SIGMARR VS THE BORJIORN part 2...

The full moon seemed to fill the horizon just before dawn as
Kergin waited impatiently for Sigmarr to say goodbye to Anita…

“I will talk with Hagen before we reach the Northern road and ask him to come over to help you with the farm chores”…”Make sure he
does a full days work before you pay him…a full days work”…

“Yes,, I know what needs to be done around here,, have I not helped you on many occasions?”…

“None the less,, sometimes he can be lazy,, if your not watching”…

“Everything will be fine,, now go on your hunting adventure with
Kergin”…

“Two weeks no more,, I am sure”…

“Go…before I change my mind”…

Sigmarr and Kergin left the village as the sun was just rising over the
Eastern horizon…a pack horse trailed behind with supplies and
hunting gear…’Red sky in the morning,, best heed this warning’…Sigmarr thought to himself…the road North to the village
of Ingileif was mostly thru prairie and farmland,, to the West was the
Salgerun forest where Sigmarr would often hunt Torst deer,, to the East he could just barely see the Halldor mountains on the horizon,, he knew this land well…The journey to Ingileif would only take about 2 days with the horses traveling at an easy gait,, enough time to listen and listen again to all of Kergin’s stories of adventure… Sigmarr had heard them many times before,, but he laughed and listened to them as if for the first time…it was good to be with Kergin again…
The village of Ingileif was like most villages in the Kingdom,, small homes and farms scattered about surrounding the main village square…Homes of merchants,, farmers and craftsman…much like
Sigmarr’s…Sigmarr and Kergin stopped to stay at the Double Oak Inn,, there they rented a room and inquired about any sightings of the Hagboffel from the barkeep…

“Just rumors I tell you,, it has been years since they were this far South,, the Borjiorn have slaughtered them all”…was the barkeeps response…”Damn Borjiorn I wish I’d never heard of them”…

“What rumors have you heard?” pressed Kergin…

“Just rumors,, just rumors…travel North about a half days journey,, then take the Sarojord road to the East…follow it and you may find some”…”the Sarojord road is mar---”…

“Yes,, I know the road you speak of”…Sigmarr said abruptly cutting the barkeep off from his ramblings…

An early morning mist lay over the prairie as Sigmarr and Kergin watched a small herd of Hagboffel lazily grazing…

“How long should we wait here?’’,, asked Kergin …

“We should wait until they are a little closer,, than we can
creep in along that dry creek bed over there and get close
enough”…”Remember to use a full bowstring and aim
for behind the front shoulder”…

Suddenly a Craven bird,, frighten from its nest by the approaching
Hagboffel,, rose up from the grass,, flapping its wings wildly and honking to scare the Hagboffel …The Hagboffel turned about and scattered…

“Damn,, would you look at that,, a Craven”…damn our luck”…
Kergin muttered while rising from behind the small mound,, still
hoping maybe to get a shot off…

Sigmarr rose and viewed the scene of the scattering Hagboffel,, he knew that their day of hunting was over…The Hagboffel would be too skittish now for anyone to come close…

“Kergin,, look to the North,, black smoke on the horizon”…

“Trouble”…

“Yes,, I agree,, lets ride over there and see what it is”…

The burning buildings and destruction of the small village of Agnarr was a sad sight to see for Sigmarr and Kergin…There was nothing left but the smoldering ruins of what once was a small peaceful farming village…The bodies of men,, women and children laid on the ground,, some killed with arrows and some with blood splattered bodies and a few without heads or limbs…Defenseless villagers slaughtered and left for the wild dogs and crows to eat…A few
scattered chickens and pigs wandered thru the streets,, some
pecking at the remains of the villagers…At the far end of the street
an old man was wandering about,, dazed and confused about
what had happened,, muttering and crying to himself,, shouting
out his wife’s name,, in a futile attempt to find her or anyone else
alive…Sigmarr dismounted from his horse and carefully approached the old man…

“Friend,, friend,, old man…what happened here,, who did this?...

“Huh,, Giselle?...who are you?...get away from me”…

“Old man,, tell us what happened…we will not harm you”…

“No,, get away”…

“He’s confused…leave him be”…said Kergin…

Sigmarr stepped over to one of the dead men lying on the ground and pulled one of the arrows out of the man’s back…

“Look here”…handing the arrow to Kergin…”it has Borjiorn markings” …”Look around and see what else you can find”…

It only took a short while for Kergin and Sigmarr to search thru the destroyed village,, there was no building that was left untouched,,
every structure had been set on fire…

“They took all the livestock and grain,, and they must of captured
some of the villagers,, there doesn’t seem to be enough bodies here
for all the homes”…Kergin spoke angrily…

“There are horse tracks and footprints leading off to the North,, we must warn King Hjanrist about this…it has been a long time since the Borjiorn have raided this far into the Kingdom,, they must be up to something… We must warn King Hjanrist about this… he must be warned”…replied Sigmarr…

“What of the old man?”…

“His mind has left him,, he’ll be dead soon…we must hurry”…

The great hall of King Hjanrist was filled with ministers and soldiers
talking and hurriedly heading in various directions,, an uneasy bustle,, not the regal quiet that would nominally be there….

“Thank you for your report,, Sigmarr…We have had similar reports
from all along the Northern border of such raiders for over a moons wane now…the King has dispatched scouts into the region and
all is not well”… Captain Tisamar explained to Sigmarr and Kergin…

“What of the scouts?”...

“They have reported seeing the Borjiorn gathering on the North
side of the river Glih,, near the Sajnoir crossing…villages as far
South as the Hejstill forest have been destroyed”…

“And the King?”…

“King Hjanrist has commanded that the army be assembled and
riders have been sent to every village to gather all able bodied men”…
”We will be heading North very shortly”…

Sigmarr and Kergin were not surprised by the Kings decision,,
it was known by all that the Borjiorn were raiding villages along
the border again…

“We must go,, Captain Tisamar …I will meet you and the army along the Torsteen road”….”Kergin?”…
“I’m ready now…I will go with Captain Tisamar and meet you later”…


END OF EPISODE 2................
. INTERMISSION
COME BACK TOMORROW FOR THE NEXT (hopefully)
THRILLING EPISODE OF
SIGMARR VS THE BORJIORN
Oh,, boy that was exciting……I see dead people…..
. .....same BAT TIME,, same BAT STATION.....