Red Glass

11.

"Wake up, wake up!!!" Samuel whispers.

"Are we... where are we?"

"Stay quiet! Listen; The cage is locked!"

"What?" Daniella asks, still dazed. "How long has it been locked? How long have I slept?"

"I've no idea. I woke up just a moment ago. I think he drugged us!"

"Where is he taking us?" Daniella asks with wide eyes, holding her head.

"I'm not sure, but I do know we are heading west judging by the sun!"

"What do we do?"

"Stay quiet, pretend to still be asleep. When he opens the cage we startle him and make a run for it."

"Will that wor...."

"-You two, quite back there!" Scorns the harsh voice of the coachman.

"Where are you taking us?" Demands Samuel.

"You'll see, .." The rider laughs. ".. We're almost there now."

"You cannot do this to us! You hear?"
Screams Lady Daniella, finding her authoritative voice. "We have paid you for a service and demand that you release us at once!"

The wagon keeps going to the sound of whipping and donkeys panting into hostile winds.

-

Vatala's doors thud with mighty fist echoing through the beating city.

From above a voice asks "What business do you have here?"

"Trade. Re-supply. Shelter." Replies Agnaar in a deep rumbling voice.

"Alright, load your stock through the station and leave your horses with the stable master."

The gates sheer size is enough to leave people in awe, clearly crafted to be equally as intimidating as the walls themselves. Fenrir, ignoring the endless row of impaled rotted corpses, watches the gates slowly opening in marvel of what kind of skill such carpenters must have had to build such gates larger than ships.

"Giants must have lived here before." Olcan says with awe, considered a giant amongst his own people.

"Once, before the reign of king Vatalis." Brenn replies.

"They shall again." Adds Agnaar.

Entering, they place their wares on the tables for inspection.

"You lot must not be from around here, you could catch your death dressed like that." One of the younger guards say, astonished by their ability to fight the cold.

"No weapons in the city without written authority from either Mayor Baldwin or King Blackwood himself."

The visitors look at one another, uncomfortable with the idea of leaving their weapons behind. Without a weapon in hand, one cannot enter Valhalla should they fall.

"You can keep your shields but that's it. King's orders."

Agnaar waits to see where his new dagger is placed amongst the lockers. Supplies are moved from the tables into wagons having been searched through for items not allowed into the city. The swords crafted in steel of the king still lay on the table, lined up with a certain respect.

"How did you come into possession of these?"

"We took them!"

Agnaar challengingly stares the guard in the eyes for a reaction. Brenn tightens the wrap around her hand, Olcan removes his tusked helmet, shaking his head side to side and rolls his huge shoulders. The other guards bead their eyes amongst themselves before the giants. Fenrir sparks his Axe and dagger out, the guards feet move further away from behind the counter, Agnaar still watching with a dead face...