50 Fortress City (2)

"In my old settlement, I traded several times with the giants, Magnar, so I know the places where they settle."

Lopt explained looking at Oswin.

"As far as I know, the giants do not live in one place, and they move constantly."

Zafar asked with a frown.

In his youth, he had the misfortune of encountering a giantess while on his way to a village to get his wife. Although with luck, ingenuity, and the help of the gods, he managed to kill her before she could kill him.

"It is like this with most of the giants segregated throughout their territory, but there is one settlement, with old houses made of giant rocks, where many giants gather, especially during the winter, a time when they hibernate."

Oswin raised an eyebrow at the information, he had never seen a giant, let alone a city of stone where they resided.

"A city of giants? I've never heard of such a thing."

Ham, who was eating a rabbit leg dipped in mushroom sauce, said with a dubious look.

He had lived a long life and had heard all the legends existing on this side of the great wall, and yet he never heard such a thing.

"I doubt very much that people foreign to our settlement know of this, the city of the giants is located in the center of their territory. No man could reach it, and get out alive."

Lopt showed for the first time a face of pride as he spoke.

"But you did it, how did you accomplish such a thing?"

Oswin asked as he watched the old man with narrowed eyes.

"When I was young, me and my brother ventured into the lands of the giants seeking glory, we were young and foolish. We made it past many giants, all the way to the city, though we were eventually caught."

Different emotions showed on Lopt's old face as he spoke.

"We were not killed immediately but were brought before an old giant. I was so frightened that I almost soiled my pants when all the giants surrounded us, but my brother was always quick-witted, offering a Wineskin to the giant as an offering, which we had stolen from the clan. The giant was very pleased with the taste of the wine, and let us leave giving us gifts. After that we took several clan members with us as we traded with the giants, becoming the leaders of the clan for our accomplishments of being friends with the giants, it has been many years since I visited old Mag..."

Blake had heard the story a dozen times while in the second settlement, he probed into every detail of Lopt's journey, to find out if what he was saying was a lie, but concluded finally that he was telling the truth, as he questioned other members of Lopt's settlement.

He also regretted executing that old man who had refused to join the black axe tribe, that old man he had killed by cutting off his head, for he was Lopt's brother and the person who knew the most about the giants.

"You have piqued my curiosity, sit down and tell me more about your travels and the giants!"

Oswin, with a chuckle, after hearing the whole story, invited old Lopt to join the celebration, while everyone listened to his anecdotes.

Blake watched as Dean got up from the table to go to one of the huts, soon after he came back walking along with Meha, and a child in his arms.

"Father, here's my son, I wanted you to see him."

Wymond stood up quickly, carrying his grandson in his arms, while everyone at the table shouted as they saw the tears in the warrior's eyes.

"Well done lad, losing a leg didn't stop you at all!"

Oswin shouted as he raised his glass and toasted Dean again.

"He has been kissed by the gods, just like his mother, you are lucky!"

Meha smiled proudly listening to Oswin's praise.

"It took him a whole day and night to be born, I was so worried about that little guy, but the gods finally blessed him!"

Ham said, nodding to Oswin.

"Does he have a name yet?"

Oswin asked again, his cheeks were completely flushed from the wine.

Although there used to be a custom of naming children after they turned a couple of years old, with the growth of the black axe tribe, there were already parents naming their children a few months after they were born.

"Funny you should ask, Magnar, since we named him Oswin, after him."

Oswin was surprised to learn such a thing, no child of the tribe had ever been named in his honor until now, but soon after he laughed.

"So be it, he will grow up to become a better warrior than I am now, and protect the black axe tribe for the next generation!"

Oswin stood up, placing his hand on the boy's head as he spoke, all the warriors of the tribe began to cheer Oswin's name.

"Where is Benton?"

Dean asked with a frown.

"I ordered him to check the goods and the wagons, he told me all the fun they had while I was gone."

Blake, who was sitting quietly watching the celebration, spoke up looking at Dean.

"I see... Well, that's too bad, but then I'll be the one to break the news."

A bead of sweat trickled down Dean's forehead as he walked off again, heading towards another hut. Soon after he came in with Sagara, who also had a child in her arms.

"And Benton? I didn't want to go out to wait for him, but he's still not coming."

"He's busy, introduce the child to the Magnar."

Sagara walked to stand next to Meha, and Oswin also gave his blessing to the child, who, unlike little Oswin, had completely black hair.

"I told you, I would give Benton a son."

Sagara spoke looking at Blake, and the latter replied with a slight nod.

"Congratulations to both of you, what's his name?"

Blake replied with a slight smile, he was pleased to learn that his tribal brothers had had their first child, and he figured that if Dean had already named his firstborn, Benton would too.

"Benton wanted to break the news, but since he's not here I'll be the one to do it, he was named Blake, after young Magnar."

Ham, Zafar, Dean, and Wren looked at Blake with narrowed eyes as they told him the news, and even Oswin opened his mouth a little at Sagara's words, for Blake, though respected within the tribe, was still greatly feared because of his strange physique, he never thought the time would come where he would receive such an honor.

"Oh... thank you."

Blake, as if out of a reflex of embarrassment, put his hand to his head and lowered his gaze, not knowing exactly what to reply.

"Come here boy, they named their son after you, the same name my father bore, give the little boy your blessing!"

Oswin, between guffaws, shouted for Blake to come closer.

"May he grow strong, may he never encounter hardship, and may his life be filled with glory..."

Blake placed a gloved hand on the little boy's head, and all the warriors of the tribe began to cheer his name.

Blake inwardly thought that, if his tribal brothers had gotten to the point of placing his name on their sons, he should be doing a good job of guiding them.

"BRING MORE WINE, WE MUST CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF OSWIN SON OF DEAN, AND BLAKE SON OF BENTON!"

The Banquet went on for several hours after that, as the warriors ate, drank, and sang.

Three days later, when the warriors had rested, the group set out again, this time for Thenn.

In those 3 days, Blake made enough ice sheets for Benton to build 3 large greenhouses, as the second settlement could not miss any opportunity to produce food.

Blake also inspected all the buildings, leaving orders for their improvement or maintenance.

The caravan had been joined by Lopt and Zafar with 50 warriors, who would help with the transport of goods to Thenn and back, allowing the main group to march directly into the lands of the giants after leaving the Frostfangs.

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Hi guys!

Well, today is exactly 1 month since I started writing this fic, and I think the goal of daily publications was met, although I must admit it was quite difficult, as there were days when I did not want to write, and days where I did not know what to write, but again, thanks for the support for this month in which we managed to publish 50 chapters, maybe next month will be less or more, but hopefully at least they will continue to be published regularly!

I also created a patreon today, for those who want to support this fic, although there are still no advanced chapters, I'm publishing the fic from the beginning, but correcting mistakes, adding things I forgot, and I will add extra material about characters or the constructions of the black axe tribe.

patreon.com/papudepapus