As Jon walked the familiar path to the docks, he passed houses of old friends and enemies alike. The memories of his childhood passed him by and his mind stayed filled with those thoughts until he found himself standing in front of Jarl Svygard alone in the middle of the shipyard.
"Ah, Jon my boy, nice of you to show up early. We are the only two to be here, we are waiting on my handlers to come with enough horses for us and a few more men who have yet to turn up this morning." Jarl Svygard said as he wringed his hands and kept looking around almost impatiently.
Almost an hour had passed before all remaining five men showed up and the horse handlers came to the shipyard's road with the seven required saddle horses and two pack horses for food and heavy items. As things were being packed onto the horses, a woman could be heard shouting down the road. The shouts seemed to be getting closer and closer very quickly.
Eventually the shouts were close enough to hear properly and make out words. The woman was apparently screaming for someone to stop and to cone back to talk. As she was saying this she was growing closer to their position. Jarl Svygard began to grow pale as the voice was just on the other side of the road behind a house now.
"Please Nordri, its not like you think!! The Jarl is a nice man and all we were doing was talking please, its not what it looks like!! Please Nordri, please don't kill him!" the woman screamed. As Jon looked back from the Jarl to the direction of the commotion, a giant of a man with a red face, bulging arms and an axe came into view. There was a beautiful, red haired woman, tiny in comparison, almost completely undressed and hair a mess right behind Nordri trying to pull him away, but he felt no resistance as his eyes locked onto Jarl Svygard like an eagle on prey.
As Jon looked back to the Jarl, all color had drained from his face and he turned to mount his horse immediately. Stammering, Jarl Svygard spoke, "Jon m-mount your horse NOW, we need t-to leave! Men, mount up w-we are le-leaving, be careful not to let this, this, this man-bear grab y-you or I f-fear I cannot help y-you!" As he spoke, he kicked his horse in the sides and took off, kicking up a trail of dust.
As soon as Jarl Svygard began speaking, Jon moved. He was right behind the Jarl, following at a distance of 15 feet. Just as they began to leave Jon heard a roar shake the air and ground around him. Jon looked back only to see an axe spin past his head, almost trimming his baby beard for him.
Jon looked to the front just in time to see the axe lodge deep into the neck of the horse that Jarl Svygard was on. Just as the horse was rearing and falling to its side, Jon rode past and grabbed the back of the sturdy wool tunic of the screaming Jarl Svygard as he tried to lift him onto the horse in the spot behind him.
Struggling as he may be, Jon remained composed, keeping his horse on the path while also putting the Jarl behind the saddle he is sitting in. As soon as the Jarl settled into the bare spot behind Jon, he spoke, "Jon listen to the nice lady, because it's a misunderstanding. I'd never have at it with the wife of a man whom looks like that!" As Jarl Svygard finished speaking he and Jon both busted out into a hearty laugh which split their sides.
Jon wiped the tears off of his face with one hand and asked, "Why did you have to pick the biggest, meanest man in town? You could have chosen anyone else to cuckold.." Jon cried out.
In the most laid back and casual tone Jarl Svygard only said, "Can't help it, I've got a thing for the red hair." As he said this he started to chuckle. All Jon could do was laugh and keep moving towards the Jarl's city. The rest of the trip was uneventful, hard even with no supplies. Unfortunately both pack horses, the food and gold they carried, plus all five men were never seen again.
The next morning once Jon woke up he began meditating to wait for Jarl Svygard to wake up. Jon meditated for a few hours, focusing on the teachings of the tomes he was reading the previous night. As soon as Jon heard footsteps coming towards him, he opened his eyes and focused them on Jarl Svygard, who looked a mess. His hair was almost sticking straight up, and his beard had pieces coming out at weird angles everywhere making it look more like a small shrub than a proper beard.
"Nice to see you up, Goodmorning Jon." Jarl Svygard waved to Jon as he went to grab a cup of ale from the small cask Jon bought to keep in his pack for emergencies like this. As soon as the Jarl finished drinking he asked the age old question, "So.. what's for breakfast?" Jon stood up, grabbed his bow and quiver, turned around and began to walk into the woods.
On his hunt Jon ran across a few grouse, which he easily harvested and made into a quick breakfast. As their bellies filled with food and drink their heads cleared and finally they were able to realize the five men weren't coming to the city with them.
"Well Jon, I was going to have you all compete for two spots as personal knights in my guard, but seeing as you're the only one left and how you actually saved my ass back there, I'd say you're officially my Squire. Now drink to that would you?" Jarl Svygard casually announced as he sat back, kicked his feet up and downed his pint while asking for another.
"Thank you, Jarl Svygard, I appreciate your kindness. I cannot wait to learn from you.." Jon said a little too formally.
"Don't be so stiff Jon. I don't like all that formal stuff anyways. When I'm not obligated to it, I don't do it. You will learn when and when not to be formal around me, it will come with time and experience but you will get there. Now let's finish traveling to my damn city I need a proper bath I still smell like that woman from the other night and it's giving me nightmares of her husband.." Another round of laughter resounded from the camp.
All good things must come to an end and thus so was true for the camp site. Once everything was packed up, they left and didn't look back.