The Britons

Lok did the foolish thing. Luckily after the first sip, it seemed that the Legendary Red-Knot Lok realised what He was getting into, bracing back a heavy gag as the Moonshine touched his lips, but the man was ever the manly man, battling through the ungodly sharp taste of the Shine to sink the entire flagon.

The Suspense was palpable, as the room was silent, waiting to see if the broad man would go wild, collapse or even fall from the mighty beverage... but against all reason, Aetri watched and smiled as the Broad man fell down into his seat, and smiled widely, so widely that his beard swept aside like a resting bear on the man's face as He belched "Val... hal..." He muttered, raising his mug for another as the other's cried happily rushing for the barrel which Lee began to hand out.

Aetri had a drink of it himself, even Kara took sips, cringing and heaving at the smallest drink that slithered past her red lips, but of course, she had more, they all had more, some foolishly attempting to glug the Grog of the Bogmen, and others taking their time like He did, taking careful and liberal sips, the burning elixir rumbling inside like bubbling tar.

The Legendary Raiders of Uld, one by one, began to fall, lounging and lazing as the Shine overtook their minds and weakened their souls, one by one, falling into a moonlit haze.

The Uld were bright folk, merry and joyous against the wrath of the Northern winds and the ice that it brought, but on this night, nearly nobody sung, for the Uld had been defeated by the Easterling's brew.

Only a few remained standing... well, sitting, and that was Aetri (Still slowly sipping and enjoying his haze), Kara (Her entire body relaxed on her man as she muttered happily to herself), Lee (Chugging another round, utterly unbowed, and unshaken), Frigg (Her head laying in her splayed hands, the Silver locks of hair ruffled messily as she tried to rub the drunkenness from her eyes.) and of course... Black-Crow. (who merely drank, and blinked, drank, and blinked, though Aetri could see her cold visage cracking in the way her brows hopped up every so often)

"The Hel is in... in this Brew..." Frigg mutter groggily as Aetri smiled dopily.

"I warned you..." His voice broke into a belch as He looked down the bobbing head of red hair relaxed against his chest "Kara... Kara are you okay?" He stuck his ear down to try and catch her constant tired mumbling, catching her chin with his fingers to see her beautiful face, red a beetroot.

"Ooooooh... I'm fiiiiiiiine. ooooooh you're so pretty, pretty as... an apple-no! thirty apples hehe..." The Ginger half sang as she mushed her cute face into his chest, her sultry body laying across his lap as she continued to babble. The Young man blinked slothfully, his groin throbbing with each pulse in his chest, having her tits pressed against him like this was getting at him

"It's not chivalrous to take advantage of inebriated ladies, Boy." He would have jolted at Lee's whisper in his ear, if He didn't feel like his head was packed with gunstones. Did she really think that You'd take advantage of her like that? sure the thought popped up but... you wouldn't actually do it

"...."

Lee grinned Lazily, the haze showing in her Green eyes "Oh don't look at me like that, I know you wouldn't. There will be plenty of _Opportunity _later, Patience."

Dammit, don't tease while this girl is on him like this, it only made the aroused thump in his chest inflate.

"Hey, Aetri... do you think, Lok is alright?" Frigg inquired, directing the Young Man to look at the collapsed form of Red-Not Lok in the corner, his face buried in a Red-haired serving girl's globes, her face flushing and a clearly flustered.

"Hmmm, I don't know, You think He can breathe all the way in there?" Aetri raised a curious eyebrow, those where some massive breasts... not a bad way to go.

"You, Girl, is that Idiot, breathing?" The Jarl asked.

The Servant's face only blazed redder as she gently lifted the bearded man's head, lowering her ear to his nostrils and listening keenly "Y-Yes, My Jarl."

The Table shared a laugh "He might not be a match for the Moonshine, but there are no pair of globes on earth that man can't dive in.... especially when said globes have red in their hair." Frigg bobbed her shining head in agreement, holding her mug high in a toast.

"To Red-Not Lok, and Tits."

"Lok and tits!" They called.

It was nice, like this, peaceful, most sat knocked out by the shine, some babbled quietly among themselves, but one remained, stomping his boots and struggling to walk as he fell in between Frigg and Black-Crow, his dark blue eyes and his Silver-blonde hair, soured by the shine "Gods... Hel is in this drink." Tyrg muttered as He struggled to seat himself.

