WE #26 CK

      "We lost them, Igor. Better to head back now than to risk another attack."
     Igor stared into the misty sky churning with droplets of what would soon be rain. His buddy, Eckeldorf, continued to chatter, but Igor remained silent, listening but not truly hearing the gravelly words of his companion. In the Viking world, a man must fight for the privilege of being heard.
     They had been hunted by a pack of Húscarls for the past week. Food raids and a stolen longboat had been the worst of the attacks. But Igor was growing desperate. His companions also sensed the danger, characteristic of the elite guard of the King. It hadn't always been this way, but power had hardened the King's heart, igniting direct robbery of innocent civilians. The pervading evil had to be halted. To permit injustice any longer would result in termination. Tonight would be the end of their reign. "Come on, Eckeldorf. Let's go," Igor motioned, the rest of them responding with a solemn collection of their remaining supplies and weapons.
     They had been traveling in silence for two miles before Eckeldorf finally burst their train of thought.
     "Who has the map?"
     Bjorn, a distant relative of Igor, shuffled through his fur-lined pack before producing a wrinkled scroll.
     "Ahh, here we are! Twas right next to me fishy," he said, pointing a sausage-like finger towards the salted fish. "My last one," he sighed, rubbing his rotund belly. He presented the map to Eckeldorf, who unfolded it, placing the parchment on a rock for group assessment.
     "So we're meeting at Dragon's Point before launching the attack?"
     Igor studied the map before answering.
     "Right. We'll rendezvous there with any other men we can find who will join our fight. Then the real fun begins."
     "And what if we lose? Do we give our lives away to these...these...tyrants?" Eckeldorf quipped.
     "There will be no losing," Igor stated, firmly.
     "But what if there is?"
     "Then it's worth dying for."
     Eckeldorf paused before continuing on. "I'm not willing to lead complete strangers to their deaths."
     Before Igor could reply, Eckeldorf had started off for the forest.
                              ~
     That night, Igor and his remaining companions began the trek towards Dragon's Point. Darkness swallowed the land the deeper their journey led them. But after some time, Bjorn conjured their senses back to life when he shouted,                                 "Look! Methinks I see a light." Indeed, it was a light, penetrating the knotted trail before them. Without further ado, Bjorn started off in the direction of the light, the rest of them following close behind. A cavern emerged in the distance, the opening fashioned with tree bark door. The Vikings surveyed the area for any suspicious activity, then pried open the makeshift door before entering. All eyes pivoted towards them as they scuffed into the pub-like room. One shadowy figure strode towards them and spoke gruffly.
     "And just who do you think you tramps are anyway?" The man was tall and burly, beard dripping with ale.
     Igor spoke first. "Who we are is of no matter. What's important right now is that we are looking to reclaim what is rightfully ours. The Húscarls have oppressed us long enough. We have come to take back our land!"
     "Yeah!" The shadowy figures
     "Take back our freedom!"
     "Yeah!!" More cheering.
     "And drink beer like free men!"
     "YEAH!!" The men were roaring in excitement now.
     "So when do we start?" The leader of the group inquired.
     "Right now," Igor stated firmly.
     And with that, Igor stormed through the cavern door, the rest of the men not far behind.
                                ~
     They had just arrived at Dragon's Point when the heavens opened up, unleashing a slew of heavy rains. Jagged rocks jutted out haphazardly, creating both an idyllic hideout and a dangerous trap. Igor motioned for the pub Vikings to follow him behind a particularly large boulder.
     "There they are," he said, pointing towards a group of sophisticated-looking guards corralled below. "The Húscarls." The group stared in silence as lighting penetrated the sky. And then, out of nowhere, a dark figure emerged, sprinting towards them.
     "Everybody down!" Igor ordered and the clan crouched behind the rock. The figure carried an ax.
     "No! No, no, NO!!" Igor scolded himself. "It can't end like this." He bent down, covering his forehead with his hands. The figure was next to him now, breathing heavily.
     "Igor," the man huffed.
     Wait! That voice...it's so familiar.
     "Eckeldorf?" Igor peered towards him.
     "In the flesh."
     The two embraced.
     "What made you come back?"
     He sighed. "I couldn't leave a brother to fight alone."
     Igor smiled, then surveyed the huddled mass.
     "Men, gather your weapons. This fight begins now."