Meanwhile, in the city of Clegane, the night has also come for the Wolf Queen and the earl. The men inside the palace already prepared a feast for Lagertha and Brant before they venture out to fight Mundis. The sorcerer beast was not keen on waiting all night to devour flesh and bone, so he waited in the shadows. They gave Lagertha and Brant food to eat and wine to drink so they do not fight with an empty stomach. A teenage boy walks to the Wolf Queen to speak with her while Hectan could still feel her voice speak to him.
"Excuse me, miss. May I speak to you?" He asked.
"Of course. What do you need?" Lagertha asked.
He answered her, saying, "My name is Greg. And Earl Argon is my father. I've heard a lot about you and these stories I've heard from the earl's men. It seems as if it may be true what they say, and maybe our suffering will be over. It's the only thing most of these people believe when they see you out there. The earl's men are the only ones here who believe you have gone mad for doing something that will endanger this city and the next."
"I can tell you've heard a lot about me. And I hope you have it in yourself that you'll tell nobody about what I'm going to do. You may have heard of the abilities I have and the strength I wield for my sole benefit."
"It's the only thing my father's advisor says about someone of your talent. He trusts nobody who comes from another land or another city. He doesn't even want to acknowledge your existence. Isn't it enough that you come from somewhere and you trained enough to hunt the night by yourself?"
"I beg your pardon, but I don't have a home. The demons took it from me. Ever since that happened, I learned to live by the sword and die by it. I've always lived in the outside world, and only when I feel like it, I would rent a room in the nearest inn. You should be thankful that you're not following me into the night. You won't be laughing when the demons tear you limb from limb."
Greg knew he would not survive out there by himself because of how much Lagertha described the outside world for him. Brant said nothing as Lagertha was speaking to the earl's son about herself and what she will do. The Wolf Queen was afraid that somebody from out of nowhere would tell others about her without her permission. Then Lagertha turned around in her seat and continued looking at Greg as Brant watched on. Brant was wondering how it is possible that Lagertha can talk to the son of an earl but had a hard time wanting to share a lot with her only friend.
"So, I've been doing some thinking about my father. He told everyone to stay inside the palace and all the knights are supposed to be guarding the front doors against Mundis," Greg said.
"What are you thinking about, exactly? Do you have your own reasons for being here at night? Do you need me to give something to you?" Lagertha asked.
"I just wanted you to know a bit about something before you fight that demon. It's in my bedroom, and I believe it might interest you. I hope your friend doesn't mind if I show you this thing," he said.
"I don't mind at all," Brant said.
"Well… I am done with eating and drinking. And I have nothing else going on. Brant, if you don't mind, I'm going to go with him for a while," Lagertha said.
"Oh, okay," Brant said. And so, the Wolf Queen stood up and walked with Greg to his room as the moon was rising in the sky.
The men of Clegane had plenty of time to prepare themselves for whatever challenge is awaiting them. They had the time and opportunity to guard the front door against Mundis; the creature existed to work in mysterious ways. But little did they know, the abilities of humans pale before the mightiest of demons. Lagertha followed Greg and checked her surroundings at all the magnificent things the palace had. As she followed him, she could still hear the earl's advisor talk to himself and plan about other things.
While walking, they could hear the voices of men and women being frightened of what might happen to them on this night. None of them knew what could happen if Mundis tried to devour them unexpectedly. Even the earl did not expect such a day if the sorcerer beast came into the palace and killed everyone he saw. Lagertha would have to do more than be prepared for the inevitable, and she would need to focus on her strength. Lagertha held nothing back as she followed the earl's son to his bedroom, but she was more concerned for him than anyone else.
Greg opens the door to the room, and Lagertha continues to be behind him during the night. During this time, nothing was safe for either of them, yet they had time to look at some valuables. Lagertha looked at his room and knew there wasn't much to be offered in a room for the earl's son. She assumed that Mundis probably made Earl Argon lose the budget to decorate his son's room. However, there was something inside this room that seemed so precious to gaze upon and a lovely image to behold.
"What do you want to show me, Greg?" Lagertha asked.
"I have something that my father trusted me to protect with my very life. He told me to give it to the one who will defeat Mundis. He trusted me more than his advisors and priests to keep it until someone like you came here," he answered. Then, he walks to a nearby table next to his window, and he picks up what appears to be a golden chalice.
This chalice was far bigger than normal chalices and it was more than just to drink from it. Greg hands it over to the Wolf Queen so that she can stare at how beautiful the chalice looked. It looked like something from a fairytale, however, it was crafted with fine gold and precious jewels. Lagertha did not have a problem with holding the golden cup, and she had no reason to drop it or refuse such a gift.
"It's beautiful. Where did your father get this?" Lagertha asked.
"One of my father's knights found it while hunting the demons one night. A knight found this in one of their camps and brought it to my father. Ever since then, he told everyone that it is a chalice that belongs to a fearless warrior and bards shall write his name in tales," Greg answered.
"This earl is a courageous person. He must've trusted me so much to have it if I kill this demon. Don't worry, I've been through much worse," she said.
"How can you be so sure? Not even a sword can pierce this creature's flesh. An ax wouldn't be able to do much damage, either."
"I'm not like those men. I am more than just a human, and the responsibility is much greater. Being a demon hunter can be a lifetime of anguish and tragedy. Wandering the night and walking into the darkness will make you spend an eternity in loneliness. Killing so many demons in one sitting will leave an enormous burden on your soul. I hope that's something you'll understand."
"Even if you fight this demon by yourself, how will you know you won't end up like them? No offense, but isn't it way too much for a lady to be walking out at night with demon blood stained on her sword? Are you quite certain about the dangers that may soon happen if you keep going like that? In onslaughts, do you ever think about your loved ones… your family? My father always told me a warrior's last thoughts should be of home and family."
He was not wrong; Lagertha always wanted to think about those who died in front of her. She always wanted to find it in her heart to forget those wretched events in her past life. Then, Lagertha hands the golden chalice back to Greg, and she looks out the window. She has two sides in her mind, and she does not know if she might win or lose against a magical creature. She looked back at the earl's son, and she understood the many questions he asked of her family and her only friend.
"I'll find a way. I have a plan, Greg. I've been told this creature has magical abilities beyond compare," Lagertha said.
"Well, I hope you know what you're doing," he said. Of all the men and advisors in Clegane, the son of Earl Argon was the only one who had the most concern for the Wolf Queen.