Ylfur awoke to something soft rubbing his face. Slowly opening his eyes, he was met with the sight of his home in Valkenheim. His bed warmed him deeply, a faint light leaking in through the window, and upon looking at whatever was touching him, saw his wife.
"So, Freyja, you've finally come to visit." He said with a smile, Estrid giggling in response.
"You're too kind." She kissed him softly, the sun shining behind her golden hair. Her blue eyes were like pools of water filled with stars, entrancing him.
"Am I wrong?" He replied with a chuckle.
"Bjorn is out logging, and Astrid is playing with little Ilka."
"Ah, then we have some time to ourselves." He said with a grin, Estrid standing up.
"That we do, my love." With a foxy grin, she undid the laces on her dress.
A man in Knight's armor with a helmet obscuring his face entered the room, blade drawn. Before Ylfur could react, he ran the weapon through her chest, making her cough up blood.
"NO!" He shouted as he shot up.
X
Ylfur sat up straight on the couch, breathing heavily, his heart pounding. After taking a moment to remember where he was, he punched the side of the sofa, making the wood creak. Standing up, he began pacing around the living room, trying to make sense of his dream.
Why would he be shown such things? Be lulled into a false sense of security, only to have his love ripped away from him once again? Was it some sort of omen? Shining nightmares awoken by his meeting with As- Yang? He was still unsure if this was a punishment or a way to redeem his name, but he would treat it as the latter unless shown otherwise.
Looking out the window, Ylfur noted the radiant sun, Sól rising to greet the realm. He basked in her warm glow as he contemplated what exactly he would do. He had said he would fight for Ozpin, but he had yet to actually pledge himself to the Headmaster in any meaningful way, so he was still free to do what he wished. And right now, he wished to protect Yang, to do with her what he could not do with his own daughter.
His thoughts were taken by someone coming down the stairs. Turning back, he saw Taiyang dressed for the day and looking very tired.
"Morning." He greeted.
"Good morning." Ylfur reciprocated. "You look tired." Tai chuckled at that.
"Yeah, well, me and Summer haven't seen each other in a few days, so she wanted to make up for the lost time. I'm surprised we didn't wake you up." He moved into the kitchen, Ylfur following.
"I'm a fairly heavy sleeper, no need to worry about waking this old dog with your late-night activities." They both shared a quiet laugh as Tai began preparing something.
"Coffee?" He asked, confusing Ylfur.
"I don't know what that is." Tai looked confused as well for a moment before remembering where Yflur was from.
"Right, of course you don't know what it is. It's a drink that helps wake you up in the morning. Want some?" The older man shrugged.
"Sure, I'll try it." As the father began preparing them both drinks, they chatted.
"For someone whose first language isn't Common, you sure know it pretty well. Could easily mistake you for a native speaker."
"When you're in a leadership position, you have to know at least a little English." He explained as he leaned against the wall. "Some of our warriors are converts from other factions. Not many, but enough to make a difference, and most of them know little to nothing of the Norse language."
"So, Warlords are the leaders of your people?" Tai turned on a small machine and inserted a sealed container Ylfur assumed was full of coffee into the top.
"Yes and no. The best way to explain it is, all Warlords are Jarls, but not all Jarls are Warlords."
"How many warrior classes do you have?" Ylfur chuckled.
"There are many among all the factions, but I'm assuming you're asking about the Warborn. We have eight major types of warriors. In English, they're called the Raider, the Berserker, the Warlord, the Valkyrie, the Highlander, the Shaman, and the Jormungandr. Sometimes, if a warrior of another class proves themself, they can become a Jarl, though I've yet to see a Shaman or Jormungandr become one."
"And why's that?" Tai set a mug under the machine and pressed a button, causing it to make a grinding noise.
"Well, they aren't exactly… stable. Shamans can directly speak with the Landvættir, spirits of the land that protect whatever they preside over. Because of that, they aren't fully concerned with mortals unless it affects the spirits. And the Jormungandr." He shivered. "They're a crazy cult who worship Jörmungandr, the Midgard Serpent. They live in a place called Stórr Virki. I haven't been there, but from what I've heard, it's a place of torture and disgust. The only reason our King allied with them is that we need all the help we can get."
