Barak's world is a harsh world.
Barak is a giant of a man, he is a slayer who metes out harsh justice and does not suffer fools gladly.
Although a king in his own right it suits him to be in the employ of Rome carrying out their wishes. Returning to Britain from one of his ventures for Rome he finds that Black Guards from his own country of Krozakistan have poisoned the son of his friend King Aulric and kidnapped his daughter. Barak vows to find and return Aulric's daughter and then return to his home country to obtain the antidote to the poison and so save King Aulric's son.
He enlists the help of many warrior friends of old. They have to prove themselves in bloody battles against many foes, both human and animal before they can reach his homeland.
How will King Barak be welcomed in his homeland? Will he be successful in his double quest? There will be many battles to fight, many terrors to face before Barak can rest.
Barak's world is a harsh world.
Barak is a giant of a man, he is a slayer who metes out harsh justice and does not suffer fools gladly.
Although a king in his own right it suits him to be in the employ of Rome carrying out their wishes. Returning to Britain from one of his ventures for Rome he finds that Black Guards from his own country of Krozakistan have poisoned the son of his friend King Aulric and kidnapped his daughter. Barak vows to find and return Aulric's daughter and then return to his home country to obtain the antidote to the poison and so save King Aulric's son.
He enlists the help of many warrior friends of old. They have to prove themselves in bloody battles against many foes, both human and animal before they can reach his homeland.
How will King Barak be welcomed in his homeland? Will he be successful in his double quest? There will be many battles to fight, many terrors to face before Barak can rest.
Barak's world is a harsh world.
Barak is a giant of a man, he is a slayer who metes out harsh justice and does not suffer fools gladly.
Although a king in his own right it suits him to be in the employ of Rome carrying out their wishes. Returning to Britain from one of his ventures for Rome he finds that Black Guards from his own country of Krozakistan have poisoned the son of his friend King Aulric and kidnapped his daughter. Barak vows to find and return Aulric's daughter and then return to his home country to obtain the antidote to the poison and so save King Aulric's son.
He enlists the help of many warrior friends of old. They have to prove themselves in bloody battles against many foes, both human and animal before they can reach his homeland.
How will King Barak be welcomed in his homeland? Will he be successful in his double quest? There will be many battles to fight, many terrors to face before Barak can rest.
I was 23 when I started writing. No one inspired me to write, I just
had a need to. Now I have a young daughter who has given me an urgency to get on with it. A man in my middle years, Ive had a varied working lie, rom starting lie as an apprentice in Newcastle !pon "yne to working on the railways or some years. I then travelled through #urope working in orests and on building sites in both #ast and $est %ermany as well as all over #astern #urope. &ere I worked with many interesting people, many o them perhaps should not have been there or various reasons. #ventually on returning to #ngland ater some seven years give or take I did some orestry work in Northern #ngland. '"his involved cutting down the trees and hauling them out by horse.( &orses have always been a part o my lie and are now a part o my daughters. Ater this I moved south to )evon and worked in the building trade but when the recession hit I became a ta*i driver. I have throughout my lie written poems and iction but never taken it seriously until now. I have a seven year old daughter who has been a steadying and inspiring inluence in my lie and so now I am taking my writing seriously. I am in the middle o writing a trilogy o an historical antasy novel. "he irst I have completed entitled +"he ,aga o -arak, the second I am in the middle o entitled +.and o the /icts. 0y writing is now a big part o my lie. It is easy or me to ind time to write but I dont have a speciic place. I something comes to mind I just jot it down no matter where I am. ,itting in the ta*i waiting or ares gives me lots o time to think. I dont come rom an articulate background and so my writing may not be precise or rom a writers view, +well written, but it is a story the way I would say it. Although I have enjoyed most o the various jobs I have done, nothing gives me more passionate eelings than when I am writing. I cannot e*press how I eel to see my work published and, %od willing, a best seller. I would like to dedicate this book to all who believed in me, all my amily, e*tended amily and especially my daughter #llie10ay who gave me the incentive to go on. Davi d Br i e r l y THE S AGA OF BARAK 2opyright )avid -rierly "he right o )avid -rierly to be identiied as author o this work has been asserted by him in accordance with section 33 and 34 o the 2opyright, )esigns and /atents Act 5644. All rights reserved. No part o this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any orm or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission o the publishers. Any person who commits any unauthori7ed act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims or damages. A 2I/ catalogue record or this title is available rom the -ritish .ibrary. I,-N 634 548693 :53 8 www.austinmacauley.com ;irst /ublished '2<58( Austin 0acauley /ublishers .td. 2: 2anada ,=uare 2anary $har .ondon #58 :.