Chapter 186: King Astrom

"The girl spoke with an old hunter for a while. I didn’t hear much. What I did hear was about how to hunt but their expressions told another story." The black cloak stood before Ivar as he sat on the steps looking to the roof.

"Thank you." He waved the black cloak off falling backwards and leaning on the steps.’Should I just kill at this point? Maybe I can avoid both futures then.’The idea left as quickly as it came. Helga hadn’t given him permission and it had the risk of destroying her plans with Sven.

’First an intruder and now this.’Ivar sighed deeply as he grabbed his eyes.This is getting hard. And we still haven’t lured out any traitors.’His hopes that the rouge elements within the kingdom would come out with the war hadn’t come true. It was a headache. Not even a slither of information about it had been found, only a few voices of complaint from the people.

"Okay." Slapping his knees and getting up he looked down the corridor to Frida’s room. "I only need one grievance to work off."

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"Gunnar." A man who looked equally as old as Gunnar got up and hugged him. Compared to the conditions Rolf was living in, the men sitting around the fire were in luxury. It was still a cave, but they had a wide variety of furniture and barrels full of beer.

That being said, Gunnar could see that the life they were now living had taken a toll. Some remained drunk throughout the whole day, whilst others had gotten noticeably thinner. The drive for revenge is the only reason they chose such poor living conditions. looking at them it was really a showing of Rolf’s will.

"You’ve gotten fatter old man." Gunnar and the old man looked at one another before breaking into laughter as they took a seat, a mug of beer appearing in front of Gunnar as soon as he did.

"You lot seem thinner." Another laugh came from the men as they all rank to it not denying it. He waited for the laughter to die down before talking. "Tell me. Do any of you know about Jarl Sven?"

They looked at one another before a younger man walked forward taking a seat before Gunnar. "Aye." He took a drink. "What it you want to know?"

"I think there could be a chance for him to help us, but I’m not sure. I can’t trust the man and Rolf certainly can’t. I’ve met his brat and another guy that serves him."

"Where would you get a chance for that." Another, who was sitting against the cave wall asked.

"His daughter was sent as a hostage to Helga. It looks like he bent the knee." At his words, a couple scrawled disdainfully. "That being said, there have been two opportunities where his brat and that warrior could have had me killed. And both times they have helped me."

"Did you lead them here Gunnar?" Everyone’s arms twitched as they reached for their weapons. The old warrior sighed and shook his head.’Just like Rolf.’

"No. If it was that old guy, I may have been more suspicious, but the girl can’t hide what she feeling. She debated giving me up at that moment but chose against it. If the old man told her to do it she probably would of, despite the bad blood between them right now."

"That Sven really bent the knee. Why?" The only one who didn’t reach for their weapon was the young man who came forward to talk. He just sat confused.

"She plans on invading the West as we all know."

The man sat in silence frowning. "No. Sven only cares about his blood feud right now. It’s quite famous over there. But during my time in his lands, I did hear about his old ambition, before the start of the feud."

All eyes fell on him after the threat of Gunnar being followed had passed. "He at first wanted to become king of the West, taking over the neighboring Jarls. men don’t lose that ambition so easily, even if others take over." He took a swig of his drink whipping the drops that fell from the corners of his mouth.

"He won’t become King if he bent the knee, however."

"Exactly." The old man said crossing his arms. "But he will have the chance to kill those two. If he still has ambition to become King then he may be trying to achieve it from the inside."

"It’s likely. From what I knew of him, to bend the knee to anyone, a woman no less seems strange." The young man spoke straight after. "You said you got help from his daughter, who was the other? What was his name?"

"Brede."

"Ahhhh." The young smile deep from his soul. "That man is brothers with Sven. He served his father, and then through battle they bloomed a brotherhood. Whatever he does would be in line with the Jarl’s motives. I guarantee it."

"So, we have an ally." Gunnar’s words floated through the air and with a single nod from the young man, everyone’s face split into a wide smile. Some could feel their hands gravitating to their weapons whilst others burst into laughter destroying the silence.

"Go bring the boy here. It’s time we begin our move."

"I’ll try. But it will be hard."

