Rescued by the Berserker

The Cave of the Corpse King

Knut

Frightened, annoying little rabbit. So delectable, the plump, tanned legs flashing under her short garment, the curvy chest heaving as she ran from me. 

I stalked her easily, ready at any moment to speed up and complete the chase. The beast was ready to rut, but I fought for control. She was afraid of me. I had just slain her enemies—the corpse blood vile on my tongue—but she'd almost rather face the Grey Men than me.

How is your rescue going? Leif asked, and shared with me an image of his own battle with the draugr. He and the rest of the pack had found the traitors and Fleur, the woman they'd stolen, at the mouth of the mage's cave, hard-pressed by the stinking Grey Men.

She stabbed me with her stick. Twice. I sent the picture of her standing with the staff, her face a mask of fear, and her body still ready to fight.

And you let her? Leif and the others were laughing.

I don't want to hurt her. Of course, now that she was running, she might hurt herself.

Take care, Knut. Whatever these creatures are, something controls them, and has power enough to cast spells.

Above my head, the sky was boiling with clouds. A storm was coming, howling up from the east. No doubt its origin was the mage's cave.

I will rescue this woman and see what she knows. I will bring her back to the mountain for the Alphas to question. To the fight and the finish!

To the fight and the finish! The warriors responded with a roar.

With my own shout, I charged and broke through the branches the little one had pushed through in an attempt to stop me in my tracks. She would learn that it wasn't so easy to best a Berserker.

***

Hazel

The wind whipped faster, the trees tossed their heads, and my hair stood on end. Something was happening and even the weather responded.

I broke through the trees and stopped at the mad scene before me. My journey had lead me back to the cave where I'd escaped.

My friend Fleur was fighting armed with the second half of the staff I held. A warrior, a wolf, and an eagle fought beside her, pressing their way to escape into the wood.

Meanwhile the warriors fought like mad things. Half men, half monsters, the crashed into the enemy, catching the blades in their bare hands and driving the Corpse King's servants back with violent glee.

A fine sight to see, isn't it not?

I whirled. There was no one behind me, yet a voice, a deep and tender male voice, had spoken in my head. But that was impossible. I still held the staff. Perhaps it was playing tricks on me.

More Grey Men were rushing into the fray, coming from every direction. I would not be safe for long.

I backed away, right into a broad, bare chest. The blond warrior who'd fought for me in monstrous form loomed over me with a determined expression. He had scratches on his face from where I'd let the branches slash him.

"Got you now," he grunted and tossed me over his shoulder to carry me off—again.

***

Knut

With the wriggling woman over my shoulder, I strode off. She was struggling and fighting. I enjoyed the soft, pleasant feel of her body against mine.

I put a warning hand on her bottom. "Stab me again with that damn twig, and I'll roast your bum right here, see if I don't." The threat made her still.

Behind us rose the clang of weapons and roars of the Berserkers facing their enemies. The draugr were everywhere, an endless stinking sea.

Leif, Rolf, I called as reinforcements swarmed near us. More vermin. Help me clear a path.

Holding the woman with one hand, I cut through the ranks with my axe. A storm had blown up overhead and a thick mist was pouring from the cave's mouth.

The mage had woken and was fighting back.

Swiping at enemies as they popped out of the unearthly fog, I kept a mindlink with the woman I carried. A bond had opened between us, as sure and true as the bond I shared with the rest of the pack. The woman's thoughts were jumbled and frightened and, as the fog increased, a heavy sadness settled over her, a sickness of the mind.

Dismayed, I darted into the woods and shrugged her down into my arms. Her face was deathly pale.

Cold. No escape. Despair.

"Wake up, lass," I cupped her cheeks. "It's a curse, only a curse. The mage is working his evil magic through this fog."

But she didn't respond. Whether from fear or exhaustion, she'd fainted.

A rumbling started at the base of the hill. Grey Men were thrown to the ground, hidden in the thick layer of fog.

The cave is collapsing-retreat! The Alphas order rang through the pack bonds, a powerful compulsion that my Berserker brothers immediately obeyed. I resisted. As the ground began to shake, and thick dust spewed from the cave, I threw myself down, covering the woman with my body until the worst was over. Cradling her in my arms, I ran the rest of the way to safety.

***

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