Paladin - the path north volume one

Chapter 22

Tar'vid entered the wise woman's hut, letting his eyes adjust slowly to the gloom. He heard the creak of the floorboards underfoot, smell the straw in the roof, it always amazed him how much more acute his senses became in the darkness.

"Are you just going to stand there smelling my home young man?" the wise woman called out, her position hard to pinpoint in the dark.

"I wasn't planning on it, but I seem to keep making poor choices as of late" he replied with a smirk, walking cautiously further into the hut.

Tar'vid had taken no more than a few steps when a lamp flared into life, the sudden bright flame nearly blinding him. Sat on cushions scattered around an unlit fire pit were the wise woman and the Dwarf Brundwill. Tar'vid hesitated a moment, he hadn't meant to interrupt them.

"Don't dawdle, young man, come here, sit" the wise woman scolded him, patting a cushion beside her.

Tar'vid shrugged, strolling over and sitting on the offered cushion, though it felt hard and seemed remarkably uncomfortable.

"Forgive my intrusion, Master Brundwill... I hadn't realised there was company present" Tar'vid apologised, bowing his head solemnly.

"There's nothing to forgive Lord Tar'vid, I was waiting here for you after all" the Dwarf explained with a broad grin on his face.

"But how? I only decided to come here twenty minutes ago" he marvelled, still trying unsuccessfully to get comfortable.

"I have a little, insider information, but that's not for you to know. Where are my manners, I am Brundwill, son of Brundwi, at your service" the Dwarf replied, bowing his head before offering out his right hand... then realised his mistake and put out his left instead.

Tar'vid shook it, the Dwarf seemed pleasant and wanted to offer him something.

"I don't wish to seem blunt Master Brundwill, but what is it you require of me?" Tar'vid asked, trying to sound as diplomatic as possible.

"Ah, yes... I require nothing of you Lord Tar'vid, more, I wish to offer you my service. My father was most adamant about it."

"I would gladly accept your help Master Brundwill, but, why would your father send you to me?" Tar'vid queried, his discomfort forgotten.

"As I cannot explain it to you, nor could he explain it to me. Just know that I will fulfil my father's request upon the ribbons in my beard" he replied, cheerfully stroking the long mountain of a beard.

The wise woman coughed audibly, making the two of them face her once more. "I do believe, young man, you came here for advice... did you not?"

Tar'vid nodded, his thoughts snapping back to his predicament. "I'm afraid I have acted rather, rashly... I face a knight in single combat."

The wise woman nodded. "And you do not wish to kill him, yes?"

He nodded. "Sir Godwin is a good man, I am certain of it... he just has an acute sense of justice."

"You've certainly changed Tar'vid, the young man I remember is really gone isn't he?" She asked, running a hand over his face.

"Yes... he died in the Saints tomb, the old Tar'vid couldn't have made it this far" he concluded, knowing it was his naive nature that had cost him so dearly in the past.

"My poor boy..." she said, standing up and opening her door. "There was never any need for you to come here, you already know what to do... am I right?"

Tar'vid stood up and made his way past her, stopping as he emerged into the late morning sun. "I think I do... I just needed reassurance."

Brundwill pushed past them both, standing out in the fresh air and breathing deeply. "So... what's the plan?" he asked, running his fingers through his beard.