Chapter 48:Journey to Kovir

Brouver looked toward August with mixed emotions on his face. It was a conflicting decision that he had to take in order to get what he wanted, but at the same time, it was not Witcher's fault. He only showed him the way.

"You were right, Witcher," said Brouver with a sigh.

August nodded his head and left Brouver with his wife alone for a while.

It took them a few hours before August was invited back to the hall and welcomed by an old dwarf with a beaming smile on his face. He was eating and drinking, while there was his wife was next to him.

August walked ahead and took a seat close to the man waiting for a dwarf to speak.

"I'm no coward, Witcher. I will hold the deal that was promised by me. So now tell me what you want? Money? Gnomes, masterpieces? Something in particular?" inquired Brouver with curiosity. August slightly surprised him. Compared to others, he was slightly different.

"I need blood," said August

"Huh? What do you mean by you need blood?" Inquired Brouver, being a bit confused.

"I need 4 different blood from different species," explained August

"Why?" asked Brouver

August replied shortly, not doweling into explanations "Curse"

Brouver didn't think long before replying, "So that how it is? Alright, I can provide you with that. But I think this is too less of a prize for the job you have done. Ask for something else!"

August thought of what he can actually benefit from. There are a lot of requests he could have received from them in the future. So there is a lack of options in this field.

"I want to be a friend of Mahakam," requested August.

Brouver's face changed to a confused one, and he inquired, "Are you sure? This is not the only benefit, you know that? If Mahakam is in danger, you will also be involved in the trouble that our nation is facing."

With a nod, August stared at Brouver.

"Alright, I was expecting to hear money or something else, but you choose something that comes with not only benefits. That's it?" inquired Brouver.

"Yes"

Stroking his beard, Brouver said, "This will make me look like I don't reward you with a lot. Here" He took a small leather pouch from his belt and passed it to August.

"It is not much, but there are 500 Orens that might help you in travels," said Brouver

He thought for a second and said, "You did a lot for me and this city. Maybe your acts and words were able to prevent our kingdom from splitting up in 2 in the future. I will be always pleased to see you here!" said Brouver, stretching his hand out for a handshake.

August shook his hand and went out of the building saying, "It was a pleasure having business with you"

Brouver smiled towards the back of August and said in a loud voice, "I will request to gather all the things that you need before tomorrow. Tomorrow you can come and pick them up"

…..

During his last day in Carbon, August did several things before leaving. He fully equipped himself and his horse for a long journey. He bought enough supplies to avoid always hunting.

He bought a saddle for the horse and also had luck in buying some arrows that had silver tips for safety when he need to fight someone who 'likes' the taste of silver.

August is set on the path to the next destination which is Kovir and Povis, towards the city of Lan Exeter. One of the capitals of the richest land on the continent. There was some gossip that August overheard about something happening in the mountains that they dig. There was a rumour that there is a winter rally gathering on some kind of monster.

August left Mahakan on 1194 in September.

…..

August travelled through deep forests, plain fields, and mountain ranges. Through heavy rain, through burning sun, slowly being closer and closer to his destination.

It took him a month of time to reach the border of the country named Kovir and Povis. He entered a deep forest, beyond which laid a capital, but just before that he will have to walk across this forest.

Going through high bushes and long ago abandoned paths, August walked into somewhere an open area. It was getting late and Moon was getting quite tired from all day's travels.

August took a break in this area, but before he could do anything, he heard a faint sound coming from somewhere. It didn't sound like anything like a battle or argument. No, it sounded more like a singing sound.

August decided to check what was going on there and went towards the sound, that he was slowly approaching, silently trying not to attract any attention.

The closer he went, the louder the sounds were and then it become more clear to August that they were singing a song, but the language was not the same as common speech. No, it more sounded like a song on Elder Speech.

August proceed to arrive closer and saw a lot of women and men that were dressed in somewhat strange clothes. All of them were in some kind of trance singing a song.

August never encountered those kinds of people just yet, and to better be safe than sorry, he went ahead and took one of them as a hostage, making almost no sound.

Holding the woman by the throat, August said in a hoarse voice, "Who are you?"

The eyes of all of them snapped open as they looked towards August without fear or anything of that kind. What August found strange, except for their calm attitude as well, was an enormous tree that looked too contrasting. It was unnaturally big and emitted some kind of suspicious aura.

All the strangers were calm. They didn't panic or showed fear. One of the Elder Man cleared his throat. "Hello, stranger! Would you be so kind releasing her, spilling no blood?"

August observed his surroundings, finding no threat coming from anyone or seeing any kind of trap from any side. He let go of the woman and repeated his question.

"Who are you?"

The man deed a deep bow before replying, " I thank you for not spilling blood on this sacred ground"

The man gestured for August to take a seat nearby to which August did as the man asked.

When they were seated and August wanted to ask the same question for the third time when the man replied before August could ask anything.

"Patience, young man, let us finish our ritual and we will talk," said a man in a calm voice and closed his eyes like everyone around August.

"Caelm Caed

Gaidh glaemm

Salah shaent

Wedd'y chaerme

Caedmil cerbin aen aenye

A'taeghane aen dhu

Craesa coram dreich dice esseath"

August had no way of knowing what they were singing about, but it sounded somewhat suspicious. But he washed this feeling off and waited until they finished. It took some time, but eventually, they were done and August approached the man to whom he had already spoken.

/////

So how do you like the story so far, I think this journey will be so far the longest in terms of chapters and there will a lot of interesting interactions.

If you enjoy the story so far, consider supporting it with your comment/review/ power stones. Your support is a motivation for me to release more chapters for you.

Thanks for reading.