VICIOUS [IVAR THE BONELESS]

CHAPTER TWELVE

"What's the matter with these two?" King Harald said and looked at Ivar. "Why haven't you just killed them already." He continued.

"These are two great warriors." Ivar begun and walked around Heahmund on the ground. "I've seen both of them fight with my own eyes. This man is very skilled with his excellent sword and she's extremely skilled in a wicked, wicked way." He continued and Harald raised his brow, intrigued by the information.

"Wicked way?" Astrid questioned. Ivar smiled and looked at Freya, lifting his cane to point at her chains.

"These chains are there for a reason Astrid." Ivar begun. "Freya is not light stomached. She even makes your brother Halfdan sound like a baby in comparison." He continued and chuckled when he looked at Harald who raised both his brows. Astrid swallowed and rested her back against the headrest.

"She doesn't seem so intimidating." King Harald said and he let his eyes roam Freya's body freely.

"Oh, believe me Harald." Ivar said. "Release her against Lagertha and it will only be seconds before you sit on the throne as King of all Norway. If you ask nicely Freya might give you a gift to remember one of the greatest victories of all." Ivar said and Astrid swallowed.

Freya moved her glaring eyes from Ivar to Harald and Astrid. The new Queen of Vestfold and Rogaland looked at Freya with caution yet she felt intrigued by the woman who was almost wearing more chains than clothes. The men who tightly gripped Freya's arms had let her go before standing by the wall yet the man holding her neck chain were still behind her. Heahmund suddenly broke the silence with a prayer which caused some tension in the room. Freya listened to the bishops words, understanding and she even caught herself intertwining her fingers together. Ivar as well as the King noticed her movements before Ivar told the bishop to stop.

"No, let him continue." King Harald said and Freya glued her eyes to the wooden floor as Heahmund continued.

"What did he say?" King Harald asked when Heahmund was finished with his prayer.

"He was just praying to his God." Ivar said and Harald chuckled.

"His God can't help him now." King Harald said before laughing mockingly at the Bishop who was on his knees. The tone in Harald's voice got to Freya, the disgust and mockery that was lingering in it. "Why is she named after our gods? Why is a Christian bítch named after our goddess." He asked and looked at Freya. She smirked at him as their eyes met.

"Heahmund I hope you haven't forgotten what you told me in England." Freya told Heahmund as she stared ahead of her. "I have no intention in breaking it." She said and Harald and Astrid didn't understand as she spoke English. She glanced down at Heahmund and gave him a nod before meeting Ivar's eyes.

"Go ahead, you can translate for them since they're not smart enough to understand for themselves." She said too Ivar in English. Even if Ivar and Hvitserk knew her knowledge in Norse she wanted to keep it in English. Knowledge were power and the thought to keeping Harald out of things excited her. Even if Ivar translated it was the principal that they had to get help to understand that made her pleased.