Tales Of The Continent - Part 5

Chapter 5

I wait outside the Jörmund Port great hall. An oak door frame stood in front of me, the sigil of the kingdom etched out in gold on the door. The sound of harbour bells and seagulls are in the distance, with the slow rumbling of the Ocean's tide barely distinguishable through the noise of the busy markets. I stood for a little longer, the grime on my face irritating my skin, and my satchel feeling heavier the longer I held it. This long feeling of waiting never loosened up no matter how many centuries I do it for. Finally, after a few more minutes of painful standing, the two doors in front of me opened, splicing the crest in two. I walked forward into the great hall, massive oak beams with golden spirals coming up on either side, with soldiers standing to attention at each one. The floor was made of the same dark oak as the spirals, with a map highlighting Jömund Port's territory, ranging from North West of the Thordins Sea all the way down to Munsfield and Shipwreckers Bay. In front of me were three thrones, the one in the middle considerably larger the the other two at its sides. Above them were three massive stained glass windows, in the top half of all of them was a bright sky, with an ocean underneath it. Spread across this ocean was a large ship, three enormous flags rising from it, all a dark shade of green. On the three thrones sat two men and one woman. The woman was middle aged, with a touch of grey in her hair and deep lines across her face. The man in the middle was around the same age, stony faced, with mostly black hair, his beard was greying ever so slightly. There where lines on his face, but instead of giving the appearance of tiredness, he appeared instead completely merciless. The final man was very old, he had long grey hair flowing either side of him, with a huge bald patch atop his head. He was dressed in nothing but a very long and brown robe. Little had I noticed that the whole time I'd been walking down the hall a scrawny, mousy haired boy had been following me. It was only when I stopped just in front of the thrones that he took one step forward and started to speak,

"My King, my Queen and my good Ser,"

I saw a flicker of annoyance appear as quickly as it disappeared pass over the second man's face.

"May I present to you Freydis of the Hunters."

I nodded to each of them in turn, only the man in the middle reciprocated my nod.

"Ser Freydis, you are in the presence of Maester Stafford of Jörmund Port."

He raised a hand of acknowledgment.

"Lady Dahlia of House Jörmund,"

She simply moved her eyes in my direction.

"And lastly Ser Lars Jörmund, the King of Jörmund Port, server to the King, Shield of the East and Lord of the Seas."

The middle man curtly nodded.

"Welcome Hunter," Ser Lars said impassively, "What do you bring before me?"

I held up the bag in my hand, the blood now crusted on the bottom.

"Ser Jörmund, I was hired by a commander in your ranks to find and kill a sorceress,"

Just off to the side of the thrones I saw a large man spit, I continued,

"She had been using her magic to create and use night creatures to attack your convoys."

He nodded, having been informed of this.

"I have fulfilled my contract and desire payment in full for my services."

"Where is your proof of this deed?"

I held up the bag once again. Undoing it and reaching inside, I threw the bloodied cut off hand to the steps that led up to the thrones. The Lady let out a small squeal, Maester Stafford pulled an uncomfortable looking face, but Ser Jörmund remained impassive.

"How can we be sure this is the sorceresses hand?" He asked,

"If you look closely you'll see a ring on one of her fingers, not only does it have the sigil of the sorcerers and sorceresses, it is also impossible to take off unless it is willingly taken off by the person who put it on there."

The whole hall stood in silence for a minute, but finally he spoke,

"Very well Hunter, Ser Lansel..." he gestured to the mountain of a man who had spat earlier, "Go get this man his coin... and remove this hand from my view."

Ser Lansel thudded along to the hand, scooping it up in one swift motion, and then disappeared. A few moments later he came back with a small rustling pouch, which he threw at me. I caught it and pocketed it.

"Thank you your grace," I said, bowing deeply, "it has been a pleasure doing business with you as always."

Ser Lars nodded. This being my dismissal, I swiftly turned around and headed out of the Great Hall.

Outside the Castle I met Indy, who had been patiently waiting for me just beyond the oak doors. Usually after a contract I would roam around whatever place I found myself in, until my coin started to get low, then attempt to seek out a new job. Today I had a different plan. I would buy a horse and set off after the prophecy that the sorceress had foretold. Having nothing to go on however, I decided I would go back to my home and talk to Keiger. He has been alive for centuries so maybe he would know something and be able to point me in the right direction. Either way I'd made a deal with the Sorceress and I had to complete my end of the deal.