The Son Of Ragnar

Karl could not believe what had happened; his eyes opened as he frantically searched for where the arrow came from or who had shot it.

Karl knew he had to get out of there, he felt threatened and was right to because someone was watching them, but Tiril was a prominent lady. Karl knew he needed to explain what happened because saying it as it occurred might be doubted.

Tiril came and tried to speak to me but was killed by an arrow, this sounded like an unbelievable story as questions would be raised, and he might end up suffering the same fate as Ulrik at this rate.

He was so caught up in his head that he did not see the man emerging from the bushes, but luckily, the rustling of the leaves alerted him of this presence.

Karl took a defensive stance, taking a couple of steps backward as he noted the man approaching him.

"You are the right-hand man of Ulrik, are you not?" The man asked but got no response from Karl.

"You can breathe easy; he told me to bring you back alive," The strange man said. He had a cloak on, and the only reason why his gender could be discerned was because of his deep voice.

"W-Who are you!? Do you know what you have done!?" Karl questioned the man, and the man was kind enough to answer his questions because he was sure no one was coming to the rescue of Karl.

"Who I am is unimportant, but Tiril had to die; the commanders will all fall. No one can overcome the feeling of loss, not even the strongest warriors. For a warrior to be absolute, they have to have nothing they can lose," The man said, casually unsheathing his sword.

"What do you mean? Are you after the commanders? What is it you truly want?" Karl regained his composure, his rational side coming back.

"You ask many questions, but as I said, I have no intention of killing you, so how about you come along quietly? I don't mind using force, but I would rather avoid it," The man said as he walked towards Karl. Karl tensed up because Tiril had just died, but then he remembered who he was. He was Karl, the right-hand man of Ulrik.

And just like that, his entire demeanor changed like a switch had been flipped in him.

"Ha! I see, so you guys are the ones that made my commander go crazy. That is an unforgivable act. You asked me to surrender?" Karl asked rhetorically as he, too, unsheathed his sword.

"Over my dead body," Karl said, and all that could be seen behind the cloak was the menacing smile of the attacker, but before Karl knew it, he was hit in the kneecap by an arrow from his blindspot, forcing his knee to buckle.

"He is not alone?" Karl thought. He would not make this easy for them; he had to find a way to escape this ambush to inform the last commander in Kattegat, he had to tell Herfjötur.

"I am sorry for my methods, but I have no time for games," The voice as another arrow was let loose from his blindspot, but Karl had to show them why he was Ulrik's right-hand man.

He turned swiftly and in time to dodge the arrow coming at him with such ferocity.

Dodging it effectively made the arrow the problem of the man approaching, but all he did was simply sidestep, allowing Karl to notice that he was nimble on his feet.

Realistically speaking, he knew he might not be able to beat them because Karl did not know how many of them were hidden, so he had to conserve his strength and prepare for an attack at any moment from his blindside.

"I have to get out of here." Karl thought. The only good thing about this was they were not going to kill him, which was strange considering he was a liability and there was no one that his death would prompt such drastic actions from, so why did they want him?

Part of Karl wanted to give himself up to find out, but another part told him if he did, it just might be the end of Herfjötur, as she seemed to be their next target.

-

Ulrik was still in the cell, being well-fed and watching how Arvid was treated; Arvid barely even ate. They had to force it down his throat as he sat in his feces and urine, but luckily for Ulrik, they were not in the same cell.

Ulrik was surprised that they were keeping him alive. Was this some of damnation?

This was cruel, and no one should have to live like this, regardless of their sin.

"Ulrik…" For the first time since Ulrik being imprisoned, Liv had come down into this filthy place to see Ulrik.

"My lady!" Ulrik exclaimed; his voice was full of respect for her despite what she had done to him, with hers being more sympathetic.

"I am sorry for keeping you in such a state, Ulrik.." Liv was remorseful, but Ulrik knew it was not her doing, so he did not hold against her.

"It is fine, my lady. What brings you here to such a place?" Ulrik asked her, and Liv leaned closely.

"King Askild was victorious in his conquest of Vestfold, and he is on his way back," Liv said and Ulrik heaved a sigh of relief because he knew this ordeal would be over when Askild returned but that could not be the only reason why she was here, a guard could have delivered this.

"I came here to inform you of another thing, Ulrlik…." Liv said, her voice softened, and Ulrik, for some reason, tensed up.

She had Ulrik's full attention. He was curious about what she had to say.

"Ulrik, I came here to offer my condolence…." Liv said, and Ulrik's eyes immediately widened in fear; nothing good could come after the word condolence.

Liv whispered something in a low tone, and Ulril's suspicion was spot on.

Someone important to him had died.