A/N: So this also came out faster, well I do have little to do around where I am, so I might just post chapters whenever I feel like or get the chance to.
I'll answer some reviews too, also I'll answer the guest reviews too.
TheJackinati275: It is good to see another person who enjoys the Norse culture and Gambeson the MVP of armour, even peasants can get gambeson, it's light, it warm, and it's stylish. You are correct about by upload time, honestly, I am still sceptical on whether this will story will be successful or not.
ZILLAFAN: I don't quite understand this one. Care to explain a bit more?
Guest (Quote - 'This is depressing and annoying'): Depressing? Yes. Annoying? Mayhaps, you have your own taste.
Aii: It'll get better for him...I think.
Thank you for reviewing, may I get three new reviews for this one too? Please?
Enjoy the chapter.
Chapter 2
The Dragon and the Dogs
Siegfried pocketed his map and a small drawing of his wife. He looked upon a small encampment that houses a small army of men wearing simple leather amours wielding wooden shields with short spears or swords, some of them rode horses. Siegfried commanded Trylltur - his horse - to gallop towards the camp.
Some of the men started to yell, some pointed their spears at Siegfried, others simply watched. Siegfried got off his horse and tied him to a small post. "I need to see Vault!" Siegfried yelled.
A large man with a large sword sheathed on his back, wearing heavy leather chest armour with small plates of iron covering the initial leather armour, he has a large iron gauntlet covering his right hand and wears black trousers and boots, he has a scar on his right eyebrow, he has short black hair and dark crimson eyes, "I am Vault stranger," Vault said as he walked towards him, eating an apple. "What do you need?"
"I am to help with the assault on the Black Fortress and to be Celestine's eyes," Siegfried said as he walked forward. "Siegfried Dragon-Heart," Siegfried held his hand out to Vault.
"Siegfried Dragon-Heart? The Immortal Raider, well met." Vault shook Siegfried's hand, "A Northman, never thought I meet one."
Siegfried tightened his squeeze on Vault's hand, "It is a pleasure to meet the leader of the Black Dogs." Siegfried looked around the encampment, "Do you have standardized equipment for your men? Or do they have to buy them?"
Vault laughed at the question, he patted him on the back, "No need to worry about my boys, they know what they do." Vault waved to a man wearing dark blue robes over a light blue tunic and grey trousers and light brown boots, he has short blonde hair and dark green eyes - he also wears glasses. "This is my right-hand man and our only mage."
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Siegfried," Kin said with a bow of his head. Siegfried nodded his head.
"We heard Claudia talk about you, she thought you died on a road somewhere," Vault said placing his arm around Siegfried's shoulders. "You came here just in time too, we are about to leave." Vault turned to one of his men, "Hey, give this man something hard to drink."
"I would like some ale," Siegfried said, "With lots of honey."
"We have whisky, whisky, whisky, and some beer."
Siegfried sighed, "I'll take the beer." Siegfried walked to his horse, followed by Vault, "So, what are our plans for storming the Fortress?" Siegfried asked looking around the encampment.
"We will see what the Fortress has once we get there," Vault said as the man came back with a bottle of beer. "If the Dark Elf Queen is as powerful as we think she is, well need to make the battle quick," Vault said as he turned to Kin, "but Kin and I believe the rumours of the Queen's powers are just that, rumours, if that is true then that also means….nevermind that, if the Queen's powers are just rumours then we'll send a small team of men in to capture her, stealthily."
"I'll do it," Siegfried said as he drank the beer in one gulp, "Besides if the Queen is truly that powerful than I am the only able body to take her on."
Vault looked at kin and nodded his head, "Do that, and we can reward you personally, we may even have a prostitution for you."
Siegfried raised an eyebrow, red flags were raised at those words, "A prostitution?" Siegfried whispered.
"Well we are currently still packing, do you want to stay? Or are you going to go on ahead?"
Siegfried nodded his head, "I'll scout the regions ahead, maybe meet you at the Black Fortress." Siegfried turned around and walked to his horse. Siegfried untied his horse and hopped on the saddle. "Come Trylltur, we ride for the Black Fortress."
