Born with Sunrise

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

There was no mercy for those who had been a part of the massacre of his people all those years ago, but the younger ones were to be given a chance. A chance, however, did not mean that they were allowed to rise up and cause issues for them. That was why in quick order Hagen had managed to separate the ring leaders of this little rising rebellion. The three males were now very visibly displayed to all those who thought to even think the same thoughts they had once had. It also meant that those who had watched him and his men set up the scene knew exactly what he was capable of. He did not like what he had done, but the grim business was more of a mercy than his people had faced on that bloody night. His family had been spared, through the luck of the gods it seemed, but others he had known were now nothing but a bloody mess in his memories. He had no sorrow in his soul for these men.

Yet as he turned on a route out of the inner circle, he saw a family slain. The tiny bodies of the children held tight within the arms or their mother. Even in death she tried to cling to them in protection. He knew without searching, asking or beating the information free of his men, that none of them would have done this. Men were free game when it came to war, women and children however, they were to have a different treatment. No matter what their enemies had done to them, they would not stoop to bring women and children into the death count, which was in no way honourable.

Hailing one of his men going in the opposite direction he called him over. "Aye, M'lord?" The lad was young, probably only just of the age to have been allowed to come into this battle and not be left behind to defend the camp. Yet the eagerness he knew was to show how useful he was to his warrior lord, Hagen could still see the trace of fear in the lad though as he looked at the fine trembling of his hand which clung tightly to the dagger he kept in hand. "I would like you to find a couple of other men. I want all bodies of women and children found and treated with the upmost respect. Do not move them yet, I just want you to count the bodies and know where they are in order for me to work out how best to send them to the afterlife with the prayers the gods require. The men could stay where they lie, these women and children had been killed by the very men who should have instead died to protect them. The lad was just about to run off and do his bidding, when he caught his arm. "Do you know how the other women fare?"

The lad swallowed, and stood a little taller, Hagen knew what was running through his head, had had this many a time. He was giving the lad a chance to show his knowledge, a chance to gain in rank and the pride showed in his face. "M'Lord, I just left them to join the guard of the inner circle, most of them are scared but fare well enough, a few have fallen into tears for their lost ones. And a few have injuries that are being tended to..." He looked as if he had more to say but held his tongue. That could never be allowed. "I want the all of it, not just the parts you think I wish to hear." The lad cleared his throat. "It is just that Rangvald was trying to convince a woman he meant her daughter no harm as I left...it did not seem he was being so successful." He dropped his voice to a whisper. "I mean M'Lord, the woman was the liveliest of the lot actually arguing with Rangvald over the treatment of her daughter. I did not wish to put Rangvald in a bad light to you."

Hagen patted the lad on the shoulder. "You do not put Rangvald into a bad light for me at all. Go and do as I ask now. There are women here who need to be shown a respect their own men did not show." He glanced once more at the young mother and children as the lad ran off to do his bidding. He sent a silent prayer to the gods that this woman was in her version of paradise and could protect her children there as she had been unable to do here. Though he knew that was no fault of her own. Knowing that it was an image he would carry with him for life, he walked on promising himself they would be treated right in death as they had not been in life. Moving in the direction of the living women, he needed to speak with Rangvald, but he also was rather curious over this second woman with enough fire within her to fight back. Where there only two women of substance in this entire land? For that is what is seemed at this moment. And this he most definitely had to see, because if they were the only two, Rangvald had the unfortunate business of dealing with both of them.