"Gunnar, are we seriously just gonna sit here and watch her house."

"You need to learn patience, Rolf," Gunnar said annoyed as he leaned against the wall. A day had passed but none of them could stay calm the whole time. The battle outside was becoming fierce as they could hear the cries of the men defending the Helstia against Astrom’s onslaught.

"That little stunt they pulled has put everyone on edge and it’s a matter of time before something happens." The old warrior spoke up getting a click of the tongue from Rolf.

"I just feel so useless sitting here doing nothing."

"You’re not waiting for no reason. You’re young so leave the planning to us old folk."

"Fine. But will he really follow through on his end of the agreement? I can’t trust him."

"Rolf." The old warrior spoke up in a serious voice. "I can understand why you are like this, in fact, you would be a fool not to be. But don’t let your life be consumed by paranoia, or you end up like the woman you wish to kill."

"Ahhh." Rolf grabbed his head as he let out an animalistic growl. "I know, it sickens me to think I even share anything with her. But I understand, don’t worry." Rolf said calmly, the others not believing him but wisely staying silent.

"You think that the people will really take up arms against Helga?" The old warrior asked Gunnar who shrugged.

"I’ve never been the best at this kinda stuff, so I don’t know. But she lost it completely. Both the war and her mind. Without food and imports from the port coming with less frequency then it’s only a matter of time. The walls will hold for maybe a few more days, but after that, even if they don’t turn on her, she will be overrun."

"So we’re just waiting for the inevitable anyway." The old warrior smiled. "Good. Even if I can’t kill her, I’ll be happy to see her corpse."

"It’s strange that she hasn’t left the yet. Knowing her she would be diving into battle the first chance she gets." Rolf said with suspicion.

"With the fire and everything else going on, she probably doesn’t feel safe coming out. Like I said she’s a very paranoid woman."

Rolf chuckled, "Then if she doesn’t leave."

"We storm her house once the walls are breached. I’m sure none of you care about the risk behind that." The others gave a bitter nod to Gunnar’s words as he smiled, turning back to watch.

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Ralph looked at the distant walls and gritted his teeth. ’Father, why are you attacking? I haven’t killed her yet.’ He grabbed his head in annoyance as a few pushed passed him bringing more supplies to the defenders. Falling into the mud his fists curled.

’I need to kill her now. Father will never take me seriously if I don’t.’ Pushing himself up, he checked his waist to see he had all his weapons and took a deep breath. Running through the streets, he saw the panicked faces of the people who desperately tried to help those injured and out of the way of those who weren’t.

The black cloaks spread evenly out across the town watching everyone with cold eyes, as they kept the peace as best they could. It was weird, but Ralph pushed the thought to the side as he came up to the hill. Climbing its steps he pushed the double doors open, greeted by the sight of Helga sitting on the throne with empty eyes.

She looked up into his, sending a chill down Ralph’s spine. ’How does someone even get eyes like that.’ There was no malice, no joy. Nothing, just a deep emptiness that threatened to absorb everything in sight.

"What do you want, son of Astrom?" Ketil moved forward his axe already out and Ralph gulped.

"I swear to the gods I knew nothing about this." He desperately tried to plead his case as he inched closer. Ketil watched his every move.

"It doesn’t matter." Ketil moved forward bouncing his war axe in his hands. "Oh, how I have waited to do this. The fact you sought us out yourself." Ralph quickly pulled his sword out understanding his words as Ketil charged at him.

’I can’t beat him. He’s like father.’ He instantly understood the difference between the two, his eyes glancing at Helga who continued to watch. He knew her arm was injured, it was the only chance he would get. Watching the behemoth charge at him, he moved to the side and threw a small dagger at him.

Ketil paused and dodged, but it gave Ralph time to get passed him as he charged at Helga on the throne. Helga finally moved, standing up and brandishing her dagger. "NOOO!" Keitl’s scream from behind Ralph made him excited as he ran up the stairs and stabbed forward.

Helga watched his every move and said nothing slipping passed the blade that looked slow. He had the power behind the attack, but it was clumsy. Despite hat Helga was quick and stabbed out, Ralph barely had time to avoid. She clicked her tongue in annoyance as moving her shoulder. ’This injury.’

Ralph could hear Ketil from behind and moved closer to Helga stopping him from attacking. He had the skill and power, but would he risk hurting the one he called God? The gamble worked as Ketil hesitated eventually not attacking.

Despite that, Helga showed her own skill and moved closer. Ralph was forced back but couldn’t move too much afraid of getting in a perfect range of Ketil. He swung his sword, it getting intercepted by Helga’s dagger as she threw a punch to his stomach.

"uggh." Ralph clutched his stomach as he raised he swung his sword randomly in a circle to keep the two back. Ketil caught on quickly to his plans to isolate him and his mind spun. Throwing and catching the end on the axe handle. He waited for Helga and Ralph to engage again.

Helga moved, and stabbed forward, forcing the two to clash blades once more, she gave a quick look at Ketil who nodded. The two didn’t need to speak in the midst of battle, understanding each other. In a quick motion, he hooked the edge of it around the boy’s ankle and pulled, making him fall.

