Chapter 193: Torsten’s Tricks

Rolf and the old warrior sat at a small tavern in the first town they were to attack. Drinking mugs of beer they watched like hawks the black cloaks that patrolled the streets. "I don’t know where you fellers came from but I wouldn’t look at those lot like that."

A young man with a large sword at his waist came over and took a seat giving his warning. Rolf and the old warrior looked at him with hard eyes but scoffed smiling. "Thanks for the warning. But we know what we are doing." Looking at one another again they downed their drinks wiping the drops that missed their mouths. With a nod, they got up simultaneously and walked behind the two passing Black cloaks.

In a swift they kicked the back of the knees, forcing them to the ground. As swift as the kick was they pulled out daggers and slashed their throats, throwing them into the ground. Rolf smiled before laughing as the young man who gave the warning went white in shock before running not wishing to be associated with the two.

Rolf and the old warrior didn’t hide their presence anymore, taking out their weapons and patrolling the streets. It didn’t take long when they found another black cloak who already had his weapon drawn due to the sound of weapons clashing that was going off around the town. Seeing the two’s approach, he didn’t hesitate. He ran over, swinging at Rolf who dodged to the side.

Leaning against a wall watching for any more approaching enemies he let Rolf fight, knowing the boy needed to release his pent-up rage. The black cloak showed his skill in battle. Seeing his attack miss he let the weight take him forward to avoid a follow-up attack as his grip tightened around his sword.

He was silent, looking at Rolf with bloodthirsty eyes. Rolf looked back with an equally ferocious look as the black cloak attacked with a fury of strikes. Those he could dodge Rolf did, occasionally blocking with his sword when needed. Rolfs’s eyes darted all over the man’s body looking for an opening in his stance as he dodged another attack. With a swift knee to the stomach, the man clutched it as Rolf lifted his sword up and swung down, cleaving through most of his neck.

The black cloaks fell quickly as blood began to spread across the ground. Rolf smiled stabbing his sword through the man’s heart, making sure he was dead, afterward wiping the blood on his cloak to clean it.

"You do take after Knut a little it seems." The old warrior came over laughing as he smacked Rolf’s back. Rolf threw his hand off but lightly chuckled at his words.

"Shall we move on?" To his questions, Rolf only got a huge smile in reply as the old warrior took his axe out and walked along. Rolf quickly followed behind as they walked through the streets of the town. Black cloak bodies lay around but coming up to two extra they stopped with the old man kneeling next to them.

One was of the young man who knew seven, the other a second warrior. "Idiots. You weren’t meant to die yet." Despite his harsh words, Rolf could hear the anger in the man’s voice. Placing his hands over their chest he ripped off small necklaces that had wooden carvings of axe heads on them. "Let’s move."

Rolf nodded following along, taking one last look at the bodies of his comrades. Turning a corner they saw a large Blackcloak wielding a large axe with two hands. It was coated in blood and they already knew whose it belonged seeing the wounds on the previous two bodies.

"We take this one together." The old man said getting a silent agreement from Rolf. The large black cloak could feel the eyes on his back and turned to face the two, his face contorting in anger as he did.

"More rats." He spoke in a harsh voice. "Ivar was right." The large figure walked towards them, his breathing heavy. He wasn’t fine after his previous battle, with small wounds all over his body, yet the two could see he was still in good condition despite it.

Rolf and the old warrior separated, flanking the man as they readied their weapons. Looking between the two, he moved first attacking the old warrior. Swinging his axe toward the old warrior’s side, he knew he couldn’t take it head-on and jumped back.

Rolf was quick to follow up and hearing the young man’s footsteps the old warrior let his attack continue to fly, letting its weight spin him around to attack Rolf. Rolf stopped himself, nearly falling into the attack. His breathing was heavy, and goosebumps ran up his body after coming so close to death.

The black cloak stopped his attack and charged at the old warrior again who had already collected himself. Moving backward he felt his back hit the wall and hide the smile that threatened to spread. The black cloak swung his axe down and in the final seconds, the old warrior dove to the side throwing himself to the ground. The axe pierced deep into the wooden wall, and a yelp came from inside the house.

Rolf was quick. Running over he leaned down, scooping a handful of dirt and snow with his left hand. The black cloak easily pulled his axe out and turned to face Rolf. At that moment, his left hand flew forward chucking the dirt and snow into the man’s eyes, blinding him for a second.

Victory felt assured as Rolf with his right hand swung down his sword, aiming to carve the man’s shoulder into two. The old warrior rose to his feet and watched yet his smile fell as he saw the large man let go of his axe and charge into Rolf’s stomach with his stomach the blade cutting into his back instead. The wind escaped Rolf’s mouth as he felt himself thrown to the ground, his sword leaving his hand.

