10. Magnar

1000 YEARS AGO

Three years was a hell of a long time to wait for revenge.

I sat on top of the cliff and looked down at the fleet of ships we had built. Enough for an army. An army created to slay the undead.

I twisted a knife in my palm impatiently as I waited for the news which would finally set us on our course. We were so close to being ready to sail and I knew it would be any day now, but the wait was excruciating. It was as though the closer we got to it, the slower time seemed to pass.

“Elder?”

I glanced over my shoulder at Elissa as she approached. In the years I’d spent training her, she’d become a strong warrior. The goddess had been generous when she’d created the new race of slayers. She’d named us the Blessed Crusaders and we were far stronger than any other mortal. But Elissa’s lack of training in her youth had left her at a disadvantage to the rest of us. I’d felt responsible for bringing her to join a dying race, so I’d taken on her training myself. Much to the disgust of my betrothed.

“Speak,” I replied, turning my attention back to the fleet. I doubted she carried the news I was waiting on.

“Aelfric asked me to remind you of your promise to him.”

“Did he now? And what promise would that be?” I asked, feigning memory loss.

It had turned out that the stable boy I’d rescued from the abusive barkeep had been older than he seemed. Aelfric was born under the same moon as me, but years of neglect and sparse meals had kept him small. His time with the slayers had transformed him into a man to be reckoned with. And his gift with horses had been blessed by the goddess when he’d joined us on the battlefield against the Revenants. It practically seemed he could converse with the animals these days. Thanks to him, we had the finest band of warhorses who had ever lived.

Baltian was the only horse who wasn’t entirely entranced by him. And though my stallion allowed Aelfric to handle him, that was the most he would permit.

“You promised him a wife of his choosing if he could ride Baltian,” she prompted, and I could hear the desperation in her voice despite the way she tried to hide it.

I hid my smile as I continued to stare out over the sea. The two of them had been slipping into each other’s tents for months, but they believed no one had noticed. I was fairly sure half the camp knew, especially as she wasn’t very quiet in expressing her pleasure in his company. They seemed to believe that I wouldn’t grant them permission to wed for some reason and watching them squirm as they’d tried to figure out a way to convince me had become highly amusing.

When Aelfric had suggested this elaborate way to win a chance at her hand, I’d agreed to it instantly. Why not let him prove his devotion to her whilst providing me with endless entertainment as my bad-tempered steed continuously threw him to the dirt?

“That sounds vaguely familiar,” I agreed as Elissa shifted uncomfortably behind me.

“And you’ll stick to your word on that? No matter who he chooses? Even though he isn’t truly a slayer?” she pressed.

“I am a man of my word, Ocean Stirrer. You know you don’t need to confirm that. Anyway, what does my promise to him have to do with you?” I turned to her and raised an eyebrow, hiding my amusement as she flushed red.

“Nothing, Elder,” she replied nervously. “It’s just...he’s done it.”

“Really?” My interest piqued at the idea of him finally conquering the brute.

“Yes, he asked if you might come and see?”

“Let’s go then.” I got to my feet and Elissa started to head back down the cliff. “Take the short route,” I commanded casually, pointing at the drop beside me.

Her eyes widened as her feet forced her towards the edge.

“Elder, please!” She shook her head as she tried to fight off my hold over her and her fear of heights shone in her eyes.

I folded my arms as I waited for her to buckle. “The water is deep, you’ll be fine.”

She dug her heels in and turned her eyes down to the sea. At least she wouldn’t have to fear the landing; her gifts gave her command of the ocean and she had become adept in wielding its waters.

The seconds dragged and pride stirred in my chest as she managed to fight my control. It wouldn’t be long before she threw off my power over her entirely and became a warrior in her own right.

Water droplets hit my skin and I turned my eyes towards the sky, but no clouds hung above us. As the tang of salt brushed across my lips, I moved towards the edge.

Elissa smiled at me as she stepped from the cliff onto a platform of sea water. I laughed as she turned to face me triumphantly. She had been finding ways around my commands more and more often. I’d done much the same thing before managing to break my father’s hold on me.

“Are you coming?” she asked, her eyes like two deep whirlpools as her power simmered beneath her skin.

I stepped towards her and looked over the cliff at the tower of water she’d raised to carry her down. She offered me her hand and I took it so that she could use her power to transport us both to the bottom.

I stepped onto the platform and the water writhed beneath my boots as if it knew it should not be doing such a thing.

We descended slowly and I marvelled at her power. My own gifts allowed me to fight and heal in a way which no one from the other clans could match, but gifts like hers defied nature.

We made it to the bottom of the cliff and I eyed the beach where most of the clansmen were working on preparing the ships.

“I hope you like swimming,” Elissa murmured, and my heart leapt as she dropped me into the sea.

