Chapter 13.
Maxentius was sneering openly at Llucia. She had been dragged behind the tree, forced to knee as he was untying his pants. The leather fell down to his knees and she could see he was already erect and ready. He palmed himself and threw his head back.
˝Will you put that sweet mouth of yours around my dick? Hmm˝ - Grabbing fistful of her hair her pulled her closer. Llucia trashed and whimpered. Was he about to rape her!? In front of the entrance path to Hedeby?
Everyone was drinking and having fun.
No one would come to save her.
She closed her eyes.
A breeze flew past her. It smelled like the sea, salty and full of life. Something poked her feet. Her blood rushed and she drew the small blade she took with her everywhere. Clumsy, adrenaline fueled fingers fumbled with the blade cutting herself.
In the end she just jabbed it into Maxentius lower abdomen.
He howled in pain and slapped her. Her head hit the bark of the tree. Her vision blurred and she could have sworn seeing two large, black birds chirping in happiness. She felt another hit but he eventually fell down. In her clumsiness she managed to nick something big, an organ that bleed profusely.
Luck was on her side, she must have been guided by Mars. The sudden rush of adrenaline mixed with hatred towards Maxentius felt exhausting, draining her. She sat with her feet sprawled in front of her, breathing heavily. Gurgling and wheezing breathing was all what was left of Maxentius. His leathers covered in blood.
He stared at her shocked.
She killed him.
˝I'll check on Llucia, she's been out for awhile and our friend hasn't returned from his piss either˝- Astrid whispered in earl Ingstad's ear. She was dismissed with a nod. Returning to the chatter and drinking Lagertha eyed the men. Drunk merchants, easily tamed with their ale. They were already passing out, it would be easy to put them back on their ships and take the vares, but words would spread.
Killing them it is.
Earl Ingstad always took care of the shit in front of her.
Astrid walked around Hedeby in search for the dark haired girl. The earl's pet as she was called. Clumsy and slow at times, talented with herbs. She couldn't throw an axe at a tree as wide as the Hedeby' halls but she could poison you with a few mere seeds.
This talent could be exploited but to fight in the shadows is not the Viking way. She must gain strength and power, prove herself if she wants to stay. Her own memories of battling Lagertha every day with a sword and shield, fist fight on the ground and taking punches filled the behind of her eyes. The bird had to grow if it wanted to fly.
She almost circled Hedeby a third time when something caught her eye. A figure was sitting behind the entrance tree. The wide tree was hit with thunder a few times, each time rain had fallen to put out the fire and it preserved and grew even bigger.
Behind the tree was Llucia, staring at a body. The body was larger, a mans. Lying on his back. She recognized the clothes and the dark mane as well as the pungent smell of blood covering his lover body and the drops that he spat out. Dried blood on skin was never a pretty sight, not even on his handsome face.
Llucia on the other hand looked like she had seen ghosts. Still a young bird.
˝Llucia˝- She moved her head to hers. Her eyes grew wide and her lips parted. Something came out of her mouth but it was so silent not even Hugin or Munin could have caught that. ˝Get up˝
˝He wanted me to...˝
˝I see it, get up˝- In truth both she and Lagertha had seen the predator look in Maxentius' eyes as soon as she came to see the fruits. He had circled her like a wolf and in the end, the sheep had slain him for the beast he was.
˝But I killed him˝
˝And? Do you regret it?˝- A vigorous shaking of head ˝Then get up, Vikings kill all the time˝
˝I'm not Viking˝
˝As I'm painfully reminded yes you are not but you're living by our rules and our gods.˝- She got up slowly and stared at the body. ˝Bury him and come back.˝ - Astrid marched back with a small smile on her face. The first step, first blood drawn.
Ivar was behind a ball of hay. His eyes were wide and he breathed heavily. Everything in his body hurt, even the small heart he always called black and cold hurt today. He prayed to the gods to be merciful and allow him to die in battle, one last time on his feet and not in the dirt.
a/n : I suggest you google a picture of a Norwegian forest cat if you don't know how they look for this snippet Fluffeeeeh
** Forest Cat **
Ivar was leaning on a rock with his bow, snug in his fingers. He had a few arrows left and all he needed was for that damn buck to show up so he can shoot it and have some nice dinner. Snow was starting to fall again, perfect to cover his tracks. He exhaled a frosty breath and eyed the sky, it would be dark soon, better hope the gods would favor him or he'd have to drag himself back with no meat and a sour mood.
Something sat beside him. The body covered in fluffy white and black fur with tuffs here and there. Two pointy, fluff filled ears and a small pink nose. Two green yellow eyes staring at him. The forest cat was the size of two chickens stacked on top of each other. It yawned lazily and turned it's head in the direction Ivar was looking.
Scowling he turned and saw the buck approaching. The heavy beast was taking its time, testing the snow, giving a few sniffs here and there in search for grass or anything similar to eat. Ivar pulled the bow, securing the arrow and as he was about to shoot a fat, furry tail moved past his nose. The tail swished right and left, tickling him. He growled at the cat.
The cat just stared at him. Moved the tail. Looked at the buck.
Ivar cursed Freyja and her hellish cats. Inhaled and prepared a new arrow.
He steadied his shot. In the second he wanted to release a paw landed on his nose.
Ivar closed his eyes, exhaled and grabbed the cat by the paw dragging it to him. Forget the buck and the dinner, he'll have this hellish creature on a stick rotating above a nice toasty fire.
The furry creature wouldn't dream of it because it landed on him, paws clawing to be closer and purred.
IT purred.
Nuzzling his face, burring as strong as it could and ultimately sat onto Ivar's back as a loaf of bread.
Ivar let his face fall into the snow.
Fuck this.
a/n: I had to add a bit of fluff for that last part ;)