A Song of Ice, Fire and the Dead
Chapter 23: Lost Property Part I
Slowing her horse to a slow trot, Saeko looked behind her and saw Aegon cantering to ride beside her. Smiling bashfully, Saeko looked out ahead.
"Is something wrong?" Saeko turned her head to see Aegon looking at her with an inquisitive air about him.
"Nothing's wrong, my love," she replied before giving a giggle. "It's so strange for me to say such a thing," she then said.
"What's so strange about it?" Aegon asked as their horses slowly trotted down the beaten dirt path towards the Kaer Trolde Harbour Town. "We care for each other, and we've been intimate more than once," he said.
"I know, but I never thought I'd call someone 'my love,'" Saeko replied. "It'll take some getting used to," she said with a self-deprecating smile.
"You're not having second thoughts, are you?" Aegon asked teasingly although Saeko could pick up the slight hint of worry in his indigo eyes.
"No. At least not yet," Saeko said with equal amount of teasing in her tone.
"Good," Aegon said as he leaned across to kiss Saeko on the cheek. Saeko gave a little pleased hum as their horses soon came to a stop as they reached the harbour. Moving their horses over to a near feeding trough, the pair dismounted and headed for the dock where they met Erik the Foreman.
Erik was currently sitting on a stool sipping from a tankard of ale. Saeko coughed to get the man's attention. "Ah, you're back," the foreman said with a smile. "Is the Sawmill clear?" he asked.
"It is, ser," Aegon replied respectfully. "We cleared out the drowners and burned their bodies. It's safe for now," he said.
"Good. We need that sawmill for lumber," Erik said as he pulled out from his belt a leather bag that clinked and jingled with the promise of coin. "As promised, your pay," he added.
"Thank you, Mr Erik," Saeko said respectfully as she took the pouch of coin. "I hope we do business again," she added.
"Aye, and I shall tell everyone if they need two capable swordsmen to call on you two," Erik replied as he stood up from his seat and nodded at them before walking off.
"Well, this is a start," Aegon said to Saeko who nodded in response and said, "Indeed. Now for the next job."
Aegon nodded and pulled out the second notice he had taken from the notice board earlier. "Let's see… Jarl Crach's family sword Kuliu was stolen from the treasure room just a few nights ago and is willing to pay a hefty bounty for the return of the blade and punish those responsible for the theft. Speak to Olaf for details," Aegon said as he read the notice.
"Stolen property, huh? Should be easy enough to do," Saeko said with a smile.
"First let's speak with this Olaf," Aegon said. "He may have an idea of where to find the thieves responsible," he added.
After asking the local innkeeper where Olaf was and being directed to the Kaer Trolde armoury, Aegon and Saeko headed for the Kaer Trolde castle. Half an hour later, they soon found Olaf standing guard at the bridge leading to the Keep of Kaer Trolde. Olaf was a tall stocky looking man wearing scale-mail armour with a tunic coloured in the livery of the An Craite clan and had a helmet with curling ram horns affixed to it on his head.
"Are you the one called Olaf?" Aegon asked the man who looked at him and nodded. "We're here about the notice," Aegon then said.
"Ah, here about Crach's family sword, eh?" Olaf asked and Aegon and Saeko nodded. "I'm glad someone was brave enough to take the notice, even if they are outlanders," the guard said.
"What can you tell us about the theft?" Saeko asked in a business-like tone.
"Happened just two nights ago," Olaf said. "Someone must've fiddled with the lock and waltzed right in and took the Jarl's family sword," he added.
"Was there anything else stolen? Or was it just the sword?" Saeko asked.
"Just the sword which is worth a pretty penny in itself," Olaf replied. "Weren't anything else taken," he said.
"Do you have any idea who might've taken it?" Aegon asked.
"Could think of a few, though it'd be hard to prove it," Olaf said. "First one that comes to mind is Madman Lugos. He hates Crach and the An Craite clan with a passion and taking the ancestral sword of An Craite would be the thing he'd be like to do," he added.
