...
Arthur who was speaking to his sword, overheard their conversation and also followed their gaze.
[So., in the face of death, this man has now set his sights on this woman, is it because she's talented, or are you just seeking to destroy relationships, probably neither of them, he's probably just like those Wolf clan, with their thinking.]
"Since you guy's have had your fill, let's get going, or you'll be left behind", Thors stood up and left for the longship, followed by Thorkell.
Seeing them already preparing to leave, the young bears also followed without questioning it.
Three day's past while sailing and Arthur was awoken by a thundering storm, "shit!, brace!", Thorkell yelled loudly.
The longship was hit by a heavy wave, Thors immediately commanded the young bears, "get the bucket's and throw out the water!, don't worry about the waves!, I'll shout when needed!".
The young bears nodded, while throwing out the water, Arthur looked into the sky and he could've sworn he saw a man looking directly at him, within those black cloud's.
Lightning flashed and the man disappeared, [am I already on the God's radar now?.]
When the storm ended, the young bears fell onto their seats, completely worn out from the constant collecting and throwing off the water, filling the longship.
"Remind me not to be the only one doing this again, I'd prefer to have watch", Arthur complained and went back to sleep like he didn't even notice the angry stares from the young bears.
Ragnar just smiled while shaking his head, "I'm going to sleep too, wake me in the next few hours".
Three more days past while sailing and they finally returned home, seeing the shoreline in the distance, everyone felt like the burden of sailing had been lightened significantly.
"Prepare your gatherings, go home and rest when we arrive, tonight we'll feast and drink the beast honey mead our ex chief has kept".
Arthur turned angrily and glared at Thorkell, "that's my stuff old man, can't you get Raven mead, that stuff is on par with it, if we drink the last barrel, what will we drink afterwards".
Thorkell smiled brightly, while showing his white teeth, "it's fine!, don't you have the method for making more, then we'll all work hard to help you brew, as a thank you!".
Hearing that, Arthur nodded, "alright, I'll hold it to ya, if you hold out on it, I'll make you clean pig shit for a week".
Thors to the side snickered to himself, "that sounds like reasonable punishment", Thorkell stopped his gestures and he became serious, "mm, I'll accept it if I go back on my word's, the same goes for all of you, if you back out on helping with the next batch of mead, I'll stick a fork up your ass and throw you to the pig's myself..".
He hit the wooden hand hold behind him and grinned at the young bears, "swear it here!, we'll all be witnesses to our oaths, break it and we'll let the God's punish you!".
"We swear by the all fathers name that we'll help with the next brewery!, if we annex, we'll receive appropriate punishment!".
"Good!"
The group finally arrived at the docks and while they were celebrated for their return, Arthur walked back home for an actual bed to sleep on.
He didn't expect, the moment he opened the door, he was tripped up, with a foot placed on his back, along with a blade that was pointing at the back of his head.
"Did you forget what I said to you when I left with you", "I remembered, but I was already on the sea, we couldn't go back home, or else our raid would've failed".
"You're not even trying to get out of this.., are you", Arthur shook his head, "it was my fault, I was too excited about the raid, that I forgot about it..".
"You don't have to be angry, I'll make amends, we're having a drink tonight, you can join".
Hela turned to her Wolf and nodded, Fenrir after seeing that, glared at Arthur, Arthur seeing Fenrir salivating turned to Hela, "alright!, I can put in the best meat too!".
Seeing that Fenrir was slowly making his way towards him, made his mind work even faster, [is it an apology, is that what you want, fine.]
"I apologize, it was my negligence, will you forgive me".
Arthur saw Fenrir continuing his walk, so he just closed his eyes expecting death to consume him, he wasn't going to beg, he had grown up with a group of mad men since young and begging wasn't on his menu.
Being in fights with real blades and being beaten by adult's, he has fortified his will from young.
Hela seeing him accept his fate so quickly, slowly removed her foot, [no fun at all, he'll most likely take revenge on this in the future, should I just get rid of him now, so that it doesn't happen...]
[No.. I want to see it, his strength, if what Mirend said is true, then, I'll brag about it for eternity, that I was there when it happened.]
"I accept your apology, go sleep, I'll wake you, when it's time", her sword disappeared and Fenrir sat down panting heavily, as he stared at Hela.
