Temple Sword

Chapter 77
1309 Summer
Transylvania, Hungary
—

"What is a táltos?" asked Otto curiously. They had been on the road for at least three hours.He rode an old horse that had also escaped from the wolves, but the Wind Shepherd refused to ride it, preferring to walk.

"A wise man," the man sighed, "can drive away wolves and heal wounds that others cannot heal."

"I already know that, Mr. Wind Shepherd." Otto rolled his eyes. He had been asking for hours, but so far had only received vague answers. "But how did you do it? How did you heal my wounds? I felt a beast tearing at my flesh. I was ready to die, but now I'm fine. How did you do it? ?”

"With moss and some potions," said the wise man, and smiled sadly. "And something your priests will torture and burn me alive when they find out, you've asked enough, Otto Wittelsbach."

"I saw a light," continued Otto, "and when the wolves stopped biting and became quiet, a light appeared, right here, in my head," he pointed to his head, "I thought that was heaven, but that's you, isn't it?"

"It's me," the Shepherd nodded, "but let's not mention this matter anymore."

"Why not?" Otto laughed. "It's a miracle! You must tell me everything about it!"

"No!" the wise man stopped and said firmly, even stopping Otto's horse. "I don't want to say this anymore, understand? You people are equally stupid! Otto Wittelsbach, you don't know how tired I am to save you and heal your wounds! Because of you, when I finally put When you get out of my valley, I'll have to sleep for three months!
Those wolves are innocent, they are just hungry, and you are yelling at their hunting grounds!We knew most of them and now they are all dead!Why?Because of you, Otto Wittelsbach! "

"Because of me?" the Duke asked with a pale face. He wanted to refute, but the flames dancing in the wind shepherd's eyes made him completely frightened.

"Yes, because of you," the wise man calmed down a little, "everything in this world is connected, you must understand this. When you lost your crown, the fate of those wolves was already intertwined with you, Even though at the time you didn't even know you were coming to Transylvania. Every little thing set off a cascade of complications or set something bigger on a new path, which is why I say it's all Your fault, Otto Wittelsbach."

After speaking, he turned his back to Otto and continued to walk out of the forest, while Otto and his old horse followed silently.

—

The trees in the primeval forest, the intricate vegetation, and the rock walls growing from the ground gradually disappeared in front of the emaciated riders and silent wise men.In the evening, Otto found himself walking along a gravel road, and soon, a village appeared on the horizon.

"From here you can go on your own," the wind shepherd stopped, and the Duke of Bavaria stopped his horse. "You'll find an escort in that village. Go straight to the tavern and find a one-armed man with an axe, named Spike, and ask him to escort you to Bavaria with the promise of a good reward. By the way, tell him if he can't escort you Get home safely, and the Wind Shepherd will cut off his other hand, you hear?"

"I understand," Otto nodded with a smile, "I will find a way to explain it to him in Hungarian."

"You can speak to him in German, he understands. Spike is a seasoned fugitive, and if he's with you, you'll be safe."

Otto scratched the top of his bald head in confusion.

"Well, is there anything else you want?" Shepherd asked him, "Is there anything else you want to ask?"

"I was just thinking about how I should thank you for everything you've done for me," Otto admitted, "but... I don't have any money right now, you gave me all the clothes I wear, maybe you can take my horse take away."

The Wind Shepherd laughed, so loud that it echoed in the valley.

"This poor guy?" he asked with a smile, "No, thank you! This mare has helped you a lot, remember to take good care of her when you get home!"

"I will, good sir."

"And," the shepherd waved his hand, "I already have a horse, which is better than the others."

"A horse?" Otto raised his eyebrows. He didn't quite understand, because the wind shepherd followed him all the way on foot, and he didn't see any animals near the hut. "What kind of horse?"

"Well, he is white," said the wise man proudly, "with golden antlers."

"You're a strange man, Wind Shepherd...They won't believe me when I tell them at home who saved my life."

"Everyone knew me before," said the man, leaning on his rune-carved stick, "but now only stones and stars remember those days, and this stick..."

"Who are you?" Otto asked one last time, but the Wind Shepherd gave a vague answer again.

"I was here before your first ancestor was born," he looked at Otto, "and I will be here when no one remembers your last name. Come on now, Otto Witt Ursbach."

Otto set off to the village to find the one-armed Spike, and after a long time, he was finally ready to go home.Riding on the old horse, he looked back again, and the Wind Shepherd was standing in the middle of the gravel road, leaning on his ancient walking stick and looking at him.

"This is the last time I ask you, wise man!" cried Otto. "What do you want from me in return? Surely you have something to ask for!"

"After thinking about it, there is indeed one thing." The shepherd said, he didn't shout, or even raised his voice, but Otto heard it clearly, as if it was right next to his ear.

"what's up?"

"Never come back."

The Duke of Lower Bavaria turned around and rode his horse, pretending to be offended by the words of the wind shepherd, but nodded silently in his heart, and he willingly agreed to this simple request.

Otto Wittersbach would spend the rest of his life in Bavaria, never setting foot on Hungarian soil again.

(End of this chapter)