Chapter 191: The Clash of Egos

Helga watched as the behemoth who reeked of carnage and brutality walked over. He stopped just before her, his lazy eyes looking down at her. With a confrontational smile, Helga took a step closer, lifting her nose high full of pride and arrogance. The air around them seemed to twist as sparks of tension exploded. Despite having marched for a week, Astrom and his men didn’t look tired.

"You are my new wife?" With a dismissive voice, Astrom asked. Helga’s lip twitched at his words.

"And you are King Astrom." Blowing the air out his nostrils he nodded before looking around at the army that followed Helga. Helga did the same before her eyes landed on a dwarf who was out of place. Her face contorted not a physical disgust as she looked back at Astrom. "Why have you brought that thing here?"

Astrom followed her eyes and scoffed. "He got too arrogant feeling he was safe." Helga’s eyes lingered on Torsten before looking away, her eyes feeling disgusted by looking at him.

"Shall we discuss the war?" Astrom nodded following behind Helga as she led him into a private tent. Inside Ketil stood guard, watching over the two. Astrom gave him a good look giving an approving nod.

"He a strong one." Taking his seat he said in passing as Helga’s smile grew wider.

"It’s only natural my champion is strong." Her words were layered with arrogance and a self-love that made Astrom laugh.

"Torsten said you thought yourself a God."

"I don’t think." Her dagger slammed into the table, her words going cold. From behind Ketil’s murderous eyes bore deep into Astrom’s back who didn’t flinch. "I know it. And you will respect that." Helga’s stared deep into his eyes and Astrom smiled, lifting his chin up arrogantly to look down on her; the gesture angering Helga.

"At least you seem stronger than my other wives," Astrom said dismissively knowing that he was planning to kill Helga later for her lands. "Anyway, this war. Tell me about it."

Helga’s face went flat. "The three Jarls have only just begun their move a couple of days ago. They have moved into a fort near the mountains and seem to be waiting for me to move. I want your forces to start moving into Jarl Oluf’s lands, and force them to split."

"So I am bait," Astrom said annoyed getting a nod from Helga. "Fine." Astrom got up and looked towards Ketil. "But I need to know you’re truthful about this marriage."

Helga squinted understanding what he meant when he looked at Ketil and frowned. "Do you not trust me, King Astrom." He replied with a deadpan face and stared at her getting a chuckle from her, whilst her hands clenched into fists under the table.

"Ketil. Leave us." The soft berserker looked at Astrom for a second before grunting and making his way out of the tent. Helga stood up walking in front of Astrom. "I don’t think you are deserving of me yet Astrom."

Astrom smiled but his hands moved quickly as he forcibly grabbed her and pushed her to her bed. her eyes went cold and she delivered a quick kick to his face. Astrom touched his nose, feeling blood begin to fall from it. Looking down at Helga who was rising, he curled his fist but stopped, hearing her next words.

"Not yet Astrom. The war comes first." Getting up she brushed her shoulders as if Astrom’s hands left filth on them making him chuckle.’Disgusting. He’s a brute like Frode.’

"Fine." His words came out as a near growl.’I will remove that arrogance soon’He silently told himself as he cleaned the blood on his fingers. "When do we march."

"Tomorrow. Remember. No survivors in this war." Helga said cruelly getting a nod from Astrom. She didn’t think it necessary to tell him about the deal made with Sven, never planning on letting him live for too long. If Astrom killed him during the war, then everything would work out. If Sven killed Astrom, then it made her future invasion of his Kingdom easier.

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Ralph, Astrom’s son watched as a pit formed, two fighters entering its center- one from Helga’s camp the other his. He watched as the two threw punch after punch at one another, turning the clear snow red with each strike.

"You look scared," Torsten spoke from next to him causing Ralph to click his tongue. Yet he smiled and looked down at the dwarf with a happy smile.

"Did you get armor made for children? Because why else would they have any in your size." Torsten smiled at his words, not letting his displeasure show as he watched the two warriors fight with great difficulty.

"No. But I’m surprised you even have some. After all, when have you ever been in a fight boy."