"Or someone who seeks favour with Madman Lugos," Aegon said.
"Aye, tis possible," Olaf agreed with a nod of his head.
"So, have you any idea where the thieves might be hiding out?" Saeko asked.
"A couple of merchants said that they spotted a camp of rogues southwest of a mining camp near the obelisk," Olaf replied. "I'd try there if I were you," he advised.
"My companion and I are new to Skellige, so we don't where everything is," Aegon admitted. "Have you a map you could spare?" he asked politely.
"I don't have one handy, but the merchant in the harbour town should be able to sell ye one," Olaf said.
"Alright, now let's haggle the price," Saeko said shrewdly.
After about ten minutes of haggling, Olaf agreed to pay Saeko and Aegon a hundred-and-forty-five crowns for the retrieval of Kuliu and punish those responsible for its theft. Shaking hands, Saeko then said she and Aegon would track down the sword and punish the thieves for stealing it.
Mounting their horses, the two headed down for the Harbour Town where they soon found a local merchant and purchased a couple of maps of the Isles. After paying for the maps, Saeko opened the one labelled Ard Skellig and began to look it over.
"Here's the Obelisk Olaf spoke of," the samurai said. "We just have to follow this road out of town and we should happen upon it," she added.
"I'll let you navigate then, you seem to have a better head for it," Aegon said as the mounted their horses and rode out of the harbour town at a quick canter.
…
An hour later of riding along the beaten road, Saeko and Aegon slowed their horses to a halt. Saeko consulted the map and looked at it carefully. "We should be near the Obelisk by now," she remarked as she folded up the map and gazed all around her. "Let's look around," she suggested to Aegon who nodded as he dismounted his sword and kept a hand to his sword. Saeko dismounted as well and rest her hand on the hilt of her katana.
Carefully splitting off from each, but still keeping within earshot, Aegon and Saeko carefully scouted around the area. Aegon's indigo eyes were firm and focussed and his body was tensed up like a coiled spring and his grip on Blackfyre's hilt was firm, ready to draw it out at a moment's notice.
Saeko carefully strode through the bushes, her sapphire eyes carefully picking apart everything for every detail. Walking up a steep hill, Saeko heard the dull noise of men talking and the crackle of a fire. Crouching low to avoid being seen, Saeko carefully crept closer to the talking voices.
"Ploughing whoresons! We ain't gonna find a buyer for the Jarl's sword!" said one voice.
"We'll find one!" said another voice confidently. "Madman Lugos would Kuliu's weight in gold for it!"
"And if he don't want to pay its weight in gold? What then?"
"Ach, must be someone outside the Isles who'd pay for a sword like Kuliu."
"Where is the sword now?" asked one of the voices.
"Brach and his lads took it to the old fortress," a voice replied.
"The old fort? Grymmdjarr you mean?"
"Aye that be the one."
"Why take it there?" asked one of the voices.
"It's a monster nest, no-one in their right will go near that place lest they wanna be torn up by beasties."
Saeko nodded in silence and decided to head back to find Aegon. A moment later, she found Aegon not far from her position. Saeko then called out softly, "Aegon."
Aegon looked up to see Saeko waving him over. "Saeko. Have you found the camp?" he asked in a whisper.
Saeko nodded. "Mhm. I overheard them talking about the sword. They've taken it to an old fort named Grymmdjarr," she said.
"Did you hear them say anything else?" Aegon asked.
"No, but I suppose we could… interrogate them?" Saeko smiled slyly. Aegon smiled at this and said, "Well, the Jarl does want the thieves punished for stealing his sword."
"Good," Saeko said with a smile. Aegon then stopped her and asked, "Are you sure about this? These thieves aren't Them. So I'll understand if you hesitate."
"Are you sure about this?" Saeko countered. "To my knowledge you haven't killed any living people either," she said.
