Aeleva; The Viking Saxon

Chapter 16

"Brother." The man grinned at Hagen. He could plainly see the hatred on Hagen's face. And he loved it.

"You still remember your way round, I see."

Hagen said nothing but stood, paralysed by his rage. The rest of us behind him ready to fight if he ordered. We all stood there, me and Sven and the two other men, with swords pointing at us. Heaving from the run.

I looked at the men holding their weapons at us. There were four of them and the look in their eyes, if I was not mistaken, was terror. My eyes gazed down at the sword aimed at my chest, it was shaking. I smirked and took my eyes back to the guard. His face dropped when he noticed I saw his fear. You couldn't miss it; he was covered in the stench.

"Was this really necessary brother? You needn't cause this much fuss." Earl Dyri was taunting Hagen. He had got of his throne and took steps towards his kin. Still full of confidence. His face plastered with a cunning smirk.

I looked around and the four men who were containing us were the only ones in the room. We were in the hall, the throne Dyri had sat on was raised and over looked everything. The carvings on the walls were finer, more intricate then Torvik. They showed tales of Gods and Vikings gone. The goblets on the tables were gold, some even encrusted with jewels. Axes and spears were fastened to the walls, all pointing to the throne, a huge solid oak throne.

Hagen said nothing but stared back, nostrils flaring.

"Brother?" Dyri asked, he smiled and tilted his head.

"You caused this Dyri," Hagen said finally, the anger so thick in his voice. "You set this in motion."

Dyri's smile faltered. "It was an unfortunate turn of events."

"You will never be what father was." Hagen said low.

"Ha! And you think you will?"

"You have killed everyone I loved..." Hagen stepped towards him. Dyri's men became uneasy and stood closer to us. Glancing around at each other.

Hagen burst, he grabbed his swords hilt and unsheathed it. Holding it ready. Dyri flinched back.

"Don't be so hasty brother." Dyri's cool demeanour had melted away and he was almost pleading with his brother to calm down. The guards fidgeted and Dyri moved backwards. No one wanted to challenge Hagen.

"You cannot save yourself now," he muttered and lunged forward as Dyri drew his sword. The room erupted. And suddenly Dyri's men were upon us.

The guard aimed at me, thrust his sword forward. I tilted out of the way and smashed my shield into his arm. It bent unnaturally sending a crack around the room and he released his grip, throwing his sword to the ground. I spun and embedded my axe into his back. He fell to the floor paralysed. His back spilling blood.

The whole fight was over in a few moments and my heart was beating so loud I heard it in my ears.

I turned to face Hagen just in time to see him run to his brother. He jumped and pinned Dyri to the ground.

"Please," he whispered. But Hagen didn't hear him. He took his dagger and drove it into his neck. Dyri gurgled and spluttered for a few moments. But he grew still almost immediately.

I turned to look at Sven, his scared face was a sombre as mine.

"NOOOOO!" A woman appeared from behind the throne. Her face went white when she saw Dyri on the ground and Hagen pinning him down. She ran towards Hagen with a dagger. She was swinging it about, no aim or thought in her panic. Hagen stood up and swung. In one swoop she was on the floor clutching her belly. Gasping for Dyri.