Lightening flashed and the thunder boomed so loudly that Kerwan’s horse started to bolt with panic. It took quite a long while to calm the horse. This was a treacherous path. Narrow and rocky with a craggy mountain on their left and the ocean boiling with an unholy fury on their right. Kerwan wished he had just kept his mouth shut or at l least made up something nice to say to the Saxon Baron. Instead, Kerwan had told the dark truth of what he saw in the Baron’s future and sure enough two days later the Baron along with his personal guard perished in a skirmish with the Britons. Now the Baron’s son was hunting them down claiming Kerwan had sided with the Britons to ambush the Baron. The Baron’s son also claimed that Kerwan had placed a hex on the Baron. Kerwan was called an outlaw and a heretic.
Kerwan did not mind being called a heretic as much as an outlaw. He was loyal to what ever King happened to be in power. (And these days it seemed that Kings came and went quickly.) Fortunately for Kerwan, he had Sven Greycloak with him not only to keep him company, but also for protection. Old Chadwick had told Kerwan that Sven was the grandson of the great King Harold Greycloak of Norway and his famous wife Astrid the Saint. Sven had come to Briton on a long boat and had fought with his cousin Canute of Denmark and had been given lands and a castle as a reward. Sven was not content with staying in his castle and wanted to travel and see the whole land. This was not a wise thing for a Norseman to do alone.
When the town watch of Pembrey had realized they had a Norse nobleman at the inn, they attacked in mass and only because Sven was tired from traveling so far and had been drinking did they overcome him. But, not before he had inflicted as much harm as he could. Once in the jail, they had taken his armor from him and then had tried to shave his head and beard, but he had been sobered up by loosing the first attack at the inn and was determined not to loose this one. Finally, the jailers gave up and left him alone. Kerwan had brought Sven bread and water from Old Chadwick and had found out that Sven could speak his language and was very smart also.
Kerwan had been brought up by Old Chadwick. No one knew how old Chadwick was, but he had lived in the run down, large stone manor at the edge of town for as long as anyone could remember. Chadwick evidently had saved Kerwan from a dark fate when Kerwan’s mother died after giving birth to Kerwan. Some of the town elders thought that it was a bad omen for the child to be born during a storm and then die as soon as she had given birth. The midwife and run to the great run down house with Kerwan and begged Chadwick to care for the child. Chadwick agreed and had brought Kerwan up as his own son.
Some of the town thought that Chadwick was a wizard or maybe even something worse, so no one ever bothered them. Chadwick taught Kerwan how to read and right, fight on horseback with a broad sword, shield and a mace and the proper protocol for a country squire. Kerwan found out that he was special early on when he “saw” a large ship with blue and red sails at sea in trouble and alerted Chadwick, who ran down to the docks and warned the harbor master. The harbor master just laughed and told Chadwick not to drink so much wine. That evening a storm hit the bay and the next morning the harbor master came to tell Chadwick that they had found the wreckage of a large ship with bits and pieces of blue and red sails.
There had been many such visions since then. Some good and some not-so-good. Some were past histories and some were possible futures. Chadwick had told him that some day he would have to leave to receive more training from someone who was wiser. He had said that it would happen when Kerwan turned twenty-one. Kerwan had dreaded that day for ten years. When his birthday came and went without event, Kerwan thought it was just another thing that Chadwick told him to keep him under control. But then the Saxon Baron had come to town and had heard of Kerwan’s talent and asked for a seeing. Well, that was easier said than done. Kerwan could not just call up a vision, it had to come to him. Usually, when he didn’t want it. He had told the Baron this and the Saxon had just laughed and called him a fake. That’s when the dark vision of death and destruction came. He wasn’t sure if it was a wish or a real vision, but he had told the Baron who cuffed him up the side of the head and had him tossed out into the street.
When Sven had been jailed Chadwick sent Kerwan down with the food and a message of hope from Chadwick that he would see what he could do to free the Norseman. Sven had been surprised and wary at first. Kerwan started talking about Sven’s own castle and family that brought Sven around. He wanted to know more, but the jailers, who had been listening and interrupted. They had opened the cell door and started to send Kerwan home when news came of the Saxon Baron’s demise. The jailers had tried to push Kerwan back into the cell, but Sven had charged forward knocking the men back. Since there were only three of them, it did not take long for Sven and Kerwan to overcome the jailers and put them in the cell.
