Einar took a breath, letting their lips part slowly. She felt her hands grabbing his braid as he held hers.

“It’s a good thing you didn’t forget how to kiss,” she moaned as he winked at her.

“I was afraid I might have also. For a moment, I thought I might need to practice on some elves and–”

He grunted as her hand came forward, punching him in the stomach.

“Yeah, I wouldn’t say those things,” she whispered as she leaned into his ear and bit on his lobe. “You might find yourself in a really bad position in a week.”

Freeing himself from her grip, he kissed her again and then held her hand, stepping back as he looked her up and down.

“You’ve been following the program. I can tell.”

Giving a playful spin as if on a dance floor, she smiled, her green eyes sparkling as they ignored everyone else in Bior’s hall.

“If you two are done making out, you can either get a room or sit with the rest of us,” Osvif called out.

“Shut it, shorty, or I’ll kick your ass again!”

Everyone erupted in laughter as the pair moved to the table where all of Einar’s pack was sitting.

Avitue whistled, and nine shield maidens crossed the room from where they had been standing near the entrance, each still in their armor, shields, and weapons on their backs. They lined up in a row, each with their hair in a tight braid, faces like stone as they stared ahead.

“Don’t forget your promise,” she whispered, leading him to where her sisters waited.

Nodding, he moved to the line and began looking at each warrior, inspecting their armor and adjusting it. Occasionally, he motioned to a knife or an axe, and they handed it to him without question or delay.

After about five minutes of inspecting the line, he moved to where Avitue was standing across from them.

“You all understand that what you have offered will be a hard life, filled with many deaths but also the chance for much glory?”

“Yes sir!”

As one their voice echoed through the hall, unmoving as they stood there like statues.

“Then come join us at the tables as the warriors you are and enjoy the food and drink that our host has prepared,” Einar replied with a smile, motioning with his hand where the others were sitting.

A look of relief washed over all their faces for a moment as the others at the table began to pound their cups, cheering as the nine women moved to join the party.

“We are going to have so many problems,” Einar whispered in her ear as they moved to sit near Bior, who was grinning like a fool.

“Oh, but the morale will be so much better, I promise.”

***

Hours passed as the two groups mingled. Laughter and stories flowed as men and women shared stories and learned about each other, starting the bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood that would be forged in blood and combat.

Bior stood, clapping his hands and quieting the Vikings, who created a constant wall of noise.

“Warriors, today must end, and tomorrow will be here soon enough, yet I must congratulate you all on what has been achieved.”

Cups banged against the table, and mead spilled as each warrior cheered when Bior raised his glass.

“You eleven have accomplished a task that many have only dreamed of and yet the stories I have heard seem impossible to believe. If it wasn’t for the knowledge of your character and the trophies I saw brought back, I would be skeptical of them all.

“Yet here you are,” the Jarl said, moving around the table, clapping a hand on each warrior's shoulder as he spoke. “A pack that is growing, now becoming two. Soon a warband will come; when it does, every enemy of Midgard and Asguard will tremble in fear when word of your arrival reaches them!”

Roars erupted from all those gathered, and Einar smiled as he watched his men and women get caught up in the moment Bior gave them.

Waiting for a few seconds, the blond-haired leader stood there, letting them enjoy the moment.

“Now listen! You have a task and while Einar has kept it hidden from most of you, I will charge you with a quest. Fulfill it, and I will be rewarded when the time comes.”

Only the shuffling of a few servants refilling drinks and the popping of the logs in the hearth were heard as each warrior waited, wondering what this man was about to say.

“I have been told each of you understands what is coming. Word is spreading, and every Viking under me and in each warband in Kopanes is yearning for a spot where you can sit.”

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His eyes held theirs, each of them seeing how his eyes narrowed as his finger pointed at them.

“Many will be envious of what you are about to acquire and I know for a fact that soon, many of you will be blessed with a gift I myself wait for. Eight runes of an intermediate or higher quality provide a bonus we all long for. Yet even more than that, from what I have heard, some of you might soon achieve something only the King and perhaps a few others have. Eight runes of advanced quality.”

Nods and grins began to form as the men knew the power that came from such a feat.

The shield maidens eyes started to widen as they glanced around the table, seeing the excitement on the faces of the gathered men.

“You are really that close?” Avitue whispered.

