The Game of Predators and Prey

Give or Take

I didn't know who I was anymore. I didn't know what I lived for, or what I stood for. Ever since Ivar the Boneless stepped into my life. It had been chaos. But the life of a Viking was never as sweet as one would hope. I stood beside Calder at the dock to our Windvymere Port. Selby to my right and my brother to my left. Selby gently brushed my fingers to alert me to her kindness. She was one of the thing keeping me sane for this ceremony.

A large oak boat, filled with wild spruce bow and silver. My brother had Erik "pieced" back together. The utter thought of having to sew him back into whole made my stomach churn. Who could do this to a boy?

The answer far too clear, my uncle. Loyal followers to his ways had freed him last night. His toothless grin missing from the barracks this morning. Hvitserk held the front of the long ship, him glancing my way every so often. But my face held cold. I had nothing to feel but pain. And I did what I had learned at a very young age. Dissociate. I was not here. I was not watching my baby brother be shipped away to the open sea, cloaked in fire.

I was not presently watching knowing the seer who tried to removed his evil crests from his flesh had failed. Erik would not go to Valhalla. Not unless his murderer was killed using a blade soaked in his own blood. And as of this moment. We had no idea who that was. Our uncle clearly sending others to do his dirty work.

The ship was pushed into the cool depths, my brother chucking a large torch into the kindling of the ship. Large blaring flames rose from the haul. I did not cry, I did not so much as blink as my baby brother was engulfed in flames. My eyes wandered to Ivar, him standing along side his brothers on the sandy shores. He is the reason the gods have taken everything from me. And I could not forgive him. When he felt my glance, our eyes met and his face actually showed a feeling I didn't even know he could muster.

Pity.

My heart ached in my chest and as people started to depart, as the ship sailed further and further into the sea. I prayed for the strength to do what I needed too.
"Come sister," Calder placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder and I swatted it away. Intent on my next actions. Turning on my heels, I noticed the weasel like man among the many on the shore. His fists balled at his side as I stocked closer. His brows furrowed and with each step towards him. His concern grew greater. My brother called my name as I maintained my war path.
"My lady?" The man asked, almost sneering at me. I pulled the knife from my sleeve, I had previously tucked in there earlier and slashed for the man's head. He stumbled and the woman next to him shrieked. I advanced again and clipped the tip of the blade against his torso, a small strike like that would do nothing fatal. The man only able to step back in hopes of avoiding my advances, cursed at me relentlessly. With a kick to his groin, he dropped to his knees. And I held my blade to his throat from behind him. People stepped away from us as I held the blade to his throbbing artery.
"Melti!" Calder called jumping from the dock in front of us.
"Brother, I assure you do not want to interrupt," I glared and pushed the blade closer into the man's neck.
"You're dead bitch," I leaned into the man's ear as I pressed to his back.
"Funny, I was going to say the same thing to you." I seethed. Ivar approached and started to laugh.
"You're sister is smarter then you Earl," he smiled, and my brother glared.
"What is going on here?!" He yelled and guards perked up to aid my brother if need be.
"This man was seen fleeing the main hall at the time of chaos. I thought I was the only to see him." Ivar chuckled and I adjusted my blade as the man started to lean upward. His manhood pain obviously eased.
I knew this weasel of a man. His pointed face engraved in my memories. He use to pet my hair and tell me how beautiful I was as a child. The feeling now even making me uneasy. I was young and back then I paid no mind but now I knew he was loyal to my sick twisted uncle. He had to be.
"He knows something. And I will get it out of him. If I have to cut little pieces off one at a time." I claimed piercing his skin and blood trickling from the wound. Ivar's face showed amusement, while Calder looked baffled. Like I had just morphed into an unknown creature right in-front of his eyes.