Once freed, Kerwan had helped Sven gather his Norse armor and weapons and his warhorse. They had ridden together on the warhorse to Chadwick and had told him everything. Chadwick had given Kerwan light amour and a horse and enough provisions to last a couple of days and told them to flee north on the old sea road. As a last gift, Chadwick had given them both talismans that hung from gold chains. Sven accepted his gravely and properly, but held little stock in it. Kerwan knew that Chadwick had made these himself and that they would help them somehow. They had said a tearful good-bye and fled with the Saxons not far behind.
A sudden storm had been a break for them because it hid the moon and no one could really see them. It also meant that they could not see very well either. Kerwan was not so sure that it was a natural storm, because he could feel Chadwick’s workings in the air. After what seemed an eternity it started to get lighter and the storm stopped and dawn crept over the horizon. Sven suggested that they find a cave to hid in to rest the horses and themselves. Kerwan had not realized just how tired he was until he laid down. Sven had taken the first watch and woke Kerwan a few hours later and went to sleep himself.
They had taken two watches each when Sven woke Kerwan and told him it was dusk and they should leave. He also said that the Saxon riders had gone by and come back south and that he had counted them and the same number of riders went by both times so it was safe for them to venture out. It wasn’t until they were a few yards down the road when they heard horses behind them. The Saxon’s had returned and in greater number. Kerwan had yelled out that he wished that Chadwick’s storm would return. A short time later his wish came true when a furious storm broke. The further north they went the worse the road got. Finally, they had to dismount and lead their horses. They could not see the Saxon’s, though Kerwan knew that they were still lurking behind them.
The road had narrowed down to a mere path now and every little bit they had to stop and calm the horses. Now they were coming around a bend in the path and Kerwan could feel that they were going to be safe and kept telling Sven this, but Sven just smiled grimly and told him to keep on moving. Lightning flashed again and revealed a huge fortress out on a island of sorts. It looked like the island had been part of the mainland at one time, but that the ocean had bashed away on either side of the cliff and now it was an island. A massive gatehouse spanned the land ward side and a long narrow drawbridge connected the fortress to the mainland gatehouse. The road went by the fortress and Sven suggested that they do the same, but Kerwan felt pulled by some force and headed straight for the land ward gatehouse. Sven sighed and went after him.
When they got to the great gatehouse they saw just how big it was. It towered over them like the great walls of the cathedral being built at St. David’s. There were two massive oak-beamed iron-tipped portcullises one on each side of the gatehouse and both were down and no guards were in sight. They could see the long, narrow drawbridge and the mighty fortress beyond. Sven suggested that they go on. Kerwan did not feel right about leaving. As they turned their mounts about, another flash of lightening brightened the sky and they saw the Saxons coming towards them. Kerwan turned and pleaded out loud to whomever was there at the gatehouse and castle to let them in and keep the Saxons out.
For a moment nothing happened, and then, the first great portcullis started to go up. As soon as it was high enough for them to slip under, both of them led their mounts through and into the cavernous interior. It was like a fortress all by itself. When both of them were safely in the outer portcullis came down with a thud and just in time. The Saxons had made it to the gate but had to rein their mounts in so they would not be skewered by the great iron tips. The second portcullis opened as they walked near it and as they passed under the gate onto the long, narrow drawbridge the wind blew furiously in their faces and they turned to go back, but could not because the second portcullis had come down. Kerwan wished for the storm to stop and for them to reach the great fortress quickly and safely.
The wind calmed and the storm abated. Sven looked at Kerwan and bowed. He put his cape over his horse’s head and then lead his horse forward and and motioned for Kerwan to do the same and follow. Sven told Kerwan not to look down. It just seemed like a few moments and they were in front of the mighty fortress. The walls seemed to rise up out of the cliffs and reached towards the sky. The land ward gatehouse could have been placed inside of the main one they now stood before. Double portcullises were in front of them again. Sven told Kerwan it was time to wish again and he had almost begun to when a man appeared on the far side of the second portcullis and both great defenses opened. Sven did not take the lead this time. Kerwan almost ran to the man on the other side. Once they were through both portcullises were lowered and the drawbridge raised. No guards could be seen though. They were in a massive courtyard with a well, and stables on one side and a great round keep on the far side and on the opposite side what looked like stone barracks and all this with high walls surrounding them.
