《Yggdrasil's Reach :Ashes of Surtr》 Hamund The air around the dreary planet was frigid and blistering cold. The ship''s frame had ice crystals swirl across its intricately crafted hull. Runes carved across the hull calling upon the protection of the gods. The head of the serpent J?rmungandr shaped around the cockpit. The sturdy build of the ship itself, a testament to its creator marked only with the rune ¡°???¡± across the back of the ship translating to ¡°Val¡±. A brown-haired boy with icy blue eyes, wearing a fur and leather garment, stared out the small porthole of the ship into the emptiness of space. The boy watched as the light flashed around the planet excited for what he might find.As the boy was entranced in the void of space a loud and gravelly voice like that of a bear could be heard coming from the front of the ship ¡°Thorkell!¡± The young boy broke his trance and rushed to the cockpit, only to be met by a tall, husky man dressed in the same style of gear as him, with a similar hairstyle. The only difference being the test of time fading all color from his hair and long scruffy beard. ¡°There you are Thorkell, I have been looking for you all day!¡± The man shouts playfully as he hoists Thorkell up to his side. Thorkell gave the man a hug and the man tells him "We are approaching new lands; you should be buckled in to prepare for landing.¡± Thorkell looks up at the man with a look of sincerity and says, ¡°I am sorry uncle Val, I was keeping look out for the kraken.¡± Val laughed and replied with ¡°By Odin¡¯s eye, did you see one?!¡± Thorkell punched his uncle Val and said in an annoyed tone ¡°They are out there, you will see!¡± The tight seal of the air lock into the cockpit opens as Val carries Thorkell to his seat and buckles him in. Once Thorkell is secured in his seat, Val flicks him on the nose and says, ¡°I am sure Loki himself carried those creatures up this way.¡± A man interrupts from the pilot''s seat with a similar voice to that of Val ¡°Brother, what are you getting my son wrapped up in now?¡± Val laughs as he winks at Thorkell and returns to his seat. As Val takes his seat, he replies ¡°Thorkell here seems to believe he is the lookout for Kraken¡¯s. The better question is Hamund what are you teaching that boy?¡± Hamund turns his chair so he can see Thorkell and says, ¡°There is no need to worry my dear son, I have done plenty of these journeys and not once have I met a kraken.¡± Thorkells face turns red, and he crosses his arms as if to guard himself from the judging comments made by his father and uncle. Thorkell mumbles under his breath ¡°One day I will find it.¡± Val turns in his seat and looks at Thorkell¡¯s disappointed face and says ¡°If anyone, it will be the great Thorkell Hamundson, the skalds will tell of your adventures. Much like they do of your fathers.¡± Hamund punches his brother''s shoulder and says, ¡°No one is telling stories of me; I am nothing more than a pilot. Besides Thorkell will be far better than I ever was.¡± Val looks at Hamund as if he had heard something vile ¡°No one tells stories of Hamund the Draugr slayer? It is all anyone back home could talk about. Half the time they forget who builds the beautiful ships for you to go on these little adventures.¡± Hamund laughs and says ¡°How could anyone forget; you carve your name on every ship. Besides, we are not even sure there was draugr on that ship.¡± Val¡¯s eyes glisten with a sense of eagerness to tell Thorkell the stories of his father''s exploits. Hamund lets out a sigh and nods his head in approval as if he knew no matter what he said Val would do it anyway. Val clears his throat and begins to tell a tale ¡°So there we were stranded on our first ever voyage.¡± Val looks over at Hamund and with a comical and snarky tone says, ¡°Somebody forgot to check fuel levels before we left.¡± Hamund holds out his finger and replies ¡°Now wait one minute, I remember you specifically stating. And I quote Do not worry about that I will take care of all preparations; you just worry about flying.¡± Val lets out a hearty laugh and continues with his tale ¡°Either way, we were stranded in the middle of space when suddenly we seen a ship come into our radar.¡± Val takes a breath ¡°We tried to reach them on our comms but sadly it was met with little response. Now your father here decided the best way to get their attention was to send a walker...¡± Thorkell interrupts with ¡°What is a walker?¡± Hamund answers with ¡°It means sending someone out to space as a communications line, it is an extremely dangerous maneuver due to its many points of failure.¡± Val retakes his place as skald ¡°I mentioned to your father here that he would never be able to reach them with just a flat spacewalk. I also mentioned that his only chance was to strap a rocket on his back and hope for the best.¡± Thorkells eyes stare at his father with a wondering gaze as Val continues his story ¡°So your father decides he would ride a torpedo all the way to the enemy ship jumping off just in time to reroute the missile and still land on the ship.¡± Thorkell now sat as far up in his seat as the seatbelt would allow, mesmerized in the tale as if he were there watching his father prepare to surf a torpedo through space. As Val takes a pause Throkell begins to ask, ¡°Well, what happened?¡± Hamund turns to his son and says, ¡°It depends on who you ask. Some will say it is merely a tale told to kids so they will believe in modern day heroes. Others like your uncle here want to believe it to be fact. I will say if it did happen, I would have a scar across my right hand from the sheer force of trying to hold on.¡± Val rips Hamund¡¯s right hand from the steering column of the ship revealing a scar sliced across his callused hands. ¡°Your father is too modest, even though he knows he had Thor¡¯s protection that day.¡± Hamund turns back towards the front of the ship and flags his brother on to continue his story. Val returns to telling his tale ¡°So there I was watching your father hurl himself across the front of our ship, as he reached the torpedo housing unit, I notice him just vanish. After about ten minutes of staring at nothing waiting for him to crawl out of this crevice like one of Odin''s messengers, he appeared with a grin on his face so wide it could be seen from earth. He looked back at me before giving a thumbs up and kicking a makeshift starter he had fused onto the torpedo. As your father raced through space, I felt a weird sense of pride and fear. I mean who else gets to see their brother hurl himself through space on the side of a torpedo just to meet with a ship we are not even sure is friendly.¡± Throkell peered out the windows of the cockpit as if he were envisioning his father flying through the cosmos on a torpedo. Thorkell snaps back to reality and asks, ¡°So, what happened next were they friendly?¡± Val looks over at his brother and replies ¡°That is not my story to tell. One day you can convince your father to tell his side of the story.¡± Thorkells chair rolls back and flattens out making the form of a bed and Hamund says ¡°Not today we are getting close to landing and the last thing he needs is nightmares while in stasis.¡± Thorkell fights his head back and forth trying to fight the feeling of tiredness as blues particles surround him and the air around him drops to a frigid low breeze. Thorkell falls fast asleep as the ship reaches a rich green planet. Hamund points to the planet and asks Val ¡°Doesn¡¯t that look like home? The green lands and vast blue oceans, makes me wish we could go back.¡± Val smiles and says, ¡°One day we will find a new home." As the ship enters the atmosphere of the planet, fires surround the ship as once freezing air of the ship now is a warm welcoming feeling. The ship begins shaking violently before Val shouts ¡°Pull up!¡± Hamund does not heed his brothers'' instructions and instead allows the ship to continue its nosedive, as they breach the clouds Hamund looks over at his brother and smiles before shouting ¡°Relax brother, we have the protection of the gods.¡± As Hamund breaches the final layer of clouds he rips the steering column up forcing the ship to balance out and relieving all force on the ship''s hull. Val unbuckles and heads toward the door of the cockpit. As Val leaves the cockpit he shouts, ¡°One of these days you will be the death of me, brother.¡± Hamund just laughs as he unbuckles himself and gets up from his chair. Val rushes to the sleeping quarters of the ship and begins waking all the members on the ship ¡°Wake up brothers and sister, we have found new lands!¡± Val grabs two helmets both crafted from a hard metallic material and coated with a white and gray fur to resemble the wolf Sk?ll. Val returns to the cockpit as Hamund is awakening Thorkell. Val gives a look of disapproval before stating ¡°I still do not understand why he has to be put to sleep before land on a planet.¡± Hamund goes to respond but is interrupted by the loud banging of artillery colliding with the ship''s frame. Hamund quickly jumps in his pilot''s seat and watches the pattern of gunfire around him. Val rushes to his brother''s side and begins scanning the area around him. Val noticed a cavern between two mountain tops coated in trees. ¡°Right there, brother!¡± Val shouts as he points to the opening. Hamund acknowledges with a slight nod and begins counting each crack of gunfire ¡°One, two, three four ¡­ break ¡­ One two three four¡± As Hamund continues counting and every time he says break, he rapidly switches his direction creating an aerial zig zag motion. As the ship breaks the mountain line a scratching sound can be heard from the left most side as Val gives Hamund an aggravated look. Hamund looks at his brother and says ¡°What? That was the only way we were turning this ship that rapidly.¡± Val rests his nose between his thumb and pointer finger and replies ¡°You¡¯re going to handle negotiations for materials than!¡± Hamund stands up and with a snark tone ¡°That is for the best, you are not the best with meet and greets anyway. Just let me get the translator.¡± Val returns his brothers sarcasm with ¡°Oops it was broken in the crash; guess you will have to do it the old fashion way.¡± Hamund scowls at his brother for a second before grabbing his helmet and sword off the wall behind him. As Hamund puts his helmet on he points his sword at Val and says, ¡°Their blood is on your hands than.¡± Val waves his brother off before running inspections on the steering control center. As Hamund leaves the cockpit Val can be heard shouting ¡°Find us some honey while you are out there too!¡± Hamund laughs before replying ¡°Find your own fucking honey!¡± As Hamund goes to leave the ship Thorkell runs up to him with Vals helmet on which was at least four sizes too big for his head. Hamund stops Thorkell at the door of the ship and asks, ¡°Where do you think you are going?¡± Thorkell struggles to hold his head above his shoulder line and replies ¡°Off to vikingr, with you!¡± Hamund takes a knee and says, ¡°When you can hold the weight of the helmet you can join us!¡± Thorkell drops the helmet on the ground and with a defeated look on his face takes a wooden knife he was hiding in his pants out and hands it to Hamund before saying ¡°Well keep this for now.¡± Hamund takes the knife from his son and says, ¡°I will keep it safe.¡± Thorkell rushes off crying as Hamund secures the wooden knife in the back of his waist band. Hamund calls out to the crew of the ship saying, ¡°I need three willing to meet and greet with the locals.¡± Before Hamund could finish his statement, he had three warriors standing in front of him. The first in line was a common veteran of his crew, a fiery redhead with a taste for battle. Her name was Admadra and she could wipe entire villages out single handedly if she got bored. Her suit was specifically designed to maximize her lethal capabilities including replacing her right leg with a golden prosthetic. During her first raid she had lost her right leg to a rogue axe as it was tossed at a man she had already pierced with her sword. That battle was when Hamund decided she would make a great fit to his crew after seeing her chop down ten more warriors while using an enemy as a crutch. The second in line was a young boy whose sword had never tasted the nectar of war he was just barely old enough to enjoy Val¡¯s famous mead. His name was Teit, and he was what the crew called a ¡°dreamer¡± still wearing hand me down gear from his older brother and had not yet earned his place at the hall of hero¡¯s but is always hoping to write his name in Odin¡¯s Hall. The last in line was one of the ship''s brilliant minds, although he had never tasted battle he was treated with the same respect as every other warrior on the ship. His name was Erp, and the crew can attribute his name to their armor and most of their technology including the following items ¡°Translators, medical bay, waste disposal, on ship distillery¡± as well as many other items that were done in cooperation with his fellow ¡°Brokkr¡± which was a name given to warriors gifted in the craft of metal work and general craftsmanship. Hamund looks over at Erp and asks, "Are you sure you wish to join us on this?¡± Erp nods his head and replies ¡°I have hit a plateau in my work, I cannot advance my work unless I see real life applications of it. While in stasis I trained vigorously but even that is not enough to truly get the feel of how my gear works.¡± Hamund looks over at Erp and nods his head in approval but adds ¡°I have one rule, until we find new lands you are not permitted to meet the gods.¡± The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Erp smiles and replies ¡°They do not need me in the halls of Valhalla, yet.¡± Hamund looks at Teit and laughs before saying ¡°So you finally wish to earn your gear? Looking at you now, I know your father would be proud.¡± Teit wipes away tears and replies ¡°I will be with him one day drinking, fucking and fighting in the halls of Valhalla.¡± Hamund just smiles and looks over at Admadra and says, ¡°I had no doubt you would be joining me on this new world.¡± Admadra holds out her axe and shouts ¡°My spear will forever be yours; I haven''t missed a battle with you since we started working together.¡± Hamund takes out three carvings of Thor¡¯s hammer from his side pouch and places them in the chest socket of all three members joining him. As Each one is socketed, they can feel a shock run through their body. Teit looks at the device and asks, ¡°What was that?¡± Hamund punches himself in the chest and all the members'' weapons fly to their hands. In Admadras right hand was a spear and in her left hand was a shield, both so well-crafted it is believed by many that she stole them from a Valkyrie in her first raid and that is why she did not die that day. In both of Tiets hands were a pair of axes still engraved with his brother¡¯s chosen runes. In Erps right hand was a hammer crafted from a titanium silver alloy. The hilt was wrapped with authentic leather straps salvaged from what was found on earth before he departed on this voyage. In Hamunds right hand was a sword that had a thin blade that had a light blue shine to it. The guard was golden with the emblazoned across it. The handle was engraved to resemble the legendary sword gramr and the pommel was a ruby red with a golden trim. In Hamund¡¯s left hand was a shield, a large round shield trimmed with gold and forged from titanium, with the wolf sk?ll engraved on it as it chases the sun across the sky. Hamund smacks his sword against his shield and says ¡°That hammer on your chest gives your weapons the power of Mj?lnir, at very least the ability to come to you in a time of need. If ever anyone should be caused harm while wearing one of these hammers your weapons will return to you preparing you for a fight.¡± Teit looks down at his brother''s axes and asks, ¡°But how do the weapons know where to go??¡± Erp looks over at Teit and replies ¡°Each hammer is set to a similar frequency as your weapon, that allows the hammer to draw your weapon to where it needs to be¡± Teit stays silent but continues to look over his weapons as if he was trying to find out how they work. Hamund picks his helmet up and presses it on, as the helmet collides with the suit the sound of oxygen can be heard rushing into the helmet. Hamund looks out across the mountainous range the sky as blue as a summer''s day shaded by clouds of black smoke from the anti-air guns that shot at the ship earlier. The mountain tops are coated with a blanket of white snow as Hamund marches across the snow he begins to zone out. Admadra rushes up to Hamunds side and pushes him to regain his attention. Admadra asks Hamund ¡°Thinking about home again?¡± Hamund smile can be seen through the glass mouthpiece of the helmet, his left eye was covered with a computer screen, but the blue of his right eye was highlighted by the tinted glass of his helmet. Hamund looks over at Admadra with a smile and says ¡°I miss trekking through the forests of Midgard, the delicate smells of the life that lived there. Not to mention Val¡¯s mead is not the same without a true natural honey.¡± Admadra laughs and says, ¡°That is true it is not as sweet; he has mastered the art of making wine with the fruits from these other planets.¡± Hamund chuckles before saying ¡°You have always liked your wine.¡± Admadra face can be seen through the face shield through, her cheeks now shined as red as her hair which complimented her beautiful blue eyes. She looks away from Hamund and says, ¡°Let''s just get this job over with, waking up from stasis always makes me want to drink some wine.¡± Erp catches up to them and points back towards Teit as he says, ¡°Look at fresh off the Teit back there, can barely handle a simple hike.¡± Hamund stops and looks back at Teit who had a fully blacked out face shield with a silver trim. Teit looks up at Hamund and asks, ¡°So why do you block your left eye?¡± Hamund laughs and answers with ¡°Odin sacrificed his right eye in the pursuit of knowledge, I sadly cannot see as well in my left eye so in battle I sacrifice my left eye. My right eye is enhanced by the face shield so I can see long distance and track unnatural movement, while my left eye reads a scanner that allows me to track patterns with opponents fighting stances as we as observing new life forms not yet recorded in our records.¡± Hamund looks down at his shield and continues with ¡°Luckily most societies we meet are still at an industrial level. Which means firearms tend to be the weapon of choice, our armor is good at preventing most if not all projectiles that can be launched at us. The drawback is that most societies efficient enough in mele combat can prove to be a challenge. Those of us with combat experience do not tend to fear any close quarters combat, but someone like you with no experience can be caught off guard.¡± Teit looks down at his axes and goes to respond but before he can Admadra interrupts by punching Teit in the chest plate and saying ¡°Don''t worry about all that though, you have a warrior''s heart. The gods smile on you.¡± Admadra points to the engraving of gungnir on the wooden handle of Teit¡¯s axe. ¡°Odin¡¯s spear blesses all warriors in their time of need.¡± The journey was long as the nerves of this new world rushed through the crew. Tiet was entranced with the new world, the sky was a light blue tinted green streak sailing through the sky like the tales of the oceans he was told by his brother. Even through his boot he could tell the sheets of snow on the ground must have been as soft as his blanket back on the ship. As they approached an open field, they could hear shouting from a distance followed by the purring of engines. Hamund watched as figures broke the horizon line, it started with what resembled ten men but quickly changed into hundreds. The sounds of engines were met by machines blocking the sky. Hamund looks up at one of the machines and smiles as he observed its long front facing barrel. Teit looks at Hamunds smile and asks, ¡°What do we do?¡± Hamund continues to walk forward as the man leading the opposing army looks back at his machines and shouts pointing at Hamund. The sound of thunder can be heard rushing towards Hamund chasing a large projectile that was shot from the machine. Hamund lifts his shield as the projectile races towards him. The projectile shatters upon contacting his shield sending shards across the open fields. Hamund then drops his shield on the ground as well as his weapon on the ground behind him. Hamund approaches the man with his arms up high and a wicked smile on his face. Hamund looks back at Admadra and begins joking ¡°He is already pissing his pants!¡± Admadra hangs her head hiding her laughter before replying ¡°Hasn¡¯t anyone taught you not to play with your food!¡± Hamund begins getting fired upon, the planets naturally peaceful atmosphere erupts with the sounds of explosions as small projectiles collide with Hamunds armor. As Hamund reaches the general everything goes silent. Hamund puts his arm around the general''s shoulders and says, ¡°Let''s hope you speak my language; I highly doubt it but let''s hope.¡± The generals light gray skin turns a pale white as he begins shouting ¡°Dashin ottako!¡± Hamund looks over at Erp and begins to wave towards him as the general continues to shout ¡°Dashin ottako, egincyder!¡± Hamund looks over at the general and asks, ¡°Wait where are you trying to put an egg?¡± Erp reaches Hamund and with a disgruntled tone asks, ¡°Where is your translator?¡± Hamund waves off Erps question and says, ¡°Tell this man he isn''t putting an egg anywhere.¡± The general continues to shout as Hamund begins to lose his patience. Hamund punches the general across the face and tells Erp ¡°Tell him the next time he shouts over us I will cut off his head.¡± Erp translates for Hamund but as he does the general slips out of Hamunds control and attempts to run away. Hamund looks over at Erp and asks, ¡°What did you say?¡± Erp shrugs his shoulders and says, ¡°I Told him we weren¡¯t going to kill him.¡± Hamund bangs his fist on his chest and waits for his sword and shield to return to him. As his weapons return to his hands Hamund chases down the general. Hamund is met by a wall of troops blocking the general¡¯s location. Hamund attempts to push through the troops and is met with resistance. He looks at the soldiers blocking him and shouts ¡°Touch me again and I''ll take your hands!¡± The men in the line push Hamund back as Admadra and Teit rush to his side. Hamund regains his composure and turns to Tiet, Hamund takes a package out of his pocket and hands it to Tiet. Tiet looks at Hamund with a look of confusion before asking ¡°What is this?¡± Hamund replies ¡°These will help with what will soon happen. It is your first fight; it is best you do not remember it. Helps with the night terrors.¡± Teit takes the package from Hamund and looks it over. The package was a leather bag, once opened was a collection of red and white mushrooms. Teit holds his breath and opens his visor, he then takes a mushroom and places it between his lips before closing his visor. Once his visor is closed, he grips the mushroom with his teeth and begins to devour it. Teit looks at Hamund and says, ¡°I do not feel any different, am I supposed to?¡± Admadra taps Teit on the shoulder before giving a reinsuring smile and replying ¡°Don¡¯t worry you will¡± as she swallows the few she had eaten as well. Hamund races forward slicing through lines of troops with one swipe of his sword. Admadra runs her spear through three enemies and lifts them off the ground before slamming them down behind her. Erp rushes in swinging his hammer then throwing it crushing as many as he can before smacking his armor to kill more enemies as it returned. Tiet runs through the line swinging his axes from soldier to soldier as bullets break off his armor killing even more soldiers. The battle races on as hundreds of enemies fall to Hamund and his crew until all that is left is a handful of troops, the leading general and the few machines they brought. The action slows down as the general retreats with his remaining few troops, Hamund and Admadra rest in between piles of dead bodies. Teit wanders through the battlefield as he hears the call of ravens. Tiet sees a man standing in the distance with a hood on carrying a staff. As Tiet walks towards the man he can hear the cries of the Norns ¡°A natural born leader falls to the one closest to him, from his ashes will rise a legend.¡± A pause can be heard as the breathes of the Norns flow across the battlefield bringing a cold breeze as blood begins to rain from the sky. The hooded man disappears and is replaced by Val standing in from of Teit. Vals armor is bloodied and scarred by the terrors of war. In Vals'' right hand is the head of Hamund, separated from his body with a clean cut across his neck. Behind Val stood a man with long flowing red hair with a crooked smirk on his face and a black wolf laid beside him. The Nords can be heard once more as an older Thorkell can be seen taking Vals place ¡°A legend fitting that of Valhalla but born too late to seek it¡¯s baren halls.¡± Teit cries out as he drops to his knees staring at the now red sky ¡°What are you trying to tell me!¡± Hamund taps on Admadras shoulder and points at Teit before shouting ¡°Someone is enjoying their first battle.¡± and falling over from his intoxication. Admadra jumps on top of Hamund and says, ¡°What about you, can''t handle a few little mushrooms anymore?¡± Erp walks over to Tiet and shakes him to break him from his vision. Tiet jumps up shouting ¡°Where is Hamund?¡± Erp just laughs and says, ¡°It''s probably best you don¡¯t bother them two right now, Admadra gets a certain way after battle.¡± Tiet and Erp sit down and discuss Tiet''s vision as the sky turns a dark red and lightning streaks through. As the light of the day fades Hamund wakes Admadra who had fallen asleep on top of him. As Admadra awakes Hamund Points over the hill where visible light can be seen like a beacon. Admadra gets up and walks over to where Tiet and Erp have passed out. Admadra kicks both of them to awake them, Erp awakes and grabs his arm before asking ¡°Did you have to use the prosthetic leg?