The town of Jernby was rather quite loud compared to Skoravik. Most of the men worked in the mines, which were particularly profitable to the Crown. Almost every day, hundreds of its occupants would work day and night to pluck out iron from the mines. And almost every night, carts of iron would be sent to the blacksmiths to make finer use of them.

With that, Harold could not bring himself to sleep. The constant hammering of the iron at the other side did make him mad, despite the soft pillows. It didn't help that Jernby had the highest population of a town in Nordlund, after the Great War. Still, he would take that than to live in the woods again.

He looked at the wooden walls that housed him. They were of Nordic wood, tons of them chopped so that they could be sent to Westhaven. It only made him more homesick that he was so far away from home. From his future. His western kin, and yet seen as a convict now.

'I am a convict to my people!' Harold thought.

As he thought of the future, Agnetha came into mind. He nearly forgot about her. But Edwin also comes into mind. Perhaps he could take care of her. And what, then, if they brought her to her father? Swift execution? Would they be rewarded as promised? And what, then, should that happen?

Nevertheless, he did drag himself out of his room after filling his mind with baseless futures. Only brought his sword with him, and even with that, he never saw much need.

Meanwhile, Edwin came out of his room to find Agnetha in the tavern. Edwin thought it was weird to see her blend so perfectly with the others. Edwin merely sat in front of her, not wanting to ruin her peace. She is wearing only a humble tunic in contrast to her elegant cloak. Hopefully, she won't seem to mind his presence.

"You are Edwin right?" Agnetha asked. Edwin didn't necessarily take much offence. Although both Edwin and Harold did spot the same brown hair and pale skin, that is the only thing that made them look the same. Perhaps, she didn't meet many Westerners after all. Edwin was rather weak and lean in stature compared to his cousin's strong build. Something that his father has always told him.

"Yes, did I bother you?" Edwin asked.

"Of course not," Agnetha said as Edwin sat down. Being that it was the early waking hours, the tavern was slowly filling up with people. The chatter was still low enough for them to talk to each other.

"So... you have any doubts in your mind," Edwin asked as Agnetha looked rather confused. "What's there to be doubtful?" Agnetha replied.

"You know, this whole journey," Edwin said, his voice drooling as he just woke up. "I never imagined that I would find myself escorting someone like you,"

"Really, why so?" Agnetha asked. Edwin could only clear his throat. He did not know what to follow.

"Well, escorting a Nordic princess to her father, that is something, right?" Edwin chuckled. "I couldn't imagine even if someone told me that,"

"I guess so," Agnetha said with a slight grin on her face. Edwin breathed deeply, not wanting to make himself look like a fool in front of her.

"With that said, you know much about your country, do you?" Edwin asked, as Agnetha merely nodded in advance. "I don't travel to the woods much, but I do learn a lot about geography. Specifically, which town and outpost is placed,"

"Indeed, that means you can get us out of trouble even before it starts?" Edwin asked. Agnetha looked rather downtrodden. "Regardless, you should still be ready for any combat whatsoever," she replied.

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"You don't have any doubts about us?" Edwin asked as Agnetha's eyes lit up.

"Doubts... about you?" Agnetha replied.

"About our abilities, per se, it's important to be competent to ensure trust," Edwin immediately retorted just as the ale arrived. Even then, he was too busy even to notice it. "Well, you all seemed to handle yourselves well," Agnetha said politely.

"Can't say for me, I fled at first sight of trouble," Edwin admitted. "I mean, you were there. You knew what happened,"

"Not necessarily cowardice," Agnetha replied, which puzzled Edwin. He was used to being called just that by his cousin and sometimes his father. "You did what you had to do, to protect me,"

"My lady, you think too highly of me," Edwin chuckled, who was humbled before her. However, he saw that her words were genuine. Somehow, Edwin sighed softly, seeing how she treated him nicely. He could bring himself to look at her crystal blue eyes as inside, he grew red. He could only shake his head to not let his mind wander off.

"What's wrong Edwin?" Agnetha asked.

"Nothing, it's just that, I'm not used to being compared to a protector," Edwin admitted, slowly sipping his ale in front of Agnetha. As he said that, he saw Harold entering the tavern, as the latter saw the two of them together at the same table.

"You too are already making love, I see," Harold chuckled at the thought of it. "You really have nothing else to do here, do you?" Edwin said as he got himself up. He did not want to embarrass himself in front of her.

"You really couldn't pick a better time?" Edwin said as he picked himself up right away. "Not when you are flirting, cousin," Harold replied nonchalantly.

"What! I am not..."

"Say what you will," Harold said as he merely took his ale and sipped it. He was very insensitive, too much for his own good. Edwin lost his appetite as he put down his own.

"What's the matter? I didn't ask you to stop," Harold said.

"Well, you made me stop either way," Edwin said, as he has lost the mood to talk. Agnetha noticed that he was more than annoyed. Harold looked at her as she looked at him. His suspicions could only raise higher.

"What are you looking at, lady?"Harold asked. Agnetha said nothing. She felt that he was damaged on the inside, and yet she did not want to admit that to him.

"Got nothing to ask, Nord?" Harold asked again.

"Nothing for you Harold," Agnetha replied smoothly A rather soft reply at that. Nevertheless, he merely scoffed at her. He did not think that it was genuine enough. " Well, if it's all the same for you," Harold said.

"It's merely a gesture, I did not mean any harm," Agnetha replied. "You don't have to be so isolated from us,"

"Whatever," Harold said as he saw his empty cup. Good for him. Another reason to not linger with her around. Perhaps Agnetha's golden hair charmed Edwin long enough, Harold thought. With that, Harold wasted no time getting up, as Edwin saw his cousin bludging his way to the barkeeper.

His cousin, already making love with her. Preposterous! Harold thought. Just this once, he did not mind chugging ale to his mouth.

"I understand you are upset," a voice came from the left for Harold. As he turned towards the voice, he saw someone who wasn't a Nord, and neither a Westerner, as his face and hair was dark.

"Who are you? You are from Eldunia?" Harold asked this stranger. "I used to," the stranger replied. Harold did not know where he came from, but he was amused. "Now, I have gotten myself into this mess,"

"You seem terribly calm for someone in a mess," Harold stated, becoming more and more intrigued. "Indeed, mercenary work is profitable after all," the man continued.

"My name is Harold," Harold tried to address himself before him. "Faizal, nice to meet you," the stranger said as they shook hands. "Where are you going, anyway?" Faizal asked.

"To the Klarelva, mercenary work," Harold replied, although he was not proud of that. As he said that, the ale was refilled for him by the barkeeper. Harold dug his pockets to pay him, only for him to take a long time to do so.

"Having trouble?" Faizal asked.

"There it is," Harold took out the pence to pay, shrugging off his shame. "I know; life is hard for me," Harold said. He did not have to suffer such problems back in Westhaven, which made him feel even worse.

"I see that you are quite shorthanded," Faizal said. "Tell me, who is this woman you are escorting?"

"Woman? How did you know," Harold asked as he did not mention Agnetha. "Eavesdropping, you should be very careful with your secrets. After all, does anyone find it weird that a few Westerners like you would protect a Nord?"

Harold grabbed Faizal at the collar, his breath on him aggressively as the latter did not flinch. "What else did you hear?" Harold demanded. "That you need help?" Faizal replied.

"And why so?" Agnetha asked, appearing in front of them as Harold let go out of confusion. "I figured that I would like to join you," Faizal stated. "I figured that I was out of work for too long,"

Seeing a couple of guards walking inside the tavern, Agnetha looked more worried. Harold sighed as he looked at her. "We are not hiring one more, aren't we?" Harold asked.