Hi there,
As the title says this is the second chapter of this story, so if you're unfamiliar with the preceding chapter you might want to read that one first.
I want to thank all the readers who took the time to rate/comment on the previous chapter.
And a super special thanks to Sophie and Jamie, for their assiduous proofreading and editing.
I hope you'll enjoy this chapter as much as you enjoyed the first one. I presume you enjoyed the preceding chapter or else you wouldn't have read this whole introduction.
So long!
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A high cliff loomed on one side of the field on which they stood, and except for the rock wall, the field was surrounded by a forest of ashes, elms and birches. Marvin counted ten small and one big tent. Even with the four shacks, which leaned against the cliff, this wasn't nearly enough to harbor all the people that occupied the place. Klarissa walked immediately to the big tent, so he had to continue is observations while trying to catch up with her.
"Where do all these people live?" Marvin looked at her stern face, and with her eyes fixated on the tent Klarissa seemed to have forgotten about the world she was pacing through.
'What?"
"There are too many people and too few tents, so where do they sleep?"
"In the mine," she nodded to the cliff. "It is depleted and ran out of ore more than a hundred years ago. No one knows of its existence."
In the tent, there was a big map claiming the left wall. This, and the numerous rolls of paper spread out on the table, indicated it was being used as a war room. A man leaned over the table. His back was turned to Klarissa and Marvin, and a small group of people were listening to what he had to say.
Upon their entering, a woman looked over her shoulder.
"Robert,"she interrupted the man and nodded to the entrance of the tent. He turned around and his face bore a mixture of concern and irritation. However, when he saw who was standing at the entrance, only relief showed.
"My love," he exclaimed and with three long strides, he held her in his arms. "I was so worried." He grabbed her face and kissed her deeply.
Their little reunion was short-timed. They were barely in each others arms before there was a commotion outside.
"John! John!"a brown haired woman came into the tent. "Klarissa, I heard you were back. We have all been so worried. Where is my John?"
Klarissa turned around and her face saddened.
"I'm sorry. Marta. There was a second party. They took us by surprise, they killed..."
"No, not my John." Marta cried, her expression changed from shock to anger. "You said you would watch over him, watch over all of them," she accused with tears streaming over her cheeks. "Why did you survive!"
She took a knife from her belt and stepped forward. The crowd in the tent was taken by surprise, except for Marvin, he grabbed the woman's shoulders and then pulled her into his embrace. The knife fell out of her limp hand and Marta started to cry against Marvin's chest.
Robert just now seemed to noticed the stranger standing in his tent.
"Who are you?"he asked, then he turned to Klarissa. "Who is he?"
"I'm Marvin." "That is Marvin." they answered at the same time.
"Had he not rescued me, I would have been dead." Klarissa elaborated.
"In that case; Marvin, it is a honor to meet you. I'm Robert, the rightful Lord of Bramen," the lord looked calculating at the stranger in his tent. "I'm in your debt for rescuing my wife, tell me what you need and I'll see to it."
Two woman came and took Marta from Marvin's arms; they guided the crying mess out of the tent. Now freed, he bowed.
"The honor is all mine, m'Lord." he said, his lips parted in a smile. "As for my payment, I only want to serve you, m'Lord."
"Of course my man, you're ever so welcome in our ranks, but if you desire any thing more please tell me. Don't mind me asking, but have we met before?" Carefully, he studied Marvin features. "You look awfully familiar but I feel like I just can't place you."
"No m'lord, we haven't met. But I can tell you, we Nordsman look all the same, apparently. If I got spΓΆrk every time someone thought he knew me, I would not be a mercenary," Marvin answered laughing.
"A what?" a self-conceited looking boy asked.
"A mercenary, I used to be a sword for hire."
"I know what a mercenary is!" the boy snapped. "What did you say before that?"
"Oh, a spΓΆrk, that is what we call the copper mind in my lands. A streets is what it's called here, yes? I'm sorry if there was any confusion."
"No worry, Marvin. We all know old habits die slow, especially custom from a home country," Robert said with a wide smile. "Nico, come over here!"