029

My hands were shining with a very bright golden light ... the last time they were so bright when I was surrounded by 30 Janissaries and I almost died ... then, out of revenge and to sow fear, I ordered 1000 prisoners to be set on fire. The good old days ... I did not hesitate any longer, I threw the ax at the man who was just taking off his pants. The throw was too strong, the blade didn't dig into his face, the handle dug, partially coming out of the back of his head.

It all took few seconds, and the two men holding Lagerth lunged at me. I grabbed the stool and threw hard at the one on the left and started toward the one on the right. He was armed with a small hatchet, I reduced the distance, and when he wanted to deliver a blow, I hit him with my shoulder. He fell to the ground, the hatchet flew out of his hand, I sat on him and grabbed his jaw ... which I pulled out.

I stood up with his lower jaw in my hand, tossed it on the table, and started toward the last man.

Meanwhile, Lagertha grabbed the knife and also moved towards it.

- Don't kill him, I want him alive.

Lagertha hesitated at the sound of my voice but obeyed. The man was standing with his back to the wall, stroking whoever would attack first ... but he was wrong, I wasn't going to attack him, I walked slowly towards him as he tried to strike me with his sword, I just jumped aside and grabbed the blade with one hand. With the other hand I grabbed his wrist, which I immediately crushed.

He released his grip on the hilt, I pushed him towards the table, stumbled and fell on top of him. I twisted the sword in my hand and pinned his shoulder to the surface of the table. Then I took the knife from Lagerth and nailed his other hand.

- They didn't do anything to you?

- No, you're just in time. Thank you.

I stroked her cheek, not realizing that my hand was covered in blood.

- You're my wife, you don't have to thank me. Where is Mira?

- Together we killed one of the attackers, they took Mira with them. Me...

- I see, you don't need to say any more.

I looked at the man nailed to the table.

- Now we will talk honestly my friend ... My dear wife, it will not be a pretty sight, maybe better leave us alone.

Lagertha, however, chose to stay.

I retrieved my hatchet from the man's skull. Fear and hatred showed on the face of the man nailed to the table. I sat down next to him, and with a quick blow of my ax, I ripped off his fingertips. Then I hit it again and again. I switched to the other side to be closer to his whole hand.

- There were fifteen of you, three are dead, if you are lucky, you will die soon. Where is the rest?

- There were thirteen of us.

- Then where are nine?

- They went to Kattegat to meet the rest of our people.

- Thank you, you deserve a quick death.

I took a short spear from the wall.

- Last question, how many of your people are in Kattegat right now?

- 50 people, Kattegat has no defense, so Jarl only took that many.

I looked at the spear point.

- Then you wanted to ra_pe my wife?

Before he could reply I stabbed the spear into his ass, the blade came out of the throat, then I did it again and again. He died immediately, I'm a man who keeps his word.

- Friend, you will be the first warrior to go to the Hall of Gods, not with a weapon in your hand, but in your ass.

I looked at Lagerthe who looked a little shocked.

- Hide in the forest and I'll go to Kattegat.

- Ulf, I want to go with you, you taught me to fight.

In fact, she was right, and she'll need practice, and I'll be around too.

I ran upstairs to the room and took my chain mail, shield and helmet. After a while I was downstairs, dressed Lagerth appropriately, the helmet was a little too big, and handed her the shield. For myself I only took a spear and two hatchets, if I needed anything more I would take it from the dead bodies.

We sneaked into Kattegat through forests, on the way we saw several burning buildings, farm animals running around, but no enemies were visible. Only at the last of the houses, which was not yet on fire, there were four warriors. One rap_ed the woman, the other waited until it was his turn, and the other two were taking out valuables from the house. Lagertha wanted to attack, but I stopped her.

- Wait until the first one finishes and the second one starts.

In the end, she obeyed me, though reluctantly. When the second man was inside the woman, we discreetly walked behind the trees. I threw the spear at the one who had just finished. He fell to the ground dead. The second, with his pants down, realized what had happened only when he heard the sound of a body falling, but it was too late for him too. I hit him on the head with the hatchet. I covered the woman's mouth and told her to be quiet.

The other two men were in the house, I ordered Lagerth to stand on the right side of the entrance and I stood on the left side. After a few moments, we heard footsteps.

When the man came out, pushed him towards Lagerth, he lost his balance and fell ... and my wife stabbed him in the back. The second man dropped the looted goods and was about to grab his sword, but I grabbed his clothes, pulled him out, and threw him on the ground towards Lagerth. This time she plunged the sword into his chest.

- Eight are dead, forty-two remain.