Egill Skallagrímsson appears



Egill Skallagrímsson appears

I barely noticed the old man that walked in the door with the first morning light. It seemed Uncle Hogun did not slide the bolt to lock the door, but he rarely did anyway. I sighed and expelled these thoughts. I could not be a criminal if I wanted to join the Union fleet.

“Go home old man it is way too early and we are not open. All rooms are booked.”

He was deeply shrouded in a hooded Fangsnapper-fur coat and despite the thick coat appeared thin. He walked supported by a walking stick and his entire body was bending forward. I did not see much of his face but a few whisks of gray hair and a sharply hooked nose that stock past the furred brim of his hood. It was still Short Summer so I wondered why anyone would dress in a fur coat like at this time of year. He looked around and noticed me. Now I could see his face. It was the face of an old man deeply wrinkled, his chin covered by a thin ragged looking beard of gray yellowish shade. His eyes had almost no color and had an enormous intensity to them. He reminded me instantly of the Ancient but it was not him. This man did not have the kind and warm twinkle in the eyes. His where cold as that of a fish.

He walked towards the table reserved for Hogun and his family and sat down, completely ignoring me “Young warrior. A nice strong tea be nice, with lots of honey and a good helping of Vodka .”

“We don’t serve guest that early and I don’t even know if we have tea.”

“Oh you do, you do!” Was his answer.

Before I could make it to the kitchen door, Uncle Hogun came out holding two steaming plates with breakfast. He saw the strange guest and said.” Odin’s blood. Egill Skallagrímsson. Is it really you?”

The old man pushed the hood back.” Of course, it is me.”

“I bring you some special tea right away. You still drink tea right?”

“I still do. Even at my age I still manage to hold a cup and drink tea.”

“So you are the teacher that is supposed to take Eric. I wondered who it would be; the Old Arguer was not specific.”