Trylltur galloped across the encampment, taking Siegfried forward. Siegfried pulled out a map and observed it, "About maybe day's off at most, let see if we can't make it in four hours," Siegfried told himself. "Shit!" Siegfried's map flew off in the wind, "Fucking hell!" Siegfried sighed and looked forward. He reached into his pockets and sighed, "It's for the best." The drawing of Siegfried's wife flew off with the map.
Siegfried looked behind him, Vault and Kin along with another man he hadn't seen galloped for him. "Wooh, easy their Trylltur," Siegfried said as Trylltur stopped.
Vault stopped a few metres away from him, "We thought we travel with you, don't worry about my men, they'll meet us at the Black Fortress." Vault pointed to the man he hadn't meet, he has a dark green vest and is bare-chested with light blue trousers with a belt around his waist and dark brown boots, he has two short - almost dagger length - swords and has ear length brown hair and red eyes. "This is my lieutenant, Hicks."
Siegfried nodded to Hicks. "Well since us four are going to be travelling with each other, let us tell stories to past the time," Siegfried said as he commanded Trylltur to start rode along the road.
Vault glanced at him, "Why? What do you want to know?"
Siegfried shrugged, "You and I are alike in ways, both of us, warriors and leaders - well I failed as both."
Vault laughed, "Well tell me who this woman is?" Vault said pulling out the drawing of his wife.
Siegfried sighed, "She was a very beautiful woman."
Vault nodded, "I agree, very nice tits, a perfect broad," Hicks and Kin chuckle.
"She was my wife."
Vault falls silent, "You have my sympathies."
Siegfried nodded his head, "How 'bout you? Anyone in your life?"
"Once, not anymore."
Siegfried sighed, "Well, you have a family with your men."
Vault nodded his head, "Yes, they are family." Vault gazed downward, "From what we heard, you lost everything, nothing is left, no one in your family."
Siegfried looked to the sky and closed his eyes, "I have nothing left in this life," he nodded in agreement with himself.
The travel was silent, both men knowing not to bring up the past pains. They stopped as they came across a large horned beast wearing skulls and bones as armour and having animal furs as clothing. The beast wielded a large stone pillar as a weapon, on the bottom of the pillar is molten stone. "I haven't seen one of these things," Vault said getting off the horse.
"Risastórt," Siegfried said as he got off his horse, "means Giant, but that is an incorrect name for it, in your tongue, it would be called an Ancestor Troll. I didn't know they come down this far." Siegfried unsheathed his sword from the saddle of the horse and left his shield, "The Pillar of the Troll tells its story, the more carvings and etchings on the pillar the older the beast is," Siegfried cracked his neck, "and this one is pretty old."
Kin pulled out a staff, flames formed in his hands, Hicks drew his two swords, and Vault stepped up beside Siegfried and pulled his sword out. "Any tips?"
"Its big, its strong, it can take hits, but it is slow," Siegfried said as his shadowy aura started to sprout, "Kin, if you can, use lightning magic, Hicks run in and attack the legs, Vault make sure the Troll has eyes on you, and only you."
"What'll you do?" Vault asked eyeing the beast down.
"I'll bring the beast down," Siegfried said as he dashed forward, leaving a trail of shadows. Siegfried appeared above the Troll and fell down, his sword pointed downward. The Troll slowly turned its head at Siegfried.
"Fífl, þú deyrð," the troll said in a low voice as it grabbed Siegfried and slammed him to the ground.
"Þá reyndu," Siegfried replied trying to catch his breath.
"Magnus Ignis!" Kin yelled, a large fireball hurled towards the Troll.
"I said lightning!" Siegfried yelled, he yelped as the Troll put more pressure on him.
The Troll looked at Kin and smiled, "Dánir þínir." The Troll gripped the molten side of his pillar and hurled a large molten ball at Kin. Kin ducked and held his staff in front of him creating a small sphere of energy in front of him, the molten ball collides with Kin's barrier, the force of the impact sent him back a few feet and onto the ground.
"Incoming!" Vault laughed as he smashed his giant sword into the Troll's leg. The Troll shrugged off the attack and threw Siegfried towards Vault. Siegfried collides with Vault, both of them stumbled to the ground.