- /rinted and bound in %reat -ritain Acknowledgments I would like to thank all the people who have helped me get this book published. ;irstly, without my daughters inspiration I would never have got to the end o the irst book let alone be halway through the second and thinking on the third. "o my very good riends .orna and -ill as to when I did not have a computer slaved away trying to read my long hand and typing it up or me and to .orna who has pushed me every step o the way and still does. A special thanks go to my publishers, Austin 0acauley or believing in me and especially the editors as without them this book would not have come to ruition. I never really appreciated what editors did until I saw all the work those guys put in, getting my book ready to go on the shelves. ;inally to you or buying my book. I hope you enjoy it and look orward to the second in the trilogy. "hank you all. )avid Introduction Part One The Saga Of Barak -arak is at once the ultimate hero, or perhaps anti1hero> he is a giant o a man who stands nearer seven eet than si* eet tall. "he ?gre has o course immense strength and awesome physical power, and is an e*pert in all orms and manner o weaponry. ;or over three decades now -arak has stood out supreme over his contemporaries and the great slayer has seen most o them come and go, o to meet with their various very hard o hearing gods. "he giant is a erocious looking man, a man who is completely tattooed rom the top o his big shaven head right down his huge body all the way to his great booted eet. "he great slayers well1kept teeth are iled sharp and dagger1like into little more than wol1like angs. "his somewhat painul operation the ogre had undergone some years earlier to join a tribe he once lived with in the darkest and most dangerous part o the Arican jungle. &owever, the end in this particular case, well, it more than justiied the giants means. ,till though, it must also be said -araks eating habits were at best described as most dubious, and perhaps even a little more than sinister. -ut then again as the old saying goes, +to each his own. And now at ity years o age -araks vast physical and mental powers had neither wavered nor in any way had they waned. And as well as this, besides preserving all o that awesome natural power, the giant was still just as stubborn and uncompromising as he always and ever had been. Now ater commanding a campaign or the eagles o @ome the ogre had at last inally returned with his mission, as always and ever, accomplished> returned back to his adopted home. ;or the giant -arak, home now lay nestled under the southern side o the great wall o the long dead #mperor &adrian. ;rom both o these cold grey shores, rom the westerly and turbulent Irish ,ea to the cold great grey North sea on the eastern side o the island. "his, impressive towering wall stretched out, winding its way in a snake1like ashion across the bleak rugged landscape o cold wild northern -ritain. &adrians great wall, just as planned when constructed years ago to separate the more civili7ed @omani7ed -ritain rom /ictdom. %rateully the wall kept apart the savage ruthless barbarism that lay in the dense orests and the ever snow1capped mountains beyond rom its most northerly province. "his mighty construction with its many turreted garrisons and its ever growing settlements was commonly known as the +$all in the ,ky. And as said it was also the #mperors arthest lung and bleakest northern outpost in @omes still vast but dwindling #mpire. -ut bleak and ar lung or not, it was here in this place upon this small green island the giant had planned upon spending the rest o his remaining days. Aye it was here the ogre would bide in a bliss, ull retirement hunting down the swit deer and the lurking wol in the dark woods. It was here he would course the leet hare in the lush meadow, and it was here the great slayer would ish or trout in the great ,almon @iver. "his was a river that started its lie o springing up as no more than a trickle in the land o the /icts. -ut then ater lowing or many a winding mile, the now mighty river ended its resh water days surging boldly into the cold grey North ,ea. &ere with the great wall on one side o his home and the river on the other, here was where -arak would bide. $ell anyway, this was at least the giants well thought out plan or his retirement and his uture. -ut then again, plans o course as everyone knows did not, nor indeed still do not always work out as they are =uite intended. Chapter One It was late summer moving into early autumn, but even now the leaves upon the trees o the orest were changing colour rom a deep lush green to a rich golden brown. Aye, and it was also the irst mild rost since the ending o the last ,pring> this early chill giving the promise o a long and hard cold winter ahead. ,moke dwindled slowly skyward on that windless morning rom a cluster o tur1rooed hovels in the early morning hal1light at the start o a crisp day. 0angy hal1starved cur dogs yapped and cringed at the approach o a stranger meandering slowly down through the early morning mists. "his lone rider had emerged unheralded and unannounced rom a dense orest o ancient oak, ash, birch and chestnut trees. It was a orest that lanked the southern side o a great wall, and this was a wall that was both high and broad. ,o broad was it, why two chariots that were even hard driven could pass by each other with plenty o room still to spare. Aye, indeed, this stout loty wall, was considered by most to be =uite a marvel o its time. And this high broad wall, well it was also a long and lengthy thing. Indeed here was a high, mighty construction that stretched rom coast to coast across the islands wol inested wilderness. &ere the @omans last northern ortiication ran all the way rom the western shore by the Irish ,ea, across the cold rugged land to the bustling and prosperous harbours o the east coast. "his great wall spanned the most northerly and perhaps also the most inhospitable part o -ritain. -eyond the great border wall there was nothing, well nothing anyway but /ictdom and savage primitive barbarism. Not only was the now deceased #mperor &adrians great wall the most northern part o -ritain it was also, as already said, the most northerly outpost in the whole o the still vast but now dwindling @oman #mpire. "he $all in the ,ky the men o the legions called it. $hile there were others in the ranks who would unlatteringly say it was simply the end o the world, well at least the end o the civilised world. ,ome o them, well these men just called this place the end o the very road itsel. No, no, oh no, the great wall was perhaps not in the least way a avourite and sought ater posting or those who hailed rom