A The Mark Of A Stallion Novel:CLAIMING THE VIRGIN'S BLOOD (Published)

Chapter 2.1

Faroe Islands. May, 2015.

Buong paghangang minamasdan ni Sandro Montreal ang silver drinking horn sa glass box na kinalalagyan nito. It was about fifteen inch long from the mouth to the tip with different gemstones on the exterior as decorations. Bilang isang antique and artifact collector at nagmamay-ari ng pinakasikat na museum sa buong Asia, ang silver horn ay isang kaakit-akit na bagay na ngayon ay bumibihag sa kanya.

He was inside a small antique shop in the downtown of Thorsvin, the capital and largest city of Faroe Islands, Kingdom of Denmark.

Mula sa kanyang halos walang tigil na paglalakbay sa tatlong bansa kung saan sinasabing nagmula ang mga Vikings na labis na kinatakutan sa malaking bahagi ng Europe sa loob ng halos apat na daang taon, masasabing dito sa Faroe Islands niya nakita ang isang bagay na nanaisin niyang makuha at maiuwi, gaano man ang halaga nito.

Ilang araw pa lang siya sa malayong isla na iyon ng Denmark. Few weeks ago ay nasa Viking Ship Museum sa Oslo, Norway siya upang makita ang tanyag na Osberg longship na pinaniniwalaang isang burial ship ng isang Norwegian queen. Pinuntahan din niya ang sikat na Lingsberg Runestone sa Sweden gayundin ang Jeling Stone sa naturang bansa na itinayo ng last pagan king ng Denmark, si King Gorm the Old. Siya ang ama ng sikat na si Harald I 'Bluetooth' Gormsson, the first Viking king to be baptized as a Christian.

From those countries, he was able to buy some objects that could be displayed in his museum. But those tools, weapons, coins and jewelry were not enough to satisfy his passion as a curator. Naghahanap pa rin siya ng kakaiba at mas kamangha-manghang bagay mula sa nakalipas na panahon ng mga Vikings.

"I'm sorry, sir, but we don't sell this one," magalang na sagot ng matandang may-ari ng antique shop ng tinanong niya kung magkano ang naturang silver horn. Lihim siyang nagpasalamat dahil sa matatas na pagagmit nito ng wikang English dahil mas magkakaintindihan sila. Faroese at Danish ang official languages sa bansang iyon. Mangilan-ngilan lamang ang marunong gumamit ng matatas na English.

He crumpled his forehead. Why they displayed it if they would not sell it? "I will buy it. Just name your price," he said in a friendly tone.

"Sir," Mr. Knudsen scratched his head. "I cannot sell it to you."

"Give me one good reason why you would not sell it?" he impatiently asked.

"You may laugh at me if I tell you the reason but if it will change your mind, well, I'll share it to you." The old man cleared his throat, looked at him intently and opened his mouth. "According to our urban legend, this horn carries a curse. It was formerly owned by a cruel chieftain. When disgusted by a delinquent subject who disobeyed their laws, he trapped his spirit inside it. The sprit, accordingly, can be freed any time, but when or how, that we didn't know."

"How did you learn the curse and the story behind it?"

"The story was passed down from one generation to generation, sir. We don't know if it's true but we believe there's nothing if we prevent the spiriti from coming out. Because we're not sure whether it is good or bad. It would be better if it will remain inside the horn forever."

He scanned the exterior of the drinking horn. Aside from the different gemstones, he also noticed some texts embossed on its rim in Runic alphabet, the old Norsemen alphabet. "There are texts on it. Perhaps these have something to do with the curse or with the spirit inside. Can you interpret it?"

"My apology, sir. No one here can understand Rune. Though we have some cryptographers in our country, I did not ask any of them to interpret it meaning, for I believe that there's no use knowing the meaning of the text. For as long as this horn will remain untouched, it will bring no harm to any one."