The torches were extinguished and there was darkness on the estate as if they were all asleep.

Thorge stood on the platform of the fence and stared at the sea. Dawn broke and the rising sun sent small lights over the waves. It would be a sunny day, but nobody paid attention.

Everyone around him was calm but tense. He saw some of their helmets straighten and correct the shield's seat. It was the usual routine the men always had when a battle was imminent. He himself turned his battle ax in his hands for a while.

It looked like a nervous movement, but he was not nervous. But on the contrary. He was very calm. As always before a fight he became calmer and stoic. Many had already admired him for that. Many were in anticipation finally split heads, others were afraid that they would never show, but you could read no emotion in Thorges face.

He knew what was at stake and it scared him that he would never admit. It was so much more this time!

This time it was not just a fight for wealth or power. He had to protect his home and his family.

After he had brought Naya and the children into the pit and camouflaged them, he had listened to her voice for a while. And as always, when he listened to her, a certain amount of tension had broken loose.

He knew he should be tense, but he was confident that he could protect his home.

There would be attacks again and again, but this was the first and Thorge was aware that it was the most crucial.

If he lost, he would die.

Should he win, but only just, he would be considered weak.

Only a glorious victory would earn him respect from others who would ever think of attacking him!

He thought about the conversation with Finn.

Of course, Finn thought differently than he did.

His head went to the young warrior standing behind the gate.

For Finn, it was probably really brothers who were on their way to them, but for him they were enemies!

He had meant every word seriously.

He would kill anyone who dared to come near his family. And even if he promised Finn, he would not be merciful. Too much was at stake.

"They come!" He heard Lasse say next to him.

Lasse kissed his wife standing next to Thorge again and whispered something in her ear.

Thorge knew it was exactly the same words he had said to Naya as she said goodbye. That she should take care of herself and be careful.

Jule nodded to her husband and checked once more the seat of their weapons. Then she sighed softly and leaned against Lasse's body for a short time. That too was a ritual that the two celebrated before each fight. For a moment, Thorge envied his uncle. He still had plenty of time to spend longer with his wife. But he did not have to worry about Naya lying on the battlefield.

The tension got bigger and bigger and you could hear the murmur of the men and women behind the gate.

"Quiet!"

He did not have to raise his voice, but everyone fell silent immediately.

He looked at the forest where his father was hiding with the other Gunnarssons.

Thorge was less worried about her. They were all seasoned warriors, and even though Raik was younger than him, he had turned out to be a resourceful strategist. Everything was planned down to the last detail. It would be fine.

The boat came closer and closer.

At the outer viewpoints of the fence they had built lances and shields, so it looked like there were guards.

As Raik had predicted, a hail of arrows came exactly to these points and the lances and shields fell to the ground with a loud noise.

Thorge turned to Einar, who tried to suppress his slight trembling.

"Your second battle!"

Thorge put a hand on his shoulder.

"We will win and you will go down in history as a great warrior."

Einar nodded again.

"I learned from the best! First father, then you and Lasse and later Thorvald's weapons master. I have everything in my head, what you have taught me and I know that I can. Still, I'm scared! "

Thorge smiled at his little brother and Lasse leaned over.

"We are all scared, Einar! Even if you do not look at us! It would be bad if you were not afraid, because then you would be careless! "

Thorge could not have expressed it better.

Jule squeezed Einar's hand.

"But you take care of me, little brother?"

Einar snorted.

"Nobody has to take care of you. And you have Lasse! "

Jule squeezed his hand.

"Still, I would be more comfortable if another warrior keeps an eye on me."

Thorge knew what she was aiming for and he loved his sister for it. In which she admitted her weakness, she strengthened Einar.

They heard the crunch as the boat reached the beach.

Thorge raised his hand and waited for all the men to jump out of the boat.

Now it would turn out!

He dropped his hand.

"Now!"

The gate was pushed open and Finn hurried to be one of the first to hit the men.

He knew that Thorge would not keep his promise. He just could not do it and Finn understood it too. But he wanted to save as many of the men as he could.

He saw Espen, who had drawn his sword and ran towards him.

"Traitor!" He bellowed and fiercely punched Finn, who could parry his blow.

"I'm not a traitor, aspen. Listen to me!"

But Aspen did not think about it. He kept punching Finn, acting like a man possessed. Finn gasped, but he realized that Aspen did not fight as usual. His movements were not purposeful, but only a rage that Finn did not understand. He slammed the pommel of his sword against Aspen's head. He fell like a tree.

Beside him, Lasse gasped.

"What's going on here? They are fighting strangely! Like berserkers! "

Finn opened Espen's eyes and then turned to Lasse.

"Look at that! They must have eaten or drank something. "

Espen's eyes were almost black. Only a thin, bright ring still reminded of his blue eyes.

"Damn it! No wonder we have a hard time! They took something to be more angry. "

The next man came running and attacked Lasse, but he too was put out of action by Finn.

He grabbed them and carried them to the estate. The women looked at him in horror.

"Bind the men. You are no longer master of your senses! "

Liv, Thorge's mother, did not hesitate.

"Water! Immediately. And ties her by the arms and legs. They will be very wild for a while, until the effect wears off. "

Finn nodded her thanks gratefully, then ran out again. He looked around. Men fought everywhere, for now the Gunnarssons, too, had come out of the forest and circled Herdi's men, who did not seem to notice what was happening around them.

Finn saw the bodies of some men on the ground and he fought his way forward. He still tried to put his former weapons brothers out of action and not kill them, but it became more difficult. the men were all obsessed, and they were talking about revenge for their mistress.

He had to look for Herdi!

He had not seen her yet. He kept walking towards the boat.

Surely she hid there!

He had to kill her!

