“Come closer, sit down and order yourelf a drink and I wil tell you a story of darknes and fear.”
Before you sits an old man, his clothes are ragged and his face is worn by weather and age. He drinks deep from his ale and dries his mouth with the torn sleave of his shirt before he continues.
”What I am about to share with you, is something I have not shared with any one else. For my heart is filled with shame and sadness. Not too long ago, I were out hunting with my brother, we went south in hope of finding prey. As we wandered our eyes fell upon a large bird in the sky, much larger then the common birds of prey in the north. We stopped and watchd it for a brief moment, it came flying from the south and as it passed us we threw ourselves underneath the foliage of a nearby bush. For what we saw filled our hearts with fear. It was a great eagel see, a great black eagle and its cry sent cold chills down my spine.”
The old man drinks some more of his ale and slowly shakes his head. His eyes wander around the shady room at the inn and he takes another sip of ale before he continues his tale.
“After the eagle had passed us we ran into some, trouble. For the ground seem to shake and the sound of thousands of marching feet came from the southern trail. My brother ran ahead and just as he turned to tell me what it was he had seen he was pierced by many a crossbow bolt. I screamed and ran towards him, dropping my hunting gear in the moment. When I reached the top of the small hill my heart almost stopped, for my eyes fell upon a great host of warriors and beasts. I quickly bowed down at my borhters side and said a short prayer before I begun to run back to the village. The cries of the great eagle constantly reminding me of the marching host.”
The man looks straight into your eyes and it is clear that he speaks from his heart, his eyes filled with fear and sadness. He raises his mug to drink only to discover it is empty.
”Oi! Barmaid...my ale’s empty! Where was I, oh yes, I ran and how I ran. The forest behind me seemed to come alive and soon I heard howling of great wargs and other terrifying beasts. As I came to my village I yelled and tried to warn everyone, the black tide has come, I yelled and all who could wield a weapon gathered at the pallisades. They looked to my to lead them, to tell them what I had encountered, young lass. I knew time was of the essence so I kept it brief, I should have told everyone to run for the hills instead, I should have told them to run.“
The mans eyes fills with tears as he continue.
”They fell upon us as waves upon the shore, first the beasts attacked, but they were easily beaten back. But then the great warriros came, disciplined and fully armoured. Their crossbows fell every man and woman foolish enough to stay on the ramparts. But the great warriors did not attck, they seemed to wait. Then the great cry of the black eagle echoed in the snow cowered valley and the great bird landed infront of the dark army. I could not belive my eyes, the great eagle vanished in a cloud of black mist and as the wind cleared the mist, a young lady had taken its place. All fell dilent and the very air seemd to shimmer with some strange power as she slowly walked towards the closed gate.”
The man coughs and looks around, trying to spot the barmaid.
”She was beautiful, her raven hair flowing in the wind and the clothes were colloured blood red. For every step closer she took we could feel our courage fail us. Just out of range from our spears did she stop. The elders whispered to the young a name, the dark maiden, yes. The Dark Maiden. I could not take my eyes off her and I dropped my spear, several of us laid down our weapons and admired her beauty. But what floowed was terrible, she raised her arms gestured towards teh walls and at the same time her voice filled the air. The ground shook and dark clouds gathered over us in the sky. Soon the day had turned into night and with one last gesture from the young lady, the entire wall and gate infront of us fell to the ground. Lighting played amongst the clouds and as the lady laughed her army threw themselves at us, with steel and fangs they slayed every man, woman and child. I myself took a blow to th ehead and was knocked out, When I came through the entire village were burning and around me I could hear the invaders talking.”
The old man coughs and yells once more to call the attention of the inn staff towards him. He slams his elderly fist at the table and looks around. Shortly after a young girl comes up to the table, holding a mug of ale with both her hands. Her face slightly covered by a scarf and she places the mug of ale infront of the old man, bowing her head she quickly leaves the table. The man looks at the mug of ale and smiles.
”Right, now lets see if I can share the last of my story before we drink this fresh ale lass. There I was, drifting in and out of consciousness ad around me were many warriros. Standing around me in a circle they yelled and whispered amongst themselves but suddenly some of them parted before and they all fell silent. I could hear a womans voice:
"Why did you tell me everyone was slain when this, "still breathes!" she said.
”The warriorirs around her did not answer and had it not been for the raging fires around us there would have been a complete silence.I could hear her stepping towards me as I lay on the cold and bloody ground. She kicked me in the guts when she got close enough, I squirmed in pain and looked up at her. It was the same woman from the gates and she smiled and nodded at two of her warrioirs. They grabbed me by my arms and lifted me so my face was levelled with hers. The light of morning slowly begun to sneak up over the mountains and as the first light struck the village the young woman caressed my face, leaning forward she whispered to me.
"Life has been kind to you but I am as powerful as time..." she whispered softly.
“I tried to scream but her beauty had me under some spell, I could then feel how my face begun to age and my once blonde hair slolwly turned grey. When she was done the once proud youth that had been me, had turned into a beaten and weak old man. Her warriors threw me on the ground and the woman laughed at me. She then ordered her warriors to strap me to a horse and send me south.” "He has a message to spread to the defenders of the southern lands", she said with a smile and turned towards the rest of her army. ”I did not hear anything more for the last I saw was the heel of one of her warriros boots and then all turned black. How I ended up here young miss I do not know, luck perhaps or possibly even by some darker rout.”
The old man nods at you and gives you a feint smile.
”Yes, I were once young and strong, but the Dark Maiden took all that from me in an instant. I do not know how many that has fallen in the snowy north. But day by day I can see refugees arriving, mostly women and children. Htey all speak of a great host and a beautiful but powerful young woman. Fear and darkness is all that north holds now, but they say that the Dark Maiden does not stay in one place for long. She has even been reumoured to have been seen in side these city walls. Take heed young warrior, for should the shadow queen come to these lands. All will be lost..”
The man takes the mug of ale with both his hands and drinks deep from it. He grimaces as he puts down the mug on the table.
”Strange...that ale didn’t taste as it...”
