The Valley Of Shadows - Ivar and Igor [Vikings]

Enemy

Igor obeyed the heathen, stumbling to his feet without questioning his intent. He heard the men nearby, the thundering hooves upon the hard ground. The thought of going back to Oleg was unbearable for the child. The feeling of the Prince's harsh hand upon his face crept into his skin. He couldn't go back.

"To the horses, hurry!" Ivar was shouting now, pushing the child to urge him ahead as the cripple's legs could only take him so far.

Igor could hear the urgency within Ivar's voice. The child crouched down low and half ran half walked to the horses, mounting the beast, careful not to be seen, eyes on the cripple, watching his every move.

Panting, the Viking climbed aboard his wagon, blue eyes checking on the boy. "Rus scouts, no doubt sent by Oleg, we must hurry, they are coming this way." Ivar gave a whip of the reins to his black gelding and the horse took off in a steady gallop.

The young boy dug his heels into his horse's sides and followed Ivar. Holding the reins tight as he dared not look back at the oncoming men.

The Rus scouts moved slowly through the woods, calling back to each other as they separated then came together. Clearly looking for any sign of Ivar and Oleg's ward - The key to the kingdom - but they have not noticed the two horses galloping off deeper into the forest. Until one of the men shouts, "hey! I found tracks!" Then the chase was on. The men urged their horses into a gallop, following the horse and wagon tracks along the damp forest floor.

"Fuck!" Snarled the would-be-king as he heard the men follow pursuit through the forest. Glancing back to check on the boy who rode swiftly beside him.

The two rode hard through thick trees, Igor's horse jumping fallen trees, Ivar's horse panting hard as he weaved through large shrubs and trees. The two momentarily separated to lead the scouts astray, then they would meet again only to separate once more.

But Ivar never let Igor leave his gaze, this child meant a lot to him and he was determined to keep him safe.

Igor steered his horse away from the cripple, separating from him once more. The voices of the men started to fade away, they were losing the pursuit.

The child felt a rush of relief when he couldn't hear the men anymore. The boy was almost tempted to pray to the pagan gods for their escape. But this feeling didn't last long as Igor suddenly felt a sharp pain hit his side, forcing him off his horse, hitting the ground while a Rus scout climbed on top of the child, laughing as he shouts, "I've got him!!"

Soon, the child was overwhelmed by three other men coming toward him. Laughing taunts and cheers, but the celebration did not last long.

"Let's get the child back to Oleg before the Viking finds out."

"Gather the horses."

One of the knights turned the stunned child on his stomach and took out a thick coil of rope, he began wrapping it around the boy, Igor thrashed around and tried to use his body weight to get away, unfortunately to no avail.

One of the knights looked at the child and laughed as he dismounted. "Your pagan ain't gonna save you." His harsh accent ran deep through his words.

But then, the smile was wiped from the knight's face as quickly as it came, he gasped softly before his body hit the ground. Eyes wide open with fear still stained upon his features.

When the body settled and the convulsions seized, Igor could see cold, blue eyes with murderous intent within his gaze. Lying on his stomach with a small blade in hand, the others hadn't noticed the death yet, but they will soon.

Ivar pushed a finger up to his lips to shush the boy, followed by a wink before crawling to the knight just finishing up his last knot on the boy's legs. Ivar quickly wrapped his upper body around the man's legs, then with a hard tug he brought the knight to his knees, putting a dagger in his back. He fell with a thud and Ivar tossed a knife to the child to free himself.

"Shit! Shit we are under attack!!!"

Igor worked quickly to cut himself free from the ropes then ran to Ivar's wagon, climbing inside and ducking down for safety.

"You let the child escape? You idiot!" Cried one of the men to the fresh corpse laying on the ground. He did not realize he was dead as he trotted his war horse around the cripple. "Oleg has a message for you, Viking king." Taunted the man.

Ivar raised his head. Smirking while he licked the fresh blood off his lips. "já?" There was a cockyness to his tone.

The man dismounted his horse. "Oleg sends his regards. He'll be glad to see you and Igor are in good health. He wants the young Prince brought back to him immediately or more men will hunt you down and kill you, cripple. "

"Tell our dear Prince Oleg that he will have to kill me if he wants the child, perhaps he should ask his god for protection, hmm?" The cripple spat on the ground beside the knight's boot.

The knight's gaze didn't leave the cripple as his lips curled into a smirk. "Oleg doesn't need god on his side to kill you, Boneless." The man kicked Ivar on his side before turning to mount his horse. "I'll be taking the boy now."

The Viking weiled softly, his eyes turning bright blue as he held his side. He took another dagger and quickly tossed it into the man's back. He stood, frozen, blood trickled down his back before he finally hit the ground.

Ivar drew a breath before gingerly crawling toward the child, his legs like dead weight behind him. "Igor, Igor my child, he is dead."

"He could've killed you, ást." Igor stood from his hiding spot, his voice low and soft. Reaching for Ivar's hands and pulling him up onto the wagon.

"But he didn't. Come my child, we must not linger." The Viking planted a gentle kiss upon Igor's head.