“The Prophecy“

Kell’s story begins over ten thousand years ago within the great canopy of Yggdrasil .There three sisters,born of fate and made spinners of the great loom,foretold the coming of Christianity.They warned Odin that if it was allowed to spread,all those faithful would abandon the old ways and Asgard itself would be forgotten .Come Ragnarok,all of the Aesir would be weak .Loki’s horde,who didn’t require those above to believe in them,would wreak havoc and make Baldur’s rising meaningless .
Worry evident in his solitary eye,the all-father asked if anything could be done to prevent such tragedy .The three sisters held up a stone “Lapis Lazuli will mark him,the bear will rage inside him,and he will die”Odin took the stone in hand,it’s luster that of a perfect sapphire .Upon staring into the gleam,a face was shown him “Indeed mine son is that of warrior stock,bold and fearless with eyes as fierce and deep as the sea .You mean to say that he will save us?”even asking the all-father knew their answer to be yes

Millennia after millennia wore on .To those immortal it would seem not but a blink of an eye .On Midgard however,those born of Odin spent every moment as if it were their last .They fought tribal wars,they learned to build and they explored and settled .Eventually all descended from the great frozen north and laid claim to the fertile lands of the south .The norse claimed what would later be known as Scandinavia .The picts,a warrior race in service to different gods,settled what would later be known as Britannia and Ireland .Both races viewed each other as faulty and wrong in their beliefs .Their differences would eventually lead to war and that bloodshed would in turn give the norse their savior …


“443BC - Eastern shores of Ireland”

The pungent stink of open bowel told the warriors,only now arriving, that much death had been wrought in their absence .Carrion birds circled over head,cawing to those who yet live,telling them that soon it would be meal time.

“ready yourselves men! Today we,the powerful Ursvard,take rightful glory”

Eighty bearded,ten little more than whelps,and at their head was the last surviving son of Alrik,clan chief .With eyes more piercing than the sharpest spear and blue as the sky itself,Kell stood with sword in hand at the prow .His voice rose above the violent waves and all those that heard it’s boom gripped their weapons all the tighter

Silence burst out upon landing .The Picts had been waiting in the trees and were now loosing volley after volley of barb-tipped arrows .Every fourth man fell to the deadly rain .Kell lifted his shield .It was adorned with many runes but predominantly that of Algiz .Every other man around him followed suit with their own shields “Tear them to pieces!”a resounding roar broke out from those left alive .Kell and his men charged the tree line

Blood slicked the ground as human flesh was rent from bone .The terrible screams of the dying echoed and yet none could drown out the Chief’s son .His growling,that of a bear lost to battle lust,made all else seem like the pitiful squeak of a mouse .More Picts ran from his blade than any other .That is until their own Chieftan entered the fray .

Three score and ten were added to the archers .As strong and skilled as the Ursvard were,the numbers overwhelmed .Eventually only a handful were left standing .Of those glorious four,Kell stood the tallest .The day’s death dealing hadn’t seemed to wear on his bones at all .In fact he appeared invigorated and charged the line of Picts like a madman .Those behind him hoisted their spears and chose to follow.

“Every mother son of you will die!”Kell bellowed and three of the closest did

One by one the three fell .Around them were thrice their number,all slain .More than ten lay at the side of Kell .It was impressive by any standard,but in the end the Chief’s son just couldn’t handle the superior numbers .He was caught and drug inland to a grouping of standing stones .There were three of them and in the center sat a cut log almost four feet in length .Rotting corpses hung off the three standing stones .Each one bore the armor of Kell’s brothers .It was only after realizing that did Kell fully appreciate his situation.

