Legends: The Knight of Helm (#1)

Chapter 28

The long black hair was tied into a pony tail behind the knight's head. He looked about as he slowly entered into the tavern. He heard the lovely melody that Dagda was playing on his magic harp, as a woman sang the lyrics to his awe inspiring song. Cladius's boots slapped against the wooden floor as he glanced about the quant setting. Wooden walls, and roofs, where covering the interior. Candles were set on the wooden tables and torches off to the side of the tavern. The floor beneath his feet was wet from the snow the men brought in. The air was thick inside the building, and the stuffy feeling atmosphere was something Cladius had never enjoyed.

Dagda smiled as he watched Cladius enter into the building. He wore a long blue rope, with greying bushy eyebrows. His hair line was retreating from his forehead, and his long hair fell well below his shoulders. His long beard reached to his chest with a nice vivid black color, except his greying mustache. His rosy cheeks and pink nose betrayed his slightly intimidating facial features. He had a big lower lip, and a long narrow mouth. His eyes were a grey color as he finished playing the last note of his harp. Cladius spotted the man, as the woman cleared her throat for the next song. He watched Dagda excuse the woman as Cladius approached the man.

Cladius was rather grim relatively speaking compared to the joy filled man. He was dancing in his little seat, as Cladius grew closer. He couldn't stop fidgeting where he sat, even when Cladius opened his mouth.

"The great Dagda," Cladius bowed.

"Such an honor this is, that a god comes from the sky to bow down before his own creation!" Dagda replied, "This must be written in my next song!"

"God? Is this my true heritage?" Cladius inquired.

"Ah, come! It is time, you do have the pieces right? The feather, the skull?" Dagda questioned, as he clutched his winter jacket.

"I do indeed, what of the god's blood?" Cladius questioned follow Dagda outside, back into the snow.

"Do not worry my lord, all shall be revealed, your challenge is all but complete." The man replied.

"Challenge, what challenge?" Cladius said, completely confuse.

The knight thought this man would have answers not more questions and riddles. As he finished his thought Dagda suddenly stopped as he turned around to face Cladius. His hunch back placed the minor deity just two inches below his follower, his eyes catching the warm, dark eyes of Cladius.

"Your challenge, ah yes your challenge. Was it not a challenge to give away your birthright to live among men? You were born of," Dagda paused, "Well; HE will explain that, the point is that you are almost there. Then the fun really begins." Dagda replied.

"Who is he?" Cladius begged, "Every question just leads to more questions. I thought my birthright was from Helm?"

"It is young lord, it is indeed. Just bear with an old man for five minutes." Dagda replied as Cladius continued to follow.

Dagda found this small rock in the middle of nowhere. No snow covered the rock; it was clean dry, not cold, nor dry. The rock was as if from a different world, not obeying the rules of this one. On the flat surface there was a small insignia, a crescent eclipsing the sun. Cladius turned his head to the side, questioning his sight.

"Dagda, what is the crescent eclipsing the sun?" Cladius thought aloud, "It's nothing I have ever seen before."

"I haven't seen it either, but it's the moon boy! The treasure of your journey," Dagda said, holding his hands out, "now the collectables young master."