I plunged beneath the waves and powered my way back to the surface, laughing as my head broke free of the surf. Elissa was grinning at me from her perch above the ocean, still completely dry as she kept the sea from touching her anywhere but the soles of her boots.

I swept my arm across the water, throwing a wave in her direction and she batted it aside with a flick of her wrist, sending it flooding back over me instead. I laughed again as I dropped beneath the waves for a moment then kicked back to the surface.

“Come, witch, let’s see what Aelfric has to show us,” I teased as I started swimming for shore.

Elissa walked beside me and rode a wave right up to the beach. I strode from the water to join her, shaking my hair like a dog so she was splattered with salty droplets.

“You were asking for it,” she said.

“I was,” I agreed.

She led the way between the slayers who were working on the ships until we left the beach behind and crossed the dunes. My mouth pulled into a smile as I spotted Aelfric riding Baltian in neat circles within the paddock beyond the beach. The chestnut horse seemed less than pleased with the arrangement, but he was tolerating it despite the wild look in his eyes.

I whistled to Baltian and he turned his head sharply, setting a fierce trot towards us, no doubt hoping I might save him from this situation.

“Magnar!” Aelfric called excitedly.

I would never have recognised him as the small boy who’d chosen to follow us all those moons ago. His pale complexion never seemed to darken no matter how much the sun beat down on him, but that was the only thing about him which hadn’t been altered by his time with the clans. Muscles bulged beneath his fighting leathers and he held his chin high, no longer afraid of any man.

“I had to see it for myself,” I said as I looked up at him.

Baltian snorted in protest and I reached up to tussle his mane affectionately.

Elissa took a step back; she knew well how my horse enjoyed to bite anyone unwitting enough to stand too close to me.

“And you remember the deal we struck?” Aelfric asked, his eyes slipping to Elissa for a moment before flicking back to me.

“I do. But I cannot permit a human to marry a slayer,” I said seriously.

His face fell and Elissa sucked in a sharp breath beside me.

“Leave that poor horse be and come with me. I’ll give you your reward.” I turned away before he could voice his objections and headed towards the tents which lay further from the shore.

I set a quick pace, but I could hear the two of them following me, their whispered objections finding my ears as they balked at the injustice of their situation. No doubt they were trying to come up with some way to convince me, but I was well known to be a stubborn bastard so I doubted they had much hope.

I kept moving, a smile pulling at my lips as I headed for Humbar’s tent. Pushing the flap open, I strode inside without bothering to call out a warning. I was Earl; no one could refuse my entrance anyway.

“Wake up, you old bastard!” I called.

It was almost midday, but I knew he wouldn’t have risen yet. Humbar rose late each day and drank himself stupid until the early hours - but if he could be caught between those two points in time then he was the best man for the job I required.

“What do you want?” he grumbled as he hoisted himself out of bed and stared up at me, not bothering to hide his nudity.

“Your skills are needed. Now. Get dressed and bring what you require to the fire pit.” I turned and headed back out of his tent, leaving no room for objections.

Elissa and Aelfric were waiting for me outside and they began to voice their complaints, but I waved them off as I headed for the fire pit.

They followed me and I could feel their disappointment and fury as we took seats around the fire, but they held their tongues at a stern glare from me.

It wasn’t long before Humbar arrived and set himself up before us, laying out his tools and muttering curses about the early hour.

“I appreciate the gesture, Magnar,” Aelfric began, but I waved him off again.

“I gave you my word that you could have your pick of a bride if you managed to ride my horse,” I said and he managed to hold his tongue as he listened to me. “But as Earl, I cannot allow Elissa to marry a man who has not taken his vow now that she has taken hers.”

The two of them glanced at each other, clearly shocked that I knew it was her hand he wanted and I allowed myself a smile.

“But I am not slayer born,” Aelfric protested. “You know I would take my vow if I could. But I have no mark, no way to channel your gifts-”

“Then we shall have to fix that.” I grabbed his right arm and held it out towards Humbar. “Give him a mark; make him one of us.”

Aelfric’s eyes widened with astonishment as he realised what I was offering. Elissa gasped before flinging her arms around me and I laughed as I held her close for a moment.

Humbar began to tattoo a mark onto Aelfric’s skin, and I sat back to watch. It wouldn’t grant him the gifts or power of our race, but I was Earl; if I said he was one of us then no one would question it. Aelfric was one of the best men I knew and a fierce warrior, he deserved to have a true place among us.

“I welcome you into my clan, Aelfric of the Clan of War,” I said, clapping a hand on his back.

His eyes shone with deep emotion and he gripped my arm with his free hand as Humbar continued to work.

“This means more to me than you can imagine, Earl Magnar,” Aelfric said. “My blade is yours, my life is yours. You will not regret bestowing this gift on me.”