¡± Admadra does not reply, instead she points over to the light pillar rising from beyond the hill side. Tiet jolts up from his sleep and looks around frantically as he pounds his chest calling everyone''s weapons to them. Hamund looks back as his shield swims through the air towards his hand. As the shield moves through the air a blue glare glides across the shield''s metallic surface resembling the moon in old earth skies. Hamund Imagines being home sitting in his fields as Thorkell would run around chasing the farmland creatures with various sticks pretending he was raiding with the rest of the family only to be chased down by Admadra who happened to be stalking behind various animals of all sizes ready to pounce. Hamund snaps out of his daydream just in time to grab his shield and march towards the shining beacon. As they approach the top of the hill the loud banging of the machines from before can be heard echoing through the valley. Hamund looks over at Erp and says, ¡°Give me your translator and stand by right here.¡± Erp removes his earpiece from his helmet and hands it over to Hamund. Hamund inserts the device into his helmet and places his shield and sword on the ground at the top of the hill. As Hamund crosses over the peak of the hill he can see the general from before rallying his remaining soldiers hoping for a counter strike. Hamund crawls down to get within range so the translator can get an accurate read on what the general was shouting. As Hamund gets in range he can hear the general give his commands ¡°They must be tiring soon, and we have the numbers on them so why do you fear them? Lets strike now while they don¡¯t expect us.¡± One soldier interrupts with ¡°They moved like demons!¡± More began to interrupt with statements like ¡°He got shot by our strongest tank round and yet nothing!¡± and ¡°We are running out of ammo!¡± The general begins demanding ¡°We are going to march over this hill and kill them invaders, no questions asked!¡± Hamund Interrupts with ¡°I have a question!¡± The general rotates around frantically and is frozen in place when he sees Hamund. Hamund takes advantage of the general''s silence by saying ¡°What are you willing to pay to get rid of us?¡± The general rips a weapon from the soldier in front of him and begins firing upon Hamund. Hamund just begins laughing as he walks towards the man who continues to open fire on him. When Hamund reaches the general he rips the firearm out of his hands before stating ¡°Listen before you get all these good... Whatever you all are killed.¡± Hamund takes his helmet off before asking ¡°Which one of you can take me to the man who would be willing to pay me to leave?¡± The Generals dark green pants fade to a darker green as he answers, ¡°We a... aa...are slaxions, our supreme leader will kill me if I was to bring you to him.¡± Hamund smiles a devious smile as he says ¡°Well that¡¯s funny because I will kill you and all your men if you do not. I will not stop there either; you have seen what I can with a few of my warriors. Imagine what I can do when I rally them all on your little civilization. Genocide on a scale I am sure your kind have never known. It is all up to you ¡­ What is your name again?¡± The General looks down at his trembling hands and replies ¡°Sterrack is my issued name, and I will take you to him under one condition you allow me to take you in as a prisoner.¡± Hamund looks at Sterrack and agrees as he holds his hands out expecting to be put in handcuffs. Strerrack rushes one of his men over to Hamund and has him place two magnetic restraints on Hamunds forearms. Hamund feels a looseness to the restraints as if his armor was interfering with the functionality of them. Hamund holds his arms out trying to keep the illusion that he is being restrained. Hamund is marched to an industrial city where smog covers the atmosphere pierced by the early stages of skyscrapers lit up by neon lights. Hamund looks around as they march through the city, observing every sight and smell. The streets smell of feces and smog and it is clear the people care extraordinarily little about their planet as the streets are filled with litter piled as high as some of the homes. Hamund studies the people watching every movement of the crowd that slowly accumulates around him shouting ¡°Kill the invader!¡± and ¡°Death to the infidel!¡± Hamund Laughs hysterically as the crowd continues to get larger and more restless. As they reach the center of town, they come to a building surrounded by green plants that resembles grass back on earth. The building itself was several stories tall and very well maintained with a stone fence to separate the rest of the population from the building. Hamund observes the metal gate that is guarded by several of their military members with what seems to be an updated version of the guns that were being used on the battlefield against Hamund and his crew earlier in the day. Hamund is marched through the gate and inside a side entrance to the building led down into a lower level. As the the large metal doors were opened Hamund is pushed in the back by one of the soldiers following him and Hamund shakes his head before asking ¡°Why would you do that?¡± The soldier laughs before replying ¡°Shut the fuck up invader!¡± Hamund smiles and asks ¡°What''s your name tough guy?¡± The soldier replies ¡°My issued name is Tef, what''s it too you?¡± Hamund asks the man ¡°Do you have a family, Tef?¡± Tef shoves Hamund again and replies ¡°If you must know we in the royal army are not allowed to reproduce.¡± Hamund nods his head and says ¡°well that''s good¡± Hamund turns around to face the soldier before saying ¡°I just like to know about the men I kill in battle¡± Hamund¡¯s shield can be heard loudly screaming through the air followed by a quieter whistle from his sword. As the two weapons crash through the wall and return to Hamund he turns to the general and says ¡°Don''t take this personal!¡± before slicing his sword through Tefs chest and ripping it out through his shoulder. Hamund looks at the general and says ¡°If you have any plans of keeping this peaceful, I would take me directly to your leader before the rest of my crew rips their way through your city.¡± Val Val walks through the crisp wooden halls of the ship searching every corner with determination. As Val approaches a hallway just shy of the rear of his ship he can hear a sly giggling. Val slows his pace and come to a stalking speed as he reaches the turn. Val looks over to one of the Ships scientists who was currently sitting at the end of the halway and asks, ¡°Have you seen young Thorkell?¡± The scientist shakes his head no while staring towards the sound of the giggling. Val crouches down to creep around the corner but before his sight can break the walls line Thorkell pounces on him with a wooden sword and begins shouting ¡°Die you wretched druagr!¡± before ramming the sword into Vals armpit. Val smile as he looks down at the wooden blade piercing his armor before standing up and ripping the sword out. Val looks at the blade and then at Thorkell and says, ¡°I guess you father never told you about the draugr.¡± Thorkell backs up into the wall with a confused look and asks, ¡°How are you not dead?¡± Val laughs maliciously before staring at Thorkell and shouting ¡°When facing druagr...¡± Val places the wooden sword on the wall at head level with Thorkell and continues with ¡°YOU ALWAYS GO FOR THE HEAD!¡± Thorkell screams before kicking Val in the foot and runs off down the hall. Val holds his foot in pain and mumbles ¡°This is why I never had kids.¡± before chasing Thorkell down the hall. As Val approaches the two steel doors that protect the kitchen, he sees Thorkell peeping his head inside. As Val approaches Thorkell he can smell the sweet aroma of honey and various fragrances of fruit from the many planets they have explored. Val walks up to Thorkell and asks, ¡°Want to see how we make the ¡°Nectar¡± we all enjoy!¡± Thorkell nods his head in excitement and before Val could open the doors Thorkell burst through them and races around staring at various ingredients. The fruits were spread across containment shelves with mist rolling down them. The thin white sheet of mist blurred the vibrant color of the organized rows of plants. Thorkell walked down the isles fascinated by the displays of mystifying fruits. Some small and almost crystal clear with a green or purple tint, the swift blend of sweet aromas rushes past Thorkells nose as he reaches out to try one of the crystal-like fruits. Val runs and pulls Thorkell away before telling him ¡°Be careful in here, unless treated properly and prepared exactly right most of the plants will kill you.¡± Thorkell looks at his uncle with a longing look of dread as he asks Val ¡°Than why do use them to make nectar?¡± Val sits on the ground in front of Thorkell before taking a deep breath and explaining ¡°Because they are some of the sweetest plants we could find on our journey across the cosmos.¡± Thorkell continues with ¡°But if they are so sweet why do they hurt us?¡± Val looks Thorkell in the eyes and says, ¡°I was hoping this was a conversation for you and your dad to have.¡± Val runs his hand down his beard before continuing with ¡°Sometime in life the things that disguise themselves as sweet are normally the most harmful. Take those crystal fruits for example because their home planet is filled with small insects that want to eat them, they developed the ability to paralyze anyone who eats them. If they are treated right before serving though and heated to just the right temperature before being mixed with honey and water, they make an amazing nectar.¡± Thorkell just smiles and says ¡°But I like strawberries, and they are sweet! So does that mean they are harmful?¡± Before Val could say anything more a young man runs into the room and shouts ¡°we have a creature outside the ship!¡± Val rushes towards the cockpit of the ship where his gear was left before his brother departed on his journey. Val picks up his silver armor and places his hammer crest into the socket. As he puts his armor on, he feels the ship begin to shake violently as if it was being attacked by something large. Val tries to hold his stability as he places his helmet on and begins approaching the exit of the ship. Val stumbles through the ship smacking into each wall as the ship continues to violently shake and a loud blood curdling screech can be heard. As Val departs the ship the smell of rotting carbon engulfs the air around him, through the armor and fur he can feel a light heated wind flow from above. Val feels a slick and saliva like substance land on his right shoulder. He looks up to see an eight-legged beast prowling above him hungering for its next meal. The creature was monstrous in size with orange and black scales casing its body. Val stares the creature in its eyes, one eye was black and the other a bright red. The creature cries out as if to challenge, Val pounds his chest calling a massive hammer to his hand. The hammer was golden with a permanent red tint from the countless number of enemies he has slain through his years. The hilt of his hammer was wrapped in what appeared to be serpent scales. As Val looks over his Hammer he smiles and shouts towards the beast ¡°Child of Sleipnir and J?rmungandr you¡¯re a beautiful creature, it is a shame what I must do next.¡± The beast roars a blistering roar before smacking Val through the tree line behind him. Val smacks into a tree and attempts to catch his breath but before he can stand the beast crashes in front of him. As Val stands face to face with the beast Val hears a small voice cry out from past the beast followed by the footsteps of a child. Val is unable to make out what is being shouted but the voice is familiar to him. Val shouts out ¡°Thorkell! Listen here boy, you stay back. I will be fine I have fought many of beast like this.¡± Val reaches down to feel an empty socket where his Thors hammer should be. Val begins laughing as he realizes what Thorkell was attempting to tell him. He looks at the beast and says, ¡°Fair enough you want a good fight, everything on the line.¡± The creature rushes toward Val as if he were going to try to throw him once again. As the beast gets close to him, Val swings his hammer slamming it into the beast''s front left leg ripping it off. The beast retreats as its leg flinches and curls at Val¡¯s feet. Val takes the beast''s leg and wipes blood from the severed end. Val takes off his helmet and wipes a streak across his face with the beast''s blood. Val then places his helmet back on before chasing the beast, trying to prevent its return to his ship. Val rushes through the trees which now seem endless. As he follows the trial of the beast fog begins to rise from the ground gripping him like the hands of the dead. The fog felt heavy to breathe in and was thick and seeing through it was close to impossible. Val was stopped in his tracks by the deep sounds of steps swimming around him. Val attempted to track the steps but as he found a way to locate one set more would sound off behind him. Val rotates frantically scanning for any signs of an attack. As The fog continues to engulf the area around him slowly inching forward as if it was dancing with Val. Val cries out in a loud and desperate shout ¡°Fight me! You fucking bastard!¡± Val looks down and his hammer is missing and is now replaced by the severed hand of Thorkell. Val looks over the hand, still twitching as if still connected to him. Val flails his fists through the fog trying to clear a path, scouring the ground for any sign of his brother''s son. Val shouts out ¡°THORKELL!¡± and drops to his knees with tears streaming down his face ¡°Come to me my boy! Please...¡± Val finds himself at the head of Thorkell and begins to feel relief. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Thorkell looks up at his uncle and laughs before asking ¡°Do you think dad will be mad?¡± Val left out a hearty laugh as tears continued to twist down his beard. ¡°How could he be mad? You stood in front of the kin of Loki and live to tell the tale.¡± Thorkells hand grips Vals wrist as his head rotates revealing it was ripped from his body pieces of spine and flesh still stringing from his neck as he replies ¡°Not for me, I will see him in Valhalla. It is you I worry about, after all, you have failed him again.¡± Val attempts to remove Thorkells hand, but his grip only grows stronger as he struggles to remove it. ¡°What are you talking about? I have never failed your father.¡± Thorkell looks his uncle in the eyes and says ¡°I am sure you know by now you can''t lie to me. I know your fears, and I know about what happened that night my mother died!¡± Val falls onto his back as the severed hand of Thorkell crawls up his arm. As the hand reaches Vals throat Thorkells body now stands above him holding his detached head. ¡°I know it was your fault she died! I know the only reason she died is because you two snuck off to betray my father!¡± Val begs with the few breathes he can manage to get out ¡°Thats not what happened!¡± The hand Grips tighter around Vals neck as he cries out ¡°ACK..... I would never betray my brother''s trust!¡± Thorkell places his head back on his shoulders and asks, ¡°Then why sneak off?¡± Val looks down towards the ground where now laid the unidentifiable body of a women ripped apart like nothing more than a cheap meal. ¡°Why sneak off?!¡± Thorkell shouts as Val reaches out grabbing the hand of the woman. As Val placed his grip on the woman''s hands, he felt the fitted grip of old weathered leather firmly caressed in his hand. The leather had his handprint etched into it from his countless times using it in battle. Val grabbed the hand on his neck and realized it was the tail of the beast from before. Val musters all his strength into one swing which collides with Thorkells head but as it does Thorkell transforms into the beast. As Val releases himself from the creature''s grip, he catches his breath and then begins bludgeoning the creature with swing after swing striking the beast directly to its head. Val stands over the beast breathing heavily with tears streaming down his cheeks. As he watches the life stream from the creature, he lets out a vicious war cry as his body shakes and saliva spills out from his mouth a loud ¡°Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!¡± can be heard echoing through the skies. Val falls to his knees as tears stream down his face he cries out ¡°I couldn¡¯t stop nature, as much as I loved them both she was needed by the Allfather.¡± As Val sits on the ground, Thorkell can be heard crying for help. Val quickly stumbles to his feet and races towards Thorkell. As he reaches Thorkell he notices Thorkells once icy blue eyes are now clouded in a blend of white and green. Val Places his hand on Thorkells face who is now tossing and turning on the ground. Val quietly whispers to Thorkell in an attempt to comfort him ¡°You need not worry boy; I am back here with you.¡± Thorkells eyes drifted off as if he was watching through the eyes of the norns. As he glanced through his uncle he muttered ¡°Soon we shall be called to the great feast.¡± Val¡¯s eyes continue to tear up and lightly smacks Thorkells face and pleads ¡°You aren¡¯t ready to fight in Valhalla!¡± Thorkells eyes fade to a pure white before blood begins to drip from the corners. Val picks Thorkell up in front of him and rushes onto the ship. As he reaches the ship Thorkell begins coughing and with each breath blood spills out of his mouth and his breathing now sounds as if he was underwater. As Val makes it to the medical bay, he is met by a blonde woman tall as the giants but before Val could explain anything Thorkell is taken from his hands, and he is shoved out of the medical bay. Val bangs on the medical bay door with each hit sending a loud Thump echoing through the ship''s hull. Val begins to plead ¡°Don¡¯t do this to him allfather, I already caused him to lose his wife I can¡¯t be the reason he loses his son too.¡± Val continues banging on the door each hit gets weaker and weaker as blood begins to pour down from his hand staining the medical bays white door. Val falls to the ground staring at the blood as it rolls down the door begging for Thorkell to be returned to him. Val notices a shadow approaching him his side and as he looks over he notices the same blonde woman who took Thorkell from him now kneeling beside him her face wore a comforting smile which blushed her cheeks a rosy red her physique was large and almost rock solid as if she was built to carry the weight of anything that would be thrown at her but her face was soft and delicate. Val found himself entranced in her welcoming glow and yet amazed by her contrasting features. The woman lifted Val to his feet and began to speak with him her first words fell short of his ears as if she was a goddess and he was not yet worthy of hearing her. As she continued to speak, he slowly was able to understand her light and breathy voice as she comforted him with ¡°You need not worry about the boy he has the best care we have available.¡± Val wipes away his tear and straightens his spine as if trying to hide his insecurity and weakness as he replies with ¡°I don¡¯t worry, I know he will be ok after all he will either grow with us or the gods in Valhalla.¡± The woman laughs and says ¡°I dont think we have been fully introduced I am Eir and I can ensure you the boy will not yet be dining with the gods.¡± Val turns his head away from Eir to hide his look of relief from her as he says, ¡°That¡¯s a fitting name for a beautiful woman such as yourself.¡± Eir places her hand on the back of Vals head and gently brings him close to her. As Val¡¯s head reaches Eir¡¯s shoulder, he wraps his arms around her waist and tears continue to stream down his face. Eir remains silent and just brushes her hand across the back of Vals head. Val takes welcome in her silence as he fumbles his word through his tears ¡°I ... Can¡¯t lose him he is all I have left to remember his mother... I already cost her the life she was promised... I... I cannot cost her son the same chance.¡± Vals grip on Eir¡¯s waste tightens Eir takes in a quick breath and pulls Val closer to her as Val continues ¡°She should have never been on the blasted ship with me. I knew better than to think she could have ever been mine. It was childish dreams that killed her, she was wed to Hamund but we both longed for each other. Who was I to question the gods? As if I knew better then Freyja in the battles of love. She made me pay for daring to question her will with that blasted sea beast.¡± Vals grip loosens as he pulls himself away from Eir. Eir¡¯s face is now red as she tries to hold her smile through tears. Her smile seemed to hide a pain that even Val knew was too great to bear. Val takes a pause before placing his palm against Eir¡¯s cheek and faking a smile of his own. Vals smile was mostly hidden behind the scruff of his beard, but Eir knew that Val could see her pain just as easy as she did his. Val found himself stuck in place unsure of how to address Eir. Val was afraid that if he were offering the same courtesy Eir showed him, she would shut him out. Eir turned towards the door where Vals blood now stained and placed her hand on the security lock. As the door opened Val found himself still standing reaching for Eir hoping she wouldn¡¯t abandon him in this now baren hall. Eir entered the medical bay with no word or acknowledgement of Val but as the door closed Eir turned toward Val and showed her glistening smile one last time before saying ¡°The dead should never be the burden of the living; the Norns play fate out by their design love and pain exist together for a reason one cannot exist without the other.¡± As the door closes Val is left staring at his blood which has now been mostly stripped away by the sliding door and the frame meant to hold it. As he stares at his blood his fear of losing Thorkell now is paired with an urge to learn of the woman who comforted him and a hope that he could help her the way she helped him. The chamber Hamund finds himself in a large chamber dressed in what looks to be silk and gold lining the walls draped down to resemble that of a throne room from the earth he left behind. The chamber towered over him as if to hold beast larger than the anything he had ever seen. The General stood behind Hamund urging him to continue walking. Hamund complied with the general but remained wary of his surrounding taking in every detail he could while he was being rushed through the chamber. The ground began to shake under Hamund¡¯s feet and the silk like material began to flow as if someone had opened a door ahead of him. Hamund turned to address the general, but he had disappeared behind a large stone wall which had risen from the ground behind him. As Hamund felt the wall trying to find any way to return it back into the ground he began to smell a strong odor of rotten meat with a metallic smell entangled in it. Hamund turned to see a large beast towering over him. The Beast stood almost as tall as the tree of life and had tattered and leather-like skin that was wrapped in silk and gold to hide its deep grey complexion. The creature appeared to be almost humanoid with long arms that stretched down below its knee with legs that were at least five times Hamunds size. In the right hand of the beast was one of the beings from the planet ripped in half but still flailing around trying to get free. In the left hand of the beast was a large shard of metal that time had worn away and sharped. Hamund laughs and loudly exclaims ¡°You all got me there!¡± as the beast presses forward towards him. The beast encroaches on Hamund and throws the now lifeless corpse that it wielded in its right hand at Hamund narrowly missing him. As the Corpse flies past Hamund its blood splatters across his Armour and bleeds into the white fur which cloaked his shoulders. Hamund looks over at the stains on his cloak and shouts ¡°I shall soon be known as Hamund the Jotnar killer!¡± The beast lowers his body and swings the large shard of metal into the air before losing balance and slashing it towards where Hamund stood. Hamund watches as the metal falls unwavering from his position as the blade of the weapon collides with the ground next to Hamund he climbs onto the weapon and drops his shield unto the ground. The beast grips the sword with both hands and rips it out of the ground causing the beast to stumble backward and throwing Hamund into the air above him. As Hamund lands on the beasts shoulders he plunges his sword into the neck of the beast. The beast cries out a loud and blood curdling scream ¡°ARhhhhhhh¡± as flailed around trying to rip the sword out through sheer force of motion. Hamund loses his balance and plummeted to the ground from the shoulders of the giant as Hamund hits the ground he feels the force of his fall rush through him bursting out of him with a loud blister cry of pain followed by a flurry of blood. The beast recognized his loud cry hurled its body around swinging the sword ripping stone off the walls around him. The beast lifts its blade to impale its blade through Hamund. As Hamund closes his eyes and accepts his fate taking in one last breath there is a loud burst of air followed by the sounds of metal ripping through flesh and bone throwing shards of bone through the air. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. The beast stumbles and impales the blade through the stone floor nearly missing Hamund¡¯s head. The roaring winds from the strike force Hamund¡¯s eyes open as he notices the beast hunched over him using the metal as a crutch while clutching his right hand on the heel of his right leg. Hamund lifts himself to his feet and watches as blood pours through the beasts fingers. The blood fell from the beast like a river of crimson red colliding with the stone floors deflecting in all directions like rain falling over a mountain pass. Hamund limbs towards the beast and bangs his hand into his chest but he notices neither of his weapons respond to him. Hamund bangs his hand against his chest once again still to no effect. Hamund looks the beast in the eyes and says ¡°Well I guess I have to take my sword from you the a different way.¡± Hamund grabs onto the beast arm and attempt to scale the beast once more. The beasts breathing gets heavier as it places its injured leg on the ground and swipes his hand through the air attempting to throw Hamund off of him. Hamund holds onto the beast climbing only a few inches as the beasts arm falls to rest. Once Hamund reaches his sword he tugs on it but is unable to remove it from the leathery skin of the beast. With a frustrated look Hamund reaches behind him where he had concealed Thorkells wooden knife and unsheathes the blade before launching himself onto the beasts face. As Hamund looks into the beast blue eyes he shouts ¡°I am done with this fruitless fight!