The study was dimly lit. Several lanterns hung from hooks along the walls, but they didn't serve to alleviate the somewhat oppressive nature of the room created by the thick, windowless stonewalls. A large, dark, and intricately carved, wooden desk dominated the room and bookshelves lined the walls, laden with heavy leather bound tomes of various ages

A woman sat at the desk poring over the maps and papers strewn somewhat wildly across its surface. She looked up as she heard a knock on the door and her brows snapped together bringing out the angular lines of her face. She sighed wearily at the interruption and sat back in her chair. She was no longer young, but she was still very strong and possessed of an iron will and drive. She rubbed briefly at her forehead, pushing back honey gold hair, which was beginning to lose the battle with grey. Her voice rang across the quiet of the chamber, "Enter."

Caius Valerius pushed open the heavy door and stepped inside before turning to close it after himself, sealing the room off once more. He approached, stopping before the desk, "Stendarr's blessing, Keeper Carcette. I apologize for the intrusion but I thought it best that we speak."

The Keeper sighed and stretched her neck, "It is no intrusion, Brother Captain. You are right. We do need to speak." She folded her arms and focused on him like a hawk. "Your report is extremely troubling." Her eyes narrowed, "Some would even say heretical." A razor sharp grin flashed like heat lightning across her face, gone in an instant, "The Thalmor at least would have you murdered in a heartbeat." Caius stood as relaxed as ever, his armor creaked beneath his robes as raised one gauntleted hand to scratch at his beard which was mostly grey at this point.

He shrugged, "To say anything else would be a lie. And this is a truth that I do not believe can be hidden. Some may refuse to see, but I believe there is no hiding it."

Keeper Carcette sat forward with a grunt and picked up one of the papers off the broad desk. After examining it again for a moment, her eyes flicked up to Caius, "This… Kratos. You are sure he is not of this plane?"

A simple nod, "Without doubt."

"That combined with the item means we have a manifestation of an unknown daedric presence on Nirn then, that which is our sworn duty to confront and destroy."

Caius' eyes narrowed, "I must disagree in the strongest possible terms, Keeper. I do not believe he is a daedric prince or daedra at all."

The Keeper shuffled to another paper in her pile and looked back to him, with a brow raised, "So I am to believe this then?" She scanned the page for a moment until her gaze alit on its target. She indicated the appropriate line on the page with an accusatory finger, "'The Thane's pronouncement over his follower resulted in a movement in the aether –'"

"Markedly similar in nature to the blessings that the faithful receive at the shrines of the Divines." Interrupted Caius. "I wrote the report, Keeper. I am aware of its contents."

Carcette's eyes narrowed, "Mind your tongue, Brother Captain. I am the Keeper of the Vigil in Skyrim. I merely give you the chance to reconsider what some – almost anyone in fact – would call heretical claims!"

Brother Captain Caius Valerius closed his eyes for a moment before speaking again, "No, Keeper. To report falsehood would be a failure in my duty to the Vigil of Stendarr. You must know the truth of what is occurring in order to best lead our order." He squared his shoulders, "There is no daedra loose in Whiterun Hold. There is a hitherto unknown being of aedric origin on Nirn. Do with that what you will."


The sun was reaching its zenith when Kratos and his expeditionary force finally approached the outskirts of Havverfjord. Kratos and Lydia led the column on its approach. Kratos nodded in satisfaction when he saw a sentry mark their presence from a distance and rush back into town to report their movement. He glanced to his right and saw Lydia with a small smile of her own as she noted the same thing.

As they drew closer to the town, a double column of 20 men bearing his red mark across their face came down the road towards them. Kratos' eagle eyed gaze caught on the lead soldier and he could see when the man drew close enough to recognize them. The man in the lead relaxed visibly and called back over his shoulder to the remainder of his men. A ripple passed down the column as men eased their grips on weapons and their shoulders relaxed.

