A raven flew overhead. Its call rippled over the forest. I knew little of the Pagan's religion but I knew that the raven was a symbol of Odin, their main god. He is called many names: Allfather, Wotan… Grimnir. I would never be able to remember all of them. For sure not even the countless gods that they worshipped and everything they ruled.
To my right, my helmet clinked softly. A single drop of water rested on the cool metal.
"Octavius," called Arthur. "We best be going now before this storm arrives."
I picked up the helmet and stood with a grunt. Astrid healed my wounds the best she could but they had not fully recovered. Mounting my horse gave me pain but I ignored it. The rain picked up and thunder rolled in the sky.
Soon my gambeson and hair were plastered to my skin from the downpour.
"How far is the city?" Toran, a fellow soldier, yelled over the rain.
"We'll get there when we get there," snapped our captain.
We trudged through mud and cold rain while lighting and thunder split the sky. I had read bits of the Vikings' beliefs and that each strike of lighting was a spark of the red-haired Thor anvil, and that every time the thunder boomed he struck with his hammer. My mother had once found my book about the northern gods when I was quite young. After a swift punishment, she proceeded to give me a lecture of how our god was the only god and that both the eastern and the northern people worshipped false spirits and were condemned to hell. Perhaps Astrid's ability to move beyond that mindset was what brought us together and helped me survive.
More rambling thoughts filled the empty space in my skull until the wet grassy trail turned into a sloppy road which led into Eresguard. It was a wealthy town that brought in traders and merchants from around the land. This war had hampered both those merchants and the growth of the town. There could have been paved streets and a new church but the earl couldn't pay for that when no one came to trade. The earl of Eresguard was now forced to refuse travelers from the east and the north. Whether he liked it or not. My sympathies went out to old Rictor. He was a man of Ashfield though and would obey the king even if it meant the degradation of his earldom.
The rain came down in a torrent and threatened to shatter the thatched roofs. Our squad approached the garrison camp just outside of Eresguard. I tied a long rope around my mount's neck and left her with the other horses. Arthur, Toran, and few others, including the captain, sat or laid around a small fire which burned fiercely under the tent. I ducked under the dripping canvas and sat down on a soggy log. It didn't matter to me because I was already soaked.
Our captain leaned back and took a long draught from a mug then wiped his dripping beard.
"I have some interesting news for you bastards. Tomorrow we go north up near the border where there's some… activity."
"What kind of activity?" one of the soldiers asked.
The Captain smirked. "Vikings have been settling in our territory, hoping that the coming winter will protect them from our raids. I have faith that you boys will make quick work of them."
Toran rubbed his shaven chin. "What about the Samurai that ambushed our brigade?"
"Sir Wilfred of the Gorge sent these orders and if you all have any sense in your head, you won't disobey an order from him. There are other soldiers that can deal with the eastern folk."
Many of Ashfield's soldiers enjoyed killing and raiding the Northmen more than the Samurai because one, the Vikings usually held much more plunder and fairer women, ready for the taking. And two, we both had a conflict of interest. Us Knights believed in the one God while they believed in their pagan gods. Of course, neither side could settle for the other's god or gods living at the same time so we fought for religious reasons rather than to simply steal gold, get fat off their food, and rape their women.
The night went by and we were back on the road before the sun had fully risen. We traveled through slop and dust, sun and rain. Finally, our squad, now grouped with another battalion, stopped outside the Viking encampment. Smoke rose slowly from their fires and a horn sounded from inside the wooden walls. Farmers fled in terror from us and the battalion leader gestured to the cavalry. They sped forward and killed the last stragglers before the gates closed. Arrows came from the ramparts but our shields took most of them.
The commander yelled and we moved forward. As we got closer the arrows turned to stones falling on our heads. I rushed forward and helped hitched massive hooks on the gates' handles. Those hooks were tethered to two massive stallions who were then whipped. They neighed and pulled on the gates with all their strength. It didn't take much for the gates to be ripped off their hinges.
Bellows rose from the ranks and we charged into the camp. I blocked an ax and thrust an iron gauntlet into one's face and then finished him with my blade. Vikings flooded to us but we outnumbered them. Our battalion made quick work out of the pagans.
Mutilated bodies littered the ground and weeping wives and screaming children were funneled into carts to be sold as slaves. I approached a group of bound Viking warriors who shouted curses and spat at our feet. I spotted Toran laugh at one of the screaming men and then thrust a knife between his ribs. The rest were loaded into more carts and we made our way back to Eresguard.
I thought on the way back. I thought about Astrid and when we would meet again. The first day of winter is just around the corner, meaning we'd meet soon.
Snows came late in Ashfield but that meant it was winter. In the dead of night, I snuck out from our camp and stole away with my horse. I rode fast and hard through the crisp, dead grasses. Barren trees dotted the fields and the impenetrable forest laid in front of me, gloomy and forsaken. I rode along the path and into the wood. It branched off and I found myself in the same clearing that I had met the Viking women in not so long ago.
I dismounted and clicked my teeth to urge my horse forward. With what little supplies I had I started a small fire in the center and warmed my chilly hands. White mist blew from my lips and a sharp breeze rustled the dry branches above. I glanced up at the black sky and then back to my fire. Sleep soon took me.
I woke with a start. My muscles were stiff and my whole body shivered. I glanced over at the fire which had been reduced to a smoldering pile of ash.
My horse grunted and nuzzled my forehead so I rubbed her snout. Just as I stood, there was a crunching sound on the edge of the clearing. I snapped my attention to it and saw a woman on top of a horse. A spear laid across her lap and that all too familiar helmet sat on top of her head.
"Astrid?" I called.
She dismounted and strode toward me. "Feels like it has been months." Astrid took off her helmet, uncovering a beaming smile. We hugged quickly. "I have good news. My people will be staying north for the winter so we'll have peace for now. Have you heard anything from your people?"
I shook my head. "I hope that we stay in Ashfield for the winter but I can't speak for the king." A silence remained between us. "So," I said at last, "When do you think we'll meet again."
"I am not sure. Perhaps once the ice melts in Valkenheim. Until then, we may just have to wait-"
A sharp whip came from the tree line and I fell to my knees. I cried out and I felt hot blood running from my shoulder.
"Octavius!" she exclaimed. Astrid gripped me around the chest, trying to haul me to my feet but I fell to the ground. Shouts came from around us and more arrows came. Astrid let go of me and bolted. I watched as she mounted her horse and dashed off into the woods.
My back was now soaked with my blood and the leaves crunched around me. I glanced up to see my captain. A smug grin adorned his face and he held a longbow in one hand.
"Making friends with the pagans?" He scoffed and spat on my face. "You'll be answering to the commander for this." My captain raised his boot and the last thing I saw was the heel coming straight for my face.
Ok so I'm starting to feel like this story is becoming more of just a standalone story rather than an fh fan fic but oh well. Hope you enjoyed. Now I think I'm going to work on the next chatper for my Siege story.