the campfire. He thought that he only had been asleep for about two hours. He could feel the wounds he got yesterday during the fight against some Murgos. Suddenly, he heard a horse in the far distance. He stood up, grabbed his sword and prepared himself for a fight if necessary. A short time later, a man arrived, blood covering his body. "What happened to you" asked Kessik, looking at the stranger. "I was attacked by a gang of Murgos a little bit from here," he answered. "Do you want to help me get my things back?" Asked the stranger. Kessik looked at the man carefully before answering. "Yes I can do that, let me only finish my breakfast" he said. "You don’t have to hurry. Can I have a little coffee?" Said the stranger. "Of course you can" said Kessik. The stranger walked to his horse and got a mug from his saddlebags. The sun broke through the clouds and the air began to feel a little warmer. "Are you ready to go now?" Asked Kessik, looking at the wounded man. "Yes I am ready" he answered while walking towards his horse. Kessik stood up and walked to his horse. He mounted and said "Lets begin look after your things now" and rode in that direction the answered while walking towards his horse. Kessik stood up and walked to his horse. He mounted and said "Lets begin look after your things now" and rode in that direction the stranger had arrived from.
After about one hour, they saw some horse tracks. "I can see horse tracks here," said the wounded man quietly to Kessik. "Yes, it looks like six or seven horses. Lets go to that hill and see if we can see something from there" answered Kessik quietly and pointed at the hill. They rode quietly up to the hill. "I can see one Murgo and he has my stuff, let’s kill him," said the wounded man to Kessik. Kessik looked around carefully. "Lets see if he is alone before we attack him," he said. "Why? Lets just attack him. If there are others, well kill them, too" said wounded man to Kessik. Kessik shook his head. "Its easier to kill them one by one, we cant take them all at the same time." He rode in the shadows toward the Murgo warrior.
It was a short and bloody fight, the Murgo had no real chance to survive since they snuck up to him and attacked when he was busy with searching a bag. After the Murgo was dead, the wounded man took the bag and looked in it. "Yes everything is here. Thanks a lot for helping me" he said. "Be prepared! There are more Murgos coming to us now." Said Kessik. He pointed towards those Murgo which just had arrived to the hill. When the Murgo leader saw them, he yelled something and the Murgos attacked. "Lets flee, they are to many for us to fight alone!" Said Kessik. He turned his horse around and fled from the fight. "Why did you flee? We could maybe have killed them" asked the wounded man angrily. "I dont think we were able to kill them" answered Kessik. "It is better to flee and attack them again later then the advantage is on our side" he continued. "You are probably right, I shall ride back to my home have a nice day" said the wounded man. "Have a nice day and I hope you dont run into more Murgos" replied Kessik. He continued along the path towards the Algarian Plate.

Kessik closed the book, lay down the book on the ground beside him, and stood up. Hafwen looked up. "What shall you do?" Asked Hafwen. "I shall just go and get my mug so I can get some coffee" replied Kessik to Hafwen. He walked to his horse and got his mug out of the bag. "Shall you have something to eat to?" Asked Hafwen when she saw Kessik return to the campfire with his mug. "No thanks, I shall only have some coffee and after that I shall read another page in my diary," answered Kessik. "Shall we stay here longer?" Asked Hafwen. "The horse needs to rest a little bit more," answered Kessik.

Kessik took another couple sips of coffee from the mug and then put mug beside him and picked up the diary. Kessik looked at the mountains, which were some distance northeast of them. "I think I shall read more from the diary," said Kessik to Hafwen as he looked at the mountains again. Hafwen looked at him. "Why?" She asked. "The mountains remind me about what the next coming pages in my diary and I think I can tell you what happened there from memory" replied Kessik. He put his diary back in his bag. Kessik went the tree, where he had attached the horse. As he mounted, he said "So I’m going to tell you that part during the ride". He turned his horse and began to ride towards Sendar. Hafwen mounted and rode just beside Kessik along the small path on their way towards Sendar. "This part happened a couple months after that story with the wounded man" said Kessik.

Kessik was riding in the mountains and the air was crystal clear and good up in those mountains between Drasnia and Gar og Nadrak. The only noise that could be heard was the sound from his horse. Kessik had been in the mountains for three days. He had passed by many small rivers and some groves of trees during the time in the mountain. He was following a small path, which extended along a narrow river flowing rapidly down the mountain. In the end of the third day, he was sure about the fact he was close to men he hunted. The last tracks he had found were only a few hours old. Kessik reined his horse in. He had arrived to where the mountains ended, and a forest of big old trees began.
Kessik arrived in Yar Nadrak at dawn. The roofs in Yar Nadrak were shining with a red light in the sunny morning. There was a rather cold wind blowing through the streets of Yar Nadrak. He could hear the sound from horse's hoof in the wind. Kessik stayed in the shadows where he could hide himself from those, which he had heard. He had been staying in the shadows for a couple of minutes before he was able to see those he had heard a couple minutes earlier. He had been hunting those Murgos the last week. He snuck up behind the Murgos and attacked them when they were unprepared. It seemed like he wounded both of them a lot, but he could not be sure since they both managed to flee. He could hear the sound from their horse's hooves when they fled out from Yar Nadrak.