When they entered shouting distance the approaching column of soldiers, clashed their weapons on their shields and let out a thunderous shout before repeating the process once more. The man's face clouded when he took in the condition of the returning force, noting bandages, bloodstains, rents and dents in chain and plate. The captain was an enormous nord. His sandy hair was drawn back in a large braid and his full and somewhat wild beard had the odd beaded braid in it as well. The two forces halted, facing each other and the captain saluted, gauntleted fist, clanging against his plate, "Thane, Housecarl. Welcome home." His brows drew together in a fierce scowl, "Are you pursued? Is there a way we can repay this insult to your person?"

At Kratos' nod Lydia stepped forward, "Valdr, well met. It is good to see you well, captain" A hard smile grew across her face, "We have already repaid this insult ourselves and broke four times our number on the field."

Valdr let out a harsh bark of laughter, "War god's blessing, housecarl! I would expect nothing less when the thane takes the field." He turned and bowed to Kratos his respect writ broad and clear. Only Lydia noted Kratos' infinitesimal facial tick at the phrase 'War god's blessing.'

Kratos gave him a deep nod in return, "I did not break the stormcloaks." He placed a heavy hand on Lydia's shoulder, "Lydia, my red right hand, had that honor." He gestured back to the soldiers behind them, "She and her men broke their lines, and drove the stormcloaks before them like sheep before wolves!" His voice had risen in volume and the soldiers let out a roar at his pronouncement. He looked back to Valdr, "I did not need to fight."

Valdr's grin had only broadened, he stepped forward and clasped Lydia's forearm with another laugh, "Honor, Redhand! A tale and a title!" He stepped back and bowed to them both, "If we may not join you in battle, then at least permit us to escort you back in an honor befitting your success." Lydia saw the edges of Kratos' eyes crinkle slightly at Valdr's words. She thought that he found the man humorous, though she doubted that Valdr himself even suspected.

"Granted." rumbled Kratos. "Let us go." After flashing another shining grin, Valdr turned and shouted a few orders. Like clockwork his men divided and flowed around the smaller, battered column, forming up around them before performing an about face. Kratos gestured forward and led the column, Lydia at his right and Valdr on his left.

They continued on easily, the reinforced group of soldiers carrying on to the front of the longhouse and training area. When they arrived Valdr turned to them once more, "Thane, housecarl, I will see to the men, that they are quartered and cared for. I believe that the steward will have news to share." At Kratos nod, he saluted once more and then left, leading the soldiers off to the barracks.

Kratos paused before entering the longhouse. Lydia noted his hesitation, "Less eager to see to administrative details, my thane?"

He let out a huff, "It is a duty." He strode into the longhouse, a chuckling Lydia on his heels.

No sooner had the door shut behind them than Thomas stepped out into the main hall, "Welcome back, thane. Much has occurred in your short absence and there are several matters that require your attention." Thomas approached, launching immediately into those important matters, completely unperturbed by the scowl that now darkened Kratos' features.


Suvaris Atheron straightened and wiped her hands on her rough work clothing. She had managed to clear the area where she planned to build and was beginning the digging and earthwork to prepare the foundation of the shop that she had planned. Her brothers continued working on the site. Nearby was their small camp along with the wagon that contained all of their collective belongings.

The past week had been remarkable and if someone had told her before that, that she would be looking to start a general store in a small town called Havverfjord in Whiterun Hold, she would have laughed them to scorn. Nonetheless, here she was. After her fateful and somewhat frightening meeting with the thane of this holding she had been unable to forget his words. Stay and have nothing. Leave and have a chance. Years of slights and injustices were dry tinder to the spark of those words and it had blazed into anger.

Suvaris had launched a tirade in the dunmer tavern, the New Gnisis Cornerclub, railing against Ulfric and his blatantly discriminatory policies, against Windhelm and its backward and cruel people, and against all the injustice they faced daily. Suvaris sighed and her eyes drifted closed remembering that night. She had ended up standing on a table in the tavern, yelling out to an angry crowd, shouting what they all had thought silently for so long. She told them that there was a better life for them and they need not even travel too far. They could leave. Every one of them could leave. They were bound only by their fear, and that had ruled them for too long. She remembered screaming with tears in her eyes that she was tired of being afraid.

