This is part two of my sword and sorcery series...
It was beginning to get dark as they headed up a narrow cobbled lane into what looked like a fishing village, but as they went further up the steep lane towards the top, more and more of the village came into view until they found they weren’t in a village at all but a city, huge and sprawling.
The sight that met their eyes was appalling. They stood at the top of the lane and looked down across a valley. As far as the eye could see was a dirty grey and black jumble of crumbling buildings. An old city, well past its knock-down date; buildings built upon buildings; steeples with half their roofs missing; smoking chimneys adding to the smog that hung over the city in the still air. All was sombre and dark and growing darker as an emptiness shadow passed over them.
“It’s like something from a nightmare,” said George.
“I may leave you soon. This place is not to my liking and Rainbow could never stay here,” said Zen.
“Where will you go?” asked Kelek.
“There is someone I must find. This is why I came to this accursed place. When I know where she is I will go to her,” answered Zen.
“You’ve been a good companion,” said Kelek.
“You too,” said Zen.
“Somebody will be playing a violin soon,” said George.
They all laughed at this. Then Kelek cleared his throat:
“Until the road calls, then we go, but now I’ve a thirst, so come on, let’s drink and forget about the troubles, until they come a knocking,” sang Kelek.
George joined in, then Zen as they went to find an Inn to slake their thirst with a courtyard for Rainbow, Zen's prized horse.
Later, as night fell down heavy over the city of Dongor, Kelek and George were drunk and bawdy. In a corner sat a minstrel plucking a psaltery and singing a rousing song.
Zen was having fun and teasing Kelek by dancing with a drunken sailor, but the sailor started making groping advances on her and then she had to push him off time after time. Kelek wasn’t put out one bit by her dancing with the sailor, in fact he was enjoying watching Zen becoming annoyed with the slobbering man. Finally she got so angry with him she knocked him out with a punch to the jaw. The sailor collapsed onto the table he had been sitting at. Mugs of ale, his friends and table all crashed in a heap on the sawdust and spit covered floor. The music from the singer stopped momentarily then started up again as Zen returned to sit with Kelek and George who were laughing fit to bust.
“Oh shut up you two,” she said.
This didn’t silence them one whit, in fact it served to fuel their laughter even more if that were possible. They were doubled up and holding their sides. Zen flounced out of the room to go see how Rainbow was. Kelek and George quietened down after she’d left.
“Perhaps we shouldn’t have laughed at her. It only makes her upset,” said George who looked at Kelek, then they burst out laughing again. They were drawing a lot of frowning but amazed looks from the other drinkers, laughter being so unusual in Dongor.
From a table across the other side of the room sat one on his own. He had been there for the past hour or so, not drinking much just observing what had been going on at Kelek’s table. When he was sure he had the right people he approached their table. Kelek and George were still chuckling when he asked them a question.
“Are you the ones who came through the fog?”
Kelek looked at the man. He had long black hair, clean shaven, quiet and sure of himself, his sword tight at his waist. ‘A woodsman perhaps, or a tracker,’ thought Kelek who had seen his kind before. A good man for a friend, but a loner mostly.
“Word seems to get around fast,” said Kelek.
The man took this for an answer.
“My name is Bornu and I am to take you to my lady who is waiting,” said the man.
Kelek stood and towered over the man even though the man stood near to six feet.
“A lady you say,” said Kelek.
“They even ask for him now by name,” said George to himself.
“Did she say what she wanted?” asked Kelek.
George looked at Kelek sideways.
“My lady would speak to you of a matter she chooses not to discuss with me,” said Bornu standing still and waiting.
“Well then, mustn’t keep a lady waiting. Where is she to be found?” asked Kelek.
“She waits in a lodging house not far from here,” said Bornu.
“Let’s go then,” said Kelek ready to leave.
Bornu led the way as they all trooped off to meet the lady.
End of part two
Link to part one https://steemit.com/steemitbloggers/@wales/wizards-witches-and-heroes
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Animation By @zord189