"Do you know if you succeeded to kill them?" Asked Hafwen. Kessik looked around. "I dont know, but I didn’t hear about them after that," answered Kessik. Hafwen took some sips from her water skin. "Have you searched more after them?" She asked. "I searched several weeks in places where I know that they usually stay, but I have never heard about them after that I meet them in Yar Nadrak." Replied Kessik. "I think that I probably wounded them so much they died of those wounds." They fell silent as they rode along the road towards Sendar.
The surrounding landscape was marshier here compared to the land surrounding Boktor. They rode along the river Atun that turns to the east and west on its way through the landscape. The sounds from birds were louder than the sound from their horses hooves. Some time later, they reached the bridge which crosses the river Atun. There was an old campsite the other side of the bridge and the road extended southwards from there. Kessik looked at Hafwen. "Shall we rest here and get something to eat?" He asked. "Did the thin man who hired you continue with wagons back to Sendar directly from Boktor or what do you think?" She asked as she dismounted. "I dont know but I suppose he did" Kessik answered. He dismounted and walked toward the trees. "Ill look for more sticks to the fire" Kessik said.
Hafwen walked to her horse, took food and the coffee out of her saddlebags, and walked back to the remains of the fire. She put in some small sticks in the fire and lit it. "Have you collected more sticks since there are no more here around the fire?" Asked Hafwen, looking up at Kessik. "Yes I did, I found a lot." Kessik replied. He dropped a bunch of sticks just beside the campfire. "How many diaries do you have?" Hafwen asked. "I have a lot." Kessik replied. He went back to his horse. He took a couple of diaries from his bag and counted them. "I have five in the bag, but I think I have at least five more in my room in the clan hall" said Kessik to Hafwen when he returned to the campfire. The shadows from the trees began to grow. "I think we shall stay here over the night" he said looking at the shadows, which grew longer as the sun went down. "Yes I think that is a good idea," replied Hafwen. "I’m going to set up our tent" Kessik said. He went to his horse, and returned to the campfire and began to set it up. Kessik sat in the tent after he’d set it up. "Now we can rest for the night" he said.

Stars twinkled in the otherwise dark night sky. The trees branches bent towards the ground as the wind blew through the landscape. Some distance to the south a wolf could be heard howling at the moon. The fire flickered in the wind and the shadows changed their shape from time to time. "I dont think the wolf is so far away" said Hafwen, looking southwards out in the deep darkness. "There are probably more than one" said Kessik. He took his mug and filled it with a little more coffee. An owl could be seen swoping down and hunting for mice and other small animals. "It is so beautiful and relaxing sitting here in the middle of the night and listen to the forest song" said Kessik. "It is so easy to calm down when one can listen to how the wind blows in the trees and see how the moon moves across the sky" he continued, staring at the moon.
Kessik walked to his horse and took some bread from one of his saddlebags, then returned to the fire. "What did you do?" asked Hafwen as she watched him. "I just took a little more bread from one of my bags since I was a little hungry" he answered. He took some more sticks and put them in to the fire. Hafwen giggled. "More bread?" She said. "What is it with that?" Asked Kessik, looking quizzically at her. "Nothing at all" she replied. "Im going to sleep now." She crawled into the tent and pulled her blanket over her. "Good night and sleep well, honey" said Kessik. "I shall watch and keep the fire burning when you are asleep" he continued, scanning the area. "I dont sleep so deep" she replied sleepily from the tent. The moon moves slowly over the sky and if began to be a little cloudy. Several hours later Kessik put the last of the sticks he had gathered in to the fire. Kessik saw Hafwen stretch in the tent. "Good morning honey did you sleep well?" Asked Kessik as he smiled at her. "I really did." Answered Hafwen. "Did you sleep at all?" She asked as she crawled out of the tent. "Only for a short while and I wasnt really sleepy at all" answered Kessik. He went to the horses and took the bag of food from his saddlebags and returned to the fire with it.
He took some of the bread and some of the meat he had in the bags and handed the rest to her. "Do you want some more?" He asked. "No this is enough" replied Hafwen and began to eat of the food he had given her. After eating, they packed their bags and put all their equipment on their horses, preparing themselves for continuing the journey towards Sendar. They mounted their horses and began to ride southwest toward Sendar. The surrounding landscape changed from the typical Drasnia landscapes to marsh as they rode south of Kotu. They passed by the swampy ground of Mrin and arrived at a small town. Hafwen looked around. "We should stay at some tavern" she said. "If I remember right there is a tavern little longer to the east of this street" replied Kessik looking in all directions. They continued through the town. At a crossroad, Hafwen pointed to a sign to the east. "I see a tavern just east of us" she said. Kessik nodded and turned toward the tavern she had been pointing at.