"Damn right." His sister agreed. It was odd, Aetri couldn't recall a time where they looked so similar, then again it was hard to distinguish folks when there were four sets of quaking sets of them.

"You know what, Friggy, I love You!" The Jarl's brother put his arm around her shoulder "You and I have our differences, sure, but we are family and I promise to support you, from here on out, I swear it on the Gallows! haha!"

Frigg seemed to be flattered... and slightly alarmed, Hell even Aetri was alarmed, mainly because Tyrg apparently thought that Crow as his sister, and was holding the Vatan tightly as if she were his own kin "hmmm, Friggy, when did you get so thin?"

Oh god... He's dead.

Lee cackled and Aetri frowned "Umm, Tyrg..."

"Come here, give your little brother a kiss!" He cried, grabbing the Easterling's cheeks and mushing his lips against hers.

Silence, pure, deafening silence, Tyrg was Kissing Black-Crow and everyone knew that His death would be a painful one.... any moment now, she'll kill him... soon... she isn't stopping him? Urrrrrr.

Aetri watched as Tyrg sloppily kissed Crow, the Former Spymaster making no effort to stop his tongue pushing deep into her mouth. something ached in Aetri then, a very bitter ache that slapped at his rib bones and made his teeth grind, was He jealous? no, no that's preposterous, Crow was like a mother to him!

...But then again, so was Lee.

Tyrg drew back and beheld the one He thought was his sister, of course, that pale and unfeeling face stared back, and recognition flared in his eyes, along with a pinch of fear "A-Aunt Crow... oh... Are you going to kill me, now?" He asked

Black-Crow's black eyes flickered to Aetri, his face painted in a grimace as He tried to bury his envy, and she shook her dark head "No. It was a simple mistake, do not make it again." She said coldly.

Lee-fu scoffed "Dodged an Arrow-head there, Moron."

Frigga seemed less composed, flogging her brother harshly with her slapping palms as He braced "YOU WERE GOING TO KISS ME, LIKE THAT, I'M YOUR JARL, AND YOUR SISTER YOU SICK LITTLE INGRATE!!!!" She cried, reigniting Aetri's spirits, letting out a blowing laugh as Young-Uld scowled.

"At least I've got a sister to kiss, bloody Fehu." The Man spat.

Sipping his drink, Aetri shrugged "Actually, I have one more sister than you do so..."

Frigg, Tyrg and Kara's ears pricked up like curious hounds "Y-You have Sisters?" The Redhead asked weakly.

Cocking his half-blonde head, Aetri rolled his eyes "What? just because I'm a lonely outsider with Foster Aunts makes me a kinless orphan does it? Yes, I have sisters, two of them." He admitted, the Shine loosening his tongue.

"I didn't know you had siblings?" Kara inquired.

"Nor me?" Frigg agreed.

Aetri didn't have to look to know that Lee was probably drilling a hole into him with her eyes, but with his inhibitions carried away by a river of shine, He merely shrugged.

"Yeah... I have quite a big family... or I did... or I do, I don't know?" It was the truth, he really had no clue as to his family's fate.

"Alright then, nameless, let's hear about this big family then?" Tyrg said with a dark grin.

He scratched his head "...Well, My Dad died when I was eight, He was sick... I don't know where my mother is." the Thought of her was... He didn't like to think of it He knew that for sure.

"I'm sorry to hear that" Frigg said earnestly, Kara held him closely and tightly, probably because she knew what it was like to lose a father.

"I remember..." Aetri started "...He was so incredible, the way He'd talk, the way he'd walk it was like he didn't have a care in the world, even in battle that smile of his would never falter, never give in, it was a knowing smile like even if the worst was coming, He had a plan for it. Every Tuesday He'd sit with me and My older sisters and read old books, my eldest sister loved it but the rest of us hated it, still every time afterwards, He would sing and dance for us and make us chuckle like a personal jester, it was like making us laugh was all He ever wanted in the world." He smiled to himself, the memory made him feel warm inside.

"He sounds like a good man," Kara muttered, Frigg and Lee nodding in agreement.

"He could be... when He wanted to." Aetri clarified.

