He nodded to himself as he continued packing up his things, going through a mental checklist of everything he possessed for the trip back. He shouldn't have been surprised, but somehow he was. He could see the massive gate, beyond the bridge, that led to the capital of the Samurai.
Koto looked like a fortress, even beyond the rows and rows of soldiers that bravely defended the great bridge leading to the city. Finally, they were resisting. The Vikings had been held back, for the first time since arriving in these lands, for a full two days. Two days of bloodied combat, of people dying and barely surviving alike.
He could say it without a shadow of a doubt by now: he had witnessed history, up until that moment. It was just a shame that he wasn't going to be there to see the end. Not he needed to, anyway. The Samurai resisted well, fighting tooth and nail for their Emperor and their home…
But they weren't going to handle another push. The third day would be their last. He knew it. The Vikings knew it. Even the defenders themselves knew it. But they were going to fight and die regardless… with honor, they would probably say. He scoffed lightly at that, not finding anything "honorable" about what basically amounts to pointless suicide… but it wasn't his place to discuss that. He wasn't a soldier, nor was he a Samurai for that matter.
His tent was all bundled up and ready to be transported. He was just missing his alcohol flask, rag and some ointments, when he heard footsteps approaching from behind.
"So… it really is time for you to go?"
He stiffened involuntarily. Several months have passed since he joined the barbarians in this expedition…
But Dagur the Raider still terrified him to his very core. It took all of his years of training and discipline to keep his calm around him. And who could blame him? This… he wanted to say man, but the way he fought… it was beyond that.
He was everything that Apollyon wanted, now that he thought about it. A fearsome warrior, a born leader, someone not afraid of slicing your head off if you didn't comply with his wishes. He had called him akin to a demigod, a month or so ago. And the more he watched him, the more that label stuck. And, of course, the more his anxiety spiked up.
"Yes. As I believed I warned you about before you started attacking the bridge, I'm not going to be here and see it through. I'm afraid that you'll have to make the last push on your own".
She was waiting for him after all. He couldn't afford to make her wait more, lest he suffered the consequences of it.
The Raider snorted lightly, moving behind him and taking a seat on a rock close by.
"Going back to your warmongering mistress, are you? Does she really hold that much power over you? Even if you disagree with everything that she stands for?"
Corvo blinked, looking at his interlocutor in surprise. How did he know…?
"Don't give me that look. Runa told me about the talk that you two had last week. Her, Stigandr, Helvar… everyone that you interacted with while on this expedition, in fact. In a way… I might say that by now, I'm aware of most things that make you tick. For example…"
He leaned closer, with a shit eating grin.
"... The fact you are scared of me?"
The healer gulped heavily, unable to keep his mask of calmness for the first time ever. It had been cracked multiple times before, ever since he met Skye… but never had it been utterly shattered like that. Dagur's eyes sent shivers down his spine, pinning him down with overwhelming pressure…
Until it evaporated when he laughed.
"Don't look at me like that lad! If I wanted to hurt or kill you, I would have done it a long time ago. But now… back to my question. Why are you going back? You are among us now. Many even consider you one of the Clan, like Stigandr. We can protect you, if she ever decides to come take you by force..."
It was Corvo's turn to smile. He was far from amused, obviously, but it helped with the tingles of terror spreading from his spine.
"Are you actually concerned about me or do you just want to keep me as your personal little healer?"
"What a dumb question. Of course I want you to stay and heal us. What other use do you have?"
"Ohi, I don't want to hear that coming from someone who runs around half naked because… what was it? 'Odin decides when I die' or something idiotic like that?"
"You are treading on some thin ice lad! My fashion sense is top notch, thank you very much!"
"Or you could start wearing some decent chainmail armor already!"
The two men laughed at each other after that. A sense of comfort settled between them and the healer finally felt lighter. He wasn't calm by any means, but at least he stopped shaking.
"Glad to finally see you relax a bit, kid. Now… are you going to stop avoiding my question?"
Cunning… he cracked some jokes to make him drop his guard. He sighed, knowing at that point, he could only answer.
"My fate is interconnected with Apollyon's, whether I like it or not. My master… made sure of it".
The Raider didn't respond, but he leaned forward a bit more, ready and willing to listen.
"As I'm sure Runa already told you, my master made me swear an oath: to always be by her side until death pushes us apart. It was the entire reason why he even bothered to train me the way that he did…"
He stared into the distance.
"His name was Tyrian, one of the leaders of the Cult of Asclepius, the Knight's God of Healing. He taught me everything that I know, in the most painful manner that he could think of. 'Pain is the world's best teacher', he would often say… but I believe that he was a lonely, bitter old man. What I can say, though, is that his teachings were effective… even if, by the end of it, I hated him. I still hate him, even if he's dead…"
The healer massages his wrist, like he was suddenly feeling pain.
Dagur, who had been silent up until that point, asked just a simple, one worded question.
"Why?"
Simple… but the answer wasn't as simple.
"Because… he indirectly caused my mother's death, whether the both of them were aware of it or not. I'm sure it wasn't his intention… but matter of fact is, she's gone because of him. And I can never forgive him for that. Ever".
The Viking obviously wanted him to delve deeper in the story, but Corvo clammed up, unwilling to say even one more word about that.
The Raider sighed, silently accepting that he wasn't going to get more. Except for one more thing.
"If you hated him so much… then why did you swear that oath?"
The healer looked back, with a familiar sense of emptiness in his heart.
"He abused my human nature by asking me while on his deathbed… so that I couldn't refuse".
Dagur frowned at that, a vague feeling of disgust rising from his stomach. But he pushed it aside.
"And I guess there's nothing that I can say or do to make you stay, correct?"
Corvo shook his head sideways, looking somewhat saddened.
"I want to stay, truly. All of you taught me so much in these few months… but I still have much to do elsewhere".
The Raider hummed, raising up to his feet and walking up to him.
"Shame then. Many here will miss you. You haven't been here for long, but you made quite an impact, with the sheer amount of lives that you saved. Remember, if anything happens and you'll end up on the run… you will always have a place with us".
The two shook hands and parted ways.
Dagur The Raider… he had no doubt that he was going to accomplish what he came for. Koto was going to fall soon. But somehow… he didn't feel scared anymore. In fact, he felt… secure. A home away from home… away from home.
He blinked, surprised at his line of thoughts. His first home had been his village, Caelum. Then came the Blackstone Legion, and he would rather die than ever consider that damn hole "home"… but the other one?
He shook his head, dropping the issue. No use in thinking about it. He picked up the rest of his belongings and headed in, towards the Myre… where his jailer awaited.
Hello?! Is this thing on?! It is?! Noice.
Welcome, dudes and gentleladies, to another episode of AHO, the show where fear somehow plants the seeds of friendship!
The Viking campaign is officially done! Of course, the other characters from this faction will come later on, but as of right now, it's time to move on to the Samurai!
As with the Vikings, the order will likely be different than the game's, for the sake of plot convenience. What comes after? You'll have to wait and see.
Next time on A Healer's Oath: Ayu the Kensei!
That's all folks! Ta-ta for now!