Peace

“We have fought in numerous battles over the last few weeks and neither side has had much success” Sigurd stated addressing the group, “Both are suffering a lot of losses but roughly a third of their army has been held back. We assume it’s their best warriors which will come in to clear up the scraps. Our losses are high but a few decisive victories could have pushed them back but we don’t know how” Ernak pondered it before stating the obvious responded, “Whose even Idea was it to take them on in open combat? You are obviously outnumbered and probably have inferior fighters?” “Sigurd’s but at least he listened to my suggestion of using the machines to fend off the initial army strikes. Problem is we have now gained land that meant drawing us away from our advantage” Björn stated to which Ernak commented, “Then fall back... let them come to us. When they come to explore they will see it abandoned and become naturally curious when they venture forward we unleash our trap... then another band of warriors led by me will cut their retreat and slaughter the remainder. After that we’ll see what our situation is.”

There was an awkward silence to which Alfhild ended with, “We don’t have to anymore” “Anymore?! What do you mean?” Ernak questioned and now looking back to Logos, Logos stated, “Where’s Lagertha?” Ernak began to look around for her already suspecting the truth, “Where is she?” Ernak snapped and with another awkward silence Ernak sighed once more, something that was becoming more and more common with the family. “Tell me... how many men did it take to drag her away from here?” “It wasn’t like that...” Ragnor tried to explain but being met by Ernak’s challenge of, “And you... what did they pay you?” “I had **** Ernak. It was for the clans safety; a peace treaty. I absolutely hated the idea but at least the clan is safe now.”

Ernak paced back and for until grabbing the table flipped it over allowing him to close the distance between him and Sigurd, only becoming separated when the room flooded with warriors all attempting to separated the two, “I have had a fucking enough of you all” “Ernak please. It doesn’t have to be like this; the the king will treat her well and we now have stability. You have the freedom to search for another and failing that a chance to renegotiate with the king for her release” Alfhild urged. “He won’t release her... she’s the best looking and kindest woman in the country and you expect him to release her like a type of package because you have asked nicely?” “No I honestly don’t” Sigurd stated and looking down continued, “I won’t lie or try to deceive you anymore because we both know I can’t fix it. She is gone and we failed you Ernak. Calling you ‘son’ would just insult you more” “We can fix it!” Alfhild pleaded but shaking his head Sigurd was cut off by Ernak who barked, “And do what? Offer your shrivelled old body to the king? To me? Or do you want me to wed your whore of a daughter” Ragnor growled and defending his mother yelled back, “Watch your mouth Ernak. She did raise you as one of her own!” “And what good did that do me? A clan where people hated me for my skin colour, my race, my accent; people who hated me because I wasn’t one of them. A family that betrayed me multiple times and lied even more, a family that listened to a lying cunt who only cares about money” “I know, I failed you!” Sigurd spoke fighting back the tears and falling to his knees stated, “If you want my head then do it. I don’t deserve Valhalla” Alfhild nodded and falling to her knees replied sticking with her husband, “Do what you must” Ernak looked down still fighting from the men holding him back heard, “Ernak please listen...” Ragnor pleaded but breaking free Ernak snapped, “I’m going to rescue her then I will deal with you! All of you!” “You can’t be serious... walk up to camp, kill everyone and get her back” Erik laughed, “It’s better than letting her go” “You do this and you will bring endless **** to our people” “Let me ask you something... what was the trade? Lagertha for what?” Ernak challenged, “His older sister” Sigurd muttered and snapping Ernak replied, “So you let her go and never demanded your “political hostage” to be delivered at the same time? Foolish; he has all the cards” Sigurd groaned realising the error and knowing questioning the king would make him aware of the position he now held, “Look let me send some of our warriors to help you plan a way in” Sigurd bargained then Ivar offered his assistance, “Take my forces, we’ll walk to Valhalla and back for you” Artemis snarling at the group fired back, “We’ll get her back, family stick together!” Ernak turned away and spitting through tears of anger and frustration replied, “I don’t need any of you useless fuckers. I’ll do it by myself as per usual, all she has ever been to you guys is a tool. You are all weak and pathetic leaders who don’t deserve the clan’s support and the family I don’t even know you all fully” “Then trust Logos, he is with you; he’ll look out for you!” Ernak looked to Logos who shaking his head Ernak nodded to the air before stating, “He agrees with me. Torvi let’s go!” Torvi downed her ale and restocking up on arrows spoke, “Let’s go get sister back.”

After the pair walked away Artemis glared at the human’s whose heads hung in shame spoke, “That’s it? One of your own and you just leave him to go to his ****?” Erik cold heartedly stated, “We promised that she could be his after we reached stability, we have and now she is his. He just has to get her back first” Artemis looked down and laughing stated, “So that’s it? He came back with us believing we could live here, that you would look out for us. After what you all did he still believed you would care enough to help but he was wrong... you don’t even look after your own” Artemis looked to Nyx who nodded to her, “Good luck Artemis” “Look after the family” Artemis replied Alfhild took Artemis’ arm to pull her back into her direction where she simply spoke, “He doesn’t want anyone to help!” and turning back Artemis snapped, “Don’t tell me how to look after my son, you bitch!”