The Irish Sea of 870

Every attempt I conducted to escape had failed. Niall was wise in the aspect of securing his slaves. He had a routine down that hindered my plans every time. My biggest regret was Olaf. I don't understand why he chose to remain so loyal. My escape plans worked for the quickest slaves. Unfortunately, I am by far means a fast man. I could get the slaves who were in top peak condition, which always included Olaf, out of here, but I never made any of those timeframes.

I clenched down just thinking about it, both guilt and frustration hacked at me. Olaf never left me. He remained loyal. Always coming back with a fake smile telling me I'll come up with another idea.

I didn't deserve Olaf's loyalty. The Norseman should've betrayed me and fled months ago. But he remained alongside me.

Within my year enslaved, Olaf stood true to his word. He mainly had protected me against Niall and his crewmembers. Somehow during my enslavement, I had forgotten my name. I believed I was Ímar, son of no one. Nothing but a slave was all I saw, and with each failed attempt in escaping, I became more withdrawn.

'Row! Row!' shouted Niall from the stern of his ship.

I cautiously looked behind my shoulders. Niall and his crew were gathered at the rear of his boat drinking. I snapped my head to my left, already meeting Olaf's grin, who was rowing parallel to me.

'Where do you think this bastard is taking us to now,' asked Olaf.

'His daughter hinted that her, daddy, was going to a new land not far from the Kingdom of Alba. There are many islands near Alba. It's probably one of those.'

Olaf chuckled, nodding his head.

'I know that look. You're plotting an escape.'

'Of course,' I said with a smirk.

'Don't do it Ímar,' hissed a slave in his Frisian tongue who was rowing behind me.

I shook my head, ignoring the Frisian. I had perfected the Irish tongue by now and learned the Scots, and Frankish, tongues. Information was everything, and I had sought the other slaves out learning their language. If there was a chance I could gain any details to help assist in my escape, I wanted to know it.

I had a permanent tremor of small shakes that ran throughout my body. Most of Niall's oarsmen slaves did. We were given little to eat and drink while being overworked past exhaustion. I had lost so much weight since being captured my ribcage protruded out of my chest now. I was reduced to nothing but a living skeleton.

'Ímar!' shouted Niall.

I snapped my head up, breaking out of my thoughts, only to find Niall standing in front of me with his arms folded over his chest.

'Yes, master?'

'You worthless ass cripple slave, you didn't hear a damn word I said. Have you heard of Earl Halfdan Eriksson?'

'No, master.'

I hated giving anyone that title, but I had accepted my status as the months went by. Niall crouched over, snatching my collar in his hold, bringing our faces close.

'I need to make this deal with Halfdan. His trades will advance my profit tremendously. You will sit in on this discussion and translate his heathen language for me.'

'Yes, master.'

Niall snapped his finger, pointing over towards Olaf.

'If you betray me, that one will be killed. If you let me down, your friend will suffer a gruesome death,' said Niall. He gripped onto my bearded chin digging his fingernails into my skin and bringing his lips to my ear. 'I don't need any funny business from the likes of you when we arrive. I damn well know you've been playing a part in these recent escapes. But I promise you it ends here and now. If you so much as whistle an idea of escape to my slaves, you'll be wishing for your death? Do I make myself clear?'

'Yes, master.'

A large mass of land began coming into view. There were no boarded docks prepared, so we'd be carrying Niall's boat ashore. The ships that were ashore were Northmen ships. They weren't Danes that much I was sure of, since I didn't recognize any of their shields or sails.

My heart was pulsing through my body on the possibility today might be the day I escape. Olaf had snapped his head towards me. He was just as surprised. This was our first time encountering Northmen on the trade routes.

I wonder if Olaf recognizes them.

As we docked, one of the crewmembers had thrown me over his shoulders. The female slaves chained and shackled together were being guided off the ship. I caught a final glimpse of Olaf before they took me with the women slaves ashore, where eight Northmen on horses awaited us. The crewmember who was carrying me swung me off his shoulders, holding me up by my arms in front of the Northmen.

Niall walked up beside me with his son.

'What business do you have on our land, Irishmen?' said their leader in the Norwegian tongue.

