Chapter 206: Bjorn Lend us Your Strength

"And with this, Bjorn, lend us your strength. Aid us in the war to come and kill the one who dares use your name for himself. Help us slay the one who claims to be your sister. And with this request, we promise to face death proud." The man at the center stage raised his arms, as he took a dagger high in the sky. Clasping it with both hands, he stabbed down, killing a small goat.

The blood fell off the stage and as it hit the snow, he smiled and looked at the crowd. "Tonight. We feast, in Bjorn’s name. And when you are finished, cowardice can not remain or you will forever be trapped with Floki."

The man grabbed a mug of beer at the side. It was tradition to always drink after a ceremony to Bjorn as it could always be the final. "SKAL!" The man lifted his mug and took the first drink, everyone followed on afterward as they all began to talk and celebrate. Halvar walked up to Sven who downed his mug. "Everything is ready. Our men for the most part are separated from Oluf’s."

"Good." Sven smiled as he watched the people drink. "It’s a shame to use the gods like this, but I’m sure they will understand."

"To try and claim you understand the Gods is what started this war." Halvar joked getting a laugh from Sven.

"You’re right. But I’m not like that bitch and claim I’m divine." The two stood in silence with Halvar finally breaking it with a sigh.

"Many of the men won’t like to do this you know." His words got a glare from Sven.

"They can choose not to partake, but they should have understood that I would never ally with my enemy." Sven waved it off. "Where’s Harek, I haven’t seen him."

"Dunno. I’ve been busy after all." Sven grunted as he watched Oluf come over.

"We’ll talk later." Sven tapped his arm and walked over to Oluf with a smile. "The men seem happy," Sven said casually as he stood by Oluf’s side.

"Yes. A good beer always gets rid of the nerves." Oluf laughed as he drank his mug. "But I wonder how long it will last, Astrom is a name worthy of fear."

"If they cower now then they spit on Bjorns name."

Oluf nodded, "Have you seen my daughter?"

"You can’t find them either?" Sven said confused as he looked around.

"So it’s not just her." It was a quiet muttering as the two stood in silence looking around. "There young it doesn’t matter." Oluf chuckled as he took another sip of his drink. "Leif hasn’t sent word back yet."

"Don’t tell me you’re worried about that fool Oluf."

"No, but we are allies. I need to know what is happening."

"He will be fine. If he feels in danger he will run away. It’s the type of guy he is." Sven mockingly said as he watched the feast.

"True. I always wonder why I ever allied with him." He spoke regretfully looking down at his drink. "You know..." Oluf started with a melancholic voice. "It was a shame our feud ever started. Leif is a good warrior but he’s an awful ally, if things hadn’t gone the way they did, we could have made the west into a Kingdom by now."

"There’s no point regretting the past now Oluf." His voice was sharp as he spoke. "You did what you did and whilst I don’t forgive you, I can put aside my grievances." It was a clear lie but Oluf didn’t realise as he chuckled.

"You’re a better man than me. Though I suppose it doesn’t extend to Leif."

"I will kill him one day Oluf. I just hope when I do, you don’t interfere."

"I can’t do. He still has his uses."

"Even though he refuses to have a child. It’s clear that he doesn’t care."

"Despite all that, there’s no honor in abandoning an ally. But I suppose our brats are married now. Maybe I should stay out of it." Oluf’s words were a slight surprise to Sven. Silence set once again between the two as they watched the feast once more.

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Harek and Elli walked down the road with smiles on their faces. The air around them had become less tense but Harek made sure to look over his shoulder occasionally to make sure that his father hadn’t sent anyone to come after them.

"What are you so worried about?" Elli asked softly as she leaned closer to his body. Her warmth calmed him down as he sighed.

"I’m just worried my father will force me to come back. Ever since brother died he has become overtly protective of me and Endre."

"What about your sister? I thought you had one."

With a bitter smile, Harek looked to the ground. "He doesn’t really care about her I think. My sister is a sweet girl who just wants to do what she wants but father doesn’t like that. He sees her as something to be sold away for his ambitions." He gritted his teeth thinking about if he would see her again. She was sent to Helga’s camp and he couldn’t imagine her living a good life at all.

"Well, I hope I get to meet her."

