Holmgang

“Wait up Ernak, we need an plan” Torvi called following behind him, “Plan’s simple I go in an kill them, you watch my back” “I want to help but I won’t walk into an camp and get killed my 100’s of arrows” “I’ll take out the archers and cover Torvi’s distraction. You will find the leader kill him and find Lagertha” Artemis spoke frankly joining the pair, “Simple enough” Ernak spoke somewhat unconvinced, however looking over to Logos, Logos simply stated, “We need to talk!”

“What?!” Ernak growled already frustrated by the delay, “You aren’t seriously considering walking up to the camp and fighting everyone in it?!” “What’s the matter scared?” “No but to succeed you will need either an army or an weapon that wields phenomenal power” “My sword…” Ernak commented walking forward to which Logos finished, “And me to wield it… Let me take control and I’ll rescue your damsel” “What do you mean control?” “It will feel like a long sleep but when you wake up you will be in front of Lagertha” Ernak sighed before nodding Logos muttered, “Sleep now, I’ll do the rest.”

“Time to get to work!” Logos spoke winking to Artemis who nodding in approval watched him walk up to the two guards standing at the edge of camp, “Stop Drengr” Ernak drew his knife and killing the first used the hidden blade to kill the other and marching forward aimed the glowing bow towards a group sending an explosive arrow in their direction, “It feels sooo great to be back!” Logos laughed grabbing the first spear off the weapon stack and sent it through three warriors, he grabbed the next and taking out an archer watched as the body knocked two others over. Logos drew the glowing blade and slamming it into the ground watched the shockwave of gold light send the enemies closer. Logos decapitated the first before sending out another blast from the weapon watched as the gold lines formed into bling shapes killing anyone who was near them or touched it and walking forward Logos simply looked at the remainder of the scared warriors and slammed 4 explosive arrows into the ground causing the bodies parts of these very people to now rain down over him.

He walked forward and killing the next guards barged passed the next group Knocking the oil jars over and setting the black liquid ablaze causing the small groups to scream when the flames reached them and now being made aware of an intruder the King emerged from his tent, to see the man causing the trouble remove his lieutenant’s head. His guards quickly encircled him but becoming weary of the glowing man who was in front of them but Logos not standing down simply barked horsely, “Give me my lover back.”

Logos closed his eyes and stumbling back slightly it was now Ernak who was awoken and smiling at Lagertha stated, “My beloved” she smiled back but being dragged behind the king who simply stated, “You killed many of my men it would be a shame to kill you for such a trivial thing” “It’s not trivial, it’s the woman I love” the king looked to his mother who drawing the document from its cover stated, “According to this document, she was wedded to Ragnor and he in order to establish peace between both groups accepted that he will marry this beauty and Ragnor would wed my daughter, Magnhild. You have no standing and attacking me breaks the fragile peace that we now share” “So that’s it? I have an choice to either sacrifice our happiness for peace or kill you and bring more **** upon both sides!”

“I see it as you leaving with gold or dying with your clan” Ernak looked around and smirking stated, “I offer you this… Holmgang; me and you, if I win I take Lagertha; if you win you will have proven your point, have Ivar’s clan support; which is the stronger of the two clans and would have defeated the legend, think of the prestige” “Why would I risk my position for the likes of you?” Ernak pondered it before stating, “I heard that the gods speak to you, they guide your hand and they have chosen you. If that’s the case then what’s the worry!” “There isn’t any but this isn’t necessary!” “This is… you have Lagertha and aren’t willing to let her go!” his mother urged him to not cave in to the pressure Ernak had pushed on him and almost luring him into the challenge, “I know what I am; I know the truth to what I claim but you… for all these people know, you could be a liar, a cheat seeking only power; turning people’s faith against them” “I was chosen by the gods to lead our people!” “Or we’re you chosen to die here today so I can continue with my story?!” “How dare you disrespect my son, the chosen one, by the gods?!” Ernak shrugged before stating, “By his own mouth, no one else’s; I know what it’s like to be a god, to be chosen as an reincarnation of those who came before and you… you are nothing like one of us.”

He slammed his fist into his open hand and nodding so his men would form in a circle yelled, “I accept your terms now you will die for denouncing the gods!” Ernak drew his blade and readying himself for the first strike, easily deflected it before kicking his opponent to the floor. “He’s gonna be swinging left!” Logos but Ernak laughing stated, “I know he is going left!” then countering his opponent’s hastily changed strike stabbed his foe in the shoulder and throwing him down in a thump raised his empty hand watching as the blade automatically pull itself away from the bleeding flesh and return straight back to his hand. He pulled himself back to his feet but eyes growing wide he cried out when the golden cloud of light came from Ernak’s sword and was sent hurdling down towards him. The crowd gasped before backing away saw the body distorted on the floor and crouching down near to its level Ernak stated so those around him could here, “As expected they were lies, unless…” “What?” Logos queried studying the body and standing back to meet Logos’ level Ernak stated, “Fates were entwined… maybe this was his fate. Freyja… was married to Odin and you left your home and came to his realm to save her. I went from my clan to his army to save Lagertha. You defeated Odin to rescue Freyja… I rescued Lagertha. All along the story was being retold” “You think he was Odin?” Logos laughed and disagreeing Ernak said, “The idea is rough but you said things have changed, the story was altered maybe this is one of them?” Logos contemplated it before shrugging stated, “What about those lot behind you?”

Ernak looked back and smiling at Lagertha she simply smiled upon seeing the faint cuts from his battle to reach her heal; he simply wiped the blood from his hands and offering it to her she grabbed them and pulled herself into a hug watching as the army stood there unsure of what to do next. “We… we were going to keep our end of the deal” the slain Jarl mother spoke and nodding Ernak, “The deal stands, Magnhild will marry Ragnor; I will be with Lagertha which joins all three clans together. No more of your family blood will be spilt! We just need to reach some terms and our clans support will help against the invaders” she nodded before asking, “Will there be anything else?”