Tadman’s two pets, two large war dogs named Sadist and Pig Fucker. He hadn’t met those yet, but he didn’t like the sound of them.
It was a strange but excellent feeling, knowing that he’d never have to toil for food or shelter again. It was like a smothering weight that he hadn’t known was there had been removed. He felt more generous towards everybody, not materially perhaps, but certainly in spirit.
So he moseyed cheerily across Maidun Castle and up to the eyrie, half-singing breezy greetings to everyone he passed.
He’d made up his mind. Forget the farm. There was only one place he wanted to be, and that was with Lowa. Maybe she had been dismissive the other day, maybe she hadn’t. He needed to know. She definitely had liked him – loved him even? – so there had to be a chance that she still did. He loved her, so he had to risk it. He’d tell her about Spring’s spell, that it wasn’t her fault she’d shagged Ragnall, and that he’d forgive her if there’d been anything to forgive, but there wasn’t. If she was pregnant with Ragnall’s baby that might add some complications, but they could cross that bump when they came to it.
“Sorry it’s late,” he said to the guard at Lowa’s hut, “but could I see Lowa, please?”
“Hello, Dug! How’s it going?”
“All is wonderful, thanks. You?” He peered at the woman. He didn’t think he knew her. Since he’d defeated Tadman in the packed arena and become a wee bit famous, a lot of strangers now acted as if he were an old friend. It was disconcerting.
“I’d let you straight in,” said the guard, “but she’s got someone with her.”
“No matter. I’ll wait.”
“I don’t know how long she’ll be. Might be all night.” The guard winked. “It’s a young man – a fine-looking fellow.”
“Oh?” said Dug.
“Name of Ragnall. Lovely manner about him.” She nodded enthusiastically at Dug’s blank look. “Very well-spoken, he is, very well-spoken. A real young hero, quite the match for Queen Lowa.”
Dug had taken a hammerblow to the guts once. This felt very similar, perhaps a little worse.
“Has he been in there long?” he asked.
“Ages. And I’ve heard some fascinating noises.” She made a long moaning sound, then giggled smuttily. “You’re welcome to wait, though?”
“No, no, that’s fine. I’ll come back.” Dug smiled. Without thinking, he turned and walked away. He was vaguely aware that the guard was still talking.
Ragnall sat back, feeling a great deal happier and much less drunk. It had helped, telling Lowa about his family and Anwen.
“I am sorry, about how I was,” he said.
“Don’t worry.” Lowa put a hand on his knee. “You have losses to grieve. And I think you’re fairly new to heavy drinking? Not that many people ever learn how to do it without regularly making dicks of themselves.”
She really was a very decent woman. Firm, but fair. He remembered her naked body pressed on to him, his hands on her back and buttocks and her thighs, her eyes looking into his. She certainly was firm and fair. He told himself to focus. There was something important he wanted to ask her … oh yes.
“You said that you had a mission for me and Drustan? More slaves to free?”
“No. Something quite different. I want you to go to Rome.”
“Rome?”
“Yes. Big place. Easy to get to by road, apparently.”
“Rome.” Visions flooded Ragnall’s mind. They said there were a million people living in just the one city, buildings the size of hillforts, and flocks of beautiful, degenerate women … “Why Rome?”
“If we’re to fight them, I need to know about them. I also need to know when they’re going to get here. I’d like you and Drustan to pose as a prince and his tutor who have travelled to see the city – which is exactly what you will be, so that shouldn’t be too hard. When you’ve found out all you can about the Romans and their invasion plans, come back and tell me.”
The
It was a strange but excellent feeling, knowing that he’d never have to toil for food or shelter again. It was like a smothering weight that he hadn’t known was there had been removed. He felt more generous towards everybody, not materially perhaps, but certainly in spirit.
So he moseyed cheerily across Maidun Castle and up to the eyrie, half-singing breezy greetings to everyone he passed.
He’d made up his mind. Forget the farm. There was only one place he wanted to be, and that was with Lowa. Maybe she had been dismissive the other day, maybe she hadn’t. He needed to know. She definitely had liked him – loved him even? – so there had to be a chance that she still did. He loved her, so he had to risk it. He’d tell her about Spring’s spell, that it wasn’t her fault she’d shagged Ragnall, and that he’d forgive her if there’d been anything to forgive, but there wasn’t. If she was pregnant with Ragnall’s baby that might add some complications, but they could cross that bump when they came to it.
“Sorry it’s late,” he said to the guard at Lowa’s hut, “but could I see Lowa, please?”
“Hello, Dug! How’s it going?”
“All is wonderful, thanks. You?” He peered at the woman. He didn’t think he knew her. Since he’d defeated Tadman in the packed arena and become a wee bit famous, a lot of strangers now acted as if he were an old friend. It was disconcerting.
“I’d let you straight in,” said the guard, “but she’s got someone with her.”
“No matter. I’ll wait.”
“I don’t know how long she’ll be. Might be all night.” The guard winked. “It’s a young man – a fine-looking fellow.”
“Oh?” said Dug.
“Name of Ragnall. Lovely manner about him.” She nodded enthusiastically at Dug’s blank look. “Very well-spoken, he is, very well-spoken. A real young hero, quite the match for Queen Lowa.”
Dug had taken a hammerblow to the guts once. This felt very similar, perhaps a little worse.
“Has he been in there long?” he asked.
“Ages. And I’ve heard some fascinating noises.” She made a long moaning sound, then giggled smuttily. “You’re welcome to wait, though?”
“No, no, that’s fine. I’ll come back.” Dug smiled. Without thinking, he turned and walked away. He was vaguely aware that the guard was still talking.
Ragnall sat back, feeling a great deal happier and much less drunk. It had helped, telling Lowa about his family and Anwen.
“I am sorry, about how I was,” he said.
“Don’t worry.” Lowa put a hand on his knee. “You have losses to grieve. And I think you’re fairly new to heavy drinking? Not that many people ever learn how to do it without regularly making dicks of themselves.”
She really was a very decent woman. Firm, but fair. He remembered her naked body pressed on to him, his hands on her back and buttocks and her thighs, her eyes looking into his. She certainly was firm and fair. He told himself to focus. There was something important he wanted to ask her … oh yes.
“You said that you had a mission for me and Drustan? More slaves to free?”
“No. Something quite different. I want you to go to Rome.”
“Rome?”
“Yes. Big place. Easy to get to by road, apparently.”
“Rome.” Visions flooded Ragnall’s mind. They said there were a million people living in just the one city, buildings the size of hillforts, and flocks of beautiful, degenerate women … “Why Rome?”
“If we’re to fight them, I need to know about them. I also need to know when they’re going to get here. I’d like you and Drustan to pose as a prince and his tutor who have travelled to see the city – which is exactly what you will be, so that shouldn’t be too hard. When you’ve found out all you can about the Romans and their invasion plans, come back and tell me.”
The
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