We sailed by ship, and the further we got the colder it became. I wrapped myself inside warmest cloak that I could get and looked at the shore. We were swimming nearby half-isnd of Raksasar, towards northmen isles. Isles consisted of five isnds. Three middle sized, one rge and one small among them. At least we needed to reach closest one to us. It was middle sized eastern isnd and according to a map that Theodoric received from kidnappers, we were supposed to deliver ransom to one of settlements of northmen.

  But even swimming on fastest ship, which we could get, journey will take us weeks. And this journey was boring as hell.

  Three of us lived in a room barely big enough for us. There was nothing to do. Weather was cold and food was dried fish, dried fish and dried fish again.

  Someone approached me, and Theodoric stopped by my side.

  - Are you enjoying the view?

  - Not really. It was good during first days, but now there is only shore and forest, shore and forest. How long until we arrive?

  - Should be at least one week sailing near Rakshasar borders, and then ten or so days until we reach the settlement.

  - That's a long way, - I sighed.

  - Yes. But to be honest, I do enjoy the view and peaceful days. I do not know how you were able to spend several month in a dungeon at a time. I think, I would have gone mad there, and definitely I would not have survived there. Not in the ancient dungeons lower floors that is.

  I could understand that. I still remembered how scary and traumatizing where my first visits to the dungeon. Scariest thing were not the monsters, but complete darkness. Without my night vision I would stop visiting dungeon long ago. All my party members could see in the dark, and that was a blessing, which allowed as to conquer so many dungeons. Apart from our skills and magic that is.

  - I can understand your view, - I smiled: - But I do not think that I could live like that. Peacefully. World is too dangerous. I want to become stronger to survive, grew stronger, so I would be safe.

  - Yes. Many people think that way. Queen Elizabeth told me many times that a hero's duty is ensuring peace and safety for all the people of her kingdom.

  - Sounds like something that one man should not be shouldering on his shoulders.

  - I was born with Hero job. That... Well let's just say that it was my choice to become a hero, and, at least for now, I want to see this road till the end.

  - Good for you. At least you are living your dream.

  - Yes. Just not the way I imagined. Too many times I failed and put worlds future in danger.

  - Even if you are a hero. You are just a man. We all make mistakes. Some more, some less, but we all do.

  - Maybe you are right about that.

  For a while we just stayed and watched the shoreline. Once in a while we sailed past a fishing vilge, and some fishermen waved at us from their boats. Unlike us they knew nothing of unending war and dark dungeons, with never ending monsters.

  * * *

  Three weeks ter we arrived at the settlement. I imagined that northmen were barbarians who knew nothing, but pilging, but actually they were also tradesmen, who sailed across many nds and traded honey, mead, fish, and many other sea products. They also attacked vilges and towns, and were known pirates, but that was more like a part of their culture, and a way to get rich and famous quickly.

  During our travel we sailed past several settlements, but to my surprise they allowed us to pass and did not attack. Partially I regretted that. I did not had any battles at sea until now, but I also had to remember that people actually died in such battles, and I could be one of those victims.

  When we reached the shore, we were met by two dozen armed men, covered in animal hides. Northmen were pale skinned, bearded, big men. They would scare any ordinary vilgers, and they looked dangerous and ready to fight. Their settlement was surrounded by wooden fence and had around a dozen houses in it. I noticed four ships. They were all dragged on the shore and pced under a roof.

  We stepped on the nd, and I staggered. I think that I read about it in my previous life, that people who spend long time on a ship, needed time to adjust to walking on solid ground. At least I did not suffered from sea sickness. Apparently high Health stats helped adventurers to overcome that ordeal.

  Theodoric stepped in front of us and looked around. One of the northmen with gray beard also stepped forward and lowered his head slightly.

  - Are you the men who brought the ransom for the saint?

  - Yes. Are you the chieftain, who send the message?

  - My name is Orf. Your men can stay here. They will not be harmed. Follow me. Let us talk.

  Theodoric looked back and nodded to his companions: - Stay here, I will be fine.

  They all nodded, and Theodoric followed Orf. I joined him as well. Theodoric gnced at me, but did not object. Maybe he thought that it is normal for adventurer party leader. Around us were hostile looking vilgers. Some dogs were running around the settlement and barking at us.

  We went inside rgest house, and Orf waved at a long table. At the end of the room was burning firepce and room was warm. I took off my heavy sheep skin cloak and pced it on a chair behind me.

  Two woman, an old one and a young girl, brought three cups and pced them in front of us. I smelled the drink. It smelled sweet, like honey. It probably was mead - an alcoholic drink made from honey, and one of main export products from northmen isles.

  Orf drunk the whole thing in one gulp. He used his hand to clean his moustache and loudly belched.

  I tasted it a little, while Theodoric also emptied his cup.

  - Are you the strongest adventurers in Mina? - asked Orf: - You look more like royal boot lickers to me.

  - I am a warrior from Empire. This is Avone, she is the leader of an adventurer party.

  - A girl.

  I rolled my eyes and pced my hair behind my ears. Orf squinted his eyes and nodded.

  - An elf, I see. Well, you should be good enough then.

  - We wish to see the saint, to make sure that she is unharmed.

  - We will take your priest to her, once we are done talking.

  - There is nothing to talk about. We brought you your ransom. Now bring us the girl and let's be done with all of this.

  - I do not what the ransom. Not just the ransom. That is why I took the girl in the first pce.

  - What do you want then? - asked Theodoric.

  - I want you to save my son. He left to the dungeon and did not returned. I want you to bring him back.

  - If your son did not returned from the dungeon, then he is already dead, - I shook my head.

  - No. My son had an artifact with him. If he received mortal wound, artifact would activate and incase him in ice, preserving his life. That is why I also need the saint, so she could heal him, once you bring him back.