Sven step forward and started to introduce them, but the man held up his right hand and smile and called them both by their names and told them that his master had been expecting them. The man’s name was Bertram and he was chief steward to Prince Ambrose of Bardsey where they now were. Bertram told them that rooms had been prepared for them and their mounts would be tended to by the prince’s grooms men. The steward was tall, (but not as tall as Sven), and was clean shaven and had just a bit of brown stubble on his shaved head. Grooms men took the horses and Bertram lead them to the round keep. All of the servants that they encountered had various stages of shaved heads. Some with a little stubble and some shaved smooth. Sven eyed all of them warily. He was very protective of his great blond mane that flowed all the way down to his waist and of his long forked blond beard. Kerwan was also amazed by all the shaved heads, but was not as squeamish as the great Norseman. Kerwan ran his hands through his thick,longish black curls and wondered what it would be like to be bald.
Bertram lead them up a staircase that hugged the side of the great keep and seemed to go all the way to the top of the keep with landings every so often. When they got to the fifth landing, Bertram lead them down a hallway to a large room with a fireplace. There were two doors on opposite walls and Bertram told them that one was a suite for Kerwan and one for Sven. They inspected the suites and told Bertram that they were very nice. (Large, but nice.) Much finer than Kerwan was used to. Bertram left a tray with a pair of shears, a basin of water and a straight razor in the common room and told them that the Prince required their presence at dinner in three hours. They would find cloths and a hot bath for them in their respective suites and that they would need to clean up there appearances before dinner. Sven started to say something, but Kerwan bowed and thanked Bertram for his kindness and told him to thank the Prince on their behalf. Bertram returned the bow and closed the great oak door to the common room and left.
Kerwan calmed Sven down and told him to go take a bath and he would feel better. Sven sulked into his suite and shut the door. Kerwan watched Sven leave and then picked up the tray and went into his suite. He walked through the bedroom and directly into the large bathroom. The bathroom had a large Roman style bath and several small windows that were high up towards the ceiling. There was a large mirror across from the bath and a table next to the bath with a smaller mirror on it. Kerwan set the tray down on the table next to the bath undressed and got into the bath. The bath was hot and that felt so good after being cold and wet for a few days. He had not realized just how tired all that riding and running had made him. After bathing, Kerwan dried off with a towel. He looked at the shears and razor and ran his hands through his thick curly black hair. It wouldn’t be so bad. Kerwan placed the towel on the floor under a chair he brought in from the bedroom. He sat down in the chair and looked at him self. He had developed into a handsome man. Not big bulging muscles, but enough to look good. Not too tall and not real short. Just right. Thick, curly black hair that hung down over his ears and neck and just above his green eyes.
Kerwan positioned himself so he could look in both the large mirror on the wall and the smaller one on the table. He picked up the shears and grabbed a handful of thick, black curls at his right temple and snip, snip, snip right next to his head. He dropped the black curls on the floor and continued. Grab a handful of thick black curls and then snip, snip, snip and drop them on the floor. He turned his head and ran his fingers over the freshly chopped fuzz and smiled. This was fun. He picked up the pace and grabbed a large handful of curls on the top of his head and snip, snip, snip, snip. He tossed the handful up in the air and watched the thick, black curls float down to the floor. Grab, snip, snip, snip. Toss. Grab, snip, snip, snip. Toss. Over and over again all over his head he would grab a handful of thick black curls and lop them off and toss them up in the air and watch them fall and then do it again and again until all that remained was black fuzz all over his head.
Kerwan set the shears on the table and looked around. Mounds of thick, black curls were everywhere. He looked in the mirror and rubbed his hands over his head. It felt good. He picked up the shears again and this time carefully snipped as much black fuzz off as he could. Placing the shears on the top of his head and snip, snip, snip. Black fuzz drifted to the floor. All over his head, snip, snip, snip. Black fuzz flew everywhere. When he finished he set the shears down again and looked in the mirror. That was a different person. Not the young kid who was running away from danger but someone who could face anything and not flinch. He rubbed his hands over his head and liked the feel of the prickly stubble that remained.
He was aware that he had a visitor who had been watching for some time, but understood that there was no danger since it was Sven. Let him watch. Sooner or later he will have to do the same.
Kerwan reached over into the bath and scooped up some soapsuds and rubbed them over his head. Then he picked up the straight razor and started on the right side of his head and moved it slowly back across the side of his head. Front-to-back again and again until all of the black prickly stubble was gone on the right side of his head. He rubbed his hand over the newly shaved side and smiled. Mmmm that felt so good. He continued by shaving the back of his head slowly and carefully rubbing his hands up the back of his head when he had finished it. Ohhh, more. Over to his left side front-to-back over and over until the left side of his head was nice and oh, so smooth. Then he started on the top front-to-crown across the top of his head shaving off all of that black prickly stubble. When he was done he set the razor down and rubbed his hand all over his smooth bald head.
