Spoiler ahead! Some scenes are from Assassins Creed Valhalla.

Along Side a Viking

He could almost hear the sound of a wolf howling in the distance.

He observed her for a quiet moment. Seeing no peace within her thoughts. Troubled, it seemed she was warring within herself. Her arms were crossed over her chest and she was leaning against a fence post. The frosty air sending a slight shiver up her spine; Eivor noticed how she shivered in the night. Kaya was one with the desert, while he was of the land that snow covered. A stark contrast between the skin and their way of life.

But there was something that they had in common. He wasn't sure what it was that connected him to the strange woman. There was a link there, but Eivor could not see it clearly. With the cold breeze of the night air flowing through, he could smell the earth and it's many scents. A memory flashed within his mind of four black paws running against the snow.

Icy blue eyes stared at Eivor before disappearing in a cloud of smoke. In his life, he was always told to face the enemy head on. Never cower on the whim of a blade for death is an honor reserved for the vikingr. To Valhalla! Ascend to the throne of the mighty Oden! Feast! Drink! Eivor was shaken to his bones upon seeing the eyes of the black wolf.

Eyes that resemble his own.

I must be lacking sleep. He thought to himself as he made his way towards Kaya.

Something lingered in the air with the sound of the raven calling out to the mountain. Where a lone wolf sits upon the fresh snow with eyes that looked to the raven. His guide circled around him with an ever watchful eye. Since boyhood, the raven protected Eivor. It choose him for reasons he will never understand. He was reminded of the old tales of the gods. Huginn and Muninn are the ravens of Odin who flew all around Migard to bring news and information to Odin.

Could it be that Eivor had such a creature following him as a sign of the gods? One could only wonder as his friend circles above in the chilling cold. For now, Eovor would have to push aside what he thought he saw. The ever lingering questions seem to come as droves. Confusing him at every corner with their hidden meanings. His vision of Odin would come and go, but the wolf with the icy blue eyes was something new.

Could it be that he had seen Fenrir once more? Though, the wolf in his vision had red eyes and the size of a dragon. This wolf however…

Enough thinking of such things. The more you question, the blurry it all seems. Eivor was close to Kaya now. Seeing the young woman quiet and in contempt with her own thoughts. Her brows moved and the expression on her face changed every so often. Eivor had to wonder if she was having the same thoughts as he. For an unknown reason, a brown wolf stood in her spot and stared at the moon. Eivor blinked and the vision was gone instantly.

Was he going mad?

She could feel pain in her head. It felt as if something was knowing inside trying to claw out viscously. She placed a hand to the side of her head, rubbing at whatever the painful feeling was. A grimace of a scowl upon her lips like a growling wolf.

This pain. She thought in agony. Her body began to tremble from the excruciating pain. Her head wanted to split into two. Her breathing started to quicken and her lungs were burning from the cold. The pain then disappeared without . Eivor stood quiet and still for a moment. Watching Kaya struggle in pain and suddenly, she took a sharp breath in. This all could not be a coincidence.

"I would not have thought of you to wait for me." He spoke, causing Kaya to turn her head to the side. Her bloodshot eyes glaring at him with a sneer upon her lips. She placed her hand by her side, pushing aside the incident that had just happened. She wondered if he saw it all. By the look in his eyes, there was some hint of worry, but it was gone in a flash. "I would think you would be gone with Basim. Leaving me behind, but it seems that you waited. I wonder why?

Kaya pushed herself off the fence with a scuff coming from her lips. Her body was not yet recovered, though she was annoyed, Kaya had to play the part of a mentor. To wait for her apprentice and show them the right path. In her mind, what made her ready To teach? To be someone whom one could look too during times of trouble? Mentor Basim was doing this all out of punishing her. She was sure of this. The Hidden Ones knew she wasn't ready. Could it be that they sent a letter requesting her? Kaya would figure it out later.. "Blood does not stain your hand. I was instructed to wait for you, in case I would have to interfere in your feud. As much as we have aided Prince Sigurd in our travels, you, being as he sees you as a blood brother, helping you is like helping a flea to a dog."

Kaya was sober. Her thoughts were clear. Her temper, well, it was still a scorching fire that would burn anything and everything in sight. If she was told to be a mentor, she could fight until her last breath or be killed for disobeying orders. She had no other choice but to accept her fate.

"You seem to not be in good spirits for waiting on me. Do I always bring out the worst in you, when I have done nothing to offend you? I pity the man who tries to woo you into being his wife. I would buy him many drinks if he can stand you tongue." Kaya wanted to punch Eivor in his jaw with all her strength, but she retracted from it. She was too tired and annoyed to bother humoring the man. He would soon learn that Kaya would be watching him like a hawk watches a hare.

