TRONDHEIM SAGEN: Earth Shattering

by Andreas Hennen

"I please forgive me, but in this condition I hope I can have a little sympathy!" Godwin answered, while the Long Sword was removing the last pieces of armour.

  Delia's voice could be heard coming from the next room, speaking loudly, where the playful chatter died, like a candle in the rain.

  "My Ladies, it would be best to leave the bathroom free," the royal niece's voice told the ladies playing in the pools.

  "Why, Healer?" asked a shrill voice.

  "In the next room where you undress, there is a King, waiting to clean himself," the young Delia kindly explained.

  "If a crowned head needs to take a bath, he will be happy to share the bathtub with us, rather than washing alone," answered a young and seductive voice, evoking thoughts of curves of her beautiful body in the two warriors.

  "Milady, the waiting knight in the next room has been injured, and speed could be crucial," Delia emphasized with extreme refinement.

  "Then you're just wasting time! Come on then, let him enter, there are two baths here just for the purpose," encouraged the first woman.

  "As you wish, aunt, but I warn you, he is accompanied by a peer!" replied Delia, quickly returning to the dressing room, where the two men were waiting.

  "My Lord, are you ready?" Delia asked.

  "But those women won't leave?" Godwin answered with a question.

  "No, Sire, they want to see how a King is made, the nasty pigs!" the young woman said without thinking, then she reddened, immediately after and asking forgiveness: "I apologize to you, my Kings, I should not have expressed myself in such a way. I certainly won’t do so again!"

  "If they are pigs, it must be admitted!" Holaf exclaimed, jokingly and succeeding in his intent make the girl smile.

  Godwin showed himself, coming out from behind the screen. Nature had been generous to the Lord of the South, giving him a body worthy of a pagan God. The young, red-faced and embarrassed Lady looked to the ground and pleaded:

  "Please, follow me, the sooner we clean the wound, the quicker we will be able to suture it.

  They entered the large royal bathroom, with the brave Holaf in front, with his hand on the pommel of his sword, as a precaution against any ambushes. But instead of seeing enemies they were stunned by the architectural beauty. Three large baths were set into the floor of the long room. The baths were of the same size, but of different depths. The first could boast only a few hand spans of water, while the other two were deep enough to cover the average woman. Between the baths there was a double row of slender green columns, separated by statues of extinct or mythological marine animals. These sculptures had details worked in gold. As well as beautifying the room they emitted jets of water, some from their mouths and some from their whale-spouts.

  A row of small half-circular windows with shaded windows gave insufficient light for the bathroom. The extra light came from several braziers, hanging from the ribs of the barrel vault. The ceiling began at floor level on the right, forming the vault and then descended down to the floor without a centimetre of vertical wall. The entire room was painted, divided into three large frescoes, depicting the three ages of man: childhood, adulthood and old age. At the back of the room, in an apse completely covered with gold leaf stood a statue of a woman with a cup in her hand from which gushed water.

  The room already held five guests, all noblewomen and maidens of the court. The two most modest middle-aged women hid, concealing themselves among the statues, while the three youngest and boldest sat by the pool, in provocative poses, which were not very appropriate for high-ranking ladies.

  At the sight of the naked ruler, intent on covering his parts with a cloth given to guests, they gushed bold comments, flowing even more than the water, with whispers and piercing giggles. Looks were cast by the subtle eyes of young girls, but Godwin, in love with just one woman, did not reciprocate, limiting himself to giving a general greeting with real courtesy to all the women. While Godwin was cleansing himself totally immersed in the tub with his head resting on the edge, Delia arrived, ready to inspect the wound with her fine hands and the rudimentary manners of a blacksmith. Prince Horos' blade, slipping on the glass of the dragon, had ended up tearing his forehead apart, causing a huge and gaping injury. This wound was e deep and wide running above his eyebrow and then descending almost detaching his left ear.

  "Lord of the South, you have been lucky! Your head is too hard! The finest blade could not make even a small hole!" the young Healer exclaimed.