It was already dark when they came back to the clan hall. Kessik looked around. The lounge was pretty quiet he noticed. The reason was probably that everyone at the clan hall was sleeping in their room. Hafwen gave her saddlebags to Kessik "I am tired so take my saddlebags and come to my room, I think its best to sleep in my room" said Hafwen. Kessik nodded and picked up both their bags. Hafwen walked along the corridor toward her room, Kessik following her with their bags. She opened the door and entered the room with Kessik just behind her. He put their bags against one of the walls. Hafwen closed and locked the door. The room was dark and quiet. Kessik fell asleep almost the instant he lay down in the
Kessik woke up a few hours after dawn and he looked beside him. Hafwens side of the bed was empty, and he thought that she must have been for a while. He heards footsteps outside, then the sound of someone unlocking the door. The door opened and Hafwen walked in. "Good morning honey, did you sleep well?" She asked as she closed and latched the door. "Yes I did, I think that I was a little sleepy" answered Kessik. He blushed thinking about how fast he had fallen asleep. "You fell asleep almost directly, but you didn’t snore at all" said Hafwen, giggling. "What have you planned to do today?" She asked. "I have planned to ride towards the Algarian stronghold" answered Kessik. "to visit some friends." "When will you be back?" She asked. "If nothing unexpected happens I should be back at sundown" he replied. Hafwen smiled and kissed him lightly. "See you tonight then," she said. She smiled again and left the room.

Kessik got dressed, taking his bags, walked to the stable for his horse. He lead his horse from the stable and, after checking to make sure everything was in order, mounted him. The forest in Sendar was not so big compared to the to the Arendish forest. There were a lot of animals in the forest. There were some deer which could be seen among some trees. Some rabbits could be seen around some bushes and beyond the bushes a fox could be seen sneaking around. Birds were heard from all around the place. Later during the journey toward the Algarian stronghold, Kessik saw a hunter just beside the road. He saw a farm just a little bit away from where he was.
He turned his horse and rode toward the hunter. "Have you met any other hunters today?" Asked the hunter Kessik and looks all around. "No I haven’t seen anyone at all,” answered Kessik. He took a closer look at the hunter. "Why did you wonder that?" continued Kessik. "Oh they have stolen some things from me" replied the hunter to Kessik. The hunter started looking around nervously. "Well I haven’t seen any at all" replied Kessik. He continued his ride eastwards towards the stronghold.
It was almost in the middle of the day and the shadows were very short. He continued the ride along the road toward the stronghold. Some time later he passed a crossroad and he met some other hunters. He rode towards them, one of them looking at him suspiciously. "I have to ask him about the hunter I met earlier today" said Kessik quietly to himself. "Do you know anything about a lone hunter?" asked Kessik of the first hunter. The man looked at Kessik. "Can you describe him for me and say were you met him?" He asked. "Well he was short and he had black hair and looked very nervous. I met him some bit west of here" replied Kessik. He carefully watched the group of hunters. "Why do you wonder that?" continued Kessik. "Well we have been looking for him for little more than one day" answered one of the hunters. "Why?" Replied Kessik. "He attacked a shop owner a little bit from here" replied the hunter. "There is a reward for him" continue the hunter. "That explains why he looked so nervous" replied Kessik. "Shall you look for him too?" One of them asked Kessik. "No I shall continue towards the Algarian stronghold" answered Kessik. He nudged his horse and continued his journey After about one hour he arrived at a little shop. The owner of the shop looked a little bit strange from the outside. There were three small windows and a door at the front. Kessik opened the door and entered. The first person he saw was the owner of the shop who had a big bandage over his head. Kessik looked him over quickly. Besides the owner he saw a member of one of the Algarian clans.