"Mentor Basim may have giving you a taste of what we can master. Though, Eivor, you have much to learn in the coming days. The hood can obscure the enemies line of sight, but your feet are heavy and shoulders too broad. A giant of a man can easily fall if he is not quick and nimble." Kaya turned her back to the man beside her. She was not going to continue wasting breath on her apprentice. Mentors should teach them by being fair, but to be wrong they had to learn the hard way. Kaya was not going to go easy on this man because Mentor Basim seemed to favor him in his eyes.

Eivor raised a brow to her words. Was he just scolded just now?

Inside the long house was warm and filled with a mix of trepidation. Those inside had eaten their fill in meat and drank themselves full of ale. She could smell the many mixtures of food and possible herbs within the air. Her nose scrunching up from the many scents as she kept her eyes on a tall and fair man. His eyes bright with something hidden deep within. A calm expression upon his face as he overlooked those inside.

Kaya had come to the conclusion that the fair men within this land were like that of giants. Built to last the winter with their bodies strong and burley. Hair of many shades and eyes of bright color like that of the sky and sea. Kaya was truly a stranger in a land of giants with her height just mere inches shorter and body thinner then most women.

Not far from them, Sigurd stood quietly. His expression stoic, though his eyes hide a storm.

"Tell me Gorm still lives, Eivor." Sigurd said as he turned to see Eivor and Kaya walking side by side. A curious gaze in the princes eyes flashed for a moment, before turning back to something Kaya could not place. The young prince always held something within that seemed to be troubling. She was always one to let others figure out their own troubles. There was nothing she could do and to tell a prince that he should not keep everything hidden was not something she had the right to do. Royals had their own problems that she never dared to touch.

"It pains me to say… he does." Eivor ignored the stare within his brother's eyes. Sensing something coming that could replace the feeling upon his shoulders. There was a sense of unease in the air that troubled them dearly. The three young adults were feeling this tremble of energy that connected them, but their paths were different. Troubles lie ahead for them, but for now, their destiny would soon arrive.

"Thank you. His day will come." Kaya made a firm line upon her lips as Sigurd seemed to be of relief to hearing Eivor statement. Gorm still lives, which bothered Eivor. His encounter with the bastard was fresh in his mind and he envied himself for not killing him, yet. Kaya wondered if Gorm was like his father. Bloodlines tend to stay within the clans of their ancestors.

"Bloodlines of the father do not stray far from what they know. A man as capable of putting a thorn in the side of others, will only come back stronger. And uglier." Kaya stated, looking over the crowd. She kept her hood over her head; concealing her braided her and beads that decorated it. Her eyes scanning the faces of every villager, hoping that she may never have to strike them down.

"If Gorm knows what is best for himself, he would keep away from whatever business his pathetic father dwelled into.." Eivor spoke, causing Kaya look from the crowd to him. She had contemplated speaking further, but looking at the bidding blade that rests upon his arm, she though it best to let Eivor see it for himself.

Kaya pondered this since learning of Kjotve from Hytham during their travels. The Order of Ancients were not so small as that of the Hidden Ones. Two ideals always clashed for the greater of man. Kaya had been triggered by seeing the symbol she so despised because of her history. She clenched her fists to calm herself from trigging another memory that she wanted to keep in the dark.

Her mother. Her father. She vowed to avenge them and find within the order the one responsible for their death. Mentor Ishmael's writing burned in her heart that he was close. He was so close to finding the one responsible.

"Uh… gods, I hate long speeches." Sigurd said, breaking Kaya from her thoughts. She noticed Eivor giving her a side glance before speaking to his brother in humor.

"Only when your not giving them." He said with a slight chuckle. Kaya turned her head to the side to hide her smirk. Maybe having Eivor as her apprentice will not be as bad as she had thought, though her opinion of the man has gotten somewhat better. The more she interacts with Eivor, the more Kaya's anger seems to dwindle.

"Many of you knew my father, Halfdan the Black. A great man who achieved great things." King Harald said with a strong and authoritative voice. All within the long house looked to the man that was standing proud and tall.

"King Harald." Sigurd whispered so Kaya could hear. She has yet to see a face to the name that has escaped the lips of Basim. We're many men in this land so gigantic?!

"They buried Halfdan's leg near our temple! The crops have never grown taller!" A woman said. There was laughter.

"They buried his arse near ours and we got nothing but a muddy river!" A man stated and more laughter.