  "Yes?" Godwin answered, uncertain whether the young Lady was pleased or not, but he cared little, distracted by the relaxing bath.

  "The bone is exposed, deeply scratched and the battered skin is in shreds, requiring cutting to avoid rotting. You'll have a notable scar," the girl explained competently.

  "Do what you must, my young rescuer, at the worst I'll cry out! As for the scar, it is not the first and will not be the last," commented Godwin smiling.

  Delia took her surgeon’s tools and began to lift, cut, cauterise and finally sew. The young woman's hands seemed firm and expert. She showed no hesitation. Delia did not show any disgust either for the abundant glowing blood or for the unpleasant smell of burnt meat, which by now filled the whole enormous bathing complex.

  "But how horrible!" one of the oldest women was disgusted, she exclaimed.

  "Did you have to come into this room to do your revolting work?" the other older Lady asked in an annoyed voice, as if they had not been shown proper respect.

  "My Ladies, the situation was explained to you, yet you have chosen to stay here in your bathroom, refusing to leave the complex. So why are you complaining?" Holaf answered, ready, and always reluctant to put up with petulant ladies of the palace, not even the few still admitted to the court of Trondheim.

  A young woman stood up shamelessly in all her youth and evident beauty approached Holaf, giving a deep bow she exclaimed:

  "My King, I know you, you are Holaf Erlingson, Lord of the North!

  The warrior without turning around, as if not to offend his absent wife, answered with astonished courtesy:

  "You tell the truth, my Lady. How does a young Lady know of an old Nordic King?"

  "I too am from the north, my King, I am Tyra Radzyvil, Princess of South Winter!" the young woman presented herself almost in a whisper to her King. The distinguished Northern Lord turned around to look at her in the face, doubly astonished.

  "You are therefore the youngest daughter of King Grigor, Lord of South Winter! The last time I saw you, you were a little girl. You played with my Sigrid in the halls of the Arkantorre."

  The girl smiled asking:

  "Tell me, my King, how is Sigrid? Did you marry her to a handsome prince?"

  "No, Princess, no prince and no King for Sigrid! It is her bone-headed father who is solely and totally to blame!" Godwin entered the discussion, while Delia was still complaining and tinkering with blunt objects around his head.

  "Don't talk! Do you want a light scar or a monstrosity on your head?" the young Healer warned.

  Holaf turned to the blonde princess:

  "My daughter is well, she hasn't married yet, most likely for the same reasons that Sire Godwin mentioned earlier," and he smiled before asking her a question: "What brings Your Grace so far from the lands of your birth?"

  "My father had a desire his heart to marry me to Prince Horos! Have you met him?" replied Tyra.

  Holaf stiffened up to those words and didn't know what to answer. He looked at Godwin hoping to receive help. But Godwin watched the scene with the only open eye he had, and was giving slight groans because of the pain of the being stitched.

  It was Delia who broke the silence and embarrassment of the King:

  "My Lady, do you love him, or are we only talking about yet another arranged marriage?"

  The girl from the north, not being shy at all, sat at the feet of the King of the North, calmly immersing her legs in the blood red water of without showing any disgust. She looked at Delia busy at her job and said:
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  "You know what kind of person your cousin is? He is not easy to understand, let alone to love!" She stopped and lowered her beautiful body into the bath, standing however on the opposite side from where Godwin was.

  "You are scandalous, it is inconceivable! Only hussies bathe with men!" an elderly Lady complained loudly from the adjacent bathtub. But the young woman, immersed in the red water, did not care and asked King Holaf:

  "My Lord, have I offended you with this?"

  "Of course not!" the Lord of the North answered even relieved, not having that firm and young body as a temptation in full sight.

  Then the young woman asked the same question of the Righteous, who said:

  "It is not problem, Your Grace! If my presence in this condition does not disgust you, this bath is as big as a room."

  Delia asked the young woman from the South Winter again:

  "My Lady, did I not hear your answer, do you or don’t you love my cousin?"