“You,son of northern bear,have been long awaited”near the log stood a tall Pict .On his shoulders was a cape made from the fur of wolves .His breeches were leather,but dyed a darker shade .If none of that told Kell who he stood before than surely the man’s stance did,for he stood with confidence born of leadership “I am Breanainn,the blade .You,as your father and your father’s father,have come to our lands in search of blood .My ancestor gave his and still there is no peace .Your thirst is unquenchable”

“all the Pict blood in the world isn’t enough”bit the Viking”not to repay what you’ve taken from me and my people!”Kell hadn’t wanted war .It had been his father’s wish and his brothers’ wish .Though now that he saw them dead,which he had already presumed weeks ago,he knew that war was the only answer .His wife,his mother and dear baby sister .None of them could comfort him now

Seeing the rage in Kell’s eyes,the Pict chief motioned to the far off trees .Kell turned his head to peer at what was coming,if anything,and what he saw made his heart lurch “Father!”

Alrik Ursvard,Clan Chief of the Ursvard Clan and father to Rurik Ursvard,Artur Ursvard,Kell,Valbotg and Sibylla Ursvard .A man of great renowned in the northern lands,now reduced to crawling on hands and knees while being pulled and prodded like a common pack animal .There were marks all over his naked body,ones not given in battle .Kell yelled for him,but Alrik couldn’t hear .The picts had deafened him,same as they had blinded him.

“Your father didn’t break easily .He had to watch his sons die before losing his will to struggle”

“You b*****d! You son of swine!”Kell was livid .Those holding him were barely able to keep the Viking in check and even then it took two more

Meanwhile the Pict chief had started laughing .Alrik was forced to lay over the log,then two men came and drove long wooden spikes through his hands into the ground .The great chief did not but flinch .Pain was in his distant memory,buried by the loss of his sons.

Growling furiously and trying with all his might to rid himself of those holding him,Kell fought down the urge to be sick .Because those same two men had taken out their hunting knives and were now slicing open the shoulders of Kell’s father “By the gods I will see you dead and twitching!”

Blood was running out of his father like twin rivers .Tears stained the old warrior’s face,but still he didn’t cry out .A true testament to his strength or so one would think .Kell knew the reality of it all .He knew that his father,while strong,was only holding back the cries and the screams for inside he was already dead .It alone was enough to warrant extreme retribution,but when the one pict came up behind his father and made to sodomize him,that’s when Kell lost all control!
The Chief’s son would not have his father humiliated in such a way .He broke free of his captors with a surge of unbridled rage and before any could react,he had tackled the one pict and crushed his skull with a nearby rock

“Kill him!”shouted the Pictish chief and five men with looted Viking spears rushed into the standing stones .

Kell stood .A stillness had come over the world,allowing him time to notice every detail .The painted patterns on the picts chests,the scar on the closest’s right arm;did he survive many battles?There were more scars scattered across his person that suggested he had .When the stillness shattered and the spearhead blurred on it’s path to his heart,Kell smiled .Because down beside him his father was reciting a most ancient prayer .It wasn’t one asking the gods for protection .No .It was a prayer asking for his enemies deaths and the strength to bring them about .It lifted Kell’s spirits high and even though he knew death was inevitable,he snatched the spear from the pict and added the final scar to the man’s collection…

“The Bifrost Bridge”

Stomach acid crashed upon the intrusive wooden shaft like waves against the rocks .What didn’t,leaked out the tears and mixed with blood to add burning to an already horrible pain .Kell had been ran through .Five picts lay dead or dying around him,but their leader still stood .Spear in hand,snarling as he pushed the head in deeper,he looked almost a beast in the eyes

“hahhh”Kell breathed and a stream of blood cascaded down his chin”So eager …hahh…so eager to finish me…”the Viking’s words were but a whisper .A wet bubbling whisper as the spearhead drove deeper “do it then…finish me..”silence stretched between the two men and then out of no where,Kell smiled .He gripped the shaft and jerked it in .The pict was taken by surprise and suddenly there came a deep rumbling laugh “Must I do everything myself!”he roared,still laughing .Kell leaned in and bore his teeth,bloody as they were,and he grabbed the Pict’s head “I go to Valhalla with your life my trophy!”and with that said,his other hand came up and Kell pressed his thumbs deep into the Pict’s eyes .So deep that eventually they broke open and Kell’s nails punctured the Pict’s brain