¡± as he plunges the wood blade into the beasts eye repeatedly. The beast falls to the ground bleeding profusely and shaking violently. Hamund now lays next to the beast as he hears soldiers begging for mercy coming from the wall that had trapped him in this room. Hamund tilts his head and looks into the now dim blue eyes of his fallen foe and says ¡°Feel solace in knowing that my hand is the one who sent you from the world.¡± Hamund looks up towards the ceiling of the chamber and which held paintings of what appeared to be a sun god and continues with ¡°What lies beyond that wall is a fate far worse than any death could ever bring.¡± As Hamund lays on the ground staring at the image of the sun god he thinks of his home back on earth and remembers laying in fields of wheat feeling comfort in his life. He could still feel the warmth of the sun''s rays of light burrowing their way into his skin. He remembered the first time he introduced Admadra to Thorkell and the times they would play out stories of their combined journeys for him. Hamund wanted to smile and remember these moments with glee but he knew what had followed that feeling. He recalled the days that lead to him having to leave earth behind and the fear of never having a home of his own again. Earth ¡°Peace never last forever no matter how good times are there will always be another battle to fight!¡± Hamund tells Thorkell as they lay on the bed of the beat up truck that Hamund used to scare away any creature that would ravage through his crops. ¡°Even Asgard is not safe from conflict.¡± Thorkell punches his father and replies ¡°That¡¯s not true, Asgard is under protection of Woden and the mighty Thor.¡± ¡°Even Woden cannot prevent Ragnar?k no matter how hard he tries it¡¯s an inevitability.¡± Thorkell gives his father a look of disappointment and mutters ¡°I think he has the strength to rewrite his fate!¡± Hamund smiles and goes to reply but before he could a loud bang can be heard Echoing through the field behind him followed by a large gust of wind strong enough to crack the glass on his truck. Hamund quickly drags Throkell down shoving him into the bed of the truck and begins to look around surveying the field. As he scans over the golden field of wheat he noticed a large ball of fire shining through the expansive wall of trees and hills. Hamund jumps out of the bed of his truck and jumps into the cab and begins frantically rummaging through. As he opens his glove compartment, he sees his old snub nose steel five shot revolver. As Hamund grabs the rubber coated handle of the revolver he feels the cold steel of the gun and his hands begin to tremble. Once he places his finger over the trigger well he felt a calling to the weapon. Hamund rocks the cylinder open on the revolver and counts the rounds inside. The revolver held four copper casings with the primers still intact. Hamund slams the cylinder back into the gun and rushes back to Thorkell who is trying to hold in tears as he hides in the bed of the truck. ¡°Stay here son, I will have someone return for you once things are clear.¡± Hamund ordered as he placed his hand on Thorkells should before sprinting through the field towards the now fading fire. Hamund found himself breathing heavily as he reached the tree line but even through his exhaustion, he could hear a loud barking sound coming from the flames. He drops his body to a low crawling position as he passes through the trees and calls out ¡°Anyone out there?¡± This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Hamund got no response, but the barking sounds began to increase in both volume and frequency. As Hamund approached the noise he noticed a group of four giants that wore black armored suits with crowned helmets resembling that of the god Surtr. The beings spoke is a dialect that was inaudible to Hamund and moved with heavy feet as if they were made of stone. Hamund crawled to the left side of the giants hoping to stay hidden and get past them without being spotted. As he slowly side stepped around them, he counted in his head ¡°One, two, Three, four...¡± repeatedly and every fourth step he would stop allowing the air to still around him and taking a pause to observe his surroundings. Hamund can see bodies of people at the feet of the giants, the bodies were burnt to a crisp and in some cases had seem to be torn in half with portions of their bodies completely missing. Hamund went to turn around to return to his son but before he could he heard a sound coming from the giants that was familiar to him. The giants could be heard laughing as they stomped on the bodies of the dead and ripping limbs from the corpses. Hamund feels burning rage building inside him so hot that the nearby flames began to feel like a cold breeze. As he gripped his Hammer he was as a necklace and begged Thor to look after his son. Hamund lifts himself off the ground and raises his revolver to aim at the closest giant before he pulls the hammer on the revolver down and fires a round into its back. The round deflects of the giants armor as the giants turn to face Hamund. Hamund just laughs as he drops his arm back to his side and realizes that he may have made a mistake he says through a large sigh ¡°Well I really don¡¯t know how I expected that to go.¡± The lead giant now towers over Hamund and grabs Hamunds right arm. The giant turns to face his allies as he laughs at Hamund. Hamund begins to laugh with him as the giant''s armor begins to burn his arm. Hamund feels a sharp pain follow by the sound of a thud at his feet before the giant kicks him to the ground. As Hamund hits the ground he goes to stand but quickly notices his right hand is now replaced by singe marks and the revolver he carried is not resting at the feet of the beast. Hamund quickly turns and crawls to his feet before stumbling through the woods line as his vision quickly fades in and out. Hamund stumbles into tree after tree before reaching the field where his son hid. Hamund shouts out in pain ¡°Boy! Run and warn Admadra!¡± As Hamund watches his son run away he is thrown through the woods by one of the giants. Hamund collides with one of the trees and watches as the giants approach him and he is stuck laying on the ground bleeding and unable to move. Admadra Admadra''s eyes are fixed on the stone wall before her, intricately carved with the menacing figure of a monstrous beast. Tiet and Erp drag the general through the gruesome hall littered with lifeless bodies, their grim task punctuated by the squelch of blood-soaked floor tiles. They throw the general with a rough shove against the cold, unyielding stone, positioning him between Admadra and the wall. The general, gasping for breath, immediately starts to plead, "Please, don¡¯t kill me!" Admadra leans closer to the general, her eyes narrowing with intensity. "Where is he?" she demands, her voice cold and sharp. The general¡¯s gaze flickers nervously toward the wall. "Beyond this wall," he stammers, "you¡¯ll find his body, but nothing more. That¡¯s all that¡¯s left." Admadra¡¯s frustration mounts. ¡°And how exactly do we get through this wall?¡± The general reaches into his pocket and produces a strange device. It¡¯s a crystalline artifact, split into two interlocking halves, shimmering with an otherworldly glow. Admadra examines it briefly before tossing it back to Erp, who fumbles but manages to catch it. As Admadra¡¯s spear presses against the general¡¯s throat, he croaks out in desperation, ¡°I won¡¯t open it. Your friend is already dead, and I won¡¯t free that beast!¡± Admadra¡¯s lips curl into a cold smile as she prepares to end the general¡¯s life. ¡°Then you¡¯re of no use to me.¡± Just then, a commanding voice echoes from the hallway they had entered. ¡°Stop!¡± Admadra freezes, her spear hovering over the general¡¯s neck. She turns to see a man emerging from the shadows. Though he¡¯s not particularly tall, his presence is striking¡ªa blend of authority and calm. He stood with an almost regal aura to him, a stark contrast to the general who laid whimpering on the ground. Admadra couldn¡¯t tell what it was about the man but something seemed almost sinister about him. The mans face was obscured behind the shadow of the wall he appeared behind. His body was draped in what appeared to be a velvet coat compared to the cheap cloth the soldiers wore it was clear he was of high importance to the inhabitants of this planet. Admadra demanded ¡°Step forward so I can see the face of the man I am talking to!¡± The man raises his hands above his head and steps slowly into the light of the grim hall. The mans skin was a pale white and had long brown hair as well as a well maintained beard. Admadra looks back to the general and observes his gray skin before turning back to the unknown man and asking ¡°Who are you? Clearly, you aren¡¯t from here.¡± The man senses the Admadra serious tone and holds in a laugh and states ¡°I have gone by many names throughout my year. To these creatures I am known as God but to our people I was simply known as Ken.¡± Admadra feels a sense of curiosity arise in her ask she asks ¡°What do you mean our people?¡± Ken pointed to his right side pocket and stated ¡°I have something that would explain all of this in my pocket.¡± Admadra nods giving a look of approval to ken. Ken reaches into his pocket and pulls out a piece paper that was worn and tattered it had clearly been aged by generations of weathering. Ken holds the paper out and offers it to Admadra. Admadra shouts over to Tiet ¡°Grab that from him!¡± Tiet stumbles over the bodies that lined the floors and grabs the paper from Ken. As Tiet eyes look over the paper he expression turns to one of shock as he quickly backtracks towards Admadra. Admadra Looks at Tiet and ask ¡°Well, what is it?¡± Tiet holds the paper up for Admadra to see it. The paper had writings on it that were written in the scribblings of earth and was headed as follows ¡°USS Draxia, Orders for intergalactic conquest.¡± Ken slowly drops his arms to his sides and states ¡°I too am from earth.¡± Ken points to Admdra¡¯s spear and suggests ¡°Maybe we can have a conversation where I am not at the edge of a blade.¡± Admadra holds her spear firmly and demands ¡°First you must allow us through this wall.¡± Ken shows a disappointed look on his face and replies ¡°My friend Sterrack over there does speak the truth. Anything you want beyond that wall is long gone it¡¯s best you forget of its existence.¡± ¡°The man behind this wall is far more important than any of your followers. I will kill anyone who stops me from getting to him.¡± Admadra shouts as tears roll down her cheeks. Ken looks over toward Sterrack and asks ¡°What does she mean by man?¡± Sterrack buries his face into the stone floors and replies ¡°We captured one their men, he demanded to speak with our leader.¡± Ken pinches the bridge of his nose and lets out a heavy sigh before shouting ¡°And you didn¡¯t think that was important to tell me!¡± Ken takes a few more breaths and regains his composure before stating ¡°Sterrack hand me your Transceiver key.¡± Sterrack points over towards Erp. Ken looks at Erp and says ¡°I would appreciate if you handed me the crystal that you got from Sterrack.¡± Erp throws the device to Ken and says ¡°Try anything and I promise you will be painted onto these walls.¡± Ken catches the device and surveys the piles of corpses and says ¡°Lucky for you I have no intention on dying for Sterrack¡¯s lack of judgement.¡± Ken rotates the two halves of the device revealing a inner glowing needle-like structure. He presses his thumb on the needle and winces in pain. The device begins glowing a deep red and a loud rumbling emanates from the wall. Ken holds the device up and fascinates over it ¡°Isn¡¯t it crazy what a little bit of earth intellect and otherworldly materials can create. Essentially its an over complicated garage door.¡± Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. The wall collapses into the ground revealing a large giant beast laying on stone floor covered in silk and gold and Hamund sitting on top of the beast. Hamund smiles and looks excitedly towards his crew before asking ¡°What took you all so long?¡± Admadra¡¯s gaze locks onto Hamund as she turns her body. Admadra drops her spear and a loud clang could be heard echoing through the chambers. Ken finds himself frozen in awe of the man sitting atop the beast that he had lived in fear of for years. Admadra rushes toward Hamund at her top speed each step pounding against the stone floor the gold from her leg threw sparks and shards of broken stone through the air as each step was fueled by a blend of worry and excitement to see the man she had fought with for so many years now. Hamund climbs down from the beast and lands with a hard thud on the ground as his feet hit the stone. Before Hamund could turn around Admadra lifts him off his feet and shouts ¡°If you ever scare me like that again I will kill you!¡± Ken found himself feeling a sense of excitement for the sights ahead as he begins talking with himself ¡°A leader who could kill even the tallest of goliaths.¡± Ken looks over at Admadra and observes her clear overpowering strength and continues with ¡°A woman who by all means is definitely the strongest of the batch despite her physical handicaps.¡± Ken walks up to Sterrack who has remained on the ground still hiding his head hoping for those around him to leave. Ken pats Sterrack on the back and asks ¡°What do you think of our guests we have here?¡± Sterrack looks up temporarily noticing Erps strong composure blended with his high tech suit which was more complex than any other suit in the group and he replies ¡°He has to be the smartest of the bunch.¡± Ken smiles as he removes his hand from Sterracks back and reaches under his velvet coat and firmly grasps a rubber based handle that he had stored in his belt line. Ken chuckles and looks into Sterrack¡¯s eyes. Sterrack¡¯s eyes radiated his fear with rapid eye movement and constant blinking. Ken asks Sterrack ¡°Do you know what we would call you back on earth?¡± Sterrack shakes his head and replies ¡°No, sir.¡± Sterrack feels a cold metal cylinder pressed against his temple as Ken answers ¡°An ostrich, isn''t that hilarious back on my planet you wouldn¡¯t be seen as anything more than a pathetic creature who hide from any threat leaving everything that is vital to them vulnerable.¡± Sterrack begins to beg ¡°I am sorry, sir please don¡¯t...¡± Ken covers Sterracks mouth and says ¡°I trusted you to protect your people. Years of the cloning and this is what I am left with a pile of whimpering shit. I will make you better.¡± Ken stops his thought as he looks up at Hamund and says ¡°With help from that man I will make you the strongest you could ever be.¡± Sterrack can hear a low clicking sound as Ken presses the trigger of the gun he held against Sterracks temple. Sterrack noticed a menacing smile on Ken¡¯s face and heard him whisper ¡°Goodbye dear friend I will see you again one day.¡± followed by a loud bang that echoed through the bloodied halls. Tiet and Erp stepped back raising their weapons towards Ken. Ken dropped his gun on the ground and quickly raised his hands above his head. Hamund and Admadra rushed over towards Ken in fear that that loud sound that rung through the halls was towards one of their crew. Ken slowly stands regaining his regal posture and turns giving Hamund an almost lustful stare. As Hamund and Ken stand staring down one another Ken smiles and says ¡°I am sorry for my actions. I understand they may seem unpleasant but I assure you that was a necessary evil.¡± Tiet shouts over Ken ¡°You killed that man for no reason! What part of that was necessary.¡± Ken looks around at the piles of corpse and replies ¡°Aren¡¯t we a bit contradictory. You kill my men, and you see it as doing what is needed, but once I do you assume I have no reason.¡± Ken looks down at Sterrack¡¯s lifeless corpse which now has blood pouring from it and says ¡°If you must know, that man there was a traitor to my overall cause to unite this once utopian world. When I arrived on this planet the slaxions were almost extinct. Through decades of genetic cloning and a little bit of mental manipulation they now thrive.¡± Tiet interrupts once again ¡°Failure doesn¡¯t make him a traitor.¡± Hamund steps forward and places his hand on Tiet shoulder as Hamund looks into Tiet eyes he gives him a smile and says ¡°although naive, Tiet is correct you can¡¯t expect us to look at you as an ally when you treat your own people like nothing more than slaves to your goal.¡± Ken laughs as he observes Hamund¡¯s hesitant stare as if he was avoiding something being said while hiding behind his words. Ken smiles and says ¡°I see I am not the only one who has secrets to hide.¡± Hamund remains hesitant and silent as Ken looks over his crew. Their faces were dumbfounded as they looked around trying to decipher what Ken had meant by his statement. Admadra steps forward still grappling with her excitement of finding Hamund and the relentless and ruthlessness of Kens actions. Broken between emotions she looks down at Sterrack¡¯s lifeless body she feared what Ken was capable of and whether or not her and her crew could meet the same fate. Admadra despite her better judgement asks ¡°You speak of secrets and then remain silent? What is it that you are implying?¡± Hamund interupts as he pulls Admadra back and shouts ¡°Admadra, Stop!¡± Ken¡¯s smile widens, a glimmer of dark amusement shines in his eyes. He takes a slow but calculated step towards Hamund. The space between them shortening but the air seems to thicken and crack through the tension of two forces colliding. Hamund cracks a smirking smile as if he was playing the same game Ken was. ¡°Oh, nothing, just a mere observation.¡± Ken turns his face towards Admadra and asks ¡°Admadra is it?¡± Kens smile holds strong as he continues with ¡°We all wear masks after all. We all have a greed for power or maybe even hidden agendas of our own. Friend or foe we are all just using each other to meet our own ends.¡± Hamund steps further into Kens space strengthening the tension between them and asks ¡°And what role would we play in your agenda, Friend or Foe?¡± Ken slowly turns his attention back to Hamund and replies ¡°I see no difference. Friend or foe are two sides of the same blade both ready to stab you in the back at any given chance.¡± Tiet steps forward still envisioning the grusome death of Sterrack and says ¡°Ken, you speak of masks and secrets but you showed your hand you use your people as tools to play to your twisted vision of how things should be. You couldn¡¯t possibly except us to trust you.¡± Ken chuckles and says ¡°Correct, you shouldn¡¯t trust me. After all trust is earned, I have never made a claim to righteousness. I have been the only honest one in this room, I only seek to achieve my goals even if that means making a few difficult decisions along the way. The question you must ask yourselves is what are you willing to do to achieve yours.¡± Ken gives Hamund a quizzical stare and says ¡°And what about those around you?¡± Hamund bangs his hand on his chest and a loud whizzing could be heard through the chambers halls. As his sword and shield reach him the smell of death follows now encircling the group even more thick than before. Hamund raises his sword to Ken¡¯s throat, and you can hear an audible gulp come from Ken. As Ken fights with his desire to have the last word and his fear of being at the edge of a blade he attempts to hold his commanding composure. Hamund with a new feeling of confidence says ¡°To come between a man and his family is an act that only leads to death.¡± Ken smile returns as he tries to break the tension between him and the group ¡°I mean to do no such thing, I am merely a man of philosophy.¡± Ken beckons the group to follow him as he turns his back to them and disappears into the shadowy halls. Having been abandoned the group now looks amongst one another before turning to Hamund for guidance. Hamund follows the man and slowly each member of the group enter into the halls. Halls of Utopia As they walk through the baren halls slowly each member feels anxious, after everything that had happened could they trust these empty halls or even the man that led them through it. The halls were lightened only by a few dim lights sparsely spread out, as if to keep anyone unfamiliar with them disoriented. Hamund stared at Ken through bursts of light he was able to keep a close watch. Hamund was hoping Ken would make a mistake, one slip and that would give him all the excuses he needed to kill the man who tried to turn his crew against him. Hamund¡¯s distain for Ken grew with every passing light but so to did his uneasiness. The halls although not isolated created a feeling of loneliness only visited briefly by glimpses of those ahead. Hamund found himself questioning whether Ken was still leading or if it was merely his mind playing into the feeling of uneasiness. Admadra raced through the halls only slowing once in the small wells of light. As Admadra paced through the darkness she began to hear voices of a little girl. ¡°I know your hiding in the dark!¡± the voice could be heard shouting. Admadra surveyed the area surrounding her before telling herself ¡°It is all in my head.¡± As Admadra approached another well of light she seen a girl small and frail the girl had a sickly stature with auburn hair. Admadra froze in shock as she seen herself staring back at her. Admadra approached the girl cautiously, once she stood in front of her she crouched down with one knee on the ground and stared into her deep blue eyes. Admadra felt guilt rush through her body followed by a cold chill. As she looked into the girls eyes she found herself wiping away tears. Before Admadra could say anything to the girl she smelled the sweet aroma of tree sap and heard the songs of birds and crickets rush around her. The girl looked at her and began to scream before running away crying ¡°Stay away, Monster!¡± Admadra found herself in a forest lit by the moons dim light. The tops of the trees seemed to touch the sky and the floor of the forest was engulfed in fog. Admadra felt restless in this forest but she couldn¡¯t remember why. She called for the girl to return but was answered by empty winds and the eerie songs of the night life that called this forest home. As she passed through the walls of fog she was overcome with a feeling of restlessness and uncertainty. Admadra remembered these woods and this night, but she was unsure of why. Could this be just another Deja vu moment or could this be a memory spiked by her distrust for the darkness. Just as Admadra pondered these ideas she heard a clash of voices rippling from the forest ahead of her. The voices were complete opposites of each other. One was the same sickly voice she had heard before, the other was a loud wrathful voice. As Amadra approached the voices the fog began to clear around the source as if the winds from their shouting ripped open the wall of fog. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. Admadra seen the same sickly girl from before being demoralized by a tall stout man. Admadra rushed towards the girl shattering the brush under her feet with every passing step. Admadra¡¯s attempts to reach them seemed fruitless, no matter how fast she ran they always remained just out of reach. Admadra heard the little girl beg the man ¡°Please dad, take me home I don''t like it here.¡± The man stood firm and in a furious tone stated ¡°You are no daughter of mine!¡± Admadra fell to her knees as she watched the man push the girl to the ground and stand above her. As the man towered over the girl Admadra found herself crying the same words as the girl ¡°Please, you don¡¯t have to do this. I¡¯ll run away, I will leave you and mom for good.¡± The man''s anger boiled over into him straddling the girl as he Pummeled her with an onslaught of punches and began shouting ¡°I make sure you never return.¡± The girls voice cried out for help losing strength with each hit. Admadra begged the man to stop knowing no matter how hard she tried she wouldn¡¯t be able to save that little girl. As Admadra helplessly watched the girl be beaten she remembered the feeling that she felt that night. That urge to fight back but the helpless fear of what could happen if she was to anger her father more. It was a dark feeling to know that this man would end her life but still need that sense of approval from him. Admadra felt a gripping pain around her chest strengthening with every hit she took. The sound of each hit colliding with the girl rung out like thunder cracking through the sky as if she had angered Thor himself. As the girl found herself on the brink of death she had wondered if it was her father that had angered Thor and not her. She pleaded with the gods to send a savior, but each hit made that hope die, slowly. The forest began to fade as Admadra found herself struggling to breathe. As everything faded to darkness, a loud bang could be heard echoing throughout the black. Suddenly the punches stopped, and the image of the forest returned but now it was the man who laid on the brush and Admadra who stood above him. The man pleaded with her ¡°Please don¡¯t do this, I am your father.¡± Admadra watched as tears fell from her cheeks colliding with the ground. As she stood above him, she asked ¡°Did that stop you that night?¡± The man looked around frantically hoping someone would come save him, but he was alone. He pleaded with her ¡°I was drunk!¡± Before he could say anymore Admadra shouted over him ¡°I was your child! You were supposed to protect me!¡± Admadra watched as her father wiggled on the ground searching for anything to help him. She smiled as he visibly lost all hope and she asked him ¡°You know what¡¯s fucked up, I know what you''re thinking. Why you? How did you end up in this situation? Where did you go wrong? Well for once we can agree your biggest mistake was having me, and your second was not killing me that night.¡± Admadra sits down next to her fathers dying corpse and say¡¯s ¡°I remember when I was young, and I asked you why we still fought in wars even though we had everything we ever needed. Do you remember what you had told me.¡± The man tries to reply but all that can be heard is gurgling as he chokes on his blood. As his blood pours out Admadra runs her finger through it and wipes some of it across her forehead. ¡°You said a utopia is built on a foundation of bodies and painted in blood.