Bloodlines of the Ancient Pantheons

Chapter 475: CDLXXV. No Need To Apologize

Wrage made an expression that showed the joy he was feeling, but remained silent, out of respect for his commander.

"What conditions?" Kranus asked, who had no intention of giving Dag full freedom.

"I will train your warriors with your Masters and help you plan the battle... but as soon as this whole thing will be over, you will help me complete the prophecy. I don't know how yet, but an ally like you will certainly make my job easier" the young Master said, making claims despite his disadvantageous position.

"All right, I accept. As I had already explained to you, nothing is more important to me than the prophecy of the Crystals of the Elements."

"Perfect. I'm ready, we can leave right away, after you show me where my woman and I can spend the night" Dag concluded, knowing that, needing his help, the leaders of the ice giants would accept his every request.

"All right. We can consider this meeting over. Wrage will take you inside the Arena and begin to show you what our warriors are capable of. I'm going to finish some tasks here and then I'm going to catch up with you. Don't worry about your accommodation, you and your woman will have an independent small house located right here behind the castle. While you're busy getting to know my warriors, I'll send slaves to fix it for you" Kranus replied, warmly inviting all his guests out of his private room.

Dag got up from his chair and Freydis did the same, followed by Wrage.

All three of them made a slight bow with their heads and then walked out of the room.

Thalos did not detach himself for a moment from his master, walking next to his legs naturally, almost as if it was an extension of his body.

"This way, Master Dag. I apologize on Gunnar's behalf, but he's not someone who likes to collaborate, especially with people he doesn't know. Noting that our Commander trusts you so much is so weird... he has always prevented strangers from knowing such personal details, such as the kind of training our soldiers are subjected to" Wrage said, trying to familiarize with Dag, knowing that in any case, he would have to cooperate with him.

"You don't have to apologize... anyone would have reacted like that, he just exaggerated a little with the tone of his voice. I will not upset the approach you've created so hard over the years, I just want to give your warriors some advice on how to be less predictable." 

"Thank you again. Come this way, follow me" the Shield Master continued, pointing to Dag and Freydis in the direction to leave the palace and head to the arena.

Under the perpetually astonished gaze of the guards patrolling in and out of the Colossus Palace, Dag and Freydis reached the arena, descending inside as they had done just before, but this time accompanied by a Master. 

As soon as he set foot inside the arena, Dag immediately noticed that Gunnar was not there and that the soldiers had been fighting each other since the meeting with Kranus began.

"Soldiers!" Wrage yelled, calling the order.

All the young warriors in front of him, in less than a minute, lined up in several neat rows, with their shoulders straight and their gaze turned to their Master, being accustomed to that strict discipline.

"This man behind me, he's a Master from a faraway Clan. His name is Dag, the Exiled!" he continued, arousing some interest in his men.

The soldiers, especially those in the last row, began to look curiously at the young Master, immediately noting that he was accompanied by a huge gray wolf and that behind him there was a beautiful red-haired girl.

"From now on, many things about the army will change and we will prepare to face and defeat the Claws Of Fenrir for good! With the help of Dag, who despite being almost your peer is a skilled strategist, we will be able to draw up plans to impose our dominance over all Krypstorm. Even Lies Of Loki will begin to fear our name!" Wrage replied aloud, with the sole aim of galvanizing his soldiers.

"Uh! Uh! Uh!" they shouted to them in unison, simultaneously moving their hands upwards and welcoming their new temporary Master.

"Do you want to say something, Dag?" he asked, not knowing what else to add.

Dag waited a few seconds, merely looking at the warriors' faces, reading their inexperience on them.

Then he began to walk forward, walking left and right with his hands behind his back and continuing to stare at Kranus's men in detail, making them slightly uncomfortable.

"You can rest easy, you don't have to keep your back so straight. Relax..." he said, before beginning the real speech.

Two men in the front row looked at their Master, asking permission.

"Rest!" Wrage yelled again, making them realize that Dag's words were orders.

One by one, all the warriors of the troop relaxed their shoulders and neck, returning to their normal positions, standing.

"Very good... does any of you already know who I am?" he asked, avoiding making a sterile, one-way presentation and trying to engage them as much as possible.

Ten seconds after that question, very shyly a guy from the back raised his flickering hand.

"You! Come, come here where I can see you!" Dag exclaimed, smiling and making those warriors understand that he had no bad intentions towards them.

The boy in question, taller than him, with short brown hair and a goatee just outlined under his chin, stopped in front of his companions, before the young Master of Okstorm.

"What's your name, soldier?" Dag asked.

"Aklad, sir!" he replied, looking down in fear.

"I suppose you already know my name... is that true, Aklad?" he asked again.

"Y... Yes. I know who you are, sir." 

"Mmmh... well. Continue then, explain it to all your comrades. And look me in the eye, I'm not your enemy."