By the time they got back down to the village Markas was walking by himself though Einar was keeping a close eye on him. The town was congested with people moving in every direction, Einar grabbed Markas’ arm after almost losing him in the crowd. They walked toward the center of town to find the Keeper to see if he knew anything about what happened to Markas. Instead they ran into someone Einar was hoping to avoid.

Helgrinn was a bear of a woman, she was also Einar’s boss. As Captain of the Guard, Einar had been placed under her apprenticeship this time last year. Helgrinn didn’t like Einar much. She pushed a piece of her shoulder length blonde hair out of her eyes and stared at the boys. “Well well well, where have you been cadet? Wandering around the woods avoiding your morning duties?” her tone was hard.

             Einar’s usual confident stance shrunk in the face of his superior officer. “No not at all, Markas and I watched the eclipse from the cliff top every year.”

She leant down, almost doubling over and brought her face within an inch of Einar’s. “I don’t care what you do ‘every year.’ You’re not children anymore, you both have jobs to do. Cadet you’re to go clean the wash rooms of the barracks and Markas, I am to escort you to the Keeper, he has been looking for you all morning.”

Einar looked to protest such a disgusting job, “You have something to add cadet?”

“No sir.” He saluted and walked off patting Markas on the shoulder as he walked by.

As Einar left, head hanging at the thought of what awaits him at the barracks, Helgrinn turned to Markas her face softened, “That kid is a good soldier and a skilled warrior, he just needs to learn discipline.”

“Come along young master, the Keeper is expecting you.” She took Markas’ arm and lead him through the crowd of people.

The Keeper’s house was in the second ring from the gate. Helgrinn lead Markas right to the front door, “Well, my job is done, give my regards to your master, I need to go check on Einar and make sure he’s not getting into anymore trouble.”

Markas chuckled, “I’m pretty sure he’ll be trying his hardest to.”

Helgrinn sighed, “More than likely.”

Markas gave Helgrinn a salute similar to the one Einar had given earlier but no where near as refined, “Good day commander.”

“Good day Markas.” Helgrinn smiled, spun on the balls of her feet and walked off.

Markas entered the Keeper’s house.  The house was dark, dust was settled on every surface. “Master?” Markas called into the darkness as he entered and closed the door behind him. Markas began to walk around the room, lighting candles as he went, “Helgrinn said you wanted to see me?”

A voice in the darkness called back “Yes yes calm down my boy.” There was a thump and a door opened violently kicking up the dust that had been there too long. “Blasted door, who put that there.” The Keeper stumped into the room shaking and rubbing his head completely lost in thought. He was an old man, the tan robe of his station gave the appearance of frailty though he had no trouble getting around, his wispy white hair and beard made him look older than he was. He occasionally spoke to himself as if trapped in his own world, Markas found it rather amusing. Rubbing his face he turned and looked at Markas eyes bulging with surprise, “Markas! Just who I wanted to see,” he began shuffling round the room putting out the candles Markas had just lit. “No time for candles my boy we have been summoned.”

Markas raised an eyebrow, “Summoned?”

“Yes yes summoned, our Jarl has fallen quite ill,” he began rummaging around the room putting seemingly random objects into a pack.

“But what about the ceremony?” Markas inquired.

“No need to fret my boy, we’ll be back in plenty of time.” The Keeper tossed his pack to Markas who caught it awkwardly, it was heavy and clanged when he slung it over his shoulder. They were almost out the front door when the Keeper turned to Markas and stared directly into his eyes, “Wait where are the horses?” he grabbed the pack off Markas and peered inside and began moving things around. “No, they’re outside,” he pushed the pack back into Markas’ arms and flew out the door with the energy and agility of a small child to where Helgrinn was waiting with two horses. “Ah young miss, may I please relieve you of your companions.”

Helgrinn smiled, she too found the old man humorous, “Why of course good sir.” Helgrinn lept off the pale mare she was riding as the Keeper shuffled over to her. She grabbed him with both hands around the waist and hoisted him up onto the horse.

The Keeper was stroking his horse’s neck as Markas mounted his chestnut mare. “Come on boy, time is a wasting,” He turned his horse, kicked it’s sides and the horse sped off.

Markas sighed and did the same, sometimes being apprenticed to the Keeper was more like sitting a small child.

Markas and the Keeper galloped out of the village, past the farmlands and into the countryside before they slowed the horse down to a quick trot. Markas, no longer holding on the reins for dear life relaxed a little bit in the saddle, “Do you know what is wrong with the Jarl?” He asked the Keeper, “Jarl Skjallarson has been ill with a fever for several weeks now. It must have turned for the worst if his physicians have put aside their pride and called me in.” The Keeper loved to complain about the doctors at the Jarl’s keep, calling them anything from ‘pale imitators’ to ‘headless ducks’.