Bloodlines of the Ancient Pantheons

"Oh, hello everyone. Master Dag, Master Gridd, you're due upstairs" exclaimed the funny-looking librarian, turning his head strangely trying to figure out if Dag and the others answered back to his invitation, being slightly deaf.

He just nodded his head, smiling at the man and inviting his entire team to go upstairs.

The thin staircase between the mezzanine and the upper floor was made of stone and wood, as well as the walls of the room where Dag and the others made their entrance: on the thick stone walls, decorations made from horizontal solid wood beams were repeated, which gave a slightly more engineered appearance to that hall, less sad than the rest of the palace, completely gray.

A huge off-white chandelier hung from the ceiling, and Dag took a while to figure out that it was completely made of bones, judging by their size, perhaps elephant ones, or some other large mammal.

Other bookshelves and shelves filled with objects of all kinds covered the walls on the other side of the room, leaving room for two huge windows on both sides, one on the east side, one on the west side, which allowed an excellent view respectively of the exterior and interior of the walls, as well as greatly illuminating the room.

Beneath the chandelier, a heavy wooden table, similar to the one in the library, was covered with maps and war patterns of all kinds, while Sander sat right there, intent on scrupulously observing one. 

Behind him, at the side of the table and near one of the two huge windows, Kjell was intent on looking at the view when he noticed their presence.

"Master Dag, we've been waiting for you!" he exclaimed, drawing the attention of Sander, who looked up at them as the Bjelke Sphere began to vibrate under Dag's armor as if to remind him not to lose sight of the objective.

"These maps are magnificent... you know, I'm a big fan of geography and geology, I really like to know how to give an identity to what nature builds so perfectly," Dag said, circumnavigating the table with one hand resting on the paperwork on its top.

"I'm not sure I know this 'geology' you're talking about, boy" Sander said, leaving a kind of pencil on the table, made from a rough elongated piece of graphite attached to a wooden stick.

"It is the science that studies the planet... the composition of its rocks, the chemistry of its soil, the water of its seas, rivers, and lakes, up to the magma of its volcanoes and the ice of its glaciers. I've always been fascinated by it, since I was a child, in my opinion, it helps you to look at things from a different point of view, a different perspective... and it's also useful in battle! Knowing the peculiarities of the terrain, you can take advantage of combat and set traps for your opponents" Dag continued, showing Kjell and Sander that he was a man of culture and not just an all looks and no brains warrior.

"Then, Dag... I think we Crows Of Odin should thank you for what happened on this night. Master Kjell and I had a lot of discussion about what would have happened if no one had attacked the Horns Of Heimdallr without their knowledge" replied Sander, rising from his chair and resting with his hip at the table, continuing the speech standing.

"Not only that… we also discussed another matter. Sondre, their Master Of Healing... some of our soldiers told us that the sorcerer had set you a trap and was aware of your arrival. Is that true?" interrupted Kjell, before Dag could answer.

"Yes, it is. But the real reason behind all this escapes even me. He knew that by kidnapping Freydis, sooner or later I would go looking for her and he felt our arrival on the island thanks to the incredible power that the God Heimdallr has bestowed on him, which allows not only him but also other warriors of that Clan, to see far beyond their own field of vision" Dag said, looking Kjell in the eye. 

He approached Dag, never looking away, positioning himself a few inches from his face, to see if his words were true or he was inventing everything.

"The real reason Sondre wanted to kill me was my power. Freydis can confirm to you that the dark wizard had long dedicated himself to the worship of the Xis and intended to sacrifice me before them to gain my powers" Dag continued, his eyes expressing sincerity.

"And would it work?" 

"Uhm?" 

Dag was astonished by that question. 

"I mean... would he really get your powers in that way?" Kjell continued, who seemed particularly curious about the details. 

"Why all this interest in my powers, Master Kjell? I thought I was safe here" Dag said, as he approached his forehead, snorting from his nose in defiance. 

"I believe that my colleague means that, like Sondre, other warriors may also be aware of your powers and may wish for the same thing. If this were to happen, this means that not only you but also all the people close to you would be in constant danger..." Sander exclaimed, standing in the middle of the two quarrels and moving them away from each other by placing his hands on their breasts.

Gridd also stepped forward, smelling a brawl in the air: Dag and Kjell didn't seem to get along very well, from the very first moment they met.

"This could be a problem, yeah... but there are much more serious problems to solve at the moment!" 

An unknown female voice interrupted the speech in the room.

A very beautiful woman, with light eyes and long, loose, blonde hair, climbed the stairs and burst into the room, dragging behind her a blood-soaked cloth sack, the trail of which smeared almost the entire floor.

"Ellen! Where have you been? I told you I'd introduce you to Master Dag, Master Gridd, and..."

"Yes, so much pleasure. Well, we just met, there's no time for this friendly nonsense" she replied, rudely interrupting Sander, who was trying to politely introduce Dag and his companions.