The last howl before his adversary fell convulsing to the ground,lingered in the weary mind of the Viking .Something about it being the last thing he’d ever hear struck a chord .Thoughts of his wife came rushing to the forefront .Last he’d heard,she was pregnant .
While he lay on his side on the chill earth,his father lying dead a few feet away,Kell wondered if his wife and child would survive .All the men had went to war .Everyone of them had died .With no warriors to protect the settlements,a rival clan could easily wipe them out

“b*****d!”a few picts had survived .One just cursed and kicked him in the back .At least,that’s what Kell thought just happened .Blood was pouring out of him much faster now .Soon he’d fall into the death sleep and wake to find his eternity “he killed Breanainn!”

Four of the remaining ten would encircle .Each took their shots one at a time,but a numbness made their kicks feel no more than a slap by a unruly young girl “lop off his limbs and head”yelled one .Not a moment later a sword came down on Kell’s elbow .It cut deep,but it took three more blows before the bone splintered and the arm came off .
Even numbed from the mass blood loss,Kell felt it and groaned .They turned him over,breaking the spear inside him,and started to hack away at the rest of him .Within seconds he’d be dead .It was a miracle and a curse he hadn’t died already “Warrior”

“Who said that?”the voice was female and there were no pict women around

A light shown high in the sky,parting the storm clouds .Down from it rode a beautiful woman on a steed as pure white as a winter’s first snow .She was clad in silver plate-mail and carried a sword across her lap “A Val Kyrie “ otherwise known as a shield maiden .They were servants of the all-father himself and reapers of the valiant dead .Seeing one usually meant a great battle,seeing one upon your death meant even more .Kell felt his body rising and yet,when he looked back down,he saw the picts mutilating his corpse

“Warrior .You have fought bravely and died honorably .I am here to take your soul to the Bifrost bridge,to Tyr,for final judgment”

Kell’s essence shimmered as he rose higher .His soul was alight with joy .When he reached the steed and was helped onto it’s back,a great weight vanished from his mind .It was almost immediately replaced with worry however when he saw his father’s soul being drug down into the earth by rotten-somewhat skeletal hands “What’s happening?!”he shouted

The Valkyrie pulled on the reigns and the horse turned back towards the opening in the sky “Your father lost his will to fight .He’s been deemed dishonorable and weak .Hel will have him now”Before her charge had a chance to protest,the Valkyrie put his spirit to rest inside her sword .There Kell would remain a dormant consciousness until she left the realm of Midgard and reached the Bifrost Bridge

“Valhalla awaits”

Judging Kell was a formality .Even without his heroics,Odin would have given him entrance to his great hall .The all-father knew he was the one and that through his hands,all would be saved .Even so Kell was not given special treatment .Like all others who served as Einherjar,he was sent out every day to battle .Every day he would die and come the next morning be reborn to fight and die again .This process,over five-hundred years,would harden Kell into a weapon of war
Eventually Kell no longer died fighting his brothers .He would walk back from the daily slaughter .It was so impressive that he was named second to the legendary Beowulf .To Kell this was both a great honor and a nagging itch .He wanted to be the best,the first to Beowulf’s second .It would be through such envy that the trickster would strike …

“The old man and the sword”

The Christ child’s death had lent the pebble to the pond and from it rose a great wave .All in service to the Aesir as well as those living on Midgard believed Ragnarok was on the horizon .Kell and the other Einherjar prepared like never before .The second taking time away from battling to train on his own

