Chapter 152 Ruled By Fear, Betrayed By Hatred

Ulrik found out about the death of Tiril and understood why Herfjötur was livid and angry.

But she had calmed down. But he knew he needed to find out about her current mental state.

"How are you, Herfjötur?" Ulrik asked. He had experienced loss, but unlike her friend, Oskar died in battle.

Herfjötur was quiet. Ulrik noticed her muddied hands. Dirt was beneath her fingernails.

He knew what she did. She had buried Tiril and laid her to rest. He knew she did not want to talk about it either, and bit his tongue.

Herfjötur was interested in Ulrik's relationship with that woman because she recognized the looks in his eyes; she had seen them before.

"I am worried, Ulrik. I am worried about what happened to Lagertha, and I am even more worried about what happened to King Askild. We were lucky to run into her or we would have met an unknown fate as well. She claimed to have seen you and we had no choice but to trust her. We knew we might be walking into a trap, but Karl recognized her as someone you knew." Herfjötur said. She knew she owed him an explanation. After all, she did not mean any disrespect by bringing her here because she did not know their history.

Karl, on the other hand, knew everything and hung his head in shame.

"I am sorry for my outburst earlier. I have been on edge ever since Garda went missing." Ulrik was not proud of his outburst but Herfjötur guaranteed him that it was fine, but she wanted to know his story.

"What is your relationship with that woman?" Herfjötur asked bluntly, and he tensed up.

There was no doubt in Herfjötur's mind. This woman had done something to Ulrik as she recognized this behavior in Lagertha.

Ulrik was about to speak, but Herfjötur knew this was a sensitive topic and it would be selfish of her to satisfy her curiosity by making him relive something he would rather forget.

"Get out…" Herfjötur said out of the blue, but it was not clear who she was talking to as everyone looked at her, puzzled.

"... You, get out now," Herfjötur said calmly, pointing right at the woman that they had brought. She had done her job, and they had no more use for her.

"Get out? Are you sure you should be telling me that, commander?" The lady said mockingly and Herfjötur stood up, her towering height making this lady look like an ant.

"Do you want to test me?" Herfjötur asked. Once again she was calm throughout this exchange, but Ulrik had to step in because he knew what was about to happen.

"Linnea, what do you really want?" Ulrik asked her, getting to his feet.

"I want Arvid…" Linnea said bluntly and this request, everyone but Arvid surprised everyone.

"Linnea. Now is not the time for jokes." Karl hesitantly said. He sensed the tension in the air and did not want it to escalate.

"Ulrik, you are still a stupid clueless boy, do you not see it?" Linnea said. She had a forgettable face and a more masculine-than-feminine physique.

Ulrik might hate her, but Linnea was a skilled lady. She was unmatched when it came to gathering information, as she had an exceptionally high IQ, which meant she was a good asset despite his traumatic relationship with her.

Herfjötur looked at Ulrik for his permission, and he nodded, prompting the giant to stand down.

"What do you mean?" Ulrik questioned her. He was looking like himself again.

"Arvid has an affiliation with that man," Linnea said, and Ulrik already picked this up when he was aware of what was going on, but Herfjötur was not.

"I know he was, but he is here to help us…" Ulrik said and Linnea giggled at how gullible Ulrik was, and she pointed to a space in the streets from the window.

"If he was going to help you, why did he leave a trail that led right to you?" Linnea questioned, and Ulrik was confused. Linnea had planned to try and break Ulrik out amidst the chaos or at least that was what she had told Karl but he had escaped on his own, so she tracked him for a bit until he was safe but she noticed something strange, Arvid was leaving a trail from the prison to their location.

She did not have some lucky guess that Ulrik was here. She had followed the trail led by Ulrik.

Linnea hoped she was wrong but unfortunately, she was not and the gods were on her side as she ran into Karl alongside Herfjötur, who she knew Ulrik had a close relationship with and would let them in if they were the one that came knocking.

Ulrik knew that Linnea had always been an excellent tracker. She excelled at this when they played hide and seek at a younger age, and it was also part of the reason he could never seem to hide or get away from her.

Herfjötur was suspicious of this woman's information and there was no way she was not going to question it.

"You think we would believe your words?" Herfjötur said in a dismissive tone. She wanted a more compelling case and information regarding her accusation.

"I do not need you to believe me…" Linnea said, looking at Herfjötur.

"... But he does," Linnea said, looking right at Ulrik, blood seeping into her eyes to give them a bloodshot appearance.

"She is telling the truth…" Ulrik assured Herfjötur before shifting his gaze to the now nervous Arvid, but before they could speak further, they heard hurried footsteps.

"They are here…" Linnea said and everyone immediately tensed up, but they looked at Linnea.

If she saw and followed the trail, why did she not destroy it?

Linnea knew what the stares meant, and she looked at Arvid with a smile.

"I know what you are all thinking but I never said I was on your side, I came here to see Ulrik… One last time," Linnea said and the moment she said that, the door was kicked in and men soon filled the room. Linnea had gathered them all in one place so they could get them together. This was a lucky coincidence, running into Karl and

She vanished into the crowd but she was not the only one that disappeared, so did Arvid.

People's hatred for Askild was deeper than anyone could believe. They were all waiting for this moment.