"Aye, I haven't," Aegon conceded with a nod of his head. "But I remember telling Takashi and Kohta that we may have no choice when it comes to killing living people if they prove a threat," he said.
"If you want to talk about it afterwards, I'm more than happy to," Saeko said as she gently cupped Aegon's cheek with her hand. Aegon gently held Saeko's hand to his cheek and sighed.
"Let's get this over with," Aegon then said as he drew Blackfyre from it scabbard.
Making their way to where Saeko overheard the thieves talking, the pair crouched low to avoid being seen. Peering over to see some tents and a campfire and milling about were some men wearing tarnished mail and leather armour, all of them armed with weapons.
"How are we going to do this?" Saeko asked. "Should we go straight in, or flank them?"
"I think we should flank them," Aegon replied. "You go around and attack them from behind, whilst I go in from the front," he said. "If they haven't spotted us already, we should be able to catch them by surprise," he added.
"Let's do it that way then," Saeko said and she looked at Aegon and said, "Be careful, my love." Aegon smiled as he saw the look of worry in his lover's eyes and kissed her on the lips.
"I will be, I made a promise to you remember?" he said to her once he pulled his lips away from hers.
Saeko smiled, her eyes shining with hope before she went off to sneak around the camp and attack it from behind.
Aegon then steeled himself before moving around the front. Standing up in full view, Aegon strode up to the thieves' camp. One of the thieves who was standing guard spotted Aegon walking towards him.
"Hey! Who the fook are you?" the man asked rudely. Aegon didn't bother saying any words as he thrust the tip of his sword deep into the man's throat. The man gave a strangled choke and gurgles as he tried to pulled Valyrian steel blade out of his throat with his hands. Aegon then wrenched his sword, blood spurting out of the man's throat and onto Aegon's face. The man then choked and drowned in his own blood before dying.
The other thieves saw what happened to their comrade and drew their weapons. One of the thieves was armed with a long spear and he raised it to charge at Aegon when suddenly a hand tapped him on the shoulder and he turned around to see a gorgeous young woman with long indigo hair. The woman smiled before she slammed her knee into the spearman's groin. The spearman gave a groan of anguish as he felt to his knees and clutched his injured manhood with both hands. And that was the last thing he registered before a sharp steel blade sliced his head from his shoulders.
"Kill the bitch!" one of the thieves armed with a sword and shield hollered as he raised them to charge at Saeko who smiled and ran forward, her katana gleaming in the midday sun.
Aegon charged forward as well as he clashed blades with one of the thieves before disarming the man and thrust his sword through the man's heart.
Saeko smoothly slid on her knees under a swing from an axe before leaping to her feet and slashed her katana at the axeman's back. A cry of agony and a spray of blood later, the man fell to the grass dead. Saeko then parried a sword from the thief armed with a sword and shield; moving to the man's right, Saeko kicked the man's right leg out from under him. The thief gave a surprised cry as he hit the ground before Saeko's katana pierced his throat. Aegon cut down one of the thieves with Blackfyre and he noticed one of the thieves trying to flee the area. Without thinking, Aegon pulled out his pistol and aimed it before squeezing the trigger.
With a loud thunderous crack and a flash of flame followed by some smoke from the barrel, the fleeing thief fell to the ground with a yell of pain as a lead bullet pierced the back of his leg.
"Nice shot!" Saeko complimented her lover as she spun flawlessly around one of her attackers and slashed off the man's head.
"I was aiming for his head actually!" Aegon replied as he blocked a strike from one thief's mace and smashed his knee into the thief's groin a couple of times. The thief doubled over in pain and Aegon then slammed his knee into the man's face twice before pulling him to standing position smashed the hilt of Blackfyre into the man's jaw.
"Oh! Well, bad aim then," Saeko said as she parried a thrust from a spear before getting in close slicing open her foe's guts. The man screamed in agony as his innards spilled out and he bled out.
