The Son Of Ragnar

432  Fate

Things were going according to plan and Tyr was right in front of what could very well be the place where he died, he knew he had to risk it and this show of force should give the message that he wasn't here to be delayed.

Of course, it could easily backfire and maybe it did as men on black horses exited the condemned gates and charged right at him.

"Bjorn! We need to do something," Hagen brought Bjorn's attention to the situation but Bjorn didn't flinch, looking ahead with determination.

"No, we watch," Bjorn said, Tyr asked for his trust and he gave it to him.

Tyr was one of the smartest warriors he had encountered despite them being agemates, there was no way that Tyr didn't take this into account and he was right.

The horsemen surrounded him, this was an intimidation tactic but Tyr didn't even pay them any attention, looking straight ahead.

However, he could tell from a single look that these weren't the average warriors.

If he fought these people, he was sure to not come out unscathed.

They couldn't speak so why were they here, Tyr looked up at the man who oozed the most intimidating aura, he was in armour.

But his armour was intricate and looked like it was personally crafted for him, whoever this man was, he wasn't a common man.

He looked Tyr right in the eyes and he could tell that this was a killer before him.

He wanted to strike him down because he sensed evil oozing from him and his gut instinct was telling him to kill the young warrior where he stood.

However, he had orders and like a soldier, he had no interest in doing anything outside of what he was told.

He grunted before yanking his horse in the opposite direction, looking back at Tyr before gesturing for him to follow him.

No one else but this man was leaving the area and Tyr realized that these horsemen weren't to intimidate him but rather to act as a buffer should things go south within the walls.

Tyr knew if he did, he walked right into the jaws of the enemies, there was no telling what could happen if he stepped foot inside.

He could be used as yet another bargaining chip but this only made him confirm what he had only suspected.

Ecgberht was a very important person and the fact that they knew this meant that they had hoped the Vikings would kill him the moment they sensed they were betrayed but Tyr's awareness allowed him to notice these small things.

He chose to save the hostage and because of that unorthodox decision, they had a chance at victory.

Tyr followed the man but he felt uncomfortable, the nightmare he had been having for quite some time replayed in his head.

"Are you the one that would take my life?" Tyr thought to himself but this thought excited him as he couldn't help but grin.

This was one of the most important steps that would be taken in the conquest of Northumbria but would it succeed or fail?

-

Back in Kattegat, King Askild was seen wearing a cloak, hidden from everyone's sight as he dressed like a common man but this was only because he wanted his movements and whereabouts to be unknown.

"You have come… King Askild," A voice said, it was the soothsayer that had told him about his heir being born but Askild wanted to find out more.

"My apologies for disturbing you, O wise one," Askild was very respectful when it came to her because she had a direct link with the gods.

A messenger for them and fate was one thing Askild believed in, he was right where he was in life because fate saw it fit, not because of his power or otherwise.

"What brings such a great man here so frequently in weeks?" She asked to which Askild sighed.

"I want to know my fate…" Askild said and this surprised her as this was one topic that Askild always avoided talking about.

"Your fate?" The soothsayer asked with an eerie smile on her face.

"Or is it more accurate to say you wish to know the sword on which you would fall?" The soothsayer said, Askild scoffed in disbelief.

She really did know everything and that was why she was the only one that could give him his answers.

"There is no escaping it… That is correct, I want to know who will take my life," King Askild let out his true intention.

And stretched forth his hand, the soothsayer proceeded to place a wooden cup beneath it and cut open his palm.

His blood trickled into the wooden cut and Askild didn't even flinch, this pain was nothing to him.

The soothsayer proceeded to drink it and the moment she did, her eyes rolled back.

But something that had never happened, happened that day.

She began to convulse, it was like she was experiencing whatever it was she was seeing or rather, it was triggering this exact response.

Blood began to pour drip from her nose and Askild was visibly worried but he knew there was nothing he could do.

This was part of the process, even if it was something that had never happened before.

It wasn't in his place to interfere with the ritual even if it did kill her but he doubted that the gods would take her away and he was right.

The convulsion stopped and her eyes rolled back but for the first time in his life, Askild saw the soothsayer terrified.

Whatever it was she saw, something told him he was better off not knowing but her lips parted and muttered something.

Aksild got up to his feet the moment he heard this but this was an instinctive action, he was in disbelief but he shared the same look the soothsayer had.

Askild knew his fate and it horrified him but could fate be changed or was it etched in stone?