Tai nodded as he listened, his mug filling with a black liquid produced by the machine. It steamed and smelled bitter, and the man set it on the counter to cool as he began preparing Ylfur's drink. He briefly asked if he'd like some sugar, but Ylfur declined.
"Do all Jarls know Common?"
"Yes, but only a handful of us care enough to learn more than a few words. Me, a fellow Warlord in Grunnfjord called Stigandr, and a pair of Berserkers in North and South Hel, Rikiwulf and Ásmundr. All foreign recruits get sent to us by the other Jarls."
With his drink finished being made, Ylfur picked up the mug. It was hot, but his Aura prevented any burns. Looking into the dark liquid, he shrugged before taking a swig, the drink almost scalding his tongue. He should've waited for it to cool. It tasted very bitter in his mouth but wasn't too bad, aside from the burning heat.
"How is it?" Tai asked.
"Very bitter, but alright." He took another drink, swallowing it quicker.
"How many Jarls are there? Sounds like there's one for each region." Tai asked before taking a sip.
"Já, there are." He stopped for a moment as he tried to remember just how many there were. "29 regions exactly, with a Jarl ruling over each."
"And which one do you rule?"
"Ah, that would be Hylur, on the border to Ashfeld, home of the Iron Legion."
"Right on the front lines? That must be tough."
"It is, but I wouldn't have been made Jarl if King Ragnar didn't think I was capable. They haven't taken Hylur from me yet, and I've been ruling for 30 years," He said with a laugh, but it quickly died. "Had ruled. With me gone, I suppose Jarlship will go on to my younger cousin. I just hope he's ready to lead." Looking at him with some slight concern, Tai kept the conversation going.
"If you don't mind me asking, how'd you… well, get here?" Unexpectedly, Ylfur chuckled as if he recalled something nostalgic.
"In glorious battle. I'd joined forces with Ásmundr of South Hel to make a push into Sow Mesa, the Legion territory just south of mine. Rikiwulf would have joined us, as the two Berserkers are practically attached at the hip, but the Knights were also pushing into his land, so he had to stay and defend.
"Their Walled City was their first line of defense; if we had that, we had the whole territory, and the other bordering lands would be vulnerable to attack. The plan was to take the City, then move on to the Ice Coast, a neighboring region. They'd sent their men off to the forces in Crow's Path to help take North Hel, leaving themselves vulnerable in the process. If we were fast enough and Rikiwulf held out long enough, we'd be able to isolate the Knights attacking his land, cutting them off from support. Then we'd be left with a hefty chunk of Legion land."
"So what happened?" Tai asked.
"After sending in spies to disable most of their catapults, our forces moved in. Ásmundr was in charge of keeping the siege going strong, while I would lead our men in for the final push once the fortress's standing force was weak enough. When that time came, I went in with a large group of men while Ásmundr stayed behind with his own men to ensure no enemy reinforcements could get through.
"Getting through the outer gate was fairly quick but by no means easy. Even after having been under siege for months by this point, the soldiers inside were still strong. It was while we were pushing the ram to the inner gate that I first spotted Rapax, leading the defense." That caught Tai's attention.
"Rapax was trying to fight you off?" Ylfur nodded with a chuckle.
"He may be a cold-hearted bastard, but he's a damn good fighter, I'll give him that much. After we broke through into the fort's sanctuary, I went to use their ballista against them to attack their Commander, but Rapax got to me before I could get a shot off.
"Our battle was glorious." Ylfur continued the tale, setting his mug down with a grin spreading across his face. "Two leaders of men doing battle for dominance, neither side gaining the upper hand. My strength against his agility, it was incredible. After we'd disarmed each other, I sent us both flying out of a hole in the wall. As we were recovering from the fall, a catapult shot hit the ballista tower, and with the falling rubble coming down on us, that was it."