A large foot fell onto his chest, and the sound of bones cracking rung out followed by Rolf’s pained screams. Yet in his pain, he saw the old warrior come from behind. Grabbing the black cloak’s foot, he refused to let go no matter the pain as the man fought to break himself free. Not seeing it work he continued to put pressure on Rolf already breaking ribs, the man feeling blood running into his mouth as the pain intensified.

From behind he saw the old warrior and tried to attack without his weapon. to no avail. The old warrior dodged his fists gracefully as he plunged his sword deep into his back. Blood poured onto Rolfs’s face but he smiled, the weight disappearing.

The black cloak let out an animalistic growl as he clutched the sword through his chest with both hands, not letting the old warrior pull it out. Falling forward, Rolf panicked seeing the blade tip fall into him, as he fought to push the man off. The old warrior was the same pushing the man’s large body to the side. His body fell and The old warrior quickly threw him to the side, seeing Rolf’s eyes looking to the right as the blade narrowly missed him.

With a light chuckle at the absurdity of the situation, the old warrior stuck his hand out helping Rolf up. "Bjorn must be blessing you himself."

Rolf walked over to his sword once up, clutching his chest in pain as he knelt and picked dit up. "Even the gods want me to finish my revenge. And yet she claims them her brothers and sisters." Each word caused pain as his laughter was quickly stopped by an even greater pain. The old man, wrapped his arm around Rolf as he listened.

"The fighting is stopping. Either we won or they’re all dead." Looking at the dead Blackcloak he clicked his tongue. "They have to be Frode’s old men. They fight just like that brute." Rolf nodded as the two slowly walked through the streets, Rolfs pained groans not stopping.

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"Astrom," Torsten called out to the king as he marched along. He struggled to keep up with the other warriors but he knew that no one would wait for him.

Astrom turned and looked down at the struggling Torsten and struggled to hold back his laugh. "What is it?"

"Your son." Astrom’s good mood at seeing the struggling Torsten quickly fell as he let out a small growl. "He wishes to stay behind and fight with the Queen," Torsten said happily.

"Why would he have you tell me of all people?" Astrom wasn’t blind. He knew his son hated Torsten. The two couldn’t have a conversation without it ending in Ralph wishing to kill Torsten.

The dwarf smiled. "Despite what he thinks of me, he knows I am your right hand. Besides he’s scared you would get angry. Maybe he hopes you will take it out on me instead." Torsten said dismissively and Astrom clicked his tongue in disappointment.

"Even now he’s a coward." Looking back down the line of his marching men he waved his hand, not caring. "Let him do what he wants. Maybe that woman warriors will make him into more of a man."

Torsten nodded running back down the convoy of soldiers. Looking through the crowd he saw Ralph talking with his friends laughing and fantasizing about the coming war. "Kid," Torsten called out walking alongside him. Ralph looked down at him and groaned.

"Why is it always you half-man?" Before the could do anything, Torsten raised his hand and wore a serious face. EVen Ralph could see he had something important to say and held back his insults.

"Astrom has a mission for you?" Torsten lied easily and he saw Ralph’s face light up. "He needs you to go back to the queen’s camp."

"Why?" Despite the happiness he felt being given a task by his father Ralph couldn’t help but feel skeptical. Ushering him with his finger he pulled Ralph out of the convoy to talk out of earshot of the others.

"Your father doesn’t care about the queen. In fact, he plans on killing her once he’s done. Now it is no surprise he is disappointed with you, but he said that maybe this would be a good chance to prove yourself." At those words, he saw Ralhps shoulder straighten subconsciously. "Go back to the queen’s camp and get close to her. When you find the chance, kill her."

At the order, he saw Ralph’s mood drop. "If father doesn’t want her why can’t he let me have her." Torsten shook his head at the insanity of Ralph’s demand. Even if Astrom said he could have Helga, Ralph would have to try and survive as best he could. Torsten didn’t know everything about Helga, but the stories he heard painted only a picture of an egotistical maniac, who was deeply insane.

"No." Torsten shook his head and crushed Ralph’s dreams. "He needs her dead so he can take her lands." he could see Ralph wanting to reject but Torsten didn’t panic, knowing how to play the child who seeks nothing but his father’s approval. "Ralph. You do this and your father will reward you."

Ralph once again smiled before it turned cruel as he looked at Torsten for longer. "In that case. I will ask him to make you my slave." Torsten scoffed.’He really is a child.’

"Fine. No leave. You march any further and you will miss her camp." Ralph nodded returning to the convoy quickly and packing a few things. Torsten watched him as the boy ran around with a happy smile, finally having been seen by his dad.

Shaking his head again he marched with the convoy once more.’Lets hope he gets himself killed.’It was easy to play the two against each other. Astrom simply didn’t care about his son, even loathing him slightly, where as Ralph sought nothing but his father’s approval.