บท 17: The Seer's Prophecy

The meet up between Ragnar and Ulf was over. Ragnar knew the day he leaves Kattegat for battle was near but this was not the most exciting thing happening.

The next day came by and it was announced by a heavy downpour like Thor was trying to flood mankind for their sin but this was a good day for them as they stayed indoors to spent with their families.

King Askild had been in contact with King Asmund, a meeting had been arranged but the rain delayed this. Askild took this opportunity to fortify his fortress because he did not know just what Asmund's intentions were and him coming to Kattegat was nothing but reckless.

Askild went to see the seer for his guidance, the seer was an old woman of an unknown age for it is believed she has been here since Kattegat was founded. She has white hair and a large scar coming down from her forehead to her nose, and a crimson line that stretches horizontally across her face right below her eyes with a insignia representing the moon drawn on her forehead.

She was a very frail old lady, her brittle bones making it difficult for her to move as she pleased.

She wore the skull of a goat with both horns covered in blood, her face was wrinkled with her hunchback and a staff in hand.

"What brings the King of Kattegat here?" The seer asked and Askild sat but not before paying his respects which was rare and lowering his hood to reveal his identity to her.

"I have come for your guidance, O wise one," Askild said, he was not stupid enough to act arrogant in front of a messenger for the gods and this is why the seer was virtually untouchable in Kattegat because she had Askild's full protection. This was an unspoken rule between Kings because she was one of the most valuable assets.

"This is unusual, my lord. Why did you not summon me?" the seer asked.

"I dare do no such thing, you have earned my respect." Askild said. She had a knife and a cup on the table in front of her.

"You honor me, what brings my lord here?" The seer questioned.

"I wish to know if the wind favors me," Askild asked, this was vague but it was as descriptive as the seer needed it to be, he wanted to know if any misfortune was near.

The seer did not say a word, all she did was take the knife from the table, with Askild stretching for his hand towards her and raising it above the cup.

She made a cut on his palm as he squeezed his hand into the cup, the blood dripped with Askild showing no visible pain. Soon enough, the seer got enough blood to read the fate of Askild.

Taking the cup, she emptied what was inside in her mouth, her eyes rolled back as if in a trance but it soon came back down like she underwent a brief metamorphosis.

"King Askild, the wind not only blows in your favor but the gods ride on your shoulder. Death is no where near you." The seer said and this brought about a smirk from Askild. This was what he wanted to hear, this gave him the confidence to proceed with the negotiation with Asmund for whatever the outcome, he had the blessings of the gods on his side.

The rain pounded the roof, but this did not stop Askild from leaving the house of the seer under the rain, the hoodie was back up and he told her farewell.

Askild went outside but his horse was no longer present, the thundering sounds must have scared it off and Askild decided to walk.

He took in the kingdom he had built, and how powerful it became but he also saw the poorer side of his kingdom, he saw a few men under the rain because they had no home but this was of no concern to him because he knew that the poor were just as necessary as the rich for a kingdom to strive or who else would do the work of the common man?

But with his cloak up, no one knew who he was and because of this, a kid tried to steal his sword but could not unfasten it quick enough, and Askild just watched him quietly as he tried to do so.

The kid could not unfasten it no matter how hard he tried and attempted to run. One would think Askild would let him go but he grabbed the child by the hair as the wind blew his hoodie down.

The child looked up to see it was King Askild and just started sobbing as Askild slowly unsheathed his blade and placed it on the neck of the boy.

"If you steal, you must be prepared to die. If you fear death, the street is not where you belong. You stand up to death, otherwise you have no power over it." Askild muttered, stabbing the child in his shoulder.

"That scar signifies the day this coward before me died," Askild said, with the child crying out loudly as he bled and this drew the attention of people close-by shortly after but only when Askild was out of sight.

He returned to his throne room, and there he met Arvid who waited for an audience with him.

"What brings you here, Arvid?" Askild asked, walking past him and unto his throne but Askild waited for him to be seated before speaking.

"My king, I have brought news about Asger." Arvid said and Askild gestured for him to go on.

"It is about the execution, my king. It was all Asger's doing." Arvid said and King Askild did not look surprise by this revelation but he was more curious why Asger's most trusted ally was betraying him.

"And how do I believe your words?" Askild asked, as a thrall poured him whine.

"I overhead him in the dungeon before the execution, my lord." Arvid responded, looking to the ground.

"And you are just now telling me? Why is that, Arvid?" Askild asked and Arvid froze, he might not have thought this through but it was too late to swallow the words he just spewed.