Helga kicked his sword away and flipped him over before crouching in front of Ralph. "Are you really his son?" Her words caused his face to go red in embarrassment. ’It was two vs one.’ He wanted to cry out but stopped himself. "Maybe you are. You were a lustful creature when I first saw you. I can’t believe I wasted my time doing something so degrading like that."

Her face contorted in disgust remembering how she interacted with him. Ralph held his stomach in a feigning pain, his fingers creeping to the small weapon he hid. "Nothing to say." Helga tapped her dagger on his chest as she watched his eyes.

Ketil observed everything as he lifted his axe ready to execute the boy in a moment. He knew he was dead, it would be very hard to survive at the moment. ’Will he finally accept me if I do this.’ Despite knowing he was about to die, he couldn’t help but wonder how Astrom would react.

His whole life he had been a disappointment, no matter what he tried. Finally, he had been given a chance to prove himself to his father. Ralph’s eyes shook in fear, and he finally touched the hilt of his dagger. In the second he did, he pulled it and swung up in a desperate final act.

Helga couldn’t react as the dagger cut across her face, digging deep into her eye. "AHHHHHH!" A feral scream left her mouth as she fell back. Ralph went to attack again but Ketil’s large hand grabbed him from behind, throwing him back. "Ahhhh hahahaha!" Her screams of pain quickly dissolved into crazed laughter as blood poured through her fingers.

Ketil kicked away Ralph’s dagger as he brought his axe down on his leg, cutting it off. The shock didn’t register yet as Ralph looked at his legs. His breathing became quicker. "ahhhh." A low moan escaped his lips as he reached out with shaking hands. Finally when he touched it the pain set in as tears welled up in his eyes.

A second scream came out and the residents of the manor finally responded seeing what was happening. The large guard who protected the children walked out as Frida and Brede looked on in the distance.

Helga fell onto Ralph’s body as the boy screamed, her hand still covering her eye. Bringing the dagger down with shaking hands, she repeatedly stabbed into the boy’s chest, over and over as blood flew all over her body. His screams soon were replaced by her laughter as she continued to stab him long after he died.

Frida and Brede watch in a morbid curiosity the girl quickly feeling sick and running off. Brede could only feel nervous seeing the sight, however. ’Gunnar, let’s hope your chance comes soon.’ He mockingly told himself, slipping away.

Helga finally stopped as she slowly rose from Ralph’s body, her breathing heavy. Her hand shook as she pulled it away looking at the blood that covered it. She looked around unable to see half of what she could before. "Ketil, send this to Astrom when the chance comes."

"Your wound my lord." He said worryingly but Helga shot him a glare.

"Do what I told you." Her voice was sharp as she walked off down the halls, a trail of blood following behind her. Ketil looked at the other guard with him, the man giving a disappointed grunt and walking off back to his position.

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A calmness came over Helsita as night fell. The attacking force finally stopped their onslaught and returned to camp. Astrom sat looking at the town and frowned. "It’s better defended than I thought."

"In time we will be in," Torsten said calmly. "Remember they have the invading army holed up in there. Food reserves will be eaten through soon, especially with the attack Leif planned."

"Losses," Astrom asked without a hint of emotion.

"50 dead, over 100 injured." Equally emotionless, Torsten gave the report getting Astrom to click his tongue.

"We should have pressed on tonight."

"In time. That guy Leif despite the play he puts on is quite shrewd. We have to give them hope before crushing it. That will only make the moment they fight amongst themselves better."

Astrom sighed as he grabbed his head. "War is no fun this way. What’s the point of defeating your enemy if they are already half dead."

"We fight simply to win Astrom." Torsten’s reply got Astrom to click his tongue.

"You wouldn’t understand." Astrom shook his head

"My Lord." A messenger came next to the two with a strange expression. "A messenger has arrived. You need to come." Astrom sighed getting up quickly followed by Torsten. A crowd stood around a cart where a lone warrior nervously stood.

Astrom looked at him for a second before pulling the sheet laid over the cart off. His eyes went cold for a second. "The Queen said it was a gift." The man who brought Astrom over said with a quiet voice as he looked to the ground.

"Astrom stood in silence for a couple of seconds before smirking. "It seems you won dwarf." Despite his smirk, his voice was cold.

Torsten didn’t say anything only looking up at Astrom. He didn’t offer an apology nor words of sorrow for the king. "What now?"

"He really died a dog’s death." The number of wounds in his body was telling of Helga’s rage at his death and that nearly made Astrom laugh, imagining it. "Burn the body, along with the others, give him a warrior’s farewell. Torsten come."

With a final look at his son Astrom turned around, Torsten following behind. "He may have been weak, but he was my son." 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

"I know."

"You know what you’ve done."

"I know." Torsten tone showed no regret in his actions and Astrom nodded. Had he dared to show a fake display of sorrow for his action, he would have killed him on the spot.

"Despite everything, this can not go unpunished." Astrom’s fists curled. "Tomorrow we attack and much like how that bitch spoke, no survivors." The murderous aura that spread out from his body caused Torsten to freeze but he nodded.

"As you wish my lord."