Beowulf is Back

There was still no sign of the King, or the speech; and so Beowulf and Roscow were listening to Gretza the angel explain her ‘mission.’

  ‘My Mazter, who iz an important man in the lands of zhe Eazt, has to me commanded zhat I should come to zhe Vest and seek you out. Zhere, he says zhat I am to vatch over you and see zhat no harms is coming to you, at least until zhe King of France makes his speech. Zhen, I am to listen to zhe speech and bring him news of it.’

  ‘What does that have to do with us?’ asked Beowulf.

  Gretza the angel tapped her forehead to indicate her forgetfulness and continued,

  ‘Vot a mistake! I must be focussing on zhe task with greater betterness! At zhis time, and not before, I am to zhay the vollowing to you.’

  She paused and struck a slightly oratorical posture,

  ‘Beovulf, I speak to you on behalf of my Mazter Vladimir zhe Great, ruler of zhe Dark Kingdom, between the Dark Mountains and zhe Darker Vorest. He, zhat is being Vladimir zhe Great, request zhat you, Beovulf, attend upon him at his home at zhe Great Castle of Chernogratz in order zhat he may speak unto you upon great issues, namely zhe granting to you of all zhat you can desire.’

  She waited, while Beowulf thought.

  ‘I am supposed to accompany you, to show you zhe vay and keep you safe upon zhe journey.’

  ‘All zhat I can desire?’ mused Beowulf, ‘That is an offer I don’t receive every day. Let me think. The King is about to speak,’