Chương 370: 9.2

John was not used to feeling so short. In Viznove he was taller than most, only the largest men were able to meet his eyes on even ground. In Ouenetoia he easily stood head and shoulders over almost everyone, except those few strangers that shared a look that the locals said was 'northern'. It was a natural and expected fact of the world that John was tall. So much that the crew joked about him being little for all the absurdity of it.

Bruiser was especially prone to the teasing, grinning as she called him 'little john', even if you could only tell from the crinkle in her eyes and the sound of her voice. But here on this trade caravan, in the capital of Magarska he found himself feeling small. Not only small but absolutely tiny, like a toddling child. Normally a treasure as overladen as theirs would be insultingly under-guarded if watched by just two men and John.

But most guards were not wider at the shoulder then John was tall and more than twice that from their wide feet to their somehow disproportionately small heads. The rest of the crew and the other hired guards were watching the far sides of the wagons more carefully of course. But here outside the building where the actual chests of gold and silver had been carried was the riskiest concentration of wealth. So it was where the guard needed to be strongest. John was a strong man, a big man.

But the two ogres with skin the color of weathered copper towered over him like he was a child! The belt buckles holding up the skirts of their armor stood even with John's eyes! He was standing guard with the caravan. As was the job. As had been the job for days on days now. It still seemed almost unnatural! Even seasons of travel on the road doing it, John still felt mighty odd to be guarding so much treasure for travelers instead of relieving them of it.

Until he remembered some of that gold and silver was Robin's and the crew's of course! Such a strange thing being proper peddling merchants! Or at least 'mercenaries' and 'partners' of such. Apparently it would pay so much better than simple theft. Still felt wrong somehow. Even more unnatural than that, however, was standing there trying not to stare at the giant's groins who stood with an equally ready poise across from him.

Supposedly doing the same job as John on behalf of the High Kingdom of Magarska and the guest which John and the master merchant were talking too indoors. At least it was getting cooler than it had been for most of the journey into the east. Even as the sun crawled towards noon. Except for the biting chill of the vault-pass John had felt like he was sweltering every afternoon so far. It supposedly just turned winter, but John didn't believe it. This was at best an early pea season's weather.

Not the cold past autumn. But what did John know? Not much of anything he felt like these days. Hardly anyone here spoke any language he could make sense of. He was maybe almost able to pass for a particularly stupid child in the words they spoke in Ouenetoia. But those words were far from common among anyone but the trade caravan. The trade master of the 'venture' had warned them not to speak 'ridgevaulic' once they crossed into the dancian vault. And what an astounding thing that was! To be in Magarska!

And see that despite having great huge giants for guards and a surprising number of hounds that stood on two legs and seemed more or less to speak, dress and act like men, it was not all that different from Viznove. If you ignored the strange language and look of them, the people were much like anywhere he'd seen.

But John had not heard the giants speak anything like what the trade master spoke, and the tone in Robin's voice when he'd insisted that the crew listen to the warning about speaking the language of viznove and the rest of their home vault rang in his ears. Still there was one other tongue he and the crew knew to a passing degree. Him more then the others, supposedly it was John's actual mother tongue. Although he'd mostly just muttered it with the crew as a secret shared among themselves since his father died.

Still, who knew? His dad once spoke of there being giants in the homeland. So with a cough John tried to drag clarity to his voice and memory as he spoke the Saezon tongue." Hail! Do you know the words of my fathers?!" Which caught the two verdigris (the trade master's word!) skinned giants with prominent teeth jutting from the sides of their mouths by surprise. But then after a furrowed brow of concentration the one on the right squatted down, like an adult might to speak to a child.

The metal of his many links of scale armor clamoring with the motion. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report." I speak small the words of the north sea riders, hail to you son of the sword. You are far from shores that have known your fathers boots." John took a moment to decipher the strange flowing way the giant spoke his words. The way the voice rumbled like a grinding stone with the scale of him.