That night she and her brothers had begun packing. She had found out later that they were not the only ones. Many of the disposed dunmer of Windhelm had been moved by what she said and her words had traveled through the dunmeri Grey Quarter of Windhelm like a wildfire through dry grass.

Suvaris was shocked when, on the following morning, there were many dunmer trickling out of the city with their wagons, some with only what they could carry on their backs, others with next to nothing, all abandoning Windhelm and heading west.

Suvaris was shaken out her recollections as a shadow fell upon her. She looked up to see the ashen-skinned Kratos and smiled. Kratos looked down at her and his gravelly voice carried out, "You cannot build here." Suvaris' heart turned into a block of ice and her two brothers froze in their work, exchanging wide-eyed looks with each other. Suvaris' mouth dropped open to protest, but despair stilled her tongue. However, Kratos continued oblivious to their shock, "Havverfjord will be built on a grid." He reached over and retrieved a large map from the man at his side. He stepped up to her and gestured to the paper in his hand, "Any of these locations will be acceptable for your construction."

Suvaris' heart resumed beating and her voice shook, "Then you are not removing us from the town?"

He raised one brow, the rest of his face of impassive. "No. I have no reason to. But you must follow the city plan."

She breathed a sigh of relief, "I… I did not know that we should not build here."

Kratos let out a rumble, "It was an oversight. The other newcomers are being informed as well." He paused examining the site. "A shame. You have made a good beginning." He turned to the man at his side, "Show them to an appropriate site." The man bowed slightly, fist to heart.

"Thane!" Suvaris called, "Then there is no… restriction on us dunmer?"

Kratos' brows drew together slightly, "I am no fool. You simply must follow our laws. My law applies to all. As I told the khajit, inform the soldiers if you are troubled." He turned and strode away as abruptly as he came. Suvaris breathed a sigh of relief and exchanged a chagrined smile with her brothers.

The man Kratos had brought with him cleared his throat, "Ma'am? I can show you to the site now if you please?"

Suvaris nodded, "Of course, thank you."

He turned and began walking towards a branch off of the main steet, "I apologize for the disruption and your wasted effort. I assist the steward, Thomas, but with all of the new arrivals… well, we have been behind in our work. There is much to do."

Kratos had made several other stops before meeting with Suvaris and afterwards made many more, relocating some of the newly come dunmer, receiving an update from Thomas on judgements needing his approval or ruling, and checking in with the Lydia and Valdr regarding the disposition of their troops and supplies.

The sun was setting on what had been a very busy day. He stood on one of the nearby hills just north of the longhouse and looked over his holding. He was pleased to see all of the new construction going on. It was good that people were being drawn in. He was pleased to hear that many dunmer had abandoned their foolish insistence on staying in Windhelm and set out to make a new future for themselves. Ulfric's fool policies were bearing their sour fruit and that gave him a certain satisfaction that he could not deny.

He let out a low rumble as his mind drifted to the Jarl of Windhelm. Ulfric was vain, foolish, and shortsighted. However, he was not Kratos' concern, or rather he would not be unless he made himself an issue. Based on his previous behavior to date, Kratos was certain that the jarl would further push the issue and in all likelihood eventually necessitate a more serious and permanent confrontation. With a snort he is dismissed the thoughts from his mind. What would be, would be. Ulfric would be dealt with if necessary.

He gave no sign that he was aware of the figure approaching him, remaining motionless and continuing to look out over the town. It did not seem that this individual was making a specific effort towards stealth, but rather that it simply came naturally to them. A sense that he could not name reverberated with some half-remembered aura, an aura that surrounded the figure. "Step forth. Now." A robed woman joined him on the overlook. Her blue-grey skin marked her as a dunmer. She had long wavy hair, black as the raven's wing and her eyes were such a dark red as to be black, like blood in the evening.

