Chapter 198: Sons of Sven

"The scouts have sent word." Oluf walked into the tent where Leif and Sven were waiting. They sat far apart but the hard flares being thrown at one another felt as if a fight was about to break out.

"What did they say?" The two refused to back down in their staredown but Oluf’s hard punch on the table forced it as they looked at him simultaneously.

"Helga is retreating." His words were like a bucket of cold water as Leif grabbed the axe on his waist and threw it up catching it as he stood.

"We go on the attack then."

"Why are you so impatient," Sven said annoyed, but Leif laughed at his words.

"Oluf, this coward doesn’t want to fight but this is our chance. Obviously, King Andor accepted and began his assault. Why else would that bitch pull back." Sven stood up glaring at the man. "What. Did I say something?" Leif said playfully causing Sven to nearly reach for his weapon only stopped by Oluf’s words.

"We still need to deal with Astrom." Leif scoffed forgetting about him.

"So we circle behind him and pincer attack. Or meet him head-on. I’m sick of waiting already." Leif complained as he retook his seat seeing that they weren’t about to move.

"I think we should ignore him," Sven said cautiously getting a glare from the two. It was their land that would take the most damage if Astrom was left to run free and seemed like an obvious attempt to weaken them.

Sven raised his hands calming them down. "I mean. If Andor has attacked Helga, it’s safe to assume he also began his assault on Astrom’s land. Word will reach him later. If we can chase down Helga and catch her off guard then maybe we will be able to deal with her before circling around and attacking Astrom."

Sven words sounded right but Leif still looked at him suspiciously. "Maybe. But what if that’s not the case? Then we suffer whilst you... come out on top." Leif slammed his palm on the table. "I told you Oluf, he doesn’t want to work with us."

"LEIF!" Oluf shouted making the lanky man playfully put a frightened display on. "He is just giving us a possibility. One that’s not too outrageous. Andor has the men to two a two-front assault."

"Leif you chase Helga with a quarter of my men in toe. Put pressure on her but no need to attack. Me and Sven will move to attack Astrom."

"Why should I?" Leif asked confused. "You’re asking me to be the only one to leave our territory and lose the advantage. I quite like my life Oluf."

"You are an idiot," Sven said coldly. "He sends me and you will claim that I will turn traitor. He sends himself and he can’t stop us two from killing each other. You are the only person who can be sent away."

"ohhhh." Leif tapped his head with a smile as if he was an idiot. "You’re right. Send some of Sven’s men with me aswell then." He made the request and Oluf nodded getting a shot from Sven. He wanted to say something but couldn’t, knowing it was the only chance he would get to be able to kill one whilst the other was away.

"Will that make you happy?"

"Very." Leif words were coated in venom and Sven could already tell that his men would most likely die under his command. Despite what he felt he smiled.

"Good. I wish you luck." The two looked at one another with Leif getting up.

"I’ll prepare my men. Have those you are sending with me ready in the next hour."

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"Harek," Sven called out to his son handing a mug of beer to him. Taking the mug he sat down and finally relaxed. "It seems we will begin soon."

Harek’s tired eyes awoke in an instant at those words. They were reluctant but he hid. "Will we finally get those two then?"

"One." Sven forced those words out with bitterness. "Leif is going to chase Helga. Oluf and I are moving to intercept Astrom."

Sven saw his son play with his fingers nervously. "Don’t tell me you can not follow through anymore."

Drinking the mug of beer to its last drop Harek threw the mug on the table. "I’m sorry father." Harek wore a sad smile. "I don’t think I can kill my wife." Sven got up and walked in front of his son. Harek believed he was about to get hit for being weak but when Sven’s strong hand rested on his shoulder a heavy sigh followed.

"She will kill you if you don’t her," Sven said seriously. Harek nodded in understanding. "Forgive me for marrying you to our enemy. But I won’t lose another son. If you can’t do it Harek." Sven didn’t finish his sentence but Harek understood.

"Father..."

"No." Sven knew what he wanted to say but stopped him. "Just remember that girl back home, and think of nothing else. Eventually, you will get over it."

He clenched his fists and looked to the ground. "I’m sorry father," Harek said once more fighting the tears as Sven removed his hand.

"Get ready to move. We leave soon." He offered no words of comfort leaving his son alone. Harek looked at his hands and got up walking through the camp. Arriving in his tent he saw his wife who flashed a pure smile at him.

"What’s wrong?" She asked softly getting up and clutching his cheeks. Harek hated it.’If only she was cold. Distant. Why did she have to be like this? She’s my enemy. Why did she make it so confusing.’

"Nothing." Harek grabbed her hand. She looked different but the way she acted and smiled reminded him of his first love back home. The woman he used to believe he would marry in the past. Taking her in for a hug he hid his face.

’What’s the point in revenge anyway?’Pulling away he looked into her eyes. He saw the future if he followed his father. The kind eyes that looked at him like that would be lost forever. Even if she survived, she would die in another way when Oluf died.

Harek pulled her in for a deep kiss. He felt the tension in his body melt away with it- his jumbled thoughts cleared.’There is no need to think. Oluf is father’s blood feud. I only want Leif dead.’

Pulling away he smiled and stroked her cheek once more. "We have to march soon."

She returned a smile to his words and walked to a small pot. "Let’s eat then." Opening the lid a fragrant smell flooded the tent and Harek finally understood.

’We can just leave.’It was cowardly and would betray everything his father had done. But looking at the small pot he couldn’t care even about killing Leif.’The dead don’t care anyway.’Nothing he could do would bring his brother back. It was a mindless and selfish endeavor.

Taking a bite from the bowl prepared for him the warmth spread through his body. He wanted to ask her to leave but stopped himself. What if he did and she hated him for it? He thought of hundreds of ways to take her away and leave everything, but every time he could only see it ending poorly.

She watched him intently as she ate her won meal, seeing something plagued Harek. "What is it you want to say?" She asked softly and Harek looked into her eyes

"Elli," Harek said in a quite, nervous voice. Reaching out he grabbed her hands. "Shall we leave?"

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The world looked dark in Endre’s eyes as he looked at the carnage of the second village. Bodies lay sprawled no matter the age and he felt his heart freeze. His men looked at each other with equally cold eyes as they gathered the loot from the village preparing to send it back home.

It was a silent process, no one wishing to speak in the village. Walking around he looked at everything and smirked.’Battle is better than this.’He said to himself taking a few pieces of gold and jewelry he found, taking it back to the carriage that waited for him. Throwing it in he looked around at his men.

"Is that everything here." All nodded and Endre slapped the carriage, walking off and taking the stolen goods. "We move onto the next..."

"Endre." One of the warriors called out. "We must rest for a while. A few are injured and the rest are tired."

Endre looked at his people before looking down at himself. "Do you want to rest here?" They looked around at the butchered town and collectively sighed. "Let’s burn it and move on, find a good area near by."

Everyone moved quickly despite how tired they were as Endre looked at the sky.’Please tell me you have made some progress father.’It was a quiet plea as he felt the weight on his shoulders get heavier again.