After the battle was over and the wounded were tended to, the army moved over the horizon, but with darkness falling, the had to make camp immediately.
As the night began, the men took to their nightly activities like rituals. The difference this time, was that the Jarls were drinking and congratulating their men. As the Jarls grew closer, Jon became a little anxious as he was never really around "Royalty" before. As Jon was finishing his horn of ale by the fire, the five Jarls were walking up to him. "Raska Berskaggr! My how you held the battle lines this day, I hear you and your boy fought like demons from Hel!" said their Jarl, Svygard Bjornsson. Seeing his father stand up, Jon stood as well and clasped the forearms of the ecstatic leaders. They all began to pay respects to his bravery and fortitude in combat.
The Jarls proceeded to ask him about his training, upon learning that it was combat master Gu that trained him, they understood as a Berskaggr clansman, trained by Gu, he would be a very fierce warrior. The Jarls sat and drank with them, sharing stories of battles, long passed.
Jon was telling them of how much he was enjoying himself and the battles, learning strategies and new techniques. The Jarls told Jon that tomorrow he would be going out with a scouting party, which was a learning experience for Jon and a platform to earn the trust and respect of his Jarls.
Jon was excited to go, even though his father would be staying behind. Jon wanted to sleep right away to wake and leave with the scouting party. As he laid down that night, Jon was dreaming of glory and honor and gold. As he rose the next morning, Jon started off towards the Jarls tents, where the scouts met in the morning.
After selecting the groups and briefing the scouts with the information gained by the traitorous Golden Isles man, Jon learned that he was to continue Southwest. Before he left Jarl Svygard Bjornsson came over to talk to him. In a cool tone all he asked was "Can you use the Berskaggr transformation spell?" Jon nodded and said yes, sir. The Jarl smiled, turned away and said in a plain voice, "Demonstrate the skills then, young Berskaggr. Prove it to me. Today I will join you."
As the scouting party left, Jon was talking to an old warrior, maybe slightly younger than Gu. Jarl Svygard beckoned Jon to him and let him have a horse. Jon had only ridden a horse one or two other times and was pretty much just along for the ride. Jarl Svygard instructed Jon on his posture while riding, how to use the stirrups properly, Jon's body control and his to use the reins in a way that does not irritate the horse. Jon actually learned a lot in the few hours they rode.
The group eventually came to a very large red, yellow and brown Autumn forest. Pushing into the woods they found a trail had been cut, probably for the locals to use to pass through. They followed the trail to the other side of the woods and as soon as they emerged, a group of almost 20 men surrounded the group of 7 men, swords in hand.
The Jarl quickly urged Jon off of his horse, while grabbing his own sword and shield. The men were of the Golden isles, Jon could tell from the blonde hair most of them had. The men rushed at them and Jon quickly used his families spell. Turning quickly into a large, powerful bear, Jon tore at his opponent. The man never stood a chance as Jon swiped at his chest, cutting deep into the enemy, exposing his shredded heart and lungs he collapsed dead instantly. 1. Jon ran through a group of 3 men besieging the old man he was speaking to before they left, biting one man's neck and snapping it like a small twig, with a flick of his head he launched the broken man onto his comrades. 2. Jon put a single paw on either man's head and pushed up, slamming his entire weight onto them, crushing their skulls like eggs, grey matter exploding around his blood soaked paws. 3 and 4. Finishing off the two men, Jon turned to see that a man on his side was being disemboweled by a clean strike to his abdomen.
Jon wished to save the man's life but was stopped by 5 men at once. Enraged, Jon swiped the first man in his head, batted a sword away with his other paw he roared as a blade just sliced into his skin. Jon began moving like a blur and everywhere he went, death followed. He quickly killed the 4 remaining men in front of him and moved to the next man, killing him. Jon had killed half of the enemy ambush, his allies were not so fortunate as they were all older, gray haired men. They had only managed to kill 3 while the Jarl sat back on his horse. One man thought he was brave enough to go after the Jarl and was immediately struck dead by Jarl Svygard, his enemies head landing yards from the still running body.
Jon quickly finished off another man and the rest of the ambush turned to run. The Jarl commanded everyone to stop, except Jon who he told to kill the rest. Jon did not hesitate and rushed the final 6 men.
Pouncing on the first man, he but the nape of his neck, severing his brain stem. Rushing at the next man, he turned and slashed at Jon, however the great bear only waited a split second as his swing carried his sword almost into the dirt. Jon grabbed the man's arms with his monstrous paws and ripped then off in a second, leaving the man and rushing at the 4 men who were still running literally for their lives. Jon killed them all in a very gruesome fashion, earning praise from his companions.
Jon killed 16 of the 20 men with his transformative state. The Jarl said nothing to Jon, while the remaining 2 men in the group grabbed him by his shoulders, shook him and thanked him for saving their lives.
On the trip back to camp the Jarl told Jon he knew the ambush would be there, as the man told him the locations of specific ambush points to avoid. The Jarl also told Jon he was proud of him and that he learned from his father who was even less skilled at his age. The Jarl wanted to reward Jon, so he gave him a small sackcloth with a square of parchment inside and told him to open it when they reached camp.
As soon as he was in his tent, Jon opened the sackcloth and took the parchment. Reading it, all it said was to go to the Jarls after first watch was over.