Siegfried jolted up, "Kin, lightning attack now! Hicks pressure on the legs!" Siegfried turned to Vault and pulled him up, "You and I are taking this beast down," Siegfried said.
"Goddamn right!" Vault laughed, "Let's crack some skulls!" Vault cheered as he charged at the Troll.
"Fulgur Tempestas!" Kin yelled as he circled his staff in the air and smashed it to the ground, a loud thundering boom echoed in the winds. Winds twirled around the Troll, the clouds converged at the spot of the Troll. Furries of Lightning burst from the sky and smashed into the Troll. The Troll held his hand above him, desperately trying to cover himself but to no avail.
The lightning and wind subside, Hicks charged in and slide under the Trolls legs and thrust his sword into the back of its legs, the troll groaned and fell to one knee, Hicks pulled his swords out. Vault charged in and smashed his large sword into the chest of the Troll, it stumbled back and smashed his pillar towards Vault, Vault held his sword with his other hand on the blade. Vault was flung back and smashed into some trees, he quickly recovered and watched Siegfried charged in.
Siegfried threw his sword to the ground, the smell of the Troll's blood frenzied him, the beast within, the dragon within has awakened. Siegfried pulled the Troll by the horns and smashed him with this shoulders, he kicked himself up in the air and pulled the Troll by the horns, he fell to the ground and smashed the head of the Troll to the ground.
The Troll threw Siegfried back and stood up, "Heimskur, þú leitar dauða en þú verður að líða lífið fyrst," the Troll said as it picked up its pillar. Siegfried charged forward, he slides under the pillar as the Troll smashed his pillar sideways toward Siegfried. The Troll grabbed Siegfried and pushed him to the ground, it raised its pillar and smashed onto Siegfried, the ground beneath Siegfried imploded.
Siegfried pushed up, lifting the Pillar up with unseen might, the Troll pushed down, pushing Siegfried further into the ground. Siegfried growled as the pillar molten heat started to burn his skin. Vault charged in and smashed his sword into the leg of the Troll, throwing it off balance. Siegfried pushed the pillar to the side. The Troll smacked away Vault. The Troll reached for the pillar and smashed towards Siegfried, Siegfried rolled out of the way and hurled a wild punch that flew in the air - shadows followed his fist as it collides with the face of the Troll. The horns broke on the Troll as it stumbled back. Kin thinking fast cast a small spell, the spell threw Siegfried's sword to his hand. Siegfried glanced behind him and nodded, he stood atop the Troll and thrust his sword downward into the chest of the Troll. The reached its hand out to the sky, his hand fell limp and his eyes closed, the Pillar's molten side froze over. "The Troll's dead," Siegfried said as he fell to his knees, ash covered his face.
Vault walked over, holding his abdomen, "You have strength man." Vault pulled Siegfried up, "Attacks like those would kill normal people."
"I was hoping for that," Siegfried whispered to himself. "Well, I am no normal person. Some we wasted enough time on the troll," Siegfried said as he walked towards his horse, he held his shoulder and abdomen. "I think I dislocated my shoulder," Siegfried pushed his shoulder back into place, he grunted and gritted his teeth, "Pain, at least I have you," Siegfried chuckled to himself silently.
Vault walked up to Siegfried and put his arm around his shoulders, "You would make fantastic Black Dog." Siegfried smiled. He saddles up on his horse and commanded him to gallop, "Sieg, I was thinking, we should hit up a Tavern well we still can," Vault said looking at Siegfried.
Siegfried glanced at Vault, "We have a mission, this mission can end the entire war."
Vault shook her head, "We do, but doesn't mean we can't rest or enjoy ourselves, we are still in the friendly territory after all." Siegfried didn't respond instead he just stared at the road ahead. "Come on, you can't always be so angsty or just sad, there is much to enjoy in life."
Siegfried sighed, "We head right out upon sun's rise." Siegfried glanced behind, Kin and Hicks nodded their head, "You three did well against that troll, but…." Siegfried glanced at the corpse of the Troll that became tinier as they galloped forward, "they shouldn't be this far south," Siegfried whispered to himself.
Vault glanced at Siegfried and smile, "Yes, he'll make a fine ally."
