"You can try little girl," The leader of the bandits said as he unsheathed his sword. The sword had a golden hilt and was made out of steel. "Well then prepare to die then scum," Hertha said as she charged the leader of the bandits. His men got in front of Hertha with their swords in their hands. Hertha killed the first man by stabbing him in the neck with her dagger. Hertha dodged the second man's sword and cracked the side of his skull with her axe. "Ready to die," Hertha asked as the dead man fell to the ground. "If that's what the gods wish," The leader of the bandits replied as he prepared himself for battle. The leader of the bandits charged Hertha and she moved out of the way then struck him in back of the leg. The leader of the bandits screamed in pain and swung his sword wildly close towards Hertha's face.
She dodged his sword but not in time. The tip of the sword contacted the left side of her cheek. It left a bleeding scar on the right side of her face. Hertha stabbed the leader of the bandits in the left side, connecting one of his ribs with her dagger. The leader of the bandits fell to the ground as Hertha pulled out her dagger. He screamed in pain with tears rolling down his face. "Tell me who paid you and I'll send you to the gods," Hertha said as she crouched by his side. "If not i'll let you lay here in agony and die in hours," Hertha continued as she waited for an answer. A few minutes later the leader of the bandits. "It was King Calder," The leader of the bandits said as he grunted in pain. "King Calder wanted you two dead so you'll be out of his way while he tries to take the kingdom," The leader of the bandits continued.
"Thank you for your honesty," Hertha said as she held her dagger close to his neck. She sliced his neck and watched him choke on his own blood. "What a gorgeous sword he had," Hertha said as she grabbed the sword from he's dead hands. "He must have stolen from a king or from god," Olin said as he admired the sword. "Look at your sister," Stigr said as he looked at the scar on the right side of her face. "At least your face is not boring anymore," Stigr continued as he laughed at Hertha. "Very funny baby brother," Hertha said as she stood up and sheathed her new sword. "We should go home and tell father," Stigr said. "Then let's head home," Hertha said as she walked towards the door of the inside of the old stronghold. As she wrapped sheath the sword around her waist, the blood began to dry.
"First let's see what treasures these dead bandits left behind," Hertha said as she opened the door. Hertha, Stigr, and Olin searched the old stronghold for treasure. They found a chest full of gold, a map of an island, and other gorgeous weapons. They exited the old stronghold they were by a stable. "Well this looks interesting," Hertha said as she studied the map. "Look at horses," Stigr said as he pointed to a stable full of horses. They put their treasures and weapons on the horses. Three hours later they reached camp and packed up Four days later Hertha, Stigr, and Olin reached Asbjorn Island. The scar on Hertha's face was scabbed up with dried blood on her face. They sold the animal pelts to traders before they headed home. An hour later Hertha, Stigr, and Olin entered the great hall. "Welcome my children," King Hjalmar said. "Thank you father," Hertha and Stigr said as they got close to the throne.
"What happened to your face Hertha," King Hjalmar asked as he saw a scabbed up scar on her face. "We were attacked by some of the bandits of the stronghold of Preben," Hertha replied. "They were paid to kill Stigr and I. We hunted the rest of them to find answers," Hertha continued "What did you find out," King Hjalmar asked. "King Calder sent them after us so we'll be out of his way while he tries to take our kingdom," Hertha replied. "So we killed all the bandits," Hertha continued. "You two wiped out all the bandits of Preben," King Hjalmar asked with a smile on his face. "With Olin's help," Stigr replied as he looked at Olin. "We must celebrate this victory," King Hjalmar said as he walked away. "Hertha and Stigr go clean yourself up," King Hjalmar continued.
"Yes father," Hertha and Stigr said as they head to their bedroom. An hour later Hertha and Stigr were cleaned up for the celebration. Almost everyone in the kingdom was great hall to celebrate Hertha's and Stigr's victory. While Even's camp he was having nightmares about the boy King Calder's men murdered. He couldn't stop picturing the boy's dead body in his head. For the rest of the night Even couldn't sleep nor he didn't want want to because everytime he close his eyes, he saw the boy's lifeless face. The next morning Even ready his men for the next raid. "I need you two to follow me," Even said as he exited camp. "Yes Even," One of the men said as he followed Even. Twenty minutes later Even and the two men reached a village called Jeppe.
"Well it smells better than the last village," Even said as he scouted the village. The two men chuckled at Even's comment about the last village they raided. "That's true," One of the men said with a smile. "What's your plan," The other men asked as he looked at Even. "We attack from this side at night," Even replied. "From this side they won't see us coming. Make sure every weapon we have is sharpened," Even continued as he looked at the other men. "Yes Even," The other men said as he went back to the village. "Let's head back camp," Even said as he stood up and walked away from the village. "We have a lot to do before nightfall. This village is bigger than the last one," Even continued as the two men followed him back to camp. Three hours later they were ready to raid the village.
The men were anxious for nightfall to come to raid the village. "Let's go and get into position," Even said as he left camp. His men cheered him on as they followed him to the position they were going to raid from. It was the afternoon and four hours till nightfall. "Hide behind the tree until I say otherwise," Even said as he got behind a tree. As his men got behind the tree, Even prayed to the gods for a successful raid. Four hours later the moon started to shine on Even and his men "It's time to raid the men," Even said as he unsheathed his sword. "Let's do this quietly and quickly," Even continued as he walked toward Jeppe. His men were walking slowly behind him with their weapons unsheathed. A few minutes later One of the men was too eager for the raid.
He tripped over a piece of wood and fell on the ground. The man screamed in pain with tears coming down his face. When Even looked behind him he saw the man impaled himself with his own sword. His hand was covered in blood. "You fool because of your failure to pay attention to your surroundings this will attract unwanted attention," Even whispered with anger in his voice. Some of the villagers came out of their homes to see what the commotion was. "We're under attack, hurry, grab your weapons," One of the villagers said with an axe in his hand. Another villager stood by his window with a boy. He had short light brown hair and grey eyes. "What is it father," A boy said with worry. "We're under attack, go hide in bushes while me and the others defend the village," The villager said as he unsheathed his sword. "Yes father," The boy said as he ran out the back door. Almost all the villagers had a weapon in hand. "Charge," One of the villagers screamed as he headed toward Even and his men with the villagers behind him.