¡± Admadra stared up at the red moon as she begins to regain control of her breathing. Hamund¡¯s voice can be heard ringing out as he begs ¡°Come back to me! I can¡¯t lose you!¡± Old Friends As Val walked through the ships long-stretched door, the cold breeze of the mountain air hit him like a needle. He was hesitant at first but he had forced himself to leave. His boots crunched through the early morning snow of the mountain top. Despite his breath taking surrounding, he found himself still nervous after that attack that put Thorkell in the medical bay. Vals unease was halted by the sweet aroma of the of the plants around the ships landing zone. The smells were comforting and slowly overshadowed his fear. The fresh snow contrasted vividly with the blue berries that were scattered around his feet. He crouched down, picking a few berries, the fresh scent of the berries wrinkled his nose. Val¡¯s eyes widened as he thought of earlier planets he had landed on. Val thought of his general rule he had taught those interested in the art of brewing mead. ¡°The worst it smells when picked, the sweeter the mead it will make.¡± As Val placed the berry in his mouth and chewed, he tasted a quick blast of a sugary sweet juice as the berry blasted across his tongue. He struggled to contain his excitement as he carefully picked the low-growing plants clean of berries. Sitting in the snow, Val savored the berries, his mind drifted to when he was a young boy. He recalled various adventures of sneaking through his local berry farm''s stealing blueberries and strawberries by the handful. He remembered his first time trying a freshly picked strawberry and how sweet the taste was and how nervous he was that that old man that ran the farm would catch him. The taste of the berries brought a nostalgic feeling to him, one he hadn¡¯t felt since the day Thorkells mother passed away. Before Val could think of the past he hears a young voice echo from behind him ¡°Val, what are you doing in the snow?¡± Val lays back resting in the snow and peers up to see a young boy with deep brown curly hair and skin the color of caramel. The boys eyes glistened with excitement upon seeing his old friend. Val grinned and replied ¡°Kare, you curly-haired devil. How was stasis?¡± Kare sat next to Val and took some of the berries from him. As Kare examined the berries he plugged his nose and laughed as he mocked Val ¡°The worst it smells the better it tastes, right?¡± Val sits up and nudges Kare before answering his mockery with ¡°Fruit that give off a bad aroma have developed that smell to protect them from predators. So yes, in most cases the worst the smell the better the taste.¡± Kare places on of the berries in his mouth and chews, his eyes brighten highlighting their copper-brown glow. The sweet burst of flavor seemed to amplify his naturally cheerful mood. Val smiled, sharing in Kare¡¯s excitement. ¡°See, my rule hasn¡¯t failed me yet!¡± Kare tries to hold back his joy as he responds with a playful smirk ¡°I mean, they are alright.¡± Noticing Val¡¯s smile fading slightly Kare shows a look of concern ¡°So, how have you been? What has been bothering you?¡± Val didn¡¯t attempt to hide his dismay. Instead, he replied ¡°You always had the ability to see right through me, even as a young boy.¡± If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Kare raised his eyebrow and said ¡°Don¡¯t try to distract me with stories of old times, I understand that you are old, but you can¡¯t fool me!¡± Val ate another berry before replying ¡°It is not the burden of the young to carry the weight of older generations.¡± Kare, with a determined expression, took all the berries from Val and said ¡°No more berries until you tell me what has been bothering you! You stone man!¡± Val sprang to his feet and said ¡°Then I will go find more, the grow plentifully around us!¡± Kare stood up, still carrying the berries and shouted ¡°I¡¯ll be joining you then, until you learn to talk about your feelings!¡± Val hid a wide smile as Kare rushed toward him, almost tripping over the snow. Kare intentionally bumps into Val as they walk down the mountain side and demands ¡°Talk about your problems, old man!¡± Val held strong as he scanned the landscape in search for new fruits in that inhabited this new world. As time passed, Kare continued to press the issue antagonizing Val constantly as they trekked through fields of tree and bushes in search of fruits. Val¡¯s attention was suddenly drawn to an apple-sized object hanging from a large tree, it had very few branches obscuring it from easy reach. Without hesitation Kare scrambles up the tree and, with deft movements, grabbed the elusive fruit. As Kare perched on the branch he dangled the fruit, teasing Val ¡°Only way I don¡¯t eat this myself is if you agree to talk about your problems.¡± Vals waved him down, remaining silent as if to avoid making promises. Kare, with a triumphant smile, said ¡°Say it¡± as he lifted the fruit to his mouth, ready to take a bite. Val felt his mouth watering for the mysterious fruit blurted out in desperation ¡°Fine, we can talk about my problems!¡± Kare felt accomplished as he descended the tree the tree. He tossed the fruit to Val and gave a satisfied nod ¡°Now, let¡¯s sit down and we can discuss what''s troubling you.¡± Val caught the fruit, almost fumbling it. As they settled down on the snow-covered ground, Val took a deep breath and said ¡°I have been thinking about all the pain I have caused my brother. I am the reason his wife had died and now his son remains in critical care due to my failures.¡± Kare listened intently, his normal playful demeanor replaced by an expression of concern. Kare placed his hand on Val¡¯s shoulder and said ¡°I understand this burden is heavy, and I wish you would stop carrying it on your own.¡± he continues softly ¡°But holding blame for yourself helps no one. Instead, it acts like an anchor weighing down everyone. Eir is one of the best doctors we have ever known if there is a cure she will find it.¡± Kare forced himself to smile through the tears streaming down his face as he added ¡°You need to be strong, that is true. You also need someone who can understand and listen to you. When your brother returns, he will need you as he always does.¡± Val looked over the reddish yellow fruit and said ¡°It''s not always as simple as just talking about it, I don''t want to remember. I hear the stories of Hamund¡¯s great adventures and how he hasn¡¯t lost a member of his raiding party since we departed. I look at my constant failures and remember all the lives that I have failed.¡± Val looked into Kare¡¯s eyes and said ¡°I remember your fathers last words to me. He wasn¡¯t concerned with his fate, he just wanted me to promise to protect his boy.¡± Val handed Kare the fruit and said ¡°I always fail, that''s why I am not out there with Hamund now.¡± Kare leaned in to hug Val and replied ¡°You''re not out there with him now because he trusts you to protect the only thing we have to call home.¡± Kare sensing Val was close to shutting down any further conversation stood up and said in a joyful tone ¡°What do you say we go turn this thingy into the finest wine we have ever tasted?¡± Val looked up at Kare and he pictured Kare¡¯s father and said ¡°you remind me a lot of him.¡± Kare assisted Val up and replied ¡°In what way?¡± Val laughed and said ¡°You both were a pain in the ass.¡± Kare smiled as he watched Val trek back up the mountain. Ken Ken stands in his dimly lit study observing the crew from a shadowy corner. The room itself had papers scattered across the floor they were rolled up maps that Ken had developed on his journey. On the shelves of the study were documents and books detailing centuries of knowledge from different parts of the galaxy dating back as far as earth¡¯s earliest days. As Ken stared at Hamund with cold eyes and a wicked smile as he thought about how he could use someone like him in his conquest. He watched as Hamund begged his god¡¯s for Admadra¡¯s safe return, but he felt no sympathy for her. To Ken she was merely a pawn in his game, a piece to be thrown away if necessary. Ken found himself thinking of how weak Admadra must have been, but still he seen gold in her weakness. A crack in Hamund¡¯s armor, he wondered just how far was Hamund willing to go to ensure her safety. Ken¡¯s excitement grew as he thought of the opportunities her fragile mind could open for him. While in thought Ken shouted with excitement ¡°Yggdrasil¡¯s Reach!¡± his exclamation echoed off the walls. Ken darted across the study his movements filled with urgency as he scrambled through his maps he had scattered along the ground. Among the scattered maps, He found one that had a depiction of a large tree illustrated on it. Ken rushed the map to his desk, he shoved the documents and artifacts on the desk to the ground. As he opened and unrolled the map onto the table his excitement grew. ¡°Hamund¡± ken called out, his voice was rich with enthusiasm with a menacing undertone Hamund, Initially Hesitant, approached Ken cautiously. His steps were heavy, each one filled with a mix of Suspicion blended with intrigue. Hamund felt as if he was walking a thin thread, each movement threatened to snap the trust between him and Ken. Ken¡¯s excitement drew him closer to him, as Hamund thought to himself ¡°Ken was a man of ambition same as him.¡± As Hamund neared, Ken¡¯s smile widened and his movement displayed his dark ambition masked by his eager excitement. Ken imagined the levels of power he could reach if he could only control the man who approached. ¡°Come Closer¡± Ken urged, his tone was commanding yet enticing. Hamund, However, couldn¡¯t shake the nagging curiosity about what was so urgent to provoke such a reaction from Ken¡¯s usual calm demeanor. As Hamund stood over the desk he noticed a map drew on parchment. The map depicted the stars and galaxies all connected by roots or branches of a tree. Written on the map were symbols that even Hamund¡¯s helmet couldn¡¯t decipher. ¡°You called me over here to look at your drawing?¡± Hamund¡¯s was voice rung out, echoing his growing irritation. Ken calmed his voice knowing any stray from his serious tone would not help sway Hamund. ¡°I have traveled to many world¡¯s and even more galaxies. Their beliefs tended to sway between the names of gods but one thing remained true.¡± Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. Ken pointed to the tree that was depicted on the map ¡°Every world I had encountered depicts what we would call Yggdrasil, the connecting tree.¡± Hamund nods his head in confusion as he asks ¡°What does any of this have to do with Yggdrasil or even with our current situation.¡± Ken¡¯s wicked smile broke free as he realized he had Hamund¡¯s hesitant attention. ¡°Yggdrasil is far more than a myth! It is my belief that should we find the tree we could cure Admadra of her condition, for good.¡± Hamund cautiously listens and ask Ken ¡°What is in it for you?¡± ¡°Knowledge beyond human imagination.¡± Ken says as he looks around the room pointing to the scattered artifacts and books. Ken looks at Hamund¡¯s helmet and how his helmet covered his left eye and said ¡°Like Woden himself we can have the knowledge of all.¡± Hamund found himself snarling at Ken as he asked ¡°What does any of that have to do with curing Admadra?¡± Ken laughs as he explains ¡°Imagine knowing the cure to all illnesses just by pure thought. The ability to see your death coming and how to prevent it. No man could fool you and nothing would prevent your ambitions. You would always have the solution before the problem!¡± As Hamund watched Ken ramble he thought of the story of Woden and asked ¡°Do you remember how that story ended?¡± Ken shrugged off Hamund¡¯s warning, his attention was absorbed by the details of the map. Ken appeared mesmerized, lost in thought as he admired the delicate depiction of Yggdrasil. Hamund slammed his hand onto the parchment breaking Ken¡¯s trance. Kens face contorted with frustration and a flicker of anguish while Hamund¡¯s palm pressed into the map. Hamund stared into Ken¡¯s now attentive eyes, as neither of them said anything. Hamund, noticing he had Ken¡¯s unyielding attention reminded him ¡°You can¡¯t prevent fate, no matter how hard you try!¡± Ken¡¯s normal calm facade shattered as he retorted ¡°I Have to!¡± Ken began to pace back and forth he mumbled to himself. He clenched his fist as his eyes began to rapidly wonder, surveying the room. Hamund watched Ken with a mix of confusion and concern, he found himself struggling to understand the man he was talking to. Ken came to an abrupt halt as his wicked smile returned to him. As he placed himself back at the desk he pointed to a galaxy that was near the base of the roots and offered ¡°I can offer far more than knowledge and a cure, what about a new home?¡± Hamund tried to hide his intrigue but Ken sense the glimmer in his eyes. He knew that he was back in control. ¡°We have a home¡± Hamund knew he was lying but he hoped this rapid switch in Ken¡¯s confidence would be partially quenched. Ken leaned towards Hamund and pointed to his crew ¡°How would they feel if they knew you had chance to give them what they lost, and you said no?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t fail them, like I did mine¡± Ken continued with sorrow in his voice as he reached into his pocket and removes a cloth bag. Hamund could hear the sound of metal clanging against metal from inside the bag. Ken placed the bag on the table and gave Hamund a nod as he said ¡°Take a look.¡± As Hamund opened the back he found several shard of flat metal inscribed with names. ¡°What is this? Hamund asked as he pulled out one and examined it. Ken¡¯s smile fades as he avoids looking at the bag ¡°One hundred members on my ship, that is what I left earth with. I dug a grave for each one within my first year, women, children and all died to this damned planet.¡± Hamund glanced back at Admadra, still incapacitated on the ground and his crews worried stares and responds ¡°So what is your offer?¡± Ken snatches the bag and secures it back into his pocket before stating ¡°Get me to the tree and I can offer you everything they lost.¡± Lost in the stars The ships engines hummed softly as the crew busied themselves preparing to take off. Hamund Stood by the hatch, his gaze shifted between the stars as he pondered the choices laid out ahead of him. Each twinkle seemed to be its own challenge in the way of his quest. The weight of Ken¡¯s conversation with him hung above him like a dagger, Hamund knew one wrong move, and everything would come to light. As Hamund stared into the heavy night sky, he heard the footsteps of a heavier set man approaching from behind. ¡°Worry not brother, we have faced far more fierce foes in our day!¡± Val utters as he slowly steps to his brothers side. Hamund can¡¯t help but smile as his brothers words radiate a warm feeling. ¡°Worry?¡± Hamund sarcastically asks. ¡°The only thing I worry about is where our next meal comes from.¡± Val looks over his brothers face and softly stows his brother sarcasm ¡°You don¡¯t need to hide you fears, not from me.¡± Val feared the news he had to deliver, he hoped he could soften its effect with friendly banter. As they both stood outside the ship, simultaneously they exchanged ¡°We need to talk about what happened.¡± Val took lead in the conversation as Hamund stood silently still lost in space. ¡°It¡¯s about Thorkell.¡± Val¡¯s tongue felt heavy as he mustered up the courage to tell his brother of his sons condition. Hamund¡¯s attention was drawn to his brother but before Val could get another word in a woman¡¯s voice could be heard. Blended with anxiety and urgency Eir shouts to Hamund ¡°Hurry to the medical bay, Thorkell is going under!¡± As Hamund snapped around at the sound of Eir¡¯s urgent call. for a brief second Val seen his face contorted by fear and anger. Val could feel the warmth of their initial conversation broken by the stark reality of the current crisis they found themselves in. Val stood outside the ship, staring inside as he watched his brother rush through its halls. Val feared the wrath that may come from his brother discovering this news. The pressure had Vals heart beating rapidly as he gripped his shirt, he couldn¡¯t help but fear he had failed his brother. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. Val, hesitantly, walked onto the ship closing the door behind him. As he watched the walkway shut, he felt a sense of anxiety rush over him like an animal trapped in a cage. As Val approached the medical bay door, he seen that his blood had all but disappeared, leaving chipped paint and small spots still staining the white door. Val sat outside the door praying that Thorkell would be okay, he hoped his father''s presence would be the thing that brought him back from the brink. Val could hear the faint sounds of hurried footsteps and muffled voices through the cracks in the door. Talks of blood and various unintelligible words broke the oppressive silence of the hall. Suddenly, the door to the medical bay swung open, as Hamund emerged, his face was bright red and scrunched with anger. Hamund pointed into the bay and with an aggressive tone said ¡°Eir needs you¡± Val stands up and walks past his brother, Hamund glare never leaving Val. As the blinding of the bright lights fades, Val notices Eir standing by Thorkells bed side with an IV. Eir¡¯s voice was riddled with caution as she said ¡°Throkell needs blood for the procedure to work. It has to be someone of direct relation. Seeing as how his mother is dead, and he has no direct siblings it would have to be his fathers.¡± Val looks back at Hamund who is standing at the door with his head hanging. Val asks Eir ¡°Why do you need me, his father is right there.¡± Hamund, showing a bandage on his arm, says ¡°We tried that.¡± Val felt confused as his hands began shaking said ¡°I don¡¯t understand¡± Hamund shouts out ¡°I know you and his mom shared relations, humor me would you?¡± Hamund¡¯s arms flailed as he pointed to Thorkell ¡°For fucks sake, just save the boy.¡± Val feels water rush to his eyes as he sits next to Thorkell and holds his arm out, ready to receive an IV. As Eir approached Val¡¯s arm with the needle, Val looked away trying to avoid seeing the needle enter his skin. Val feels a tight pinch as Eir inserts the needle into his arm. His blood rushes through the small wound filling the bag slowly. Hamund watched as tears streamed down from Val''s face. Hamund senses Val¡¯s guilt and fear and turns to walk out the door. Before Hamund could depart the room Val looked over to him and said ¡°No matter what happens, he is still your son.¡± Hamund slams the door as he walks out the room, his face crumbled as he felt a burst of air build up in his stomach and tears fell freely to the ground like rain. Map of Yggdrasil Hamund stood at the head of his war table staring into the projection of the galaxy. As he glared through the stars he couldn¡¯t help but imagine what may have happened if earth never met its harsh fate. He tried to picture taking Thorkell out to the beautiful blue lakes of Reykjaa (Raykya) with the mountainous backdrop that always brought tears to his eyes. He still remembered the serene sounds of the water crashing into the rocky shores. He missed the chill in the air that blended with the scent of pine from the expansive tree lines that surrounded the capital city. He pictured spending days in the colorful woods of their estate, hunting, tracking, and just enjoying the moments together. The picture was clear in his mind- Thorkell stood with his bow drawn, the soft twang of the bow string as it was released, and the low pitched whistle of the arrow as it swam through the chilled winds. Hamund remembered the pride he felt when he heard the echoing thud of the arrow as it made contact with the first buck of the season. The deer was a tall stag, its antlers creating an almost perfect half circle as they outlined the early morning sun. Thorkell had mastered the bow at just eleven years of age. He remembered what Val had said when they had returned with such a magnificent creature. ¡°The boy is a prodigy in the making¡± echoed through his brain. His journey through his memories was broken abruptly by the sound of Ken shouting from the other side of the war table ¡°So, what is our plan?¡± Hamund blinked and his image of Reykjaa seemed to burn up in front of him. Hamund¡¯s attention snapped into the map as he replied ¡°If what you say is true about Yggdrasil, then there has to be a way into its reach.¡± Ken stares at Hamund from across the table, observing his rapid and chaotic movements as he stumbled through his words. Ken¡¯s normal wicked smile now faded and was replaced by a concerned expression, his eyebrows dropped and his mouth now seemed to be a straight line across his face. His loud and commanding tone was softened. Hamund looked into Ken¡¯s eyes and asked ¡°Can we be certain we will find anything along this journey?¡± Ken softly said ¡°Simple answer, no¡± he shifted his hands along the table expanding the map above the table to show more of the universe. ¡°But can we really not take this risk?¡± Hamund looks through the map as he runs his hand across his beard trying to hide his sluggish feeling. ¡°We or you?¡± he asked as he shifted the map back to focusing on their current galaxy. Before Ken could reply Hamund continued with ¡°Let me make a few things clear, I have no room for deceit on my ship. You are not part of my crew, should you become a risk, I will personally throw you into the depths of space.¡± Hamund knew that beneath whatever mask Ken wore, he was still the snake they met in those bloody halls. He saw through his empty sense of empathy, to Hamund, Ken was just a man looking out for himself. Ken felt the tensions between Hamund and him growing, eager to break the thick air that divided them, he stepped back from the table throwing his hands up and slouching his shoulder as he stated ¡°Yes, sir. I meant no disrespect.¡± Hamund examined the projection as he slowly expanded the map avoiding Ken''s gazing eye¡¯s. Hamund imputed details that he had remembered from Ken¡¯s map of the universe. The Projection fades leaving the room dim and barren. Hamund¡¯s glare didn¡¯t waiver from Ken, he found himself straightening his posture and broadening his shoulder. Ken avoided looking directly at Hamund as he awaied the projections reappearance. As Ken fumbled through words he could say to help break Hamunds walls he heard a horde of steps approaching from outside the war room. Ken found himself worrying about who could come through the door behind him. He had met very few members of the crew, none were as threatening to him as Hamund, but all shared a similar conviction to him. The war room door slid open, Erp led the charge into the room, He was one of the smallest of the group. His appearance, although sturdy, drew no fear from Ken. Erp was followed by a man who Ken had yet to meet. The man¡¯s face was scarred from burn marks around his right eye. The man was a veteran of the crew leading back to his time on earth. Hamund couldn¡¯t help but smile as the man stopped beside Ken and said with a low but commanding voice ¡°Vulcan smash little men, much like you.¡± ¡°No smashing for Vulcan!¡± Hamund shouted as he pointed to a seat placed closely to Ken. Vulcan sat down next to Ken still glaring at him. Ken couldn¡¯t tell what fueled Vulcan¡¯s gaze, was it curiousity or just an urge to kill. Ken glanced over at Vulcan, even sitting Vulcan still was about the same height as Ken. Ken went to shift to a seat away from Vulcan but Hamund quickly responded ¡°Take your seat where you were.¡± The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Ken slowly sits down into the seat next to Vulcan, creeping slowly into the seat to not draw his anger. As Ken positioned himself at the table, Vulcan could be heard sniffing as he leaned closer towards Ken. Vulcan¡¯s head blocks Ken''s line of vision to Hamund as he exclaims ¡°Man is fragile, where you find him?¡± Ken shifted uneasily, his gaze now darting between Vulcan and Hamund. He could feel Vulcan¡¯s eyes borrowing into him, a mix of curiosity and menace bellowed from Vulcan. Ken raised his arm in an attempt to garner the attention of Hamund as he questioned ¡°Is this how you treat all your guests?¡± Hamund ignored Ken but a woman''s voice could be heard from behind replying ¡°Just the ones he can¡¯t trust.¡± Admadra sat down on the opposing side of Vulcan. Her stare was equally as intimidating to Ken, he remembered the vicious scene of his halls as she stood surrounded by bodies. Ken tried to appear gleeful as he exclaimed ¡°It''s good to see you''re okay!¡± Admadra''s face twists in confusion as she asks Ken ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°You blacked out on us.¡± Ken says before being interrupted by Hamund shouting ¡°Eir, welcome to the war table!¡± Ken quickly turns his attention to the sturdy physique of the woman standing behind him. As Eir walked past Ken she stepped towards Admadra and tapped her on the shoulder. Eir leaned down and softly whispered ¡°Don¡¯t listen to a word this man says, he has been a problem since he arrived.¡± Eir takes a seat next to Hamund and begins speaking with him about the status of Thorkell ¡°He is stable now, the transfusion seemed to be successful.¡± Hamund''s heart pounded as he took in Eir¡¯s words. Thorkell was stable, which was a relief, but he thought of the implications of this news and how heavy that feeling was. The idea that Val could be Thorkell¡¯s father left a sour taste in Hamunds mouth. He had raised Thorkell, watched him grow into the young man he was, and now, that bond was threatened by a truth that no one wished to confront. Eir glanced at Hamund, sensing the turmoil in his silence and his wandering gaze. She continued, her voice lowered to avoid eavesdropping ¡°This doesn¡¯t change anything, the boy will only ever know you as his father. Val has made it clear he doesn¡¯t want to take away from the way the boy sees his father.