He decided to give himself a shave since he had not done so since he had left Chadwick two or three days ago. Kerwan scooped up some more soapsuds from the bath and lathered up his face and then slowly scraped away the stubble off his handsome face. He put the razor down when he had finished and rubbed his hands over his head and face. Mmmm that was so nice. But something was amiss. He liked how it felt, but it burned just a bit. He looked at the table and there was a cut crystal bottle with a green fluid inside. On the front of the bottle a word was engraved. “Ointment” He picked up the bottle and poured some onto his hands and then rubbed it on his head and face. It was cold and shocking at first, but he liked it. The ointment smelled like mint. It soothed the burning and smelled so good. He rubbed his hands all over his head and face. Oh, he could conquer anything now.
Kerwan pretended not to notice Sven and walked back into the bedroom. He went over to the large wardrobe on the opposite wall and picked out an emerald green silk tunic, black velvet pants, sapphire blue silk long coat, a gold silk rope belt, white silk leggings and black leather boots. He got dressed in front of a large free-standing mirror next to the bed. Then he put the talisman that hung from a gold chain around his neck that Chadwick had given him. Kerwan turned around and faced Sven and asked him what he thought. Sven was stunned. The tall, broad-shouldered warrior walked over to Kerwan and rubbed his hands over Kerwan’s bald head and shaved face. Kerwan smiled his green eyes sparkling. Sven found his voice and told Kerwan that he looked like a prince.
Sven had also taken a bath and had but on a blue silk tunic, white velvet pants, a black silk long coat, a silver silk rope belt, black silk leggings and white leather boots. His hair hung down to his waist unbound because he could not braid it without some help. He was determined not to cut his hair or shave his forked beard. Sven asked Kerwan to braid his long blond hair. Kerwan sighed some how knowing this was futile, but he did it anyway. He brushed out Sven’s beautiful thick waist long hair and braided it. When he had finished Sven looked in the mirror and nodded his approval.
Since they had over an hour to wait before dinner, the two friends decided to go exploring. Sven opened the door that led into the hallway and they headed for the stair landing. They heard a commotion. Someone was screaming and then it stopped. Then someone different started screaming. Sven wished he had his sword. They crept close to the entrance of the stair landing where the hall ended and looked out. Sven gasped and froze.
Four huge guards where holding down another large man who evidently had been finely dressed as Sven and Kerwan. There was a fifth guard who had a wicked looking double-edged, curved dagger in one hand and a handful of long red hair in the other. While the four huge guards held down the captive the fifth man held the captive’s head still and scraped the dagger across the top of the captive’s head. Red hair piled up in a mound all around the poor soul who was begging for mercy. Kerwan moved forward but Sven held him back. There were four other guards and another captive who had already been shaved bald. Thick mass of brown curls surrounded the second captive who was also a big man. Again and again the guard raked the dagger over the poor the man who had red hair.
When the guards were done the two captives crawled to each other and helped each other up. They picked up what bits and pieces of cloths they could and started to go back up towards their rooms. The guards blocked their way and told them that since they disobeyed the Prince and would have to move out to the stables and work and sleep out there instead of being guests. One of the guards suggested that he and few of the other guards should look in on the “Northman” and the young wizard to see if they had obeyed the Prince. The rest of the guards agreed.
Sven did not wait to hear them agree. He pulled Kerwan back into the hallway and down to the door that led to their common room. He shut the door and looked at Kerwan. Sven closed his eyes and asked Kerwan to help him by cutting his hair and shaving his beard because he did not want the fate of the other two they had seen. Kerwan told him to quickly get undressed in his suite and wait for him. Sven ran into his suite and got undressed. There was a banging on the door. Kerwan answered the door and the guard said that he was glad that Kerwan had followed the Prince’s orders. Then the guard asked to see Sven. Kerwan said that would be fine but would he go find a newer straight razor because the one that they had on the tray was becoming dull and would cut Sven. The guard said that he would go get one and would be back in a while. Kerwan thanked him and shut the door.
Kerwan walked into Sven’s suite. Sven had undressed and was waiting in the bathroom and had set it up like Kerwan had before. Sven sat on the chair and closed his eyes. Kerwan looked at the Norse warrior. Tall, muscular with long, thick blond hair and beard and bright blue eyes but he could not stand to see his head and beard shaved. Kerwan told Sven to open his eyes. He told Sven that if a Norseman could battle as bravely as he had back at the town, then this was nothing. His hair could grow back. Sven looked up and nodded. Kerwan went around behind Sven and set the tray with the shears and bowl on the table. He then unbraided Sven’s waist long braid and once again brushed Sven’s thick Norse blond hair.
