Aidun's tale

[Aidun]

When the last Egyptian forces left the Bobian soil, I considered that this was my last chance for survival and left with them.

The journey over what was for me the Mare Iberia was an easy one. As a young boy, being a squire of Lord Toledo, I sometimes went to the sea in the summer or secretly during Easter. I liked to look at the crests and from the cliffs I could be watching the waves beating the rocks for hours. But that time has long passed, though still the little joy of watching it has remained during all those years. Even then on that ship, being an old, retired man, I was standing on the front deck and looking down to the waves beating againts the wooden bow.

Life among the soldiers was for me no problem. During the years of mobilization I had almost forgotten that there was a world outside the barracks. After my revolt against the King, my noble status was taken from me and I was enlisted in the army by royal edict. Since then I have spend all my years among the soldiers. Many a friend I have seen dying on the battlefield.
But I was spared, time after time, even when my entire regiment was slaughtered - yes, I saw it with my own eyes, there was no mercy in those devils, even the wounded were not spared when they hid away, only me. These people sought to drink blood; I believe they were sent by Satan himself - I was spared, by hiding behind some rocks. The only place I thought safe for my wounded body.
And so these soldiers respected me and they were eager to hear my tales of the many battles I fought since that revolt.

Thus I managed to cross the Mare Iberia with pretty much ease and I arrived as healthy as one could normally wish after a a voyage over sea. And Monsoon was after all a nice city. Because I didn't know where to go and the soldiers still appreciated my company, I went with them, on the journey to Eye of Storm, as they described, a center of civilization, where science and architecture where well developped, perhaps the most beautiful city in the world. At least a city to be proud of.

I suppose that you expect that a journey of such a length and through mountains and desert is hard to complete for a man of my age, but it went allright, though of course very slow, but the soldiers, who desired nothing else than a peaceful life after the horrors of the Bobian War, did not complain, they were rather satisfied and enjoyed the peace.

We have passed through the most idyllic villages with the most beautiful names one could wish to pass though. The first one only a few miles from Monsoon: Wind-in-the-Fields. Built in the typical white and light yellow style of most Egyptian villages and cities on a slightly higher place than the surrounding fields and from there going further downhill
The road had here become more like a sandy path that swayed like a river through the village as if each house were a rock in its course.
There was also a brook at the foot of the little elevation swaying though village, the road crossed it just beside the mill, where the local inn was situated. Apart from the strange style the buildings were built in, it was a scene I was very well accustomed to.

[Aidun]

Without any discussion we entered the inn and found a table beside one of the windows. The room was dark now that the sun was behind the horizon and the twilight was steadily becoming like dusk. The little light that still came though the window was not enough so that the landlord brough us an oil lamp. I ordered twelve mugs of beer and meals and we sat down resting from the journey of that day. Even I, although I had almost always something to tell, was silent and it took me until after the meals and after two mugs to find some words.
"The meat was pretty good, at least compared to that on the ship, as well as his beer."
Forsag, a bearded man with black hair looked at me with his sharp dark brown eyes. Ne nodded a bit an then smiled for a moment and took another pull at his mug.
"It is not the right season to travel, far to hot, even in the morning and after noon. Still staying in Monsoon was for me no option, they have enough guards there, I'd probably be jobless. And traveling at night is not what I would call feasible with all those villians on the roads these days. They'd rob even a giant when he'd sleep."
It was Lansis, a slender handsome guy who had arrived on Bob only a few months before it was finally decided to retreat back to Estonia. He didn't really join the fights, but had been defender of Madrid until it was left in ruins.
"Do you think that Eye of Storm is a better place for veterans oif the Bobian war?"
"Possibly, it is after all the capital, but if not, then it is still the place to be if you want to know where there is a job."
Khalim, a black man, muscular and with a bald head save for a little tail at the back of his head, who had just finished his third mug, grumbled.
"Bhah, by the time we reach that damned city the government has started another war or is at least planning one, I bet for it!"
He drew some bronze coins from his pocket and threw them in the middle of the table.
"Not too much, heh ," he said with a big grin. The others, including me, drew the same amount too and threw it in the middle of the table as if it was custom and so it was. Because during the journey over the Mare Iberia all that we did was gambling, betting and looking to the waves. Khalim had started counting and was nearly finished.
"Thirty four, thirty five, thirty six. We're done. Here Old Man you care for it again."
He handed me over the coins and I put them away in my own purse.
"Remember, we get 36 bronze Talanti from Aidun, the winner get's all."

[GodKing]

Nice.

[History Guy]

Ah, the Tale of Aidun is a good one and reminiscent of the classical sagas of our ancient Spaniard ancestors. I shall personally provide you with a plateful of delicious squid in my grandiose restaurant when you next come in.

Senator Iago de History Guy Calamari