She lowered her hood and was quiet for a moment before turning to look up at him; she was small for an elf and a slight thing. Her voice was soft and had a melodic quality, "I am Aranea Ienith. I believe your steward told you of me. I have come to be your court mage and hopefully provide you with counsel of value."

His voice was quiet, but as low and rough as wet gravel, "Tell me who you serve."

She cocked her head at him, "I have come to serve you –" Her voice cut off as faster than her eye could follow, Kratos' enormous hand wrapped around her slim neck and the base of her skull, pulling her into the air before him, her feet kicking futilely above the ground.

His voice was deathly calm as her hands scrabbled at his wrist, but his lip curled in a snarl, "I can smell it on you. I say a final time. Tell me who you serve." Aranea knew he was decidedly not strangling her, his hand was an like an iron collar around her neck, and she had no doubt he could crush her bones and cast her aside with ease.

She pulled down against his wrist to ease her throat, "Azura!" Kratos' eyes narrowed but her lowered her until she was standing on her toes, still clutching his wrist, but breathing easier now.

Kratos nodded slowly, "Good. Now tell me why she sent you here. For I have no desire to kill you."

Aranea spoke quickly, her voice even, only a slight widening of her eyes betraying her distress. She had never seen anyone move as fast as he had. "The Lady of Dusk and Dawn saw you! You are an instrument of change and she believes that change is necessary. I was told to come and serve you, for my Lady is not the only one of the princes to have taken notice. Through my own sight and the Lady's guidance I may provide warnings!" She quickly caveated, "Though I do not see all things."

Kratos stared at her for a long moment, amber eyes boring into her, before lowering her the rest of the way to the ground and slowly releasing her neck. "It is good that you answered honestly." He stopped and regarded her for another quiet moment, "I will accept your service." He looked back out over the growing town in silence as Aranea grimaced and rubbed at her neck.

"I am going back," he said, glancing over at the dunmer, "Come if you wish." He turned and went back down the short path down the hill towards the longhouse. After a bare moment, Aranea followed, still eyeing him somewhat warily.

They entered the longhouse to find Lydia and Thomas discussing the current needs of the town and the soldiers. They fell silent when Kratos approached, looking up at him expectantly. He gestured to Aranea, "I have accepted her service as a mage. She will advise on matters arcane and daedric." Lydia cocked an eye at that cast an appraising look at Aranea, examining the dunmer woman.

Aranea coughed dryly before speaking up, "I am honored. I hope that my council and service will be of value to the hold."

Lydia looked to Kratos, a subtle question in her eyes. At his infinitesimal nod she smiled at Aranea, "We are pleased to have you. It will be good to have another woman on the council as well."

Kratos nodded, "Good." He looked down at Aranea, "We will discuss your duties in more detail later, but for now learn all you can of dragons." Without another word he turned and left them as abruptly as he had come.

Aranea stood looking after him for a moment, one hand idly resting at the base of her throat before she turned back to the others, brows raised and a somewhat concerned expression on her face, "Do you get accustomed to him? Or is he always so daunting?"

Lydia burst out in a laugh that brightened the hall, "Yes, you become used to it. Though I'm sure that some would disagree with me."

Aranea let out a rueful chuckle, "I have seen a century open and close, but in my life I have never met anyone like him." Lydia nodded along in agreement as Aranea continued, "Do you – either of you – have any counsel on how to best work with him? Find favor with him?"

Lydia considered the question for a time before shrugging, "I do not believe that there is any great secret. Persistence and competence." A smile flashed across his face, "I believe that I simply pushed forward until I reached where I am with him."

Thomas nodded, "The housecarl is correct. The man is hard, but he is fair. Serve him well, with honor and he will afford you the same. If you are one of his people then he will defend you and Divines help those who face his wrath." Lydia nodded in solemn faced accord.

