3. Seize

Despite being unable to understand the strange dialect, based off the tones, you presume some type of disagreement has begun. While keeping his back to you the older man retreats towards you as he shouts something in his strange language. Even though the unseen male in front of him sounds younger his voice is far more commanding and intimidating. Both voices grow slightly louder as the argument seems to escalate and you see the man in front of you tense slightly when the unknown being approaches. A dark shadow is cast down upon you as a figure, seemingly taller than the man before you, moves over and says something in their barbaric tongue. Though you're not sure of the words being exchanged you can the man in front of you is slightly cautious and unsure.

You keep your eyes cast downwards at the large, dark, shadows on the ground before you as the argument continues. The younger voice resumes and you're somewhat surprised to hear the man in front of you respond in a confrontational tone. You can feel the electricity of tension static around you as the older man's abrupt words linger in the air. There is a long stretch of silence before you pull back in shock as the man before you is jerked forward and you feel warm liquid splash on against your face. Time seems to stand still as you wordlessly watch while the mans now limp figure is pulled forward then tossed aside. You inhale sharply when you are finally exposed to the man behind your captor. A lanky but muscular man stands ahead with hazel brown eyes analytically surveying you.

A swath of a dirty blond hair runs along his head and long bangs hang over one side of his face, almost completely covering one his eyes. You're surprised to see that right side of his head his completely shaven and dark black ink runs down his exposed arms forming strange patterns. You've heard of tattoo markings before but have never seen them in real life as they're heavily frowned upon in your religion. A trimmed beard runs along the mans cut jawline and you notice a small tattoo under the man's right ear resembling some strange symbol. You press your back further into the wall behind you as the large man begins walking towards you. He's more than a head taller than you which would put him well over six feet tall. You've heard tales of such men before, Norsemen, or Danes as they are known here. They have never attacked this far south before but stories of their pillaging and destruction had reached even your small village.

The Dane's wide and muscular frame stands before you and he says something in his foreign tongue that sounds like a question. After failing to reply you're surprised to hear him speak again but this time in your language. His voice his heavily accented and though he speaks in broken sentences his voice is just as commanding, "You have been with man before?" Eyes widening in fear, you quickly shake your head side to side, and whisper, "No." You had hoped answering truthfully might help in someway but instead you see a large grin spread across the mans face. His eyes gaze across your bare shoulders and you feel one his large hands curl around your waist. His other hand grabs at your skirt and despite the heat you feel goosebumps form on your legs when he slowly pulls the garment up. Warm liquid trickles down the side of your face and you're unsure if it's sweat, the dead Dane's blood, or a mixture of both.