"You’ve gone soft Gunnar." The old warrior slapped his back. "Tie him up if you have to. Just bring him here." Gunnar sighed but gave in nodding. Before he could get up and leave, A heavy hand pushed him down from the shoulder.

"You’re not leaving today. It’s a celebration after all." With his mug refilled, Gunnar looked at it and smiled before picking it up and cheering with the others.

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Astrom sat lazily on his throne. A bear skin wrapped around his body struggled to hide the exploding muscle underneath as he threw an axe up and down catching it the last second before it pierced him.

"Astrom." Compared to the exploding muscle that Astrom pridefully wore, a small dwarf walked in. He was a clean-shaven, bald man, looking more like a mole than a person, but he spoke with power and arrogance.

Astrom watched as the axe threatened to pierce his skull before he quickly caught it, sitting up to look down at the dwarf. "What is it Torsten?" Torsten stuck out the small note to Astorm who read it before throwing it to the side.

"Who is this Helga woman?" With a dismissive attitude, Astrom leaned back again and continued to throw his axe.

"During the Great Raid that Jarl Erik called, she took power from the two Kings and two Jarls, returning with proclaimed divinity."

Astrom scoffed as he threw the axe again. "So she’s a God. First I would have ever seen one."

"Her marriage is a good proposal."

"I have enough wives." Astrom once again dismissed the idea getting an annoyed smile from Torsten

"You should accept. It is a chance to increase the land you own." Astom caught his axe once more sitting up again having his attention caught. "From rumors, it seems the people under her are not very happy. You could kill her and take what she owns."

"Does she have no family left?"

"Her brothers were killed, she killed her father apparently and her children are bastards as well as babes. It’s a simple thing." Torsten said happily and Astrom smiled.

"Then it makes things easier." Getting up he finally revealed his towering figure. His body looked ready to explode trying to contain his muscle mass and every inch of him screamed of brutality. "Send a Raven. I agree. I’ll get my men ready to move."

Torsten gave a nod walking off. Walking through the corridors of Astrom’s hall people moved out of his way. Despite the eyes of repulsion, they got looking at him, they didn’t dare say or do anything that could upset him. Everyone knew that whilst Astrom was the King, Torsten was the one who truly ran things for him.

That being said one man stood before him. He looked much like Astom but much younger. Torsten stopped seeing his path blocked and looked up at the tall boy, no older than 18. "What are you doing here half man?"

Torsten smiled. "Move." His voice was cold. It was laughable to anyone who heard it, yet no one did, other than Astrom’s son. Trying to walk past, a slight knee to his chest forced him back.

Torsten grabbed it feeling slight pain. "I asked, what are you doing?"

"Your father has given me an order. If you want to stop me anymore, I will turn back and tell him how his dear boy didn’t let me through."

A click of the tongue echoed throughout the hall and only then did he move to the side to let Torsten through. "Freak." He said it quietly under his breath.

Torsten smiled hearing that but shook his head.’I’ll see to it that he gets sent to the front first.’

Walking forward the boy called out, "Father." The young man entered the throne room seeing his father carefully put on his armour. It looked too big to fit a normal human but stuck to Astrom. The man looked back with lazy eyes that slowly became annoyed from being distracted. "Why do you allow that freak to walk our halls and talk to you?"

Astrom stared at his son for a couple of seconds forcing him to shrink his neck. "Pathetic." It was the only word he said seeing his son’s scared appearance as he returned to put his armor on. "That dwarf doesn’t even cower under my eyes and yet my own blood does."

Looking down at the ground in embarrassment he clenched his fists but uncurled them smiling. "If he’s so brave why not bring him along? I’m sure he would be a mighty warrior."

Irrated Astrom clicked his tongue. He dropped the chest piece he was putting on it creating a loud thud as it hit the ground. Turning he walked to his son who shrinked into his shoulders once more. Astrom looked at him before grabbing his face and slamming him into the ground. "Go away. You are not suited to talking like that half-man you look down on."

Through his enormous fingers, Astrom saw his son’s terrified eyes as he removed his hand and clicked his tongue once more in disappointment.