¡± Hamund smiles and thanks Eir for the update as the rest of the room fills in with the remainder of the crew. Each body hidden in the shadows of the room, the projector reignites as the large scale map of the universe fills the darkness. Depictions of galaxies connecting to each other all branching to a large central tree-like stream of light. Hamund studied over the map amazed at how closely it depicted the stories of the connecting tree. The intricate galaxies connecting like branches shining through the abyss of space. Each glowing cluster pulsed with energy, as though Yggdrasil itself was alive, watching them, as they observed it from the farthest reaches of space. Hamund''s eyes widened as he followed each connecting branch. The stars and galaxies seemed to brighten his eyes with each one he passed. ¡°It¡¯s Incredible,¡± Hamund murmured, almost to himself. ¡°I heard many stories of the connecting tree. Never did I expect something so beautiful, so large¡­ or this real.¡± Ken found himself empowered by the map, focused on the center he thought of the power he could hold should he reach the tree. His hands were shaking with excitement as he tried to hold himself back from standing up to get a closer look. Vulcan hid under the table fearing the shimmering lights that ignited near his face like sparks from a fire. He repeated to himself ¡°No hurt me¡­ no hurt me.¡± Admadra looked through the stars and lights and felt pride for Hamund, it was the first time she had seen hope in his eyes. She whispered, hoping that only Hamund could hear ¡°It¡¯s good to see that light in your eyes again.¡± Hamund stood up, brightened by the lights of the projection. As he looked across the room he stated ¡°I know things have been rough,we have had times where every possible resource has been limited.¡± Hamund lifted his hands pointing to each of the galaxies along their path, ¡°With this map we can change that fate, Never again will we go without food, wine or fuel.¡± Ken rockets up and shouts ¡°Don¡¯t forget our deal!¡± Hamund gives a sinister smile and says ¡°How could I? This man here asked me, in exchange for a new home, to help find Mirmir¡¯s knowledge.¡± He pauses as the room erupts with laughter. ¡°At first I was hesitant, an outsider! Seeking the knowledge of our gods!¡± Kens squints with a scrunched face as anxiety races through him. He peers through the lights of the map. Hamund continues ¡°But who would I be to decide the wills of fate? It was clear to me Woden himself sent this man to aid in our search for a new home.¡± The crowd cheers as Hamund¡¯s smile grows. ¡°But let me make this clear, should this be the lies of Loki, I will personally see this man fly like an eagle covered in blood.¡± The crew¡¯s laughter echoed through the war room, Hamund knew he had won over his crew. He thought to himself that no matter what tricks ken tried, they would only hinder his position on the ship. Ken felt his legs shake under him uncontrollably as he watched Hamund rally his crew. He knew this was another of Hamunds calculated moves to prevent Ken from winning over any of the weak minded crew members. Ken stood frozen, his mind racing as Hamund stared through the map focused on him and him only. The crews laughter still wrung out through his ears. He pictured the Tree on all the promises it brought to him. He thought about how far he had come and rage burned through him as he forced a smile. Ken knew from the start that Hamund was going to be an obstacle in his way, but he never envisioned a man as gifted in words as he was. Kingmaker As the crew members departed the war room, only Hamund and Ken remained seated, the heavy silence between them growing stronger by the second. The once-lively room now felt cold and empty, the vibrant lights of the map had faded and been replaced by small lights streamed across the walls. The faint hum of the ships engines filled the void between them as Hamund¡¯s sinister smile left Ken uncomfortably aware of the man before him. Ken swallowed, trying to stead his nerves, but the grin on Hamunds face made his skin crawl. He knew of Hamund¡¯s lethality and he had toppled many dangerous men in his time, men whose ambitions ran far deeper than their morality, but Hamund¨CHamund was different. His ruthlessness wasn¡¯t driven by the normal selfish ambitions; it was fueled by something colder, something more resolute. Ken knew this man was infinitely more dangerous than anyone he had crossed. Hamund leaned back in his chair his eyes glinted with a mix of amusement and deep thought of what his next words would be. ¡°Do you know what they called me back home?¡± Ken met Hamund gaze, he wanted to read Hamund next move but was unable to. ¡°What was it that they called you?¡± Hamund¡¯s smile broadened slightly, his glare reflected his attitude stubborn and unmoving. ¡°They called me the Kingmaker¡± he said, those words seemed to fill the empty room. Ken¡¯s brows furrowed, trying to understand what the title implicated. ¡°Why, the Kingmaker?¡± Hamund leaned forward slightly and replied ¡°It is not a title my people gave lightly. Hell its not a title I ever thought I was worthy of. Essentially it implied I had the power to shape destinies, raise leaders, and to dismantle those who no longer served my purpose¡­¡± Hamund paused for a minute as he placed his war torn hands upon the table. ¡°People said from a young age, I had the gift of words. In the same breath I could imprison leaders and replace them with little effort. Their wasn¡¯t a governing body I didn¡¯t have my hands in. I always strived to suit the greater good, not once did I act on my own self interest.¡± Ken felt his anxiety return as his right leg began to bounce up and down. ¡°What does that have to do with me?¡± Hamund smiled as he locked eyes with Ken ¡°Nothing for now, we share a common goal. You must understand that your place on my ship is never guaranteed. As you have witnessed my influence is a double-edged sword. I can help you achieve your goals, but I can also have you killed should our goals collide.¡± he takes a breath before continuing ¡°I say this to let you know, I have seen many men like you. The smartest one in the room, no one can tell you anything. Determined to use everyone in your path to meet your goal. All have failed once they sat at the table with me, you will too.¡± Ken¡¯s pulse quickened, but it wasn¡¯t fear, this time it was intrigue. He had never known a man who he shared a hateful respect for. ¡°What do you expect of me?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t bring you along because I thought we couldn¡¯t make this trip without you. I have trusted my crew to sail the cosmos more times than I can count, I brought you along because I wanted you to prove your worth. Prove to me that our paths remain true, sail the treacherous waters of our alliance, and you will see what a true Kingmaker can do.¡± ¡°There is no room for kings in the abyss!¡± Ken shouts as he slams his hands on the table pretending to be upset about the situation in front of him. Ken thought to himself with Hamunds help nothing could prevent him from reaching his true potential. Ken, although intrigued by Hamunds talks of power, did believe his statement of no room for kings in the abyss, but the cosmos was merely a playground for gods. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. Ken¡¯s hands lingered on the table, still trembling from the force of his outburst. He clenched his jaw, grinding his teeth in an attempt to calm himself. As Ken looked across the table he saw Hamund. He hadn¡¯t moved, hadn¡¯t blinked, he just sat there, staring at Ken as if his outburst was little more than a child''s tantrum. Hamund¡¯s disinterest gnawed at Ken, fueling the fire Ken felt inside, the mix of excitement with a genuine need to break the man in front of him. Ken understood the Kingmaker title, this was a man more calculated than he led on, every word, every action and inaction was a weapon. ¡°I see your game, Hamund¡± Ken muttered, his voice lower now, more measured, trying to match Hamund¡¯s calm demeanor. ¡°But youre wrong about one thing.¡± Hamund¡¯s eyebrows raised slightly, the first sign of acknowledgement, though faint ¡°Oh, do tell¡± Ken leaned back, mirroring Hamunds earlier stance, extending the silence between them for a moment. He could sense the tension, the unspoken challenge hanging above the two players at the table. ¡°I¡¯m not like the others who sit at your table.¡± Ken said. ¡°I have no desire to be made a king. I have had to shape my own destiny from my first breath. You look at me as if I am merely a pawn on your board. Many things have been said today but let me make my position clear, Hamund¡­¡± Ken leaned forward, Locking eyes with Hamund, his voice now cold and firm. ¡°I don¡¯t play by your rules, I only play by my own.¡± A flicker of amusement glimmered from behind Hamund¡¯s eyes, his face remained disinterested, ¡°That remains to be seen,¡± Hamund says as he glared through Ken ¡°but remember, Ken, should you seek power you will need to garner the respect of others. No kingdom stands on the back of one man.¡± Hamund rotates his chair as he stairs into the shadows painted on the wall. Hamund smiles and asks ¡°Do you know the story of Fenrir?¡± Ken¡¯s brow furrowed as he peered into the shadows. He envisioned the story of Fenrir the wolf, son of Loki. ¡°It was the story of a beast, told by men too afraid to confront their reality.¡± Ken pauses before continuing with ¡°Something about bringing about ragnarok, the end of everything.¡± Hamund chuckled, his back still turned to Ken as he stared into the shadows. ¡°That is the story the gods wish for us to tell, yes. But the story hold so many more truths behind its vail. Fenrir was no mindless beast. He was born of chaos, this is true, but I would say his anger was justified¨Chis rebellion inevitable. The gods feared him, not because he was a beast, but because he was their equal in power. In potential. So they bound him in chains, thinking they could control chaos itself.¡± Ken¡¯s leg began to bounce again, his anger held back with a slight release as he asked ¡°And?¡± ¡°and ¡° Hamund continued, his voice running through the shadows of the room ¡°Fenrir snapped his chains. But not before he was locked away by the gods, a fate sealed in the blood of his closest friend Tyr. Even though the gods knew he would one day break free as bound by fate, they still bound him. Fenrir was not a threat because he sought destruction, but because he represented the fall of everything the gods built.¡± Hamund turned back to face ken, his eyes displaying no fear. ¡°You see, Ken, I see you as Fenrir. The untamable force that can break free of the chains I set.¡± ¡°What is your point?¡± Ken asked as he attempted to read through Hamund¡¯s riddles. ¡°My point is¡± Hamund said as he leaned forward, his voice softened, his hands were clenched on the table. ¡°Even Fenrir had to wait for the right moment to strike. Even the wildest beast can be kept at bay until the time is right. And when that time comes, when the wolf finally bares his fangs. It¡¯s not just the leader that falls, It¡¯s the end of generations.¡± Ken felt his heart pounding as he was no longer sure if this conversation was a threat or an invitation. ¡°Are you saying I¡¯m destined to destroy you?¡± Ken asked, his voice barely a whisper as he choked on the tension. Hamund smiled a wide smile, his smile was as cold as the outer walls of the ship. ¡°Maybe. maybe not. I was never one for the idea of fate or destiny, but I believe in the inevitable force of a man with corrupt ambitions. Fenrir wasn¡¯t destined to destroy, but the chains the gods dressed him in¨Conce they pushed him too far¨Cdestruction became the only outcome.¡± Hamund stood up and walked past Ken, before Hamund departed the room he whispered ¡°It is just a story though, who really knows the fate of the gods.¡± Chains of destiny Ken found himself alone in the now dark and ominous war room. The walls shrouded in darkness felt like the halls of a cave, endless and cold. Ken¡¯s breaths became slow, deliberate, each exhale had thought behind it. He could hear the howl of wolves echoing through his mind. He laid his head upon the table and envisioned himself dressed in chains. The cold table felt like iron on his arms,as if it, too, had become another link in the chains that held him down. Ken felt the weight of his decisions yet to come, like the destiny Hamund had spoken of was holding him down. Ken felt irritated as he told himself Hamund had no right to talk to him like he was just some mere mortal. His eyes hardened with resolve as he stood abruptly, shaking off the cold grip of despair ¡°If he wants to play a game of fate!¡± Ken said aloud, as if to challenge the darkness itself. ¡°I will show him the path of godhood!¡± Ken¡¯s declaration reverberated through the empty war room, echoing off the cold metal walls. He took a deep breath, the weight of his words mingling with the determination in his chest. He banged his hand on the table reigniting the map that centered the room. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. The map, once a mere guide, now seemed like a battleground where Ken would have to forge his path. He surveyed the intricate lines and symbols, each galaxy which was once a mere blip now twinkled with hopes of allies and obstacles to be crossed off. Ken¡¯s eyes were drawn to the roots of the galaxy tree, he wondered what mysteries were held within its clutch. He remembered the rumors he had heard along his travels, rumors of a pool that would grant you knowledge beyond imagination. His heart raced as he thought of the potential to find this pool. He thought to himself ¡°This will be the ticket to my ascension, with or with Hamund.¡± A sudden burst of laughter erupts from Ken, breaking the silence of the room. His laughter was a mix of exhilaration and defiance, a manifestation of his newfound resolve and the audacity of his plans. Ken composed himself, his mind raced with ideas and strategies. He visualized each step of the journey, from gathering allies while hiding in the shadows of the crew that chained him to following rumors of any relics that could aid him in his path. He saw himself overcoming the obstacles in his way, each one a mere test of his determination and ingenuity. Ken raced to the door, motivated to start his plans, thinking who could he turn to his side. As the bright lights from the hall shined into the room, Ken looked back with a sinister smile and said ¡°Maybe the brother can be my start.¡± Tuskers The crew found themselves in a quiet, empty sector of the universe, the vastness of space stretched endlessly in every direction. Visible light from stars seemed like glimmers of light galaxies away, cold and dim, the silence was unsettling as Hamund navigated through its empty expanse. Hamund felt his eyes growing heavy, the monotonous emptiness around them caused him to occasionally doze of as he struggled to keep his head from falling. Hamund prayed for anything, signs of life, galactic abnormalities, maybe even one of those krakens Thorkell was always on the lookout for. Hamund''s grip on the controls began to relax as he envisioned him fighting off waves of different beasts that were sent his way. He remembered the last time he had felt this boredom, It was the day he earned the name Draugr slayer. It was a quiet journey much like the one he found himself in now. Suddenly he had heard the sounds of alarms going off throughout the cockpit, a dreadful break in the silence. A ship had broken into his vision, the ship was broken and appeared cold on all his radars. He thought of the moments before he had propelled himself through space strapped to the side of that rocket. His only thoughts going through his mind at the time were ones of self doubt. ¡°If you fail, there is no coming back from this, Your son will never forgive you.¡± Hamund was jolted from his daydream by the sound of a loud ringing noise. A ship had appeared seemingly from nowhere. It had a strange design, it seemed to have been crafted from the wreckage of different worlds, pieces of hulls and technologies stitched to in a patchwork of twisted metal and otherworldly architecture. The vessel floated along its functionality baffled Hamund as it moved with grace. Hamunds heart beat rapidly, as he leapt from his seat and rushed through the halls towards the stasis chambers of his crew. He deactivated the stasis control, waking his crew as he began shouting ¡°We have guests around us!¡± Admadra was the first to wake, her face showing an eagerness for battle as she rushed to secure her prosthetic leg on. Vulcan jumped up holding a black cat, He rushed up to Hamund still dressed in nothing but a pair of undergarments. He handed Hamund the cat and said in his softest voice ¡°Protect monkey¡± Without hesitation he continued ¡°I will kill Invaders.¡± Hamund cradled the cat and as he stroked the cat to comfort it he replied ¡°Its a cat, Vulcan, but it will be safe with me.¡± Vulcans face twisted with confusion as he rushed through the hall. Val tapped his brother on the shoulder already dressed in his battle gear holding a larger set in his hands and said ¡°I will make sure Vulcan is ready¡± Val chased Vulcan through the halls and warned him ¡°You need your battle suit!¡± ¡°I don''t need little armor to kill!¡± Vulcan could be heard shouting back to Vall, his determination unshaken, Val was not about to let Vulcan charge into battle in nothing more than a small piece of cloth. Hamund cradled the cat, Its purring was a strange but welcome contrast to the chaos that seemingly was about to unfold. The rest of the crew departed the room, their footsteps in sync as they rushed to their battle stations. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. As Hamund arrived back at the captain''s chair he saw an incoming message alert flashing across the screen in the center of the control panel. Hamund approached the screen and slid his fingers across the screen causing the message to play. ¡°Greetings travelers, You have entered the territory of the Tuskers. Shut off your engines and prepare to be boarded.¡± Hamund heeds the warning of the ship and lowers his engines power before replying ¡°I am welcoming your captain to my ship, should any further warriors attempt to board you will be met with superior fire.¡± As Hamund sends out the broadcast, Ken could be heard behind him breathing heavily ¡°What did you just do?¡± Ken asks as he attempts to rush past Hamund, Ken is thrown back towards the door of the cockpit as Hamund replies ¡°I would prefer to have diplomacy, then waste resources on low life scum.¡± Ken picks himself up off the ground and shouts ¡°These are the Tuskers, they are pirates whose whole purpose is to salvage ships.¡± Before Hamund could reply, another alert could be heard ringing out, Hamund turned to see a broadcast ready to be played across the message board. Hamund played the message ¡°Your conditions cannot be met, Prepare to be boarded by force.¡± Hamund scurried to restart his engines, the makeshift ship was now rotating putting Hamunds ship in the crosshair of all of their side fire weaponry. Hamund pushed all engines to full power, the ship now racing towards their adversary. Moments before making contact he throttled the steering column down, forcing the ship to take a nosedive avoiding all fire from the opposing ship. ¡°Hold tight!¡± Hamund yelled, his voice echoing through the chaos of the encounter. Val had taken his battle position in the co-captains chair, the momentum was too great for him to move freely. Val clung to his chair, fascinated by yet another of his brother''s daring maneuvers. ¡°What is the plan, brother?¡± Val asked as he struggled to even stay in his chair. The turbulence forced Hamund to grit his teeth as he spun his ship exposing the side of his ship to the underbelly of the opposing ship. Hamund couldn¡¯t help but smile as he radioed to Admadra ¡°Take out the beast.¡± Without a moment''s break Hamund observed rockets shooting through the enemy ship. Projectiles collided through the ship creating large gaps into the patchwork frame. With each hole ripped into the ship bodies were sucked out into the abyss. One of the bodies hit the front of the ship revealing a man-like creature. The creature had the body of a man, four or five feet tall, pointy ears with fur coating them. The creature appeared to be rodent-like with scars riddled across its face. As Hamund called a cease fire he saw a white flare shot from the ship, followed by a broadcast sent to his command center, it was a surrender. Hamund looks back at Ken, Ken''s face was pale as he looked in horror at the scene that occurred before him. ¡°Sometimes our enemies just need to understand what they are up against. They always learn to play along.¡± Hamund says as he walks past Ken on his way out the cockpit. Before Hamund departed the room Ken lifted himself off the ground, his legs still shaking, and said ¡°You should take me with you.¡± Hamund replies ¡°I have no need for you, especially when the crews needs are to be addressed.¡± Ken frustration boils over as his pale face now bright red ¡°You don''t know the Tuskers like I do, they are ruthless, this is all a trick to get you onto their ship. They are tricky devils, and will stab you in the back the second your guard is down¡± Hamund laughs as he departs the room waving off Ken''s warning ¡°So just treat them like I do you!¡± Ken chases Hamund through the halls Insisting ¡°I have had encounters with them before, I much like you thought I could negotiate¡­¡± Ken pulls the bag of dog tags out of his pocket, tossing them in front of Hamund. Hamund stops in his tracks stroking Monkey and waiting in silence ¡°They are the reason my crew is dead, I don''t know how but during our negotiations they snuck onto my ship killing my crew without hesitation.¡± ¡°There is a big difference between us and your crew, there isn''t one member of my ship that I don''t trust to defend their own. With or without me this ship will operate at a similar capacity.¡± Hamund says as he bends down picking up the satchel. As he looks over the bag he asks ¡°What would you suggest?¡± ¡°Have your talks, but bring me with you, I have seen their traps¡­¡± Ken stops his reply to wipe away the tears from his eyes ¡°You don¡¯t like me, that''s fine, but you can¡¯t afford to not heed my warnings.¡± Hamund pauses his normal confindate facade fading as his tone lowers ¡°I will bring you with, all I ask is should this turn bad, don''t be the one holding the knife.¡± Spacewalk Hamund and Ken prepare themselves in their suits, Hamunds suit outlined with white fur and teal accents showcasing a patch on his right shoulder which had the silhouette of a wolf planted into a broken gear. Ken¡¯s suit was orange in color, with numbers written on the back appearing to be nothing more than a reserve suit or even one granted to crew members who were spending time within the brig. Hamund adjusted the collar of his suit, the white fur brushed against his chin as he completed the inspection of his seals. Hamund glanced at the patch on his shoulder, the silhouette of the wolf embedded in the broken gear gleamed under the dim lights of the airlock. He turned to Ken, his orange suit was worn and faded, it was utilitarian by comparison, the numbers had began fading from the suits countless space walks. As Hamund sealed his helmet onto his suit he asked Ken with the blue from his computer lighting up exposing Kens facial features ¡°Are you ready?¡± Ken placed the used helmet on winching in disgust as he smelled the sweat and blood of the previous occupant. ¡°Do you not believe in hygiene?¡± ¡°Every morning, no sense in cleaning gear that is never used though.¡± Hamund replied, a hint of amusement in his voice. Ken¡¯s grimace deepened as he adjusted the helmet attempting to get a complete seal. ¡°It is called Preventative maintenance, very simple idea.¡± Hamunds smirk widened as he secured his hammer into his suits socket. The suit lit up as it ran through its emergency procedures, his helmet displayed a light green cone of light, highlighting the ground around him, while his suit glowed with a bright white light against the wall ahead of him. ¡°You worry too much,¡± Hamund said, his voice resonating through his suit''s intercoms. ¡°Just focus on the mission, you keep me alive and I¡¯ll return the favor.¡± Hamund clipped a rope onto his suit and then trotted over to Ken clipping the other end of the rope onto a loop at the front of his suit. Ken glanced down at the rope, he thought of how primitive the rope was compared to the hightech nature of Hamund armor. He looked up at Hamund who was securing his sword and shield onto clips on his legs. ¡°I am not sure how safe this suit is,¡± Ken said, his voice tangled with sarcasm ¡°Just don''t let me die.¡± Hamund stomped his feet on the ground ensuring his magnetic boots were working and replied ¡°I have done far riskier stunts for fun.¡± Ken found himself at a loss of words, instead he gave Hamund a thumbs up signifying his preparedness to begin their space walk. As they approached the outer airlock doors, the faint hum of machinery grew louder. Air could be heard rushing through the slow opening doors as Hamund placed a firm grip on Kens shoulder. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. As the doors groaned open, Ken felt his feet wanting to move forward but Hamund grip remained true. The steel doors were replace by a eerie visual of darkness, stars beckoned Ken to take his first steps. Hamund looked Ken in the eyes as he asked ¡°Are you sure your ready?¡± ¡°Not even close¡± Ken sarcastically responded. Hamund laughed as he threw Ken towards the Enemy ship before quickly releasing his magnetic boots. Hamund quickly propelled himself forward as his thrusters rotated through engagement keeping him on course for the gaping hole in the Tuskers ship. Ken felt helpless as he floated behind Hamund feeling the quick bursts of air shot out of his thrusters. ¡°If I survive this¡± Ken thought to himself ¡°I am never offering to help Hamund again¡± The rope that tethered them together felt frail, as it pulled tight, it felt as if it could break at any minute. Hamund sailed just ahead, his thrusters firing off momentary bursts as they approached the patchwork ship. Hamund observed the ship, upclose the years of rust and cracks in the metal were clear. As Hamund thought through his approach, Ken was unable to think as every burst from Hamunds thrusters tugged at the rope, jolting Ken forward. ¡°Have you thought up your plan?¡± Ken asked, his voice cracking through his intercom. ¡°The plan is pretty simple.¡± Hamunds voice rang through Ken''s suit. ¡°We go in, you make sure we don''t find ourselves in an ambush, and if all else fails, I break this ship from the inside out.