The group decided to keep training together. For the three recruits it was a good chance to train under a seasoned warrior and for Saga it was a chance to simply learn at all, having so much ground to cover. Vetra came over to heal Eviras hand before the redhead got back into the fights. They paired up to fight two versus two, with Torbjörn and Saga playing the part of a bruiser duo, leveraging their combined brawn to try and push around the two nimbler fighters. Other times they fought one on one, with the winner of each duel taking on each other and so on. By the time they were done Saga had come to enjoy the sparring. As they all shook hands and promised to train together again in the morning, Saga noticed Torbjörn looking at something. Following where his eyes should be looking, they saw a man wearing a lot of expensive looking furs harassing some poor merchant. They recognized him as the the ugly elf that had sucker punched them earlier.

“You know the guy?” They enquired.

“Know him? My dad has worked for the mans father as a guard at his farm for years. The prick is the most insufferable little stain of shit I ever met.”

“Oh. Damn. Ok.” Saga was actually surprised by the violent reaction of Torbjörns. They had met assholes with too much money many times before. They had friends in Stockholm who they would see and they had gone out for drinks only to run into brats with far too much money and attitude that stank of propped up ego and inflated self worth. But this was such a quick and visceral reaction to a simple question that Saga knew there was more behind it.

“I am assuming he doesn't treat his employees well?”

“His father does good by the people he hires. That shit stain however. Let’s just say he is known to throw his weight around.”

“That's funny. I threw his weight around. I am sad he got his nose fixed.”

“Wait. That was you?”

“I was very drunk.”

“I know a few people who’d buy you enough drinks to do it all over again”

“Let’s not. A half ogre called me cute and I am all about that, but she also said she’d lock me up if I did that again.”

“Captain Gua? Yeah, maybe try to stay on her good side. She is a good person, just not shy to put people in their place if they start problems.” The two watched as the as the pompous Jasper got into a increasingly heated argument with merchant who was just trying to sell his pelts to passers by. Having had enough, Torbjörn was about to step on over when Saga seized his wrist. “The mans father is your dads employer, yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“Then allow me. No need to get you guys in trouble. Go in and tell Olaf I am about to do something really dumb.”

“I've only known you for a few hours. But I am pretty sure I know exactly what you are about to do and I think you should reconsider.”

“Not on your life.” Saga said and patted his shoulder. Then, they began to stride towards the man who turned to see Saga approach. His face went to angry red to pale in about a seconds time.

“Jasper!” Saga said loud enough for all to hear. “I am glad to see your nose healed. I wanted to apologize!” Saga exclaimed at the top of their lungs. This caught the elf of guard and he looked about then to Saga. Regaining his composure he took a breath and puffed out his chest. “Well. I am glad. You should be sorry. If your healer friend had not been at han-”

Saga ‘tripped’. And in tripping, they toppled forwards in a deliberate fashion to ram their skull right at the recently healed nose. Jasper howled, grabbing his nose and swearing up a storm.

“Oh no. I am so sorry.” Saga exclaimed. Helping Jasper to his feet they looked to the barracks where Olaf came powerwalking out with a look of frustration. Holding Jasper up by the shoulders Saga turned to Olaf. “Olaf. I am so sorry. I was gonna go and apologize and I accidently tripped. I think he needs another visit to Vetra.”

Olaf stared at Saga then at Jasper. Then turned to one of the on watchers. “What happened here.”

“The redheaded one was very clear they were sorry. But I think they fell. And I think their heads collided together.” The bystander said, looking to Olaf and shrugging. Saga had a feeling people here really didn’t like Jasper and now the rich brat had to deal with the fact that nobody was going to come to his aid over what appeared to have been an honest mistake.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“This gods damned outsider headbutted me!” Jasper tried to yell but his angry exclamation died out into a pained whimper as yelling with a broken nose could sometimes be extraordinarily panful.