The four stopped at the 'Norn Tavern' and sat at a corner booth dimly lit with candles on the walls. One of the Tavern's servers came up to the table and placed tankards of beer. Vault took a swig of the tankard, "So, not many leave Austia, some go East to the uncharted regions but your people were force North by the demons correct?"
Siegfried scoffed, "Is that what the Austian Schoolers say," Siegfried took a sip of his beer, "we were forced from the once fertile outlands by the Holy Orders and Holy Knights, why? Because we believed in different Gods and Goddesses." Siegfried took a gulp of his beer, "Truth is we humans used to believe in the Tuatha De Danann, Aesir and Vanir, but the Elves came descended upon the Human settlements and forced many of us to abandon the Tuatha De Danann, the Aesir and Vanir, thus Humanity lost the trust of the Gods and we few were forced to the North."
Kin took a gulp of his beer, "So who are the Tuatha de Danann, the Aesir and Vanir?" Kin asked as he pulled out his books, "All other sources say we Humans used to believe in the Demons as our Gods and the Elves saved us from their vile grips," Kin said as he opened a blank book and pulled out a quill and ink pot.
Siegfried took another gulp of his beer, "The Aesir are the tribe of Gods we pray to for strength and victory in battle, and their counterpart the Vanir we pray for health, fertility, and good weathers," Siegfried took large gulp of his beer and coughed, "The... the Tuatha De Danann are considered the more primal Gods and Goddess, coming the from the Mother Goddess Danu who planted the World Tree Yggdrasil - the first of the Goodness - and formed Ymir from the coldness of the empty - Ymir was the first of the Badness." Siegfried gulped the rest of his beer down, "Another!" he slammed his tankard down onto the table.
"Coming right up!" A tavern server said as she came up with a jug of beer.
Hicks took a gulp of beer, "So I have to ask, which of the Shield Princess do you fancy?" Hicks asked as he put his beer down.
The server poured Siegfried his beer, "Honestly….in my entire life I have only known one true love," Siegfried took a gulp of his beer, "now she is gone."
Hicks nodded his head in agreement, "We all have scars, some more so than others,"
"What her name? Kaguya? The Shrine Maiden from the East? She's pretty nice, but not my type. Claudia, she would make a fine wife. Maia, that's her name right?"
Vault nodded, "She used to be one of us, best damn spy and rivalled even Hicks and me in terms of Swordsmanship," Vault said as he gulped the rest of his beer, he signalled the server for another.
"Maia, she would make a fine Shield Maiden from what I heard, not much though."
"How much do you know about the Seven Shield Princesses?" Kin asked as he took a sip of his beer.
"My people cannot read you Elvenized writing, and most of the valuable or more informative information is written down, thus we know little," Siegfried took a swig of his beer, "Kaguya, Claudia and Celestine I know the most about after I all I met them."
"You met the Shrine Maiden Kaguya?" Kin asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes, I pillage and plunder many of her old temples, even took some of the Priestess as concubines," Siegfried said as he gulped the rest of his beer down.
"Wan we get some tobacco and a few pipes, please," Hicks announced with his hand raised.
"Coming right up dear," one of the servers said.
The server came up with four pipes and pouch filled with tobacco, she also filled Vault's tankard, "Some bread, potatoes, and whatever meat you have." The girl nodded, "Also, do you ladies have 'special services?'" Vault asked with a smirk.
The girl looked to her side, her cheeks become red, "Yes, talk with the madame if you want the 'special services.'"
Vault gave Siegfried a small jab to his side with his elbow, "After we done talking, you - all of us need to let loose a bit."
Siegfried rolled his eyes, "I'm not paying."
Vault laughed and smacked him on the back, "That's the way to do it, man."
Siegfried grabbed a pipe and placed some tobacco in it, he snapped his fingers - embers flicked towards the tobacco. "You know magic? Who taught you?" Kin asked as he lights his pipe with a snap of his fingers.
Siegfried puffed out some smoke rings and sighed, "An old Druid name Merlin." Kin nodded and puffed out smoke in the shape of a dragon, "Druidic magic is something unique, pure magic from Mother Nature herself."
"Fascinating," Kin said as he pushed his glasses up. "How does it work?"
