Chapter 4
Freydis
There is something about Ragnar; an awe-inspiring feeling I felt deep in my bones.
I twist and turn in bed, trying to sleep. By dawn, I would ride to the church to pray to God so that the Devil's mark would not possess me, and I wouldn't be exposed to my people.
I couldn't sleep. My stomach and throat were hot from the ale I drank, and my thoughts were occupied with Ragnar.
Outside the window, the moon shone, but it wasn't full yet. I lay back on the bed and closed my eyes.
Not long after I began drifting to sleep, a hand shook me, and I opened my eyes. I slowly rubbed the grogginess from my vision, and once my sight cleared, the figures of Ake, my guard, and Siggy came into focus.
My eyes widened.
"Freydis, wake up!" Siggy said.
"We must hurry!"
"What's wrong?" I tossed away the furs from my body and stood up.
"Shh," Ake said, holding a finger to his mouth.
He walked towards the chest where I keep my weapons and took out an axe, sword and bows and arrows.
Screams from women and men echoed in the longhouse. Blood drained from my face.
"What's going on?"
"Hounds," Siggy said, her eyes filling with tears. "They're back again... heading here this time."
"What?" I gasped in horror.
"They've killed five of our men," Ake said. "We must get to the prayer hall..... it's safe there."
"The prayer hall?" I understood the need to pray, but right now we needed to defend the longhouse from the Hounds. "We need to help!"
"Freydis," Siggy looked at me seriously, "remember the mark you have. It can be triggered when you're angry, and you don't want to risk being exposed."
I narrowed my eyes. "Fuck the mark."
My mother would scream in disappointment if she heard me cursing.
"I'm going out there to defend my people."
Siggy's eyes widened.
"You can stay here until I return."
Siggy frowned. "Tell me to stay here one more time, Freydis."
Siggy, though a maid, could fight with a battle axe.
When we stepped out of the room, the house was quiet. Everyone must have run with the Queen to the prayer hall to pray for God's protection. I drew the hood of the cloak over my head to hide my face from the warriors.
We hurried toward the tunnel leading outside. I removed the wooden cover and stepped out.
As I held the cover for Siggy and Ake to exit, a hand wrapped around my mouth.
Before I could react, I was pulled away. My back slammed against a tree. My hand reached for my arrows, but I paused when I saw the face of the person.
It was one of Ragnar's men, Vargi.
"What in the gods' name are you doing out here, my lady?"
I frowned.
"We've been searching for you," he continued, "to take you to the prayer hall, where it's safe. If you come—"
"I'm not going anywhere, Vargi. I'm fighting."
He lifted a brow. "Have you lost your wits? Do you know what's out there in the woods?"
"Aye, and I've been protecting my people from them for the past few years," I said.
He raised a brow.
"Where is Ragnar?"
"He's out with the other warriors, facing the Hounds in battle."
Before I could speak again, something in the dark caught my eye. I quickly raised my weapon, aimed at the creature, and struck. The arrow hit the Hound, dropping it to the ground with a loud growl.
Vargi gasped and turned around.
"By the gods, lady... ye are strange."
I smirked at Vargi and readied another arrow as more creatures emerged from the woods.
"Oh Lord!" Siggy gasped.
The cold air struck my face. The smell of burning filled my nostrils.
The Hounds were many, and if we weren't careful, they would soon overpower us.
My insides coiled as I saw one of the Hounds leap onto a warrior, biting off his neck. Blood dripped from the gaping wound.
I released my arrow, it sank deep into the Hound's head. I preferred using arrows during a Hound attack, but I could fight with an axe too.
Ake swung his blade, the sharp edge slicing through a Hound's head, killing it instantly.
I had seven arrows left. My hands trembled as I aimed for another shot. I saw Vargi fighting the Hounds barehanded, tearing them apart. I marvelled at the power he used to fight.... but then again, he was a Viking from the North. Northerners were always dangerous fighters.
The howls of Hounds echoed through the air. More of them fell.
One of the creatures turned to me. It bared its teeth, growling as it approached. Its mouth was soaked in blood, its eyes the colour of the sun. It lunged before I could aim. I dodged, tripping and falling to the ground.
The Hound slammed into a tree.
I raised my bow and released, an arrow landed in its back. When it turned to me, I shot again.
The creature slowly turned into a man. He was completely naked, gurgling something before Vargi finished him with his axe.
Suddenly, Vargi was attacked by two more Hounds. Before I could raise my arrow, I was slammed to the ground, the creature on top of me.
It growled. My head became heavy. Bile burned the back of my throat from the Hound's weight. They were tall, at least six feet on the ground.
The Hound bared its teeth at me. My bow and arrows had fallen the moment it struck me, and now I was helpless. I closed my eyes.
Suddenly, warm blood splashed across my face. I opened my eyes slowly; the Hound lay dead beside me.
I dragged myself away. Siggy and Ake, covered in blood, approached.
We watched as another pack of Hounds rushed out from the woods.
These creatures had blood-red eyes, and their fur was darker than the night sky.
"What is going on?" Siggy asked.
We watched as the second pack attacked and killed the first.
Once all were dead, the second pack began retreating; until one was left. It looked at me.
My body froze. For a moment, I thought it was going to attack.
Siggy gasped. "Is that...?"
The Hound continued to stare, then took a step closer; before turning and disappearing into the night.
"Freydis," Ake rushed to me. "You're wounded."
I rubbed the wound on the side of my face. "Aye but i'm not dead."
"We need to return."
I turned to look for Vargi, but he was nowhere to be found.
"Did you see the way that Hound was staring at me?" I asked.
"We'll make sure no harm comes your way," Ake said.
"Freydis."
At that familiar voice, I smiled and turned to find Ragnar standing there.
"Are ye hurt?" he asked, breathing deeply.
I shook my head.