"Shut it freak," Ralph said angrily causing Torsten to smile arrogantly. "Let’s see how long you can keep that ugly smile. Father’s reputation won’t be able to protect you on the battlefield after all."

"It will be fine. I survived the worst. You on the other hand. Can you even swing a sword properly?"

"Why don’t we go into the pit and I can show you, dwarf."

"I’ll pass. I don’t think I am a match for the great Ralph." Torsten laughed as someone who overheard the conversation snickered, making Ralph go red.

"You are playing a dangerous game half-man. When father is gone, I will get rid of you." Torsten put his hands up and gave an exaggerated shiver to his words pretending to be scared before laughing again.

"I will await the day. But I do wonder if you even will be his heir. No one knows who will fall in war after all."

Ralph wanted to say something but his eyes caught something and he looked away. Torsten watched as he found the boy’s eyes locked onto Helga who walked passed with Ketil. He could see instantly that the boy was smitten with the queen and tried his hardest not to laugh.

"Already desiring your new mother. I wonder what your father would say." Once more he was reminded of Torstens existence and sighed in annoyance.

"Fuck off." His eyes once again followed Helga and Ketil with the large man stopping and turning to face the eys that wouldn’t leave his body. Ralph froze at his threatening gaze as he fought to not take a step back.

"oh." It escaped Torstens mouth as he smiled walking away.’Maybe he might get himself killed. To desire that crazy woman. Poor boy.’Despite that, he smiles thinking about it. Torsten knew he only enjoyed his privileges thanks to Astrom still putting up with him, but he didn’t plan on losing it when he was gone.

Astrom had many kids and he had already begun grooming the younger ones to trust him completely. He just needed Ralph dead for it to work.’Soon. Astrom doesn’t care if he dies anyway.’

"What is it Ketil?" Helga asked seeing the other man kept looking at a certain person.

"A pest keeps looking at us."

"Ignore it. Back on top topic. What do you think your chances are in killing Astrom."

"Low." The man didn’t lie as he looked to the ground in disappointment. "Seeing him in person it’s obvious his reputation isn’t exaggerated."

"But there is a chance you can kill him."

"I need things to be favorable to me. Him being wounded would be best."

Helga nodded. "Let’s hope he dies in the war. I can’t stand that man already."

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"It seems that girl has made allies," Oluf said reading a note he took from the scout. Leif and Sven looked at him in confusion and Oluf handed it to the two sighing and grabbing the bridge in his nose.

"King Astrom has marched south and joined her camp. I won’t lie. Things are looking bad." Hearing and reading the note even Leif who was usually playful became serious as he rubbed the hilt of his sword.

"It’s not over yet. Astrom is an idiot. He values strength overall. I assume Helga offered marriage in return for his help. If she shows herself to be weak maybe he may leave and give up." Despite saying that Leif didn’t believe it and sighed.

"We need to find a position we can fortify." Sven grabbed his chin, his eyes squinting.

"They will split their forces. It doesn’t matter if we take a fortified position. At least one of our lands will be butchered." Leif leaned back grabbing his head. "Fuck." Standing up he threw the chair.

"It’s not over yet Leif. We still have a chance."

"How?"

"We need our own alliance. Someone who will force them to look away."

"So you want to marry someone off to the other king. What’s that old guy’s name again? Andor?" Leif asked. "Isn’t he nearly as old as those Ancient Ones now?"

"It’s better than nothing." Oluf turned to Sven. "You have a daughter right."

"No," Sven said quickly. "I already married my son off to your daughter. I’m not marrying Frida to that old man."

"Come on Sven." Leif said slyly, "Think of your allies."

Sven ignored him looking at Oluf "You have a son right Oluf? Marry him to that guy’s daughter."

Oluf frowned but didn’t refuse. It was times like this when it made it annoying that Leif had a lack of children being kept out of the discussion.

"Fine. I’ll send a crow." Oluf put his hands up in surrender. The room went silent as the three realized that the war that should have been small had erupted into something larger than they could have predicted.