One day,near the start of the winter Solstice,Kell was outside the great hall practicing his swordsmanship when an old man came upon him “Who are you?”Kell asked,none too pleased to be interrupted .The old man just cackled and pulled from his cloak a sword unlike any Kell had seen .It was the color of night with silver runes etched along the blade .The sword’s hilt made it a hand and a half and it too was ornately adorned with different runes .Those however were made of what appeared to be gold

“not much time left”said the old man”not much time to be named”

It took a moment but Kell was able to pull his attention away from the finely crafted sword and focus it on the old man .Asgard itself had many denizens,but few ever trespassed onto the grounds of Odin’s hall .To Kell’s knowledge,only other gods could do so without aide of Valkyrie

Leveling his sword at the old man’s neck,Kell asked again “Who are you? Tell me now or be struck down”

Again the old man cackled “Strike me down,strike me down,spill my guts all around”like lighting,the intruder brought up the sword he held and it shattered Kell’s in one blow “Would you if you could and might with this,right?”

Kell had taken a step back but soon found the old man’s hand on his shoulder .Spinning around,he blinked and felt the old man’s hand again .Anger boiled in the pit of Kell’s stomach as he kept turning and heard all the while “dance,dance,we dance around the Ursvard”

“Arghh!”this time Kell swung a fist around .It connected with the cloak but that was it .The dark garment was left to hang on his arm while the old man was no where to be seen

“Tut tut little warrior .I offer you my sword in payment for breaking yours .See? I’m not the enemy”the voice was now far deeper and distant,almost like whoever it was,was talking inside Kell’s head .Like the voice said though,the black-sword was left at Kell’s feet “use that when next you duel and the victor you shall be”

After that the voice faded altogether .Kell picked up the blade left him and wondered “Could that have been a god? If so,do I listen and challenge Beowulf with this?”in the end temptation and greed won out .Kell sheathed the sword and decided that on the morrow he’d make the challenge and finally take his place as first of the Einherjar…

“the fated duel”

That next morning,while all the men ate their fill of boar and drank their fill of mead,Kell approached Odin’s thrown .There he was stopped by two wolves,Geri and Freki .Both man and God looked at one another over the great-wolves and without a word spoken,everything that needed to be said was understood .Odin stood from his thrown and all went silent “Today the wyrd will show us who we really are and wash into our souls a sense of change”his voice was as loud as it was rhythmical .Known as not only the God of battle but the God of poetry as well,the All-Father held all those who heard him in thrall with the careful usage of words “march to battle,you of fair and noble stock,march to battle with not but your hearts and minds and prepare thyself for the inevitable”

Each man rose from his seat and turned to exit out into the grounds .Beowulf stood at their head .Unlike the others,he adorned his armor and carried a sword .Kell followed behind everyone .Inside his heart was be plagued with doubt .The look in Odin’s good eye,more so the phantom look in his empty socket,worried Kell .Because it was as if he was looked upon in sorrow and disappointment

Once outside in the courtyard surrounding the golden tree Glasir,all the Einherjar formed a large circle around their leader and beat their fists against their chests as the second approached “Glory!”they would roar”Majesty!Unity!”then a resounding “HAIL!” would follow .It was enough to stir the soul and boil the blood of any man .Kell threw off his helm and glared across at his adversary “I am Kell Ursvard,son of Alrik and the might bears of the north .I come for my rightful place at Odin’s side and your blood Beowulf”everyone went quiet ,an overall breath was held

“If you seek my blood Kell,come now and take it …”Beowulf too threw away his helm”…if you can”

Out from both of their respective sheaths came gleaming swords! One could swear heat radiated off them .Kell lunged with blade raised high ,a beastly snarl released into the would be arena “Arrrgh!”obsidian met silver and unlike before,the silver didn’t shatter .Still it made no difference .Inside Kell’s rage was coursing and he struck again,this time driving the indomitable Beowulf to take a step back

None could hope to match Kell’s brute strength .Beowulf knew this however .Instead of trying,he controlled the pace .It was his plan to wait until Kell made a mistake and then capitalize .It was a good strategy to employ as Kell was angry and already making errors …