top

A message
Kessik looked at the Algarian who was in the shop. "What has happened here?" asked Kessik. "There was a little fight here a while ago" he answered. "You call that a little fight?" said the owner of the shop. "There were several people involved in the fight" continued the owner. "Yes
there were several men but the fight was short and he didn’t do so much damage" replied the Algarian. "But he attacked me in the back and you call this a little damage?" replied the owner, pointing at his bandage. "Did he steal anything?" asked Kessik of the owner. "He got some gold and a couple of other things but he lost almost everything when he was attacked just outside the door when the other hunters attacked him" answered the owner. "Yes those hunters showed up just in the right time for you" said the Algarian. "Yes they did but the thief still got away with a couple of things" replied the owner. "What things?" Kessik asked. "It was a mirror made out of silver" the owner answered. "If you find and return the mirror to me, I shall reward you greatly." Kessik nodded. "Can you describe the mirror for me?" He asked. "It is round and just as big as my hand" said the owner. "I shall look after your mirror when I return from the Algarian Stronghold." Said Kessik. "Some of the clan leaders will be here today," the Algarian said to Kessik. Kessik nodded and left the shop.
The sky had gone from clear and sunny to very cloudy. There was a general feeling that it would begin to rain. Kessik walked to the stable to collect his horse. After leading his horse from the stable, he mounted and sat in the street, waiting. After a while, Kessik saw a group of Algars riding toward him. Looking closer, he can see they are all clan chiefs. After talking for some minutes with them, he rode westward toward Sendar. Some hours later, he came back to the place where he had met the thief. Following near invisible tracks left by the thief, Kessik headed toward the town of Winold. The streets were empty except for a single farmer. Kessik stopped the farmer. "Have you seen any strangers today?" He asked of the farmer. "I did see someone who looked suspicious," the farmer replied.
"The man I saw was a strange man and he looked scared and hunted," the farmer said. "Where did you see him? Kessik asked. "I saw him a little bit to the west of here" the farmer. "Replied and pointed westwards. Kessik looked at that direction, but the street was empty. "Thanks for the information" Kessik replied and then Kessik rode westwards towards an intersection in the street. He saw a group of men when he arrived to that intersection. The men stood outside a house just a little bit to the north of the intersection. He rode towards the men and dismounted.
Kessik tied his horse to the pole and then he looked at the men. There was four men in the intersection, one short with a scar on his arm, one tall and thin, one old man who sat on a bench and one small man who stood close to a pole. Kessik walked towards the men. "I looking after a stranger in dark leather clothes, can you tell me if he have passed by here?" Kessik asked. "Yes I saw a strange man for a while ago, I think he went to the store," the short man answered and pointed towards the store. "No, he came from the store," the small man said. "Are you sure?" The short man asked and then looked at the small man. "Yes, I am sure about that" the short man replied. "What do you say?" The short man asked and then he looked at the old man too. "Saw how?" The old man asked drowsy. "The strange sneaking man" the short man replied irritated. "No, I have not seen any strange man" replied the old man and stretched when he tried to wake up. "There was a man who went to the tavern for a while ago" the tall man said and pointed towards a wide building. "But he didn’t looked so strange" the tall man continue. "That was the same man you saw he first went to the store and then he went to the tavern," said the small man quiet. "Can you describe him?" Kessik asked strange" the tall man continue. "That was the same man you saw he first went to the store and then he went to the tavern," said the small man quiet. "Can you describe him?" Kessik asked am grateful for that information" said Kessik and walked towards the tavern.