"What about your Siblings, couldn't have been more trouble than this wretch." The Jarl said, thumping her brother in the shoulder.

"I don't know... the Younger of My older sisters was pretty wild, people tried and tried to spell out her place in the world, but it never stopped her, she'd swing around swords and make a ruckus, a wildcat if I'd ever known one."

"Sounds like a less subtle version of you, shithead." Lee chuckled.

"A fair comparison. But my eldest sister couldn't be more different, that girl was a mother's girl through and through, you'd be hard-pressed to keep her head out of the books, and you couldn't cut through her manners with a pair of sheers they were so strong. but goddess help you if you interrupted her while she was reading out in the grotto, she'd toss half a dozen apples at your head and not miss a single shot." He still recalled that raining pain in his nape, who knew apples could hurt that much?

"You've got devil's blood in you, sounds it." Tyrg said, his lip curling boyishly at Aetri "Still nothing compared to the trouble we got up to as kids though." He said in a very challenging tone.

The Outsider scowled, leaning forward as his eyes darkened at the challenge "There is My Half-Sister." He sneered

Lee's smile disappeared "Boy..." She said, but Aetri wouldn't hear it.

"She was the Eldest of us, but in Britannia, Bastard children are a stain on a household, so she was not welcome, from the very moment she was born, everyone despised her... but she was always trying to please everyone, and was always kind to us, she was our family in our eyes, it wasn't for debate."

"Aetri." Black-Crow pressed, but the call was on deaf ears, as Aetri growled at Tyrg.

"She was beautiful, strong and skilled enough to fell twenty armoured men before she gave in, she was my hero, I looked up to her, adored her, we all did, all we were guilty of doing was accepting her where other wouldn't, and do you know how she repaid us, do you? Tyrg!?" Aetri's eyes flashed, as Tyrg lent back, disarmed by the sudden fury in the Outsider's tone.

Hatred filled his face and engorged in his throat, it cracked at his mind and at that moment, all He could hear was hearth to his left, the blazing and crackling of the flames. His eyes looked to them and got lost in the fire, the fireplace in that hearth a mere echo of that Blazing inferno that devoured many, and danced as they screamed.

A hand touched his shoulder "Boy... Look at me." His mentor's whisper lulled him away from the flames and helped him push the screams away, He looked at her Venemous eyes "You're here, You're not there, You're safe." He felt Kara stir beneath him, she and the others looked with concern at the fear and wrath in his eyes.

He refocused, taking a deep calming breath as He turned away from the hearth "Gods, Y-You're shaking." Kara said touching his face.

"I'm alright, I'm okay... Sorry, Tyrg." He said earnestly.

Young-Uld for once seemed apprehensive to make a snarky comment "No, it's fine."

THUMP THUMP THUMP

The Six pair's eyes that were still open turned to Valhal's great doors. What the fuck? what Uld in their right mind Knocks, on the doors of Valhal? they were sturdy girls, Aetri knew this because ever since he'd weaselled his way into this village, not a single person had ever hesitated to kick open those doors, never had anyone ever knocked.

Jarl Frigga stood from her chair, apparently just as perplexed as Aetri was, and she seemed about to call out, only to have black-gloved finger's touch her arm "Wait." Crow said coldly.

Lee nodded as her mean face twisted "Yeah, doesn't smell right."

Aetri stood "Crow, Keep to the shadows, be ready." He said, catching Lee's suspicious look.

"You expecting somethin' Boy?"

"Aye... Kara might have spotted... a few men... in armour, plate armour." He winced, waiting for the explosion and damn did it blow

"WHAT!?" She roared, suddenly leaping to action "Put your hood up, boy. You two, not a word, we are nothing, no one, just guests, understood?" Lee growled to the Jarl and her brother.

Frigg seemed wholly intimidated, seemingly forgetting that she was the Jarl "O-Okay?"

"You, Cave-girl, hug him closer, touch him more, they ought to leave him be if he's preoccupied with his woman...." Kara raised an eyebrow at the Easterling

THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP

"Now!" Lee growled, making Kara jolt into sitting up and hugging close to Aetri as He pulled up his Dark fur hood.

Lee sat, gulping down the rest of her drink and slamming it down as she wiped her red lips "*Ahem* Enter!" She called, slouching and putting on a drunken visage.