Blow after blow,the two fought around the ring of warriors for almost an hour .Each man suffered horrendous wounds ranging from broken ribs to Kell losing his left hand .Their blood loss coated the white-cobblestone in a deep sanguine .It made any form of rush dangerous,for slippery was the blood of man

“You are beaten”growled Beowulf from behind his sword

Kell laughed and slung his bloody slump to the side “not yet”

They would engage in one final series of slashes and parries .Kell would take his opponent by surprise with a feint to the right and shove his stump into Beowulf’s face .The blood obscured the legend’s vision long enough for Kell to run him through with the black sword “Rrrrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaarrrrrrr!!”

What happened next would be something no one present would ever forget…

“Banishment”

“Hail Ursvard! Conqueror of…”the crowd of warriors lost the use of their tongues .Their mouths,hung agape…In the center of the circle,Kell’s wounds healed but Beowulf’s did not .It took a moment before kell himself realized,but when he looked down the horror set it .Beowulf was slowly vanishing “by the gods…”
”and the fate-sword would take from it’s victim not only life but the history of it as well .Flesh and bone will cease to exist,returning to the darkness from whence it came…the black sword…Den Wyrdsvard…”Odin’s voice came from everywhere at once .Anger laced his words and yet the god did not shout

Kell looked down at the blade in his hand .The old one had given it to him,told him that with it he’d win over Beowulf .Could the sword really be Den Wyrdsvard? If so then Kell felt he should drop it;throw it down and pray that it’s curse had not yet befallen him.

Before he could,Odin stepped through the gathered warriors .Geri and Freki was at his side while Huginn and Muninn circled overhead .The god laid a hand on Kell’s shoulder and instantly the son of Alrik fell to his knees “and the hand which guided Den Wyrdsvard will forever be bound by soul and blood … death will follow,always looking to exact payment … loved ones the jewels”
Odin knew well the history of Den Wyrdsvard .The sword had been forged at the behest of his father Bor,the greatest of the frost giants .It’s make up was that of threads forcibly taken from the great loom,threads that belonged to Bor’s own people .Their life force was channeled into a forge where it was shaped and beat into a perfect blade .All those who’s threads were used aged rapidly and fell over dead .The hatred within them is what colored the sword black and also put the curse upon it .Any who used the sword to take from another what was taken from them would also have their own thread woven into the blade .Pain and suffering would follow them forever until someone stronger came along and cut said thread .

“Forgive me”was all Kell could say after Odin went on to explain what was happening to Beowulf “I was given this sword by an old man … he told me that with it I could finally win my place … I thought…I thought he was a god and that I was destined to…”Odin cut him off with but a look

“You were right my son,that was a god who gave you that sword …Loki,god of fire and known trickster .He’s the only one of us who’d mishandle that blade .I believe he offered it to your brother,Beowulf,but found that Beowulf had no desire to wield it”Everyone around them started asking each other who Beowulf was .The warrior had completely vanished and with him went all memory .Only Kell and the gods would remember him now .

Meanwhile,on his knees,the fact that Beowulf refused Loki’s gift hit Kell hard in the stomach .To the Viking it was the worst blow he’d ever received “I’m unworthy … Beowulf deserved to live,I deserve to die…Forever will I be the weaker”
Despair and regret filled Kell’s soul .Odin saw this and quickly interjected .Inside of Kell’s mind he appeared,a shining brand to cut away the darkness “One mistake does not undo a lifetime of honor and bravery! Only by wallowing in self-pity will you lose everything”Odin paused“I cannot let you remain in Valhalla … You committed a crime against a sworn brother…To Midgard you will be sent .There you will hear tale of Grendel,for your slaying of Beowulf has undid the great deed he performed in ridding the world of that beast .Defeat it…restore the world to what it once was…then and only then will you hear my voice again”