But there were familiar words, old words like his father once spoke, and more importantly sang." My father's father's father was a son of the sword. But I did not know the sea until just this year. You speak the words of the sword! Have you seen the shores of my fathers? I have heard tale of jotun in its mountains." The giant rumbled to his companion and they both shared a chuckle like rocks grinding against each other, before another deeply perplexed look followed and the man spoke slowly and carefully.

Working over the words with care." Nay, I am no jotun, though I have also heard the tales. Tall enough to even make me and my brothers small goes the songs. But I have stood together in arms with sons of the sword in my service! The High King has four hundred fierce northern warriors from your fatherland in his innermost guard." John nodded to that, considering the words carefully as the dust and cobwebs began to clear from his memory. The awkwardness of his tongue for the old words shedding as he spoke."

Well, thank the crow stars! I'd worried I'd have no one to speak to while the leader of my band talks of trade. Are there any good places to drink? You are standing here often?" The giant laughed with a good nature and passed a few words to his companion before rising back up to stand. Shifting into the solid posture that mirrored John's own careful readiness for action. It was so strange how much guarding goods had similarity to waiting to steal them." Oh yes! Son of a son of a son of the sword!

There is a good house of wine, spirits and women not far! Just outside the temple walls! Is the business between your band and lord Orseolo expected to be long?" John sighed heavily and glanced at the building behind him, he'd caught enough and been told more about their contact in the Magarskan Capital. An exiled 'doge' of Ouenetoia, family to the guild master that had arranged their meeting to the trade master. John thought the whole affair sounded a lot like a head man position from a village.

Or maybe the strange matter of how Light's End did things with their mayors. But also somehow even richer and more noble at the same time? Important enough that even when he was 'driven from the city' he still could simply live in comfort in the Capital of Viznove's oldest rival power? And of course more importantly had contacts in the court which could secure for the 'venture' the prize they intended to purchase. John looked back up to the giants, having to shade his eyes from the late morning sun."

Oh I expect from the word it will be quite some time today and days after. All the way from Ouenetoia and Old cantor we came for what Otto Orseolo is supposed to have on offer." The words were passed through one language to another before both giants nodded." A long, long road that, but what could the High King's guest offer for such a journey?"

John was about to answer, to fill the time like he would with anyone else waiting for a mark to come around when there was a great noise from beyond the walls of the courtyard the caravan's many wagons had been circled in. Space enough for the throngs of men, traders and beasts fit for the venture. The commotion drew the peering gaze of the two giants that towered over all others. But there was no tension to their vast frames. Just idle curiosity. It sounded like a festival really.

The one who did not speak Saezon said something to the other, and after a moment he relayed the words down to John." Today is a day of many honorable and legendary arrivals. Be glad the High King's Guest of Ouenetoia is quartered here in the southern courtyard. I'm certainly glad that I'm here on watch instead of having to welcome the High King's Guest." John blinked at that, the tone beneath the all encompassing rumble one of commiseration and relief." A guest for the High King? Who is it?"

The two giants shared a glance, before the one that could speak to John finally answered with incredulous wonder." You haven't heard? The conquering wurm, the doom of the north and an entire army of her black knights have come to Terminapolis! Be glad you won't have to meet her." John struggled, surely that was just his addled childlike grasp of his mother tongue. That could not be what he heard." A-a conquering wurm?!" The giant of a man gave John a look of pity before nodding." Your band did not know?

It has been the talk of the city for over ten days, the Conquering Wurm, who rules the black hearted fiends of Viznove has come to Terminopolis." John could barely stutter, he froze in terror, holding himself rigid." We camped outside the city last night and came here at first light." Every force of his will needed to keep him from rushing into the building to tell Robin. He'd already been scolded for what he did wrong last time. But his spine trembled.

His grip shook on the spear; he was still only somewhat comfortable wielding. What was the Countess of Viznove doing in the Capital of Magarska?! The two giants nodded to him, and John could only return it in bewilderment; all three men united in a camaraderie with what the heavens held store for simple men trying to make their way in the world." Rotten luck for you to have business here this season then oh fortune favored son of the sword."