Lydia rested a hand on the elf's shoulder, "He said you are welcome here and he will not go back on his word unless by your own actions you make it necessary. Be warned, his confidence is not easily gained, but, as Thomas said, he is fair. If you earn it, you will have it." Aranea nodded, musing on what she had been told. Lydia continued looking at the elf for a moment before giving her another grin, "Come. You are mage to the thane. Let's get you settled."

Lydia led off with Aranea following in her wake. Lydia took her to a vacant room on the second floor of the longhouse, opened the door and waved Aranea in with a sweep of her arm. "This room should do. I'll leave you to settle in. I imagine your belongings are likely at the inn. I'll send a man to collect them for you." Aranea examined the room. It was of a fair size, with little in the way of furnishing, but what there was, was very well made, if simple. It fit with the same minimalism that existed throughout the thane's longhouse.

"Aranea." Lydia's voice broke mage's examination of the room, and brought her attention back to the housecarl. "Kratos has welcomed you into his home. Do not betray his trust." Lydia's eyes were as hard as steel, her meaning clear. Aranea nodded solemnly. Lydia's face softened, a tiny smile replacing the executioner's calm, "Like I said. I'm glad to have another woman around." She gave the mage a quick nod and went back to her duties.

Aranea stood musing on her situation, relieved that there was no need for artifice in the Lady's mission for her here. She did not want to try to deceive Kratos. She paused with a slight frown marring her smooth and pleasant features. For that matter she did not want to be in a position to need to attempt to deceive Lydia either. That woman saw much and Aranea had no doubt that if she thought that she was a threat of any kind to her thane that she would not hesitate to kill her. Aranea let out a chuckle, she had desired to move beyond the shrine and serve the Lady in a more active and exciting capacity. It appears she had received precisely what she asked for and proved out the old adage in the process.


The next weeks passed very quickly. Havverfjord was a in a state of constant activity. The initial influx of dunmer from was finally settling. Buildings were being constructed at a record pace, business ventures established, jobs sought. It proved to be a time of an economic boom for the town as new trades set up shop and merchants took note and began to add it to their routes. Though not so great as the initial exodus from Windhelm, a steady trickle of dunmer continued to flow towards Havverfjord from Eastmarch and other Holds under Ulfric Stormcloak's sway.

Lydia and Valdr were in the training discussing the upcoming patrol and training rotations when one of their soldiers who was on guard duty approached at a trot. Lydia and Valdr fell silent as the men came to a halt before them, saluting. "Housecarl, captain, there is a citizen at the longhouse who brings word of a group he believes to be bandits off on the east road."

Lydia stood and beckoned to Valdr, "Come. Take us to him." The soldier nodded and set off with Lydia and Valdr following.

The big man let out a surprised snort, "You know, Redhand, I thought we had given enough lessons about what happens to bandits in Kratos' holding."

Lydia bared her teeth in a lupine grin, "I agree. But it is a lesson I will gladly teach again."

Valdr let out his barking laugh and clapped her on the shoulder, an informality that only Valdr with his oblivious nature was permitted, "Too true, housecarl!" He looked up at the clear sky, taking a deep, joyous breath before gustily blowing it out and breaking out in his own smile, "Ah, and it is a lovely morning for a battle." Lydia shook her head at his antics as they approached the guard and the nervous looking dunmeri farmer. Valdr put on a more serious demeanor as they halted before the farmer who was nervously wringing his hands. Valdr placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, taking no notice as the man flinched. Many of the dark elves were still not accustomed to the law being anything but harsh and uncaring towards them. "Speak, my good man. Tell us what you saw."

The dunmer cleared his throat, "I was moving my sheep to a different pasture out to the east and saw a small camp. It was in a depression a bit to the north of the east road." He wiped at his brow, "There were some rough men, swords, axes, and at least some were armored. I didn't stay to watch or anything. I took my sheep and went straight back as quick as I could and then ran here."

Lydia nodded to him, "You did well. Very well. Did you see how many they were?"