"Is that all of them? Any more of them left?" Aegon asked as he looked around the campsite and wiped his blood-spattered face clean with the sleeve of his tunic.
"Just the one you shot," Saeko said as she flicked the blood of her blade and strode over to the thief Aegon had wounded. The man held his hands over his face, cowering where he stood.
"Please, kind lady! Don't kill me!" the man begged, looking a pathetic sight.
"Give me a reason not to," Saeko said in a casual voice which only made the thief sob in fear.
"We're looking for a sword," Aegon then said to the man. "Family sword owned by Jarl Crach. Where is it?" he asked in a calm authoritative voice.
"The fancy blade? Yeah, I knows where it is!" the man babbled out seeing a chance to live.
"Where?" Saeko asked as she toyed with the hilt of her katana.
"The old fort! Grymmdjarr!" the thief said instantly.
"And where is Grymmdjarr?" Saeko asked.
"It's southwest of Fyresdal!"
"How many of your friends will be there?" Aegon then asked.
"Only a few, three at most. They took the blade to stash it there!" the thief said.
Aegon looked at Saeko who nodded. Looking at the wounded thief, Aegon then said to him, "If you're lying, we'll come back for you."
"You're gonna leave me here?!" the thief cried in despair.
Aegon sighed before sheathing his sword and tore a few strips of cloth from one of the tents. Grabbing the man's wounded leg, he began to bind it quickly over the site of the wounded and applied pressure down on the injury. The thief howled in agony as Aegon pressed hardy on the site. Once he felt he had applied enough pressure, Aegon then said to the man, "Get out of here. If you're lucky you might be able to reach the nearest village and see a healer. After that, I suggest you leave the Isles for elsewhere," he advised.
"A-Aye," the thief whimpered as he pulled himself to stand on his feet and began to limp away as fast as he could with an injured leg.
"Are you that was wise? Letting him go?" Saeko asked Aegon who shrugged and said, "I don't know to be honest. Hopefully he'll have learned his lesson, but he mightn't get far with an injury like that."
Looking out at the colling corpses of the thieves, Aegon had a pensive look on his face. "Are you alright, Egg?" Aegon looked at Saeko who was looking at him in concern.
"It was my first time killing someone," Aegon said after a long moment of contemplation.
"I understand. It's never easy to kill someone for the first time," Saeko said. "I should know," she added with a melancholic smile on her lips.
"Hmm, I never did ask how you felt about killing that boy before he turned. What was his name again? Kazu?" Aegon said.
"Yes. Kazu," Saeko confirmed. "Even though what I did for him was mercy and he consented to it, it wasn't easy for me to do," she said. "I've killed dozens of Them, but that was different," she added.
"It's easier to kill Them then it is to kill the living," Aegon said sombrely. "How many of these men had families or loved ones?" he wondered.
"Who knows? Perhaps they stole the Jarl's sword to try and feed their families," Saeko mused.
"Perhaps. But this won't get us any closer to find the Jarl's sword," Aegon said in a tired voice. "We're burning day light," he added as he glanced up at the sun in the sky.
"Indeed. We'll need to get to Fyresdal before nightfall," Saeko said. "There should be an inn for us to rest in for the night," she added.
"I hope so," Aegon said. "I also hope that Saya and Alice don't get too worried or into trouble while we're gone," he added.
"Then let's get going," Saeko replied. "The less time we waste the better," she said.
Aegon nodded before they headed back to where they had left their horses. After mounting up, the pair then looked at the map and found the direction for Fyresdal. Setting off at a gallop, the two rode hard along the road heading for Fyresdal.
…
Golden orange fingers of fading twilight cast long shadows as Aegon and Saeko reached Fyresdal. Torches were being lit by some of the villagers as farmers headed for the tavern after a long day out in the fields. Hitching their horses to the post, Aegon and Saeko entered the tavern.