the warmer climes. -ut still and no matter, the lone rider wound his way slowly on down past the peasant hovels o the peat diggers and the pig keepers. "his grim aced, somewhat unorgiving looking man sat astride a huge mountain o a horse. And this beast was a huge %aelic war horse. A great hairy legged powerul looking thing with a long lowing la*en mane and a silken tail that trailed all the way down to the very ground. "his creature was at least, so it seemed by its striking appearance, a most well cared or animal. It was both a well groomed and a well ed thing with bold dapples upon its broad backside that testiied to its good condition. Also as well as all o this, the great hairy legged thing was resh shod all around with the very thickest o iron shoes. And this same big chestnut gelding with the long la*en mane and the e=ually long tail carried upon its big broad back, sitting there most casually and regally, a very giant o a man. In a most rela*ed ashion this huge man was sat perched upon the big chestnut horse. It must be said that both horse and rider looked most impressive. And the warrior, or warrior the big man obviously was, sat enclosed in a very e*pensive high1backed high1 ronted Arab saddle. And here was a comortable saddle that supported the warriors huge rame most snugly. ?bviously this intricate e*pensive piece o wonderully handcrated leatherwork had been designed to it both horse and rider. "wo tall grey long eared mules, gaunt but strong animals, ollowed on behind the horse and rider, submissively in tow. "hese were both weary1worn looking creatures, and also heavily laden. ?ne o the mules carried the big mans weapons o war, his well1worn chain link armour and a small round spiked metal shield. Also there was a long lance and perhaps some hal do7en throwing spears. "his honest uncomplaining beast also carried an impressive looking longbow made o black wood inset with ine ivory writing o some sort. All o these weapons the docile creature carried as well as a "urkish crossbow. ?h, and some other items o the big mans other personal aects. 0eanwhile the other mule was laden down with cooking implements such as large cast iron potbellied stoves, as well as an array o copper pots and pans. ,trange items these seemed indeed or such a mighty man o war. Also as well as cooking pots and pans, there were sacks o seeds and plants, none that hailed rom this cold green island. Aye, there was all o this, as well as strange e*otic ruits and vegetables. ?h, and these edibles also hailed rom warm distant places that lay ar ar away to the east o this island. ,lowly and wearily the tired animals laboured on down then upward along a well1worn path to an impressive looking castle. And know you this, it was a stone castle mind you, not one o those hastily thrown together timber and mud aairs. Nor was this castle topped o with either tur or straw thatched roos to keep out the sting o driving northern rain and the cold winter snow. ?h no this tall mighty castle made o stone, had sitting upon its shoulders a blue slate roo which was obviously cut, then itted by the very best o cratsman. "his place where the stout castle stood was called 2oriosopium. &ere, was both a settlement as well as a small garrison> this place was one o many o such situated in measured distances along the great northern wall. Now the big chestnut gelding was reined up close alongside the thick solid oak gates o the castle. 0eanwhile the big man sitting upon the big horse knocked upon the stout door with the great boars head iron ring inset there. "he stern aced man waited only or but a moment beore banging once again, this time though the warrior knocked a little louder and a little harder. +$ill you open up these gates now or me you oolish rusticsA the large warrior demanded gruly. +?r must I tear the very things down mysel to gain entry hereA "he rider roared this out somewhat impatiently. +;or I must say to you all now, I do have upon me the most ravenous o hungers. Aye, and also an even more powerul throat1burning thirst. ?h yes, and also ools, as well as these immediate needs. $ell, I would most urgently bathe mysel in the very hottest o soapy sudsy scented waters. Not though that I would e*pect many, i any, o you earth worshiping ditch dogs to understand that pressing need o course. "he huge man rumbled these words out with just the slightest hint o a sarcastic chuckle. ;rom behind the great gates the big mans keen ears could hear movement and men talking nervously in hushed whispered voices. And the large warrior by the by, was now becoming more than a little irritable. ? a sudden an armed guard shouted down a little timidly an order rom the battlement above to the guarded gateway below. And then, almost at once the thick heavy oak doors began to creak themselves slowly open. @umbling and grumbling the big man spat, then the warrior growled and grunted with discontent. Aye and all o this while he cursed out loudly at being kept waiting or so long a period o time. A moment later when once this complaining was done the warrior urged his big mount on with a nudge to its ribs and it trotted orward into the castles stone cobbled orecourt. As ever the big grey mules ollowed on behind the large mounted warrior, obediently in tow. ?nce inside the stout gates the big man yawned as he looked all about him. ,eemingly the warrior was taking in all and everything at a single glance o his dark eyes. $hen this observation was done with the huge man looked down rom his saddle a little reproachully at those who stood there beore him. Now this huge horseman looked down at the ive castle guardsmen standing there a little uneasy and more than a little cowed beore him. "he very big horseman atop the big chestnut gelding knew only one man o their number. And that man was &ubert. &ubert was a long time soldier and servant o the castle, and was the eldest o the small group o most dejected looking men. &ubert, well it must be said this particular castle guardian indeed looked a most sorry orlorn and downcast igure. Aye indeed, he appeared to be a worn out weary looking shell o a man, a man who was perhaps starved o many a good nights sleep. As well as the weary looking &ubert there were also two young -ritons with a most vacant e*pression about them. It was an e*pression these young men wore whilst they were stood standing there =uaking in their worn out boots. "hese badly bred looking things, well the pair o them were little more than spotty gangly nervous idgety looking youths. Bouths, who, by their stale and earthy stench were also inre=uent bathers, and strangers to soapy water. 