What wasn’t told Kell was that he’d still be Einherjar .Death by normal means would be undone the following morn .Time would not find him,sickness would not cripple him,and laying dormant inside was power and wisdom enough to understand the runes .
The prophecy required Kell on earth .That was the only reason Odin had allowed Loki onto the grounds of his great hall .Because it was destined and ultimately all played out with Ursvard not knowing the rules of the game,Odin wouldn’t remove any of the blessings bestowed

Back in the arena,”Kell Ursvard,son of Alrik,are you prepared to face judgment?!”Both Geri and Freki growled .The two great-wolves circled Kell

“I am”replied the Einherjar,so lost in his own thoughts that he barely recognized the beasts

Odin would nod and whistle .Thunder blared though it was a clear day .From the far side of Valhalla came Sleipnir,the eight-legged horse who served as Odin’s mount .It’s coat was black as night and it’s eyes were burning coals .The horse leapt over the men standing about and into the ring .It stopped beside Kell,blowing smoke from it’s nostrils.

“You are banished from Valhalla,from Asgard …You are banished to Midgard where you’ll walk it till Ragnarok .Do you dispute my word?”everything uttered lacked the passion of someone truly angered .Still,all Einherjar present would believe it .Only one in the audience that didn’t was…the old man .

Loki smiled underneath his hood .Not only had he removed the great Beowulf from history,he succeeded in putting all the blame on Ursvard .Now two of Odin’s strongest warriors would be out of the picture come Ragnarok .With the right maneuvering,Loki could keep any other from rising to Ursvard’s and Beowulf’s level .

“I would never dispute your judgment … I deserve far worse”Kell mounted Sleipnir”I will gladly go to Midgard and I will defeat Grendel!”though he now loathed it,Kell raised Den Wyrdsvard over his head .He peered down at all his brothers and slammed the hilt of the sword to his chest “On my father’s name,I swear”

“A not so gentle nudge”

Twenty-five years would drop away,kernel by kernel,through the hourglass .Despite the promise he gave to his brothers,Kell had not succeeded in vanquishing the elusive Grendel .Self pity had turned to self hatred and that in turn became a quiet rage .Kell lost himself to that rage .Everyone who came across him suffered .Men,women,animal,only children were spared his unrighteous fury .

One day,while on a game trail to the Geat settlement at Nybro,a wolf crossed in front of Kell .It was injured and bleeding .Behind it stood the cause .A great bear,majestic and fearsome .Almost instantly Kell stumbled and fell to one knee .Something or someone had given the Viking images from the bear’s mind .All that could be made out was wolves,a whole pack,and them killing the bear’s cub .The bear knew their specific scents for they’d killed other cubs in the area .Anger pounded inside Kell’s own head but that wasn’t why the bear was tracking down these wolves .Kell sensed a greater emotion,one he himself had once embraced,and that was duty .The bear had to fight .Whether it met it’s death or not wasn’t important .As long as the wolves knew their fiendish actions wouldn’t go unpunished,that would be enough .

“Gods”groaned the Viking,his head splitting “what in the name of Odin was that?!”

Kell stood,hand on head,and saw the bear dead before him .It was obvious now that the injured wolf had been a decoy,a lure to bring the larger,stronger bear into a trap .Smart but cowardly at the same time .

Three wolves still circled .Their lips were red with blood .Underneath the bear was a fourth wolf and the remaining three all had wounds from the battle .Kell stared back at them as they looked upon him with ravenous eyes .Something inside the Viking tugged at his soul .
He drew his sword and even though there were three to his one,every wolf there died .Kell himself was bitten,scratched and almost completely mauled .
None of that mattered to him however .Blood was what he bathed in,what he drank .No,what mattered was the feeling he had whilst killing the wolves .It felt right,it felt…just .For the first time since his banishment from Valhalla,a life taken by his hands didn’t leave him hollow and ashamed .