Just as he got closer to the boat, he felt a sharp pain in his back. Slowly he sank to his knees and he looked in disbelief at the point of the sword that had drilled from his back through his chest.

He heard his name roar, and before he slammed his face against the stony ground, he was almost gently caught.

Breathing was so incredibly difficult.

"Quiet, friend! You were badly hurt. I'll take you to my mother! "

Finn smiled slightly.

Nobody could help him anymore! That he was not already dead, he was surprised.

His hand was searching for his sword. He had to find it if he wanted to see his ancestors in Walhalla tonight. He did not want to go to Hel, even if he deserved it.

The pain was unbearable. He groaned, but his hand continued to search.

"The traitor does not deserve it otherwise!"

"Shut up!"

Somebody pressed something on his chest. Even more pain.

"By all the gods, he's bleeding to death!"

His hand was still searching for the sword.

"Take him to Liv!"

Finally someone handed him his sword. He held it tight and hugged it tight. Only then did he allow himself to look up.

His Jarl, the only one to whom he had sworn allegiance, looked at him sadly. Finn tried to smile. Thorge was a good man. It was a pity he could no longer serve him.

"Herdi!" He pressed out with the last of his strength.

Thorge nodded.

"I will find her! I swear that to you."

Finn closed his eyes for a moment and nodded. His entire body burned and ached.

Something else was important to him, but he knew he had not much time left. He already lacked the strength.

"The men!"

Thorge took a deep breath.

Finn noticed that a ring of men had formed around them. Thorge and she should not take care of him. He was a nobody. There was better than him.

Thorge pressed something on his chest once more.

"Most do not want to surrender. I tried, Finn. "

Finn nodded.

It was enough for him. Anything else! How could he forget that? That was more important than anything else.

"My wife!"

Again Thorge nodded.

"I will take care of her, she will want for nothing."

Finn closed his eyes. Everything was regulated. He could go.

Slowly it became dark around him, although the morning but only dawned.

"Jarl!"

With his free hand he reached for Thorge. The pain got worse and he could not breathe. Thorge took his hand.

"Go! Finn. Your ancestors are waiting for you! Tonight you will celebrate with them! "

Finn hoped for it.

He had not done much in his life. Only the last months seemed sensible to him. He hoped that his ancestors would not resent him.

He tried one last deep breath, then it was finally night.

Thure tore the chains and tried to break free.

He heard the battle noise and he wanted to help.

He did not know why he felt this urge and did not want to fight. He was a prisoner of the young Jarl, but he had treated him well. In the stable where they had been housed, it was warm and they sat on straw bales. They had even been brought food. No leftovers you would not even blame on the dogs, but a good stew with meat and vegetables. And fresh bread.

The woman who brought them the food had been Jarl's wife. She had also brought them a pitcher of water and towels so they could clean themselves.

She had not talked much with them, but Thure had seen goodness in her eyes. He knew it was not her only choice to bring them food.

The young Jarl had been brusque and had frightened her. But Thure understood it. An attack was imminent and he had to take care of other things than three prisoners who claimed they just wanted to warn him. Nevertheless, they had to get food and later also blankets.

Again he heard the roar of the men.

Havar snorted.

"There's a fight out there and I'm damned to squat here!"

Thure nodded.

"But which side would you hit on?" He asked cautiously.

Havar made a wild noise.

"What do you think? I would not help the witch! "

They heard a hiss and then the screams of the women.

Havar cursed.

"Fire arrows! By Thor, let me out of here! "

Thure tore the chains again, but they did not give in.

The horses kept chewing on their hay, ignoring the three who were trying hard to untie the chains.

Again there was a hissing sound, then a small impact right above their heads.

"Damn it! We will burn alive! "Durik wailed.

"Shut up, you fool! And if it does, then it is right for us! "

Smoke came slowly into the stable and the horses became restless. They neighed in horror, trying to escape. But they were tied up. Just like the men.

At that moment the door of the stable opened and a woman came in. She was older, but resembled the young Jarl.

She carried a hammer in her hand and ran resolutely to the men.

Thure did not want to think about what she was up to with the hammer. She probably wanted to break their skulls. But she did not do it. Instead, she struck the wedge holding the chains to the wall.

"Damn shit! Which gorilla did that thing? "She cursed.

Havar took the hammer from her and knocked out the wedge itself.

The roof crunched and a piece of wood broke and threatened to fall on the woman. Thure grabbed her and pushed her aside.

Startled, she looked at the piece of wood lying on the floor and smouldering.

"Thank you. Could you help me? The horses have to get out! "

Thure nodded and Havar struck the chains with the hammer. It took a while, but then he could untie his hands.

"We take care of the horses. Go! "

Meanwhile, the roof burned Lichterloh, but they could bring the horses outside.

Women tried to clear the roof, but unlike the other buildings, there were no sods attached and the dry wood burned like tinder.

"That does not help. We can not save the stable! "Thure shouted to the women." Pour water on the walls and floor so the fire does not spread. "

A woman had come too close to the fire and her dress caught fire. She cried out, but Durik threw her to the ground and smothered the flames. With his bare hands he struck the fire and rolled the woman around on the ground until it was extinguished. Then he lifted her in his arms.

"Where are the healers?"

We pointed to the longhouse and Durik carried the woman there.

Thure picked up a bucket.

"Where is it still burning?"

A plump woman rested her hands on her knees.

"We were able to delete all. But the water is scarce. We have to refill the barrels if they shoot again with fire darts! "

Thure nodded.

"We'll do it. Take care of your men!"

The woman was about to leave, but Thure stopped her.

"The woman ... who left us free ... who was that? She looked similar to your Jarl. "

She laughed softly.

"That was his mother, too. She did not want to burn you. "

Thure nodded. He would thank her later.

First of all, his help was needed.