Kessik walked across the room towards the two men, which sat at the table. "Hi, I heard that one of you two talked to the hunter" Kessik said. "Yes we talked a little with him." The dark haired man replied. "Do you know where he was going?" Kessik asked. "Why do you wonder that?" The red haired asked. "He robbed a shop and I want to find him since there is a reward on him" Kessik replied quickly. "What do I gain for telling you what he said to me?" The red haired replied. "What do you mean?" Kessik replied and looked sharply at him. "He sold some small things to me and I just wondered if you wanted to buy them" the red haired replied quiet. "What kind things did he sell to you and what did he say?" Kessik asked. "He said that he was heading towards muros," the red haired replied. "He rode in that directions as long I was able to see him" the dark haired said and looked the red haired. The red haired nodded. "And he sold this mirror. Do you want to buy the mirror?" The red haired asked. "Maybe show me the mirror" Kessik replied.
"Take and show him the mirror," the red haired said and looked at the dark haired man. The dark haired took a silvery mirror from his pocket and gave it too Kessik. Kessik took a fast look at the mirror the dark haired man hold in his hand and then Kessik put some coins on the table. "Is that enough?" He asked. The men looked at each other and nodded. "Yes it is enough" replied the dark haired and took the coins. Kessik looked at the mirror and thought that must be the stolen mirror and then put the mirror in his pocket.
Kessik returned to his horse and took the mirror out of his pocket and then put the mirror in his saddlebags and sat up on the horse. He rode along the street towards the robbed shop for giving the mirror back to its owner. He runs across the farmer on his way back to the robbed shop. "Did you find anything useful?" The farmer asked. "Yes I got told to what place the hunter headed" Kessik replied. "So the hunter headed this way? I should have seen him if he had passed me" the farmer replied. "No the hunter rode the other directions towards Muros" Kessik answered. "So why are you going this directions?" The farmer replied. "I shall go back to the robbed shop before I shall continue towards Muros" replied Kessik and continued along the street. Kessik took up the mirror from the saddlebags and looked at it, it looked just as a regularly mirror. He put the mirror back in to the saddlebags. "I was lucky when I got the mirror," he said quiet to himself as he rode along the road. The horse looked little tired, and he moved slowly up the long hill on his way back to the shop. It was late when he arrived to the shop. The shadows from the house covered the road. He entered the shop. "Did you found the thief?" The owner asked. "No" Kessik replied. "I think he succeeded the escape from those who hunted him" replied the owner and looked sadly at the empty spot on
"Well, I didn’t catch the thief but I got this" Kessik replied and took the mirror from the saddlebags. He gave the mirror to the owner. "Is this the mirror the thief stole?" Kessik asked and looked at the owner. "It is. Where did you find the mirror?" The owner asked. "The thief had sold the mirror and I was lucky who could buy it" Kessik replied. "I don’t have so much gold, but I will give you one of my other equipments" the owner replied. He opened the desk and took up a golden pendant from the desk. "You can take this pendant and the gold for bringing back my mirror" the owner said and handed a pendant and some gold to Kessik. "Thanks, you can keep the pendant" Kessik replied and gave the pendant back. "The mirror doesnt seems to be so valuable but it has so many memory which means a lot for me so take the pendant" the owner replied and gave the pendant to Kessik again. "Thanks again" Kessik said. "I shall look and see if I can take the thief and get your money back" continued Kessik.

Kessik walked back to his horse, untied, and sat up on the horse then he rode along the road towards Muros. After about one hour he decide it were to dark to continue so he stopped when he saw an old campfire. He lighted the campfire and ate some of his food. After a couple of hour, the cloud disappears and the moon lighted up the sky. He extinguishes the campfire, untied the horse, and continues towards Muros about an hour before sunrise. He reached Muros some hours later. The roads teemed with people from most of the countries. He decided it would be best to stop at the market place and ask there. He stopped in front of a fruit stand. "Have you heard anything about a hunter who probably has passed by here?" Kessik asked. "All I know is that there was someone who a couple of hunter caught last evening," the owner answered. "Do you know if there is someone who can tell me something about the one they caught?" Kessik asked. The owner looked around. "Yes I think they know" the owner replied and pointed at three men who stood besides the well.
Kessik rode towards the well, stopped, and tied the horse a pole close to the well. "I were told that you know about the hunter who were caught here last night" asked Kessik and looked at the men. "Yes we saw when they caught the hunter" replied one man. "Yes, they said he had stolen a mirror and some coins from a shop," said the second man. "But he only got some gold so they took the gold and then handed him to the guards" replied the first one. "Shall I show you to the guards which have him?" Asked the third man. "No it is not necessary, but thanks anyway" Kessik replied and untied his horse and mounted the horse. Kessik started the journey back to Sendar. He rode through Sulturn on his way back to Sendar. It was almost dark when he returned to Sendar.