The farmer made a pained expression, "I'm sorry, housecarl. I didn't count." He squinted searching his memory, "Couldn't be more than a handful though."

Lydia pointed to the soldier who had brought them word, "Take the man inside and let him rest. Food and water." She turned, "Valdr, 10 men double time." Two crisp salutes and the men took off to carry out her orders. She could hear Valdr's shouts and in minutes, 10 men had formed up with her. Without preamble she called "Move out!" and set off to the east at a pace that would have shocked those not accustomed to it. They were tearing down the east road in minutes.

Soon enough Lydia and her cohort saw six men traveling openly up the road towards them. Perplexed Lydia slowed her band. This was not the typical behavior for bandits. It was clear as they drew nearer that this was the group the farmer had mentioned, six rough and dirty men traveling under arms who certainly looked like bandits.

Lydia was somewhat surprised to see the lead bandits face light up when he got a clear look at them. She called out to them, "Halt. State your business in Thane Kratos' holding."

The man in the fore drew his war axe slowly and the tension along the road increased palpably, only to change to confusion as he equally slowly lay it on the road. At a gesture his men began to do the same, "We seek no trouble! I am Lars! My men and I, we come to fight for him!"

Lydia and her men approached the group cautiously, but they made no hostile or threatening moves in the slightest. As she neared, Lydia's eyes widened in shock. He was not lying. She saw hanging around this Lars' neck a necklace with a hand carved, but recognizable, wooden omega hanging from it. The man's eyes shone bright with a zealot's passion. She could see it there. He knows. Somehow, he knows. Lars saw her note his pendant and smiled broadly. She cleared her throat and spoke again, "You say you come to serve Kratos. Where did you come from?"

"We came from Eastmarch, but where we are from is not important. What is important is we come to serve the same man." Lydia paused a moment examining the man. He was fairly nondescript, of average height with dark brown hair. Nor was he a particularly large man. His studded leather armor left his arms bare and he was only lean, rangy muscle. In all things he was extraordinarily average, a man you could lose instantly in crowd and be unable to describe later. Truly the only thing that stood out about the man was his eyes. They were wide and a clear middling blue, filled with a saint's passion. Lydia took a moment to extend that sense she had no name for, which Kratos had been teaching her to use. As she did so, the man's face took on a subtle exultant tone.

"Come then." She said suddenly. "We will see if Kratos accepts your service." The man beamed and bowed low to her. Valdr merely looked on at the whole proceeding with slightly raised brows and a bemused expression. He had no inkling of what the subtext of the situation was, but he simply shrugged trusting the Redhand implicitly. The potential recruits retrieved their weapons with the same care with which they had laid them down and they all set off back towards Havverfjord.

Back in town, Kratos was examining the ongoing construction occurring in this holding. Passing by the framed buildings and exchanging the occasional nod with the nervous dunmer who did not know yet how to deal with their strange new lord. The natives of the town simply acknowledged him with respect and carried on about their day having become used to his inscrutable ways and moods to a degree.

"Thane?" Kratos turned to see Aranea at his side. He remained silent, cocking a brow at her. She continued, "I heard stories from your soldiers that you used a spell in battle, summoning a blast of freezing magicka." He paused, waiting.

Kratos let out a snort, "Your question?"

Aranea smiled slightly, "I did not realize before that you yourself had a gift for magicka and wondered if you would accept my help to further develop that gift?"

Kratos stopped and looked at her more closely, turning over her offer in his mind, "I do not know that I can wield magicka as you do. What I did, I channeled through my axe. Though it was easier as the magicka is thick here." Aranea's eyes widened slightly not missing the hint about his origins.

She continued undaunted, "Nonetheless, thane, based on what I have heard I think it worth exploring. It could be a useful tool. And if you can feel the magicka as you say, then I believe that bodes well." She shrugged, "It costs you nothing." Kratos was silent for a time, musing on what she said.

"Very well," he rumbled. "Then let us do so."

Aranea cocked her head, "Now?"

"There is no point to delay."

