Chapter 245: The Pitiful God

Halfdan looked at the walls of Far Mile. Memories of a time when they thought it was the grandest city in the new world flooded his mind. With a bitter chuckle, he shook his head causing William to look at him and frown.

"What are you laughing about?" The two’s eyes met, and Halfdan smiled, leaning back into his chair.

"I just remember a time when I was ignorant."

"Oh. Why’s that?" William didn’t care, but he felt bored on the journey. Whilst he didn’t like nor trust Halfdan, the man was a new perspective of his home—someone who shared none of the customs of his world.

Passing through the gates, he shrugged. "When I attacked this place, we all thought it was where the king of the land lived. After all, something as grand as this didn’t exist in my home. Seeing more of the Empire, I now realise how stupid the Great Adventure was. We stood no chance."

"Well, you got lucky when you attacked. We were at war." William looked at the streets. The people all looked out with curious eyes. Halfdan smiled, looking at them.

"But the people here are weak. They don’t understand the brutality that comes with survival."

"That’s because others ensure it for them. Can honestly say your guards are weak." Halfdan looked at the Unyeilding flanking him and shook his head.

"And you have thousands of these guys alone. Once more, I realise how stupid the Great Adventure was."

"It’s your fault," William said casually, confusing Halfdan. William looked at him and smiled. "If you all hadn’t been so bloodthirsty, His Majesty may have just let you have some land to settle. In return, you could have sworn fealty to him. He would have gotten thousands of new people, and you would have gotten your land. But to try and take what you want. A bunch of idiots."

Halfdan smirked but couldn’t help but agree. The carriages slowly stopped, and the smell of the sea gently floated into the noses of the men. Desmond walked over and bowed towards William. "I greet the Duke."

"Where are they?" Desmond nodded, pointing to the large ship in the harbour. "Have the port cleared. We can’t risk any casualties." Desmond nodded and ran off. Looking down at Halfdan, the Unyeilding pushed him forward. "Your turn."

Halfdan nodded and cleared his throat. "Helga. It’s me, Halfdan." Calling out in his native language, the people on the boat quickly moved, looking over the barrier. The men quickly began to talk to one another, and soon, a door opening could be heard, followed by footsteps.

Helga looked over the rail, and her remaining eye met Halfdan. As soon as they met, her eye narrowed, forming deadly slit. "Halfdan. You’re alive?" Helga asked in confusion and looked around at the large gathering of soldiers surrounding her ship.

"Why are you back? I thought you wished to become the God of our people."

"Do not talk about those vermin." Like an animal, she growled the words out and slammed her fist on the railing. Halfdan understood quickly what happened.

"And your eye. Looks like it hurt." She was much different than when they had last seen each other. It wasn’t just physical differences. The entire aura around her was different. Before, she had an aloofness about herself that suffocated anyone who stood near her too long. Now, it was depressing.

"They were blind Halfdan. They betrayed me, so I took everything from them and left." Despite her changes, it was funny to him how arrogant she was.

"And what did you take? Because looking at you. It seems more like you ran away." Halfdan joke annoyed her even more.

"I destroyed their home, Halfdan."

"Oh." It wasn’t what he expected, but Halfdan didn’t doubt her words. She was the embodiment of selfishness to him. If she said that, it was probably true. "So why did you come back." Halfdan moved on, and for the first time, he saw a small light return to her remaining eye.

"I came to be reunited with him. Hopefully, we can finish up where we left off." Halfdan froze at her words before heartily laughing. William looked at the man who grabbed his stomach, struggling to stand by how hard he was laughing.

"What is it?" He couldn’t help but be interested and asked Halfdan. The small man looked at him and shook his head with a wide grin.

"She’s lost it. She actually thinks His Majesty will welcome her with open arms."

"Good," Willaim smiled. "It will be easier to bring her back then." Halfdan nodded and looked back up at her.

"Well, you see, Helga, that’s why I’m here." Helga leaned forward with expecting eyes. Halfdan could see their blend of desperation and happiness and realised how bad the defeat must have been back home. Clearing his throat, he continued, "When he heard of your arrival, he sent me to come and collect you. He would have loved to come himself but couldn’t. After all, he has a lot of work to do."

"That’s brilliant." Helga could already imagine it. Her and Alfred’s conquest of the world. They were both blessed. She is a living God, and Alfred is a man blessed by God. Here, she could show the traitors of her homeland what they had denied themselves.

"I need you to come down, however. Alone." Helga suspiciously squinted her eye, and with Halfdan only smiling, she responded.

"Fine, but I can’t come alone. FRIDA! COME!" Stepping away, her shout echoed across the boat. Helga walked off the boat with another woman holding two children. William looked at the two babies and froze.

"oh shit." He quietly muttered, confusing Halfdan, but following his eye line, he realised why he said it.

"You wondered why His Majesty hated me. Because his meeting with me caused that." Halfdan looked at the two golden-haired children and smiled.’It seems she got what she wanted.’Looking at William, he could see that it was an issue, however.

Helga stopped in front of Halfdan and glanced at William. The old general didn’t even spare her a glance. Staring at the two babies, the feeling of dread got stronger. While the girl looked just like Helga, the boy was undeniable proof. Everything about him looked like a young Alfred. He had seen the Emporer as a baby and could instantly see the resemblance.

"Who is he?" Helga asked arrogantly, looking at William.

"His Majesty’s right hand and head of the Empire’s military." The words confused Helga and Hafldan. "The one who leads all of Alfred’s warriors."

"This old man." Helga looked at him confused, but the more she thought about it, the more she could tell why. Even as an old man, she could see he was strong. "Is he interested in Astrid and Balder?"

William shook his head, trying to refocus. "Get in the carriages." Halfdan nodded and opened the door for the three. William looked at Desmond. "Give the order. Spare no one on the boat." Desmond nodded as William got in the carriage himself.

A whilst blew outside, and the four watched as every soldier who surrounded the boat quickly stormed it, massacring the people on board. Frida looked away in shock, but the rest watched with uncaring eyes.

"Why did he do that?" Helga’s voice was emotionless, not really caring about the lives lost.

"His Majesties orders. Only you can come. I don’t know why she is here."

"Someone has to hold the children," Helga said casually. Sitting in front of Halfdan, she finally could get a good look at him. "Why are you in chains? I did put you in them before, but I thought you were helping Alfred."

Halfdan frowned and raised his right arm showing his crippled hand. Helga smiled at the sight, trying to hold in her laugh. "As a show of loyalty, I cut my fingers off. But even then, he didn’t trust me to meet you without all this."

"Stop talking," William said sternly, looking at the two. His hand rested on a small dagger at his waist, waiting for when he would have to pull it.

"We must be quiet now. Just watch the scenery." Halfdan said that and closed his eyes, resting. Helga looked at him in confusion, wondering why she had to follow the order, but seeing as how Halfdan didn’t want to talk anymore she couldn’t do anything but follow the order. Frida was fascinated by everything around her and didn’t acknowledge the people in the carriage, whilst William didn’t speak the language.