The next day Hertha, Stigr, and Olin gather some warriors to protect Preben from King Calder's men. As Hertha, Stigr, Olin and warriors arrived to Preben they made camp close to Preben. Twenty minutes later Hertha, Stigr, and Olin scouted Even's camp. Even moved his camp to the first village he raided Jebbe. Hertha, Stigr, and Olin were in the woods keeping out of sight of the enemy. "This must be the first village they attack before Jeppe," Olin said as they looked at the defences of the camp. "Should we attack them here," Stigr asked as he looked at Hertha. "No we shouldn't," Hetha replied as she looked at the defences of Jebbe with admiration. "They're too dug in for us to attack. We will lose too many warriors even if we win the battle," Hertha continued as she looked at Hertha.
"Then what do we do Hertha," Olin asked as he looked at Hertha. "We move the villager to somewhere safe," Hertha replied. "Then we waited inside Preben from them to attack and destroy them," Hertha continued as she stood up. "Where's King Calder I don't see him," Stigr asked as he stood up. "I don't know the only one I recognized is his brother Even," Hertha replied. "Perhaps King Calder is a coward and too scared to lead his own army," Olin said as he stood up. "Let's go back to camp and prepare for battle," Hertha said as she walked away. When Hertha, Stigr, and Olin went back to camp Hertha sent Stigr to Preben with three other warriors to warn the attack. The people of Preben knew who Stigr was when he arrived in town. "What is the son of King Hjalmar doing in Preben," One of the villagers said as he walked up to Stigr.
"My sister and I are here to get the people of Preben to safety," Stigr said as he stopped his horse in the middle of the village. "Raiders already attacked Jebbe and Jeppe. We believe Preben is their next raid. We need you to leave this village and head somewhere more safe. You can return when the raiders are defeated," Stigr said. "Thank you for the warning Stigr," Another villager said. "We'll leave the village as soon as possible," The villager continued. "Good, i'll tell my sister the news," Stigr said as he turned his horse around and headed back to camp. A few hours later the people of Preben left the village and headed to safety. One of Hertha's scouts told her that she saw one of Even's men scouting the village before Stigr arrived.
When Stigr and the three other warriors arrived back at camp they entered Hertha's camp. Olin and a few other warriors were at a table with Hertha eating and drinking. "I've told the villagers to leave the village and they did so," Stiger said as he entered the tent. "That's good news," Olin said as he drank his cup of beer. "We also had news from one of the scouts," Hertha said. "She arrived to Preben before you did. She saw one of Even's men scouting the village before you arrived," Hertha continued as she ate a bowl of lamb stew. "It looks like they might attack soon," Olin said as he drank his cup of beer. "What should we do next," Stigr asked as he got closer to the table. "We should move into the village tonight brother," Hertha said as Stigr sat down at the table. "And wait for them to come. I have a feeling they'll attack tomorrow," Hertha continued as Stigr poured himself a cup of beer.
When the night came Hertha, Stig, Olin and most of the warriors prepared to defend Preben. The other warriors stayed behind to protect the camp in case of an attack. Hertha sent Olin and three other warriors to scout outside of Preben to know when Even's men got close to the village. Hertha, Stigr, and the rest of the warriors went into the houses to keep hiden of enemies' sights. Early in the morning Olin and three other warriors went back to Preben. Hertha, Stigr, and a few other warriors were in the third house on the left. "Even and his men are a hour away from here," Olin said as he entered the house. "They are going to attack from the right side of the village. Which leads deep into the forest," Olin continued. "Go and tell everyone to get into position," Hertha said as she stood up.
An hour later Even and his men arrived to Preben with their unsheathed. When Even entered the third house on the left Preben he saw that the village was completely empty. "Something is not right," Even said as he looked around him. Hertha, Stigr, Olin, and other warriors came out of the third house on the left rushing towards Even and his men. "Shield wall," Even screamed as he raised his shield. His man raised their shield as Hertha, Stigr, Olin, and the other warriors clashed into them. A few of his men fell down as Olin and a few warriors hit them with their shields. Hertha, Stigr, and the rest of the warriors from the third house on the left as the second wave of warriors came out of the first house on the right.
Hertha chopped off one man's head with her axe and slashed opened another man's chest. Stigr stabbed a man in the throat with his sword and watched him fell to the ground. Even ran towards Stigr and swung his sword close to Stigr's head. Stigr heard him coming and dodged Even's sword. Stigr slashed opened Even's back with his sword while Even screamed in pain. As Even fell to the ground one of the men tackled Stigr before he could finish him off. The man pulled out a knife and held it against Stigr's throat. Stigr grabbed the man's wrist and tried to pull the knife from his throat. As the man pressed his knife against blood started to come out a small wound on his throat. Hertha snuck up on the man and brought down her axe and slashed opened the back of the man's head.
She pushed the man's body of her brother and helped Stigr back on his feet. "Thank you sister," Stigr said as he picked up his sword. "Try not to die on me brother," Hertha said with a smile as she grabbed her axe from the dead man's head. The third and last wave came out the fifth house on the left as Stigr looked for Even. "Everyone retreated," Even screamed as he helped one of his men back on his feet. "The battle is lost. Go back to camp," Even continued as one of Hertha's archers shot the injured man in the neck. As Stigr ran after Even, Hertha grabbed his arm to stop her brother. "The battle is won brother," Hertha said as she looked at the retreating man. "Let him go Stigr. His pride is damaged and he has a scar to remember you by," Hertha continued as he let go of Stigr's arm.
"You're probably right sister," Stigr said as he sheathed his sword. "Our lives are fated by the gods," Hertha said as she sheathed her sword. "If you're truly meant to kill him. Then someday you will when the time is right," Hertha continued. "Are you two ready to head back to camp," Olin asked as he walked towards Hertha and Stigr. "Yes, let's go," Hertha replied as she walked away. An hour later they were back at camp tired and dirty. "We won," Stigr yelled when he entered camp. The whole camp cheered victoriously. "Let's celebrate," One of the warriors yelled as he raised his cup of ale.