0eanwhile the other two brave and noble guardians o the castle gates, who were a little older than the rank smelling -ritons, these were doubtless o %erman origin. -arak was the name o the huge rider, and he reasoned this =uite rightly judging by their ish scale armour and their general dress. ?h, and also o course by their bulging goatskin drinking gourds that hung heavily at their ample waist. And also this unwashed duo rom the @hineland, well they were both =uite unsteady upon their booted eet. "his while their stale breath, smelling strongly o beer would have got a nun drunk. And the %ermans, well here was a breed o men who seldom wandered or went very ar without a strong drink o some sort strapped at their side. "hat whether it was in peace time, or even in a time o ull blown bloody warare. &owever, though, this was a habit that in the big mans opinion was not to be considered in any manner a ailing on their behal. ?h no ar rom it, this, the large warrior thought was a most wily and astute practice that lay to the %ermanic tribesmans undying credit. Ater all i you are indeed marked or a slow lingering death in battle, or even while ploughing a ield or that matter, well then, why on top o all that misortune, as well as everything else should you also die a thirsty manA ?nce again the large rider looked about him as he observed all and everything. A worthless, skinny, hal1starved collie dog cur yapped then scratched at its sad lea ridden body. Also a trio o large white geese gaggled and hissed out loudly as a drunken soldier who had stayed out ar too long stumbled across their path. No doubt, this the ool did while trying to ind his way back to his home. ? a sudden the big mans dark, almost almond eyes settled once again upon the man &ubert ai*ing him with a steady most stony stare. +All is not well here in this place my old riend, the warrior said evenly. +I sense it, I smell it, aye and above all else I do know it. In a solemn tone the horseman said this while easing himsel down rom his mount onto the stone cobbled courtyard. "hese ive idgety onlookers noticed the huge warrior did this somewhat a little stily rom his high backed e*pensive Arabian saddle. At the irst sight o the very big man sitting atop his very big horse it must be said the other our guardians o the gate, who were unamiliar with the warrior, had been taken very much aback. In act the our o them were in all truth shocked, aye, and perhaps even araid in a strange way by the giants earsome appearance. Aye, and all o this even though the warrior had come to them as a riend, not as a oe. +,peak up man, the giant demanded o the downcast &ubert. +;or have we not many years ago hunted down the savage /icts together over the great wall o &adrianA $hy, we have drank and diced and we have slept in the snow together, aye all o this we have done with our blue stained itchy enemies not a sling shot away rom where we lay. ,o with this in mind tell me my riend, why am I now to be treated as no more than a stranger here in this solemn placeA Aye, and a stranger who must guess and be let to ponder, as to what dark misortune is obviously aoot hereA &uberts hairy weather1beaten ace wrinkled as he ought back tears. "he troubled man bowed his head as he umbled nervously with his ample ever greying beard. +-arak my .ord, you are indeed as ever and always correct in all things, he mumbled in a most distressed ashion. +Aye and all is not well here at the great castle> no, no, it is not well at all my .ord. &ubert spoke these sad solemn words in an almost hushed and mumbled whisper as he stood there with his bearded raggy head bowed. Now the huge man in reply to these words grunted and scowled as he gave o a most disconcerting growl. And this as the warrior prepared himsel or the bad tidings that he already guessed was obviously sure to come. $hile silently contemplating this disaster, ne*t the overly large warrior swayed his bucket si7ed head that had atop o it a well1worn chain link helmet. A much repaired chain link helmet at that, draped down to -araks broad shoulders. "he huge warrior swayed his head gently at irst rom side to side this way and that, and then he gave it a sudden violent jerk. &is great heavily muscled neck creaked then clicked itsel with a loud crack into place. $ith this done the giant, or giant the man truly was gave out a low lion1like growl o both relie and pleasure. And this he did beore once again continuing to speak out in a low rumble. +/lease believe me, that much I had already surmised riend &ubert, the man called -arak said rankly and evenly. As said previously it was in a somewhat sti and painul manner by the looks o things that the giant had dismounted rom the big gelding ater his long ride. Now ater clicking his thick neck back into place the ogre stretched his huge arms skyward. $ith this done the huge warrior began stamping some lie back into his big booted eet, and indeed so hard that the ground it air shook. ,tanding there now towering high above the castle guards -arak was indeed a true giant o a man. Aye indeed -arak was a colossus o a man. And a man who in appearance was every bit as awesome and as earsome as he had been described and depicted to these our new sentinels in the past weeks and months they had eagerly awaited his return. Indeed it would be true to say -arak was without any doubt the most rightening looking warrior in the very e*treme. Now this ogre stood standing there, well he was indeed nearer seven oot than si* oot tall. ;rom the top o his huge shaven head, aye and also over almost every part o his massive body the amed slayer was adorned with the most elaborate o tattoos. Civid colourul images o scaly dragons and giant jungle serpents intertwined