I use her distraction to my advantage and draw my foot down onto her leg, snapping her shin. She collapses onto the ground, and just as she attempts to recover, I place the tip of my sword into the hollow of her throat.
“Your arrogance betrayed you. Never underestimate me again!” It is a warning to them all.
“Finish it,” Bodil says, eyes locked with mine.
But I shake my head. “The defeat you must carry is my victory.”
I withdraw my sword from her throat and challenge anyone else to take her place.
No one does.
Alruna stands by my side, breathless and covered in blood, but she’s ready if someone dares to take us on. Ulf saunters over, casually sipping ale from a horned cup. He looks at the scene of mayhem we created and smiles.
“I am offended you were planning to leave without a goodbye.”
Alruna stifles a chuckle behind her hand.
“I thought you may be indisposed,” I reply, unable to keep the sarcasm from my tone.
Ulf rips the shirt of a fallen Viking and wraps the fabric around the wound on my arm just as he tended to my injured hand. There is tenderness to his touch.
“You just can’t seem to stay out of trouble,” he says with a smile. “Do we know where Skarth is?”
“Yes, he is in Wessex,” Alruna replies, her eyes narrowed as she can clearly see the affection between Ulf and me.
Her loyalty to Skarth has me liking her even more.
Ulf grins when he notices her. “I don’t believe we’ve been introduced. I’m?—”
“I know who you are.” Alruna interrupts Ulf, rolling her eyes.
Fair to say his charms are lost on her.
“Have you ever considered that perhaps Skarth chooses to remain hidden? That in fact he may not want to be found…by you.”
I inhale slowly, knowing what Bodil is doing. There is no victory in defeat. She would rather I kill her than live with the shame of being defeated by a Saxon.
And that is the reason I merely smile.
“No, I have not.”
She waits for more, but there is no more. I don’t care what she thinks because she and her opinion mean nothing to me.
“I bid thee farewell. I do hope I never see you again.”
There’s no need to remain here any longer, so with sword in hand, I walk toward the clearing in the forest because Wessex awaits. Ulf and Alruna follow, and it’s all I need because with both on my side, we cannot lose.
Once we’re clear of the village, I stop and raise my chin to peer into the heavens. I’m not having a moment with the Lord, but rather, I am trying to gather my bearings.
“It amazes me,” Ulf says, standing beside me. “That you are more Viking than you are Saxon.”
I study the stars above and use them as a road map. Soon, I familiarize myself with my location and know that Wessex is to the north.
I finally have direction.
“The road will be long and dangerous, so now is the time to retreat if you will. This is my war. I do not expect you to fight alongside me.”
Ulf yawns while Alruna listens intently.