¡± As Hamund and ken reached the ship, the gaping hole in its side loomed larger. The Jagged edges of the breach glinted ominously, reflecting the subtle light of distant stars. ¡°Almost there¡± Hamunds voice crackled through the intercom, he sounded calm and collected despite the chaotic movement from their space walk. As they arrived at the ship Hamund reactivated the magnets on his boots, securing himself the hull of the ship glancing into the gaping hole. As Ken scrambled to hold onto the side of the ship he could hear Hamund muttering something in his suit. ¡°Eir activate my Valkyrie drive.¡± Hamund mutters almost unintelligible to Ken. Ken, still shaking off the nerves from the spacewalk, asked ¡°What is A valkyrie drive?¡± ¡°That is none of your business.¡± Hamund replied as he rocked back and forth, seemingly preparing himself to jump into the ship. Ken¡¯s curiosity was piqued, as he examined the frail tether he determined it was in his best interest to not press the issue. The eerie silence of the ship''s hull was broken by the occasional faint creek of metal breaking apart. Hamund placed his shield and sword onto the hull, as they connected the banging sound of the items attaching to the metal of the ship echoed towards Ken. ¡°Alright¡± Hamund said, his voice calmer than before. ¡°We''re going in.¡± He glanced at ken. ¡°Stay sharp, we don''t know what we are getting into.¡± Ken nodded, his heartbeat pounding as he prepared himself for one more space walk. Hamund propelled himself into the ship, dragging Ken behind him. As they reached the interior door of the ship, they were met by scrawny members of the Tuskers. ¡°Ratvos is awaiting you¡± one of the guards shouted as he peered past Hamund glaring at Ken ¡°He wasn¡¯t expecting a repeat pest, hello Ken.¡± Ken, still helplessly floating in the emptiness of space, waved and replied ¡°It''s been a while, How did that map work out for you guys?¡± Hamund pulled Ken into the airlock of the ship, as the doors shut behind them, Ken and Hamund removed their helmets. With their helmets removed, the strong odor of rust and rotting food forced them to wrinkle their noses. Ratvos Hamund and Ken are escorted through dark halls, Hamund pressing his right hand against the wall, in an attempt to keep his composure. The stench of rot thickening with every step. The walls seemed to close in on them, rusted metal groaned under the weight of every step. As they approached the dining hall they saw bones lining the walls, detailed by the fire that was dimly lighting the hall from above. The room was filled with a nauseating cloud of death and rot. Sitting on the other end of the table was a creature much different from the others they had seen. Although his appearance was that of a rodent, he was much taller and fatter than any other member of his crew. The creature''s belly was exposed under his tightly fit clothes, his short fir was covered in remnants of prior meals. ¡°You must be the captain of this ship.¡± Hamund said as he took a seat at the table in front of him. ¡°How dare you sit without prior acknowledgement!¡± The creature blurted out as chunks of his current meal shot across the table. Hamund leaned forward wiping off the scraps of food from the table in front of him. ¡°You aren¡¯t in a position to make demands, so lets talk about your surrender.¡± Hamund ordered as he beckoned Ken to take a seat. Ken, hesitantly, took a seat next to Hamund. Ken was unsure who to fear in this situation, he knew of Hamund¡¯s ruthlessness but he had been at the wrong end of Ratvos¡¯s wrath once before in his voyage. Hamund grew a wide smile on his face as his stare was glued to Ratvos. ¡°I offered the chance for us to be diplomatic, that was met with threats. I sit here at your table now to make things clear. Should we be engaged I will obliterate everything you have, down to the last molecule.¡± Ratvos smacked his hands on the table with a resounding thud, rattling the scattered bones and sending a half-eaten chunk of meat rolling off his plate. His beady eyes glinted with rage, yet something else lurked behind them¨Cfear. Hamunds calmness even when met by his rage unnerved him, as did the sheer calmness of his threat. Ratvos bared his yellowed teeth, gnashing them in frustration. ¡°You dare come aboard my ship, sit at my table, and speak to me in such a manner?¡± Ratvos hissed, his voice dripping with Venom. He leaned forward, his massive belly pressing against the edge of the table as he pointed his greasy fingers towards Hamund. ¡°You think you hold the power? Your just one man, one ship.¡± Ratvos picked food from his teeth and continued ¡°I command armies!¡± Hamund¡¯s confidence didn''t waiver, neither did his smile. He leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms in front of him, his glare glued to Ratvos, he watched the rodent leader gnash his teeth and flick bits of food across the table, seeing him as nothing more than a petulant child. Ratvos waved to his crew as they surrounded the table he asked ¡°Tell me there mortal, what are you without your suit?¡± Hamund looked around the room as it progressively filled with more of Ratvos¡¯s tuskers. Their beady eyes were all fixed on him with sinister intent. They were armed, their jagged weapons glinted in the fire light, showcasing their primitive build. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. Ken¡¯s hands trembled as he looked around the room, this is a scene he had known once before. One that ended him up without a crew, he peered over at Hamund and whispered, ¡°Remember when you told me to keep us alive?¡± Hamunds smile faded and was replaced by a look of determination. He knew his position had changed but he wasn''t one to be bested. Hamund eyes glanced over at Ken, catching the terror in kens voice and the unease as he rocked slightly back and forth. Hamund returned his attention to Ratvos, observing the rodent''s mannerisms, his confidence in the situation was clear, he licked the grease of his fingers, slow and deliberate as if to show Hamund he did not fear him. ¡°Tell me rat, do you think I need my suit to kill you?¡± Hamund¡¯s voice remained low, laced with his calm and calculated tone. ¡°This suit is nothing more than a convenience.¡± Ratvos hissed a loud and sharp laugh, his yellowed teeth gleaming in the firelight. ¡°You speak big words for such a small man.¡± Ratvos waved his troops closer to Hamund as he said ¡°Arriving on my ship was a big mistake, here you are nothing more than prey.¡± Ken, noticing Hamund¡¯s growing irritation with the rat leader, quickly stood up ripping a crystalline device out of his pocket. Ken thought to himself ¡°this better work!¡± as he threw the device to the center of the table, hoping Hamund didn¡¯t notice what he had. Ratvos and Hamund peered at the device, stunned by Ken¡¯s sudden outburst. Hamund looked over at Ken and loudly questioned ¡°What do you think your doing?¡± ¡°What trinket have you thrown at me¡± Ratvos uttered as he broke free from his confused state. ¡°We will call this an insurance policy!¡± Ken shouted as he hid his shaking hands behind his back. ¡°It is clear our negotiations are only going to be one sided. So, either you listen or that device will decimate your ship and all of us on it.¡± Hamund stood trying to take advantage of the building tension and unknown peril in the room. ¡°Send me your best warrior, I will fight him in combat. Every other member must depart the room.¡± Ratvos, still hesitant of the device, asked ¡°What is in this for me?¡± Ken went to reply but was quickly stopped by Hamund placing his hand on his shoulder ¡°A ship, a crew, and a map to unimaginable fortune.¡± Ratvos¡¯s eyes blistered with excitement ¡°What would you receive should you win?¡± ¡°An ally, someone to come to my beckoning call, should the time arise.¡± Hamund says as he climbs onto the greasy table. Hamund walks to the center of the table, bending down to pick up the device that Ken had thrown. Hamund looked over the device, he felt no presence of a threat from it. Hamund tossed the device back to Ken and asked ¡°So, what will it be?¡± Ratvos nods towards his tuskers and they depart the room, each tusker was hesitant and departed sporadically. Hamund observed each one departing, he took notice of how they left, disorganized and seemingly lacking in any training. Ratvos observed the remaining figures in the room¨Cthe confident Hamund, the scared and anxious Ken, and a sturdy built member of his crew. His champion was about the same height as Hamund, but he appeared to be more battle worn than Hamund, he had scars across his body signifying years of experience. The warrior climbed up onto the table, he stood, matching Hamund posture, cracking his neck as he prepared himself for the oncoming combat. Trial by Combat ¡°Tell me, how do you wish to fight?¡± Hamund asked, his voice laced with anticipation. His eyes gleamed under the firelight of the room. Hamund shook his hands rapidly, breaking the nerves he felt as he sized up his opponent. The warrior across from him, broad-shouldered with his furry chest exposed and scrap metal tied onto his legs. His pale skin, marred with scars, stretched as he flexed his muscles, cracking his joints as his cold eyes were fixed on Hamund. ¡°Fists it is.¡± Hamund muttered under his break, more to himself than his opponent, his muscles tensed, his body primed for the fight to come. He was no stranger to a fist fight¨Cafter all, it was a true test of skill and endurance. The warrior lunged first, he led with a quick jab aimed towards Hamund¡¯s midsection. Hamund sidestepped, watching as his opponent appeared to move in slow motion. He shuffled his feet across the table taking a guarded stance, while remaining ready to move at any given moment. The warrior responded to Hamund¡¯s movement with a strong and swift uppercut towards Hamund¡¯s jaw, but he stepped back just in time, the gust of air blowing the smell of death into his face. ¡°You¡¯re fast, i''ll give you that.¡± Hamund taunted, his lips curling into a confident grin. ¡°But you¡¯ll need more than just speed.¡± The warrior snarled, rage rushed through his cold eyes. He charged again, this time with a calculated attack¨Chis fists came in a flurry, each punch transitioned between Hamunds face and ribs. Hamund quickly parried most of the blows, but one jab slipped through, slamming in his side. Hamund winced as the pain flared through his side, but he suppressed it with a quick and steady breath. He refused to let his opponent see any weakness. His eyes remained locked on the warrior, whose faced twisted with satisfaction after landing the blow. The warrior used his advantage, stepping in close with brutal efficiency. His strikes flew with a newfound confidence, each swing was thrown with intent to crush Hamund. This time Hamund was ready. He ducked low, dodging the next strike, as it barely missed his head he returned the warrior''s jab with a heavy strike to his gut. The strike forced the warrior to stagger back for a moment, as he made quick gasp for air. Hamund used this moment to follow up with a sharp hook to the warriors jaw, the sound of bones cracking could he heard under Hamunds knuckles. The warriors head snapped to the side, but he didn¡¯t go down. Instead, he let out a low growl as he placed his hand on his chin. The warrior pressed his chin back into place and wiped away the blood that was trickling from his mouth. As his eyes met with Hamunds once more, both warriors'' eyes ignited with fury. Ratvos''s champion struggled to breath through his loosely hanging jaw, the blood within his mouth gurgled as he took deep breathes out. Hamund could tell he had the advantage but he knew this was a warrior he wanted fighting by his side, killing him was not an option. Hamund shifted his stance, turning from a predator hunting his prey to a mentor testing his pupils'' skill. Hamund asks the warrior as he watches him recover from his injuries ¡°Tell me warrior, what is your name?¡± The warrior looks back at Ratvos who is shaking his head in disapproval. His champion looks back at Hamund who is still patiently waiting for his response. His silence made it clear to Hamund, his loyalty would need to be swayed from Ratvos if he intended to bring in such a strong warrior. The warrior rushes towards Hamund attempting to tackle him to the table. Hamund steps to the side, as the Champion narrowly misses him he quickly graples the warrior and forces him into the greasy tabletop. As they fight on the table Hamund reaches into his pocket pulling out a capsule and forces it into the warrior''s mouth. Hamund holds the warrior''s mouth shut as he says in a low tone so only the warrior could hear. ¡°I wish not to see you die today, swallow this pill and it will help fix some of your injuries.¡± Hamund looks back at Ratvos before turning back to the Champion and continuing ¡°I respect loyalty, but is that feeling mutual? Once you stand, concede this fight, show me your leader''s loyalty to his warriors.¡± Hamund releases the warrior as he takes back to his feet and shouts ¡°Yield warrior, you are truly skilled but I am more experienced.¡± The warrior remained still on the ground, grunting in pain as the shift of his bones could be heard. Ratvos burped out ¡°Stand and die for your King!¡± This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Hamund¡¯s eyes quickly turned towards Ratvos his anger boiling over as he condemned Ratvos¡¯s words ¡°King? You are no true king, I have seen the state of your men! Tell me when was the last time they truly shared a meal in your halls?¡± ¡°You can not speak to me in such a way!¡± Ratvos shouts as his eyes rotate past Hamund to his warrior. ¡°He stands!¡± Ken shouts as he fumbles through words watch blood pour from the warrior. Amongst the puddle of blood on the table laid a small white capsule, covered in blood and soaked in saliva. Hamund turns to see the warrior standing tall behind him, bloodied but seemingly stronger than before. Hamund feels a sense of anxiety as he awaits the warrior''s response, hoping his death will not be one that he has to cause. The warrior roars in Hamunds face, blood flying out of his mouth. Tears fill his eyes as he shouts ¡°I am Oblivion, born strong and fierce, natural born king of Elsktree kingdom of the rats.¡± His muscles flexed as his breathing remained heavy. Ratvos found himself worried, leaning forward in his chair as Oblivion continued talking, he had ripped out his tongue years prior during his coup of their kingdom. Hamund smiles as Oblivion speaks, he knows that his strategy to sway his loyalty is beginning to lean in his favor. ¡°Tell me, Warrior, do you yield?¡± Oblivion takes a knee and bows his head to Hamund, in a confident tone he exclaims ¡°I will yield, and I would be honored if you would allow me to join and fight under your power, King?¡± Hamund quickly picks the warrior up and replies ¡°I am no King, my men fight as equals and only as equals. They would love to call you an ally.¡± Ratvos, enraged by everything playing out in front of him, throws food onto the table near Hamund. ¡°I will not count this as a win! I will not honor our agreement!¡± Hamund stood tall, a gleam of satisfaction flickered in his eyes as Ratvos¡¯s food tumbled across the table. The room feel into an uneasy silence, broken by the crackling of the fires and Oblivions heavy wounded breaths. Ratvos¡¯s Outbursts had not gone unnoticed. His men scattered along the edge of the room as they flooded in, uncertain glances were exchanged as their trust in him now began to waiver. Hamund took a slow step forward, his gaze never fading from Ratvos. The room seemed to shrink around Ratvos as he felt the tension building, every eye in the hall shifted between the figures at the table, locked in an unspoken battle of pure will. Oblivion, blood stilll dripping from his mouth, raised his hands, halting his comrades from making any hasty movements. ¡°You will not honor our agreement?¡± Hamund''s calm voice felt like a mockery to Ratvos. ¡°Then you are truly more foolish than I thought.¡± Ratvos¡¯s face contorted with rage as he slammed his fist against the table, scattering bones and scrap meat across the room. ¡°I will not be humiliated by you, not here, in my hall!¡± ¡°Your hall?¡± Hamund asks as he looks around the room noticing the concerned but attentive eyes of the men before him. ¡°Tell me, Ratvos¨CHow much longer will your men follow a leader who treats them like fodder? Especially when their natural born king stands before them, more confident and sure than the coward who feasts on their labor.¡± Ratvos begins frantically shaking as he commands his troops ¡°Kill the Invaders!¡± His troops remain hesitant, looking back and forth at each other, each waiting for the next one to strike. Hamund feels Oblivion place his hand on his shoulder and Oblivion steps forward with a commanding tone and says ¡°Listen brothers, we have fought for this man¡­¡± Before Oblivion could finish, Ratvos interrupts ¡°I have kept you ungrateful bastards fed!¡± Ken begins to creep behind the table hiding from the gaze of anyone in the room. As he gets behind Ratvos he pokes him in the fat of his stomach and puts his finger to his mouth in a shushing motion as he whispers ¡°This is their time, you will remain silent.¡± ¡°I will not be ordered on my own ship!¡± Ratvos voice echoes through the hall, but is quickly drowned out by his crews feet as the shift around trying to decide how to react to the ongoing situation. ¡°As I was saying, We have fought for this man for many warp drives, time and time again he made promises of riches and fed bellies.¡± Oblivion pauses for a second, his voice still worn out from years of silence. ¡°Tell me though brothers, who has eaten on every cycle?¡± ¡°He has¡± one of the troops shouts out quickly followed by many more voices all shouting the same. Oblivion¡¯s heavy breathing echoed through the hall as the crew shifted uncomfortably, unsure where to place their loyalty. Ratvos staggered to his feet, clutching his side, his eyes were burning with desperation and fury. ¡°This¡­ this doesn¡¯t change anything!¡± Ratvos growled, his voice raspy but defiant. He pointed a trembling finger at Oblivion. ¡°You''re nothing more than a beaten dog¨Ca failed king, shall not bear a crown.¡± Oblivion turns away from Ratvos and looks into the crowd ¡°That is not a decision for either of us to make, I believe in you guys.¡± Oblivion turns to Hamund and says ¡°Should you ever find yourself near Elsktree I would be honored to join you on your journey, but I must go home with my crew.¡± ¡°Should you ever need my assistance, especially on your way home, don''t hesitate to send a signal my way.¡± Hamund says with disappointment in his voice. As Hamund and Ken departed the ship, Ratvos could be heard pleading with his crew. As they walk through the halls Hamund secures his helmet onto his head and enters into the open bay. As Hamund and Ken stare into the abyss of space Ken asks ¡°So what now?¡± ¡°We must find the universe tree.¡± Hamund replies as he secures the tether back onto Ken, Hamund smacks his chest recalling his sword and shield. Hamund looks back at Ken and winks before throwing Ken towards his crew''s ship. Kingdom of Reykjagard (Ten years later) The Kingdom of Reykjagard stretched far beneath the great iron balcony, A sprawling web of stone and steel that gleamed under the morning sun. From his vantage point, Hamund could see the towering spires of his city''s capital, once a mere dream of what could be, now brought to life through the sweat and blood of those who stuck by his side. The city was named in honor of his hometown back on earth and was built on the great lands of his people''s new found home. The stone paths and bristling farms glowing gold¨Cnow stood as a testament to decades of conquest, sacrifice, and survival. The wind carried with it the scent of fresh pine and the distant sound of his city''s life hard at work to stand on its own. As he leaned against the iron railing, Hamund¡¯s gaze drifted over the vibrant marketplace below, merchants shouted their wares and children darted between stalls, laughter mingling with the ringing of iron work and steady winds. Beneath the surface of this bustling life, shadows lingered. He could sense unease in the air. The whispers of discontent that reached his ears on occasion like a storm brewing in the distance. Despite the success he brought to his city, the remnants of those who he had to take this land from remained. Hamund took a deep breath, grounding himself in the moment. The laughter of children, the shouts of merchants, even the busy sounds of iron work¨C it all felt like a fragile mask over deep uncertainties that still lingered from his previous adventures. He envisioned the sounds and sights of earth before its fall, the family and friends that he had left behind, he knew that was a fate that Reykjagard could not meet. Hamund closed his eyes for a moment, feeling the warm breeze of the high winds that stretched across his land. He pictured spending moments with his family back on earth, he still heard and found comfort in their voices¨C those moments felt like a distant echo now, almost too fragile to hold onto. He shook his head, breaking his feeling of nostalgia that weighed him down. ¡°My lord¡± A voice echoes from behind, Hamund turns to see a young man standing behind him. The boy was dressed in stiff wool clothes, dyed blue with golden accents, fitting of a royal family. ¡°Your court, they are awaiting you at the round table.¡± The boy bowed as he was waved out of the room by Hamund. Hamund looked over at the boy and was astonished by how old he had gotten. It felt like just yesterday he had arrived on this planet, the boy''s father was the reigning king when his ship arrived. His father was a mere boy upon Hamund''s arrival, scared of power and the many woes that came with it. Hamund looked back into the world now envisioning what the city was before he arrived, the crops struggled to grow, houses were nothing more than mud huts held together by twigs and hopes. His people were starved and on the edge of rebellion, Hamund never wanted to hold power in these lands but he felt a need to for the betterment of the lands. While Hamund was lost in thought another man could be heard entering his chambers, this time it was a man, the former king and the father of the boy from before. This man was scruffy but maintained his physical appearance, his body was clean of any scars of combat signifying his innocence when it came to matters of the sword, but his eyes were dead, bearing the mental weight of being a failed king. ¡°Tell me, my lord, do you plan on addressing your court today? Or shall I schedule it for another?¡± The man said straight faced but Hamund could hear the humor in his words. ¡°If it is left to me, you would be addressing the court, and I would be preparing our armaments for any incoming dangers.¡± Hamund joked as he fixed his leather and linen attire, preparing himself for the onslaught of stupid questions he is forced to endure, during his meeting with the court. ¡°If it was left to me, I would be a king of the dead, nothing to rule over but skeletons and ashes.¡± The former King mutters as he steps towards Hamund and begins helping him prepare for his grand appearance. ¡°You sell yourself too short, Yusif, given the time even the worst leaders can make good kings.¡± Hamund blurts out, knowing his words were only half true. ¡°Tell me, my ear of the people, what is it that the underbelly whispers?¡± ¡°The people are afraid, that is true, to most of the older population, you and your crew are outsiders. To have swept through and taken power, seems like an insult to most, no matter how many lives you changed.¡± Yusif responds as he tightens Hamunds ceremonial belt around his waist. ¡°You can spread the word, anyone who wishes to take this responsibility, is more than welcome to.¡± Hamund says as he takes a deep breath allowing Yusif to tighten the belt. Yusif chuckles and replies ¡°I have many times, people only seek power and greed in times of prosperity, their threats are empty, most wish only to complain.¡± ¡°So if it isn¡¯t the court complaining of travisties that have yet to happen, its the people calling for my head because I have given them new found flourishment.¡± Hamund lets out a loud anxious sigh ¡°This is why, I never sought power.¡± Yusif wipes away particles of dust and dandruff off of Hamund attire before looking him in the eyes and saying ¡°Some people are just born for it, while others are just born into it.¡± Yusif feels a tension in his chest as he says this, knowing no matter how far they have come his actions will stain his name in the eyes of his people. Yusif showcases an empty smile before adding ¡°You¡¯re ready to go.¡± and gesturing toward the stone lined halls. They walked through the guarded halls, each guardian dressed in silver armor with golden cloth draped across the plating displaying their position of king''s guard. Hamund salutes each member of his guards as they pass, talking with Yusif as he does ¡°You know we almost never stopped at this planet.¡± Yusif seemed shocked by Hamunds statement ¡°How do you mean? my lord¡± ¡°It was after our encounter with the Tuskers, although we won, undoubtedly, the maneuvers we had to make to avoid returning fire damaged our ship. We spent many hours floating freely through space, searching for any signs of a planet that held resources that could allow us to restore her to her glory.¡± Hamund pauses a second, taking a breath as he adjusts the belt along his waist. ¡°I searched our map vigorously, checking off planet after planet, hoping for anything. When we did a scan of this planet almost all signs pointed to it being an earth-like planet. I left it to a vote, the crew was split down the middle on whether or not to go off course. It was only by stroke of luck, Val had Convinced Ken to vote for the voyage.¡± ¡°Val? He seemed the least interested in our people when you arrived?¡± Yusif replied in a surprised tone. ¡°Val seen earth-like qualities, although he doesn''t like people, he assumed you would have honey for his mead.¡± Hamund stated as he held in his laughter due to his belt forcing him to breathe heavier. Before Yusif could reply shouting could be heard coming from outside the roundtable hall. ¡°It''s the false king!¡± from a growing crowd was quickly deafened by the royal guardians shouting ¡°Shut your mouth! No one can speak to the king in such a tone!