Siegfried shrugged, "Don't know, never really bother why, I simply saw it as a weapon, like all Magics, simple tools for humans to use to their benefit." Kin sighed as he puffed out smoke in the shape of a butterfly, "I do remember him saying that Druidic magic use elements of Nature as source of power, for example, I can call upon wind as a source of magic but my magic will mainly be wind, but Druidic magic is nature, in essence, meaning you use it too much nature will not come to your aid," Siegfried said holding his palm out, a breeze of wind emitted from his hand cooled the warm corner booth. "But corrupt the magic and you'll be given Goetia, the blackest and darkest form of magic," Siegfried said as his hand emitted a blackish red orb that sucked all light towards it, it caused the entire Tavern to start screening. "I am sure you know what Goetia is, right Kin?"
"Yes, Goetia is just a broad term to use for Black Magic, but true Goetia means you have made contact and made a deal with an Old One or Primal One" Kin shook his head, "And you did it? Did you commit Goetia? Are you insane?" Kin asked as he observed the orb.
"There are three stages of Goetia, the Initial stage is simply called 'Black Magic' by most, the most common form of Goetia, provides strong spells and even rivals Light Magic, I am certain Olga Discordia has this form of magic - there's no other way to explain it, she is as powerful as Celestine yet she is no 'reincarnated Goddess' thus Goetia is the only explanation." The orb gave off whispering voice of each individual's past, some in distorted volumes and tones, "The infestatio stage - the second stage - is the more chaotic magic, given in more to the traditional Necromancer or 'Greater Black Magic' - Olga could also have this stage of Goetia, but most likely not." The orb shot out small black wisps that flew around the Tavern and sucking in the light, "The Final Stage of Goetia is known as 'Jotunn-Fomorian Galdur' or simple 'Magic of the Dark Ones,' it is very powerful and gives the user the strength of strongest Demons - this can either be obtained by making a deal with a demon, or the person was cursed with it." Siegfried closed his palm, the orb and wisp vanished. Siegfried took a deep breath and leaned back in his chair.
"Why you do it? Why did you make a deal with a Dark One?" Kin asked as he leaned back in his seat, "What kind of idiot would do that?"
Siegfried shrugged, "I did because I need power, simple as that." Siegfried stood up and took a swig of his drink, "Going for a piss." Siegfried said as he left the booth.
Vault watched as Siegfried left earshot, "He is perfect."
Kin nodded in agreement, "He is, even if he is a fool, that kind of power would do us great."
"Not to mention he is great with a sword and has good leadership, might even rival you, boss," Hicks said as he gulped down the rest of his beer.
Vault nodded his head, "If we must we can shower him with babes, give him a large land, anything, we must have him on our side." Vault looked at the madame of the Tavern, a young girl no less than her mid-twenties, long brown hair, freckled face, amber eyes and fair skin, "Girl? Do you know the owner of this place right? The Madame correct?"
The girl turned to Vault and nodded her head, "Yes, um well not exactly," The girl said as she twidles with her fingers, "You see the last Madame left and well….I am the new madame, I just started so…."
"Very well," Vault said as he gulped down the rest of his drink, "We want three of your best girls, and you." Vault said with a smirk, "We'll pay one thousand two hundred gold," Vault pulled out two pouches of gold, "four hundred extra if you show him a good time." Vault pointed to Siegfried who came out from the washroom.
The girl looked to her side, "I'll talk with my girls," the girl said shyly, she walked off and glanced at Siegfried as he walked towards the corner booth.
Siegfried sat down and took his pipe and puffed out the smoke from his nostrils, "So Vault, is Vault your real name?" Siegfried inquired with an inquisitive look, Hicks and Kin shot glances at him.
Vault shrugged, "What my real name is doesn't matter Sieg, what matters is the fact I don't need it anymore, to me that man may as well be dead," Vault said as he lit his pipe.
Siegfried nodded his head. A server came up and placed a tray done - barely after the tray was put down Siegfried stuffed bread in his mouth and drowned it downed with his beer. He wiped his face and beard clean, he grabbed some of the meat - chicken legs and roasted pork. "You eat like a savage," Hicks said as he grabbed some of the remaining bread and roasted pork.