“Everyone here said Saga was sorry for the brawl. I talked to them extensively after and they do regret starting a fight. I would take this little accident as just that. Or are you going to try your hand at fighting again?” Olaf asked, looking at Jasper who blanched at the idea of fighting Saga with an already broken nose.

“I will go. But you better believe that I will have this one watched. Outsiders just bring trouble. I respect you Olaf, you are part of the Jarls men. But this one. This one is rotten.” With that Jasper retreated. Once he was out sight and earshot, Olaf stared Saga down.

“Are you an idiot?” Olaf asked, his voice calm.

“No? Well. Yes.” Saga flinched as they said it. They never seen Olaf angry at them before. They didn’t care for it. Olaf was a kind man and Sagas action could have put him in trouble.

“I do apologize. I just didn't want Torbjörns dad to get into issues if Torbjörn lost his cool.”

“So you faked a stumble and headbutted the son of one of the richest men in town.” Olaf raised a eyebrow.

“Yes. Yes I did.”

“Well at least we can establish that you're a clumsy and accident prone, drunken idiot.” Olaf said with a sigh. ”That should give us some leeway and help him save face.”

“Hey wait a minute. No. Why does he get to save face.”

”Because he is a rich brat with a powerful father.” Olaf said, staring Saga down. Saga had absolutely nothing on his intimating, powerful presence but felt a cold fury grow into a white hot sun within their chest as she stared right back.

“So the rich get to just do whatever the fuck they want. Is that it. Nice to know this world isn’t so fucking different than my old then.”

“And should the strong just get to push their weight around then? Because you have enough brawn to crumple a mans nose, should you just get to do that? Is that what you do on your world, Saga.” Olaf asked back, entirely unfazed by having Saga so close to his face, yelling at him. “You know who else thinksh like you do?” He asked and Saga flinched at the tone of his voice. They knew exactly who he was thinking of.

“Ainar.”

“That’s right. Take care that your newfound strength doesn't get too intoxicating as to let you think you can do whatever you want. The North is riddled with men and women who did. I killed a few myself. Go train with Sasha. I’ll see you at the inn later.“ With that Olaf turned his back and walked away. Saga stared after Olaf. The fire burned within them like a raging sun. But the cold, lonely feeling that washed over them was far worse. They been here for three days, and already they were pushing people away. They just stared at the massive back of Olaf until he was well of sight.

“Are you alright?” The voice of the merchant that Jasper had hassled broke Saga out of their thoughts, startling them. Saga looked at the old man. He was an dwarf, with grey hair and a long beard. He looked as old as to be ancient with skin that was more wrinkles then anything. He used a cane to lean on.

“I am fine.” Saga said absentmindedly, still caught in their own thoughts.

“I am old enough I know the difference between alright and fine.” The dwarf said with a warm smile. “Thank you, for what you did.” He said and Saga blinked and looked at the man closer. He had an extremely kind smile, and eyes that had seen more the Saga could even imagine. A deep kind of understanding of the world that Saga would never have.

“I just did what I thought was right. I just never had the option to actually be able to stand in the way of someone like him before.”

“And now you have. You saved a old dwarf a whole heap of bother. The young Master Jasper is mad that I have stopped selling silver strider furs.”

“Why is that so bad? I take it they are very expensive.”

“They are when Jasper resells them to people in the south through his fathers caravans. Yes. They are also rarer and rarer these days. So I told my sons and daughters to stop hunting them.”

“He was hassling you over the loss of a luxury item he was selling to his rich friends in the south.”

“He has been pressuring me to restart the hunting. I think the young man might have some problems with money he isn't telling his father.” The man said with a knowing look.

“Of course, You did not hear this from me.”

“Of course…” Saga gave him a smile. “Thank you. I am sorry, but what is your name.”

“Daur Ironsoul.” The old dwarf offered a large hand and Saga shook it. Despite his advanced age, the dwarf had the handshake of an industrial claw machine. Saga had to shake their hand and wince inwardly after.

“Saga Ljungborg.” Saga said before they set off towards Sasha and Olgas house.