  Tyra immersed herself to the chin and said:

  "I came to this city willingly and with good intentions. I knew that I was about to leave my beloved family and the land that has been my home since childhood, but to be honest, and my father has always taught me to be honest, your cousin was not worth the trip.

  "Maybe you don't realize what you say, and if your statements have solid reasons, please tell me why you think this way," Delia asked remarkably nervous and distracted to the point of inflicting a strong tug on the wire, with which she was suturing the King of the South. Godwin shuddered with pain and complained:

  "Maybe, my Lord, it would be a good idea to postpone the discussion until later!"

  "No, no! I would like to know, what expectations the young Princess of South Winter had!" said Delia irritated.

  "My Lady, you wouldn't want to know what I know, believe me! In some cases it's better to remain in ignorance," Tyra answered, cryptically, before diving and resurfacing again, letting the red water flow along her face with its beautiful rounded features.

  The silence of the young woman made the great King suspicious. Now it was Holaf who kneeled beside the bathtub and the young girl, asking with a low voice as if in a confessional:

  "My little girl, has he raped you?"

  The girl answered the question, with a sweet and frightened look. Her eyes filled with tears and she began to sob quietly. Holaf with little tact, but driven by anger, asked again:

  "Is your father aware of this fact?"

  The girl did not answer, still barely holding back her tears, but the King needed a confirmation and insisted:

  "Tell me, King Grigor, your father, is aware of this evil deed?"

  "No, before now I was the only person who knew about it," one of the elderly women spoke. The experienced Lady had become fond of the young woman. She was very close to her heart so she rushed to her side as soon as Tyra began to cry.

  "Why on earth such a thing was permitted without punishment?" Holaf asked visibly nervous.

  "My Lord, calm yourselves, for you do not know what it is to live in the shadow of this fortress. To denounce the prince is impossible. It is too dangerous," the older woman replied, while she hugged the young woman at the poolside, consoling her.

  "What do you mean to say? Is it true that at court you don't feel free?" Delia asked, very curious but also biased.

  "Your uncle is a great King and a good man, but the same cannot be said for your cousin!" the old woman answered curtly, without fear, staring Delia in the face. Then she added:

  "I have healed the wounds of her body, but those of the soul are outside my limited abilities. If it were as easy to heal the soul as flesh, human nature would not be so wretched. And now you can send his golden murderers to collect me. What had to be said has been said!"

  Delia lowered her head and fell silent. She had finished treating Godwin, who without a word had gone to the next room and to dress. The Holaf was very shaken by what he had heard. He looked at the young woman and said to her:

  "Come with us, Princess of South Winter. We'll be heading for your home. If old Grigor, your father, has any complaints about this decision, I'll give him a kick and take you to Trondheim with me!"

  The girl put her hand over her eyes, and gave a joyous smile:

  "My King, would you really take me with you?"

  "Certainly! I will not allow any contradiction regarding my decision!" the mighty Lord of the North answered firmly.

  "King Holaf, the Prince of Kitan will never let her go! You don't know how many times I tried to send sweet Tyra home. Horos, with his father's support, has never allowed it," said the elderly Lady, who remained there hugging the girl.

  "I am the King of the Nordic Kings and I will not be denied in such a question. Moreover, thanks to the Lord of the South, Horos will not be able to cause any more damage," thundered Holaf without going into details, as it was clear that the guests in the royal bathrooms were unaware of the duel.

  Holaf stretched out his hand to the young woman. Tyra gave a kiss to her elderly patroness and ordered:

  "Come to my rooms, I need your help, I have so much to prepare." She turned around to the King, her face full of delight and took his hand. The King helped her to get up.

  The Lord of the North, addressing the elderly Lady, asked:

  "My Lady, I am very grateful to you for what you have done in to defend a daughter of the North. If you wish, and if it pleased Tyra, you would be welcome to accompany her to the north.

  The woman smiled, and looking at the princess who was jumping for joy, she said:

  "I have never seen anything of the north. It is said to be a magical land, an enchanting country."