“I know I won’t. You can take your vow at sundown,” I said. “I’m sure Julius will be happy to train you. Then tomorrow you can be wed.”

Elissa burst into tears and the smile on Aelfric’s face was enough to light a fire in my soul. I grinned at both of them, delighted I could grant them this gift. They deserved to be happy together.

I only wished my own betrothed was someone I could feel an ounce of their love for.

I awoke with a pounding in my head. The wedding celebrations had gone on long into the night and I’d consumed more than my fair share of ale.

I squinted around at my tent as I blinked away the effects of the alcohol and tried to remember what had woken me.

“If you won’t answer me then I’ll just let myself in!” Valentina called angrily.

My mood soured at the sound of her voice. She was less than pleased that I’d performed a wedding which wasn’t ours, and that I’d spent the better part of yesterday avoiding her throughout the celebrations.

She ripped open the tent flap and stalked across the space towards me. The look in her eyes made me wonder if I should locate my swords to defend myself and I arched a brow at her curiously.

Valentina’s gaze fell on the two naked women in my bed as they stirred, and her eyes turned to stone. A strong wind battered the tent and thunder rumbled overhead.

“Get out,” she hissed.

They looked to me as if I might shield them from her wrath, but I only shrugged. I couldn’t remember their names, so I certainly wasn’t going to waste my time offering them any protection from my betrothed. She’d soon forget about them once they were out of sight anyway.

“Good morning, Valentina,” I sighed. “Or is it afternoon?”

The pair scrambled for their clothes and scurried out of the tent as she seethed. Rain slammed against the canvas above me and I was sure they were getting drenched as Valentina’s anger filled the skies.

“Really, husband? It’s not humiliating enough that you perform yet another wedding before our own, but you have to bring two whores to your bed as well?” she spat.

“I’m not your husband yet,” I reminded her for the millionth time. “And they weren’t whores. They were from the Clan of Prophecies and they foresaw our night together. I couldn’t very well go against the will of the gods now, could I?”

She scowled at me and I could see her fighting the urge to call me out on that lie.

“You know, if you took me to your bed, you’d never want any other woman again,” she said, lowering her voice seductively and changing tact.

“Perhaps that’s why I don’t dare attempt it,” I replied dryly. “Did you want something other than to chase away my company?”

She pursed her lips then finally let the subject drop. Perhaps the repetition of this scene was wearing thin for her too, though I somehow doubted it. “Yes. I came with good news; we’re ready to sail.”

I beamed at her as I got to my feet. “Truly?”

“Truly.” Her gaze slid over my body, and she made no secret of what she wanted.

My pleasure at the news almost tempted me to make use of the desire I could see growing in her eyes. But I knew if I crossed that line with her, I’d never be able to turn back.

I pulled my trousers on before approaching her. “Then this really is the greatest day. And once I have exacted revenge upon the Revenants, you may get your wish. A husband to marry.” I didn’t mention the fact that I hoped it would never be me. If I could rid the world of the Revenants, then Idun had promised to rid me of Valentina. Once the goddess had broken our betrothal then I was sure Valentina would find herself another man to call husband – one who might actually be capable of making her happy.

“You mean you’ll set a date?” she asked hopefully.

“I imagine I’ll have no choice,” I replied.

Her face lit with hope, and I pressed a brief kiss to her lips to appease her. The rain stopped hammering the tent as her mood shifted and I sighed, so tired of playing this game.

She tried to snare me in her arms, but I pushed her back.

“No consummating before the wedding,” I reminded her, guiding her towards the exit.

She blew out a breath in defeat and stepped outside at my insistence. Honestly, I couldn’t see what possible reason she had to want this union so badly after enduring years of my debauchery and clear lack of interest, but she was like a dog with a bone, refusing to relinquish it.

I dropped the tent flap and shook my head as I gathered the rest of my clothes and weapons. That woman was more persistent than a wolf with the scent of blood. She had waited six years for me to wed her and she still wouldn’t take the hint.

Once I could be sure she was gone, I headed outside in search of Julius and nodded to the unsworn boy who rushed to start dismantling my tent. If we were to sail today, then everything would have to be loaded aboard the ships and the camp was already alive with movement as our people rushed to get us ready to leave. Many supplies were already on board but it would take several hours to load the rest.

Idun had provided us with all the knowledge we needed to track down the monsters who had murdered my father and we were finally ready to cross the great sea and claim their heads. Today was a good day indeed.

I strode through the camp and headed straight for the biggest ship in our fleet, climbing aboard and making my way to the prow so I could look out at the horizon.

Somewhere out there lay my destiny and my freedom.

I’m coming for you Erik Larsen. You will never escape me now.