Ice Rock City.
In an ordinary tavern in the west of the city, the atmosphere was warm and cheerful.
The wooden tables and chairs were randomly moved around the hall, and the vacant space in the middle became a simple dance floor. The enthusiastic and heroic northerners were showing off their crappy dance moves to their heart's content, drinking the spicy and refreshing barley wine.
The owner of the tavern directed several attendants to bring out all kinds of food and drinks from the bar, and the flames burning in the fireplace dispelled the chill of early spring.
Ding dong—
Amid the ringing of the doorbell, a young man in purple clothes and a red bonnet walked into the tavern.
Over his shoulders hangs a harp, the favorite instrument of bards.
When everyone in the tavern saw the young man, they immediately cheered, and they seemed to be very familiar with him.
A drinker shouted: "Dear Mr. Bard! What story are you going to tell us today?"
The young bard took off his red bonnet, raised his chin, and walked to the middle of the dance floor with a haughty face. He said reservedly, "I have a good story, but do you have any good wine worthy of it?"
"Why is there no good wine!" Everyone booed and looked at the tavern owner behind the bar.
The tavern owner shook his head helplessly, reluctantly took out a bottle of beautifully packaged red wine, and shouted: "Three silver coins! Remember to help him pay the bill!"
"You know, our rewards have always been generous!"
"But the story must be wonderful, otherwise I won't pay for it!"
"Hurry up, hurry up, what good story is there today?"
…
Amid the urging voices of the crowd, the bard took the wine handed by the tavern owner unhurriedly, raised his head and took a sip, then closed his eyes in enjoyment.
He didn't open his eyes again until everyone's condemnation became more intense, as if he was still savoring the taste of the wine, he shook his head and fiddled with the harp in his hand.
Amidst the crisp sound of the piano, the tavern gradually became quiet, only the crackling of the charcoal in the fireplace.
The drinkers took their seats one after another, waiting patiently for the bard's performance.
"Today, I will bring you the story of Viscount Angelet's expedition to the troll empire."
"Hey, wait!" A drinker interrupted immediately, "We have heard the story of Lord Viscount's expedition to the troll empire for many times in the past few days, can you have something new?"
"Yes, yes! Otherwise, don't blame us for not paying for your drinks!"
Hearing the crowd's clamor, the bard snorted impatiently and said, "Of course I won't tell you what you all know."
"Then what are you going to say?"
"Today I'm going to tell the story of how Viscount Angelet killed the troll emperor. Do you want to hear it?"
"Listen, listen, listen!"
Everyone fell silent immediately.
Although the deeds of Colin's expedition to the troll empire have spread throughout the streets and alleys of Ice Rock City, some details have not been disclosed. At this time, the bard actually said that he knew the details of the most dramatic scene in this expedition. Of course everyone was interested in the details.
The bard coughed a few times, plucked the strings again, and began to chant:
"It was a snowy morning,
Outside the city of the Troll King, the black cavalry army is overwhelming.
Evil trolls hide behind the decaying royal city,
Dare not face the edge of the black cavalry.
The incarnation of justice, the heroic and invincible Viscount Angelet,
Invite the cowardly troll emperor to a duel... ”
"Duel?" A voice suddenly interrupted the bard, "How did I hear that Viscount Angelet invited the Troll Emperor for a meeting?"
"Huh?" The bard frowned suddenly, "Who interrupted me?"
Everyone also followed the prestige and saw two middle-aged men sitting opposite each other in the corner.
Under the dim candlelight, their faces could not be seen clearly, but their voices were very strange.
"Hey, you two foreigners who don't understand the rules, you are not welcome here."
The crowd suddenly clamored, trying to drive away the two foreigners who disturbed them listening to the story.
The tavern owner frowned and walked over, just about to reprimand, but after seeing the rather luxurious clothes on the other party, his tone softened a lot:
"Sorry, two, please leave as soon as possible, I don't want to cause trouble."
The two foreigners looked at each other and smiled, and didn't make things difficult for the tavern owner. After throwing out a few silver coins, they got up and walked out.
The tavern owner picked up the silver coin and sighed in his heart—
What a generous guest.
So, he turned his head and reprimanded the drinkers angrily: "You bastards just drove away two big customers!"
Naturally, the drinkers smiled again, expressing that they would definitely take care of the tavern owner's business, and advised him not to bother with those two foreigners.
…
After leaving the tavern, the younger one among the outsiders said to his companion, "My lord, I heard a new version."
"That's right." The older outsider laughed, "Hehe, there are already five or six versions of the story about how Viscount Angelet killed the Troll Emperor.
Some said they were killed during a duel, some said they were killed in a sudden attack during the meeting, some said they were killed in a sneak attack after the meeting, and some said they were killed by black cavalry pretending to be troll captives... "
"I always feel that someone is deliberately spreading these different versions, and the purpose is probably to hide the real process."
"But why do you want to do this? Killing the troll emperor is such a glorious thing, why hide the specific details?"
"Perhaps, the method Viscount Angelet really used...is a bit despicable."
"Maybe. But in battle on the battlefield, there is nothing that can be used to the extreme, so how can there be anything despicable or not despicable."
"Viscount Angelet is still young after all, I'm afraid he still wants to establish a glorious image for himself."
"Hehe, young..." The older foreigner shook his head, not knowing what he was denying, "Let's go, after so many days of wandering around Ice Rock City, it's time to meet that magical Viscount Angelet .”
"Yes, my lord."
…
The two strangers came all the way to the Red Castle.
It was dark at this time, and the guards in front of the castle stopped their way and asked, "Who are you?"
The older stranger shook off his cloak, revealing the golden lion badge on his chest.
The guard's eyes widened immediately: "You, you are the envoy of the Saint Hilde family?"
"You don't know me?" The stranger took two steps forward, letting the light of the torch illuminate his face.
The guards looked carefully for a while, and they all felt that this person looked familiar.
Suddenly, a guard finally remembered, and exclaimed: "Saint... Your Excellency the Duke of St. Hilde! It's really you! Welcome... welcome to the Red Castle!"
"Your Excellency?" The rest of the guards just woke up from a dream, and hurriedly bowed to salute.
The Duke of St. Hilde smiled and waved his hands, and said, "Where is Colin? If you haven't slept yet, let him come to see me."
"Yes, yes!" The guards hurriedly welcomed the Duke of St. Hilde into the Red Castle, and at the same time, one of them rushed to the lord's bedroom in a hurry.
The Duke of the North came to Ice Rock City so quietly.
(end of this chapter)