"I dream of something greater. A vast kingdom of warriors, in numbers the world has never seen. United by one king. One rule! Too much blood has been spilt fighting one we unify and turn our blades outward to conquer new lands! Who better to lead us to glory than me? I was blooded before the age of ten and I lead the greatest army Norway has ever seen." Kaya looked around the longhouse to see all listening intently to what this king had to boast about. Saying words of honey to ease into their hearts and promise many things that kings often promise to his people. This was not sitting well within her, for Kaya has seen many men fall by the hands of his own people for not living up to his own promises.

This is dangerous. She thought as she looked to both Eivor and Sigurd. Their faces showing worries themselves. Could they be feeling the same unease as she was?

"But they say a wise king seeks honest counsels . "But they say a wise king seeks honest counsel. So I ask, who among you rejects this new arrangement?" King Harald waited for a few silent moments to see if anyone would stand before him. There seemed to be some hesitation among the crowd. Was no one going to be the first or were they all to agree to keep silent? Trouble was brewing inside the hearts and minds of those inside the long house.

"I am not your enemy, King Harald, but I will not be your subject. Tomorrow, we sail for greener shores, and so, my kingdom is yours." A man said, which King Harald felt a little bit of blow to his heart to see one of his own wanting for better. Kaya had to applaud this man for being brave and speaking openly to a king who asked honestly of whether there would be those who follow him to a united Norway or Find something better.

"This saddens me, noble Hjorr. And does your wife agree? Is she not tired of limping ever westward?" Kind Harald showed sadness. His words see true to how he had seen things. Losing one of your own for something better was hard to let go.

"My husband and I are as one, lord. We do not limp together, we fly." The woman next to the man spoke. Her words strong with her conviction.

"I am sad to lose a woman of your spirit, Ljufvina. But I hold no grudge. May the fates grant you good luck." Spoken like a true king, Kaya thought with some disdain. Kings who show their empathy towards their subjects become one with their own people. Kings who speak words of promise die with their words forever stick in the hearts of their subjects. Kaya has seen many men die because of such things. Time was never accepting of honeyed words.

"My king! I offer you my axe and oath, Ironclad!" Another, more boisterous, voice spoke from the shadows. Eivor looked to the man whose voice he had come to know and sneered. Kaya stood straight and tall, waiting for whatever the man had to say.

"Gorm Kjotvesson. You dare your face in this hall? Did not king Styrbjorn and his son Sigurd not rid our lands of your foulness?" King Harald spoke.

"The Raven Clan dishonored me, great king! They poisoned my father, Kjotve! They made a mockery of his name." Gorm said, wanting to show his belly in submission. His words could poison those who were not present at his fathers death. Seeking lies in shadows with a viper tongue. The man spoke too much and Kaya wanted to cut off his tongue.

"Bacraut! You lie!" Eivor shouted at the false claims against his own clan. Kaya sneered at the ugly man who looked as if he was the victim. Gorm wanted to spread his own poison into the minds of those around him. The waters were already rough.

"Hold, Eivor. Let it play out. And you, Kaya, do not bare your fangs yet." Sigurd said, looking to both Eivor and Kaya. The young woman's eye twitched at his words. She was not going to say anything other than look at the hideous looking man in disgust.

"This is a serious charge, Gorm. And a false one at that. My uncle saw your father die. Eivor Wolf-Kissed. You are Kjotve's slayer. This man has slandered your clan. What shall I do with him?" King Harald looked to Eivor. Knowing that he has been wronged by men like Gorm and his father. The account from his uncle who had witnessed it was rather fresh like a wound that has yet to heal.

"I would send him to Hel, as I did his father." Eivor spoke.

"Understandable, but a quick death is too good for a draugr like him. Gorm, I name you worm and call you exiled. Leave these lands by the next full moon or I will feed you to the crows myself." And that, Gorm's fate had been decided.

The night was only beginning.

Author's Note:

Another chapter down. Soon, Kaya will be in England going on adventures! Meeting new people and revealing mysteries that have been long forgotten. I think I may have found a perfect love interest for Kaya, but I will reveal it in later chapters. I have long debated on who should capture the heart of our stubborn character. Romance is not really focused right now, but in later chapters I will throw in some here and there. Honestly cannot wait till we get to the chapters involving the sons of Ragnar. I have many ideas that I think you readers will enjoy.

Guest: Here is an updated chapter. Hope it was worth the wait.

Guest: Kaya did lose her parents to the order. I am slowly having Kaya and Eivor build their friendship. With Kaya being Eivor's mentor now, they are going to see some hard days. Like mentor and apprentice, they will not see eye to eye, but in the end, they will come to terms with each other.