Bloodlines of the Ancient Pantheons 169 CLXIX. Fort Skjonne

Once at the top of the stairs, the front door was logically closed.

Dag, without hesitation, knocked with his fist.

The noise rumbled loudly, echoing between the 4 walls of the fort, but no one went to open the door.

He repeated the operation.

At one point, a noise of locking interrupted the silence.

The door appeared to be closed with a complex security mechanism from the inside.

When it opened, a young man looked at Dag and his companions, with a questioning expression.

"How can I help you?" he asked.

"Hello. We are ambassadors of the Hammers Of Thor Clan and bring important news. My name is Dag, I'm Gridd's brother, who is part of your Clan" Dag said, with a smile printed on his face.

"Gridd? Come in! Get in and apologize if I kept you waiting!" the boy replied, moving from the entrance and allowing visitors to enter.

As soon as they were inside the walls, the same boy pointed to them a stable to leave the horses. 

"I don't think the Masters were waiting for visitors... I am convinced that they are in their rooms" the boy continued, leading Dag and the others to the main building.

"I kindly ask you to call Gridd. Tell her someone wants to meet her... If I know her as I think, she'll definitely come down and take a look" said Dag, who after entering the building noticed a large staircase leading to the upper floors.

"All right! But don't move from here, wait and sit right there, if you don't mind" the boy replied, pointing to a wooden table with chairs around it as he climbed the stairs to warn Gridd.

The adventurers went to sit down, admiring the beauty of the building's atrium.

On the walls were many paintings and frescoes depicting Freya. At the bottom, however, weapons and armor were leaning on the same walls. 

Judging by their beauty, they seemed to be unique equipment, perhaps belonging to great warriors of the past.

The square room, although very large, was well lit, by numerous torches arranged in a row on the walls and by the light coming from the wood that burned in a large fireplace, positioned right in front of the entrance, on the opposite side.

Incredibly, the fireplace was also part of a sculpture: above it, a large throne of rock on which sat the imposing Goddess, Freya, holding a sword in one hand and a shield in the other.

On her head she wore a crown, which gave the sculpture a special beauty, enriched by the delicate smile drawn on her face, conveying a feeling of peace and security to those who looked at her.

"Here they are, they are sitting there".

While Dag was enchanted to observe the sculpture, the boy had returned to the lower floor, accompanied by someone.

"Dag? Is that you?" said a female voice, drawing the attention of Dag, who turned to her, realizing that it was not Gridd, which had a much less rude and profound tone.

He stood up and walked toward the woman, smiling.

When he walked before her, he bent down on a knee: "yes, it's me. Long time no see, Master Taya" he said, looking down.

In front of him was Taya, who by some strange coincidence had returned to the city of her Clan and was not in Jernhest.

"Hahaha! Get up, Dag! Let me look at you!" she said, smiling.

He obeyed and looked into The eyes of Shieldmaiden, who first taught him how to wield a weapon.

"I'm glad to see you again, Master" he said, still smiling.

"What are you doing here? From your armor, I see you're officially a member of the Hammers Of Thor! I'm very happy for you!" she continued, congratulating her former pupil.

"Master, I'd like to talk about the reason for my visit to my sister, which I haven't seen in a very long time. Is Gridd here?" asked Dag, eager to see his sister again.

"Master Gridd, you'll say" Taya replied, winking at him and heading upstairs without adding anything else.

"Okay, I think she went to call her" Dag thought aloud, as he opened and closed his hands, impatiently.

After a few minutes, Taya got back in the room, where Dag and his companions were waiting.

"Hey! But... I just noticed... What are you doing here?" she asked, realizing that Karl was hiding behind Agnes to avoid getting caught by his Master's watchful eye.

He went out into the open and without getting too close, bowed his head, out of respect: "Hello, Master Taya".

"It's not his fault, I asked him to come with me. He's developed incredible skills, I can say I have one of Okstorm's most promising healers in my team!" said Dag, who stood between her and Karl, defending his friend.

"A healer? I didn't know you had such hidden abilities, Karl" said Taya, who after Dag's words stopped sulking.

"Since my father became ill, I have been forced to learn... but then I noticed a certain affinity with the art of herbalism and I was passionate about it" Karl replied, hoping that the answer would serve to justify his absence in Arena.

Reidar and Agnes had stood on the sidelines, sitting at the table.

Although the archer came from a village near Jernhest, he may not have had Taya as a teacher.

"Somebody? Who? Who would come to visit me at this hour? I'm not waiting for anyone!" said a female voice from upstairs, approaching the stairs.

Dag immediately looked up, acknowledging that voice, and began to smile for no reason.

"I really hope it's an important thing, I was sleeping blissfully and..." 

Gridd stopped talking as soon as she saw Dag, standing by near Taya.

"D... Dag?" she said in disbelief, with a thread of a voice. 

Chapter end