in their bloody heroic death battles covering almost every inch o this huge being. #tched all about the giants massive rame were the likenesses o strange animals none there in that company had ever beore set their eyes upon, or or that matter ever would. ,o tattooed was the giant that only through small spaces between these lie1like dragons and serpents could you glimpse his tanned weather1beaten skin. And thus make out big -arak was a #uropean not an Asian or a 0oor o some sort. $hen this painted giant spoke his teeth lashed white and these were most pointed things> in appearance the teeth were just like the angs o the orest wol. .ong ago these teeth had been iled and sharpened or the most dubious o reasons. ?bviously this little piece o dentistry o course only added to the warriors already earsome and most rightening appearance. Also this man o wars huge body was like that o a man some twenty years younger than his approaching ity years o age. Aye, -arak was trim at the waist while being massive at the chest and shoulders, and his arms, well these hung by his side like huge ham shanks. ?bviously the giant was immensely strong, and his vast body, well this it did air ripple with an awesome power and a raw savage vitality. .ong years o bloody carnage and warare as well as the years he had spent hunting down his ood> this coupled with his harsh vigorous outdoor liestyle had given his lesh no time to decay or to soten. Nor had the ogres great body become wasted or jaded in any way, or his great strength, as his great muscles were orever in constant use. ;or i indeed the huge warrior had succumbed at all to the ravages o the years and the constant non1stop violence and warare, well then he would o course been a long dead thing by now. Aye or it was only the strongest, the most cunning and the most ruthless o men that survived in his blood spattered trade. -ut in the here and now, well then here was a true man o war, here was a killer, here was a slayer o both man and beast. -arak lived it, indeed he even breathed it. Alas the ogre, well or his many unaccountable sins, had in the not so ar distant past supposed he once even loved it. ;or warare and the slaying o his oemen and his enemies had been all he had ever really known since being little more than an ungainly very lanky boy. ,till though besides all o that, nothing the spotty local youths or the hal drunken %ermans had ever even heard or ever imagined about -arak and his rightening appearance> nothing, no nothing any o them even wildly e*pected had =uite prepared them or this most rightening ormidable slayer. Now then, here standing beore them in huge booted eet was a man you could ollow into war, any war. -arak was a giant o a man, a man who could lead you and your riends and brothers in arms headlong into any battle> this no matter how savage or bloody the ray may be. ?h yes under his great vast mighty shadow a lesser man could eel sae, aye very sae, why he could eel conident, protected even. $hile -arak talked with &ubert the %ermans drank rom their gourds as they spoke to each other in their own native tongue. And this the pair did somewhat e*citedly about the arrival o the much amed notorious giant -arak. "he slayer listened intently as he grinned wol1like on hearing their words. ;or it just so happened, the %erman tongue was one o the many languages -arak spoke with ease. In act the %ermanic tongue, as well as Norse and o course the language o the -ritons was perhaps his most avourite language o all. ,till the giant listened to them chattering away or but a moment or two longer then he spoke up answering the =uestion the %ermans had so carelessly put to one another. And the giant when he spoke back to them both easily and luently, well this gave the men o the @hineland somewhat o a shock. As this o course, ater all was something neither o the men were =uite e*pecting. -arak, when he spoke, the ogre even mimicked and mastered their "huringen dialect o to perection. Now the warriors rom the @hineland, both o them at once glanced at each other most sheepishly. At once the %ermans instantly both bowed, apologising or their unwise and perhaps ill1chosen comments. &owever, the giant merely grinned as he had taken no oence on hearing their words. In act -arak was =uite used to such slightings and ohand derogatory comments. Ater all is said and done the ogre had a lietime to get used to them. ,trange though it is how sometimes even the slightest o slurs can be taken as more as an ohand compliment than an insult. -arak handed the reins o his big horse as well as the mules lead ropes to the humbled looking %ermans. "his done the giant most politely bade them to care or and eed and water his honest and weary animals. All three beasts, -arak instructed, were to have double corn as well as the very best o hay. And this as it so happened was a task the %erman guards were both most keen upon undertaking. Ater all it is not every day you get to assist such a slayer as -arak, this even i the task is a little bit on the menial side. Now the giant in the meanwhile, he walked casually o with the still very downcast sullen &ubert across the newly cobbled stone courtyard toward the inn o the ,even ,tars. +$hat did you say to them my .ord -arakA &ubert asked while looking back over his shoulder toward the %ermans. $ho, by the by were already drinking their own brew o rothy beer rom their gourds as they made their way to the stables. +;or I do think my .ord, whatever it was you said caused them to take a right. &ubert said this with just the slightest trace o a smile crossing his craggy bushy ace. "he old guardsman liked the %ermans well enough as they were good company on the gate and even more so in the tavern. ,ometimes though the men o the @hineland did just have that little bit too much to say or themselves, but this was more so in drink. -arak gave a thin smile then he answered his old riend. +"he %ermans spoke to each other saying I was some sort o a cannibal, &ubert. Apparently the @hiners had heard that I was an eater o mens lesh, can you believe that my old riendA -arak said this with a most sinister and dangerous grin about him. +?h I dont know &ubert, you see some people just dont reali7e how sensitive a man I truly am, the giant added with a weary sigh. -arak then yawned, this ollowed by a cough as he ne*t spat onto the cobbles. "hen, the ogre cleared his throat beore once again continuing to speak to &ubert. +,o anyway my riend, I merely told them, our beer drinking sausage eating cousins, I only eat men when there is nothing to catch. Nothing else about i you know what I mean &ubert, because ater all men are not near as leet as the stag nor are they as big and erocious as the bear are theyA Aye and I do suppose all in all, and taken on one at a time I must admit I do ind them, men I mean very poor sport. $hy I do suppose they are not much more e*citing in the hunt or the kill than catching and killing a rabbit, the giant went on in all earnest. #ven under these present somewhat sad bleak diicult circumstances &ubert could not help but sneak out another slight smile. -arak, as always and as ever had a grim and a sharp ready sense o humour about him. "his was a common trait so it was said amongst the men who spent their lives under the constant shadow o death. In act it was well reported and rumoured the gladiators o @omes arena mocked at their peril1raught unlucky lot most o their waking hours> well at least that was the rumour. -ecause ater all said and done, bitter tears coupled with complaints as well as screaming and cursing at the distant moon and the stars above well this would not change a single thing in their violent, bloody and mostly short lived lives would itA +?h by the by, anyway &ubert while we are talking o meat, -arak continued. +Dnow you this with the right sauces, with some good spices and a ew resh herbs thrown into the pot. $ell, I do swear you can just about make anyone taste like a nice roast chicken, or even a rabbit come to that. ?h, oh I am so sorry &ubert, I mean o course you can make anything taste like chicken or rabbit. -arak added this very =uickly thus hopeully correcting his somewhat careless slip o the tongue. &ubert, well the old guardsman in a very diplomatic ashion simply made out he had never =uite heard -araks verbal blunder. Ater all too much inormation can at times oten spoil a perectly good riendship. "he two men ne*t walked slowly over to a heavy much used oak bench. It was an oak bench that o course was sat outside o the small sturdy stone built inn. "his was the only inn within the castle walls as it so happened. Aye and truth said it was =uite a prosperous little place at that was the inn o the ,even ,tars. And there above the doorway to the place hung a black wooden board carved in the shape o a star, this with seven gold painted stars embla7oned neatly upon it. -arak, once there outside the premises, banged loudly upon the taverns door with a great ist, the ogre demanding loudly and urgently drink and ood be brought or both himsel and the downcast &ubert. Ater but a short while in waiting had passed them by it was a bleary, bloodshot eyed innkeeper that opened a small window above the tavern door. It must be said the landlord was perhaps not at all best pleased at being so rudely awoken so early on that chill morning. -ut beore complaining and once seeing who the huge caller was at this early hour the innkeeper very wisely saved his insults or another less large and less dangerous customer. &astily the landlord at once dressed himsel, this done he ne*t hurried himsel downstairs to attend to the giants urgent needs. ,o with some ale inside them, both -arak and &ubert sat there outside by the bench while they talked together at some length. "he early morning drinkers were brought yet another jug o cool ale rom the deep, well stocked cellar o the ,even ,tars. And this one was to ollow the other three which had already been hastily consumed. Also, as well as the cool rothy drink there was a large platter o goats cheese, this with slices o thick cold meat the at red aced landlord kindly provided, aye and all o this was ree o charge. &ubert was a tired tearul man now with a ew drinks inside o him, oh aye the old guardian o the gate was ull o sorrow worry and woe. -arak scowled, grimaced then lit up his long clay pipe with the e*pertise o a man who was well used to striking lints. -arak sat puing away on his strong black mountain weed> he said nothing or now, no the ogre said not a single word. As now the giant chose instead to let the distraught &ubert pull himsel together. And this -arak did instead o pressing him and badgering or any immediate orced inormation as to the cause o his obvious distress. "his castle, this impressive stone castle had been built =uite recently by the @omans themselves, it had been a present, a git no less, as a token o thanks to Ding Aulric. It had been Aulric who had helped the northern legions o @ome in the long years past with border wars, aye Aulric had assisted them wage war against the savage /ictish raiders. Ding Aulric, who years ago when he -arak and &ubert had been much younger men, had tamed and ought nonstop against the savage warlike /icts who dwelled north o the great wall. "hen, as well as deeating the savage but primitive /icts, Aulric with big -arak as his warlord had also united the scattered euding northern clans together. #ven the warring unruly tribes and the outlaw bands had all sworn an allegiance to both Aulric and the old hated enemy that was @ome itsel. Aulric was just a young chietain then, tall strong and proud he had always been and still was a highly principled most moral man. -ut back then in those ar o days Aulric was both a brave and earless warrior, as well o course as also a good leader o men. "imes though they are ever changing, it had now been many years since Aulric had been orced to take up his sword. $ell, this other than to knock apples down rom a tree or the children o the village. -ut that though was perhaps another story. Anyway at long last ater several jugs o the landlords good i not very strong beer &ubert had at last spilled out his tale o woe to the patient pipe smoking giant. Aye and when he inally did so, well what a sorry tale it did indeed turn out to be once delivered. -arak sat there both silently and patiently