Niall looked over at me. I briefly translated what they needed to know. Upon telling them Niall was a tradesman, their hostility faded, and they were eager to welcome us.

We were escorted to a Viking hall where a hearth's flames offered the warmth in the center of the hall. I cautiously looked around in hopes of recognizing someone. The Norsemen on this island had gathered at their hall feasting. The earl, who must be this Halfdan Eriksson, sat on a platform in front of the table. He was an older man in possibly his forties dressed in fine leather and furs. His hair was yellow with graying on the sides that he wore pulled back and tied.

'Lord Niall mac Dwell of Uí Néill clan, welcome to Suɗreyjar,' said Halfdan in the Norwegian tongue, standing up from his throne.

After translating, I conveyed Niall's message. They wanted to make trades and were eager to deal with Niall. All seemed to be going well until the earl stepped down from his platform, walking towards us.

'This is a fine slave you have here, Lord Niall,' said Halfdan in the Irish tongue.

What! This drop of cow shit could've been speaking in Irish this entire time. Niall stiffened beside me, probably just as annoyed.

'All my slaves have their worth, otherwise what use are they,' said Niall.

Halfdan had a snide smile as he circled me. Whatever small hope I had that the Norsemen would rescue Olaf and I had dissipated. I recognized that look, and nothing good ever came from it. The earl stopped in front of me, licking his bottom lip.

'If I may?' asked Halfdan looking at Niall.

Niall shrugged, and Halfdan reached for my jaw, turning my head as he inspected my face. His thumb brushed over my cracked lips. I grimaced when his fingers pressed over the bruise around my right cheekbone, examining the deep scar that curved around my eye. I kept my gaze to the floor throughout the scrutiny, not wanting to hinder the negotiations and risk Olaf's life. Halfdan chuckled, releasing his hold on my face, and walked towards Niall. He was whispering something, and whatever it was caused Niall to shout and look at me as if I had grown two heads.

Halfdan chuckled at the reaction.

'You brought me four beautiful slaves, but what of his price?'

'Ivar is my slave. It's not for sell,' said Niall.

Who is Ivar? None of Niall's slaves are called Ivar.

'Yes, but you're not the first tradesman to approach my land. I believe I sent an envoy to make it worth my wild. And he will make it just that.'

'Fine, it's yours for today, but I'll be taking it back by this evening. I'm a very busy man.'

Halfdan grinned, nodding his head and pulling out some hacksilver, handing it over to Niall.

What a weird exchange. Well, at least that creep's attention is off me.

Niall turned and gripped onto my collar, bringing my face close to him.

'Oh Ímar, you had a good laugh, didn't you. It all makes sense now. Who would've thought the crippled I purchased turned out to be Ivar the Boneless. Regardless, my threat remains from earlier today. I need this trade deal to go smoothly. Otherwise, you'll be sitting on a bench covered in Olaf's blood.'

Why does he think I'm Ivar? Why does that name sound familiar?

'No, master. My name is Ímar.'

Niall chuckled, shaking his head. He walked up behind me, placing his hands on my shoulders and resting his chin alongside my neck.

'Maybe you believe that. These heathens will have you for today. But don't worry that pretty face of yours, I'll be collecting you in the evening. Your reputation is going to make me a rich man. Think of all the people that would like to bed the ever-fearful Ivar the Boneless, reduced to that of a slave.'

I didn't understand what Niall was saying besides that I'd be staying with the Norwegians throughout today. He claimed that my name was Ivar. None of that made any sense. Halfdan approached me after shaking hands with Niall. He rested his hand on my shoulder and leaned into me.

'Tell me, Ivar, how has it been being a slave?'

Who in Odin's name is Ivar!

'Lord, my name is.'

'Oh, I know who you are, Ragnarsson,' said Halfdan back to his Norwegian tongue, grinning at me. 'I had served in the Great Army to avenge your father all those years ago.'

Niall had departed with his crewmembers, leaving the four female slaves and me behind. Two of Halfdan's housecarls had grabbed onto my arms, carrying me towards the throne where Halfdan was taking a seat. I was placed onto a cushioned seat sitting beside the Norseman. A slave had handed me a cup of mead.

