Long Way To Earth... Part 17

 

After another one and a half day's walk they reached the gates of the City of Earth where a guard in a colourful armor and a helmet with a taily helmet crest made of red and orange dyed feathers blocked their way with a halberd.

'What is your business in the City of Earth?' the guard barked. 'What is your concern?'

'We're here to see Dora of Wye, the mighty and magnificent witch and sorceress', said Bromford, the bard.

Even through the closed visor of his helmet Bromford and llama could feel the guard giving them a frowning side look.

'You will not find that woman inside of the great walls of the City of Earth', he said without lowering his halberd. 'Dora of Wye lives in her barrel on the other end of town, next to the river, outside the city walls. You cannot miss her housing if you follow that small paved path alongside the River Why.'

And with his jagged weapon he pointed in the opposite direction.

So the bard and the llama made their way back through the crowd on the bridge and after another one and a half hour's walk all around the city they stood right in front of the biggest wooden barrel they had ever seen.

'Well, well', said the llama, 'that is one barrel of a barrel if I have ever seen one. Wonder who drank all that wine that matured in it once. Or whiskey or vinegar or sauerkraut.'

And indeed the barrel that stood before them shored with big joists and a few wooden steps at the front looked a lot like a usual barrel for wine or whiskey or other alcoholic beverages, only that it was way bigger, big enough that a tall man or woman could stand upright in the inside, and it had windows with lace curtains at the side, a chimney and a big, round door at the front with a handle that was locked with a huge padlock.

'Well, well, well', said the llama. 'Looks like we have reached the destination of our journey.'

Today is Tuesday, the 17th of December 2024

 

"To The End Of The Bromford"

Down in the old town, when my mind is wandering
Round empty hallways, when will I be one again?

You're just making it harder for yourself
Making it easy for everyone else
Making it easy for me

In the old town
You'll never be in and you never get out
You learn from the family
You'll never be in and you never get out
To run to the end of the Bromford

Under the archways, when my mind is wallowing
Down to the country, where I will be well again

You're just making it harder for yourself
Making it easy for everyone else
You're making it easy for me

In the old town
You'll never be in and you never get out
You learn from the family
You'll never be in and you never get out
To run to the end of the Bromford, to the end of the Bromford
And run to the end of the Bromford

Build me a home underground
Free from light and sound
Build me a home in the air
I will run to the end, to the end, to the end of the Bromford
And run to the end, to the end, to the end of the Bromford
And run to the end of the Bromford