Then Kerwan picked up the shears. He started at Sven’s right temple. Kerwan lifted a handful of waist long blond hair and snip, snip, snip right next to Sven’s head. Beautiful blond hair fell to the floor. Next handful snip, snip, snip more blond hair on the floor. Snip, snip, snip. A mound of thick, long blond hair piled up on the floor as Kerwan worked around to the back of Sven’s head. Kerwan tilted Sven’s head forward and then snip, snip, snip, snip up the back of Sven’s head to his crown. Masses of long, thick blond hair cascaded to the floor.
Again and again snip, snip, snip, snip up the back of Sven’s head to his crown. More hair showered the floor. Kerwan had to kick the mound of long, thick blond hair out of his way. He moved around to the left side of Sven’s head and then snip, snip, snip behind Sven’s ear, snip, snip, snip over the ear, snip, snip, snip to the front. Kerwan felt like he was wading through thick grass with all that thick blond hair on the floor.
Kerwan moved around to the front and tilted Sven’s head forward. Snip, snip, snip, snip, snip, snip front-to-crown. Blond hair falls into Sven’s lap. Over and over snip, snip, snip, snip, snip, snip front-to-crown. Until only stubble remained. Blond hair had fallen all over and piled up in mounds around them.
Then Kerwan gently tilted Sven’s head back. Snip, snip, snip, snip, snip, snip left side of the great blond forked beard to the chin. Snip, snip, snip, snip, snip, snip the chin to the right side. Now there was just thick blond beard without long fork sections. Sven was looking more handsome by the moment.
Kerwan went over to the bath and found some of the soaps and made a lather in the bowl. The guard returned at that moment and when no one answered the door he came back to the bathroom when he heard Kerwan’s voice call out to him. The guard stopped and stared at all the thick, long blond hair on the floor and at Sven. He handed Kerwan the razor and nodded at both of them and started to leave. Kerwan said that they might be a little late for dinner and would the guard please let the Prince know this. The guard said he would and that it would not be a problem and left.
Sven asked Kerwan to start shaving his beard first while the blade was still at its sharpest. Kerwan agreed and went over to the basin and scooped up some soapsuds and then tilted Sven’s head back again. Firmly but gently, Kerwan started shaving Sven’s beard off. Swipe, swipe, swipe. First the right side then the chin and moustache. After each swipe Kerwan rubbed his thumb over to see how smooth it was. Swipe, swipe, swipe. The left side became nice and smooth. Swipe, swipe, swipe. Under his chin to his left side. Swipe, swipe, swipe. Under his chin to his right side. Sven was a whole new person. He had been handsome to start with, but now he was stunning.
Kerwan started shaving Sven’s head. Long swipe, long swipe, long swipe. The right side of his head from his temple past his ear to the back. Kerwan rubbed his fingers over each newly shaved section. Long swipe, long swipe, long swipe. The back of his head. Rub, rub, rub. Mmmm. Long swipe, long swipe, long swipe. The left side of Sven’s head front-to-back. Rub, rub, rub. Sooo smooooth. Long swipe, long swipe, long swipe. The top of his head front-to-crown. Rub, rub, rub. Oh, my. All of the bright blond stubble was shaved away leaving a very smooth bald head. Kerwan poured some ointment on his hands and slowly and firmly rubbed it all over Sven’s head and face. This was perfection.
Sven stared at himself in the mirror and rubbed his hands all over his head and face. It wasn’t half as bad as he thought it would be. He stood up and got dressed. When he had finished he put the chain with the talisman on it over his head and went out the door with Kerwan. They made their way down to the stairs where a guard looked at them and nodded and led them to the banquet hall.
The hall was huge with timber beamed ceiling, a fireplace servants walked into get the food, enormous arched stained glass windows, and a great bowed wall of stained glass at the very end. The prince was sitting on a large gilt throne on a dais. He was very pleased. Much to Sven and Kerwan’s surprise the prince was wearing a chain with a talisman just like their’s.
Prince Ambrose had been one of Chadwick’s prodigies as well. The prince gave them gifts and had them eat dinner with him. After that he told them they could stay as long as they liked. But as long as they stayed, they had to keep their heads shaved. The prince also told Kerwan that he would be glad to teach Kerwan more about his talent. They thanked the prince and said they would both stay.
They all lived happily ever after - - - for now.
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