“You’ve won the day”he said in passing to the fallen bear .Why Kell said it,he didn’t know,but there were forces at work beyond his ken .They had watched,one through a single eye,his life since Valhalla .They’d seen Kell fall from grace and in their view,it was time to set him back on the path…

“The settlement at Nybro”

What happened on the path had left Kell lost in thought for most of the following day .Who could have sent him that vision and why?Did whoever it was want him to take greater meaning from the bear’s death? Surely anyone with that level of ability and insight could foresee his resistance .Kell had grown to distrust everyone around him,even the Gods .
A chill wind blew through the settlement .Thatch roofs and mud-walls did little to protect against it .Kell sat wrapped in furs,his thoughts spinning .It wasn’t until he heard shouting outside did he focus “What’s…”but before he could get out another word,a battle horn blew…

“The Danes are here!”shouted a young,not yet bearded sentry at the far southern side of the settlement .

Chief Rolf,a lean man of at least thirty winters,came rushing out the settlement’s mead hall .With him came ten men at arms “Protect the women and children!get them into the mead hall!”half those behind him stumbled off into the midst of screaming villagers .They were drunk .The other half,they clumsily drew their swords and together with Rolf,ran to the south end .

Meanwhile Kell had come out of his temporary dwelling .In his hand was Den Wyrdsvard “Bah!”he looked and saw how drunk the men were assisting the women and young ones .Every single one had failed in their task .Women were running frantic with babes in arm or in tow and none of them knew which way led to safety .
Huffing his irritation,Kell pushed past one of the drunken Geats to stand in the center of Nybro “Hear me!”he yelled,his voice loud enough to wake the dead “if you clucking hens keep running about like you’ve had your heads chopped off,they soon will be .Get in the damn mead hall now or deserve your fate!”
Everyone had stopped to listen and most did as Kell suggested .One of the Geats ,the one Kell had pushed passed,took exception to the new-comer’s intervention .He grabbed Kell by the arm and started to say something .Of course he never got the chance to finish whatever slur was creeping out from between his rotted teeth,because Kell knocked them down his throat .Turning afterwards to face the three left somewhat standing,the Einherjar leveled his sword at them “test me and get far worse than your friend .Guard the mead hall and try not trip and run yourselves through”and with that said,Kell rushed off towards the fighting.

“First wolves now Danes”puffed the Einherjar as he ran”how many more mongrels must I put down?”

When Kell arrived at the battle,nearly all the geats were dead .Only ten remained standing and they circled around their leader in between two houses .On either side stood twenty Danes .Not exactly the best odds .

“s**t”muttered Kell .By the look of things,Nybro was lost unless he himself saved it .

Two options were available .Charge one grouping of twenty and hope the Geats took the chance to escape or wait until the Danes started their final attack and slip past to take the head of their leader .While Kell was giving serious consideration to the second option,a child ran out of no where .The little boy,looking as if he’d had no more than five winters to his name, had apparently been hiding in one of the abandoned houses .Kell watched him run bare-footed through the snow and saw in slow motion the arrow that took his life …

Heart beats…that was all that could be heard…a steady ‘thump…thump…thump’ .Kell closed his eyes and reopened them,taking in the child and the blood pooling around him “what bravery it takes to shoot a helpless child…”a rage boiled the Viking’s blood”WHAT BRAVERY!!!”
The Dane who’d shot the boy and all those around him looked to where Kell now stood .Each one knocked an arrow and drew their bows back to fire .What did it matter to them if a Geat child was killed or a solitary Geat warrior?They were there to exterminate,to rid the world of their sworn enemies!

Kell stood perfectly still until the arrows were loosed .At the exact moment they were,he dove forward and brought his blade up .The flat rested against his head and a good portion of his back from the malicious missiles .Not a one struck him,but a new bunch soon would if he didn’t hurry and close the distance between himself and the Danes.

