Early life part 2.

Now in his teens a lot of the bullying had ceased. Instead they would lure him into a fight and claim he attacked them. It wouldn’t be soo believable if Ernak hadn’t started to mature as quickly as he did. He started at 10 and was bulkier than the others and a lot stronger. Even Ragnor was intimidated; he from his point of view stated out of conflict unless they ganged up on Ernak then he would help his brother. Fights were common but a lot of them Ernak would win. The voice had never left and the Seer now more interested by this news wanted to prod more into the voices and what they said. Ernak now however had friends. When the daughters of Erik came all those years ago friends also came. The youngest was Torvi who very not lady liked, liked to fight, drink and act like one of the boys. She would always fight alongside Ernak if she was around and would very often aimed for lasting damage. She adored Ernak and thought of him as a brother. Then there was Lagertha who blossomed into a woman just like he had a man. She was fierce and wouldn’t back away from a fight but would also rely more on her wit and charm to defuse situations; but as she grew older Ivan and his group noticed and seeing Ernak’s attraction to the woman smirked knowing they had a opening.

Ernak walked passed on his way to see Lagertha who wanted to meet him stopped when he heard Ivan joke, “That Lagertha. I’m going to show her what a real man looks like!” “Only before I make her my wife!” Signe laughed, “Either way no mongrel children from that woman!” Dagr laughed and pulling her to the side Ivan joked, “Where are you going?” “To see Ernak, we are going to go for a walk!” “You don’t want that. Come with us and come for a drink!” “No thank you!” Lagertha responded but feeling Ivan’s pressure she growled, “Let me go!” “No!” Dagr mocked, “Get away from her!” Ernak growled. His focus on Lagertha pulled her away but feeling a thump on the back of the head, was floored when Ivan hit him over the head with a bottle, “Wait what are you doing?!” Lagertha screeched and drawing his knife Ivan spat, “Just making sure he remembers what he is. A. FILTHY. FUCKING. MONGREL!” he held the knife over Ernak’s face and hearing the cries from the man heard Ivan spell out, “M. O. N. G…” his friends stood in shock at what he was doing but Torvi running in yelled, “Get off him!” as she threw a rock at Ivan and grabbing a torch yelled, “Get away!” she used the torch as a barrier whilst Lagertha rushed to Ernak’s side and helping him up snapped, “We need to get him to Sigurd!” Torvi nodded and covering their retreat; all knew there would be hel to pay.

“Ernak?!” Alfhild cried rushing to her son’s side and wiping the blood away to see the scarred letters Sigurd growled, “Ivan!” was only a few moments later when the parents of Ivan walked up ready to make their 100’s of excuses but seeing the damage to Ernak’s face their immediate attitude changed from defending their son to thinking of compensation to the young man. “I’ve enough of this!” Sigurd growled ignoring the parents protests and despite their promises to make it up to Ernak, Sigurd growled back, “That doesn’t fix his face!” “It will heal!” Ivan spat but reaching for his weapon Alfhild stood in his way and reminded, “As much as I want to do it myself we have to do this the right ways!” Sigurd nodded and standing up Sigurd growled, “Holmgang!”

Ivan walked in to the circle with both axes in hand and reaching for his weapon he was pulled back by a figure from the shadows who reminding him of his importance Sigurd growled, “He is my son!” “And to our group irrelevant. Ragnor has the god genes we seek. Not Ernak!” “He is still my son damn it!” and nodding the figure stated, “And a Hun. Let’s see if **** does run in their veins!” “You can’t be serious. Ivan’s a trained warrior. Ernak has only ever used his fists!” Lagertha shrieked and shrugging her father; Erik said, “Then I hope he uses a shield!”

Ernak watched as Ivan waited knowing Ernak’s weakness of being hot headed, “Nervous?!” the voice asked and shaking his head Ernak spat, “Angry!” “Use it wisely. Channel it into your blows not your movement!” “Which one?!” Ernak questioned and studying the weapons Logos replied, “Shield and Sword. Ivan isn’t much of an challenge!” Ernak nodded and taking in the circle cheering the fight on Ivan spat, “Should let me finish the job. You would still be alive then!” “Don’t respond!” the voice boomed and ordering him to get ready said, “He’s going to swing left axe down first and then the right when he does use the sword to push the weapons down and shield to hit him in the face. Ernak watched and dodging the first followed the instructions causing Ivan to fall backwards and swinging his sword into Ivan left a cut into his right hand side. Ivan tried again but being met with the same outcome the voice boomed, “Duck and then trip!” he dodged the first attempt and then the second before taking a breath dodged the third swing put his foot out to trip Ivan up. Ivan fell to the floor and feeling the anger burn inside of him the voice boomed, “Use it to finish the job!” one yell and pushing the sword through Ivan’s chest, Ernak’s grabbed the axes and yelled, “This is for all the years of bullying!” as he hacked away at the body over and over again; only stopping when Sigurd pulled him away into an hug, “It’s okay son it’s over.”