Chapter 53 A Day To The War...

The bloodstained ground showed that first blood was drawn but by who? Erik's pupils dilated in excitement, he was shocked by what had occurred and that was Tyr cutting the fingers of Wolf.

The fingers holding his blade, he had severed four of the five fingers forcing the broad blade to hit the ground with a thumping sound.

Tyr gained the upper hand as Wolf reeled back in pain, his face expressing so many emotions but the most prominent one was disbelief.

Tyr planned on using this opening to his advantage seeing as Wolf could only defend himself right now. Tyr threw an ax at his head but he managed to block it by raising his shield, by doing this, he also blocked his line of sight.

This was exactly what Tyr aimed for, Tyr was a strategic fighter and used his brain rather than strength in battle.

Wolf felt his body buckle to the right side, Tyr had severed it when he raised his shield to block his ax earlier because it left his lower body vulnerable just as Tyr intended.

Erik's face creased into a grin watching such a little boy dismember Wolf, he was not the only one amazed by this performance. Every other person was impressed by Tyr despite him being on the verge of killing one of them.

Wolf was left vulnerable but Tyr knew the only reason why he was in this state was that he underestimated him. If he fought like he wanted to kill him, Tyr knew he would be killed but something about being a kid made them underestimate him and Tyr fed this illusion by fitting that image into their mind. Only showing his true strength when their guard was down.

Tyr stopped himself from killing him, listening to his screams of agony. He could not deliver the final blow despite this being a battle to the death.

"What are you waiting for Tyr? Kill him." Erik's tone was cold and heavy, Tyr knew that if he did not deal the final blow that it might infuriate Erik and Erik was the last man anyone wanted angry after King Askild.

Wolf looked him in the eyes, it was not a look of anguish or anger because he knew he was in no fighting condition with the injuries Tyr had inflicted on him and this was the perfect chance to enter Valhalla. The problem was, this would be Tyr's first kill.

Erik looked on as the cheering stopped, their motto focused heavily on killing so they had no use for one that could not stain his blood with the lives of his enemy.

Wolf nodded, he was ready to go and Tyr thought of this as him showing mercy by killing him.

A mercy killing but it had to be done, he brought down his ax and buried it into the skull of Wolf.

Erik's face brightened up as this was an unexpected result, he was glad about the potential of Tyr but the show was not over.

Tyr removed his buried ax from his skull and kept hitting the head of Wolf like he was in a trance, shouting and screaming as blood splattered on his face. The brain of Wolf spilling from his skull, the Vikings' faces creased.

This was a bit extreme, but Erik was the only one smiling through this ordeal. Tyr just had his first kill and the expression on Tyr's face was one of pure ecstasy.

-

Of course, the other camps were normal and they used today to get accustomed to their comrades in arms because these were the men they were going to trust with their lives.

Asger had taken a personal interest in Bjorn and this did not sit well with others, especially the older recruits because it felt like they were looking at another Arvid.

They knew how that played out, Arvid nearly took the life of their commander and this is something that could not happen again.

"Sir, you called for me?" Bjorn arrived in the tent that Asger was located in, he saw Asger sitting on the floor with ale right in front of him.

"Welcome, Bjorn. We will hit Vestfold tomorrow and I want to know how you feel about it." Asger's tone was fatherly.

"I do not like that Kattegat is facing such a threat but I am glad I get to prove myself," Bjorn said in an unwavering tone. Asger chuckled faintly, he was glad that he got such an honorable child in his ranks. He reminded him of Arvid, and Asger could not help but feel guilty that he was responsible for how Arvid turned out and wanted to get it right this time.

Bjorn was his chance at redemption.

"That is a good response, Bjorn. You will be by my side tomorrow. I want you to fight by my side." Asger said and Bjorn's face immediately lit up.

-

Birger was under heavy security as usual but Ulf and he had gotten closer. Ulf knew he was no match for Birger but the war was beginning in a day and he had to meet King Askild to discuss the terrain. Birger met King Askild with Ulf walking behind him like a bodyguard.

In the room where all the commanders, Erik and Asger excluded.

They both already had their roles in the war so there was no point in attending this meeting because the rest of the commanders were going to get their purpose.

Ulf was excited, he finally got his place at the table even if it was at the side of Birger.

King Askild was surprised that Birger had not killed him and this made him wary of Ulf.

Maybe, just maybe he underestimated Ulf but he wondered just what Birger had in mind.

He did not trust Birger but he could not deny his usefulness to the cause, a cause that would benefit him too because of his very special ties with Vestfold.

"I want the head of King Asmund. I want the head of…" Birger said upon the conclusion of the meeting, pausing briefly to look Askild right in the eyes.

"I want the head of my brother…"