Klaus and Elias carried the body of the unconscious boy quitely until they were close to the clearing where Klaus's father was waiting for him. Elias met eyes with Klaus, and they both nodded. Elias decided to head home. He was tired after so much activity, and he had no desire to watch the wolf boy die.
Elias ran away into the woods while Klaus continued into the clearing where his father was waiting with his sword drawn. Klaus was cold tired and bruised from his hunt, but more than anything, he wanted this to be over. Klaus walked until he was visible under torchlight, and his father's cold blue eyes met his own.
Klaus was expecting his father to coldly greets him like he always did when he came home with his siblings, but instead, he found surprising warmth in his father's eyes. Mikael showed a rare smile, "My son. Klaus, I have always suspected that you were not mine. It was because of your weakness, but now I see the truth. My boy, you have done well."
Klaus dropped the wolf's body when Mikael brought him into a tight embrace. The boy stirred, and Mikael pulled Klaus back and stared at him with disgust. He sneered, "you didn't kill him yet."
Klaus looked down and said, "I wanted to do in front of your father, so you would know that I killed my prey properly."
Klaus was hoping that his father wouldn't make him kill the little boy. Klaus had hopped that catching him would be enough for his crazed father. Well, now he had no choice.
Mikael looked up thoughtful then nodded his head, "well, get on with it."
Klaus took out a small knife, and walked toward the boy, looked at his father, who gave him an encouraging nod. Klaus tried to make himself slit the boy's throat but could not bring himself to do it. Mikael seeing Klaus's hesitation shook his head, "I knew you didn't have it in you, boy. You're weak, just like your mother."
Mikael strode over and slid his sword in between the small boy's ribs and into his heart, after which he cleaned his sword off with grass and started walking the direction of home. Klaus followed some distance behind him. He didn't want to set his father off again.
Elias managed to reach home just in time to see his mother's angry face scowling at him. His mother yelled at him for an hour before sending him off to bed without supper. Well, Elias thought to himself, at least I managed to help Klaus a little, and I learned I could use necromancy. I wonder what other powers I have. Elias laid in bed and looked at the ceiling, thinking about his day before he fell asleep.
Erik stumbled through the door even later than Elias. As soon as he saw his wife, he knew she was angry. He was about to stumble out of the door again, but unfortunately, Alva was quicker than her drunk husband and pinned h wall.
Alva's voice began yelling at Erik, who shrank into the wall, "did you know that our son was missing the whole day and came home in the middle of the night! What were you doing while your son was missing!"
Erik said in a small voice, "we were drafting war plans against the next village."
Alva snorted, "sure you were, and that's why your drunk right now."
Erik, in an even smaller voice, said, "one should never go to war sober?"
Alva just rolled her eyes and walked toward the bedroom. Erik sighed and once again reflected how scary Viking women could be.