She nodded her head agreeably, "As you say. First we should retire to the hill north of town in case of an accident. There we will conduct our initial experiments." Kratos merely grunted and set off immediately to their destination, Aranea hurrying to keep up with his long strides.

Soon enough they were standing together on the hill where they had their initial confrontation. Aranea immediately launched into explanation of magicka, "We are conduits for magicka. A mage channels and shapes magicka through the use of spells. You can already feel magicka and that sensitivity is the first step towards opening yourself to it and eventually shaping it. Let us perform a small test. Please extend your hand and close your eyes. I will charge the air above your hand with a spell. Tell me what you feel."

Kratos with a somewhat displeased expression did as he was bid, extending his hand. Aranea stepped forward and formed a bolt of lightning in her hands, holding the spell ready above Kratos' outstretched hand.

"Lightning." He rumbled without hesitation.

Aranea blinked, "Excellent. That's correct. Perhaps we should move directly towards attempting to channel the magicka." The lesson deteriorated somewhat precipitously from there, something that was also not unexpected from Aranea's point of view. Spells could take weeks to master and Kratos was not exactly a patient student. She imagined that the concept of 'open yourself to the power around you and let it flow through you' was also foreign to him. After about an hour of fruitless attempts to tap into magicka, Kratos called a halt. All in all thought Aranea as the came down from the hill, this could have gone much worse.

Kratos stayed on the hilltop for a moment after Aranea had begun her descent, staring into the open air. He let out a snarl of frustration. His hand lashed forward and he ignored Aranea's guidance about being open or channeling and simply seized the magicka, tearing it from the aether. A bolt of lightning shone in his grip for a moment before he relaxed his hand, releasing it slowly back into nothing. He raised an eyebrow as he looked down at his hand once filled with lighting. He let out a snort and went after Aranea, easily overtaking her with his longer strides.

Kratos and Aranea returned to find Lydia and Valdr standing before the longhouse with several ragged strangers. Kratos immediately approached, "Lydia. Report." She saluted and could not help but notice the awestruck looks the newcomers were giving Kratos. Kratos' gaze passed over each of the men in turn, pausing on Lars his eyes narrowed slightly. He had seen this man before.

"My thane, these men travelled from Eastmarch and have come seeking to enter your service as soldiers." She reported simply.

He let out a low rumble, "Your assessment?"

"They are sincere and I do not believe they have ulterior motives. It is possible that they are fleeing trouble in the east. They seek to avoid their past. I can make them soldiers."

Kratos nodded slowly at her last statement before turning to the newcomers. "I accept your oaths. Lydia will make you worthy of them. Her word is mine. She is my red right hand." Unprompted each of the new men knelt there in the street and swore to him. Valdr looked over to Lydia and cocked a brow at the spectacle, receiving a shrug in reply.

Lydia immediately integrated the new men into the training, pairing them with experienced soldiers to ease and speed their assimilation. They took to it quickly, especially their original leader Lars, who approached every request and order with a dogged devotion. The men of the group as a whole were fanatics and each wore the omega around their necks.

As time went on Lydia could see that they were clearly using the icon as a religious symbol some holding it as they muttered under their breath, like some sort of prayer. Lydia found she could not fault them in that. They prayed to the god that they had found rather than one that they had never seen. They had felt blessings dispensed directly from his hand. Lydia saw also when the practice began to spread beyond the original group. Nor were they the only ones to come from the east under arms to fight for Kratos, every so often small groups would come to Havverfjord. They all seemed to recognize Lars though and share his same devotion to the thane.


AN: Another one in the books. Merry Christmas.

I hope this chapter didn't feel abrupt or disjointed. I had quite a few things that I wanted to get in. I hope that the character and time shifts weren't too jarring and that no one was disappointed by a bit more of a character/slice of life type chapter.

As always let me know what you think and a big thank you to everyone who reads, reviews, follows, or favorites the story. But a bigger thank you for those who make the time to review. Really appreciate the direct feedback.