There was quiet for a moment, before the doors were pushed ajar. Cold streamed in as the whipping winds streaked through into the warmth. Shadowed forms emerged into the light, the heavy thump of clinking sabatons drumming suddenly through the door, as a troop of Five men strode in out from the frosty night.

Some wore helms of polished steel, hoods attached to their Midnight black cloaks cast over them, the matreal nudged from their upturned visors, bright red, grim faces peaking out from under them. These men were not like the Uld, one could tell not just from their thick Black cloaks with the gleaming plate underneath, but by their gate, the proud and slight arrogance of their movements, they Five men scowling at the cold as they shivered, a few groaning at relief to be in the warm.

"By the bloody Saints, curse this cold!" The man who spoke was helmetless, but it was not only this that distinguished him from the others, He was smaller, more nimble, with flowing Ivory symbols interlaced into his cloak, giving the appearance of interconnecting bones. His eyes were a Deep grey with dark bags underneath, his black stubble was slashed with several scars across his cheeks and nose, which looked as if it had been broken a couple times, the hair was short, cropped and of a discoloured chocolate brown. His eyes were watchful, as they scanned the room, looking with confusion at the many raiders who had lost the battle with the Moonshine, but as His eyes settled on the table where Frigg, Tyrg and Aetri sat, his face arced into a wide smile, that reminded Aetri of a slashed Hallows eve pumpkin.

"Ahhhhh! You must be Lady Frigga, I apologise profusely for my sudden appearance, Myself and my men were having a spot of bother with the frost you see." the tone was familiar, and Aetri and Lee shared a look.

"I never expected to see a Lowborn, from the capital in full Plate?"

It was an accent that Aetri hadn't heard in many many years, but it was unmistakable. Frigga raised an eyebrow at the man, looking to Lee for help. Of course, speaking in the King's tongue of Britannia would confuse a Norne, the Old tones of the Britons were a lot more nuanced compared to the simple common tongue that most Uld spoke.

Lee stood from her chair wobbily "Sorry, mate, I'm afraid the Jarl isn't familiar with the King's Tounge. Better stick to common." She said a little groggily.

The Bone-Cloaked man raised an eyebrow, but he smiled even wider "Oooooh, I'm sorry, Milady, how lucky we are to have a Briton in company... or an Easterling with a Briton's tongue, Please forgive my ignorance, I have only been in your..." He searched for the words "...Strong, country for a few weeks, I am fairly new to your customs."

The Silver-haired woman's face wasn't that of Frigg anymore, she was Jarl Frigga now, hard and strong, and disliking of disrespect "Who are you, Outlander, How is it that You got into my Village?" she said darkly.

The Leader grimaced "Oh dear me, how very rude of me, barging in without making introductions." He lowered himself to one knee, his knee plates clinking on the floor as his men also knelt "I am Sir Baudwin of Blackbrook, an Agent in Service of her Majesty: Queen Mordred the Vortiger. and I was allowed to enter by your delightful watchers at the north gate, we have some business with you, you see."

"Curse those bloody louts!" Aetri growled, making a point to hide his face behind Kara as she caressed his face closely.

Frigga took a few steps forward, standing proud "I am Fierce-Uld Frigga, Jarl of this Village. What business would I have with Britons who are fool enough to walk in our land in full plate?"

Baudwin chuckled lightly, standing up with his men echoing his every movement "Aye, it is quite foolish, we realise now, but our horses are weak in cold, not built for it you see, so we have little choice in the matter now. Saints one of my men lost half his toes to frostbite-"

"I asked you a question. Answer it." Jarl Frigga demanded.

Sir Baudwin's dark smile widened as he chuckled "Right to business then? very well. Myself and my men recently came into contact with another Nornish Clan, one just north of here, the Skal I think they said?"

Aetri tensed, his eyes traced their weapons, arming swords, a flail, a particularly mean looking battle axe, it would be foolish to fight them now with half the Uld knocked out on the floors, but if it came to that...

Frigg ran her hands through her hair, glaring at the men in frustration "You barge into my village without permission, come into our sacred hall and let out all the heat from our hearths, then claim to have met with our sworn enemy, the Skjal. And you Britons call us ignorant and primitive, I have half a mind to kill you." She growled.

