DIVINE [HVITSERK RAGNARSSON]

10: THE BATTLE OF KATTEGAT

CHAPTER TEN - 'THE BATTLE OF KATTEGAT'

"Remember, only kill those in Aslaug's army. These are our people."

Torvi's words repeated themselves in Asta's head as she stood next to Lagertha, staring down at Kattegat.

A woman from Lagertha's court had done Asta's hair, intricate braids snaking their way around her head and ending down past her shoulders in a flourish of wavy auburn hair. Lagertha had gifted her a shield-maidens outfit - she looked like a true warrior, in every sense of the word.

As Lagertha's sword rose in the air, the atmosphere around Asta fell silent. She saw the mouth's of Kattegat's residents begin to scream, but their sounds were drowned out. It was silent. Asta was in her head - nothing would distract her.

Feet. Focus on your feet.

Hvitserk's voice crept itself into Asta's head. She almost wanted to laugh, for it was always Asta's footwork that he commented on.

She thought of Hvitserk and his training as she stormed down the hill with Lagertha's army, her eyes darting around the people to see who was coming forward to fight for Aslaug. As every fighter came at her she used her shield and her sword like a paintbrush, swirling them round to dodge and cut. She watched the tip of her sword as it stabbed into flesh, Hvitserk's voice ringing in her head as she raged through the battle.

Keep your sword firm and strong. Don't let that arm weaken.

She cried out in strength as her sword flew through the air, the sound of the battle-horn blaring in her ears. That horn drowned out the cries of death, of fear, of blood. Her willpower wasn't enough, however, as the bold strength of a man knocked her to the floor. Once again all sound dispersed, a loud ringing playing out in Asta's ears as her body collided with the hard ground. Her breath huffed slowly as her sword slipped from her hand and her body was weakened.

Get up, Asta. Get up. Do not waste that shield.

Hvitserk forced his voice back into Asta's head and once again the visions of the training came back to her mind. Every time he had outfought her and knocked her to the ground, his sword to her neck and his voice shouting at her to do something to save her own life. And she remembered every single reason as to why he had been so tough.
Her eyes looked up, seeing the man's bearded face looming down at her and his axe lifting from his side in preparation to send her to Valhalla.

Asta's blue shield rose itself from the ground, colliding with the man's axe and blocking his strike completely. She rolled to the side and bought herself to her knees, rising again and striking the warriors back as she did so. He fell to his knees and—