He was surprised to hear a slight shuffle behind him. Turning back, he saw Yang sitting on the stairs, looking starry-eyed at the retelling. He felt grief well up within him, but he forced it back down. Now was not the time.
"Hey, kiddo." Tai greeted. "You're up early." Yang shrugged.
"I couldn't sleep." She yawned.
"If you're so tired, you want a sip of coffee?" At that, Yang bleched, making her dislike of the bitter substance known. Tai and Ylfur chuckled at that.
"Did you enjoy my story?" The old man asked as he took another sip of black brew. Yang nodded with a smile on her face. "Well, I have other tales I can tell, if your parents allow it." He turned to Tai, who looked somewhat reluctant. While Ylfur's tale of his death was undoubtedly fascinating, he didn't want those being told to his kids, and he was sure Summer would agree.
"Do you have any, I dunno, kid-friendly stories you can tell?" He asked, to which Ylfur nodded.
"Já, I have many. Epic tales and sagas are widespread with my people, and I've learned many in my years." He chuckled as he remembered a particular one his father had told him. He turned back to Yang. "When your sister and mother are awake, I'll tell more of my tales."
"Ok!" She said excitedly as she ran down into the living room. Both adults were about to get back to talking, but Yang interrupted them.
"Daddy, someone's coming!" She called out from the living room. Confused, they both set down their mugs and went to see what she was talking about. She was on her tiptoes in front of the window, peeking over the sill. Looking out, they indeed spotted a man walking down the road, the sun at his back, something hanging from his hip.
"I don't recognize him," Tai said, but Ylfur scowled.
"Rapax. Looks like the Legion dog didn't run off the first chance he got."
Like Ylfur, Rapax had swapped out his armor for more casual clothing. A black, unzipped hoodie with the hood down, a grey shirt beneath, dark jeans, and a pair of workman's boots. Also similar to Ylfur, his gladius was sheathed on his belt, displayed openly. Due to the sun glaring off the window, Rapax didn't spot them through the window. When he reached the wooden frame, he knocked hard enough for everyone to hear.
"Ms. Rose! I have returned with your weapon in hand!" He called out. A toddler's crying could now be heard upstairs, making Tai sigh in frustration and pinch the bridge of his nose.
"Great, he woke up Ruby. I'll get her. Can you deal with this jacka-" He stopped himself as he remembered Yang was with them. "Guy." He corrected, Ylfur nodding.
"With pleasure." Tai went upstairs to comfort the crying Ruby while Ylfur opened the door. Upon being met with the Viking's large frame, Rapax raised a brow.
"What are you doing here?" The Centurion asked.
"Because Summer asked me to visit, kamphundr." He spat.
"Then am I correct in assuming she is home?"
"She is, but she's asleep. You can wait outside like the dog you-"
"Rapax?" He heard behind him. Turning, Summer was coming down the stairs in her pajamas, a black tank top and pants with rose patterns on the latter.
"Ah, my lady." Rapax looked relieved to see her unharmed and reached behind him to retrieve something, making Ylfur tense up. He produced a blocky object that he didn't recognize. "Your weapon." Summer's eyes widened at the sight of it, any semblance of sleepiness evaporating.
"S-Strawberry?" She grabbed the… thing and looked at it with wonder.
"Your weapon?" The old Viking asked, confused.
"Oh, right, you've never seen a mecha-shift weapon before." Before he could further question her, she pressed a button on the side, unfolding it to its full size. She was only three-quarters of its height, but she held it as if it weighed nothing.
"Well," Ylfur said, his eyes wide at the device. "I can't say I was expecting that."
"It is an impressive piece of machinery, though that is not all I found." As Summer folded up Strawberry and put it on a small shelf next to the door, Rapax reached into his pocket and withdrew a letter. "Upon my arrival, I was ambushed by bandits. After slaying them, I found this letter on one of their corpses."