¡± The guards shifted their stance preparing to draw their blades upon the crowd. Hamund rushed over to the guards, his pace matching the severity of the current situation. ¡°Stay your blades, We will not draw blood of innocence, they are frustrated. They pose you no harm outside of words of disdain.¡± Hamund looked across the crowd of hundreds, their faces were mixed of young and old. Some cheered as Hamund made his appearance but the cheers were drowned out by calls for him to step down. Hamund quickly shifted his worried look to a bright smile as he waved to the crowd. Hamund looks to his guards as he reassures them ¡°They are scared, everything is new, their wounds have only just faded. Let them be, we need not anger them more.¡± As Hamund departs the scene he asks Yusif ¡°Should we throw a feast? It could help lower tensions on both sides.¡± Yusif weighed Hamund¡¯s suggestion of a feast in his mind, considering the potential outcomes. On the surface, a grand feast could indeed help calm tensions, offering a moment of unity for both sides. It would show Hamund¡¯s willingness to break bread with those who viewed him as an outsider, a gesture of peace after he had seemingly usurped their king, if only for a moment. But the former king¡¯s experience had also taught him to be wary of public events; they held darker tendencies. For a ruler, enemies lurked in every shadow. Yusif¡¯s mind flickered to the faces in the crowd¨Cthe young and old alike, many of whom still harbored resentment towards Hamund for his taking of land and power. A feast could be the perfect cover for someone seeking revenge, a chance to slip a blade into Hamunds back or even poison in his cup. The merriment and distraction could make it difficult for even the best of his guard to protect Hamund. Yusif glanced at Hamund, who was already smiling at the thought of easing tensions with his people. He admired Hamund¡¯s desire to lead through compassion, to break barriers that divided the two worlds. But Yusif knew that kindness could sometimes leave on blind to danger. Yusif¡¯s own reign had been marked by hesitation and failure, and while he respected Hamund¡¯s strength of character, he worried that Hamund may have been too eager to believe in the goodwill of his citizens. Hamund lingered on the thought of a feast, the idea brought hope, it could be the bridge that mended the distrust of him and his crew with the people. After all, he had brought them prosperity, in his mind he had saved their land from its inevitable decay. Yusif remained silent, his brow furrowed as he entered the grand hall. His hesitation gnawed at Hamund, though he did not make mention of it at first. The weight of his court hung over him like a shadow. The air around Hamund felt thick with tension and the unspoken grievances. The great roundtable loomed ahead of him, crafted from the stones of mountains and bordered by the finest wood the kingdom could find. Originally belonging to Yusif, Hamund could help but wonder if Yusif longed for its power once again. Seated around the table were pivotal members of both ruling members, six in total with eight chairs. At each head of the table rested two empty chairs, one for both kings, new and old. Across the left side of the table were three members of Hamunds crew, Val sat closest to Hamund, he served as Hamund''s loyal advisor, bonded by blood, Hamund knew he was a man he could trust to keep him on track. Next was Adamdra; she served as a general of the royal guardians, whose sole mission was to protect the king. Following her was Ken, Hamund¡¯s trust had grown for Ken, but he was still a man Hamund wanted to keep within close watch. Across the right side of the table sat three members of Yusif original council closest to Yusuf''s chair sat his son Aris, his dark hair front and center as he found himself distracted by the ambiance of the room. Hamund hoped the boy would soon take his place on the throne, but feared the boy shared his fathers reluctance for the crown. Following Aris was an older gentleman clearly towards his end of life as depicted by the wrinkles on his face and shakiness of his movements. The man¡¯s name was Opey and he was a signal of knowledge that blended three generations of kings before Hamund. Opey could be seen trying to realign Aris¡¯s attention back to the round table. The final chair at the table was filled by Yusif¡¯s original leader of technology Lev¡¯ion. He had thrived with the assistance of Erp, although the seat was originally meant to be held by Erp, Erp felt no need to be in the spotlight but offered to assist with all future projects as long as Lev¡¯ion took his spot. As Hamund and Yusif took their seats, Aris stood up, bowed and began to speak the terms for the court. ¡°Good evening my lords, I am Aris, speaker of the court, today¡¯s court as per terms described under rule of the land will be conducted as follows.¡± Aris pauses to take a breath. ¡°The first half will be conducted around the roundtable, we will address matters within a closed door setting.¡± Aris shifted his gaze between Hamund and Aris as he continued ¡°The second half will be conducted in the open throne room, as members of the court will address a few public concerns brought by members of the general population.¡± Aris took his seat as Hamund stood to address his table ¡°Good evening, I will be bringing our first issue to the table. It has been brought to my attention that there is still disdain for my rule. We can not continue to hold our position if we do not have the support of the public.¡± Hamund looks across his table at Yusif who is still lost in decision ¡°I believe it is in the best position for this court to host a feast in honor of our thriving capital. I will leave it to you all to vote.¡± Val stood, his posture was a clear sign of his discomfort at this table. His arms were crossed, hiding the slight tremble that happened when he was forced to speak. ¡°A feast can be a strong gesture, brother, but it also presents danger. The people are divided; it is true that some see you as a savior of these lands, but it is not a secret to others, you are a conqueror. Bringing others to your table puts you at risk.¡± He paused, his eyes scanning the room, meeting the gaze of each council member. ¡°Still, I trust your judgment. If you believe a feast will help ease tensions, you have my vote.¡± Admadra, sitting next to Val, Nodded her agreement before standing. ¡°A feast is more than just a show of goodwill, It can also be a show of strength. We will show them that this kingdom was built from your leadership, and you will not fear them, no matter any threats said from cowards in the shadows.¡± Her voice was laced with confidence, her golden prosthetic leg gleaming as she shifted her stance. ¡°I fully agree with the feast, but we must be prepared to meet force with force should there be any treachery. I will double the guard and ensure there will be no thoughts of trouble.¡± Ken, who sat unusually quiet, leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand. ¡°I have always been one for theatrics,Hamund,¡± He said, a slight smirk tugging at his lips. ¡°A feast could be a good way to force our enemies to show their hands. But¡­ It''s a risk. People who hate you won¡¯t change their mind based on you feeding them. If this feast is to work, we must ensure we are not inviting a wolf to dinner.¡± Ken glanced at Val, then back to Hamund ¡°I vote yes, but we must proceed with caution.¡± Hamund let his side of the table''s word set in before shifting his gaze to Yusif¡¯s side of the table. Aris stood up. The boy seemed unsure, clearly wrestling the weight of responsibility. ¡°My father always spoke highly of your leadership, Lord Hamund. And though there are those who doubt your rule, I believe a feast could be a step toward mending that divide.¡± He glanced at his father who remained silent, then continued. ¡°However I also understand the risks. We must consider additional threats or even actions against you, for this reason alone, at the current time, I must vote Nei.¡± Yusif finally stirred, shifting in his seat. His fingers drummed lightly on the table as he spoke. ¡°My lord, Hamund,¡± he said softly ¡°You are a far better king than I ever was. But do not mistake my silence for acceptance. I¡¯ve lived with these people my whole life, and I know their hearts. Some will never forgive what has been taken from them, no matter how much they received in return.¡± Yusif scanned the angered faces of Hamund¡¯s crew ¡°Understand, that is not my position, I will proceed with whatever vote holds majority but it is my belief that a feast only creates unnecessary dangers.¡± Yusif returned his hands to his lap as he sheltered into a worried state. The room was silent for a moment, the weight of Yusif''s words settling over him. Hamund glanced over to his counterpart, he saw not just a man who had failed, but one who still carried the weight of his failure. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. ¡°I didn¡¯t take this land from them, Yusif,¡± Hamund replied, his voice lowered so as not to invoke anger from any of his court. ¡°I brought something their own rulers couldn¡¯t. I brought them hope when all they had left was despair.¡± Hamund gestured to his crew ¡°We taught them how to utilize their lands, and it is still my belief that many will see reason, until one of their own is ready to rule.¡± Yusif looked up, his eyes clouded with his regret mixed with an understanding of the situation ¡°Hope is a dangerous thing, my lord. It makes people act in ways they wouldn¡¯t normally¨Cgood and bad.¡± Before the tension could settle too thickly, Opey, the elderly court member, cleared his throat, his hands trembling slightly as he leaned forward. ¡°There is wisdom in both approaches,¡± he said, his voice was raspy but firm. ¡°A feast could be a bridge, but it must be done with extreme caution. We must be wary of those who would seek to use this good gesture for nefarious means. If we move forward, it should be done not with blind optimism, but with watchful eyes.¡± Hamund listened intently. Opey¡¯s experience spanned across generations of rulers, Hamund knew he would be a fool not to heed his warnings, even if they did not match with his perspective. Opey tapped on the table and quickly ended his vote with ¡°I vote, Yay but only if security can handle the needs of such an event.¡± Hamund stood, addressing his court ¡°We have come to a general consensus then, we should prepare the guards and the dining hall to hold a feast for the people.¡± Hamund looked over to Aris who was writing on a table, all the words that had been said. As Hamund sat back in his chair, lev¡¯ion stood facing Hamund he proclaimed ¡°It is my belief that our next course of action, should be regarding the oncoming winter.¡± He paused for a second awaiting Hamund''s response. Hamund waved to him to approve, as his eyes were locked onto Lev¡¯ion. ¡°My lord, Winter has been our toughest time, our crops can not thrive and once again we are expecting heavy resistance from the frost giants to the north. Erp and I have been developing several devices that could assist in holding a defense against the giants.¡± Hamund''s gaze peaked with interest. ¡°Well do tell me, what devices have we developed.¡± ¡°Erp has developed a blade with you in mind, he told me to tell you he named it ¡°Fang of the north¡±¡± Lev¡¯ion reached under the round table pulling out a sword wrapped in clothing, placing it in front of Hamund he continued ¡°The blade itself will allow you to recall the sword, with two taps on your armor the sword would release its fangs dragging anyone it is connected to towards you.¡± Hamund unveiled the sword, Its hilt was made of a blend of steel and gold, with leather wrapped around it to protect his hands from the shock of combat. The blade shined a light blue glow, Hamund ran his finger across it, it was ice cold to the touch almost freezing his fingertips. Hamund held the ¡°Fang of the north¡± in his hands, the power from the sword radiated through its cold surface. He admired the craftsmanship and care that went into making such a beautiful blade. Erp had truly outdone himself, Hamund couldn¡¯t help but wonder if the gods themselves guided Erps hand as he crafted such a beautiful masterpiece. The light blue glow of the blade casted an eerie glow across the room as Hamund couldn¡¯t help but smile as he wielded it. Could it have been forged with Skaldi, the giantess of the hunt and winter, in mind? The thought sent a shiver through him, one that had nothing to do with the blade¡¯s freezing chill. He thought of her¡ªthe goddess of winter''s wrath, of unforgiving cold, and wondered if this sword could rival even her power. Hamund gave Lev¡¯ion a knowing look as he rose from his seat. Hamund¡¯s eyes matched the storm of the blade with his smile growing larger by the second. ¡°Such a blade is meant to be wielded by the gods, I wonder how it would feel in the hand of a mortal?¡± his breath was visible as he spoke his words of gratitude. Lev¡¯ion felt Hamund¡¯s excitement radiating out as he replied ¡°Erp knew you would feel this way, He told me with this blade you would fight with the wrath of the heaviest winter.¡± Hamund hesitantly placed the blade on the table, Hamund locks eyes with Aris and asks ¡°What is next on our agenda?¡± before returning to his seat. Aris abruptly stands and bows before addressing the court ¡°My lord, The next matter to be addressed concerns the people of these lands and their fear of the royal guard.¡± Admadras faces twists in surprise as she glares at Aris ¡°What would be the fears that need to be addressed?¡± Before Hamund could calm the building tensions Admadra continued ¡°The royal guard keep the members of this court safe, and we have had several threats made toward us. They have been given permission to meet all actions with an equal response.¡± Aris, hands shaking with anger, responds ¡°We have had three public executions within the last three months, I don¡¯t see how that is equal force, to verbal threats.¡± Hamund, sensing Aris¡¯s growing anger and concern, interrupts ¡°What were the crimes committed that warranted these executions?¡± Hamund turned to Admadra first signaling her to respond. Admadra straighted in her seat, the golden from her prosthetic leg catching the light as she leaned forward. Her eyes narrowed, locking onto Hamund with a fierce, unwavering gaze. ¡°Hamund,¡± She began, her voice was firm and filled with confidence, ¡°these men were not just issuing verbal threats. They were agitators, spreading unruly rumors and ideas among the people. They sought to undermine the court, to inspire a rebellion, calls for blood and heads shifted from each one''s mouth. The public executions were meant to serve as a message¨C a reminder that treachery will not be tolerated.¡± Aris, still standing, moved his fist to his side to hide there trembling and interjected ¡°Public executions hold no merit in a civilized society, and death over pure words? My lord, they are creating more fear than loyalty. You will not find justice in death and neither will the people¨C they will see only tyranny. How long until fear becomes hatred and we all find our head on the end of a pike?¡± Hamund leaned back in his chair, his eyes flickering between the two. The room fell silent, the air heavy with the weight of their debate. He could feel the tension growing between his council, the thin line between control and rebellion tightening with every word. His fingers drummed against the table, the cold energy of the ¡°Fang of the north¡± still lingering on his skin. He knew Admadra was a loyal and respected warrior through and through. Her defense of the royal guard was expected, but he saw the weight of Aris¡¯s words. He couldn¡¯t afford to lose the already thin trust of the people, nor could he allow the shadows to spread fear and discontent unchecked. ¡°Both of you make strong points, I see your concern for the people of Aris, but I also see a need to quell whispers of treachery and threats of violence.¡± Hamund said, his voice remaining calm through the tension but holding his commanding position ¡°Admadra, we cannot allow rebellion to take root, but Aris is right¨Cfear alone cannot hold a kingdom together. If the people believe the royal guard to be nothing more than a sword, to be sung at them at our beckoning call, rather than a shield meant to protect this kingdom, then we risk greater unrest.¡± Admadra¡¯s expression hardened as she crossed her arms, her stature commanding yet visibly strained. ¡°And what would you propose? A feast? While our defectors continue to grow in strength? With all due respect, there are those who would see us fall, and they won''t hesitate to use our compassion against us.¡± Aris scoffed, his frustration becoming more apparent. ¡°Compassion is not the same as weakness, Admadra! You speak of my people as if they are all inherently evil, casting them to the dogs you trained. If we corner them like animals they will be forced to bite.¡± Admadra¡¯s eyes narrowed, the muscles in her jaw tightening. ¡°¡±And what if they do see it as a sign of weakness or cowardice? What if they see us reaching out to them as indecision? You¡¯re asking us to play with fire, Aris, and when it burns, who will be the one taking the heat?¡± Hamund raised a hand, a small gesture to quell the rising tension. ¡°We are not here to point fingers or assign blame,¡± he said, his voice steady, yet laced with the urgency of their predicament. ¡°We must find a balance. The royal guard cannot be perceived solely as enforcers of our will, nor can they be rendered impotent by fear of conducting their duties. We all have a duty to protect the kingdom¨Cnot only from the threats from outside our walls but from the discontent within as well.¡± Admadra, her stare never leaving Aris, asked ¡°Weren¡¯t you the one who feared the results of hosting a feast?¡± ¡°I feared the result of a feast, yes that is true. That was merely an acknowledgement of the growing threats, not a declaration of death for those that live within our kingdom.¡± Aris replies, trying to hide his growing irritation. Ken looked around the room, a sense of excitement rushing through him as he observed the visible divide growing at the table. He leaned back in his chair, an almost imperceptible smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth as he watched the exchange. Clearing his throat, Ken spoke, his voice cut through the tension like a blade. ¡°It seems we are stuck at an impasse, in front of us we have two very different visions of how things should go. But perhaps, instead of arguing over the merits of compassion and strength, we could consider a third path. One that combines both.¡± Hamunds eyes flickered to Ken, watching him cautiously, still unsure of what he would say. Aris and Admadra were still locked in a verbal standoff, but Ken had a way of gathering attention when he wanted to. Ken continued, now leaning slightly forward. ¡°A feast is not inherently a display of weakness or strength, if used correctly, it can be a tool. The key to it is how we present it. We could use it as an opportunity to demonstrate our unity, both among ourselves and with the people of the kingdom.¡± Ken places his hands together, interlacing his fingers to resemble a cage. ¡°But make no mistake¨Cif there are factions within our walls that wish to challenge our authority, then this feast could serve as a trap.¡± Admadra raised an eyebrow, she felt a mix of intrigue and wariness ¡°And how would you suggest we set this trap, Ken?¡± Ken laughed ¡°We invite the loudest voices of dissent against us. Let them speak freely, under the guise of a diplomatic discussion. In doing so, we gather them all in one place, into a cage of our design.¡± Ken looks over to Aris, giving him a reassuring look. ¡°Should they behave, then perhaps they can be reasoned with.¡± Ken shifted his focus to Admadra, ¡°But should they step out of line, we will be prepared to neutralize any threat, while maintaining the perception of us trying to keep the peace.¡± Aris immediately shook his head, his frustration with the court surfacing. ¡°You want me to lead my people into an act of treason? Just so we can be justified in using violence, that is not a solution¨Cthat''s manipulation!¡± Ken''s smile widened, but still he remained calm. ¡°If your people are as righteous as you want to make them seem, we realistically won''t have to use force.¡± Ken turned his eyes to Hamund, ¡°Manipulation is a tool. And it is one we will need should we wish to maintain control, without plunging the kingdom into a civil war. Should we remain stagnant then I am afraid we will continue to be one step behind the ever growing rebellion.¡± Hamund regarded Ken with a measured gaze, the weight of his words settled heavily in the room. The suggestion was bold, but it carried a dangerous edge that Hamund couldn¡¯t ignore. The idea of manipulation was not how he envisioned his rule. Yet, there was an undeniable logic in Ken¡¯s strategy, a means to control and even convert without immediate bloodshed. Hamund¡¯s thoughts swirled as the room remained silent, the tension hanging thickly in the air. Admadra, always one to appreciate a direct approach, seemed intrigued by the plan¡¯s efficiency, but Aris¡¯s disgust grew with every passing second. ¡°Manipulation is not governance, Ken.¡± Hamund finally spoke, breaking the growing silence. ¡°It¡¯s a dangerous game. If we set a trap under the guise of peace, we risk fracturing what little trust we have left. The moment they feel tricked, we lose everything.¡± Ken shrugged, his smirk never fully fading. ¡°The moment they turn on us, we lose everything anyway. This is about survival. We already fight a war with their whispers. This feast could be used to bring them into the light.¡± Aris slammed his fist on the table, his eyes engulfed in rage. ¡°You are talking about using people as pawns!¡± Aris snapped his head towards Hamund ¡°My Lord, this will only deepen the divide between us and the people. Should we go down this path, we will no longer just be facing a rebellion¨C we will be actively feeding it.¡± Admadra leaned forward, her expression remaining neutral, but her calculated tone couldn¡¯t hide her interest in the plan. ¡°Perhaps Ken has a point, Aris. If dissent is growing, we can¡¯t afford to turn a blind eye. I understand your desire to keep the peace, but what price are you willing to pay for it? Sometimes the cost of peace is ensuring those who would wish to see our kingdom fall are exposed.¡± She turned to Hamund ¡°But Hamund is right as well. Trust, once broken, is nearly impossible to regain. If we move forward with Ken¡¯s plan, we must be certain that we are seen in a better light. We must be seen as the ones who brought peace to the table, and not tyrants who lured our enemies to slaughter.¡± ¡°It is not slaughter that we seek¨C we just wish to regain control. A show of power, hidden behind a veil of diplomacy. They will have their chance to speak and express their concerns. But if they cross the line, then it¡¯s they who revealed their true intentions.¡± Ken interjected. Hamund raised his hand, silencing the room. ¡°We are a council of eight, we will vote.¡± Hamund paused for a second taking in the arguments from each side. ¡°I will vote yay, only if we go into this with the intentions of peace and discussion.¡± Aris slammed his fist on the table. ¡°Nay! My people are not pawns.¡± Lev¡¯ion broke his silent state and mutters quietly ¡°I will vote Yay.¡± Opey looked around his side of the table, seeing Aris¡¯s anger he spoke up ¡°Nay, we can not treat people as cattle and lead them to slaughter.¡± Ken raised his hand and with a smile said ¡°It is my plan, so I will obviously be voting, yay.¡± Val looked to his brother, with concern in his eye¡¯s ¡°Nay, I don¡¯t think the reward outweighs the risk.¡± Admadra nodded her head in agreement. ¡°It is a yay from me.¡± Yusif found himself as the deciding vote. If he voted nay the court would be left at a draw, killing the plan at the table. Should he vote yay, the plan would move forward, helping squash remnants of the rebellion. Yusif looked to his son, with an apologetic gaze as he raised his hand and said ¡°I will be voting yay, rebellion puts our lives at risk and must be stopped sooner rather than later.¡± Aris¡¯s face fell as he met his father¡¯s gaze, disbelief flashing in his eyes. The weight of Yusif''s vote hit him harder than any argument that had been made around the table. He clenched his fists, his jaw tight with restrained emotion. ¡°You¡¯re making a mistake,¡± Aris muttered, his voice echoing his hurt and sense of betrayal. ¡°This path will only deepen the cracks beneath us. Betrayal is not easily forgotten.¡± Yusif¡¯s shoulders slumped, the guilt he felt was evident, as he turned his gaze away from his son. ¡°Aris, this is not an easy decision for me,¡± he said, his voice low and fighting through tears. ¡°But we cannot afford a rebellion, not with winter around the corner.¡± Aris¡¯s heart pounded as his father spoke. ¡°You grew up with the people of this kingdom, same as me, shared in their fears as we survived year after year.¡± Aris pounded his hand on the table and demanded ¡°Look at me and tell me this is the best option for our people!¡± Yusif, wiping away tears, turned to his son and stared him in the eyes. ¡°This is the best we can do for our kingdom, without Hamund and his crew¡­¡± Hamund attempted to interrupt ¡°He doesn''t need to know!¡± Yusif ignored Hamund¡¯s interruption and continued ¡°I would have been digging your grave without Hamund.¡± Aris still blinded by his anger ¡°You hold yourself so low in your mind because of that man, we would have survived with or without him.¡± Admadra looked over to Hamund, Hamund was shaking his head as a way to tell her to let them talk. His expression calm but his eyes were cold, showing his concern. He knew Yusif and Aris had become estranged over the years, but now, under the weight of the vote, it was boiling over. Yusif, his face a mask of regret, met his son¡¯s fiery gaze. ¡°You don¡¯t understand what it''s like to sit upon that throne, Aris.¡± he said, his voice, wavering but resolute. ¡°You speak of honor, of trust, but survival demands action, sometimes those actions go against our morals. I was a lot like you, I held tightly to my ideals¨Cour people suffered for it. I won¡¯t bury you again.¡± The table fell silent, everyone''s face displayed their shock, except Hamund and Yusif. Ken found himself feeling excited by the conversation ahead of him. ¡°What do you mean again?