"Yes, you were a good boy", Arthur slowly rose, stared at the two and went straight to his room for sleep.
While closing his door, his face shifted into rage, [I'll get you back for this one day, I swear it, in the name of Odin.]
Hela saw his sudden face twisting into unrest anger and she smiled smugly at him, watching the door close, she muttered to herself, "you can try".
Later that night, his bed was kicked, "wake up!, we're going!", Thorkell was stood over his bed, with a barrel of mead over his shoulder, while smiling down at him.
"Is it already time for the celebration", "it is indeed, if you're not there for it, don't expect our oath to remain intact".
Arthur grunted and got up to follow Thorkell outside, stopping at Hela's door and seeing it closed, he knocked on it and spoke in a high voice.
"Get up!, we're going for a feast!", inside the room, Hela gritted her teeth, "no manner's at all, did yesterday not teach him enough of a lesson".
She opened the door violently, almost ripping it straight off and when she didn't see Arthur standing in front of her, she turned towards the main entrance.
"Tch, did he run away.., it seems he did learn something, he's just too scared to act out in front of me", after spitting on the floor and stomping on it, she followed his scent like a hound.
"Hoh, oh, Arthur's wife is joining us!", Thorkell shouted like a madman, as he walked past her with a deer in his arms.
"His wife?, this tall one has been repeating this sentence, whenever he sees me", she scanned the room and found Arthur seated with Ragar and Ragnar alongside Sigurd, Ragnar's father.
"Hmph, I'll crash your fun, since your friend's call me your wife, you're expected to treat me as such", striding over to Arthur, she sat down next to him, took his full horn and drank it all.
"You..", "what?, was this not mine", Arthur smiled back, "no, enjoy yourself, I'm not that thirsty".
'Bang'
The main door to their outing was slammed opened, bringing in a snow storm and a bleeding man who was rushing towards their group.
"I.. 'cough' 'cough' 'cough', I have a urgent news, our clan...", the man fell to the ground with a letter in his hand, he had died after reaching Thors side, who was currently cooking meat.
He stopped his actions and ran towards the body, his face serious as he read the letter he took from the man.
After reading it, he scanned the room while grinding his teeth, "the Wolf clan..., has attacked the Raven clan at their own feasting".
"Blasphemy!, do they not fear Odin's wrath!", everyone stood up, heaving with rage, Arthur ran out of the long house, only to return quickly with his sword.
"Then we set out!, Thors, just me and you can take them out, they might target us next, it's better to attack them first and have a few capable remain here".
Thorkell threw his horn on the ground spilling mead on the floor, he walked towards Arthur until he stood over him, "you think, just you and Thors is enough!, I'm going too, whether you accept it or not!".
Ragar and Ragnar alongside Sigurd who was sat down also stood up, "we don't need capable fighters here, as long as we take them out swiftly and return with whatever they've taken and more, we won't have to worry about a sudden attack".
Arthur nodded while pinching his brows together, "I.. fine, let's hurry this up, grab your axes, we're setting off now, as for the one's who haven't stood up, you guy's get the elders and the young to safety, just in case".
"Skal'!"
Arthur and his small Viking squad prepared themselves thoroughly, with the heavy snow coming down, they had to be quick as to not freeze to death.
"We're lucky, the snow's not coming down too much right now, looks like we've got about two weeks worth of it coming, if it gets any worse, I suggest we camp it out in a cave".
Thors kept checking his surroundings and gave his analysis on the weather's conditioning.
No one questioned him, they just nodded while making their way through the snow.
Arthur couldn't help but say something as they kept walking towards the Raven clans territory, "if we're already near the Wolf clan and it snows heavily, it would be a perfect chance for us to attack them, we'll attack when one person leaves their home, one at a time".
Thors nodded, "correct decision, there's at least four hundred of them, it's better to take them out one by one, I know this is gonna be difficult, but Arthur, we need to wipe out all of them, you should understand, if you can't do it, leave it to us adults".
Both Ragnar and Arthur just closed their eyes, thinking it through, "I understand, I'll leave it to you guy's, we can't let anyone live, for they will one day bring vengeance, just like us".
...