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The time that Alfild had waited for had come. A time of death. War was the only time in which Alfild felt alive now. The people around her finally felt as she did. And, in their final moments, they were connected with her in a way they'd never been with anyone else. Taking a life on the battlefield was like joining souls. You were the last person they'd ever see, the last breath that would touch their face as blood dribbled down their lips. You were the one that ended their journey, and one day Alfild knew she would experience that moment for herself.
"You seem cheerful." Hvitserk commented with a small smile.
Alfild looked back towards the young man. She enjoyed Hvitserk's Company. In fact, she enjoyed the company of all the ragnarssons. But Hvitserk had a charm she couldn't quite place. Somehow, he always left her smiling. "I am."
"You're not afraid you'll die?" He teased making the corners of her lips turn upwards ever so slightly.
"If the Gods wish for me to die on this day, I welcome it with open arms." She answered.
The thing that often terrified Alfild's opponents was her fearlessness. Many believed it was because she knew she would win, that death was on her side. But Alfild didn't know such a thing. She was just a girl, like anyone else. The reason she never felt fear was not because the Gods were on her side. It was because she prayed that they weren't. For all the things she had done, she could not help but hate herself. Perhaps, at this point, she hated herself more than her enemies. In all honesty, she went into every battle with an apathetic demeanor. Why would she care if she died?
"Queen Alfild!" Eric marched forwards, grabbing the woman's attention. She excused herself from Hvitserk before the man almost dragged her away. This resulted in a few stares from Hvitserk and those around them. More importantly, it caught Ivar's attention too.
"Unhand me at once!" She objected making the man let go. "What on earth is your problem?"
"My queen, I don't think we should fight here. We promised our soldiers we would only avenge King-"
"And we are!" Alfild interrupted. "This is revenge. In Odin's name, must I explain everything to you? Are you too stupid to understand my plans? Are our people? If they have an issue with my leadership, they are welcome to address it. But everything I do, I do to secure the future of my people."
"Is it for our people?" The man asked before his eyes moved over to the sons of Ragnar. "Or is it for your weakness."
"I will not hear this again." She dismissed, trying to walk away. Erik grabbed her arm, his eyes like fire.
"It will only end one way. It will be like Arvid and Sigrid and everyone else you have loved. Love is weakness." Erik told her.
She shook her head, now enraged by the man. "Do not speak about things that you don't understand!" She bellowed. "Sigrid was killed by a distant queen and still I allied with her, even after she murdered the woman I loved. Arvid betrayed not just me but our people. I do not need a lecture on how to lead my people, I have done so without issue for almost three years. I am your Queen, and I will do as I see fit. You and anyone else heard speaking out will be dealt with if I hear any plans to betray us. Am I understood?"
"Yes, my queen." He spoke sheepishly.
Alfild stormed ahead her eyes ablaze. In some ways, it was good that she had spoken with Erik before the battle. Now, she saw red. And how that was mirrored in the pillaging of York.
Men, women, children. All were killed. Alfild went from house to house, soaking her steel in Christian blood. Everyone in sight was killed. Not a crying babe nor an innocent woman spared. Their holy men were tortured. Nuns were impaled.
There was no remorse in Alfild's heart. This was a war, and they were simply on the wrong side. And everytime a woman wept as Alfild's sword swept through them, or a man begged for her life, she lost even more respect. These people were cowards. They were weak. And she was helping the world by washing them clean from its grasp.
Perhaps the people were right. Perhaps she was death. Perhaps she was here to kill and nothing more.
Hello my dudes. It's me again.
I was thinking about this book and I don't know if I'll be able to fit all of the ideas I have in a book of the usual size. Normally, I have around 40 chapters (including Prologue, playlist etc). However, because of the slow burn in this book and al the many ideas I have, I don't think I'll be able to do that.
So, that begs the question:
Would you prefer a reeeeeeeaaaaally long book, or would you like me to split it into two separate books?