The smell of burning woodsmoke and honeyed mead assailed Saeko's nostrils as she and Aegon entered the tavern. A few of the local patrons glanced up at Saeko and Aegon and a few stared at Saeko murmuring and muttering to themselves, most paid them no heed.
Walking up to the bar, Saeko waited for the innkeeper to serve them. Then a slurring voice spoke to Saeko.
"Hey, pretty lady, what's a lass like you doin' 'ere?" Saeko looked to see a large rowdy looking lout wearing some leather and scale armour holding a tankard in his hand.
"Getting a drink and minding my own business," Saeko said formally before resuming her wait for the innkeeper to serve.
"You're a pretty one. Pretty hair," the lout said with a drunken lecherous grin.
"And taken," Saeko said without even looking at the fellow.
"Eh? Taken?" the drunk echoed.
Saeko smiled a little and did not answer and the innkeeper, a stout looking fellow with a handlebar moustache came up to serve her. "What'll it be, lass?" he asked.
"Two pints of ale and some beef or goat stew if you have any," Saeko said instantly.
"Ten crowns please," the innkeeper said and Saeko handed over the money.
"Take a seat, it'll be brought to ye soon," the innkeeper said to Saeko as he swept the coins into his palm.
Saeko then joined Aegon who had found them a vacant table. "Have any trouble?" Aegon asked.
"No," Saeko said with an easy smile as she sat beside Aegon and they waited for their order.
Then the drunken man from before came wandering over to their table, this time accompanied by two other men.
"Hello, purple lady," the drunken man slurred out. "What say you leave that little weed and join us?" he offered.
"No thanks. Not interested," Saeko said politely.
"Don't be like that," the drunk whined. "We could show you a good time," he said with a suggestive leer.
"Oh? What kind of a good time?" Saeko asked conversationally as she stood from her seat.
The drunk smiled as he thought Saeko was entertaining his offer. "Come join us and you'll find out." He reached out with hand to grab Saeko by the arm. Then, quick as lightning, Saeko grabbed the man's hand and twisted it at an unnatural angle; the drunk gave a yowl of pain and Saeko applied pressure and the drunk gave a howl of agony as he slowly fell to his knees as his wrist threatened to snap under the pressure.
"Get this straight; I'm not interested in men like you. Not now, not ever," Saeko said in a deadly whisper. The drunk's friends prepared to step in when Aegon stood between them and Saeko, his hand on his sword. "Now, you're going to go home and sober up or else I'm going to how many of your bones I can break in the next few minutes. Am I clear?" Saeko asked.
"A-Aye!" the drunk said through clenched teeth, tears pouring from his eyes.
"Good," Saeko said with a smile and let go of the man's wrist. "Now go home and sober up," she told the man who stumbled to his feet and held his undoubtedly sore wrist and left the tavern in a hurry. The drunk's friends then quickly followed him out.
Saeko had a pleased smile on her face as she sat back down in her seat. "Are you alright, my love?" Aegon asked he sat back down beside her.
"Never better," Saeko replied as she pressed a kiss to her boyfriend's cheek. Soon after the innkeeper came over with a pair of pewter pints of ale and two bowls of stew.
"Glad to see that didn't end in a barfight, lass," the man said to Saeko. "I'd have to ask ye to leave if it did," he added.
"Of course," Saeko said with a polite smile. "Hopefully that man learns his lesson," she added.
"Oh, Fenrick? Heh, wouldn't be sure of that," the innkeeper said. "He's a rowdy lout used to getting his way with the lasses and don't take kindly to those who injure and insult him. Best watch your step from now on," he advised as he set the pints and bowls down in front of Saeko and Aegon before leaving to tend the bar.
"Are you worried?" Aegon asked Saeko who had begun to eat her stew.
"Not really," Saeko answered. "Unless this Fenrick has an army under his command, then I'm pretty sure I can handle him," she said casually. "Are you worried?" she asked as she ate a spoonful of stew.