while puing away upon his long clay pipe, the slayer was still at this time not saying a single word. No, the ogre instead listened most intently as &ubert told him o these recent sad, very strange very sinister events. Apparently Aulric had hidden himsel away these past days hiding inside his great hall> the king was now both a weeping and broken man. Aye Aulric sat even now in an empty hall. And it was a hall that had been in only the recent past, a site o great ban=uets and lavish estivities. It was this hall, or well it least had been, a place o great merriment, a place o high ellowship that was open to all rich or poor alike. -ut oh how things had changed though, aye and they had all changed in less than just a week. Now the kindly kings beloved son, the good and noble /rince Dye lay a broken dead thing, all struck down with assassins arrows. And then on top o this dark sinister tragedy, there was yet another liberty, this just as oul and just as cowardly. Aulrics daughter, the /rince Dyes much loved popular younger sister #llena had simply vanished without a trace. "his double disaster had all happened when brother and sister had been riding out together in the dark woods south o the castle. /erhaps sadly she too had been slain, and mayhap her body or now was merely concealed. Aye, hidden in a woodland thicket, or maybe and at very best she had been kidnapped. /erhaps she had been abducted and kidnapped or a ransom yet to be demanded. -ut i so, then by whom and or why was the wonderment o it allA As o yet no one knew the answer to these most perple*ing o riddles, all were let to ponder. ,o ar there had been no contact rom the killers o the /rince or rom the abductors o the /rincess, who were o course obviously the same cruel callous people. And as well as all o this, these cruel perpetrators had no apparent reason or this heartbreaking outrage. $ell at least none other than perhaps greedy bounty. -ut then, with this being so why then had there been no ransom as yet been demandedA -arak ater some while sitting deliberating upon the bench seat arose to his big booted eet somewhat stily. Ne*t the ogre yawned as he stretched his huge arms out with the weariness o his long travels. ?nce again the slayer moved his great neck rom side to side, and this he did, until once again, just as it did earlier, creak then click itsel into place. $ith a grunt o both pleasure and relie -arak ne*t bent over to speak to his long time riend. Now the slayer shook &uberts hand, this while thanking him kindly or the inormation the guard had at long length managed to convey over the past hour or more. +Bou say our good riend Aulric is right now in the great hall o the castle &ubertA -arak asked this =uestion with yet another long stretch and another mouth gaping yawn. &ubert took a drink o his ale then nodded his head. +Aye -arak, but he will see no one my high .ord, the Ding is uelled with too much drink and uelled with even more black sorrow. ,adly I must say this, our riend the king is not at all the same man he was when you let to retrieve the lost @oman ,tandard. -arak grumbled something in a strange tongue as he smiled thinly and peered down at the bearded much troubled &ubert. +$ell my old riend, king or no king, believe this, he will most certainly see me, the ogre said this with some element o conviction. +?h yes please believe me my old brother in arms, we will talk Aulric and I. ;urthermore we will waste no time, we will talk now without any urther uss or delay -arak rumbled out. +Dnow you this &ubert, I was there on the day o the birth o both those children Eaye also I was charged with guarding them, to look out or their saekeeping and protection. -ut now alas or my wanderings and my other many sins I have ailed them both. -arak sighed a little sadly as he ne*t spat then cursed once again in that same oreign tongue, this whilst he stared up or a moment towards the angry grey skies above him. "he weather in the north o -ritain was ever ickle, it being bright and sunny one minute, then dark and stormy the ne*t. Aye the weather in this part o the turbulent ever changing world, well it was more than just a little like the moods o the giant in many ways. +&owever my troubled riend, as I say things are not always as dark as they might at irst seem to be &ubert. -arak said this ater several moments o grim silent contemplation. +Anyway &ubert, I must at once send o now, this very moment in time, an important message. Aye and then with this message once dispatched I will go to speak with the much distressed Aulric. ?nly ater we have this conversation, will I decide what must be done to make all right once again. ?h aye, also o course, in what manner we must do it. &ubert stared ever upward at the giant slayer with tear1illed eyes rom where he still sat upon the wooden bench. -oth men had long been and were still close to the Ding and also to both o his children. &ubert in act had known Aulric all o his lie, indeed they were brought up as boys together in the harsh northland. "ogether as children they had hunted played and ished, aye together the lads had also plagued the very lie out o the @oman soldiers. All o this when they were no more than but snotty ragged children dressed in itchy woollen rags. -arak ater but another moment or two o deep thought changed the subject. +-y the way &ubert, this innkeeper who has tended us is not "om. ?h no, no it is not "om with the purple nose and the ew uneven teeth in his head. $here is he &ubertA "ell me whereabouts is the "om ellowA "he giant asked this whilst sucking upon a painul rotten tooth at the back o his mouth. And here was a tooth that by the by had o late orever been troubling him. +&e is a good man to drink with, the "om ellow, -arak stated in a matter o act ashion. +And this despite the act he does not put his hand into his pocket as oten as he might or a wealthy man. Aye and believe me on this &ubert, "om upon this early hour would have charged us or the ood and drink we have breakeasted upon. ?h yes, and also this service would have been costly too more the likes. And this just or rousing him rom his blissul drunken slumbers. &ubert gave only the hint