'Please, drink Ivar. It is an honor to be in the company of one of Ragnar Lothbrok's sons.'

I quickly took the cup of mead with a shaky hold. Something felt off. The name Ragnar also sounded familiar. A dish of fine meat was placed in front of me. I hesitantly looked around to see if Niall or his crewmembers were around. If they found out I ate any of this food, the consequences would be severe. A wrath I had no interest in receiving.

'Eat, Ivar the Boneless. You're my guest. I paid for you today,' said Halfdan reaching over and massaging my shoulder. 'Please drink as well. I promise it will help ease that clever mind of yours.'

'Lord, I'm afraid you have me confused.'

'Nonsense, Ragnarsson. I know who you are. Now drink, empty that cup, and then will talk.'

I wanted to roll my eyes, and I was shocked because I wasn't sure where that urge came from.

Since when had I ever rolled my eyes.

Settling to comply with the Norseman's demands, I took a small sip from the cup. Setting it back on top of the table, I carefully looked over at Halfdan. I flinched back upon seeing he had been watching me this entire time. Halfdan's grin widened at my behavior.

'Prince Ivar of Kattegat, I imagine I'll be the first to inform you that the Great Army wasn't successful in their invasion into Wessex. Rumor has it that King Æthelred was severely wounded in battle, and Prince Alfred might be the next king. But at last, the Saxons were victorious in battle and had chased those idiot Danes of yours back to East Anglia. Danes, I tell you, the weakest of our kind, I mean look at yourself, born a crippled and reduced to nothing but a slave.'

Prince Ivar? Kattegat, The Great Army, Æthelred, Alfred, East Anglia, why do these names sound familiar? Like it's something important to me.

'Lord, I'm sorry, but I don't understand,' I said as my face heated up.

Halfdan grinned and shifted his head before leaning over towards me.

'What did he do to the great Ivar the Boneless to make him forget his origin?'

What?

'Lord, I'm sorry.'

Halfdan grabbed my wrist, pushing the sleeve of my wool tunic up. I dropped my gaze to the table as his thumb traced my scarred burn mark of Niall's crest. The only reaction he received from me was my body shaking in his hold from my usual tremors. Slowly his hand slid down to the shackles that bounded my wrist, gripping onto them.

'Do these always remain on you?'

'Yes, lord, as soon as we're enslaved.'

'And what of the collar? I noticed none of his other slaves have one of these. Are you truly that difficult to restrain, Ivar Ragnarsson?'

'I've always had the collar, lord. Before I was a slave, I mean, but my name is, Ímar lord son of no one,' I said, trying to push my body further away from him.

Halfdan chuckled, shaking his head, rising to his feet, standing. He gripped onto my tunic by the shoulders, pulling me to my feet as well. I had to silence a grunt from my leg spasms being forced to stand. Halfdan gave one tug pulling me in towards him. I was shaking now, not only from my tremors but the realization I was in trouble. The hall went quiet. All his warriors and shield-maidens were staring at us with interest.

'My men,' shouted Halfdan looking over his hall at his warriors. 'We have a special treat for us today. This young slave in front of me is none other than the Dane's most feared warlord. May I present, Ivar the Boneless, the youngest son of the great Ragnar Lothbrok.'

Cheering erupted in the hall, and I was unsure what to do because I was positive, they had me confused with someone else.

'You see Prince Ivar, you're famous,' said Halfdan.

His hands moved down to my hips, gripping firmly over my waist. Halfdan sat back down in his chair, pulling me down along with him. I was forced to sit on top of his lap. This caused his hall to break out in loud cheers.

I never thought I'd think this, but I wish Niall would come back and get me.

Halfdan embraced me as I sat helplessly on top of his lap in the front of his hall, where all his warriors ate.

'Tell me, Ivar, do you want me to purchase you from your master? Nothing would please me more than to show up in Northumbria with the Dane's former warlord. Chained to my side as my very special and personal slave.'

My breath tethered, and I squirmed on top of him. Being in Niall's hands held a higher survival than being owned by Halfdan that much I was for sure of. The earl brought his hand up over my chest. I tried placing my weight on the seat to the right of him and easing my way off his lap, but he quickly grasped onto my shackled chains, halting the movement.

