The Blade That Strikes In The Night

"You are…!" Asger said the moment his eyes fell on the person that crept up on him and blood spilled onto the ground soon after.

It was not the blood of the assailant, but the blood of Asger, his neck was bleeding but it was a shallow wound because he managed to dodge it but not quite.

"What is the meaning of this!?" Asger shouted at the attacker but got no response.

The fact that he was so brave to attempt to take the life of Asger was telling but his strike felt far more personal and they tried to end it in a single move but failed.

Asger was bleeding, the wound might be shallow but the area afflicted would lead to blood loss if he did not wound up quickly.

Asger brandished his spear, and squared up to the enemy under the moonlight, he had no intention of letting him escape but he also knew he had to get his wounds treated as soon as possible.

They stared at each other, the cloak of the assailant concealing their face but Asger was determined to find out just who the person was.

Asger made the first move, going for a basic one-handed thrust aimed at stabbing his lower torso but this enemy was light on their feet, thus evading it.

The weakness of a spear user was the time it took to retract that spear should the enemy close in, and this assailant exploited that opening to get close to an otherwise defenseless Asger.

It looked like it was over, the assailant went right for his head once again but Asger revealed a dagger in his other hand to parry his strike.

This took the assassin by surprise, this was the first time they saw a man wield both a spear and a dagger but it was possible due to Asger's build.

The attacker's eyes began to dart left and right, they were looking for an escape and Asger noticed this and he confirmed it the moment the attacker moved out of the range of his spear.

"I see, you are familiar with fighting a spear user." Asger's voice was one of suspicion, this attacker was not just a random one.

Asger tossed his spear towards him like he did against Egil but he could not kill the attacker as he managed to dodge it, a surprise move that had an 80% success rate was dodged under this moonlight, that was nothing short of a miracle.

The sudden movement, however, blew away the cloak that covered the attacker's head.

"I should have known it was you…" Asger muttered, pausing briefly to look at the face of the man that just tried to take his life.

"...Arvid!"

-

Ulf, who has been requesting an audience with King Askild, was finally granted one and this was a good piece of news for him because he knew that the King did not just see anyone but this also meant he could not waste the King's time or suffer the consequences that were sure to follow.

He got into the throne room and got on one knee, it was quite late but King Askild was there with his wife, Liv. Ulf knew the war was brewing and King Askild needed as many trusted men as possible.

"King Askild! I am honored that you accepted my request!" Ulf said with a resolute voice but Askild was not moved by his passion, passion does not cut down enemies on the battlefield.

"What did you want to discuss by this hour, Ulf Lothbrok." Askild's voice was flat, he was not in a jolly mood but when has he ever been in one? Ulf gulped and thought about the words that were about to come out of his mouth but noticed that he had not shown the wife of Askild the same respect as he had shown her husband. They all perceived that Askild disliked her but that was far from the truth and Ulf did something that was otherwise overlooked by other Vikings.

He greeted her with not only the proper courtesy but respect equal to Askild.

Askild's gaze softened momentarily upon witnessing this rare display of respect from Ulf, he could also tell that this pleased his wife.

"I am here to discuss my role in the upcoming war, my lord." Ulf started off, as he waited for permission to keep speaking to avoid rambling on.

"Your role? I believe you are to fight under your brother, Ragnar Lothbrok." King Askild recalled them because of their relationship.

"It is about that, My King. I do not want to fight under my brother anymore for I have lived in his shadow for far too long I fear I won't have great stories to tell in the All-Father's great hall." Ulf wanted to stand on his own, for he has lived under the shadow of his brother for far too long and wanted to make his own path despite wanting the woman that belonged to his brother.

"Ulf Lothbrok, son of Sigurd. I will only consider your offer if you have someone to fight under. You do not have my trust to lead a unit nor do you have the skills to lead men with greater tales than yourself." King Askild accepted his proposal but under a condition.

"Yes, My King. Erik The Berserker, I will fight under him and carve my name into the walls of time as the man that played a major role in the conquest of Vestfold, even if I have to die to do it." Ulf said but Askild took this as just words.

Even a coward could spew words that made him look like the bravest warrior in the room, everything will be determined on the battlefield.

"No, Ulf.." King Askild rejected his proposal, index finger tapping his thigh.

"I have an assignment for you, Ulf. You will fight under Birger, I need you to keep an eye on him." King Askild, the tapping stopping, and Ulf's face froze the moment he heard that name.