Summer was briefly shocked to hear he'd killed them. Then she remembered who he was, where he came from, and how he'd previously reacted to the corrupt guards at Beacon. After shaking off her surprise, she opened the written message. Once she'd read it and told Ylfur what it said, she didn't quite know what to make of it. It was clear the ambush had been purposeful, but who'd set it up?
"Do you have any idea who might've written this?" She asked, but both men shook their heads.
"Seems someone really has it out for you." The Norseman pointed out. "And if they knew someone would come back for the weapon, then they probably know you're home now." That put a bolt of fear into Summer. If they knew she was still alive, they could come after her family.
"If your loved ones are in danger, then I would like to request I stay here with you," Rapax spoke up. "We know not the full extent of the power these conspirators wield, nor why they are targeting you specifically."
"That's something we need to talk about before letting you in," Tai said as he came down the stairs. His disdain for the Centurion was plain on his face, but he kept his tone civil due to the young Ruby sleeping in his arms.
"Taiyang Xiao Long, I assume?" Rapax asked, to which Tai nodded. The Knight bowed his head slightly. "It is good to meet you. I apologize for any grief my presence may cause, but this is an unknown danger, and those should not be taken lightly."
"And why should we trust you? I don't need to remind you of why you're in this situation in the first place." Rapax's face twitched at the mention of his attempted killing of Summer, but he kept himself composed. He made to speak, but the woman in question did so for him.
"He did get Strawberry back." She left the 'and passed my test' bit unspoken. The fact that they could track his Scroll was something he didn't need to know just yet. Tai remained silent for a moment, debating in his head what to do. Eventually, he sighed in frustration.
"Fine, he can stay." He gave in. "But don't think you're out of the woods for what you did."
"Understood, sir."
"Who did what?" They heard from the side. They'd all forgotten Yang was standing there, listening as the adults spoke. At the same time, Ruby yawned as she awoke, looking around blearily.
"Uh, nothing Yang." Summer quickly said, steering the conversation away from the plot against her life.
"Ylfur, you said you had stories you can tell, right?" Tai asked, the Warlord nodding in response and making Yang look up at him with excitement.
"Já, I have many. I'm sure I can remember one she'll like."
"Good. In the meantime," Tai passed Ruby off to Summer. "I'll show Rapax where the spare bedroom is. You four can hang out in the backyard." As the group left for the back door, Tai and Rapax were left alone.
"Am I correct in assuming this moment of solitude is not simply to show me where my quarters will be?" Rapax asked.
"No, it's not. I need to talk to you about something." Tai said as they went upstairs.
X
The sun shone down on Ylfur, Summer, and her children as they sat around an unlit firepit, using fallen logs for seats. The Warlord sat in the center of one of the logs, Yang seated cross-legged in front of him, while Summer and Ruby were on the log to his left. It reminded him of how he would tell tales to children during his younger years, and occasional in his older.
"So," He started, crossing his arms and putting on his 'elderly storyteller' voice. "What sorts of tales would you like to hear?"
"Do you have something cool?" Yang asked.
"Hmmm." He stroked his beard with a thoughtful expression, making the child giggle. "Yes, I believe I do."
"Yes, I've a tale to tell, of gods and war and mystery." He began, garnering the girl's attention. "This is an old tale, some say older than the mountains, and I did hear it from a bard named Snorri. He may have heard it from Thor himself. But knowing how storytellers lie, I very much doubt he did."
"Hey, aren't you a storyteller? How do I know you're not lying?" Yang asked, making Ylfur chuckle.
"I'm no storyteller, just an old man who's heard more than his fair share of sagas." He continued with a smile. "'Tis a tale of Thor himself, lord of thunder and guardian of gods and men. Strong and mighty was he, and honest and brave and simple. This was his greatest weakness, for he was simple, both of heart and mind. He was as strong as an ox, they say, and almost as smart." Yang laughed at that, making Summer smile. Even Ruby seemed to be listening to the old man's story, though whether she fully understood what was being said, she didn't know. Summer had to admit, even she was interested. Legends from other cultures had always piqued her interest, but she rarely had enough time to actually sit down and look for any. To hear one told from the mouth of an elder was an experience she wouldn't pass up.
