It was decided there and then that Ulfrid and Harwari, along with Tunaraz and Berthold would find their way into the encampment, while the rest of the companions would remain at a distance, though he was reluctant Berthold was chained once more as he had been in his unwilling service, yet he was convinced at the words that there were some slaves there that he would see free if he did. “Wait..”, Ulfrid said as he ran his fingers over the iron that held Berthold.. “They will not let us pass.. they have a watchword and they likely speak only in their own tongue.. We will not get past the gate!“ Then the freed man chuckled, “I have often enough heard them.. and do not be overly afraid, the guards of that outpost are drunk half the time of their duty.. or looking for more wine in the other half. They do not fear the arrival of enemies in this place, expect them to not last the heat A thing which has proven true on some occasions..
I shall learn to you the words you need to know to enter..and that which may come to use.“ It was with difficulty indeed that they tried to master the sound of the vile tongue, but as impatience grew they donned the robes of the riders and decided to give their best shot.
And thus.. it was during the coming of night. With the last rays of the hot sun fading, that three men on horses and a chained slave on foot came to the gate, the guardsman looked down from one tower. He had a black scruffy beard, his eyes were hollow and he had a crooked menacing nose of some proportion, like an ill-grown potato on his face. He yelled out in his tongue something that would have sounded as, “Ware!.. What is the !”.. upon this moment the men needed a moment as he could barely help himself from tipping over the wall and plummeting down.. He was very much drunk and it took a while for him to continue, “What is the sweetest sound of a snake?” .. Ulfrid’s eyes showed panic, as he hadn’t understood a word obviously, Tunaraz himself looked at Harwari.. but this man atleast had paid enough attention, “When she stirs the pot for dinner and nothing else!” It has to be admitted that the man did not respond perfectly , yet the drunk guard had nearly opened the gate even before an answer came. The horses snorted and they entered within the pallisade, the gate falling shut behind them.
(continued in part5)
