A Slayer's Debt

The Three Headed Snake

Had Alger been less drunk he would have proceeded to follow Tyra with interest in the snake but Sobourn had an arm around him and wasn't letting him free till he calmed.

"I recognise that tattoo." he said instead to Sobourn "the snake with three heads."

Sobourn sat him down at a booth for two and looked at him in shock. "She was a Furmung? Gods I'm surprised she didn't kill you herself!"

"What's a Foormug?" Alger tried to ask, the ale had taken a hold of his tongue by now.

"The Furmung is an ancient ring of sorcerers who take their power from killing young creature of magic and burning them for their god, the Jormungand. I am surprised you have never heard of them. They believe that the pure magic these creatures posses and their funeral of light grants the sorcerers wraith-like abilities." 

"Why she  want to kill me though?" Alger slurred.

"The Furmung believe that all magical beings belong to Jormungand after he won a bet to the gods of life and must be granted to him when they die, the purer they are the more value they hold. The Furmung have been at war with dragon slayers from the moment Einar the First brought back Inghard's head for the first King because slayers present dragons to widows and orphans and not some three headed snake." Sobourn explained as Alger began to doze off. "Tyra was an assassin, here to see to kill you for her God."

"I must go and find her then!" 

"Aye Alger; in this state!" he said in his deep highland accent.

"Okay Sobourn." He protested, "I'd be dead in a ditch at best had it not been for you this night and I thank you for that. Tell me, will you come with me to find Tyra on the morrow?"

"Well I am on holiday" Sobourn replied reluctantly "may as well  make something of myself"