Chapter 7 Burning

" Fire! There is a fire!"

The bell rang loudly under the moonlight as people got out of their homes with fear. The bright burning buildings caught the attention of the guards as they and people tried to put the fire out with water but it was too big of a fire.

Mere water buckets couldn't do a sneeze to the raging fire, instantly vaporized under the immense heat from it.

" Shit! This fire is too big. We need to move away."

The guard captain covered his nose with his sleeves while looking at the fire with fear in his eyes. In his life, he heard fire being strong but he never heard fire like this which wouldn't go out.

" What about the people? There are still people around the area and these houses are their homes."

The captain grabbed the young guard by his collar while pointing at the fire with a cold face. His veins bulged due to the stress of the job and he wanted to slap this idiot.

" Look at this, fool. Do you think we can put out this fire? We will create a barrier around the area and leave it there to die. As long as we contain this fire, I don't care about their shit."

His saliva dripped down to face of the young guard as he clenched his fists with anger and unwillingness because he came from the slum.

He rolled his sleeves above his forearm while placing his tattered piece of clothes before his mouth. He then charged toward the fire for the people who were caught between the struggle of the guards and the fire.

The deadly venomous heat of fire bit his skin like a poisonous snake but he didn't back down because this was his home.

Meanwhile, near the gate, Halfdan clicked his tongue when he saw the fire in the distance because he could tell what these bastards were thinking.

" Cruel bastards, they even abandoned their people to contain the fire. What shall we do now?"

Harold asked him with a frown on his face, looking at the distance with pity in his eyes. He believed these guards would be more humane but he was wrong in the end. All of them were scums who wouldn't hesitate to abandon their people to save their arses in the end.

" We don't have time for chitchat. Harold, Arne, distract the remaining guards while I bring the gate down."

Harold, and Arne nodded at his words while throwing out their cloaks. They quickly ran to the other side of the building while drawing their weapons.

Boom*

Two of them fought against each other, creating noise in the diluted valley while the people woke up from the sudden clash and smell of fire.

" Which idiot is fighting this late? Piss off and drink elsewhere."

One of the ladies even shouted from her window but soon her voice faded into the noise of their fight. The sound of clashing steel was so loud and they were even laughing in the darkness, so the guards who were on the gate immediately came down to check on them.

Two giant burly men were fighting in front of them amidst the chaos without any care. The drunk blushes on their faces could be seen from far and the heavy smell of wine penetrated their nostrils as they saw their tattered clothes.

The vice-captain gritted his teeth when he saw the scene, grabbing his spear with anger in his eyes.

" You bastards! What the hell are you doing in the middle of the night? Do you want me to throw you into the fire?"

Without care, he tried to separate from each other but his spear was caught in his firmly, refusing to budge further.

" Oh my, we have an impatient fellow here. Shouldn't you be there instead of cowering around here?"

Arne hiccupped with a red face while throwing the spear to the ground with him. His herculean strength was enough to pull adult oxen with bare hands which meant he was as strong as 4 adult men or even more.

" You dare to touch me? Know your place, giant."

The guards surrounded them with their spears, holding them to their heads.