VIKINGS || GYDA

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟑 *

As we reach the front door to the house, I'm left in confusion. I half expected Sigvards guards or even a candle lit. But no, the house was seemingly empty with no sign of life.

"Gyda think this through. Your stepfather must know you escaped his men. We could be walking into a trap."

I turn to her hushed voice.

"We're not going to get far without supplies and our horses. We will be quick. Stay close and quiet."

I turn to open the door but Eiras hard grip yanks me back.

"Please Gyda. I don't like this. Let's just leave we can find supplies on the road." She desperately whispers. I was surprised to actually hear concern in her voice.

while I understood her plea my mind was already made up. With my hand on my sword I nod towards Eira to warn her before I push the door open.

The adrenaline of a few moments ago dies down as I enter the darkened house. Not a sound could be heard. Nor any movement to be tracked. Walking in further I feel Eira shift beside me with uneasiness. I could understand it. Why wasn't he here? Why wasn't anybody?

While Eira walks to search for our belongings and rations, I walk to his room. Pulling back the drapes that drench over the door frame, I see the room empty. The furs of the bed roughed up and unmade.

We make haste in gathering our supplies. Securing it in two bags we each carry over our shoulder, we walk towards the door to ready our horses. Walking out into the air of the cold night I look and see that our horses were not as we left them.

"Gyda, the horses..."

"Just keep walking Eira. We can't stay here."

I take her arm to forcibly turn her away from the gore that laid in the stables. Our two horses lay crumpled to the ground, their heads sliced clean off—placed upright beside the bodies. A ritual usually done when making offerings to gods or when preparing a casket for a funeral.

It was a sight that struck me deep. Fear had crept into my every thought. It was a clear message meant for me. Sigvard was going to punish mother. He would do it by taking my life.

While Eira stutters on her words from seeing the horse she had rared since it was a foal being butchered, I take a tight grip of her hand as I lead us far from the stables. In my mind I was as shaken as her, but I couldn't give into it. I had to focus on getting out of this town, getting Eira to safety.

Soon we come to pass the last few houses that lay between us and the open forest. We would make our way to Kattegat. We would find mother on the way or we would meet her at Kattegat. Either way. I would be there to protect her and my brother.

Barely a scream or a pull to my sword hilt could be made as hands cover my mouth and eyes. I hear Eira's shouts become muffled beside me. More hands then take firm grips to my arms and shoulder as I feel them drag me from the dirt road into one of the houses.

I regain my sight and mouth as the hands release me and I'm thrown harshly onto the wooden floors. As soon as I stop rolling, I make haste to get on my feet. I turn to see Eira still on the ground looking up to me in shock.

Searching for my sword I don't find it. They must have been taken it off me during the struggle.

We were surround by near a dozen men in this dark house. The only light shining being through the opened door by the full moon.

I failed to land even one blow of my fists as they all ran at us. So fast that it was impossible to fight even one off. I struggle as best I can—Eira too. But in a short time they had our arms pinned and our legs trapped.

Our arms are then bonded to lay in front of us, as we are pushed down to our knees. Fighting the hard grips that held my head down, I throw my head back wildly in an effort to see what was happening.

In the darkness I don't make out much. Only more figures standing around us. One man comes closer as one of his hands steadies my chin while the other is pulled back at the ready.

His knuckles connect hard into my cheek. My neck twists to the side. The sounds of groans beside me alerted me that Eira was not to be left out of this.
As the hits continued to various parts of our bodies, I feel Eira finally give into to the hits. She is silent.

Feeling the figure lift my chin up once more, I feel my eyes finally roll to the back of my head as their fist collided with my cheek once more. I feel my chin collide roughly with my shoulder.

The warm blood that seeps from the cuts in my mouth from my teeth drips from my lips as the hands that hold my body lose their grip. They make no effort to clutch me again as my body falls down. My last conscious thought being how cold the floor was against my bruised cheek.

The gods are merciful as they take my waking self.

"How nice it is to have capable men for once. Nels?"

"Yes Earl?"

"You know where to put them. Come and get me when it's done. I have to go tend to the wounds of my knuckles. This brats got sharp cheekbones like her mother."