top

Back in Sendar
Kessik rode silent along the empty streets in Sendar. It was about one hour after sundown and the moon lighted up the street. The howling from a wolf could be heard to the far south. Some time later he reached the stable and he dismounted and took the horse too his place in the stable. Kessik left the stable and walked back to the lounge. It was quiet in there. He went to the kitchen and took some bread and coffee and then he went back to the lounge and ate it. He put the empty plates in the kitchen and then he walked towards Hafwen’s room.
He unlocked and opened the door. He closed and locked the door silent when he that Hafwen already were asleep and he did not want to wake up her. He put his saddlebags in one corner and got ready for bed. He fell asleep almost directly. He stretched as the sun fell on his face. "Did you sleep well" he heard. He opened his eyes sleepy and saw Hafwen sitting on the bed. "I did" he replied and stretched once again as he tried to awake. "I have been sitting here looking at you for a while," Hafwen said. "How were things at the stronghold?" She asked. "I met some of the clan leader on my way so I didn’t have to visit the stronghold" he replied. He stood up, walked to the corner, and took his saddlebag. He took the pendant from the saddlebag. "I got this for you" he said and handed the pendant to her. She looked at it. "It is a beautiful pendant, where did you get it from?" She replied. "I got it from a shop owner. I found the item the thief had stolen from him," Kessik answered. "Have something happened here during the time I was away?" He said. "Not so much" she replied. "What have you planned to do today?" Asked he. "Nothing at all" she replied. "I passed Lake Sulturn on my way back to Sendar" he said. “It will be nice to go to a lake. I shall pack a bag so we have something to eat at the lake," she continued. "I can help you pack the bag," he said. "Thanks. Where shall we go?" She asked. "I thought about Lake Sendar since that is only a short distance to that lake" he replied. She nodded. She took a bag and then they went to the kitchen. "Do you have any food we can take with us? We are going to Lake Sendar," she said to the cook. "Give me the bag and I shall take care of the food for you," the cook answered. "Shall we wait in the lounge?" She asked Kessik. He nodded. They went back to the lounge. The sunray could be seen on the floor. Some minutes later, the cook arrived from the kitchen. "I have done the food now," he said and handed the bag to Hafwen.
They went to the stable and got their horses. They could hear a dog that barked. On their way towards the lake they met, some Waggoners just after that they had passed the east gate of Sendar. "Are there any tavern which has opened for the day?" The Waggoner asked. "Yes, take the left in the second intersection and you will see the tavern," Kessik answered. "Thanks" the Waggoner replied and he continued through the gate towards the tavern. There were many wagons on the road, most of them carry goods to and from Sendar. It was almost no clouds on the sky and the temperature were rising. The journey to the lake took them about one hour.
Kessik looked at the beach. "I think it will be best be at the west side of the lake today" he said. Hafwen nodded. She took a blanket from her saddlebag and put it on the beach. The waves on the lake were not so high since it was not so windy. "It is nice weather today," she said. Birds could be seen both up in the sky and swimming in the lake. A fish were jumping out of the water and some of the birds on the lake flow up in the sky. "Did you see that fish?" She said and pointed at that place where the fish had jumped out of the water. "Yes. It was a pretty big fish," he answered. "Shall we take and try to catch some fishes?" She asked. "We can do that. But let us eat something first" he replied. She nodded.

Kessik looked out over the lake. He stretches when he is lying on the blanket. Some small birds can be seen in the bushes which grows just a little bit from the beach. He felt himself a little bit tired and closed his eyes. She saw that he were sleeping so she stand up and walked so she could throw some pieces of bread in the water. After some minutes there were fish eating of the bread which still was floating on the surface. A rabbit hopped around beyond some of the bushes. She looks at him and tried to wake him up. He opened his eyes and looks at her. "Have something happened?" he asks her. She shook her head. "I just want to ask if we shall try to get some fish,” she said. "We can do that,” he answered.
Some hours later they had caught several fish and decided for going back to Sendar. On their way back to Sendar they saw some wagons, which were going to and from Sendar. "Lets stay at the shop and get us something we can eat" Kessik said. Hafwen nodded. When they arrived to the shop the tied their horses at the tree and entered the shop. Kessik looked around. "Is there something particular we should buy?" She asked. He shook his head. "I don’t think we need anything" he replied. "Lets get back to my room" she said. "Can you read more from your diary?" She asked. He nodded and took up the diary from the table.
He opened the diary and began to read loudly. Kessik opened his eyes and looked at the men who sat around the campfire. There were two men from Drasnia and two men from Sendaria, one blonde, the other with many muscles. He had been paid for guiding them from Winold to Vo Mimbre. "How many days will it take us to get to Vo Mimbre?" The young Drasnian asked. The older Drasnian made some sign with his fingers and the younger one did some in reply. "I think it will be four or five days more until we reach Vo Mimbre," answered the blonde haired Sendarian. "We will reach Vo Mimbre at sundown three days from now," Kessik said as he stood up. He looked at the other men who still sat around the campfire. "If you wish to reach Vo Mimbre quickly, we must leave as soon as possible." Kessik didn’t wait for a reply. He walked to his horse and prepared to leave the campsite. "We can leave now" said the younger Drasnian. The other three men nodded in agreement. Kessik waited, looking at them. "What is it?" Asked the blonde. "I’m just waiting for you to get ready." Kessik replied.