I hate that his touch sparked shivers that ran down my spine far more than my tremors did.

Halfdan wrapped his arms around my torso, resting his chin on my shoulder. All while his warm breath struck my ear. I squirmed above him again, which only made him chuckle.

'I was going to kill your owner and his crew, but I was stunned when I saw you. I still may carry out my plans,' said Halfdan as he pressed down roughly against my waist. His teeth bit down on the side of my neck while he brought his hands under my tunic, feeling my bare stomach.

I bit down, fuming with disgust at his filthy hands touching me. The glint of steel from the knife on the table in front of me captured my attention. The slightest tug of my lip crept upward. I closed my eyes, inhaling deeply.

Do I play the helpless victim or lustful companion? Which will work to my advantage?

Tightening my eyes shut, focusing on his callus fingers that roamed over my skin. I leaned back against him, quietly releasing a fake moan. Halfdan took advantage of my submission, tightening his grip all while his hands brushed against my chest under my tunic. I couldn't control my shaking, which only worsened at the feeling of his fingers descending to my pants, prying under the fabric, and greedily roaming under the waistband around my hips.

'Lord,' I said breathlessly.

I inhaled a sharp breath pushing my body further against Halfdan's chest. The vibration of his chuckle told me he was enjoying my weakness along with his body being hard underneath me. I tightened my eyes shut as his hands pushed inside my pants, grasping my tights and curving upwards. I released another fake moan as I gripped onto his knees while he began performing circular motions on the inner side of my thighs.

Slowly he withdrew one of his hands from inside my pants, gripping onto my skin under my collar. He contracted his hand around my throat, bringing my face inches from his.

'Ivar, will I be your first if I'm to take you here and now?'

The only thing you'll be taking is your pathetic body to Niflheim!

My body was shaking more than my usual tremors. The unlacing of my pants and the unlatching of my leg braces drew me out of my thoughts.

'Ivar! Tell me, will I be the first?' shouted Halfdan gripping onto my bearded jaw, pulling my face back to stare over his towering face.

'Lord, I don't know. I think so. I can't remember,' I said quietly.

Halfdan moved his grip onto the back of my collar, pushing me over the table in front of us. My hand quickly gripped over the knife's handle while he positioned his body leaning on top of me. The banging of cups from his men only elevated my embarrassment. I was to be their entertainment, the performance.

Halfdan halted on his progress, retracting his hands off me, and with a swift wave of his hand, his housecarls approached.

'Take Prince Ivar and get him cleaned up,' said Halfdan, and then he swapped his gaze towards me. 'Prince, I apologize. I have something I must attend to first, but I'll be retrieving you soon. You're too intoxicating of a man to leave alone for long. Besides, I did pay for you, all of you.'

And I look forward to killing you, all of you.

His housecarls had grasped onto my upper arms, lifting me off the table. My feet dragged against the floorboards as I was carried out of the hall to a back room. This looked to be Halfdan's private washroom. As ordered, they washed me. The bathwater was cold, and the salt had stung my opened wounds over my body. A servant had shaved my beard and mustache off, along with the sides of my hair on my head. My hair was combed back and tied. I couldn't remember the last time I felt this clean.

I was taken to a spacious room and placed on top of a bed. One of the servants that had cut my hair was adjusting my tunic as I sat there. I jumped back when she felt the knife I had hidden inside my clothing.

'Please, I need to get out of here,' I whispered.

The young woman nodded her head, pretending to adjust my clothing as she leaned into the side of my face.

'Earl Halfdan keeps his ships heavily guarded, but not the fisher boats. Take me with you.'

I gave her a curt nod before she walked away. I brought my shaking hand up to my face feeling my freshly shaved skin.

If this works, I may be a free man come morning. Freedom, I would sacrifice both my legs for a taste of it.

I hid the knife under the pillows as I carefully laid down on top of the fur blankets staring up at the ceiling. I tried remembering my past, furrowing my brows when nothing presented itself.

Is my name Ivar the Boneless? Was I such a horrible person that the gods not only cursed me to be a slave but had to take my memories too?

