Chapter 50 Sworn Warriors

Tyr had chosen the worst possible person, Tyr was the only one that chose Erik in the selection as no one liked the stories they heard about him. Lagertha's face dropped in horror as she felt her heart sink, Ragnar gnawed his teeth in anger because he knew that Erik was the worst possible influence on Tyr.

Erik smiled sadistically as he accepted the blade of Tyr Ragnarsson as the selection came to an end. Bjorn looked over at Tyr, he had a feeling that was the choice his brother would go with because Tyr's fighting style was anything but honorable and Erik was one that best fits that description but this was not why Tyr chose Erik.

He wanted to become stronger and he wanted someone with the power to run him through the mud quite literally to be the one that guides him for the title of a son of Ragnar meant nothing to Erik The Berserker.

King Askild noticed the anger in Ragnar's eyes, he had never seen Ragnar so angry before as his eyes darted in the direction of Erik before a smirk creased his face. He had an idea of what was going on but he could not pinpoint it..

The selection ceremony came to an end and the new warriors were taken by their 'leaders' to get acquainted with, this meant Tyr and Bjorn would not be home for quite sometime as they had no business going home considering the war loomed.

"Ragnar Lothbrok…" The voice of King Askild called out the name of the disgruntled Ragnar.

Ragnar's tense body loosened up, he realized that he was in the presence of King Askild and could not show such an ugly side to him in front of him.

"My King." Ragnar said, bowing instantaneously but Askild permitted him to not only raise his head but to walk with him.

-

"Tyr Ragnarsson…" Erik whispered in an ominous tone as they both walked away with the son of Ragnar, he had a unit of mischief under his command but it has been awhile since he has led a child this young.

"Sir?" Tyr's voice was calm and devoid of fear, this surprised Erik but Tyr has always been good at masking his fear ever since that event. He had no memories of his time before Kattegat but this felt like a trait that came with his past life.

"You are one crazy son of a bitch," Erik responded as he laughed like a maniac, loud enough for those in the distance to hear, including Lagertha.

It took everything in Lagertha not to run in that direction because everything in her body told her that if she let Tyr go, she would lose her son to Erik and this is something she would give her life to stop from happening.

"Breathe, Lagertha… Breathe," A gentle hand was placed on her shoulder, the voice was none other than Herfjötur.

"Breathe Lagertha…" Herfjötur said once again and Lagertha listened to the woman that she swore her loyalty to but this was not the case a couple of years ago.

Once upon a time, it was Herfjötur that was under Lagertha but things changed ever since that event that shaped Lagertha.

"Come, son of Ragnar." Asger instructed as Bjorn waved his mother goodbye, he was excited by the prospect of battle but Bjorn was just a child. He had no idea what war was for death was the only thing both sides had in common once a war breaks out.

"I admire you, Asger. You are a great warrior and I hope to learn from you!" Bjorn was polite and the respect he had for Asger was unspoken as he saw how he treated Egil despite him being an enemy. The speech of Egil resonated in him, he was truly an admirable warrior but it was a pity he met such a pathetic end but Bjorn knew that this was the next step he wanted to take as a warrior.

"Thank you, but I am afraid honor does not win wars." Asger responded to the gigantic kid, Bjorn was well on his way to attaining the physique of Erik at the rate in which he grew.

"We do not fight to win, we fight to be worthy of Valhalla," Bjorn responded and Asger had to check to see if it was a child he was talking to because this was an interesting mindset Bjorn displayed.

"Now that… that is an interesting look on things. We do not fight to win but to be worthy of Valhalla…" Asger repeated after him.

"I like you, son of Ragnar," Asger praised him with a tap on the back but this gesture did not go well with the others as they sensed favoritism.

-

Ragnar was taken away by King Askild and he was alone with him, Askild did not look worried to say the least despite what was about to occur in terms of war.

This was all because of the prophecy he got about the wind blowing his way, Askild began doubting it as there could be so many interpretations of this singular prophecy.

"Ragnar, do you believe in prophecies?" King Askild asked Ragnar and this surprised him because Askild was one that you would think believed in guiding his own fate.

"I believe prophecies are stories that can be changed if you reject them, my king." Ragnar said, this was in reference to the prophecy of Tyr being changed if he did not take him as a son for he would still just be a slave or if he killed him after hearing this prophecy.

"What if you trying to stop the prophecy is what makes it come to pass, Ragnar?" Askild asked and this got Ragnar thinking because if this was indeed the case then one's fate is truly decided by the gods and there was no fighting it. They had to accept it.

"The will of the gods are never wrong, Ragnar Lothbrok but what if we misinterpret that message wrongly and that is what leads to our downfall?" Askild said as he was speaking strangely and it felt like he just wanted a listening ear rather than a response and Ragnar was more than happy to provide that listening ear.

"Ragnar, we storm Vestfold in 2 days." King Askild said out of the blue and Ragnar's facial expression was one of shock.