Bracing himself, Brand watched Erik and Birger enter the hut. The three large men barely fit in the small space. Brand's eyes narrowed when Erik pulled the door shut behind them causing the room to darken even further. "We had heard a rumor that you had escaped, Brandur, but here you are." Birger looked at him, his brow raised in question.Brand decided to try to brazen it out. He responded in as light of a tone as he could manage, though his heart was spasming in his chest. He was strong, but these were two of Magnus' best warriors. He wasn't sure he could take on both of them and win. "As you can see, here I am." He perched on the edge of his bunk, wishing desperately he had even a small eating knife as a weapon."So you are," Erik agreed. "Apparently, young Vidar was mistaken when he could not find you here a few minutes ago."The men were fishing, but Brand wasn't sure for what. "The boy is rather excitable…when he's not sleeping."Both warriors chuckled briefly. Brand sat, waiti
"The woman has the soul of a general," Brand thought as he watched Astrid take in his news and immediately begin barking orders. In short order, she had two packs of her own filled and her women gathered for instructions. "Brandur has come to tell us we have run out of time," she announced. The women murmured and looked to each other with wide eyes. He could see the fear, but also the determination in them. These witches, these women, were just as fierce in their own way as Magnus' warriors were. He listened and watched intently as Astrid continued."We know what we have to do. I know what I ask of you is not easy. We are going into the unknown on nothing but faith." She swallowed. "Should the spell fail, you know what the consequences will be. Even if we succeed, we are traveling to a place none of us can comprehend. A future we can only imagine."She met the eyes of each of the women of her coven. "If you do not feel you can make this journey with us, no one will think less of you,
Brand awoke with a startling sense of déjà-vu. He was face down in sand and a large fur boot lay in his field of vision as he blinked. Faen! This time when he tried to push up, however, his arms would not cooperate. Iron manacles were locked around his wrists. Heavy chains rattled behind him as he struggled to turn over. He felt the pinch of the blade and smelled the coppery tang of blood as a rivulet ran down his neck. He froze, panting."So, The Destroyer has awoken!" Magnus' voice boomed over the crashing of the waves, mocking him. Brand heard the mumbling and shifting of a crowd. He said a silent prayer to the gods that Astrid and Ulfhild had somehow escaped."Get him up," the Chieftain commanded, and the now familiar giant hand grasped his upper arm and yanked him to his feet. He glared at Sigurd as he spat sand from his mouth. The man smirked at him, and Brand's wolf snarled. This time, he didn't try to mask the sound and was rewarded with a look of uncertainty crossing the gian
The noise had been deafening. Metal against metal, flesh against flesh, shield against shield. And over it all, the battle cries of warriors lost to bloodlust and determination to kill or be killed. Brand had forgotten what it felt like – the all-consuming need for the blood of his enemies to be spilled on the ground at his feet.Brand shook his head another scream was silenced as he ripped out another throat. The blood dripped from his long snout as he took a breath and looked around him. Leather-clad warriors lay around him, some with eyes open staring at the sky as if looking for the Valkyries coming to take them to Valhalla. Brand snorted. Good luck. He couldn't believe the gods would want any of these followers of a deranged leader in their feasting halls. There were still several groups of men fighting, but they looked well in hand. To his relief, he saw no Skölls lying with the fallen at first glance. A large man covered in gore approached him warily. His lips curled up from h
Wyoming - Present Day"Oh my God! Make them stop, Brodi! They're going to wake up the baby!" Liv whisper-yelled in her husband's ear as someone pounded on their bedroom door."What time is it?" Brodi groaned, sitting up sluggishly and wiping sleep from his eyes."Three am. Now hurry!" Liv pushed at his hulking form to encourage his movement.Faen! His son had only fallen asleep a little over an hour ago. The pounding came again."Hurry!" Liv hissed beside him. A faint noise from the cradle beside the bed galvanized him into action. Throwing back the covers, he raced to the door without bothering to grab clothes and cracked the door open."The entire forest better be on fire," Brodi growled. Kelda, his shaman, and Gunnar, his youngest brother, stood in front of him, their eyes wild."I'm sorry, Brother, but you must come. It's…""The Yggdrasil has awakened, Alpha," interrupted Kelda, her moss green eyes flashing. "We need to go.""What?" Brodi asked in confusion. "What do you mean 'aw
The group surrounding Brodi stood and stared in shock for long moments. Men, women, and children lay before them. All of them were dressed in combinations of wool, furs, and leather. Some were clearly warriors with weapons lying in motionless hands and strapped to still backs. Liv's hands covered her mouth, stifling a cry. "Oh, Brodi. Who are they all?" she asked, her voice breaking.He turned to fully face the meadow, studying the scene, his hand stroking his mate's back unconsciously. "I, I don't know, Elskede."Finn wrapped his arms around Asta holding her back to his chest as tears streamed down her face. "Are they all dead?" she whispered.Brodi kissed the top of Liv's head then released her. "Stay here," he commanded and started walking towards the nearest of the bodies, a large man in iron-studded leather armor with a broadsword under his palm. Squatting next to the man, he placed a hand on his back. He dropped his head in relief when he felt the man's chest rise and fall. "H
Brodi collapsed in the worn leather armchair next to his bed. He'd been up for more than twenty-four hours without more than a moment to grab a bite or down a glass of water. Between trying to help triage and transport the wounded, finding places for everyone to sleep, and coordinating runs to buy groceries and other supplies that they needed, he was exhausted. They were ill-prepared for the unexpected influx of ancient peoples who had shown up on his doorstep. Who could be prepared for something like this? There were 397 souls at last count, but he was still not sure if that was completely accurate. A small smile tugged at his lips, despite his fatigue, at the sight of Liv nursing his son on their bed. It was a vision he never tired of. "I'm sorry I was not here to help last night," he said, toeing off his boots and groaning in relief. He couldn't remember a time when his muscles had ached so much, not even when he was battling warring tribes with broadswords, axes, and spears back
Ulfhild's legs were numb with Brand's head resting on them for so long. Her eyes were gritty. They no longer focused after staring at the cream-colored wall for however many hours it had been since she had been brought to this place. Her fingers barely felt the growing stubble of her mate's beard as she stroked his face unconsciously. Hunger and thirst had ceased to have any meaning. In short, she felt no more substantial than a náin (ghost). Did she truly exist anymore?A light rapping came on the thick wooden door, but Ulfhild didn't stir. A blonde head covered in braids, strikingly similar to her own, peeked in the door. "Kan jeg komme inn, Cetter? (May I come in, cousin?)" Asta asked, taking a step into the room.Ulfhild's eyes didn't move as Asta walked toward her carrying a tray. She glanced at the previous tray she had left for the woman which sat untouched on the table next to the bed. She sighed and placed the new tray on the small table next to the window. "Du må spise, elle