"But for all that Thor did lack of brains, his strength and courage were second to none!" He proclaimed. "'Twas he that kept Asgard safe from the marauding giants, slaying hundreds of them with his mighty hammer Mjӧlnir."
"Really?! That's so cool!" Yang gushed.
"One morning, he woke in his war-hall and stretched out a hairy arm to pick up his beloved hammer. His fingers felt all over the table beside his bed. Then as the truth did work its way into his brain, his eyebrows shot up. Then his mouth turned down at both its corners. Then his beard began to shake from its red roots to its curling red tips." Ylfur threw his arms into the air dramatically.
"'Waaaaaagh!' He bellowed so loudly all of Asgard did shake. 'Someone has stolen my hammer!'" Yang was utterly captivated by this point, her attention taken completely.
"As quick as he could, he searched every corner of Asgard, fuming and bellowing. At last he found Loki, the trickster most cunning, the least trustworthy of all the gods. If anyone could have stolen Thor's hammer, Loki could."
"But if Thor protected the gods, why'd Loki take his hammer?" Yang asked.
"That is a tale for another time. For now, back to everyone's favorite redheaded thunderer." Ylfur got back to the story. "But Thor remained remarkably calm. He walked slowly up to Loki and said, 'Good day, my half-brother. Have you been busy this day, my half-brother? Have you been busy stealing my hammer?! What have you done with Mjӧlnir?!' Well, that is calm for Thor." That coaxed another laugh from Yang, Summer giggling as well.
"Of course Loki said, 'I...didn't...see...it…' And after some serious pleading, Thor put him down. Loki might lie, cheat, and steal. But if he was nothing else, he was a coward. Just looking into Thor's red eyes would make anyone talk. But if Loki didn't have it, who did? And if it wasn't in Asgard, where was it?
"Then Loki hit upon an idea; the two of them went to Freyja, the most beautiful of the goddesses and queen of the Valkyries."
"Valkyries?" Yang asked.
"Ah, the Valkyries are mighty warrior women, outmatched only by the gods themselves, hence Freyja being their queen. They are tasked with guiding and protecting the souls of warriors and fighters as they ascend to the Hall of the Slain, Valhӧll."
"Would you go to…" She paused for a moment as she figured out how to pronounce the word. "Valhall?"
"Valhӧll." He corrected. "And yes, I suppose I would, as would many of the Huntsmen in this realm."
"Wow." Yang practically had stars in her eyes, warming the old Viking's heart. He hadn't been able to tell stories to children since before the war, as he had been too busy safeguarding his people.
"As I was saying, the two brother gods approached the beautiful Freyja. Loki asked her, 'Please, good Freyja, would you lend me your white feather cloak, for Thor's hammer is missing, and we must find it.' Well, Freyja was blessed with eyes that see the truth, and when she heard that Mjӧlnir was indeed lost, she knew that Asgard was in trouble. 'Take my cloak,' she said. 'I would give it to you even if it were gold!'
"Loki pulled on the feather cloak and," Ylfur clapped for dramatic effect. "became a white raven just like that."
"That sounds like uncle Qrow." Yang pointed out with another giggle. Qrow could turn into a white raven? Must be his Semblance.
"Off he flew all around the realms until he came to the land of the giants, Jötunheimr. In that land, on a huge burial mound sat the king of the giants, Þrymr. He was huge! Black-haired and black-bearded with great wide hands. He was grooming a herd of horses that were no bigger than sheep to him!
"Now, there is something you should know; giants are very big and very strong, but they are not very bright. You remember how simple I told you Thor was? Well compared to the giants he was a genius!" He said with a laugh. "But giants have something almost as good as brains: They know magic! So when Þrymr saw a white raven flying overhead, he saw right through the spell and saw Loki underneath. The giant king smiled evilly."
"Uh oh." Yang worried.
"'Loki!' he called. 'How is everything in Asgard? Why are you here all alone?' Loki stayed high above the giant's reach and called down. 'Terrible news for the gods. I'm afraid Thor's hammer is missing.'
