Chapter 35 A Deal With The Devil

King Askild was happy that his summon was answered but all he saw was one man with an iron mask, concealing his face and identity.

"Birger, is that really you?" King Askild questioned the man, who did not get one a knee as it is a tradition in Kattegat or when greeting one of superior rank as he did not recognize Askild as his King. This did not bother Askild, he did not need his respect but he needed his knowledge.

"Askild, the man that took away my honor." the voice was hoarse but it came out crisp.

"Why do you wear a mask before me, Birger?" Askild asked the man, the Vikings were wary of his presence in Kattegat because everyone knew the kind of man he was.

"I wear this mask in honor of our temporary truce. The day I take it off is the day our truce and your life comes to an end, Askild... The Usurper." Birger's tone was anything but friendly, openly committing treason because it was Askild that needed him and not the other way around.

This put Askild in a compromising position, for he knew he could not afford to lose Birger or the war would be good as lost but he also knew that Birger would have his demands before helping them. This would ultimately be the bind that consolidates their truce.

"I want your head, but after this war is over. I have a debt to settle with Vestfold and I need your military strength to pay that debt." Birger said, it was a miracle he could breathe in that mask.

It looked incredibly uncomfortable, but this was no concern of Askild.

"My head? I will accept your duel and leave it up to the gods to decide who dies that day," Askild said to which Birger agreed. This was vital progress as Birger was a pivotal part of Askild's plan.

"Have you heard the news?" Vikings could be heard speaking of the arrival of Birger with bitterness, they were angry as they perceived this to be King Askild showing weakness.

Desperate times call for desperate action but this was far too desperate an action.

Erik overheard the fuss and he was excited that Birger was back in Kattegat, it felt like the old days before King Askild became King and changed everything.

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Erik had a twisted ideology of what a Viking was, he believed that the strong can do as they please to the weak or those they conquer. This is why he submitted to King Askild.

Erik kept walking and barged into the children of Ragnar, he intended to pass them by but Tyr caught his attention. He did not know Ragnar had another son until recently.

Tyr nudged Bjorn like he just saw his idol, he was giddy and excited because Erik looked so cool to him due to his unique features. Bjorn, however, knew this man spelled danger the moment he saw him and his mother's reaction was not an overreaction. The young Bjorn was not oblivious to these things despite his young age, unlike his younger brother.

"What is wrong brother?" Tyr asked Bjorn, who drifted into his own little world and had to be dragged back to reality.

"If it isn't the children of Ragnar Lothbrok," Erik said with a smile, revealing his sharpened teeth. Tyr looked in awe but Bjorn soon stood in front of his younger brother.

"Who are you?" Bjorn asked with his hand on the hilt of his blade, something Erik noticed but he did not mind this action but rather appreciated it.

"Do you want to fight me, boy?" Erik questioned Bjorn, Bjorn thought he might have a chance with Tyr by his side because they fought their father and managed to win that spar.

This boosted his confidence, looking into the eyes of Erik The Berserker, but he choked. The intensity in Erik's eyes was nothing like that of his father.

Bjorn could not move as his body was paralyzed with fear, he found himself unable to speak or move but Erik laughed when he noticed this.

"Are you really the son of Ragnar Lothbrok?" Erik asked, moving past Bjorn and crouching right in front of Tyr. This question was not for the frozen Bjorn but rather for Tyr.

"I am a son of Ragnar Lothbrok but you have not answered the question of my brother," Tyr responded to Erik but unlike his brother, he did not freeze up.

"Those eyes... Those are not the eyes of a warrior, child." Erik told Tyr before getting back to his feet. Tyr had no idea what he was talking about but he was not interested.

Patting his brother Bjorn on the back as both boys were on their way, Tyr might admire Tyr for his physical attributes but he was not sure he liked him outside of that.

"What was that?" Bjorn asked Tyr, a feeling he was familiar with as he has felt it far too many times in Kattegat from Vikings that did not accept him as one of their own.

"That is what it looks like when death lingers in the mind of others, a killing intent so strong that not even you will go scot-free." Tyr educated his older brother.

"Why were you not affected by it?" Bjorn asked Tyr but his eyes settled on Tyr's hands, they were trembling.

"Who said I wasn't?" Tyr responded to Bjorn, he was so close to shitting himself but he held his nerves because he knew that no one was so crazy as to touch the children of Ragnar or he would long be dead as he knew that some Vikings did not accept him as one of their own.

As far as they were concerned, he was a slave that became a Viking through his father but this is why this war was so crucial to Tyr. Despite not knowing of the impending war, he would be a participant as King Askild could use all the Vikings he could muster.