Page 11 - SagaOfBarak1

ease. In fact the Germanic tongue, as well as Norse and of course the language
of the Britons was perhaps his most favourite language of all. Still the giant
listened to them chattering away for but a moment or two longer then he spoke
up answering the question the Germans had so carelessly put to one another. And
the giant when he spoke back to them both easily and fluently, well this gave the
men of the Rhineland somewhat of a shock. As this of course, after all was
something neither of the men were quite expecting. Barak, when he spoke, the
ogre even mimicked and mastered their Thuringen dialect off to perfection. Now
the warriors from the Rhineland, both of them at once glanced at each other most
sheepishly. At once the Germans instantly both bowed, apologising for their
unwise and perhaps ill-chosen comments.
However, the giant merely grinned as he had taken no offence on hearing their
words. In fact Barak was quite used to such slightings and offhand derogatory
comments. After all is said and done the ogre had a lifetime to get used to them.
Strange though it is how sometimes even the slightest of slurs can be taken as
more as an offhand compliment than an insult.
Barak handed the reins of his big horse as well as the mules lead ropes to the
humbled looking Germans. This done the giant most politely bade them to care
for and feed and water his honest and weary animals. All three beasts, Barak
instructed, were to have double corn as well as the very best of hay. And this as
it so happened was a task the German guards were both most keen upon
undertaking. After all it is not every day you get to assist such a slayer as Barak,
this even if the task is a little bit on the menial side. Now the giant in the
meanwhile, he walked casually off with the still very downcast sullen Hubert
across the newly cobbled stone courtyard toward the inn of the Seven Stars.
‘What did you say to them my Lord Barak?’ Hubert asked while looking back
over his shoulder toward the Germans. Who, by the by were already drinking
their own brew of frothy beer from their gourds as they made their way to the
stables. ‘For I do think my Lord, whatever it was you said caused them to take
a fright. ’ Hubert said this with just the slightest trace of a smile crossing his
craggy bushy face.
The old guardsman liked the Germans well enough as they were good
company on the gate and even more so in the tavern. Sometimes though the men
of the Rhineland did just have that little bit too much to say for themselves, but
this was more so in drink. Barak gave a thin smile then he answered his old friend.
‘The Germans spoke to each other saying I was some sort of a cannibal,
Hubert. Apparently the Rhiners had heard that I was an eater of men’s flesh, can
you believe that my old friend?’ Barak said this with a most sinister and
dangerous grin about him. ‘Oh I don’t know Hubert, you see some people just
don’t realize how sensitive a man I truly am,’ the giant added with a weary sigh.
Barak then yawned, this followed by a cough as he next spat onto the cobbles.
Then, the ogre cleared his throat before once again continuing to speak to Hubert.

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