“Fools!”shouted their commander”does one Geat require two volleys?!Fire again!!”
By the time that second volley was knocked,Kell was rolled and back up to his feet .They loosed those arrows but hit nothing .Kell had ducked behind a wall at the last second .Once all the arrows had struck,he was back on the snow-covered street and charging like a boar .Two Danes fell to his blade before ever hearing their commander’s words of disappointment

“by the gods,kill him already!”but no matter how much he yelled,those twenty were quickly becoming those ten and then onto to those five .

The Geats,especially Chief Rolf,saw Kell cutting through the enemy .They bore witness to the felling of each dane and rejoiced when their innards were spilt onto the snow .It renewed their vigor and at Rolf’s command,they charged the twenty behind them “If one man can kill twenty,ten should be able to!”
What wouldn’t be told of that day was the wounds Kell suffered while taking on those twenty .One had stabbed him in the ribs just missing his heart .Another had cut down to the bone of his forearm .Any normal man would have been crippled,any normal man would have fallen and died .Kell however,not being anywhere close to normal to begin with,kept visualizing the little boy .He dedicated each kill to his memory .Eventually it came down to a bloodied Kell versus a fresh dane commander .

“You fight well Geat”said the Dane as he dismounted his horse.There was a smile on his face,one purely for show as it was obvious by his shaking hands that he was nervous “It’s a shame you have to die this day.I could have…”

Kell spat a gob of blood and raised a hand “first off”he said in a slight wheeze”I’m no Geat…just a wanderer passing through”a grotesque smile crept onto the Viking’s face and he took a confident step towards the shaking Dane”secondly…”Kell brought Den Wyrdsvard up to guard “…my fate isn’t to die here today…it’s yours!”

Taken off guard by the sudden slash of Kell’s sword,the Dane stumbled back and was barely able to bring his own sword up in time .The two would engage in a lopsided duel with Kell the aggressor”Arrrghh! Fight me Dane!”the commander constantly retreated after every series of blows .It was obvious he wanted no part of the wanderer .Kell however,not one to tarry and play games,didn’t ease up .He kept pressing his advantage,driving the Dane back into the side of one of the nearby houses .It was there he rained down upon him a series of blows that shook the man’s arms .

Realizing he couldn’t withstand much more,the Dane fell to his knees and laid his sword to the side “Please”he begged”I submit…I surrender”

Kell just laughed .A horrible laugh at that .One that showed his lack of mercy “You lost the right to surrender when your man shot down an innocent child!”

“No wait!!!”but Kell didn’t heed the man’s pleas .He instead drove his sword deep into the Dane’s shoulder,right where it met the neck .Den Wyrdsvard cut through the jugular all the way down into the left lung .The dane,he bled out in a matter of seconds,gurgling out what Kell assumed to be a prayer .

Pulling free his sword after the man was dead and cleaning it against his breeches,Kell sheathed Den Wyrdsvard and moved back out into the street .There he saw the remaining Geats celebrating their victory “You did a good thing my son”

“Heh….I knew it”Kell closed his eyes and there Odin stood in a haze of white accompanied by his two ravens “You showed me the vision of the bear’s cub…You knew I was coming here and knew what I’d find”

The god laughed,“I know many things,like the feeling you experienced seeing the child die and the sense of justice you just felt in taking the Dane’s life .I know you’ll now crave it and in time,that hunger will remake you”

Kell scoffed at that,though knew better than to question his God’s word “we’ll see…I’m heading north before these Geats start heralding my name”he opened his eyes and saw that Chief Rolf and the others hadn’t looked his way yet .Kell started off out of the settlement “anymore lessons planned father?”

It took a few moments but Odin did eventually answer .The God had waited only while the child’s soul was being taken by Sigrun,his most trusted Valkyrie“my son…life itself is a never ending lesson .I’m sure yours will be most educating” and after that?nothing but silence as Kell trekked out into the frozen forests of his beloved homeland