¡± Ken asked as he struggled to hide his smile, he knew he was breaking into Hamund deeper secrets. Yusif remained silent as he knew he had said too much. Aris fell into his chair as his fathers words echoed through his mind ¡°I won¡¯t bury you again.¡± Hamund interrupts trying to break the tension in the room. ¡°With the vote being final, it is time to take this court into the throne room.¡± Hamund stood, grabbing the fang of the north, its cold grip felt cooling against the heated tension in the room. Everyone remained seated, still frozen by the shock of the words that were just said aloud. They wondered what Yusif had meant by his statement. As Hamund walked out the room he heard Ken mutter once again ¡°What did he mean by again?¡± Hamund ignored his question and began walking toward the throne room. The members of the table found themselves unable to move, exchanging glances as Yusif was the next to stand and depart the room. Ken stood and angrily shouted towards Yusif ¡°How are we supposed to trust one another, when it''s clear the leaders are hiding secrets?¡± Ken looked around the table, hiding his smile as he tried to plant a seed of doubt in everyone''s mind ¡°Are we just going to allow them to continue with these lies?¡± Admadra stood, making her way to leave the room. She stopped in front of Ken, with a cold expression ¡°They never lied, just remained silent.¡± she replied before turning back to leave the room/ The rest of the court slowly began to depart, the silence between them growing heavier. Ken remained behind, his grin widened as he looked around the empty chamber. He could feel his seed of doubt already taking root. ¡°It is the same thing!¡± He said softly, almost to himself, savoring every minute of what he just unleashed. Court of the people The grand doors of the throne room creaked open, and Hamund stepped through, he marched through with his back straight and his chin held high. The fang of the north glinted in his hand, it''s cold grip soothed him as he marched through the crowded room. The crowd was parted between two sides of the room, divided by a wall of royal guards and a red and gold carpet. The carpet looked like a river of fire stretching through a valley of silver. Hamund peered past the waves of people and crashing of voices and focused on the table ahead of him. The table had seven seats lined across it reserved for his council that would join him shortly. Behind the table sat a throne made of iron, gold and the finest wood in the kingdom. Hamund couldn¡¯t help but be impressed by the level of craftsmanship that went into forging the throne. The subtle twists of gold displayed the power that it represented, the wood born of the kingdom represented a sense of loyalty to the nation, the iron that trimmed the throne was meant to be a reminder of the burdens that come with taking such a throne. Three steps led up to the throne, elevating it above the rest of the room, as if to remind all who gathered there where the final word of authority rested. Hamund dreaded sitting upon the throne, it gave him a cold chill equal to the blade he held in his hand. He despised being the one making the final decision, especially on such a large scale. Every word he said could be turned against him, even the actions of others were deemed as his responsibility. He thought to himself ¡°how could anyone long for such a heavy burden.¡± With a heavy sigh, Hamund took a seat on the throne, placing his blade on the ground beside him. He raised his hand, quieting the crowd, his voice loud and commanding ¡°I call this court to order, please welcome my council.¡± Glancing at the empty seats of his council, he eagerly awaited their arrival. As Hamund¡¯s voice rang out, the murmur of the crowd slowly died down, leaving an eerie silence in its place. The creaking of the grand doors broke the stillness in the air once more as each member of the council entered one by one. Admadra was the first to arrive, her golden prosthetic brightened the room under the lights of the hall. She walked with a calm authority, scanning the room before giving a nod to Hamund. Her presence alone was enough to make the royal guards around the room stiffen, a reminder of the discipline she commanded as their leader. Next came Aris, his face was tight with emotion, his eyes betraying the turmoil that still lingered from the earlier exchange. He took a seat as far from Admadra as he could be, avoiding making eye contact as much as possible. His fists were clenched in his lap as if he was trying to control the storm of his temper. Lev¡¯ion, Val, Opey, and Yusif followed suit, each quietly taking their seat as they awaited Ken, the final member of the council. Ken was the last to enter, his steps were slow and deliberate. He gave Hamund a sly, knowing smile as he took his seat in the dead center of the table. He could feel the tension in the room and still smile as if he reveled in it. Hamund, still looking into the crowd, felt the tension built up between his council. He noticed as Aris occasionally glared at his father, or even Kens repeated heavy breaths as if he was silently laughing. Hamund called to Aris ¡°It is time we address the masses.¡± Aris shifted in his seat, as he finally looked up from his isolated state he made his announcement ¡°Good evening people of Reykjagard, first order of business is to discuss the events of todays closed court¡­¡± Aris cleared his throat and shifted in his chair once again. ¡°Today, it was discussed that we will be hosting a grand feast, it is our mindset that such an event could help to ease the tension between us and the people.¡± Aris said, his voice cracking as he spoke these words. As Aris finished speaking, a murmur rippled through the crowd. Hamund watched as the expressions of those gathered changed, some wore smiles of excitement, others seemed curious and uncertain. One thing was clear to Hamund: the crowd was unsure whether the feast was a measure of goodwill or a calculated move made by the court. Ken leaned forward, his fingers drumming lightly on the table, his eyes twinkled with mischief. ¡°A grand feast,¡± he added, his voice smooth and almost playful. ¡°It is an interesting proposal, though I am certain some of you may be wondering¡­ is this truly an olive branch, or could this be a thinly veiled attempt to hold control over you?¡± The murmurs of the crowd grew louder, many in the crowd shifted uncomfortably. Hamund¡¯s jaw tightened, realizing Ken was already sowing in seeds of doubt, but this was anticipated. Hamund expected Ken to act in his own self interest, even wanted him to. Hamund knew he could never be seen as a voice of the people because he wore the crown, Yusif and Aris were seen as traitors and weren¡¯t trusted amongst the populace, Ken was his best chance to gain trust while maintaining control. Although Hamund did worry that giving Ken such power could cause more of a divide, it was a risk he knew had to be made. The murmurs in the crowd grew louder, their voices swirled like rising winds before a storm. Faces that were once filled with curiosity now showed fear and doubt. A voice broke through the quiet mumblings of the crowd. ¡°Is this feast truly for the people?¡± a man from the back of the crowd called out. ¡°Or is it just another distraction while you plot behind our backs?¡± Hamunds eyes swept across the room, his grip tightening on the armrests of the throne. He could feel the weight of their mistrust, suspended above him like a guillotine. Another voice, sharper and louder, followed ¡°And what of the executions? You speak of easing tensions, but still it is our loved ones that are dragged into the streets like dogs and executed!¡± The crowd''s murmur rose into a low roar. A woman in the front raised her hand, her eyes filled with anger ¡°We talk of feasts, but you only deliver death! How are we supposed to trust you when we don''t even know who''s next to meet your blade?¡± Hamund straightened his posture, opening his mouth to speak, but before he could Ken¡¯s smooth voice slid into the conversation. ¡°My good people,¡± Ken began, leaning forward slightly, his fingers laced together. ¡°You raise fair points, The executions have not been easy to witness, nor were they easy decisions for our dear Admadra to make.¡± His tone was sympathetic, but Hamund could sense a glimmer of his darker intentions. ¡°But do not mistake necessity for cruelty. Those who were executed sought to bring chaos to the kingdom¨C chaos that would have torn our very foundation, and with winter''s breath knocking on our walls, this was a threat to the kingdom that could not stand.¡± The crowd''s roar simmered, though not fully silenced. Hamund could see the doubt still lingering in their eyes, like embers waiting to catch fire. He knew his next words must be carefully crafted. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Ken continued, his voice softened by still commanding the crowd. ¡°The feast is not a distraction or a deception. It is a chance¨C an olive branch, if you will¨Cfor us to come together as one people. A kingdom united, not by fear, but by understanding.¡± Aris caught Hamunds eye as he shifted in his seat. His gaze flickering between Ken and the crowd. Aris wanted to counter Ken¡¯s manipulation, but his throat felt tight as the weight of the earlier vote still clung to him. Before Aris could find his voice, a woman from the back of the crowd shouted ¡°And what of the royal guard? They patrol our streets like wild animals, hunting for their next kill. Is this your idea of protection?¡± Admadra was quick to rise from her chair ¡°The royal guard are sworn to protect this kingdom, that means everyone inside these walls.¡± She said, her voice as sharp as a blade. ¡°We have seen several threats from both inside and outside our walls. The guard acts only to protect your safety and ours.¡± ¡°But is it safe when we live in fear of our protectors?¡± the woman shot back, her voice trembling with defiance. Admadra¡¯s eyes narrowed, but Hamund raised his hand, signaling for silence. ¡°Enough¡± he said. ¡°We are not here to trade accusations, but to build trust. I understand your fears, and I do not dismiss them.¡± Hamund paused, scanning the faces of the people, trying to gauge the room, to help build a bridge across the divide between the crown and its subjects. ¡°That is why we need this feast, it is a chance to have a better dialogue.¡± Hamund continued ¡°¡±A chance for you to speak, and for us to listen. This is not a measure of control, but of reconciliation. If we do not open ourselves to each other, then what hope do we have? How would we survive each other, let alone the coming winter?¡± Hamund looked through the crowd, seeing their fear and worry. ¡°There will be no bloodshed without cause,¡± Hamund declared his voice firm and sincere. ¡°But know this: if threats arise, if the peace we seek is endangered, we will act upon that. That is my promise to you, as a king, and as a man.¡± For a long, agonizing moment, the room was still. Then slowly, a ripple of agreement spread through the crowd. It was not unanimous, but it was enough for Hamund to feel certain. Hamund exhaled quietly, his gaze shifting towards his council. The tension was still there, simmering beneath the surface, but at least for the moment they had control. Hamund could help but wonder how long it would last. Aris stood, still hesitant on how he felt about the situation. ¡°Next we will discuss issues that affect you as the general public, please in an orderly fashion step forward to address the lord.¡± The first citizen to step forward was an older man, his weathered face made it evident to Hamund that he was one of the kingdom''s many farmers. The man stepped into the center of the hall, his hands were trembling from fear and anger. ¡°My lord,¡± the man attempted to bow but struggled to hold his balance. Hamund stood up, walked over to the man and said ¡°Sir, you need not bow. Tell me, what is your Grievance?¡± The older man¡¯s breath was shaky as he pushed words out through heavy breaths, his voice was torn with emotion. ¡°My lord,¡± he began, his eyes focused at his feet. ¡°The royal guard¡­ they came to my farm, claiming it was in effort to protect us from the rebels. But I woke to my fields being burned, my animals had their necks slit, we were left with nothing but ashes.¡± His voice cracked with his tears as a hush fell over the room. ¡°My family will starve without these resources. Winter approaches, without crops or animals, how are we to survive the unforgiving storms?¡± The crowd stirred, whispers of agreement and murmurs of a shared pain rippled through the hall. Hamund¡¯s gaze softened as he listened to the man''s story, he could feel his pain and believed the words being said. Hamund turned towards Admadra and commanded. ¡°An investigation will be done into any misdeeds conducted under our banner. Their suffering will not go overlooked, and we will not tolerate those put into place to protect, using the power given to them as a means to harm our kingdom.¡± Admadra¡¯s face was bright with anger, her jaw clenched as she returned Hamund¡¯s blistering stare. ¡°My lord,¡± she paused, taking a breath and chose her words carefully. ¡°I trust you know that the royal guard works under strict orders, should any of my men overstep those orders, they will have to answer for it. But to assume there has been wrongdoing without evidence, it would be a spit in the face of the guards.¡± Hamund raised his hand, silencing the murmurs of the crowd. ¡°This is not about disgracing the name of the royal guard.¡± he said, his tone calm yet firm. ¡°It is about accountability. I want the guard''s name to be held high, but that means ensuring our members are held to the same standard as the citizens they watch over.¡± Admadra¡¯s defense of the royal guard carried a sharpness that raised the tension in the hall. Hamund, though resolute, could see the struggle in her eyes¨Cthe leader torn between loyalty to her troops and the demands for justice. ¡°The royal guard has my respect, Admadra.¡± Hamund continued, his voice steady as ever. ¡°But my respect for the men who have protected me and our people cannot blind me. Investigations are not accusations. They are measures of truth, and for us to regain the trust of our people we must seek that truth. He looked into the crowd, then back to Admadra ¡°The people deserve that much.¡± Admadra held his gaze for a moment before her shoulders stiffened. ¡°Very well, my lord. The investigation will proceed.¡± she said, with a straightforward tone ¡°But know this¨Cevery minute wasted questioning the guard is a minute lost in our preparations to protect our people.¡± Admadra saw the building anger on Hamund''s face. ¡°I will conduct an investigation into any conduct unbecoming of the royal guard. There will be justice for the people.¡± Ken, seeing an opportunity to stir the pot, leaned forward in his chair and added ¡°You said it yourself, the guard acted under strict orders. How can we trust an investigation held by you, when you are the one who commands the guard?¡± Admadra turned to her counterpart ¡°What are you implying?¡± She asked, her voice filled with rage from the accusations. Ken shrugged, hiding his deeper intentions. ¡°I am simply raising a concern that others might have. With you investigating your own command, some might say there is room¡­ for bias.¡± The crowd stirred up again, whispers and murmurs filled the air. Hamund¡¯s gaze shifted between Ken and Admadra, aware of the growing tension. He needed to control the situation quickly, but Ken¡¯s words had already planted seeds of doubt. ¡°Enough of this,¡± Hamund interrupted, his voice cutting through the rising noise. ¡°Admadra, I trust in your ability to lead this investigation with fairness. But I will also appoint a neutral party to oversee it, to ensure for the sake of the people and guard alike.¡± The whispers of the crowd faded, though the tension between Ken and Admadra lingered. Hamund could see a visible divide in his council, but he knew that should the public divide grow, it would only strengthen his enemies. Ken smiled slightly, feeling as though he won, he leaned back in his chair and replied ¡°A wise choice my lord, I am sure the people will appreciate this measure of transparency.¡± Hamund nodded and switched his gaze to Aris and stated ¡°I think it is about time we call this court closed.¡± As Hamund called to Aris to call the court to a close, the mood in the hall remained charged, the crowd remained silent as they departed the hall leaving only the council standing in the room. Hamund returned to his throne, gripping the hilt of the fang of the north as he raised it from the side of his throne. He walked towards the exit of the hall. Before leaving, he paused and spoke with authority, his voice echoing through the empty halls. ¡°We must not divide ourselves, find your purpose, but remember your places on this council.¡± He said, his gaze sweeping across the faces of the council. ¡°We serve the people, that will remain the goal. Tomorrow will bring greater challenges, but we must stand tall.¡± Hamund¡¯s face displayed his disappointment with the events that took place ¡°Prepare yourselves.¡± Without waiting for a response, Hamund turned and departed the hall through the grand doors. The sounds of the doors closing behind him shook the hall, leaving each member of the council feeling a sense of guilt, except Ken who remained smiling. Preparations for the hunt Hamund met with his son Thorkell as he prepared to lead an exhibition party for a hunt. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of pine and wheat that surrounded the city, it was a stark contrast to the simmering tension that had filled the throne room only hours before. Thorkell, a young man of imposing stature, he had the same fierce blue eyes as his uncle, was busy sharpening arrows for the hunt. His hands, calloused from years of training, moved with practiced ease, but Hamund noticed the nervousness in his demeanor. ¡°Father¡± Thorkell began, glancing up slightly from his task. ¡°What if they do not come? What if the people choose not to attend the feast?¡± Hamund placed a reassuring hand on Thorkell¡¯s shoulder as he picked up and arrow and examined the head. ¡°They will come, son. Curiosity and hope are powerful motivators, even if they despise me, no one will miss a chance to dine with a king.¡± Hamund paused for a second as he admired the precision that went into each arrow ¡°They must feel they are heard and respected, that will be the biggest hurdle for us.¡± Thorkell nodded, though the doubt lingered in his eyes ¡°And what of the royal guard? Are we sure they can be trusted to maintain power? The accusations are heavy, I don''t think they will be easily forgotten.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t stress it, son.¡± Hamund replies, lifting his hand off of Throkells shoulder. ¡°I have a plan for all of this, I am just hoping this hunt can show that we want peace.¡± Thorkell¡¯s face still displayed his doubt, but he knew he had to have faith in his father. He worried about his fathers trust in the people of this world. He may had been a young boy when earth was destroyed, but he could still remember the way it affected Hamund. The long nights drinking, the many violent encounters he had got himself into, Thorkell knew the only reason Hamund ever pushed forward was because of him. Throkells grip tightened around the arrow he was sharpening, the scrape of metal on stone filled the air between Hamund and him. He lowered his gaze, the weight of his thoughts pressed down on him. ¡°I may have just been a boy, but I still remember the stories of earth,¡± he muttered, his voice low but laced with sorrow from old memories. ¡°What happened there¡­ What happened to you¡­ how you were after.¡± Hamund¡¯s calm expression shifted for a brief moment as he pictured what he witnessed on earth. He tried to bury those days, locking them away deep in the back of his mind, but Thorkells words brought them rushing forward like a tidal wave. ¡°That''s the past, Thorkell,¡± Hamund replied, though his voice lacked his normal confidence. ¡°We can¡¯t change it, and we can''t let it rule us. What matters is the now.¡± ¡°That''s what I am worried about, all I hear is talks of rebellion. I can¡¯t walk through the square without hearing someone calling for our head.¡± Thorkell puts the arrow down and stands up, staring his father in the face as he asks ¡°What happens when those talks become more than that? What would you do if they were to kill one of us? Admadra? Val? Me?¡± Hamund¡¯s face doesn''t break as Thorkell continued, his voice ripe with concern, his eyes searching his fathers for any signs of hesitation. ¡°We can¡¯t pretend they don''t hate us. The feast, the gestures¨Cthey may not be enough to quell the coming storm.¡± Hamund sighed deeply, his shoulders bearing the weight of his sons fears. He stepped closer to Thorkell, meeting his gaze with steady resolve. ¡°The people have every right to be angry, to be scared. We came here a few short years ago, and took over their homes. But I will not be swayed by fear of possibility. If they come for us with violence, we will respond, but I can and will not be the first to spill blood.¡± ¡°Who has to be first? That''s all I am asking, I just worry your memories of earth blind you from the reality of our situation.¡± Throkells says as he steps back from his father and begins preparing his bow. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Hamund watched as Thorkell rubbed animal fat onto his bow stings, he felt a blend of pride and concern. Thorkell had grown into a man of strength and conviction, but Hamund knew his sons sense a bitterness all too well. He knew the weight and guilt that came with survival. The aftermath of the destruction of earth had forced both of them into positions they weren¡¯t comfortable with. Hamund sought to temper that weight with hopes of a better life, Thorkelll leaned towards caution¨Ctowards fear. ¡°I understand, Thorkell,¡± Hamund said softly, taking a deep breath, his voice losing its authority and becoming that of a father. ¡°But leadership isn¡¯t about avoiding every risk, and it''s definitely not about striking before every sign of danger. It¡¯s about knowing when to act and when to show restraint. What happened on earth, and what came after was awful. I swore I would never put our people through that again.¡± Throkell, now strapping his quiver to his back, paused, his brow furrowing as he glanced at his father. ¡°But the circumstances are different now. These aren''t our people, they make sure we are reminded of that every passing second.¡± His voice wavered slightly, as if his statement pained him. ¡°We rose this kingdom up from ashes¡­ Us, not some faulty king who wanted nothing to do with the crown. Yet, why is it that we must be treated like outsiders?¡± Hamund felt a familiar beat in his chest with Thorkell¡¯s words. They were the same doubts that haunted him in the stillness of night, gnawing at his confidence when the weight of the kingdom pressed too heavy on his shoulders. He knew that his son''s frustrations were born not just from the present, but from a long history of wanting to find a home. Hamund always made promises of finding their new home, yet, here they are in a world of their own design, still outcasts. The weight of Thorkell¡¯s words hung in the air, and Hamund felt the tension between them deepen. His son¡¯s bitterness wasn¡¯t unwarranted¨Cthere was truth in it, a truth even Hamund couldn¡¯t deny. They helped form this kingdom, rose it from ashes and famine, and yet, for all his crews efforts, they were still seen as interlopers, nothing more than an occupying force on land that wasn¡¯t theirs. Thorkells frustration came from a deep wound of feeling like a stranger in a world he helped shape. Thokell¡¯s jaw tightened, Hamund could see his muscles flex as he grasped arrows and secured them in his quiver. ¡°How long do we have to keep pretending?¡± he asked, his voice was filled with a deep desperation. ¡°How long until we stop trying to please these people? The people who will never accept us.¡± Hamund sighed, with Thorkell¡¯s words he was reminded of his youth and inexperience. ¡°We don''t do this stuff to please them. We do it because its the right thing to do. You will have to learn, leadership isn¡¯t about being accepted¨Cits about doing what is right for those that follow you. Sometimes it is just hard for them to see that.¡± Thorkell shook his head, his frustration bubbling to the surface. ¡°And what if their hatred for us blinds them to that? What if, no matter what we do, they choose to see us as invaders?What then?¡± Hamund didn¡¯t have an easy answer to this, it was a question he had to ask himself more often than not. He brought his crew here in hopes of building a new life, but it seemed lately it only made things more complicated. ¡°They will see, eventually,¡± Hamund tried to reassure Thorkell but even to his ears these words felt hollow. ¡°We still have generations that know of past kings and dream of old times. As long as they are around it''s going to be a battle we fight.¡± Thorkell¡¯s gaze hardened, and he looked away, focusing on his bow, though his mind seemed distant. ¡°I hope you''re right.¡± he said, his voice quiet.. ¡°But sometimes it feels like hunting without a bow string.¡± Hamund wanted to comfort his son, but he worried it would only anger him more. ¡°Don¡¯t lose faith. We¡¯ve been through worse, and we¡¯ve always made it through. This hunt, the feast¨Cit¡¯s just another step. If we can bring the people together, even for a day, then it''s worth it.¡± Thorkell glanced at his father, the doubt still lingering in his eyes but softened by his fathers words. ¡°And if it fails?¡± he muttered out quietly. Hamund¡¯s struggled to hold his calm expression, truth was he fear the answer to that question, he wasn¡¯t sure how to move forward if things fell through. He knew what he was willing to do should his back be to the corner, that wasn¡¯t a reality he wanted to set free. ¡°Then we face whatever comes next, Together.¡± Thorkell gave a small nod, though Hamund could tell he was still wary of the situation. As his son prepared to lead the hunting party, he watched him go, his heart pounding with the knowledge of the storm on the horizon wasn¡¯t just the winter battles or the rebellion¨Cit was a test of everything they helped build, everything they sacrificed for. He wasn¡¯t sure if that was something he was truly ready for, yet.