Fighting, Honour and Valhalla || Vikings x The Originals x TVD

Viking and the Witcher: Year 3 Part 2.5

(8 Months Later)

Thorfinn crouched on a rooftop, his cloak blending with the night, the city's hum a distant murmur below. Sophia and Bilal flanked him, their hooded figures poised as they leapt to a lower roof, their movements silent. The manor lay ahead, its white stone walls lit by torches, its tiled roof sloping under the starlit sky. Earlier Idris had briefed them in the bell tower's main hall, their target was finally in the open and now was the time to strike. As they traversed the city, Thorfinn's mind replayed that briefing.

"Your target is Strategos Kastor," Idris had said, pointing to a sketch of a lean man with a hooked nose. "High-ranking Templar, he oversees the city's blood supply for the vampire. He's responsible for every captive drained in the palace."

Thorfinn jumped, landing on a narrow ledge, his fingers gripping the edge as he pulled himself up, his body fluid, no trace of the clumsiness that had plagued him months ago. Sophia followed, flipping over a gap, her cloak fluttering as she landed beside him. Bilal swung from a beam, his boots hitting the next roof with a soft thud. They moved in sync, their training honed to near perfection.

Idris had leaned over the map, his finger tracing a district near the harbor. "Kastor's always in Templar strongholds or in the palace, hr was untouchable. But our scouts found him at a manor, outside their territory. He's personally selecting captives for the palace, overseeing the process himself."

Thorfinn vaulted over a chimney, his legs bending to absorb the impact, then sprinted, leaping to a higher roof, grabbing a protruding stone to swing onto a balcony. Sophia wall-ran beside him, her body twisting to catch a ledge, while Bilal slid under an overhang, rolling to his feet. The manor's walls grew closer, its guards patrolling the perimeter.

"This is our best chance," Idris had said, his braid swinging as he straightened. "Kastor's exposed, away from his usual escorts. Take him out, and we cripple their supply chain. But he's guarded—archers on the roof, swordsmen at the gates. Plan carefully."

Thorfinn reached a sloped roof, crouching as he scanned the manor's layout. Sophia and Bilal joined him, their breaths steady despite the run. They hid behind a stack of tiles, the vantage point giving a clear view of the manor's courtyard, where torches illuminated guards and a line of bound captives kneeling in the dirt. Thorfinn's jaw tightened, his mind flashing to Arwyn, still trapped with Niketas, possibly facing a similar fate. 'I'm coming for you... soon,' he thought, his resolve hardening.

Sophia tapped his arm, whispering, "Plan?"

Thorfinn nodded, his voice low. "Bilal, you're the distraction. Disguise as a beggar, make a scene at the main gate, draw the swordsmen out. Sophia and I infiltrate from the roof, take out the archers, find Kastor."

Bilal grinned, pulling a tattered cloak from his pack. "I'll give them a performance they won't forget. Shout, throw stones, maybe cry about my lost donkey."

Sophia stifled a laugh. "Don't overdo it. We need them distracted, not arresting you."

Bilal adjusted his cloak, smearing dirt on his face. "Trust me, I'm the best beggar this city's seen."

Thorfinn pointed to a tall building across from the manor, its balcony facing the roof. "We'll cross from there. Rope to the manor's chimney, slide over, cut the line. Once we're inside, we split to find Kastor."

Sophia checked her crossbow, nodding. "I'll take the east wing, you take the west. First one to spot him wins."

Thorfinn's lips twitched, a rare smirk. "Agreed."

Bilal slipped away, descending to the street, his cloak dragging as he shuffled toward the gate. Thorfinn and Sophia sprinted, leaping to the next roof. Idris's voice echoed in Thorfinn's mind. "Kastor's cunning," he had said, pinning the sketch to the table. "He'll have escape routes, hidden guards. Don't underestimate him."