Siegfried shrug, "Hate the food they serve the nobles, too much salt, too little juice or too much juice in the meat - that and they don't roast pork or even smoke their meat, the bread is not bad though," Siegfried said still chewing on his chicken leg.
The group finished their dinner and played a few drinking games with small darts or simple arm wrestled - Vault and Siegfried tied having both twenty-five matches won. Vault and Hicks tried to swoon over some girls whereas Kin spent his time talking with Siegfried about various battle plans for the raid on the black Fortress - both parties agreed anything in the Black Fortress is for the taking but the Queen is to be unharmed and to answer for her crimes. Siegfried gazed over some of Kin's writings and nodded his head - he doesn't understand a word - Hicks held one of the Tavern Servers by the hip and was drunkenly talking about some stuff about her beauty, Vault was with Kin as they talked about plans Siegfried did not care to listen to.
In the end, the group retreated to some rooms as the moon hung high in the sky and they agreed that tomorrow would be a big and possibly dangerous day for them.
Siegfried opened his room door, a fairly large yet modest room with queen size bed in the corner of the room, various candles lit around the room, he took off his lamellar and games and finally his tunic, he pulled off his boots and socks and sat down on the bed and sighed. He laid down and looked up at the ceiling. He covered his ears with the pillows as the rooms next to him were filled with the sound of the beds hitting the wall and the moaning of women who were clearly having a good time.
Siegfried groaned as he heard a knock on his door. He got up and walked towards the door, he slowly opened the door to see the girl with amber eyes wearing a simple blue dress that hangs loosely on her shoulders, "May I come in Master Siegfried?" the girl asked shyly, her cheeks slightly red - although the dimly lit corridor did not reveal that much.
"Come in," Siegfried sighed and walked towards his bed, "I thought Vault paid for my rent."
The girl nodded her head, "He paid, but he also….um," she looked to her side and took a deep breath, she closed the door behind her, "My name is Tiffany, and um….well ah….I am here….to give you ah….sorry, I…..um," Tiffany looked to her side and blushed, her imagination ran wild. She took a deep breath, she walked to Siegfried and allowed her dress to fall gently on the floor.
Siegfried observed Tiffany and sighed, "Did they put you up to this? Look you don't have to do this if you don't want to," Siegfried said as he laid down on his bed and faced the wall, "I will not force you."
Tiffany sat down on the bed and caressed Siegfried cheek, "Allow me to comfort you."
Siegfried sighed and sat up, "How much did they pay you?"
"They paid for the special services, and they would pay me four hundred extra if I….um showed you a good time," Tiffany looked to her side.
Siegfried turned to Tiffany, "Do you need this money?"
Tiffany nodded.
Siegfried closed his eyes and sighed, "Very well."
Siegfried placed his right hand on her cheek and gazed into her eyes, she averted his gaze and took a deep breath. He forced her to look and him, he slowly leaned in and kissed. He pulled her on the bed and gently pushed her down, "You….don't have to be gentle, I promised them I would show you a good time."
Siegfried smiled, "They have different definitions of a 'Good time,' come put on your dress, we are not doing this," Siegfried said sitting up, "I'll not do this, you are not comfortable with this." Siegfried stood up and put on his leather tunic, "If you want to show me a 'good time' follow me."
Tiffany took a deep breath and got out of the bed and put on her dress.
The two walked out of the tavern and found a quiet spot under a tree nearby the Tavern. Siegfried pointed to the Northern Star, "Some people call that star cursed, for it always shines on the North where the Olga lives," Siegfried said quietly, "in my culture, the Northern Star is known as 'stjarna,' and in our belief, it showed us the way to safety."
Tiffany looked at Siegfried with not awe or shock but with a gentle smile, "This is unexpected, you hang out with the Black Dogs, I expected you to be well….more like them."
Siegfried chuckled to himself, "I choose to live by a few short moral rules," Siegfried said with a smile, "rule number three; no raping - be the better person."
Tiffany smiled and gazed at the star with Siegfried. The two simply star gazed and talked about idle things - some seemingly pointless but that is what Siegfried wanted. Indeed it may not be the sexual good time the Black Dogs wanted but for Siegfried, it is what he needed, a simple person to talk to about simple things with no need for philosophy. It was a good time indeed.