Baudwin raised his gauntleted hands "Peace, Milady, I meant no offence, I bear thee no ill will, but I have on good faith on the agreement between out kingdoms truce that I can deliver a humble message at Jarl Jorgen's request."

They all shared a look, but Frigga placed her hands on her hips, considering them cooly with her mean mug "And why should I hear a message from an honourless dog, like Scarred-Skjal Jorgen?"

"Honourless or not, I have come on goodwill with Jarl Jorgen, that your clans will finally come to an accord." Frigga huffed with annoyance, turning to Lee.

"What the fuck is an Accord?" Frigg asked.

Lee stood, folding her powerful arms "Sounds to me like the Skjal want a truce."

The collected laughs of Aetri, Frigga, Tyrg and the few other Uld that were awake echoed through the great halls of Valhal, "Bull-fucking-shit." Tyrg growled, standing to announce his stature "The Skjal are nothing but bloodthirsty murders who trick and scam people out of their gold before opening their throats and skinning them from head to toe, do you really think that we would actually believe this!?"

Baudwin cleared his throat, reaching into his cloak where Aetri spotted his finely crafted steel plate cuirass with fine clothen front, the insignia of which made his skin crawl, that of the Skeletal Dragon.

The Briton Agent brandished something that made Aetri's eyes bulge with shock, everyone was flabbergasted, for in this man's hand, was none other than the Skjal-Horn, Jarl Jorgen's prised drinking horn, the very same that Aetri had tried to steal.

"May I approach?" He had the advantage, and He knew it, any could see it in that scarred face of his. Frigga nodded, extending her hand. Baudwin stepped over some of the unconscious raiders and gently placed the Golden horn into Frigga's hands. "I trust this will be proof enough of the Skjal's goodwill."

The Jarl looked up at the men, contemplating the horn with her hands "Why are you here, Blackbrook Baudwin, why did you come to these lands and break bread with the Skjal of all the Southern Clans?" She asked suspiciously.

Baudwin huffed "Oh it was a menial task really, Milady, my duties where... Inquisitorial of nature-oh no need to translate, I mean I was sent here looking for something. The Skjal just so happened to find it for us and once we take it into our possession we will be homeward- or will be going home, right away."

"And what is it that You were looking for, Outlander?" Tyrg asked, his scowl matching his sister's.

The Briton Knights all stirred, but Baudwin merely shrugged "Something lost to her Majesty long ago, we had gained intel from an insider that it may have somehow found it's way here, and luckily we have caught sight of it, nothing of too much concern though I assure you."

Lee rolled her eyes "What part of she doesn't understand King's tongue don't you get, Idiot?" His mentor said as Frigga and Tyrg looked confused.

The Leader of the Trope fixed his eyes on Lee and grinned again, moving deftly towards her in a strong stride. His Mentor snarled, marching forward to meet him head to head.

"That damn fool can't control her temper for five minutes?"

She was taller than him, a clearly stronger, even when compared to a man in full-plate armour Lee seemed a beast in her blonde fur coat and Her striped scarf.

"Don't be so arrogant as to assume that I do not know who you are, Knight-General Ector." He hissed in a low voice that harshly contrasted his friendly tone prior.

Lee lent down to glare at the man "I'm not that woman, Sir Baudwanker or whatever your name is, I am simply Aunt-Lee out here. But... if you really want to meet, General Ector of the Legion, the Black Iron Bitch, then I'll gladly call on her, and watch as I squeeze that big ugly mug of yours into one of those fireplaces and watch you burn like a suckling piglet"

Whatever wrong Bauwin had planned to carry out, he clearly saw the better of it, grimacing under the Woman's beastly gaze and stepping back for a moment... "Well, I suppose I should take my leave, although the Skjal did make it clear that if the Truce is not confirmed by tomorrow then the offer will be refused. Goodnight Milady, may the Dragon never take you.."

Aetri blinked, feeling Kara trembling as she held him tightly, touching at his arms and shoulders in a mock sensuality, He couldn't help but peer around kara at the Briton agent.

but luckily it seemed like the Knights would be on their way, although just as He was about to walk away He turned slightly, looking with his sickly eyes to look dead into Aetri's eyes with his piercing gaze "I Hope to see you soon."