Erika was busy sharpening her blade on the whetstone, her maroon eyes flickering with the sparks that flew into the air. She kept on at it as she noticed Finan run towards her for the second time this day.
Erika grumbled, annoyed that someone had interrupted her sharpening session on the weapons she cared for so deeply. She stood up and stabbed her weapon into the ground before snarling at Finan.
"What is it, slave? Why do you bother me repeatedly? Tell the Earl that I've already sent out his spies, and they should be back before the sun sets across the horizon."
Finan stuck his tongue out at the blood-red-eyed shieldmaiden. He knew that although she tried to act tough around him, she wasn't close to as bad as the Earl.
"We've got more news, there are three massive Norman warriors who are here to parlay, and they've just taken a seat at the main tent. The Earl is entertaining them and wanted you to attend as well.
Erika was surprised. The Earl usually didn't allow women into their negotiations. Something interesting must have happened for him to break the rule. She licked her lips in anticipation and asked Finan to lead the way.
They made their way past the blacksmiths repairing weapons through all the hubbub of a Viking camp. Many Danes sat around several fire pits to relax after the storm, recovering while eating and drinking to their heart's content.
Finan lifted the flap of the tent to bid entrance for Erika.
As she walked in, her heart raced for a second. Her gaze caught on the three men sitting in front of the Earl. They all had dangerous yet refined looks in their eyes, but the youth with a blonde mane for hair and intelligent emerald eyes standing on the right looked beyond comprehension. He was walking a tight line between the wild and refined look.
Earl Sigfried noticed her presence and stood up. "Ah, gentlemen, this is my daughter, Erika. She's an excellent shieldmaiden. Second only to her mother in prowess," he said with a wink to the three men.
It brought a chuckle amongst the men as they all thought about the ferocity for which Viking women were infamous.
Erika tried to steady her heart as she ignored the emerald eyes hooked onto her every move. She quickly walked over to the chair next to her father and took a seat.
Seeing that Erika was all settled down, her father continued on with the previous discussion with the three of them.
"Well, for the benefit of Erika, I was about to ask them what they came here to talk to us about?"
Earl Sigfried carefully eyed the three men. How they responded would determine the course of action tomorrow.
The older man in the middle opposite him laughed as he raised his arms. "Where are our manners? We've forgotten to introduce ourselves. In service to the Baron of these lands, the three of us are the Sigvald family. My name is Harald, Marshal to the Baron's army, and these here are my sons, on my left, Thorkell and on my right, Ragnar.
Thorkell grunted in affirmative, but Ragnar said nothing. His eyes hadn't moved off Erika's figure since she walked in.
Seeing Ragnar's trance like stare on his daughter, a glint came about in the Earl's eyes. He vividly remembered the Seer's words. He had to be careful in the near future, and the first opportunity had presented itself.
"Looks like your son, Ragnar, has an eye for my daughter, eh?" The Earl roared in laughter.
Harald smirked as he laid an appreciative glance over Erika before nodding. "She's a mighty woman, and any man would be honored to have her hand. But, the men of the Sigvald family choose their women. Not the other way around. So, why don't we get down to business? My Lord desires to get this over quickly."
Earl Sigfried stroked his silver beard in thought. "Yes, it seems the banter has to come to an end. Tell me, what is it you seek? As you can see, we've taken your Baron's fort. Now the question that stands is, what will you do about it?
Earl Sigfried struck an immediate nerve with the family. A menacing growl broke out from Thorkell as he expanded in size, quickly filling up the tiny tent with his stature.
The Earl gulped in fear, realizing how dangerous this family was as the tension in the room was palpable. Two sets of emerald and one pair of blue eyes bore a hole through his head.
As the Earl was about to get up from his seat to call the guards, laughter broke out among the Sigvald family.
Harald smacked his knee as he cackled. "That's enough boys, don't frighten them now."
Thorkell and Ragnar grinned, almost like this entire thing was a planned charade played out by the family to intimidate the Earl.
Marshal Harald slowly stood up and guffawed. "What will we do about it, you say? You better change that tone of yours, Earl, before we walk our 3000 men right through this camp and slaughter all of you as nightwalkers."
Nightwalkers were known as assassins in Norse mythology. People who killed warriors in their sleep, forbidding them the chance to go to Valhalla. It was a cruel fate for the Northmen, one that no one would wish upon their worst enemy.
Earl Sigfried roared in anger as he walked up to the Marshal and stabbed his finger into his mail armored chest. "You wouldn't dare! I know you don't have 3000 men. My spies have come back to inform me of your numbers. If you had 3000, then you wouldn't be here to negotiate with us."
Erika stood up in fear as well. Things were getting heated, but what she heard next would haunt her for the rest of her life.
Marshal Harald smirked before snapping his fingers, "What happens if I told you that they were charging in right now?"
One second the wide-eyed Earl was twisting on his feet to shout for his guards, and the next second he was split down the middle, carved out by Thorkell's massive battle axe.
Erika was about to scream in horror before a massive hand clamped down on her mouth, killing the shriek building up in her throat. A set of inhuman green eyes looked down at her, demanding her silence.
Noticing her obedience, he turned around to the other two men before stating, "This one is mine."
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