"I think we’ve been a little bit lazy lately," the older Drasnian said. He looked at the other three. They nodded. "I can agree," said the second Sendarian. The blonde nodded and the younger Drasnian said "I agree, too." They stood and did what was necessary to prepare themselves for the long day ahead. Fifteen minutes later, they left the campsite. The weather went from sunny to rainy sometime midday. The group was wet and tired. "Shall we stay for the night soon?" The older Drasnian asked. "We need to find a place where we can change to dry clothes," the muscular Sendarian said. "We are all wet," the younger Drasnian complained. "We will reach a good place to stay for the night within ten minutes," Kessik said quietly.
The group arrived at an abandoned farm some minutes later. The farmhouse wasn’t suitable for staying in because the roof had caved in in many places. The stable still stood, and there is where they put the horses and wagons. Kessik took his time searching the stable. "What are you looking for?" Asked the older Drasnian. Kessik looked up at him. "I’m looking to see if there is anything useful for us." "What could we find here which could possibly be useful?" The younger Drasnian asked. He made more of those signs with his fingers, and the older Drasnian made some in reply. "Well," Kessik began, "if there had been some wood, I would have gathered it for a fire." Kessik looked at the young Drasnian. "I didn’t find any, which means you have to go out into the woods to collect wood for a fire." "Why me?" The Drasnian asked. "Because I said so." Kessik replied. The young Drasnian looked like he wanted to protest, but wisely held his tongue. "I’ll go collect some wood for a fire." The blonde Sendarian jumped to his feet. "I’ll go with you." The two left the stables and disappeared into the woods. Kessik and the other two men cleared a place in the middle of the stable for a fire, then sat and waited for the younger men to come back with some wood.

top

Childhood: the early years
Hafwen looked at the map she saw in Kessik's diary. "What village is that?" She asked and pointed at a dark point in the map. Kessik shrugged. "It's a village," he said, "much like any other. "Yes but can you tell me about that village?" She replied. "I can try but I don’t remember so much about the village" he replied. "Why do you don’t remember that?" She continued.
"I have only been there once," Kessik, told her. "And I was only a child at the time, so I don't remember too much about it. But it seemed to be quite a fine place." He continued. "Do you want to tell me about your childhood?" She asked and looked at Kessik shyly. "Of course I can do if you want me to do it?" Kessik said. "Of course I want" she replied and smiled at him. Kessik took up another diary from his saddlebags and looked into it.
"There were many other children on the place where the clan lived, as was only natural in a community of two hundred people or so," Kessik said. "The older ones on the place all follow the older Algars during the day, but there were a few other children of about mine age on the place where the clan lived" Kessik continued. "These other two child became my playmates and my friends during the earliest years," Kessik continued. "The oldest boy was named Toarel. He was a year or two older than I was and quite a bit smaller. Ordinarily, since he was the eldest of us children, Toarel would have to follow the older Algars now and then" Kessik said loudly as he read it from the diary. "The second of the boys was Grerigan, a tall, slow boy whose background was more or less unknown since he was adopted. The most notable thing about Grerigan was the fact that he never laughed" Kessik continued. Kessik opened the diary and then he began read.

It was a cold day and a thick layer of snow covers the ground. Kessik, Toarel and Grerigan walked towards the room where they had their sledges.
They walked towards the snowy It was a cold day and a thick layer of snow covers the ground. Kessik, Toarel and Grerigan walked towards the room where they had their sledges. They walked towards the snowy hillside behind the stronghold. "Are you going to play with yours sledges? Praelgrin asked. Praelgrin was a tall and burly guard with big, black eyebrows. He was blessed with a strange sense of humour. "Be careful if you are going to the hill" Praelgrin said and then walked towards the centre of the stronghold. They were quiet when they walked up to the top of the hill. "Do any of you two think any Murgos will show up today?" Toarel asked and then looked at Kessik and Grerigan. "I don’t think so," said Kessik. "If the show up we have to kill them," Toarel said with a big grin on his face. "What do you think Grerigan?" Asked Toarel and looked at Grerigan. "If they show up we have to kill them," said Grerigan very quiet.
They slid on their sledges down the snowy hillside behind the stronghold and then they walked back up to the top and did it again. When it was time for them to return to the stronghold, they had built many snowmen on the top of the hill. In the noon they returned home, wet and snow-covered. They entered the gate and crossed the open space to the door to the common room. There was a fireplace in the middle of the far wall. They sat down at the table in the common room of the inn and stared at the fire. Praelgrin entered the common room. "Are you three wet?" Praelgrin said, standing in front of the fire. "We are a little wet Kessik said and looked down. "Go and get something dry you can wear" Praelgrin said with a grin. They went away and returned a couple minutes later with dry clothes. "Take some food and then you have eaten, you could help us load the wagons" Praelgrin said and looked at the children. They nodded.
After that they had eaten they walked to Praelgrin who put cargos on the wagons. "You drive," Praelgrin said to Kessik. "I have to carry some things. Just let the horses walk." Praelgrin said to Kessik, handed him the reins, and jumped down from the wagon. He walked back and spoke briefly to some other Algars, then returned to the wagon. Kessik drove the wagon and Toarel and Grerigan walked beside the wagon.
It was just dusk when they returned to the stronghold. They walked towards theirs room. Suddenly there came a sound of a movement inside the chambers. "What was that?" Toarel asked and looked at Kessik and Grerigan. "I don’t know. Lets find out what it was" Kessik said and opened the door. There was something, which fled out from the room. As certainly, as if he had seen the animal, he knew that the animal that had caused the noise had been a fox. "I think it was only a fox," Kessik said and then they walked toward their room. "How can you know that?" Toarel asked and looked at Kessik. "It is just a feeling I have" Kessik replied and then he walked towards their room.
Kessik closed the diary and then put the diary back into his saddlebags. "What happened more and what did your parents do?" Hafwen asked. "It is another story. I can look in the diary if I can find anything I have written about it," Kessik said and then he prepared himself for going to bed.

