The crowd pressed tightly around them, forming a human cage that vibrated with tension. Voices rose in a chaotic blend of cheers and jeers, but Aiya’s focus narrowed to the woman before her. Hildegunn stood tall, her confidence radiating off her like heat. Aiya’s heart thundered in her chest as her gaze flicked to Adia, who stood silent and steadfast among the onlookers. Adia’s expression was a reminder: You are fearless.
But Aiya knew better. She was not fearless. She had only killed two people in her life, and both times, it had been pure chance. She had sparred with Gunnar enough to know the basics, but she was no warrior. Hildegunn, on the other hand, had been trained for this.
As a child in Hafrafell, Hildegunn had snuck off from her family’s farm to spar with the local boys. Dagr had been her favorite—he never teased her for being a girl and never went easy on her. As they grew older, their sparring turned into something else. Hildegunn had loved him, body and soul. She’d believed, foolishly, that one day he would love her back. But Dagr had been a creature of fleeting desires, and before he could change, Aiya had taken him from her.
"I'm not sorry for Dagr," Aiya said, raising her ax. Her voice was steady, though her grip trembled. "He was a monster."
Hildegunn’s lips curled into a sneer. “You will be. I’m far worse than he ever was.”
With a roar, Hildegunn charged, her ax raised high. Aiya barely managed to dodge the blow, lunging to the side and rolling across the sand. The ax struck the ground where she had stood moments before, sending up a spray of grit. Aiya scrambled to her feet, her lungs burning. Across the circle, she caught Ragda’s eyes. His face was tight with fear. For a split second, she thought she saw Dagr’s face among the shouting crowd, his dark, mocking gaze boring into her.
I cannot fall here, she thought. Dagr cannot win, not even in death.
Hildegunn came at her again, relentless. Aiya focused on her defense, her ax clashing against Hildegunn’s with every blow. Each strike sent shocks of pain through her battered ribs. She gritted her teeth, refusing to cry out. She couldn’t win with strength—Hildegunn’s power and skill eclipsed hers. But Aiya was clever, and cleverness had kept her alive before.
She just needed to unbalance her.
After what felt like hours of relentless blows, Hildegunn finally stepped back. They circled each other, the crowd’s noise fading into the background. Aiya saw an opportunity and took it.
"I’ll never forget the way it felt," she taunted, a smirk curling her lips. "When my knife slid into his ribs—the look on his face.” She let out a cold, hollow laugh. “He was so surprised.”
Hildegunn blinked, momentarily stunned. Aiya pressed on.
"I just kept stabbing him. Over and over."
The words hit their mark. Hildegunn screamed in rage, rushing forward recklessly. Their axes met in midair, the blades locking together. They were chest to chest now, nose to nose, their breaths heavy and hot.
Aiya didn’t wait. She brought her head back and slammed it forward into Hildegunn’s face. The crunch of bone was sickening, and Hildegunn stumbled back, blood streaming from her nose. Aiya swayed, the edges of her vision darkening from the force of the blow. But she stayed on her feet.
"He never mentioned you," Aiya spat, her voice sharp as a blade. “Not once. The whole time he was trying to seduce me.”
Hildegunn screamed again, her rage blinding her. She charged wildly, knocking Aiya to the ground. The air was forced from Aiya’s lungs as Hildegunn’s weight pressed down on her. Hildegunn pinned her with one knee, her forearm crushing against Aiya’s throat. Aiya clawed at the ground, desperate for something—anything—that could save her.
Her fingers brushed the hilt of the knife in her boot.
With the last of her strength, she yanked the blade free and drove it into Hildegunn’s side. The shield maiden’s eyes widened in shock and pain as Aiya twisted the knife. Hildegunn slid off her, clutching her side, but Aiya didn’t relent.
“This is what I killed him with,” Aiya hissed, holding the bloodied knife close to Hildegunn’s face. “Only fitting that you die the same way.”
Hildegunn’s face twisted in defiance. Summoning her remaining strength, she lashed out, her fist connecting with Aiya’s jaw and sending her sprawling. The knife flew from Aiya’s grasp, and Hildegunn staggered to her feet.
Aiya rolled away, her hands scrabbling through the sand until they found the haft of an ax. Hildegunn lunged, but Aiya swung first. The ax connected with Hildegunn’s ribs, the sound of cracking bone ringing out across the beach.
Hildegunn froze, her mouth opening as if to speak, but no words came. She dropped to her knees, her eyes meeting Aiya’s. For a long moment, everything was still. The crowd, the waves, even the wind seemed to hold its breath.
Aiya yanked the ax free, the blood-slicked blade glinting in the sunlight. Hildegunn fell forward, her body hitting the sand with a final, lifeless thud.
Aiya wiped the blood from her face with the back of her hand, her chest heaving as she stood over Hildegunn’s still body. She turned her gaze to the crowd, daring them to question her worth.
The silence broke. Cheers erupted from the crowd, their voices roaring with approval. Aiya stood in the center of the circle, battered and bloodied but victorious.
She had proven herself. Not just to them, but to herself.
This day would be remembered—the day Aiya Einardóttir, the untrained and unlikely fighter, defeated Hildegunn Oxen-Might.
YOU ARE READING
Conqueror Queen
Ficção Histórica✯Sequel to A Viking's Rage✯ Her whole life she had been mistreated, now it was her turn for revenge. She wasn't just a slave anymore, she was Aiya Einardóttir now, and she would conqueror the whole world if she had too. Now she seeks revenge on Lord...