I had laid in the exact spot not moving for a few hours when boots tapping against floorboards alerted me of Halfdan's arrival. I exhaled slowly, trying to calm my nerves before opening my eyes and sitting up.

Halfdan walked around the corner, coming into view. His eyes were skimming over me with the slightest smirk evident on his face. The earl unlatched his gold clasp discarding his fur cloak onto a chair while he walked over to the bed. I kept my gaze low, concentrating on my shackled wrist. I flinched back when he reached out, cuffing my cheek.

'Ivar, I must say it's amazing what a wash and trim can do. You look like a completely different person.'

I leaned my face into his touch, rubbing my cheek against his hand and slowly bringing my gaze up, looking the sack of shit over. I must've surprised him by my cooperation as his mouth gaped. He quickly concealed his expression, kicking off his boots and climbing onto the bed. I could practically hear my heartbeat banging against my eardrums as he crawled towards me.

'So you do want me to purchase you.'

'Yes lord,' I said softly.

'Good, because I was going to take you regardless.'

I reached out, placing my hands on his chest as Halfdan mounted himself over my waist. He leaned over me, claiming my mouth in a rough kiss. I wanted to gag, but instead, I returned the kiss just as fiercely. Halfdan chuckled as I fought to claim his mouth, biting down on his lower lip.

'Now this is the Ivar I remember,' whispered Halfdan as he brought his hands to my waist, pulling my tunic off.

I moaned in his ear as he began nipping at the side of my neck, working his way to my chest. I carefully reached under the pillow while I moaned out.

What if I miss and don't kill him? He'll kill me. I can't do this! Halfdan began trailing his kisses to the front of my chest as memories had started flooding back to me.

*Flash*

I was standing on top of a raft floating over a marsh with a small warband of warriors circling me while a horde of an army was attacking us in all directions.

'My name is Ivar the Boneless! You know who I am. You know you can't defeat me because I'll live forever!'

*Flash*

King Æthelred had impaled his seax into my abdomen. Nearly falling forward, I had grasped my fingers on the bloody hilt of the knife, yanking it out. Blinded with rage and pain, I pierced the seax deep into Æthelred's chest.

*Flash*

'Heathen,' said Bishop Heahmund dropping from his horse meeting me at the shore.

I rushed as quickly as I could towards the bishop grasping his hand and tightly embracing him.

'Christian,' I said happily.

*Flash*

'King Edmund, where was your god at? Wasn't he supposed to protect you? Why is a pagan, a crippled pagan inflicting so much pain on one of your god's beloved children?' I said, grinning in front of Edmund, who was crucified to a tree and impaled with arrows.

'God is great,' mumbled King Edmund.

'You know what, Christian, I like you,' I said, grinning before turning around. 'Spears, loose!'

*Flash*

My name is Ivar the Boneless. How did I forget that?

Halfdan's hands were latched onto my pants as his lips and teeth struck against my lower stomach. Rolling my eyes, I tightened my grip on the handle of the knife.

Ivar's back.

In a quick motion, I thrust the blade deep into the side of his throat, penetrating through thick tissue and flesh as I yanked the knife down, spilling out his blood.

Halfdan fell onto the bed gargling before death took him. I chuckled lightly, wiping some of his blood off my face. My heart contracted as the door creped open.

Fuck.

I yanked the knife out of the corpse's throat, dropping to the floor. Light footsteps echoed through the room, coming closer towards the bed. I bit down, ready to lash at the approaching individual. I softened my breathing and tightened my grip over the knife's handle.

'Ivar?' whispered a woman's voice.

I exhaled softly, relaxing my body and leaning my head against the side of the bed. It was the servant who had cut my hair.

'I'm down here,' I said.

I reached for my wool tunic, slipping it back on when the woman's small frame crouched beside me. I tucked the knife inside my pants before going for my leg braces, strapping them back on.

'We can escape through that window over there,' said the servant pointing at the window in front of us.

The sun was already beginning to set.

Shit! Niall is supposed to collect me here soon.

'We need to hurry. Could I lean some of my weight on you?' I asked, not waiting for her response. I swung my arm over her shoulder.

Carefully we stood up, walking over towards the window. I gripped onto the window's frame, pushing my body up and ungracefully falling to the grass. The servant followed although she landed on her feet but quickly squatted next to me. She tapped my shoulder, pointing in the direction of the shore.

'The fisher boats are over there.'

'Wait,' I said, grabbing her arm. 'We need to set a distraction. Otherwise, they'll chase us down. I also need to free Olaf.'

The servant nodded her head. I grinned when my eyes landed on the warships.

And I have the perfect distraction in mind.

We cautiously crept over towards where Niall had his slaves tied down. Finding Olaf amongst the crew was easy since he was the tallest one with bright red hair. There were four men at the shore guarding them. All seemed to be heavily intoxicated as they were talking loudly and laughing. Niall and his son were nowhere to be seen. I nodded my head, urging the servant to continue our pace towards the slaves.

'Halt,' shouted one of the crewmembers just as I held onto Olaf's shackles. 'Holy shit, it's Ímar. They made him all pretty.'

One of the crewmembers grabbed onto my wrist, wedging me from Olaf's shackles bringing me to my feet.

'Where is Niall, he left to get you, yet here you are roaming around freely.'

'I'm a free man now, Earl Halfdan has bought me from Niall along with Olaf,' I said confidently.

'Oh, is that so? Well, we will see what Niall has to say about that,' said the crewmember transferring his gaze, looking past me.

Shit.

Footsteps were pounding from behind me, followed by heavy breathing. I didn't need to turn around to know Niall and his son were running towards us.

'Get on the ship! Get my worthless slaves up and on the ship. We're leaving now!' shouted Niall. Upon reaching us, he gripped down harshly onto my collar. 'What have you done!'

Before I could try and come up with an excuse, a fist came down hard against my face sending me to the ground. A sharp ringing overpowered my eardrums and my vision blurred before darkness consumed me.

Opening my eyes, I gasped, looking my traitor brother in the eyes. He wasn't staring at me but beyond me.

Hvitserk looked like shit. His eyes were bloodshot red, and his hair laid loose and unkempt. This wasn't the proud warrior berserker who stood in front of me. A woman stepped through me no, not just any woman it was Freydís. She cuffed Hvitserk's cheeks staring at him.

'Hvitserk, he's not here. Maybe we should head back to Kattegat for a while. I'm worried about you?'

'N. N. No! I won't abandon him again. He's my baby brother. I'm supposed to protect him. I need to find Ivar! Even if it takes all season, all year, it doesn't matter I won't stop searching for him.'

What? Hvitserk is looking for me?

'Then will continue searching for him,' said Freydís hugging Hvitserk.

Everything went blurry. My chest began throbbing, which was strange because I never experienced pain in a dream before.

A hand gripped onto my shoulder, and I was whirled out of my dream, taken to another location. A location where I stood at the shore of Kattegat. It was dark, and I was alone with the exclusion of the damn seer that stood beside me.

'Why did you do that? Take me back!'

The Ancient One shook his head, not bothering to face me but to keep his attention on the waves.

'I've been watching you Ivar the Boneless, or should I say Ímar? I had always feared one of Ragnar's sons would've inherited Aslaug's sight. That sight will cause you to go mad, Ivar. The longer you sway in between realms, the more strain it will put onto you.'

I groaned, getting ready to grip onto the seer's arm and shove him, but that only resulted in my going through him.

'You've been watching me! Tell me seer have you enjoyed the entertainment of me getting tortured day in and out!'

'The gods, as you can see, can always take back their good will.'

'Shut up! I don't want to hear about the damn gods. They're the reason I'm in this mess, all because of your damn prophecies!'

The Ancient One chuckled, shaking his head before holding his palm out in front of me.

'You are now worthy of the fate the gods have emplaced for you. Oh, what they have in store if you only knew.'

I swear I'll kill this damn seer one day. I growled, snatching his extended hand. Bending over, I quickly licked his palm, placing his hand on my forehead.

Pain, that's what I felt next. Bright lights fluttered around me. I shot up awake, gasping for painful breaths. I was lying on the floorboards near the prow of Niall's ship. A loud crack of a whip lashed down across my body. I screamed out only to receive another strike from a whip and another.

Niall stood in front of me, slamming his whip down consecutively over me. He had little intention of halting from my punishment. I withered beneath him curled as the endless lashes of his whip covered my body. My blood mixed with the saltwater had formed into puddles swishing against my body as the ship rocked.

Screams had snapped me out of my groggy state. I tried to locate the direction they were coming from. Through a dim, blurred vision, I could make out Bran standing in front of me. He was fondling a woman cuffing his hand inside her dress over her breast.

Wait, I know her. She was the servant who had helped me escape.

'Stop, leave her alone,' I said in a raspy voice.

There was shouting, but I couldn't make sense of my surroundings. Everything was blurry, and the ringing in my ears was overpowering the shouts. Someone had grabbed onto my collar, yanking me to my feet.

Gasping for air and chocking over my blood lingering in my mouth I was held up by Niall's crewmembers. Niall walked in front of me, pointing at the servant Bran was restraining.

'You want to protect this whore, slave? I don't think so. I own you, Ivar. And if I tell you to do something, you'll do it. So, kill her.'

My stomach dropped as if I were hurtled off a cliff. My eyes widened when the crewmembers who held onto me began dragging me towards her.

'No! Stop, please stop,' I shouted, thrashing in their hold.

Niall reached for the back of my hands and forcefully made me clasp my hands over her throat. The pressure of his hands over mine never eased as she gasped and wheezed in my hold. I screamed out for her, pleading for them to stop as I felt her life diminish within my grip.

When her life had depleted her body, and she just hung loosely in Bran's hold, he dropped her to the floorboards. The crewmembers released their hold on me, and I tumbled forward. I painfully crawled to her body, tears rushing down my face. She wore a pendant around her neck. I gently removed it as I cradled her lifeless body weeping over her.

Hands latched onto my shoulders, slamming me down on my back. Niall stood over me, his face red and his teeth clenched together.

'You ruined everything! You killed my merchant. He was going to make me rich. For what because you didn't want him to sleep with you. I'll have my entire crew fuck you, and after they're done, the slaves will have their go,' shouted Niall. He looked over at his crewmembers. 'Tie Boneless up to that shield.'

I couldn't fight the hands that restrained the shackles around my wrist, tying the chains onto a wooden shield. My heart felt as if it were about to beat out of my chest. I was hoisted to my feet and dragged towards the edge of the ship peering at the strong waves.

My body shook as I stared into the ocean. I was on the verge of passing out from the loss of blood. I was overly exhausted, starved, and dehydrated. I shut my eyes, inhaling a deep breath.

I don't want to live anymore. Please, Ran, sea goddess of these waters, accept me as your sacrifice.

All sound had dulled out as if I went deaf. It seemed like time had slowed. I glanced over at Olaf, who was shouting at me. I nodded my head, giving him a final smile before the hands that held onto me pushed me overboard into the ocean.

The moment my body struck the harsh ocean's frigid water, I could hear once again. The strong current was pounding against my body. The shield I was attached to shot up afloat, pushing me above water along with it. I coughed and gasped as I finally made it back above water, only to have the waves strike down on me, dunking me back under. I fumbled and gripped onto the shield, pushing my body back up.

I inhaled sharp breaths once above water. My eyes were stinging along with all the cuts around my body. My lungs felt like they were on fire. The shield had a rope strapped onto it that was tied to the stern of Niall's ship. He was dragging me through the ocean.

This was my fate. This is how I'm going to die out in the sea, alone and tied down.

'Ímar!' shouted Olaf.

I looked up, shocked to see Olaf swimming towards me. He grabbed onto the shield, positioning me in between the shield and his body, keeping me above water.

Niall must've thrown him overboard. The idiot. This is my fate to die, not his.

'I'm here Ímar rest your head against me I won't let you drown.'

'You idiot, why would you damn yourself. This is my punishment. Go back, save yourself.'

'I told you I'd protect you,' shouted Olaf as a strong current pounded down on us. 'This isn't the end. Don't give up, Ímar, they can't break us. Listen to me. We're Vikings! You hear me. I got you. This is nothing but a little swim. Just keep breathing and keep that head above water. Will be on land before you know it.'