I do not own the rights to For Honor, having said that Enjoy!
Chapter 14 preparations and nerves.
"It wouldn't matter for you; all I ask is a simple amount of time from the encampment!" Higur was sitting down by the fire as Kastumoto walked around the circle.
"how do I know what you'll do? For all I know you and your men could leave to warn Ivar" Higur stood up and looked at Kastumoto with annoyance. "or you could be deserting"
"why you puffed up ignorant-" the two men were seemed a little to eager to clash before William walked out and looked at them.
"Enough!" William walked closer to the fire, his hand over his stomach to support his shoulder getting the two men to back off. "Higur, I'll see you in my tent" he nodded as he grabbed his mug and walked over to the tent and walked inside. William walked closer to Kastumoto and sat down; he held his hand out gesturing for the samurai to take a seat next to him.
"my apologies"
"what was that about?" Kastumoto sighed and shook his head before he stood up.
"politics in Koto are making thigs hard to continue this fight for now, I'm not leaving but its pulling strain on my lands" William nodded as he looked to the tent.
"what about the argument with Higur?" Kastumoto stood up and pointed to the tent.
"it would be better to ask him, I barley was able to understand him" William smirked as he stood up and walked over to the tent. William walked into the tent seeing Higur already helping himself to the pitcher of Meade and looked over to him.
"So what did you ask Kastumoto" Higur took a long drink from his cup and poured another before he sat down in the chair by the warm logs. William picked a few up and put them on top before he stoked it and got flames to slowly lick the new logs.
"the others in the camp are hoping to leave camp for the night" William looked over to Higur with an eyebrow raised as the highlander sat down next to him.
"and why would they want to do that?" Higur took another gulp and took a deep breath.
"William, we're three days from the Bastion and soon this is gonna end one way or another, but not for you" Higur took another drink. "this is our home, many of the men in my charge have known Ivar since he came and took them, he doesn't look kindly on those who cross him"
"and if he finds out you're with us"
"the ninety eight of us wont have a chance to go home, he will find us and kill us if you don't succeed, you might get away and survive, you might even be taken prisoner if your lucky, but he wont give us a thought and take us to the axe" William nodded as he stood up and took a cup.
"and many of you have last rites you want to preform before you go to Valhalla" Higur perked up and nodded as he took a drink of his cup. "how much time do you need?"
"the night at most" William stood up and held his hand out to the sitting Viking who took it by the wrist and stood up.
"go… be ready to meet your gods" Higur smiled and downed the rest of the cup before he clasped his wrist to Williams. "just promise me something" Higur nodded as he looked a little worried at William. "allow some of my men to follow" The Viking was about to object before William raised his hand. "just as a precaution, we don't know what's close by and I would rather not be surprised by an ambush" Higur sighed and nodded as he looked at William for a moment.
"alright, thank you William" The knight nodded as he clasped his wrist onto Higur's before he walked out of the tent.
A few hours later.
William sat in a chair he moved closer to the fire, the warmth intensified with every crackle and snap from the fire as he turned the page of his book when the flap opened as Kastumoto walked in looking around seeing William.
"the Vikings are leaving, Higur wanted me to extend an invitation to anyone who wished to venture out with them" William closed the book and looked up to Kastumoto who was wearing a traditional white Kimono and a deep royal purple Hakama.
"and your going?" William perked a small smile as Kastumoto nodded and looked at the ground.
"yes, I acted poorly to his wishes and not only do I want to apologize, I would like to prepare for myself, just in case" William nodded as he looked at the man in front of him.
"you doubt you'll survive?"
"I don't doubt people will die in a few days, if I'm among them then so be it" Kastumoto Bowed slightly as William stood up and walked over to the entrance of the tent and opened it for his friend who left. William took a deep sigh before he walked over and poured and downed a cup and walked back out of the tent.
William looked at the amount of people almost scrambling about getting a grasp for what's happening but gave up and grabbed Gregor as he passed by.
"what's going on?"
"the Vikings are going into a canyon, for preparations for something"
"I know Higur talked to me about it" Gregor nodded as he gestured towards the Viking encampments.
"how do we know they'll come back"
"I made a promise to Higur to let them and he gave his word to return"
"how do we KNOW William?" William took a deep breath and looked over as a tent flapped open and Emily walked out and towards them.
"Think of where we are, Valkenhiem. Not Ashfield. Not the Myre but Valkenhiem. What do you think someone like Ivar the Bloodletter will do to the people who betray him?" Gregor and Emily both looked at him with a small understanding. "in three days, we're engaging in a battle with a monster. This monster will do everything he can to do to win and if he does, nobody who crossed him will survive" Emily perked up and looked at Gregor who seemed almost stunned. "do what you want while they go, even go to see them yourself, but ill be doing my own as well" William walked off as Gregor and Emily both looked at each other.
