Tales of Avanturia 1

Chapter 33: Elven Melodies

It still came as a suprise, that they actually agreed to do this.. The others expected Fenrock to.. well, to do something different, but his explanation cleared things a little up.. I think.

„Fenny, why did we accept again?" Bella asked.

„I know, it might be strange, but everything aside, I still have a friend in Harkon. And I'm a man of honour, believe it or not, I wouldn't just kill him over such a puny thing." Fenrock explained.

„You have really strange friends, you know." Lucia commented.

„You need to look behind the curtain. When you get to know them better, you'll like them too." he replied.

The airship soon departed in Gundirsvall, the others noticed Fenrock saying something to the captain.. From there, they headed straight to the destination. They, however, would have to find the ruin. And try to avoid running into Freyrdan.

Freyrdan the Cruel.. the legend tells of an executioner, so cruel, that the gods themselves set a curse upon him, that he could never die other than in a fight. 400 years ago he served the High King in Ravigrad and was known to execute his victims extremly slowly and painful, to get the most out of it. He was also a torturer, and I don't think, that I have to talk about how terrible his methods were. After his methods were declared too violent and inhuman, he was banished of the court and Ravigrad and went to exile, but not before attacking the king himself. This attempt however failed and he was killed by a royal knight, at least that's what they thought. No one knew how he lived, but he just withstood death. It's said, that he awoke in the middle of the frozen woods in the Lorindir mountains – the area which he roams to this day, seeking eternal revenge, armed with his burning sword Asgreir and surrounded by a shroud of black shadows.

The Jarl of Gundirsvall ordered that the frozen woods must never be entered at night, for it is too dangerous. But Freyrdan is not the only danger. On the one side you have the coldest area in all of Avanturia and on the other side there are frost spirits, which haunt those woods, then there are the dire wolves and also, because of the density of the trees, one can get lost very easily.

It's safe to say, that this is not really a place one would want to be, and that it's really reasonable, that most people avoid this place.

The Blood Roses had to walk the rest of the way, because no one would want to bring them there, even in daylight.

And indeed, it got colder and colder as they came closer to the frozen woods.

„Have you ever been there?" Lucia asked Fenrock.

„Once." Fenrock seemed really focused and constantly looked around, like something was worrying him, „It didn't end well."

„And this Freyrdan? Have you ever seen him?" she asked.

„Don't be silly," Brynjolf said, „It's just a myth, a hoax. To scare people away from this place, because it's too dangerous alone. I mean, what kind of story is that even supposed to be? 'He got cursed and banished and seeks revenge because he was too cruel'. Sure! I know enough people, that are too cruel and they aren't banished from anywhere. And even if, how bad can one guy be? I could probably take hi-"

„You shouldn't joke about things, you have no idea about." Fenrock said coldly.

Fenrock's way of talking actually intimidated the others a little nervous, because they've never seen him like this. Something was wrong..

„And to answer your question," he said, „I have."

They eventually reached a large fence, that seemed to circle the entire forrest. There was a gate with a sign.