The meeting between Ragnar and Ulf was over. Ragnar knew the day he would leave Kattegat for battle was near, but this was not the most exciting thing happening.
The next day came, announced by a heavy downpour, as if Thor were trying to flood mankind for their sins. However, this was a good day for the people, as they stayed indoors, spending time with their families.
King Askild had been in contact with King Asmund, and a meeting had been arranged, though the rain delayed it. Askild used this opportunity to fortify his fortress because he did not know Asmund's true intentions, and Asmund coming to Kattegat seemed reckless.
Askild went to see the seer for guidance. The seer was an old woman of unknown age—it was believed she had been present since Kattegat was founded. She had white hair and a large scar running from her forehead to her nose, with a crimson line stretching horizontally across her face just below her eyes. An insignia representing the moon was drawn on her forehead.
She was a frail old lady, her brittle bones making movement difficult.
She was a frail old lady, her brittle bones making movement difficult. She wore the skull of a goat with both horns covered in blood, her face wrinkled, her back hunched, and a staff in her hand..
"What brings the King of Kattegat here?" the seer asked. Askild sat, but not before paying his respects, an unusual act for him lowering his hood to reveal his identity.
"I have come for your guidance, O wise one," Askild said, he was not stupid enough to act arrogant in front of a messenger for the gods and this is why the seer was virtually untouchable in Kattegat because she had Askild's full protection. This was an unspoken rule between Kings because she was one of the most valuable assets.
"This is unusual, my lord. Why did you not summon me?" the seer asked.
"I dare not do such a thing. You have earned my respect," Askild replied. A knife and a cup rested on the table before her.
"You honor me, what brings my lord here?" The seer questioned.
"I wish to know if the wind favors me," Askild said. It was vague, but it was enough for the seer to understand he sought to know if misfortune loomed.
The seer said nothing. She took the knife from the table, and Askild stretched his hand toward her, raising it above the cup
She made a cut on his palm, and as blood dripped into the cup, Askild showed no visible pain. Once she had enough blood, the seer took the cup and drank its contents. Her eyes rolled back in a trance, as though undergoing a brief metamorphosis, before returning to normal.
"King Askild, the wind not only blows in your favor, but the gods ride on your shoulder. Death is nowhere near you," The seer declared and this brought about a smirk from Askild. It was exactly what he wanted to hear, giving him the confidence to proceed with the negotiation with Asmund, knowing the gods were on his side.
The rain pounded the roof, but this did not stop Askild from leaving the seer's house. With his hood back up, he bid her farewell.
Outside, his horse was gone the thundering sounds must have scared it off so Askild decided to walk.
As he walked through his kingdom, he admired its power and prosperity but also noted the poorer areas. Some men stood under the rain, having no home. This did not concern him; he believed the poor were as necessary as the rich for a kingdom to thrive; someone had to do the work of the common man.
With his cloak up, no one recognized him. Because of this, a child attempted to steal his sword but couldn't unfasten it quickly enough. Askild quietly watched the boy struggle, making no move to stop him. When the child realized he couldn't take the sword, he tried to run.
One might think Askild would let him go, but instead, he grabbed the child by the hair, and the wind blew his hood down, revealing his identity. The child looked up and saw it was King Askild, bursting into tears. Slowly, Askild unsheathed his blade and placed it on the boy's neck.
"If you steal, you must be prepared to die. If you fear death, the street is not where you belong. You stand up to death, or you have no power over it," Askild muttered before stabbing the child in the shoulder.
"That scar signifies the day this coward before me died," Askild said as the child cried out in pain, bleeding profusely. This drew the attention of nearby people, but only after Askild was out of sight.
Returning to his throne room, Askild met Arvid, who awaited an audience.
"What brings you here, Arvid?" Askild asked, walking past him to sit on his throne. He waited for Arvid to be seated before speaking further.
"My king, I have brought news about Asger." Arvid said and Askild gestured for him to go on.
"It is about the execution, my king. It was all Asger's doing," Arvid said. Askild did not appear surprised by this revelation but was curious why Asger's most trusted ally would betray him.
"And how am I to believe your words?" Askild asked as a thrall poured him wine.
"I overheard him in the dungeon before the execution, my lord," Arvid replied, staring at the ground.
"And you are just now telling me? Why is that, Arvid?" Askild pressed. Arvid froze, realizing too late that he hadn't thought this through. There was no taking back what he had said.