"Þrymr began to laugh. He laughed so hard that boulders on the nearby mountains started to roll around. 'Oh, I know that,' he sneered. 'I've buried the thunder-hammer eight leagues beneath the earth. If you ever want to see it again, bring me the beautiful Freyja to be my bride!'" Ylfur caught a glimpse of Rapax and Tai in one of the windows. They seemed to be having a discussion while occasionally glancing at the four of them outside. If he had to guess, Tai was probably grilling the Centurion for information. Fair enough, as there were many parts of the Iron Legion Ylfur knew nothing about, and if Rapax wanted them to trust him, he'd have to tell them at least a little about his past.
"Loki flew back to Asgard, and the second he removed the cloak and turned back to himself, Thor grabbed his arm. 'Tell me what you found!' Loki was afraid to tell the thunder god what he'd heard, so he put him off. 'Let me rest a minute.' 'No,' the thunderer growled, his red beard bristling. 'Men who sit down forget what they have to say, and those who lie down lie!'
"'Þrymr has your hammer,' Loki told him. 'He will only give it back if he gets Freyja to be his wife!' So Thor took Freyja's cloak back to her. When he gave it back, he told her, 'There is only one way to get my hammer; you must come to Jötunheimr with me and marry Þrymr.'
"Now, how would you feel if I said you must marry the biggest, stupidest, ugliest person in the world?" Ylfur asked.
"Mad," Yang said, her face hardening into a pout.
"That's exactly how Freyja felt. She stamped her foot and screamed. 'Arrrrgh! I would have to be absolutely man-crazy to marry a stupid, ugly, nasty creature like Þrymr! I won't do it no matter how many hammers he has stolen!'
"All the gods held council since this was very important. After all, Thor was all that kept the giants out of Asgard. Without his hammer, he wouldn't be able to stop them. But over to one side sat Heimdall, the guardian of the rainbow bridge that connects the earth to Asgard. His eyes were so keen that he could see the hairs on a cat's head all the way across the world. And some say he could see into tomorrow. Heimdall stood up and said, 'I have a plan. Let's get one of Freyja's dresses, some of her jewelry, and a heavy veil. We could put them on Thor. Þrymr would never know the difference!'" Yang laughed hard at that and continued to laugh as Ylfur went on.
"'What?!' Thor bellowed. 'Put me in a dress? Make me up like a girl? Never! I won't stand for it!' He ranted and raved, so it took most of the gods to hold him down.
"But crafty Loki liked the plan. Besides, seeing Thor in a bridal dress was too good to miss! 'We have no choice!' He said. 'If we don't give Þrymr a bride, you won't get your hammer back! So hold your tongue. I, too, will put on a dress and go as your bride's maid.' So they put him in a dress, put a veil on his face, and a wig of horsehair on his own red locks. Loki put on a dress and fetched the thunderer's chariot, pulled by the two great goats." Yang calmed down from her laughing at the mentioning of goats.
"Goats pulled it?" She asked, to which Ylfur nodded.
"Yes, Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr. But they are an entire tale unto themselves, so I won't get into them.
"When at last they left, Thor drove the magic goats hard, splitting mountaintops left and right. The wooden wheels rumbled thunder from the very clouds. Þrymr heard the thunder and knew it was Thor's chariot. But when he saw who was driving, he was overjoyed. Remember, I told you that giants know magic. But Thor wasn't disguised by spells. It was only dress, powder, and paint. And since giants are not too bright, Þrymr felt sure that the driver had to be his blushing bride."
"Dumby," Yang said with a grin.
"He ran to his mead-hall, kicking his lazy subjects awake. 'Up, you foul ogres! Freyja is come to be my bride!' Four whole oxen were roasted to make the feast, along with sixteen whole salmon and twenty barrels of ale. Once the 'bride' had arrived, Þrymr took them inside and showed them to the high seat for the feast. He spoke to his 'bride' and teased her, but Thor refused to speak. This alarmed Þrymr, and he turned to Loki and asked, 'Why does she not talk?'
