I stood with my feet buried in soft moss covered in dew. The feeling was not unpleasant, but I would never have done it if it wasn't for Freke who'd told me I needed to ground myself and connect to the gods.

That was the sole reason why they'd brought me deep into the woods. I would have been lying if I had said I hadn't hoped for a different kind of alone time with them, but the wolf eyes told me this was not the time to even suggest it. They would never admit it but they were anxious after their long talk to their ancestors - I could sense it.

"Calm the spirits, I am not going to sacrifice our friends for Brokk's sake." I drew a deep breath and let the soothing scents of the forest fill my nose and lungs. "We don't even know if his wife is alive, if we did I might have considered it," I muttered as I started to walk in circles in front of Freke who sat more relaxed on the grass under a tree they chose as their favourite.

"Is the man even married?" They asked, "had anyone from your family been invited to the wedding?"

I nodded, "but even if this story is true, she's probably dead by now," I sighed, "and frankly I don't think he cares, it is merely a reason for him to fight them and take their riches."

"But you said it yourself, we won't," Freke declared, "the spirits have spoken to me. This is not our fight."

I stopped in my tracks and went to squat down in front of them, meeting their warm orange eyes with my pale grey ones. "We might as well tell him now. There might be a few who will side with him, but we can handle them."

"And Brokk, what will become of him?"

I sighed yet again, "that is up to him."

"And then what, my heart? We travel back home? I don't think the men would accept that, they came with us to raid and get rich, we can't leave with nothing."

I reached for their hand and traced my thumb along their tattooed wrist. "Freke, is this the path we want to take? Is this the new life that we want?"

Surprisingly they seemed unbothered by my worries. "We can't deny them this. You are going to take Brokk's place and lead them, and when you do, you need to give them something in return for their loyalty."

I nodded in agreement, closed my eyes shut and bit my lip waiting for a sign, some sort of guidance from my namesake, the God of war and honour.

"We will travel the long way home," I said, my eyes still closed and my hands still holding one of theirs between them, "and on our way we will stop and raid or trade smaller villages to bring something home with us. It will be a good experience."

"Experience for what, Tyr?" Freke whispered low and even if my eyelids were closed I could sense their intense gaze as they were expecting my answer.

I opened my eyes and an overwhelming feeling of sadness came over me. "It seems the old hags have changed my fate yet again, min skatt. My life won't be as peaceful as I had hoped."

"They have not," they said, placing their palms on my cheeks. "Ever since you were a young boy I knew you had a bigger purpose. This was planned from the day you were born, trust me."

I sighed deeply but let their presence calm me. I trusted them, and if the spirit-wolf and the Gods all said this was my fate, who was I to question it?

"You need to do this, Tyr, your uncle's actions will make your family name weak, and you can't return empty handed.

"And us raiding towns and bringing home treasures to my father will make up for that? Freke, my father has raised me to be a juste, to follow in his footsteps, I don't believe that he wants me to spill unnecessary blood in his name."

"Käreste," they whispered with a soft voice and kissed my cheek. "You never wanted to take his place.You have told me so plenty of times."

I chuckled and gave them a single nod, "I'll gladly give that role to my sister if she wants it." I sighed and looked up towards the crowns of the trees to find the blue sky between the thick branches. "Maybe this is my faith, the path I have been searching for."

"It is," they said with a smile on his lips, then leaned forward and kissed mine with a featherlight touch. "The Gods never test us for no reason, and you already know that I stand beside you whatever path you chose," they declared before they took my hand and led me to the camp.

I watched their furclead back as they led the way, crossing roots and stone, moss and mud. I had always wondered why they wore the fur of a black wolf so similar to the colour of their own wolf's. Maybe it made them feel at home, Freke always said they preferred the shape of the animal to the shape of man. When I had asked why, they explained that both their body and their mind felt at peace then, and somehow I understood that. They'd always seemed older than the rest of us, and sometimes bitter towards humans. With that said, Freke felt happier in their wolf form and often when I lay alone at night, fear washed over me as I wondered if they might leave me to live with their wolf pack one day.

As we stepped into the clearing I waved at my men and started to shout out orders, ignoring the tall man stomping towards me.

"Pack up, we're leaving," I told Liv as she approached us from the woods with a snared hare in her hand. She gave me a quick nod and ran towards the campfire to tell the others.

"What do you think you're doing?" Brokk exclaimed as he approached us with the fury of Hel written on his face.

"I am not risking my friends lives on this suicide mission of yours," I told him between gritted teeth, "the Gods have spoken to Freke and we are leaving."

I could see the veins grow on his temples, his face turning red. It would almost look comical if it was not for the seriousness of the situation.

"You are not fit to lead these men and women Brokk," Freke stated calmly beside me, "you should have told us your plan from the beginning. There is no honour in your actions and this is why the Gods have chosen Tyr to lead us, over you."

"Is that really what the Gods told you, pup?" Brokk chuckled, his eyes black of hate, "or are you fighting to protect your spot in his bed?"

"Enough!" I roared and reached for the axe hanging from my belt, "I will fight you for it then."

I could hear Freke gasp for air behind me. They should have known it would come to this, Brokk was too stubborn to step aside and in his mind everything was solved best with violence. And in all honesty, I just wanted this done. I was sick of hearing his voice.

A wide grin spread across my uncle's face as he reached for his own weapon, a broadsword engraved with runes.

I noticed how people started to form a circle around us, chanting, egging us to start. I eyed my uncle as he ripped his leather vest off his torso, trying to mock me by giving me an advantage. Not that my leather tunic would protect me from his sword any better than his bare skin, but I kept it on, I just wanted this fight to be over with.

We started to move in circular motions, looking for each other's weaknesses, our feet sinking down into the damp sand with each step.

He took his time, but I was restless so I raised my axe, spun around and aimed for his thigh. He blocked me by pushing the side of my shoulder firmly with the flat side of his sword, but I was prepared and made a swift turn to end up behind him. That's when he surprised me and made his first hit.

Brokk was an experienced fighter, but I was more agile and avoided most of his ongoing blows against my body. My plan was to tire him out and then make the final hit.

But things didn't go as planned, we were both strong and stubborn, but he was filled with hate while I was filled with determination. Maybe that was the reason why I finally felt the egg of my axe sink through his flesh and tore a wide gap in the side of his torso.

Or maybe the feeling of relief came from the subtle tingle of one of Freke's spells which penetrated my skin and strengthened my body.

Seconds ago we had been panting for breath, sweat covering our bodies despite the cold air, but now I felt refreshed and yet again my axe found a clear path and entered the muscles of his right arm.

I watched as he fell to his knees and his sword landed in the sand beside him. He coughed and blood dripped from his lips as he raised his head to stare me in the eyes. "Kill me then, Nephew," he said with a wicked grin spreading on his bloodstained face, "but know this. I will feast with Oden tonight, while you are stuck here with the consequences of your actions."

I nodded as I stepped forward, my hand grabbing his long braid behind his head. I leaned in to whisper in his ear as I raised my knife to his throat, "we do not fear death, it is our fate. A berserker was born, to the sword you swore, to the sound of the Bukkehorn you will be reborn."

And then I slit his throat and watched his body relax and fall to the ground. As he awaited the Valkyrie to descend from Valhalla, I grabbed his sword and placed it on his chest, his finger clasping the hilt as he drew his final breaths.

It was over, and now I had all eyes on me.