Arvid's Punishment?

Arvid froze in place the moment he heard Askild ask this because he knew what he implied with this question and he had to think carefully about what he was to say next or it would be the last time he breathes.

"My lord, I wanted to confirm if there was any truth to the words he spoke before confirming here," Arvid said and Askild just stared blankly at him.

He was soaking wet but he did not mind it one bit, because it reminded him of simpler times when he was a kid, but right now he had the decision to make with Arvid and the news he brought forward because he was aware of what would happen if this got out and how it would make him look.

"And I should trust your word with no evidence?" Askild asked, taking a sip from his cup of wine but Arvid could not respond because he had no concrete proof, he hoped for a much different outcome as opposed to being the one on the hot seat.

"For all I know, this could be your plot to frame Asger and take his place as one of my warriors. You bite the hand that feeds you but expect me to trust the words of a snake?" Askild said, and Arvid knew he could not remain quiet.

"My lord! I will never insult you this way and this is why I brought this news to you!" Arvid said to him, but King Askild was having none of it.

"You bit the hand that fed you, Arvid. Asger made you who you are, but you are willing to sell him out at the first chance you get. It seems you have no better use for that tongue of yours." Askild said and then it hit Arvid.

"M-My lord, you already knew, didn't you?" Arvid said and he understood Askild reasoning. If he could sell the person that made him who he was then he would have no problem selling the king if the time came and the fact that Askild was aware but made no move told him all he needed to know. Askild, of course, was not 100% certain about this but the probability did not elude him.

The realization of his situation made him just start begging but he found out something very important about the kind of man that Askild was.

"M-My lord! please overlook my misstep." Arvid begged but Askild gestured to his guards to have him seized, he was immediately held in place.

"A man that cannot control his tongue does not need it," Askild said, leaving his throne and the water that dripped from his clothes could be heard getting closer and closer to Arvid.

"My lord! I did it because of Kattegat! I did it for you!" Arvid continued to beg but all he heard in response was the footsteps of King Askild getting closer.

"A man must protect his sons regardless of the sins they commit," Askild said, finally stopping right in front of Arvid.

"Worry not, I am not killing you or taking you to a dungeon. I am just taking away that pesky little problem," Askild said but he did not do anything other than that. Arvid expected him to unsheathe his blade but he did no such thing and instead asked him to stick out his tongue.

Arvid knew what was coming and was scared to death but anything was better than a non-warrior death, so he complied and stuck out his tongue.

King Askild smiled before giving him an upper kick that sent his lower jaw crashing into his upper jaw like a rat trap only it was his tongue in the place of a rat. It tore through his tongue but it did not sever it completely, it hung like an incomplete surgery procedure.

"This look is more befitting of you," Askild said, the tongue hanging off. Arvid was in visible pain.

He was reminded why everyone feared Askild, and it cost him his tongue as the guards let go of his arm and he could move once again, all he did was hold in his voice and rip off his tongue completely to show Askild he respected his judgment.

Askild was impressed by this demonstration of willpower, blood spilled out of his mouth.

"You may leave now, Arvid. I hope we won't have any similar problems in the future." Askild said and Arvid shook his head before bowing and running out.

Liv walked in just then to see blood on the floor and her husband soaked in water.

She moved to whisper into his ear, she told him to go change into something dry for it was not a good view for his warriors to see him in such an unrefined state. She had a point, and Askild listened to his wife leaving her alone in the throne room as he excused himself.

A man walked in, he was muscular but tall, and had tattoos from head to toe. He had sharpened teeth, used kohl to darken his eyes with a red mohawk, and stood at 6'6. The moment he entered, all guards tensed up and entered a battle stance. He had a broad blade almost the same size as him, strapped to his back with a sack in his right hand. He was in his late twenties.

The man walked like he owned the place, he held the same rank as Asger and this meant he had his unit he led and just returned from a 2-year expedition in a neighboring country.

This man went by the name Erik but was commonly known as Erik the Berserker.

"My queen," Erik said, bending the knee immediately, and Liv greeted him with a smile.

"How was it?" Liv asked like a concerned mother.

"It was great, my queen. I have brought spoils of war I would like to show the king." Erik said and Liv looked back before returning her gaze to the man.

"He will soon be here, what is this spoils of war you have?" Liv asked, letting her curiosity get the better of her.

Erik was so excited as he emptied the contents of the bag and a look of horror.

It was a bag of decapitated heads from his expedition.