"Yeah. I hope so too." Harek’s words trailed as he looked at the long empty road ahead. Taking a deep breath of the fresh air, he cleared his mind.’Now’s not the time to worry about Frida. I just need to focus on getting home.’

"You’ll meet Endre at least. He is in charge of the Jarldom whilst we are away."

"Won’t Frida be there?"

"No," Harek said quickly trying to find an excuse. "Father planned to marry her off and sent her to the suitor."

"Well, I hope she’s happy with whatever ever she’s doing."

"Yeah." The two walked in silence, keeping each other warm. It was a long journey to get home and they had only enough supplies to make it to the closest village. Harek felt his mind a peace for the first time in a while breathing the air again.

Revenge and blood feuds all seemed like a distant memory to him and sneaking a look at Elli he felt peaceful.’I just hope it lasts.’With what his father wanted to do, he wondered if their relationship would last. Every part of him wanted it but he knew the possibility of her hating him was very real.

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Oluf held the mug in his hand as he looked around. Taking a step forward he stumbled over, dropping his mug a she reached out to grab a barrel to hold on to. Looking around he saw similar sights all over as his men fell over. Some didn’t realize anything wrong, thinking that those who did were drunk, but Oluf was different. He had drunk very little; being drunk was impossible.

He tried to push himself up but stumbled again on his own body weight, his head becoming increasingly heavy.’What’s happening?’Sitting himself down, he leaned against the barrel as the laughter all around died down. Those who didn’t fall now became suspicious as they nervously reached for their weapons.

Oluf was the same, he slowly reached over to his axe. Footsteps got closer to him and using all his effort he saw Sven’s smiling face. Stepping before him, Sven stepped down on Olyf’s hand stopping him from reaching his axe.

"youuu." His words were slurred but the anger in his eyes couldn’t be hidden as he shot daggers at Sven.

"Sorry, Oluf." Sven smiled reaching for his own sword. Gently placing it on his chest, he applied a little amount of pressure. "I just can’t forgive you."

Oluf tried to push himself up, failing to do so. Looking down at his hand he sighed. "traitor. to do something when we celebrated Bjorn’s name." As if through pure willpower his words became more coherent. Yet it didn’t matter, failing to push himself up.

"Oluf. I’ve already prepared myself for Floki. When you arrive in the great hall of Uppsala, you don’t need to worry. I won’t be there." Sven said with a bitter voice as he looked to the sky. Oluf tried to reach out and grab the blade in his momentary distraction but couldn’t find the strength to grip the blade, his arm just smacking it.

Sven noticed. "You truly are a formidable warrior." It was a genuine compliment. "I at first thought of starting a fight directly, but so many lives would be lost. And fighting you and Leif, I don’t think I could win. So I chose this method instead. That guy Leif, for how much of a bastard he is, I’m sure he would have seen it coming."

"But you. You’re too honorable to see something like this." Sven didn’t speak as if mocking instead saying everything with a cold calculated voice, "So I chose this when Leif had left. My men with him will be a good sacrifice but if I know that ’God Queen." Sven said mockingly, "Then she will inflict an end for him worse than anything I can think of."

Oluf had stopped trying to fight back, feeling his body feeling like it was submerged in tar. His eyes lost their anger and filled with acceptance." The whole time." He could still speak but it was quiet.

"The whole time," Sven said bitterly.

"And Elli?"

Sven bitterly clicked his tongue. "Harek. I don’t blame him, but he couldn’t bring himself to kill her. He fell in love you see. I won’t force my son to kill someone he loves with his own hands. I’ll take that burden for him." Hearing his words Oluf closed his eyes sadly, not wishing to say anymore. Sven saw it a slowly pushed his sword through Oluf’s chest.

"I’m surBjorn will welcome you Oluf." Pulling his sword out he stood up, feeling happy. He respected Oulf but to kill him felt much better. "EVERYONE BEGIN!" Sven’s voice boomed across the camp as he walked off to Harek’s tent.

Throwing the flap open he saw nothing. It was a quick glance but, Sven could see that Harek and Elli had left. The grip around his sword got tighter as he ground his teeth. "Harek. You stupid boy." It came out as a growl as he walked back out, going to finish what he started.