Reynold watched the sun soar high above him as he mumbled to himself a prayer, gripping a cross in his hands. He was soon joined by Helga, who sat atop her own stead with Grelka limply leaning on her back. Grelka had wrapped her arms around Helga's neck. The others were not far behind as Bjorn led his men, bandaged face and all. Reynold was now faced with an army of nearly one hundred men and yet he still showed no sign of worry as he looked to Bjorn and lifted his hand to question. He only got a grunt of approval as the bishop took this as his chance to take his reins.
"We are off to Tamworth. I hope you all behave yourselves." Reynold talked down to his company as he rode his horse slowly ahead. The men watched as this cocky Englishmen spoke to them like childern, each wanting to rip his legs off with his own horse. The only thing that stopped them was Bjorn, who ordered all men to 'not harm the Bishop lest you wish to lose your heads as well'. Grelka drooled onto Helga's shoulder as the soft trotting acted like a soothing rocking a mother would give her baby, her wounds were no longer open so all Helga had to deal with was her surprising weight and strange mumblings.
"Tell me... Christian." Helga said while riding beside Reynold. "Why does a priest wield a blade? I thought you all were peace loving monks who hid in churches." Helga asked quite brazenly as the display Reynold gave earlier sparked her interest, hoping to understand where he learned his skill.
"First, Savage, I'm a bishop. Second, I'm a warrior bishop tasked with the defense of gods country from threats like you." Reynold was surprised at the women's ability to speak the Saxon language. This band of Nordic beasts was different from any other Reynold had met. He saw it as a divine intervention that this group of all was summoned by his king. One of the many things that solidified his faith. "I'm guessing your slave taught you our tongue. How long has he been in your care?" Reynold asked as he led his horse closer to Helga's so she could speak softer.
"Why does that concern you?" She hesitated before she asked, knowing that the more this man knew, the worse. She wanted to learn more at the same time, so she attempted to goad the man. "Do you wish to add up the charges before slinging him from a tree?" Helga retorted with her face wearing a proud smile.
"No." Reynold said, blankly, staring off into the horizon. "His death would be guaranteed if he was under my command, whipped while the noose hung around his neck. Once all lashes are given-" Reynold snapped suddenly to simulate the sound the neck made the second a criminal dropped. His words were purposely loud, so he knew Eolh could hear his opinion. Harfn walked beside Bjorn as he couldn't help be replay the fight in his head, looking for any moment he could have killed Reynold if he took Bjorn's place. He struggled to find any no matter how many times he looked every time it would have ended the same, him being killed as he attempted to process what was happening.
Bjorn took this peaceful walk as a chance to recover himself and begin to make plans to take control of the meeting with King Burgred. Reynold was strong with a stronger sense of loyalty, which made recruiting him a lost cause. He needed to die, but sending any one man to the task would not suffice. No, Bjorn needed to kill the man through deceit or sending squads of men to surround him and corner him like an animal. His face hid his deep thought while Eolh and Harfn took either side of Bjorn with Eolh taking any chance he could to check on the wounded bear, seeing if the blood began to leak again or any signs of infection were developing. Harfn took Bjorn's blind side, acting as a shield of flesh in case anyone attempted to finish the job that Reynold started.
"You two seem to be playing nice." Bjorn broke the silence as the two men didn't even recognize the other was present, thier own missions clouding thier vision. Bjorn noticed this weakness and quickly turned the conversation into a lesson. "Harfn, you vigilantly wait to defend me, yet you do not recognize the dangers that may be around you as well, for if a stray arrow kills you, I am defenseless." Harfn understood what Bjorn meant after he felt the soft prick of his leader's pocket knife pushing into his leather jerkin. The wounded beast turned his teachings to Eolh, who nearly tripped on a branch as he watched Bjorn's developing gash. "You trust so little in me that-" Before Bjorn finished his sentence he grabbed Eolh by the neck of his shirt and pulled him back, stopping him before he tripped into a decent sized puddle of muddy water. "I can't tell you of my own wound, if it itches me or I need assistance. I will tell you. Now focus on the way forward?"
