Chapter 291 No Rest For The Wicked (Part 1)

Chapter 291 No Rest For The Wicked (Part 1)

"Urgh!"

"Don't move! You've been out for a long time." Fjora sighed with relief as she studied Bjorn's confused expression.

"I can't see out my left eye," Bjorn grumbled as he turned his head to look at her. "I've lost it. Haven't I?"

Fjora nodded slowly as she avoided his gaze. "You were poisoned too. Skalr did his best, but your eye was beyond saving."

"Mm." Bjorn closed his eye as he let out a long sigh. "Get me some food and mead. You can catch me up on the details as I fill my stomach. It feels like it's eating me from the inside out."

Fjora's eyes went wide before she burst into laughter. "Sure, I can fetch you something. But try to keep it down while I'm gone. Skalr is still unconscious over there."

Bjorn frowned as he propped himself on his elbow to look at the man in the other cot. "What happened to him?"

"We don't know." Fjora shrugged as she gently made him lie back down. "Just keep yourself still for a bit. We'll talk soon."

'Seems things really went to shit without me.' Bjorn chuckled to himself despite his condition. 'Hm, it's going to take time to get used to fighting with one eye. Luckily I'm blessed by Exile, so I can afford to get used to it in real combat.'

Bjorn frowned as he thought about Skalr's condition. 'Was he poisoned too? I don't see much being able to take him out of a fight.' Bjorn chewed on his tongue as his annoyance grew. 'Those pointy-ear bastards got us good. Ania must've had the army retreat. Since we're still alive and in a camp, they haven't pursued us. We'll need to regroup and form an army big enough to smash them off the face of Skardia!'

'No, we should capture enough of them to offer Exile a rug fashioned from the skin! Yeah, that sounds good.' Bjorn smiled slightly as he raised his hand to his missing eye. A cloth had been wrapped around his head to keep him from picking at the injury.

'Well, no use crying over it now. As long as I can still bring glory to the gods, I'm fine with losing an eye.' Bjorn's memories felt fuzzy as he tried to remember what he could of the battle. He remembered seeing the shaft of an arrow as he fell from his horse.

'An arrow, huh? Damn, that was a good shot.' He had to praise the archer's skill to hit so small a target from that distance. 'I hope they're still alive.' Bjorn's eye gleamed dangerously as he considered what he'd do to that elf if he ever found out which one it was.

Luckily, he wasn't left alone with his thoughts for too long as Fjora returned with some stew and bread. It took some time for her to help him up, and for Bjorn to devour the food. A satisfied burp escaped Bjorn as he handed the plate, bowl, and spoon back to Fjora before taking the mug of mead.

"Ok, start from when I fell from my horse. Don't leave anything out. I need to know everything that happened." Bjorn glared at her with his one good eye as Fjora recounted the battle.

"Hm, I see. They'll have to funnel through that bridge there, creating a chokepoint. That'll slow them down if we reinforce the barricade and post more troops there."

"It's also in a perfect location," Clay said as he glanced at the siege weapons. "All of them can target that area, raining hell down on the enemy army. That's where we'll break their army."

Bargrux cocked an eyebrow at Clay's evaluation. 'I guess he's not a god of war for nothing.' Bargrux grinned, but it vanished when two large wolves appeared from the abyss below. They moved at an unbelievable speed as they leapt over the barricades in their way with ease.

"Prepare your troops Bargrux. The enemy will be arriving soon." Clay squinted into the darkness as he waited for Skovi and Skalla to reach him. "What's the situation?"

"I lost count of the enemy's forces. There're several heroes among those I saw." Skovi growled as he sat down. "Gods are coming too. Skalla's alerting Lord Exile now."

Clay shook his head as he saw the glee on Bargrux's face. "I doubt Exile will come unless we can't handle it ourselves. He'll despatch others from Ragnarok to fortify us."

Skovi nodded at Clay's words. 'The master is busy with his own priorities. Half his mind is on the north, and the other half is looking for answers.' "Shall I send out the alert?" Skovi asked.

"I think they know, but go ahead." Clay sighed.

Skovi howled into the chasm where his voice was amplified so every dwarf heard it. Thousands upon thousands of dwarves snapped to attention as the torches shone off their weapons and armour. From up here looking down, they looked like bright stars against the dark of night.

"Exile has sent word to deploy more gods here. He says there's more Skardians headed here as well." Skalla said as she lay down beside Skovi. "What of 'her'? Will she be joining us?"

Clay chuckled at Skalla's aggressive tone as he considered it. "She's nearby. I'll have her join in if she's needed."

Skalla growled at that statement as her hackles rose. She would gladly never be in 'her' presence again. Skalla shivered at the thought as she turned her attention to the chasm. The beating of war drums sounded from somewhere inside the darkness below. Dwarven warcries filled the air as Bargrux's forces responded in kind as they waited for the enemy to show themselves. Clay felt the dwarf king tensing up beside him.

'I don't know if he's nervous, or eager.' Clay thought as he shook his head. 'Hopefully, he won't cause too much trouble for me.'

He hummed quietly to himself as he sensed the divine power of the gods below. 'I guess I should let her know we'll probably need her.'

[Master! Is it time?]

'Not yet,' Clay sighed as the sound of his Divine Beast's voice echoed in his head. 'But be ready.'