"A little," Aegon admitted as he took a sip of his ale. "I don't like the idea of that bastard laying his grubby hands on you," he said. "Or anyone for that matter," he added gruffly.
"Getting a little territorial, aren't we?" Saeko said with a teasing look in her eyes.
"Dragons aren't known for sharing what they have," Aegon said with a jesting smile.
"Really?" Saeko asked as she smiled saucily. "Care to show me how territorial you can be?" she purred out.
"Maybe some other night," Aegon replied in a serious voice.
Saeko pouted like a child denied her favourite toy but Aegon pressed a swift kiss to her cheek which pleased her as they resumed their meal.
After eating their meal, the pair of them then asked for a room to lodge in for the night. Paying ten crowns to share a room with some words from the Innkeeper to keep the noise to a minimum, Saeko and Aegon then decided to call it an early night and go to bed.
"Do you want the bed?" Aegon asked. "I can sleep in the chair," he offered.
"Don't want to share the bed with me?" Saeko asked in a sweet voice.
"If I did, we wouldn't get much sleep," Aegon replied with a smile.
"I trust you to be a complete gentleman about it," Saeko said with a sweet smile on her lips.
"Well, alright then," Aegon said with the air of being very put-upon as he slipped of his tunic and boots and climbed into bed with Saeko who slipped off her boots and climbed into the bed as well. The two kept their swords close to the bed in case there would be any nocturnal intruders about. Saeko quickly hugged herself close to Aegon, resting her head on his chest and listening to the steady drum of his heartbeat.
"This is nice," the samurai murmured softly as she felt Aegon's wrap around her.
"It is," Aegon said quietly as he smelled the scent of Saeko's hair. The scent was that of sweat, steel and flowers; an almost intoxicating smell. "You smell good," he added absently.
"Did I not before?" Saeko asked as she tilted her head to look at Aegon.
"I never said you didn't," Aegon said awkwardly and before he could add any further, Saeko pressed a soft kiss to his lips and said to him, "You smell pretty good too."
"What do I smell like?" Aegon asked jestingly.
"Sweat, dirt and blood," Saeko teased.
"Not too surprised by that," Aegon said self-deprecatingly. "You smell far better than I do by a mile," he added.
"What do I smell like to you?" Saeko asked.
"Clean fresh steel and flowers," Aegon said honestly.
"Clean fresh steel and flowers? That's an odd combination," Saeko said thoughtfully.
"But one that suits someone such as you," Aegon replied.
"Hmm, I don't know if such a perfume exists, even back home," Saeko mused thoughtfully. "But I'll trust your judgement," she then said as she snuggled closer to Aegon.
Aegon smiled as he and Saeko closed their eyes and gradually fell asleep in each other's arms.
TO BE CONTINUED…
A/N: There! The twenty-third chapter of this is done and dusted and it's part one of this little job Saeko and Aegon are doing retrieving Jarl Crach's family sword. I'm thinking that Aegon and Saeko take on some of the side quests from Witcher 3 in Skellige, but I may also have them do some OC stuff as well. Maybe they even go on some world hopping adventures? If you guys have any ideas for some OC content for this story, then feel free to leave them in your review or PM them to me.
In other news, I've recently published a new crossover, a Harry Potter/The Mummy fanfic; premise of that story is that Rick and Evy suffered a miscarriage of their first child and are devastated by it, but Evy soon meets a five-year old Harry Potter and discovers the abuse he endures at the hands of the Dursleys. After making some phone calls to the right people, Evy then adopts Harry as her own child and Harry then has a much happier childhood than what he had with the Dursleys. Then on the year of Harry's eleventh birthday, Evy starts to have visions of Ancient Egypt and discovers the Bracelet of Anubis and from there it goes. So feel free to give that story a read.
And apart from that I haven't got too much more to say, so I'll leave this here and see you all next time.
Be kind to one another,
Angry lil' elf.