Page 12 - SagaOfBarak2

Barak in the meanwhile though was just as ever quite unconcerned, even
disinterested in such scribbling, nor was the slayer impressed in any way with
the trappings of either fame or glory.
As that last adventure, that last trek the slayer undertook was out of friendship,
oh and also of course to put things to rights back in his distant homeland.
With all of these tasks completed and happy with the result, well, with this being
so, the slayer of late had whiled his time away lounging about in idyllic lazy like
retirement in the land of the Britons.
Since his return from that quest, Barak had spent most if not all his carefree
moments hunting in the dark northern forest, here was a vast forest which lay on
the southern side of the Emperor Hadrian’s great wall.
It was there where the giant would hunt regularly on horseback with both lance
and his boarhounds for the very ferocious, very dangerous but also very tasty
wild boar.
Well for this prey or perhaps for the stealthier but far less dangerous noble red
deer, which also abounded there in good quantity in the northern wilderness.
Further south only a few hours ride, there were man made clearings, rich
farmland and lush sprawling meadows, good land for coursing the speedy hare
with a pair of swift dogs.
Here indeed were lean fast things, perhaps a dozen of their kind lay ready and
waiting kennelled at Cedric’s homestead.
Just as everything else these speedy sight hounds were also for sale, though this
of course only for the right price.
Northern Britain was an ancient place, aye sometimes an eerie sinister piece of
wilderness, this with its dense dark forests overflowing with oak, ash and elm.
For better or worse, Britain was still a land lost in many dark misty bygone
myths and legends from the past, some of these fables were vaguely believable
whilst some though perhaps not.
Sinister, mysterious or otherwise, big Barak was nevertheless a most happy
contented man whilst dwelling within the vast northern forest where he had made
his home.
Happily with this being so, then when not enjoying himself hunting in forest or
meadow, the ogre was more than likely to be found fishing in his own well
stocked, good sized pond; for either the many trout or the one huge remaining
pike which ever eluded him and so far cleverly slipped his hook.
If not there the ogre frequented another favourite place of his searching for the
tasty trout, this down by the banks of the great Salmon River itself.
It was here at the Salmon River where Barak would often go to idle his unhurried
hours away, along with his adopted son the young Hassan.

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