The next morning Kessik awoke and looked at Hafwen who still was sleeping. He stood up and then he went to the kitchen and got some food. He returned to Hafwen after that he had eaten the food. He sat down on the bed and then he took the diary from his saddlebag. "Shall you read a little more from your diary?" Hafwen asked. "I can do that if you want" Kessik said. "You can tell me something about your parents or continue reading about what happened with you and your friends," Hafwen said. Kessik nodded. "I will," He said and opened the diary and began read.
Kessik awoke and stood up then he walked to the kitchen and got something to eat. Kessiks mother was in the kitchen. "Shall you follow your father today, Kessik?" She asked and looked at Kessik. Kessik nodded. "Yes, I shall follow him then he shall count the cows today" Kessik replied. Kessik left the kitchen and walked to his father and the other Algars, which should mark the cows. "Are you ready?" Kessiks father said and looked at Kessik. "Yes I am ready" Kessik replied. "You can go and ask Toarel if he will follow us" Kessiks father said. "I shall ask him right now" Kessik said and then walked towards Toarel’s room.

Kessik opened and entered Toarels room. Toarel looked up when he saw Kessik entered the room. "Hi! Kessik" Toarel said and then smiled. "Hi, Toarel. My father wonders if you want to follow with us today," Kessik said. "What are we supposed to do?" Toarel asked. "He wants us to count the cows," Kessik said. "Are that just us who are going there?" Toarel asked. Kessik shook his head. "No, there are many of the old Algars which are going with us too" Kessik replied. "Why are they going with us?" Toarel asked. "There are cows which are missing and they believes the missing cows have been killed by Murgos" Kessik replied. "I coming with you I shall just get my things" Toarel said and then walked inside the house.
Kessik and Toarel walked across the open place towards Kessiks father. "There you are" Said Kessiks father. "Are you ready for work?" He continued. Kessik and Toarel both nodded. "We are both ready" said Toarel and smiled. Both Kessik and Toarel nodded. Kessik mounted and rode along the road together with the other. They reached the place about an hour later. The older Algars lighted the fire and then they began gather cows for marking. "You can began mark the cows now" One Algar said and pointed at the cows he had gathered. They other talked loudly during the time they worked, but Kessik was quiet as always. "Why are you always so quiet?" Toarel wondered and looked at Kessik. "I have no reason to talk so why should I talk?" Kessik replied.
Just before sundown, Kessik saw something to the south of them at some distance. Kessik walked towards the rest of the Algars. "There is someone to the south of us" Kessik said and then pointed southwards. The Algar who was guarding the place looked in that directions and nodded. "You are right" he said and then told the other Algars that they should be prepared for a fight. Kessik wore two swords as always. He saw a Murgo who was sneaking around among the trees just besides the campfire. He sneaks up against the Murgo and then attacked the Murgo. Kessik killed the Murgo fast and easy since he took advance of that fact he could sneak up and attack the Murgo in the back. The fight was short and bloody, since the Algars were prepared and could attack most of the mugos when they not expected that.
"Why are you always so quiet, Kessik?" Praelgrin asked and looked at Kessik. "Do you remember what happened to Grerigans parents?" Kessik asked. "Not really" Praelgrin replied. "Well his parents got killed since they don’t were awaked about what could happened" Kessik replied. "Do you know what happened to Grerigans parents?" Praelgrin asked and then looked at Kessik. Kessik nodded. "Yes he told me what happened to his parents and that is the reason he always are so carefully" Kessik replied.
"I remember his father, not the best one," Praelgrin said. "I know" Kessik said. "You and Grerigan are both very similar to each other," Praelgrin continued. "I think we were affected by each other very much since we spent a lot of time together," Kessik said. "It is time to return home" Praelgrin said and then mounted. They returned home about one hour after sundown. Kessik walked towards his room and then sat down on the bed.
"That was the end of the page," Kessik said and then closed the diary. "What happened to your friends" Hafwen said and looked at Kessik. "I have not met any of them for years" Kessik said and then prepared for doing some errands.

top