Eolh nearly pouted as his tired eyes struggled to stay open. Every moment he worked seemed to be on the hook. He trusted Bjorn, yet he knew if he wavered, he would be discarded, or that's what he felt at least. It didn't help that he was spotting the nasty glares that Harfn gave him from across Bjorn as it felt like the eyes of a starving wolf looking to a wounded elk. Harfn listened to Bjorn's words, but you wouldn't be able to tell since the same tunnel vision that he was scolded for was now trained on Eolh, specifically the cross wrapped around his neck
"Tell me slave." Harfn began with his aggressive accusations that Eolh was all to used to. If it wasn't about sabotaging something that didn't work perfectly, it would be him being blamed since he brings bad omens. That's to his belief. Harfn was the perfect man to represent the Nordic gods in Eolh's mind. He was vain, violent, and proud to the point that he sinned greater than ten normal men. Eolh didn't hate the Norse religion at first, but Harfn festered that hate inside Eolh over time and every interaction brought fire to the melting pot.
"What is it you flying rodent!?" Eolh learned quite quickly at what different names meant in the Norse culture, and Harfn read as 'Raven' or 'Crow' so Eolh decided to spark a fire under Harfn, who seemed jumpy already. It worked better as expected, for Harfn stumbled on his words before laying out a quite valid concern.
"When we reach Tamworth, I suppose you are gonna tuck your tail and run into the arms of the English king?" Eolh was insulted at the claim, especially since he knew death was awaiting him if Reynold had any say. " Maybe you have made a deal with that man for your freedom. You both wear the same cross and worship the same god. I have a feeling we need to gut you soon, or you will have our throats slit while we sleep." Eolh heard enough as he jumped in front of Bjorn and swung his right fist square into Harfn's jaw. This quickly started a brawl that Bjorn was not strong enough to stop as the two quickly found themselves squirming in the mud as one beat the other in a fairly even bout of fisticuffs.
A ring quickly grew around them as most of the grunts chanted for Harfn, but Helga quickly turned around and rode her horse back to attempt what her father wouldn't. She had to slowly dismounted with her efforts focused on guiding Grelka's head to rest on the horses neck before making her way to the brawl.
"Get off him, you fool!" Helga shouted as she grabbed Eolh by the neck and pulled him off Harfn. "You both are fucking children. We have ways to settle these petty issues." Helga threw Eolh back before tossing him her sword. The man clutched it like a rolling pin as he looked up at her with a faint fear in his eyes. The young woman nodded to him before turning to Harfn, who was getting himself to his feet, mud covering him head to toe. He shook the mud from his hair and eyes as he saw Eolh holding the blade in his hands weakly.
"I will not dual a slave! It is the greatest shame to treat him as an equal." Harfn barked as he marched up to Helga and stared her down. "Did your father teach you nothing?" He accused Helga sharply, who simply stared him down, and refused to back herself down.
"He taught me more than you. You act like a child who had his toy broken. You heard clear as day what awaits Eolh if he defects." Helga argued as she walked past Harfn and towards her horse. Reynold is listening in on the infighting as he stops his horse in response to the brawl. His horse was grazing on a little patch of grass while he kept the interaction in the corner of his eye. Harfn couldn't yell at Helga, whenever he looked into her eyes he could only picture the little girl he met all those years ago. Despite his anger, Harfn nodded his head and left the matter where it was and returned to Bjorn's side like the loyal pet he was. Helga sighed softly before checking on Eolh.
"You shouldn't have done that friend." Helga chuckled while she brushed the mud form Eolh's face. "We both know he would've killed you in a fair fight. You forgot your own lessons." Helga gave Eolh a soft smile as she wrapped her arm around his shoulder. He dreaded her tone as soon as Helga began speaking. "A warrior treats a battle like a hunter treats a beast!"