"Loki answered, 'Oh, my lord, she was so excited when she heard that she was to be your wife, she shouted for joy for eight whole days. She has made herself hoarse.' This seemed to satisfy the giant king, so they started to feast. Now giants eat quite a lot, but no one ate as much as the 'bride', who ate one whole ox, eight whole salmon, all of the cakes, and washed it down with four barrels of ale!
"'How can she eat so much?' Þrymr cried. 'I have never seen a woman eat so much!' But crafty Loki answered, 'Oh, my lord, she was so happy when she heard she was to be your wife, she couldn't eat a thing in eight days!' This seemed to satisfy the giant."
"What?! No way he fell for that!" Yang interrupted, making Ylfur chuckle.
"Well, I told you he was stupid! Later in the feast, he got the idea to steal a kiss from his 'bride'. He lifted up the veil just a little and dropped it again in fear. 'Her eyes!' He cried. 'Her eyes are so red and fierce!' But crafty Loki replied, 'Oh, my lord, she was so excited about being your wife that she hasn't slept in eight days!' Þrymr looked troubled, but he believed the trickster. 'She hasn't slept or eaten and has been rejoicing for eight days! Let us not delay the wedding! Let us be married now!'
"Thor almost jumped, but the always plotting Loki interrupted. 'Oh good king Þrymr, shouldn't you bring out Thor's hammer Mjӧlnir to honor your part of the bargain?' Þrymr thought a bit, (quite the task for him,) and cried, 'Bring out the hammer and lay it across her knees.'" Yang smiled in anticipation, knowing what was coming next.
"But when the hammer touched Thor's knees, he snatched it up and struck Þrymr a mighty blow, killing him all at once!" Ylfur shouted. "Then he proceeded to clear the mead-hall. One by one, all the giants foolish enough to try him fell. All the others ran away. And that is the tale of the theft of Thor's hammer, and how he won it back again." He finished the grand story. Peeking at the window, he couldn't see Rapax and Tai, so they must have finished their discussion and were waiting inside. But as he began to stand, Yang asked something.
"Is it real?" He stopped.
"What do you mean?"
"Is the story real?" That was an interesting question. While most Norsemen believed it to be real, he wasn't sure what religion was like in this realm. Unlike the Christians, the Norse weren't ones to try and convert people, so he was unsure what to say. Looking to Summer, she seemed surprised by the question, unsure what to say either. After a moment of silence, he answered.
"I believe it, but whether or not you do is a personal decision. I won't sway you either way." Yang looked at the ground, deep in thought. Summer seemed pleased with the answer, Ylfur giving Yang the choice to believe or not. He wasn't sure how this would turn out later in her life, but he would cross that bridge when it arrived.
Some time previously
Rapax and Tai watched as Yflur began his story, though they couldn't hear him from within the cabin. Before long, the blonde man started his questioning.
"Tell me what you know about the Iron Legion." He demanded. He said the name with untrustworthiness, understandable given everything Ylfur had said about the group.
"They are an order of Knights hailing from Ashfeld, founded many years ago. Beyond them being an offshoot of the Great Empire, from whence I hail, little is known of their rise to power, but they comprise of many lesser legions united under one banner. They were a military powerhouse in years past, standing firm against Viking and Samurai invasion without buckling.
"When the Great War died down, they began to stagnate, weakened by years of peace. Many of their members deserted, further damaging the power they once held. When some of the Viking clans began raiding Ashfeld once again, the Legion could not hold them back, resulting in the abandonment of many defenseless villages." Tai interrupted him.
"I'm not looking for a full history lesson. I'm asking because Ylfur said the Legion attacked the fortress he was at and killed his family." His voice was heated. "He said the name of the place was Svengård."
"Ah, so that is why he despises Knights to such a high degree. That is where he is wrong. The Iron Legion did not attack Svengård, that was the work of the Blackstone Legion." Tai's expression went from angry to confused very quickly.
