Chapter 119 A Defining Point?

Asmund was looking right at Kjell. He knew the Earls were strong but had intentionally downplayed their strength because he understood that people ran their mouths.

It was general knowledge that Vestfold warriors were strong, but even this was absurd.

"Asmund, I think you realize it, but your era is over… You trained Signy for this day, and I think he is ready…." Kjell spoke to his former King, stopping the bleeding by jamming a burning arrow into his wound. Kjell bit his lips so hard that blood dripped from them.

"Are you doing it for Signy or yourself?" Asmund questioned.

Kjell walked towards Asmund, grabbing Erik's ax on the floor as he inched closer to Asmund.

Asmund would have no problem defeating him in his current state, but he was a dying man unlike Kjell. He knew he wanted to blame his death on Erik, which would make Signy stronger.

He needed that drive, and Asmund knew his death would grant him that. Kjell stood in front of him, this was the perfect opportunity to kill Erik The Berserker, but the fact that he was barely conscious and Asmund was his target prevented this action.

"You are dying, King Asmund. It would be best if you died as a martyr for Signy to grow. I know you have sensed this too, but you are why Signy has not taken that next vital step." Kjell said, and there was no lie in what he said, but before he could land the blow on Asmund.

He collapsed to the ground unconscious. Asmund took what Kjell said seriously and held no malice that he was about to kill him.

Asmund knew he was a dead man already, but how he died was very important, and Kjell made him realize how important.

"You are right, Kjell…." Asmund knew there was only one way for this to happen, to die in battle. He did not see Signy and knew that Vestfold would fall at this rate.

The gates were lowered for some reason despite them having the advantage when it was shut.

Asmund knew that Vestfold was lost, but where was Signy? The ground thumped from afar, and the thumping became even louder.

"Horses?" Asmund muttered, looking in the direction it was coming from. It was Signy alongside his army, and they had circled using the second gate and the cover of darkness to move unseen.

"Father! Kjell!" Signy shouted. The army immediately secured Kjell alongside his father.

"What are you doing, Signy!?" Asmund asked, and Signy looked his father right in the eyes.

"I learned in a battle that the enemy expecting the element of surprise is the element of surprise. I am going to cut off their escape and sandwich them from behind. There is something wrong with the gate. They should have been lifted by now…." Signy said. He had a plan, and Asmund knew that now was Signy's time, he kept silent.

"I will join you… My King." Asmund said, and this brought a smile to Signy's face.

"Yes, father!" Signy exclaimed, but before they could charge forward, a warrior asked what they should do with Erik, and Signy looked at him with pity.

"Leave him, he has been humbled today," Signy muttered, advancing to the walls with his father given a horse but Asmund's condition had worsened tremendously.

He could feel the light-headedness, but he held on. He needed to give it one more go.

He knew this was going to be his final battle.

-

Tyr was shocked by what his eyes had seen, Askild had managed to avoid death, but the arrow had somehow hit Ragnar. Ragnar had pushed King Askild out of the way and, unfortunately, took the arrow in his stead. It hit him right in the shoulder.

It dug deep into his flesh, rendering his left arm almost useless as blood trickled down his fingers onto the ground.

"FATHER!" Tyr screamed but did not rush in like a blind fool because he knew he stood no chance against him. This man casually held his ground against their King.

He used strange weapons, which gave him the element of surprise as Askild was overwhelmed by this peculiar foreign invention.

"Do you wish to die for a man that won't do the same for you, Ragnar?" Kåre questioned with a raised brow, Bjorn noticed that his father had been injured, but he also knew that if he could not do anything to save him.

He had to trust his father and he did just that, exchanging blows with his enemies. Each enemy brings him to a closer understanding of combat.

Kåre noticed that the string to his crossbow had been cut. This meant that Ragnar had managed to not only save Askild but destroy his weapon all in one move but to destroy it, he had to be within range of his arrow.

A risky move that paid off, and a commendable one at that, but before the battle could continue any further. The forces under Signy charged from behind, effectively boxing Kattegat on all sides.

This made it harder for Kattegat to hold formation because they now had to protect their backs.

Askild noticed that Asmund was still alive, but this meant that Erik was defeated.

A feat worth praising, Kjell had been carried away from the battle by several of Signy's men.

Kåre, Aksel, and Vigar looked surprised when Signy returned, they thought he had abandoned them, but he had not, even boxing them inside. Vigar looked restless, and Tyr noticed.

"This was not part of your plan, was it?" Tyr asked, and all he got in response was Vigar's gritted teeth.

They were not supposed to be here. Signy had yet to be informed of Vigar's plan, but the gate being raised played a crucial role which they failed to do thanks to Tyr's sabotage.

Tyr's eyes noticed Asmund, he looked pale, but he knew that for Signy to go to such lengths to save a dying man only showed how strong their bond was.

"Asmund is the key…." Tyr muttered to himself, clutching the blade in his hand.