Sayori waited until the Vikings left before she left her tent and walked to the fire, Gregor sat by the fire sharpening his axe as she looked at him and sat down.
"do you believe in something Sayori?" Gregor didn't look up as he ran the whetstone down the length of the axe head and brought it back up to bring it back down again. "like a god or something?"
"After what I've lived through, I'm not to sure about a power, but I do trust in my arm" Gregor smiled as he continued to sharpen the axe.
"ive lived through twenty-eight battles over the course of ten years and every time I stood on the field and met my enemy I've never doubted I'll return home"
"and now?" Gregor looked up and smiled.
"Ivar's been a thorn in the side for almost a year and a half, I've seen things that will haunt me and now we're at his gates about end this… and I'm worried" Sayori gave him a curious look and nodded.
"do you trust your sword arm?" Gregor nodded as he looked at his halberd. "Do you trust your faith in the skills you have?" Gregor smiled as he sharpened the blade again. "seems like you have your answer" Gregor nodded and looked at William's tent.
"I'm glad you're here Sayori, really yours and Kastumoto's company is welcome" Gregor stood up and put the whetstone in a bag and walked off leaving her by the fire. Sayori smiled to herself as she sat by the fire, the camp stood quiet as Sayori walked over to Williams tent flap and stepped inside.
William looked up from his writings and spied the Nobushi walking towards him, her robes dancing around her legs. He put the quill down and looked at Sayori with a smile as she sat down by the fire.
"something on your mind?" William stood up and walked over to the fire and sat down opposite her.
"just a lot of thinking" William smirked and nodded as he grabbed a poker and stoked the fire. "this is really happening"
"it is" William set the poker down and looked back at Sayori who was taking a pin out of her hair and let it fall down her shoulders "I'm ready to end this"
"so you can return to Ashfield?" William look at Sayori as she fidgeted with her hair and shook his head smirking.
"so that I can end this" Sayori nodded as she looked into the fire.
"a lot of people are scared" William looked at Sayori and popped his neck.
"we've been fighting him for almost two years I'm surprised everyone isn't praying to live through this" William shook his head as he looked into the fire. "I cant shake this feeling" Sayori looked up and changed her seat closer to him.
"what feeling"
"something worse is coming" William didn't look up as Sayori put her head on his shoulder and gripped his hand, giving it a squeeze.
"worse then a Viking who takes joy ripping his victims apart?" William nodded and squeezed her hand back before he looked at her and into her eyes.
"the last time I felt this, nothing good came from it"
"do you want to wait before the attack?" William shook his head and looked into the fire.
"no, we've come this far and its too late to turn back" Sayori squeezed his hand and closed her eyes for a moment.
"we're still with you William" he looked back at her and shifted in his chair before he brought his free hand to her cheek and pressed his lips to hers. Sayori felt the pressed lips and kiss him back as she deepened the kiss before he pulled away and pressed his forehead to hers.
"you should try to get some sleep, we need to be ready when the Higur returns" William stood up and rolled his shoulder blade and walked to his bed as Sayori stood up and walked to the tent flaps and smiled at him before she put her mask back on and walked out of the tent.
Two days later
William stood in full plate with Gregor and Higur looking up at the massive gates of the Hallowed Bastion. They watched the Vikings on the wall as one of them shot an arrow that sank into the ground a good 50 feet in front of them.
"looks like we're out of range" William nodded as he looked over to Higur who pointed to the tower. "look who wants to chat" William looked at the tower and noticed a mountain of a berserker who was staring right at them. he began to scream and chant at them unknowing what he said. Higur popped his neck and looked right at the two knights.
"the renown and feared Ivar Bloodletter welcomes you to the Bastion and hopes you will enjoy your stay" William looked at Gregor as they looked at the Viking in front of them, then to the one on the walls. They saw him make a gesture with his hand as someone walked forward with bounds hands and knelt down. They heard him yell something at them before he raised an axe and slam it down forcing the man's head to roll off and off the battlements.
"embellishing a little are you?" Higur looked right at Ivar and shook his head.
"no, that's exactly what he said" Higur watched the Berserker walk away from the keep without a smile as they walked off the hill back to the camp. William shook his head as they walked away.
"Somehow I doubt he meant it"
Hope you enjoyed sorry this was a little shorter, but I'll try to get the next out sooner and I hope you have a good one!