  - That's not what we agreed upon, - I interjected: - If we need to save your son, then you will not get the ransom.

  - No. My son is important to me, but I need to pay my men.

  - Fine. Then you get ten gold coins. That is more than generous.

  - Don't make me ugh. Saint is important to you. But very well I will take two hundred orichalcum coins.

  - Don't even dream about it. We were not pnning to pay you that much in the beginning. Twenty.

  - Twenty for a saint with her powers. She is worth several thousand. One hundred and eighty.

  - All she can do is to use some healing spells and bless someone. Any high ranking mage can do that much. Girl can be easily repced. Forty is most that you get for someone like her.

  - You would not be here if that would be truth. One hundred and fifty.

  - We only came here to pretend that we care. To appease the vilgers, you might say. Fifty.

  - No, - he shook his head: - Besides, if you return without her, your reputation will suffer. Hundred and forty.

  - Our reputation will be fine, if we tell everyone that you killed her before we arrived. Eighty.

  - You are a ruthless one, aren't you. Not like I imagined an elf to be. Hundred to pay my men, and we have an agreement.

  - Agreed, - I nodded.We shook our forearms and returned to previous talk.

  - Where is that dungeon located? - I asked: - And what can you tell us about it?

  - There are only two dungeons on our isnds. Both ancient ones. One of them is located on this isnd. Our men go there to prove their manhood, or to increase their levels, as you call it. My son went there three month ago, but did not returned.

  Ancient dungeon, that sounded bad.

  - How deep would he go?

  - Usually our people go only as far as first floor. But my son is reckless. He could have gone as far as second floor.

  - Second floor? - I asked him in surprise.

  - Young can be foolish, - shook his head Orf.

  - So-o, can you tell us more about the dungeon? Do you have any maps? Any ideas where would he go?

  - No. First floor is bigger than my settlement. You could walk there for days without stepping on the same ground twice. There is no sunlight and monsters, who resemble animals from nightmares, attack you from every corner.

  - Sounds... Bad. How far is this dungeon?

  - Two dozen days walking.

  - As I saw, you have some horses. We will need all of them. How many you got?

  - Nine, that can be ridden.

  - So four for my party members. Four for Theodoric's, and one for the guide. What about other northmen? Will they let us pass?

  - I will send my cousin with you. I will give him my mark, so you should have a safe passage.

  - Good. Then we will leave in the morning. You will have to supply us with enough food, that will st us on our way there and back, and also do not forget that we will need to spend two or three days in the dungeon. Anything else? - I turned to Theodoric.

  - Take my friend to Saint. Also our ship and ship's crew will need to stay here. You will need to ensure their safety.

  - As you wish. I will make sure that no one touches them.

  - How will we recognize your son?

  - My cousin will recognize him.

  - No, - I disagreed: - Your cousin will take us as far as a dungeon, but then he will wait outside.

  - You do not want his help?

  - I do not want him to hold us back.

  - He is skilled warrior, but as you wish. My son is wearing amulet, shaped as Thor's hammer. Amulet is made from pure silver.

  - That should be good enough, - I nodded. I got up and stretched: - Do not know about you, but I want to stretch my legs, and bring us some food, which is not fish. I ate enough fish to st me a lifetime.

  - I will order women to prepare a feast for you. After all, it could be your st, - grinned Orf.

  * * *

  The night was clear and air smelled like spruce trees. There were many trees like spruces and pine trees. But earth seemed rocky and probably was bad for farming. There were some pigs and sheep, that I saw in the settlement, but I did not see any farmnd around. Probably northmen relied heavily on fishing, for their food supply. No wonder they regurly attacked nearby kingdoms and stole their riches, food, and farm animals.

  Orf kept his word and woman brought as plenty of food and even two barrels with mead. For the first time in weeks my belly was full, and I could not eat another piece of tasty, juicy meat in front of me.

  Others were either sleeping or standing watch. Theodoric did not trust Orf, and I did agree with that. Hero came to me, holding cup with what smelled like mead.

  - You bargained like a southern merchant, - he smiled.

  U-ups. I was not pnning to do that, but was caught in a moment.

  - He would not have respected you otherwise, - I came up with an excuse.

  - Probably.

  - Also, do not think that I haggled just for fun. I will be needing part of the ransom money. We did not agree that my men or woman or whatever, will need to go to ancient dungeon. Those pces are dangerous. Way more dangerous than northmen. I will be needing one hundred and fifty of those coins. You can keep the rest for yourself and your party members.

  - That's... Well you are right. But I should return the rest to Mina town lord.

  - Well if you think that your friends and you, do not deserve the reward? Besides that town lord should have handled this matter himself. Saint was your responsibility, but only after her arrival in Mina.

  - You may be right. Queen Elizabeth is generous, but mostly we receive equipment and supplies for our journeys. I will think about it. What about the northmen? Do you think he is telling the truth?

  - Do not know. Maybe. Not like we have a choice. Is saint alive?

  - Yes. Markus saw her. They are treating her well. And she was not harmed.

  - Good. What's her name anyway.

  - Are you really asking only now?

  - Well. Everybody just called her saint, so it did not came up. Not that I remember.

  - Her name is Adeide. She is from the noble house of Usher.

  - That's too much information right now. Saint Adi, as Nelly would say, will be enough.

  - Please make sure that no one else hears you saying that. And also, it will be better if your conversation with Orf never sees the light of day. Saint is important figure in all the kingdoms. She is respected, and, as messenger of god Asclepius, she cannot be repced.

  - I did not know that. Have you tried the pork ribs? I ate two ptes. Licked my fingers after that.

  - Please take things more seriously, - sighed Theodoric.