Destiny Enslaved (editing)

Part 18

BJORN POV

It hadn't been easy learning the truth of the girl's words; Ragnar was dead. Truly his soul had been collected to sit at Odin's side in Valhalla among the greatest of the Norse- the greatest Viking.

And I will surpass him.

Odin's visage on the mountain top was almost too bright to look at in a haze of heat and power. But she looked at him. saw him with no sign of fear or submission. The girl stood before the All-father as an equal.

I didn't let myself think about it too long. I looked to Hvitserk and we both knew what had to be done; we had to find out the truth of fathers death- had Ivar fallen too?; then revenge. Father would not have given up without a fight so surely it was by another's hand that he fell. The wrath of Vikings will crash upon them as the waves against the sand and leave only the tale of Ragnarsons left as their death rattle.

Now plans had to be made battle; strategies forged in the fire of my mind -the greatest inheritance.

I had been lost in the labyrinth of ideas for an invasion when Finehair called out some nonsense about 'his little witch'. When I turned to see what was going on I saw her and Floki standing close. Too close. Floki was stood opposite her with a hand pressed to her chest as he whispered to her. A fire lit in me at seeing him like that with her. Floki who had so easily dismissed her as a creature of darkness when we all knew true darkness existed within Floki's depths. I gave a sharp toned order to Hvitserk with the looming storm on the horizon behind the two; only registering subtly as a threat.

Hvitserk heard the rumble in my tone and did not question my order or give snark comment as he would usually. I heard him crunch to the edge of the cliff before he paused but I couldn't care if he stayed to watch or stop me. I can't truly define the fire of hate that filled my belly when I saw them. I can't properly think through my reason for wanting to shove Floki away from her even if it was over the edge. She shouldn't be touched by his hands- no she shouldn't have anyone's hands on her but mine. By all the gods I cursed the nameless men who had lain with or been allowed to bask in her beauty.

I would take in my arms and bring her on my journey I would fall to hel and forsake Valhalla to be with her.

But then as the sky darkened the clouds suffocating the world she transformed into that Valkyrie; fire burning in her eyes as she jutted out her chin. Sharply she turned and dipped her head to Floki which stunned all of us. It was a bow of course- something that is only given to those held in esteem. And here she was doing it to Floki the mad ship builder. Even our own people feared that he was a face of Loki in disguise.

While we all took pause to make sense of her she took the chance to march with defiance toward Hvitserk shooting a bold look at me from her eyes which still shone as the sun consuming the moon. Before I could take any action of reprimand against her she had slipped past my brother and disappear down the side of the cliff. She had done well to ascend and now she was going to climb down without anyone there to keep her safe. It was madness.

Perhaps she recognised the madness in Floki.

''well I see you have brought some entertainment into our journey'' finehair followed with a low chortle. He placed a hand on my shoulder shaking his head in amusement. He was finding things far funnier than they actually were- I would have to make sure he wasn't being doped.

''watch yourself, Harald. she may have spells but I have a sword- I can cut you down faster. Now we go back to the ships and find shelter from Odin's shadow.'' My voice was low only for him to hear as everyone else focused on the point where she had vanished. I moved forward to take the lead after the silly girl. Hvitserk finally looked up when I was by his side and gave me a patronising smirk which immediately died when he saw my look of contempt for his boyish attitude.