The Earl of Clegane

Lagertha and Brant made their way up the path to the palace's entrance, and they both had many people stare back at them. They walked with the doors opened to them and remained silent because they did not want to disturb the earl's work. They understood that the purpose of an earl is to look over his people and come up with alternative ways to defend his city against the night creatures. Every earl of any city and kingdom had a role to play in onslaughts and used everything they had to keep their city safe. Howlett was uncertain of what to make of the young hunter and the Wolf Queen as they were with him during the afternoon.

Exhausted, they walked behind the noble knight and had no clue of what to make of the earl. The earl's name is Argon, and he is the one who is in control of keeping Clegane as safe as possible against his enemies. Lagertha and Brant walked to where the earl is sitting so that they could speak to him about their business. Some knights gazed upon the demon hunters and understood they were not ordinary people to be seen around most places. The knights of Clegane were quiet, yet the things they thought about in their heads nearly persuaded them to share it with others.

One of Argon's advisors was a man who had no sympathy for mostly anybody who wields their blades against his leader. The man's name is Eric of Clegane.

"Where do you come from with such an attire? I've seen none of you before, yet it seems you've come here for glory, not shelter," he said.

"My name is Lagertha, and his name is Brant. If your master will meet with me, I will tell him my mission," she said. Eric understood that the Wolf Queen was a brand new kind of person who feared neither demon nor beast.

The advisor slowly walked up to Lagertha and Brant to see if they could prove their nature to him if they wished to assist the earl. The earl of Clegane was not somebody to be bothered by for various reasons, and one of them was because of this mysterious demon in their midst. Ever since that creature appeared in Clegane, the night has been twice as much dangerous as it ever needed to be. Eric had plenty of time to speak with the Wolf Queen to decide what he can do with her as she stays in the city.

"I will tell him about your message and quickly return with his answer," Eric said. In the presence of danger, the earl's advisor always reminded him of things that are worthy of being known; this time, it was about two demon slayers in their city.

Eric walked into the throne room before Lagertha and Brant could follow him and do anything else. In most cities, nobody could bother the earl or request him to do something for them; such was the purpose of most kings and queens.

"Lagertha, what do you suppose the earl is going to do if he finds out about you?" Brant asked.

"The best thing to do right now is just waiting to see what happens. Obviously, I can't refuse offers that leaders and earls give me," Lagertha answered.

"Ah, I never took you for the honor type. Not that there's anything wrong with that," he said.

"There never has been anything wrong with serving the earl at his greatest hour of need. A time like this has always made the worst part of every leader appear before themselves. Most of them spend an eternity blaming themselves for a crime they did not commit."

"Lagertha… I don't think you've ever fought a mythical beast before. Yeah, you literally just fought a demon with sorcery in his hands, but not one whose very existence is to steal the souls of all who stand in his way."

"I like my chances. There is no turning back from something like this. Sometimes, you just have to do it, even if it will cost you every bit of your strength. This is part of what I do. I don't know how long the earl wants to keep us here, but we have to do whatever he wants from us."

Lagertha never cared about being part of royalty, but she always had respect for every leader of cities and villages. She always swung her sword against the night creatures to protect the ones who care about their homes and people. Lagertha hoped Brant would do the same, but it would take some time for him to get used to fighting for earls. A few minutes later, Eric exits the throne room and meets back with Lagertha and Brant. It was rather quicker than most of the people who requested to appear before the earl, but there was no way to walk away from such a request.

"Lagertha. Brant. He'll be seeing you now," Eric said. He turns back around to take them to the earl so that they do nothing he would not do.

The Wolf Queen and the young hunter looked around and saw that some knights were gazing at the way they both appeared. They never knew that demon slayers could wear such armor that would rival the armor that common knights would wear. Lagertha and Brant walked up the steps that led them to the throne room; the earl had nothing else going on. The ones who served the earl would sometimes hold people back and tell them to walk away if the earl is too busy. But this was a case where the city was at its greatest time of need, and further casualties would damage the city's reputation.

Lagertha and Brant enter the throne room with no actual idea of what to make of the earl and his servants. They both had this aura about them that made them untrustworthy in most demon hunters. All of them despised the demon hunters and the ones who walked in the night because they believed they served the night despite having hatred for the demons. Lagertha and Brant had plenty of reason to be awake and ready for the earl to listen to their reasons for being in his city.

The earl's name is Argon of Clegane. He arose from his throne to see if he could earn the demon slayers' trust; he admired those who hunt demons and defend their people. Argon walked to Lagertha and Brant to speak with them about this magical beast, yet some of his advisors turned around and whispered some things to each other.

Argon spoke to Lagertha, saying, "They call you the queen of the wolves. They say you are the Wolf Queen. I've heard stories that you have brought demon kings down from their thrones and driven the great evil away from a bunch of kingdoms. I've also heard that you are worthy to be feared amongst all who serve the night. No matter what my scholars think, you will always be welcomed into my city."

Then Lagertha answered him and said, "I've always returned from onslaughts with the blood of my enemies stained on my blade. Your leaders and fellow knights hold you in high esteem. They fight and give their lives to protect their people and defend their cities. But I have no home, no city, and nobody to look up to. I come here only to swear to you and your followers that I will drive your monster out of this kingdom. I do so only to let you continue your leadership upon your city."

What Lagertha said about herself was true; she would do anything to keep every nation of the world safe from the night creatures. She also swore she would restore every kingdom she could find by hunting down every demon king and killing all of them. It would cost a lot of strength fighting them alone, but Brant was with her to assist her on her path to end this nightmare. Argon walks even closer to the Wolf Queen to see that her blade was much more powerful than any blade he has ever seen. He walked towards her to make a bold statement that might convince her to be a citizen of Clegane.

Argon continued speaking with Lagertha, saying, "You have come here to defend us. Then you will know and understand the name of this creature. They call him Mundis, a creature who exists to serve. Created by the magic of King Mephiles, his body protects him against all kinds of swords a commoner would use… that was proven to me for a long time. Many times men have come here, sat at my banquet table, drank my ale, and claimed that they would stop Mundis, and every time the walls of my city wound up covered in their blood. Now it is your turn to sit at my table."