o a smile in reply, and a nod o total agreement at these words ollowed by just a slight chuckle. Ne*t though and only a moment later the old sentry smiled as he scratched at his ample bushy beard beore speaking. +Bou know the big at merchant #dward, the one with the dyed black hair and a gap in his top teethA ;or just a moment the giant was thoughtul then grunted as he gave a slow but positive nod. Ater all what was big #dward to &ubert, well he was only little #dward to -arak. +Aye, aye I think I know the ellow well enough. I I remember rightly the man is a ool, he is a ool with ar too much mouth, also with ar too much money is he notA the giant asked. +Bes, yes that is the same man, and indeed he is the same ool, &ubert at once agreed beore continuing with what he had to say. +$ell anyway "om he sold this #dward a horse, a black horse, a mare called Date. "he giant at once smiled then ne*t scratched at the snow white well groomed goatee beard that adorned his huge s=uare jaw. +Dicking DateA the giant ne*t en=uired knowingly. &ubert at once nodded, +Aye my .ord -arak that is the very same beast. ?nce again the giant smiled, most wryly this time, and then he spoke. +,ay on &ubert, or that mare I think was perhaps just ar too much animal with ar too much ire in its heart or at #dward to handle. &ubert, well he was now thankully perhaps not =uite as orlorn as he might have been just a short while ago. In act the castle guardsman now in these last moments even seemed to be enjoying himsel just a little in the giants company. +$ell that black Date she struck #dward so hard with one o her back hooves one morning, I was there -arak, I saw it, unniest thing I ever did see, &ubert chuckled. +It was a bright sunny most busy morning this summer gone, aye in this very s=uare too. #dward being #dward, well the ool sought as ever to impress the market day crowds with the black mares turn o speed, so he gave her the whip over her backside. -ad idea -arak, and all this in his best chariot too, a chariot that very =uickly ended up as kindling wood. $ell, as you know #dward was a most oolish man beore that morning, but now, well now he is even more o a total idiot -arak. &ubert once again chuckled to himsel as he took a drink o ale beore once again continuing with his tale. +$hy, poor #dward, since that kick cannot now even string two words together without stammering and stuttering. Aye and all o this while spitting and slavering all over his ruit and vegetables. Dnow you this also my .ord -arak, by the time the man eventually manages to shout out the word FcarrotG, or FturnipG. $hy by then the rest o the stallholders have sold up, packed up and gone home, money in their purses with their days trade done and dusted. "he giant irst chuckled at these words, but then he leant back with hands upon his hips as he laughed out long and loudly as he imagined in his big bucket si7ed head the comical scene. +And so, so tell me, where is "om now &ubertA -arak asked at length when his laughter ceased. +"ell me, or I will ind him and drink with him on my return rom this venture I must very soon undertake. -ut only to drink with him mind you, I have no intentions o buying a horse rom that rogue.. &ubert chuckled as he wiped beer roth rom his beard beore answering the giants =uestion. +"om, once away rom here bought the %reyhound Inn, which lies in the village o 2ondercum. And this inn, well, it sits nestled by the great wall. ;rom this place the %reyhound is only a days ride to the east rom here on a good horse, or two days ride on a bad one. -arak on hearing this grunted then the ogre gave a nod o approval at "oms choice o a new inn. +%ood tavern, I know it well. Aye and 2ondercum, it is also a small but growing garrison with many thirsty soldiers, very astute o "om, the giant muttered to himsel. +-ut anyway besides all o that, drinking with "om or now it must wait.. -arak o a sudden ai*ed &ubert with a riendly look. +Now you hear this, and hear this now what I say to you, but most o all believe it &ubert.. ,uddenly the giants ace now changed and this in but an instant, and now it contorted into an angry grimace. And this just as suddenly as it had earlier broken into a broad smile which had then cracked into laughter. +!pon my good dragon1sword, I do swear here and now I will hunt these dogs down. Also, I do swear these ools will all die screaming or their mothers or whatever other sickly thing it was bore them into this savage world. -arak promised this in all earnest as he ne*t put a huge reassuring hand upon &uberts drooped shoulder. All o a sudden a cold shiver ran up the -ritons stooped broad back. &ubert had never or one moment thought he would or could have possibly elt any pity or these men -arak would hunt down. -ut somehow now he did, or they were all in his considered opinion no more than walking dead men. "hey each and every single one o them were all men who were merely living on borrowed time. And this was time these brigands had beore meeting with what would doubtless be a very violent, very sudden demise. -ecause simply or this very reason, not even the wildest stormiest o seas, or a desert, however vast and barren. Nor a mountain range, however high and snow1capped or the darkest deepest o orests. All o these natural elements would neither slow nor deter -arak upon his blood hunt. Nor or that matter even any dark demon or imagined demi1god could stand against the wrath and power o the great war .ord. ?h no, oh no, these oolish callous men who had brought so much sorrow and woe to the castle, whoever they were, these men would all die screaming. And o that simple brutal act &ubert, well the guardian o the gate was in no doubt whatsoever. As sure as night is dark and day is light and the old world turns each day as it does, these ools would all meet their well deserved end by -araks massive broken hand. -arak ater a little while longer bade a much happier &ubert a good morning then the slayer strode o purposely towards the Dings &all making just a slight detour on his way. "here was so much to discuss so early in the morning and -arak despite being a little travel weary was keen to be getting on with it.