"The Blackstones came to power in the wake of the old Iron Legion's collapse. They are responsible for renewing the Great War that has ravaged Heathmoor for all these decades."
"Wait, the old Iron Legion? Did they go through some kind of restructuring?" Tai asked.
"In response to the Blackstone Legion, remnants of the Iron Legion who saw what they were attempting formed together and allied with the Dawn Empire, who was also under attack from the rogue legion. Together they laid siege to Blackstone Fortress, bringing an end to hostilities. Unfortunately, as the Warborn had not been included in the alliance, they attacked the Fortress of their own volition. Confused, the Legion and Empire accused each other of betrayal, causing all three factions to fight each other blindly."
"So, the Warborn started it?" Tai asked, beginning to doubt somewhat what Ylfur had said. He didn't believe the old Warlord was knowingly lying, but he may be wrong about some things. Rapax shook his head.
"From what I have read and learned, it was not intentional. The Norse sought vengeance for the heinous crimes committed against them by the Blackstones. They did not even know the Legion's leader was already dead when they attacked. Nobody is truly at fault or without blame; each of the factions had their part to play in the resparking of the Great War."
"So why did the Great Empire side with the Iron Legion?"
"There are many reasons, chief among them being the prospect of stability. The Empire had been greatly weakened by an event known as the Great Cataclysm. It destroyed many empires, dynasties, and kingdoms, and the Great Empire's survival was miraculous at best. Seeking to expand once again, they extended an offer of aid to the Legion 20 years after the war had begun. An alliance in exchange for resources."
"20 years?!" Tai exclaimed, his eyes widening in shock. "How long has this war been going on for?!"
"30. I had just reached 18 years of age when I was deployed among the first waves of support with my fellow Centurions."
"You're only 28?" Tai asked incredulously. He looked and acted so much older, though his hardened exterior made sense considering his background.
"That I am, though I see not how that matters here."
"I just - I can't imagine fighting a war for ten years. And Ylfur's been fighting it for the full 30?" Rapax thought for a moment.
"Yes, I suppose he has. If I recall, he is the oldest of the Viking Jarls, a testament to his combat prowess, no doubt." A moment of silence went by, spent by Tai processing everything he'd just heard.
"Is that all?" The Centurion asked.
"Yeah, I guess so." Another moment gone. "Want something to drink?" The sudden question surprised Rapax, but he wouldn't say no.
"Have you any wine?"
"Yeah, I can get a bottle from the storage room."
"That would be much appreciated." Rapax pushed off the wall and walked downstairs as Tai went the opposite direction to get some much-needed alcohol.
He had a lot to tell Summer.
Bit of a longer chapter for you all, hope you liked it. Anyone more knowledgable in Norse legends, you'll probably recognize the tale Ylfur told as being Þrymskviða, an irl Norse legend. It was really fun to write. The specific retelling I found is from the site Odins-Gift, written by Mikal Hrafspa. There were a few things I changed, but if you want to read the original retelling, go right on ahead. The tale itself is called "The Theft Of Thor´s Hammer".
zirnitradandm: Soil?
Rook435: Of course, I always try to remember my consistent reviewers. I love reading longer reviews, they're my favorite. The Blackstone Legion was known for being very brutal, so I figured it would only fit for Ylfur's wife and daughter to go out in much the same way.
I have a lot of fun writing battles for Rapax. While Ylfur primarily uses his immense strength, Rapax has to, like you pointed out, take advantage of weaknesses. It makes for interesting fights with him trying to feel out his opponent, then after softening them up, striking the killing blow
I do plan on having the two fight tougher battles, I don't want them to breeze through every fight, but I won't hint at what those are. But yes, there will be some spars in the future.
And on the topic of their heights, I still have no idea why the minions and archers in-game are so fucking short, though it is hilarious. Rapax is a bit over average height, 5'10, while Ylfur is a big old bastard at 6'5. Figured the Viking Warlord should have a frame to match.
Thank you all for reading, if indeed you still are. Have a good weekend, and happy Yuletide!
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