  "Then it is decided, go and prepare yourselves, my Ladies, the journey will be very long, but before leaving, Sire Godwin and I must confer with the Lord of this castle."

  Holaf went to the next room, where Godwin and Delia were waiting. The King of the South had dressed and put on his armour as far as he was able. Holaf had to complete the task.

  "My dear, you look like new!" Holaf exclaimed to Godwin. The cynical Lord of the South answered:

  "The new things seem new to the observer, but their characteristics are very different! Later, the Righteous touched his bandage, placed over his left eye, and congratulated Delia:

  "My dear, you are a truly skilled Healer. I felt almost no pain under your care!"

  The girl leaned her back against the wall. She held her instruments in one hand and his blood-soaked tunic in the other. She answered in a flat and almost absent voice:

  "You're too kind. If you want, I'll wash your tunic to make you more presentable.

  Godwin accepted, thanking Delia. She was absorbed in her thoughts and seemed not to notice the two Kings waiting for her to guide them to the rooms where High and Armillus were waiting for them. It was Tyra with the cheerful manners of a happy young woman who aroused Delia from her thoughtful state.

  "My Lords, follow me!" exclaimed the royal niece as she set out.

  Godwin followed immediately as Holaf delayed, giving some final orders to the blonde northern girl:

  "Wait for us in the corridor of the hunters. As soon as we will have finished our business, we will leave.

  The princess, intent on dressing herself, leaned her head against the screen, and smiling, answered:

  "Certainly, my King!" Then she jumped up and added, "You're saving my life, you're a hero!"

  Holaf smiled and walked quickly to join Godwin.

  Chapter 8

  Stories for infants

  The atmosphere inside the small room could have been cut with a knife. It was the room where the Sovereign of Kitan hosted important people and discussed all the most important questions of the Kingdom. High and Armillus had not spent a pleasant time waiting for Righteous and Long Sword. Their cups had been repeatedly filled with red nectar and drained, but not a word was uttered by the elderly Sovereign. He made no accusation, not even a simple phrase to lighten the situation. In the room only t
he crackling of a fire lit in the beautiful corner fireplace made of green stone dared to interrupt the funereal silence. Sweet Delia came in. She was like a spring breeze for High who was clearly embarrassed. The God-Slayer leapt to his feet, sliding on the floor of pink marble noisily. He pushed away the heavy old seat with its dignified gilded inlays.

  "Your Grace, welcome!" High was pleased to see Delia, who gave a forced smiled and a half bow. She ran past the table to her uncle's side. He sat drowned in his melancholy mourning and only noticed her when she hugged him.

  "My dear, you made me jump, I was thinking!" The King said to her, gently.

  The girl answered with a question:

  "My King, my beloved uncle, is there anything I can do to sooth your pain?"

  "Nothing, my sweetest niece, a person who has caused his own evil situation cries only for himself!" said the King who in his heart blamed himself for many faults, which were the cause of all his current misfortune.

  Armillus had been a warrior since his youth, having passed from one battlefield to another. In maturity he became a treasurer and was often absent from home for very long periods. Little Horos grew up cared for by one Grey or another, but not everyone lived up to their role as educators, nor were they able to impose rules or have much authority.

  In his heart Armillus was aware he had been a good man, even though he had never been decorated with high-sounding nicknames like Godwin. The King of Kitan had never done anything dishonourable and had won more battles than he had lost. But he knew he had failed in only one thing, being a father. He had waited until he had left the battlefield to become a father and have an heir. The boy’s mother was his only love. Fate had blessed him and given him a firstborn son who was strong and healthy at birth. But Armillus’s great experience of war and the demanding work as curator of imperial affairs was of no use in raising a child. At the death of his beloved wife, all his duties distracted him to the point of blocking his mind. He saw only an adorable and beautiful child. Horos grew strong and valiant, the dream of every father for his children.

  Once again Delia brought the King back to reality: