It's been a week since Alicia returned to her Kingdom and already something has come to try and break the peace of her home. A large Warband of Feral Orcs led by the War Boss Gutrak Bonebreaker. As soon as she returned, Alicia was informed of the Feral Orcs that had ravaged the Falcon Knights of Stonehall and what's left of them had retreated to the city of Skalleborg with the Warband giving chase. Knight-Commander Aemilianus was among the casualties and command of the remaining Falcon Knights of Stonehall fell to his successor, Aemilia.
Meanwhile, the Jarl of Skalleborg, Sigrun Eriksdottir, had mustered Skalleborg's Landeværn and had sent a letter requesting aid to the closest city which just so happened to be Ravnstad. Jarl Erik was quick to answer his daughter's request and mustered the Landeværn of Ravnstad with Alicia gathering the Iris Knights in Ravnstad and their group headed for Skalleborg. Hoping to pass by Stormgård and ask Jarl Úlfr to join as well.
While Alicia's army marched to Skalleborg, the city itself had come under siege by the Feral Orc Warband. The defenders had sortied out and managed to inflict casualties upon the War Band but the Feral Orcs outnumbered them, even with the help of the city's Black Dog Mercenaries, Falcon Knights and Iris Knights. The defenders were forced to defend the city against an unrelenting siege. But it wasn't long until Skalleborg's gate was breached and the Feral Orcs flooded into the city.
What followed was a slaughter.
The Feral Orcs spared no man but have taken the women and children prisoners. The streets of Skalleborg were littered with corpses and the Feral Orcs pushed the defenders back to the fortress where they managed to gather the surviving citizens and the wounded. The defenders held off the Feral Orcs outside the fortress and managed to survive the night before the Warband decided to rest for the night. Feasting on the corpses of the dead as well as the children while relieving their desire for sex on the captured women. Leaving the women with nothing but broken bodies and minds after the greenskins were through with them.
On the morning of the day after, the Warband resumed their attack and the defenders were running out of time. The fortress' gates wouldn't hold forever and they had no other way to escape the city. They were surrounded and hope seemed like it was out of reach. Morale had plummeted and the valor of the defenders were stretched into breaking. They expected defeat in a manner of hours.
But just as the Warband was about to break through the fortress, the Queen of Feoh had arrived.
Alicia, Jarl Erik and Jarl Úlfr Gormsson looked at the burning city as well as the sea of greenskins outside. The only part of the city that wasn't ravaged was the fortress and they knew it wouldn't be long before said fortress falls. They had to do something now or else Skalleborg will be destroyed and it's people slaughtered.
Before they left Ravnstad, Alicia had changed into her armor which consisted of a black, long-sleeved, undertunic with silver embroidery along the neck, hem and sleeve cuffs and a pair of baggy, black trousers.
Over the tunic, she had on a short-sleeved, mail hauberk along with a pair of iron vambraces with fur lining the top, accompanied by a pair of iron demi-gauntlets as well as a pair of thick, brown, forearm-length gloves that was fingerless in the thumbs and index fingers.
Alicia also wore a blue, sleeveless, open-front overcoat with a white fur collar over the armor. Stitched on the back of the coat was the White Raven of the Norðurmenn. Around her waist was a large, fur-lined, leather belt which had Angurvadal's scabbard attached to it.
Below, she wore a pair of leather boots with a set of fur-lined, iron greaves around her shins.
"We have to act now." Alicia stated before looking at the Landeværn of Ravnstad and Stormgård "Melee to the front. Spears in the middle. Missiles to the rear. Cavlary, spearhead the charge!"
"You heard her, you worthless dogs!" Úlfr yelled "Move!"
While the infantry started falling into formation, the 2,000 strong cavalry of Thegn Horsemen charged down the hill and towards the city. The cavalry was formed in a large, rectangular mass before changing into a massive flying wedge formation. The riders couched their lances as they drew closer to the city and closer to the greenskins who were now alerted by their presence and ran towards the cavalry to meet them in battle.
The Thegn in the head of the formation let out a war cry.
"Dauði!"
A war cry that the rest of the cavalry answered.
"DAUÐI!!"
The Horsemen smashed into the Feral Orcs. Running over the greenskins or impaling them with their lances. Some where thrown back only to get trampled as the Thegn Horsemen refused to lose their momentum until they were deep within the Warband. Inflicting as much casualties as they can to the greenskins.
But once their momentum was gone, the Feral Orcs started surrounding them. The Thegn Horsemen dropped their lances and unsheathed their swords or took out their axes before they started fighting the Feral Orcs from the top of their mounts. Swinging their weapons down at the greenskins.
"Kill the big bastards!"
"Die!"
"Kill them all!"
While the Feral Orcs swarmed the cavalry, they failed to notice the infantry charging down the hill towards them until they were only a small distance away.
With one hand around Angurvadal whose runes glowed brightly as she pointed it at the greenskins and another holding a round shield, Alicia lead the charge alongside Jarl Erik and Jarl Úlfr with their Long Axes. As one, the three yelled loudly as they charged towards the Warband.
"VALHALLA!!"
"VALHALLA!!"
The Landeværn let out a massive below as well before clashing into the greenskins.
A Swordsman flew back as a large hammer was thrown at him by a greenskin and struck him right in the middle. Crushing his entire chest cavity.
An Axeman ran past the Swordsman and slammed his shield into the chest of a greenskin that threw the large hammer before swinging to the side and burying the axe on the side of the Feral Orc before pulling it out and striking the greenskin in the neck instead. Causing the Feral Orc to fall to it's knees.
Unfortunately, the Axeman didn't get the chance to do anything else before his head was sliced off by a large cleaver. The Feral Orc wielding the wicked blade was then impaled in the back with a spear by a Spyd Huskarl only for another Feral Orc to grab him by the neck and lift him up off the ground before crushing his neck then throwing away the corpse.
Alicia ran towards the Feral Orc and blocked it's fist with her shield before stabbing it in the abdomen. She ripped her blade free from it's body then swatted away it's hand that was reaching for the weapon on the ground before driving Angurvadal into the Feral Orc's neck.
She turned to the side just in time to witness Jarl Úlfr to go berserk and swing his Long Axe from side to side in a sweeping arc. The Jarl of Stormgård was different from the Jarl of Ravnstad who wore scale mail and steel armor. Instead, Úlfr fought in the battlefield with nothing but a pair of trousers, boots, vambraces and a Long Axe.
Úlfr's Long Axe beheaded a greenskin on one side and sliced open the abdomen of another. Causing the Feral Orc's innards to pour out.
"HAHAHAHA!!"
The Berserker laughed maniacally as he killed off another Feral Orc. Each kill feeding his bloodlust.
A greenskin snapped Alicia from her observation as it grabbed the back of her coat and threw her to the ground. The Feral Orc raised it's foot and prepared to bring it down on Alicia's chest but the Queen quickly swung her blade and sliced off the greenskin's leg. Causing it to fall on it's side.
Alicia got up to her feet and stabbed the greenskin in the throat before turning to her next opponent who swung an axe at her and she leaned back to avoid getting hit. The Feral Orc swung wide in an arc before using it's momentum to try and swing it's axe down on Alicia's head only for Erik's Long Axe split it's head in two.
The Feral Orc fell to it's knees and Erik violently pulled his weapon free from the corpse and helped Alicia up her feet.
"Thanks."
Erik nodded before cutting a path towards the city. Intent on getting to his daughter and see if she was safe.
Alicia watched him go before quickly ducking out of the way of a hammer and stabbing the greenskin in the gut. She pulled her blade free and quickly moved to stand behind the Feral Orc then stabbed it in the center of it's back. The Queen of Feoh then pproceeded to behead the greenskin with Angurvadal.
As the battle rages on, Alicia's army continued to carve a path towards the city but there was still a sea of greenskins between them and Skalleborg.
The Queen heard a roar behind her and turned just as a greenskin swung it's cleaver at her in a wide arc and she rolled underneath the blade before jumping to her feet and sending three quick slashes across the Feral Orc's back. It roared in pain before turning around and brought the cleaver down on Alicia who raised her shield and blocked the Feral Orc's weapon. The greenskin repeated the attack and Alicia fell on one knee.
Gritting her teeth, Alicia waited for the Feral Orc to raise it's weapon before rolling to the side and made a quick cut across the greenskin's leg. She jumped to her feet and stabbed the Feral Orc in the side with Angurvadal then smashed her shield on the back of it's leg. This caused the greenskin to fall to it's knees and Alicia dropped the shield before taking out the Skeggøx hooked to her belt and brought the weapon down on the Feral Orc's head.
The greenskin let out a groan before Alicia removed her weapon from it's head and the Feral Orc fell to the ground. The Queen let out a breath before looking around the battlefield.
Four Swordsmen surrounded a Feral Orc and locked it in place with their shields before stabbing it multiple times until the greenskin fell to it's knees and died.
An Axeman bashed his shield against a Feral Orc on his left before bashing another on his right. He then swung his axe wildly at a third but it shoved his arm away and punched him in the face before grabbing him by the leg. The other two greenskins then grabbed both of his arms before violently ripping him apart.
Two Swordsmen battled a Feral Orc wielding a cleaver. The greenskin backhanded the Swordsman on it's left and the man landed hard with his back to the ground. The Feral Orc then impaled the one on his right before dropping it's cleaver and grabbed a hammer from the ground. It raised it high above it's head before bringing it down and crushed the Swordsman on the ground before he could recover.
The Feral Orc turned and punched a Spyd Huskarl, who had raised his shield to block the greenskin's fist, sending the man flying towards another Huskarl and the two became a tangled mess on the ground. It moved to finish the job but two swords impaled the greenskin in the back before another impaled it in the abdomen.
The three Swordsmen removed their blades from the greenskin as a Raven Guard arrived and proceeded to behead the Feral Orc with one swing of his long axe.
Meanwhile, a Feral Orc walked over to an injured Swordsman who was crawling away while screaming in agony as one of his legs had been chopped off by a greenskin. The Feral Orc kicked the downed swordsman over before grabbing his arm and violently ripping it off the man's body.
Another Swordsman arrived to help and stabbed the greenskin in the back only for said Feral Orc to turn around and grab him by the neck. The greenskin lifted the man off the ground before crushing his neck then throwing the corpse away only for the greenskin to recoil in pain as a long axe buried itself in it's abdomen.
A Huskarl roared as he pulled the long axe from the Feral Orc's abdomen then swung down and chopped off the greenskin's arm. He then kicked the back of the Feral Orc's leg and forced it to kneel on the ground before raising his long axe high above his head.
"Die!"
The Huskarl brought his weapon down and beheaded the Feral Orc. That was as far as he got before a massive club smacked him on the side and sent him flying across the battlefield.
"TROLLS!"
Standing at least seventeen feet tall, with massive limbs, potbellies and huge mouths that salivate profusely, were the ginormous Trolls. They have orange glowing eyes with mostly brown and tan colored skin. A pair of stubby horns protruded from their forehead and they also have a pair of lower tusks. They wore nothing but a piece of dirthy loincloth that covered their genitals and wielded mostly clubs to crush their enemies with.
The Trolls let out roars before swinging their clubs wildly in front of them. Sending both greenskin and humans flying. Their massive feet crushed anyone who were unfortunate enough to be in their way. One of the Trolls reached down and grabbed a Swordsman before lifting him off the ground. The Troll stared at the man then roared loudly before biting the man's head off and carelessly threw the rest of his body over it's shoulder.
Seeing this, Alicia made her way over to the closest Troll. Dodging any attack sent her way and retaliating with Angurvadal and killing the Feral Orcs that stood in her way. The Queen leaned back to avoid getting her head sliced off before shoving Angurvadal deep in the Feral Orc's abdomen then kicked it's leg to force it to kneel. She then brought her Skeggøx down on it's neck before pulling it free then continued on towards the Troll.
She stopped just in time to avoid an axe from splittin her in two and quickly brought her boot down the weapon's shaft. Breaking it. The blonde then bashed her shoulder against the Feral Orc to create some distance before throwing her bearded axe at the greenskin's kid.
Alicia walked over and removed the Skeggøx then continued on towards the Troll who swung it's massive club and took out four Swordsmen. It turned and took a step back to face Alicia and it unknowingly crushed a Huskarl trying to attack it from behind with its foot.
The Queen of Feoh ran towards the Troll as it swung it's club at her and she rolled underneath the weapon. The Troll then brought it down to crush Alicia but he dashed forward and slashed the Troll's left leg. Leaving a deep cut on it's skin meaty leg.
Said Troll roared in pain and kicked the Queen down. It then stomped it's foot on Alicia who grunted in pain before repeatedly swinging her Skeggøx on the Troll's foot. After a few more swings, the giant released Alicia who rolled out of the way and got back up her feet.
Enraged. The Troll swung it's club faster and with more power. Forcing the Queen to continuously dodge until she saw her opportunity. Said opportunity presented itself when the Troll tired itself out from all the swinging before sloppily smashing it's club to the ground. Alicia vaulted over it's arm and buried her blade in the Troll's belly. It roared in pain before backhanding her and sent her flying.
Alicia landed on the ground a few feet away before rolling to her front and going up on all fours. Dazed from the attack. Her eyes landed on a discarded sword on the ground and grabbed it before taking another discarded sword and slowly got up to her feet.
The Queen of Feoh looked over to the Troll and saw that it had turned it's attention away from her and towards the Raven Guards, Huskarle and Swordsmen surrounding it. Her Skeggøx and Angurvadal lying uselessly a few feet away.
Alica ran towards the rampaging Troll. Some Feral Orcs tried to stop her but she either dodged them or killed them as quickly as she could.
Alicia slashed a greenskin in the leg before kicking the large cut hard and forced the Feral Orc to one knee. She ran behind the greenskin and impaled it in the back with one sword before slicing open it's throat with the other then kicked the dead Feral Orc to the ground.
Alicia then spun on her heel and thrusted both swords upwards. Impaling a greenskin underneath the jaw with the blades sticking out of the top of it's head.
The Queen removed the blades and turned to her left before crossing the swords to block a Feral Orc's cleaver. The greenskin then kicked her back before swinging it's weapon wildly at Alicia who did her best to dodge before deflecting it's weapon and brought a sword down it's neck. The Queen pulled the blade free before impaling the greenskin with her second blade then using the other to behead the Feral Orc with one swing. Blood sprouted from the stump that used to be the Feral Orc's head like a fountain.
Alicia heard the Troll roar and turned to see it swinging it's club wildly. Sending men flying while others managed to jump back and avoid getting hit. It swung it's weapon once more but the number of wounds inflicted on it's body from both Alicia and the melee infantry, coupled with the fact that the Troll was tired, caused it to fall to one knees.
The Queen didn't waste any time and ran towards the kneeling Troll. She dropped the swords and grabbed Angurvadal from the ground then leaped into the air before driving the runic blade into the Troll's back and forced the beast to fall on it's belly to the ground. She pulled Angurvadal free before holding the weapon in a reverse grip and made her way over to it's head. Standing on it's neck, Alicia raised Angurvadal high above her head then plunged the runic blade deep into the back of the Troll's head.
The Troll limped and Alicia dropped to one knee before leaning on Angurvadal for support.
After a brief moment of respite, Alicia removed her runic blade from the dead Troll and jumped down. Nearly losing her footing before steadying herself.
Her instincts screamed and Alicia jumped out of the way of an axe-hammer. She glared at the wielder and found herself staring at the massive War Boss of the Broken Claws Clan and leader of the War Band, Gutrak Bonebreaker.
This greenskin was much more robust than the other Feral Orcs and was adorned with a number of trophies. The skulls of those who were slain by this particular greenskin. It even had a cape made of bones.
Gutrak sniffed the air and grinned maliciously at the blonde.
"You share his blood." He spoke "I can smell it. You are his child. Hehehe."
"What are you blabbering about, you ugly piece of skít?"
"I remember a human I killed years ago. Dressed up in shining armor and wearing a helmet with a crown. I enjoyed breaking every bone in his body before I ripped his head off."
Gutrak grabbed a helmet attached to his belt and threw it at Alicia's feet.
"Look familiar?"
The Queen stared wide-eyed at the dented helmet on the ground. It was a rusty and dented steel barbute helmet with golden accents and a T-shaped visor as well as a ridge on the top with a crest holder for a horse hair plume. Around the helmet was a golden crown.
Alicia fell to her knees, not removing her eyes from the dented helmet, before slowly reaching out and grabbing it. She stared into the visor before lowering her head. Her hair shadowing her eyes as tears slide down the side of her face.
Gutrak grinned at the sight but stumbled back a bit as he suddenly found himself with a bearded axe buried deep into his chest. The War Boss grunted in pain and annoyance as he ripped the axe from his skin and threw it over his shoulder before glaring at Alicia who was running towards the War Boss.
The Queen of Feoh reached the dead grabbed a discarded round shield on the ground and glared at the War Boss as she closed in on him. Alicia's eyes burned with rage as she ran towards the War Boss with sword and shield in hand. The runes of Angurvadal glowing brightly in her grasp.
"Ég ríf höfuðið af þér!!"
Rage laced every word the Queen yelled.
The War Boss didn't say anything but simply bared his fangs at Alicia before roaring loudly then slamming the hammer part of his weapon down on the ground. The action sent a shockwave towards Alicia who jumped out of the way before resuming her charge towards the War Boss.
"Ég ætla að drepa þig!"
Alicia dodged Gutrak's swing and dashed forward before stabbing the War Boss in the thigh. She ripped her blade out and stabbed Gurak in the side only to get backhanded by the War Boss. Alicia landed on the ground hard but her rage-fueled state allowed her to recover quickly and ran towards the War Boss once more.
Gutrak saw this and ran towards Alicia to meet her charge. He swung his weapon in a wide arc and the Queen jumped over the weapon before slashing Gutrak across the face. She landed in a crouch but was smacked away by the War Boss' weapon. Alicia planted her blade halfway into the ground and managed to slow herself down before removing Angurvadal from the earth.
Alicia let out a war cry as she rushed Gutrak but the War Boss had other ideas. He dropped his weapon on the ground and rolled his shoulders before cracking his neck then his knuckles. Gutrak beat his chest twice before letting out a loud roar then ran towards Alicia. He leaped into the air and threw a punch as he descended.
The blonde raised her shield to block the attack and Gutrak's fist connected with the shield before throwing punch after punch at Alicia who blocked every strike the War Boss sent. Alicia could feel the shield crack with every blow and feared it would break at any moment. Said moment turned out to be next punch the War Boss threw and the shield shattered into pieces.
Gutrak didn't give her a chance to recover and decked her across the face before grabbing her head and slamming her face. He kicked her back and Alicia fell back to the ground. The Queen held her abdomen in pain but kept a tight grip on Angurvadal before slowly getting back up to her feet.
Alicia kept her glare at the War Boss who spat on the ground and beat his chest with a roar. Despite the fact her body was screaming in pain, Alicia raised Angurvadal and pointed it at Gutrak.
"Þú munt deyja hér!"
She ran towards Gutrak but the War Boss stopped her in her tracks by grabbing her shoulder then punching her in the gut. Alicia's eyes widened and she retched the contents of her stomach. Despite this, the Queen of Feoh managed to stab Gutrak in the abdomen and the War Boss roared in pain before stumbling back.
Alicia dashed towards Gutrak and sliced him across the abdomen but the War Boss retaliated by throwing a strong punch to the side of her head with enough force to send her to the ground.
Rather than be amused like he was before, the War Boss seethed with anger and knelt down before grabbing Alicia by the back of the head then slammed her face to the ground. He repeated the action two more times before grabbing her by the neck and lifting her up off the ground then brought her face closer to his.
Glaring at her enemy, the beaten and bruised Alicia spat right in the eye of the War Boss who growled in annoyance and slammed his forehead against hers in retaliation.
"Your skull is mine." Gutrak stated through gritted teeth.
Gutrak roughly threw her to the ground and raised his fists above his head and prepared to crush her body but the War Boss was suddely pushed away.
Alicia looked up to her savior and saw Úlfr run towards the War Boss while letting out a war cry. He was soon followed by her Raven Guards who had been kept from aiding their Queen by the remaining Trolls and greenskins. Said Trolls and greenskins now lay motionless on the ground on top of a pool of their own blood.
One Raven Guard ran towards the Queen and knelt down beside her before helping Alicia sit up.
"My Queen, are you alright?"
"I'm fine. Sort of." Alicia answered "Help me up."
The Raven Guard stood up and helped Alicia back to her feet.
"How are we fairing?"
"Jarl Úlfr and his Berserkers unleashed their fury on the greenskins. They managed to kill the Trolls while Jarl Erik has entered the city. There are only a few greenskins left in the field and the cavalry are hunting them down while Jarl Erik marches to aid Jarl Sigrun."
"Good. Good." Alicia took deep breaths before looking at the War Boss who was fighting off Jarl Úlfr and the Raven Guards "I have to finish this. For my father."
"But my Queen. You're- "
Alicia ignored her and summoned the last of her strength to run towards Gutrak just as the War Boss punched Úlfr in the gut then grabbed him by the head before throwing him away like a rag doll. He then grabbed a Raven Guard on the ground by the leg before throwing her towards another Raven Guard rushing him.
The two Raven Guard's bodies collided and the War Boss turned his head and saw Alicia. Gutrak let out a massive roar before running towards the blonde.
The Queen of Feoh bared her teeth as she drew closer to the War Boss. Alicia suddenly dropped and slid underneath Gutrak while holding up Angurvadal above her head. As she slid between Gutrak's legs, she sliced his groin and the War Boss roared in pain and fell to his knees before holding his bleeding and ruined genitals.
Alicia rose from the ground and turned towards the War Boss. She walked towards Gutrak and bared her teeth. Once she was behind the War Boss, Alicia drived Angurvadal into Gutrak's back. The tip of the runic blade protruded from Gutrak's chest where his heart was and the War Boss stared down at the blade with in disbelief.
Gutrak's eyes rolled to the back of his head and the War Boss fell forward. His head landing on the ground and blood dripped down the hole in his chest.
That was it. It was over. With the War Boss dead, it wouldn't be long until the rest of the Warband joins Gutrak in death but the Queen didn't think about any of that.
Alicia violently ripped her runic blade from Gutrak before looking towards her father's rusty and dented helmet a few feet away.
The Queen of Feoh grunted as she limped towards the helmet before falling to her knees in front of it. She slowly reached out and grabbed the helmet with shaky hands before pulling it close to her chest. Not even bothering to stop the sob from escaping her lips.
Her Raven Guards shared a look with one another before forming a circle around their Queen who quietly sobbed as she hugged the helmet tighter.
The rest of the battle went by like a blur. The defenders held, the Landeværn prevailed and the Warband was annihilated. Skalleborg was safe. But Alicia didn't care about any of that. She was lost in her own grieving world.
By the time the Landeværn were picking up their dead and burning the dead greenskins, Jarl Erik arrived and saw the helmet in the Queen's hands.
'Oh, Gods above.'
The Jarl of Ravnstad sighed and removed his helmet before walking towards Alicia. Her Raven Guards parting to let him through. Erik stood behind the Queen and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. No words passed between them and he let Alicia grieve.
She knew her father was dead and she kept telling herself, and everybody else, that she had moved on but in reality, she didn't. Deep within her heart, she had held out hope, despite the fact that two years had passed, that the King was still alive. But now in her hands was proof that he didn't. Perhaps this was what she needed. Proof. Proof so that she can truly accept that her father was dead and that she had avenged him.