“No. I have three slots to fill still. You might think I’m a fool, but I’m picky about what I will use.”

She nodded, frowning slightly for a moment.

“Your quest is to protect Einar above all else.”

Bior’s statement silenced the room.

“We do that already,” Hallad replied. “Why give that as a quest?”

“Because you don’t understand what is coming,” the Jarl informed him. “Your success presents a threat to many, and some within the lands do not want to see you reach the strength you will acquire. When Vikings do what we are here for, power shifts. Each of you knows why you have been playing these games the last few days, hiding and tricking those who follow you. Just know in two weeks that time will be over and you…”

Bior sighed, frowning he glanced around the room.

“Everyone out except those seated at the table.”

The sounds of boots moving quickly across the stone floor as servants left and the elite guards standing around the room shut the door, signaling that the room was clear.

“You must choose between Einar and King Erik, possibly in the coming days.”

A few grunts came from his men but Einar was more interested in the looks the shield maidens gave Avitue.

“Forgive me, Jarl, but are you certain?” asked a blond-headed shield maiden. “Choose between the two?”

“What is your name, sister?”

“Samansa.”

“Would you defend Avitue over the King?”

She winced and nodded slowly.

“She is my sister and my mother. Of course, I would.”

“Do you think she would choose Erik or Einar?”

“He is to be her husband, so she would choose him.”

Smiling, Bior nodded and motioned to Skardi who was near him.

“Do you think this welp of a warrior would choose his leader or the king?”

Clearing her throat, Samansa winced, easily seeing the line of questioning and where it was going.

“I understand, Jarl. Forgive me, it just seemed… hard to believe.”

“No need to apologize, sister. Your question brings the reason for this moment,” he said, continuing on as he moved around the room. “Each of you will have to choose. Do you believe in what Einar is doing? Do you believe Ragnarok is coming? Do you believe that together you can stop it?”

“Yes!” exclaimed a few men.

“Then protect him above all. Many will attempt to join your group for different reasons. Some want power, others want runes, and a few may not be there for the right reasons. So I make you this promise and offer this quest.”

Pulling a ring from his pocket, each warrior gasped when they saw it, recognizing what it was.

“If you protect him and help prevent Ragnarok, with Odin as my witness, I will give each of you one of these.”

“Even us?”

Nodding, Bior slipped the ring back into his pocket.

“Regardless of if you are a man or a woman, if when the day of the last battle comes and I am alive and still here, I will grant the twenty of you property and the title of a Lendmann.”

Cheers came and excitement could be seen in each warrior around the table.

“Now then,” Bior shouted once more, silencing them all. “It is late and unless I am mistaken, there is a group of carts leaving in the morning that all of you must be on. So finish your food and drink and head to bed as you have another job to do.”

Laughter came as they all began finishing their drinks, grabbing food and standing.

“Well then,” Einar said as he stood, holding out a hand for Avitue. “I’m not sure where you are staying but I do have a private room if you wish to join me.”

Smiling, she shook her head.

“No… I think I shall pass and make you wait till our wedding night. After all, what’s another week?”

Laughing, he drew her close, pressing his lips against hers before she was dragged off by her sisters, each of them scolding him for trying to steal Avitue from them.

***

“That is a difficult quest you have given them. Still, are you sure you can afford them?”

“We both know I cannot afford not to offer it,” Bior replied as he sat in the chair beside him. “What is coming is a storm none of us have seen or have any idea of what it will do. I pray to the gods it only blows over. Now tell me, what do you have planned with these runes?”

“I owe you one and it shall come first, and stop trying to protest.”

Einar was smiling, holding his hand up as the Jarl’s mouth began to move.

“You need it just as much as the rest of us and Arngrim is already working on it. We both know you’ll need all the strength it provides, and when word gets you, you have all eight, and it will change how some choose to interact with you.”

Sighing, Bior nodded a few times.

“Wise beyond your years. Continue.”

“I’m second, which will bring me up to six as I already know what I want, and my rune crafter believes he has all the materials needed to accomplish it. After that, the men have earned tokens. They will get theirs in order, and each has turned in a list of what they hope for. From there, Avitue gets one, Guat will get his, and then we decide what to do with them next.”

“Tell me, do you believe the Valkyrie is right?”

The fire popped and both men turned, sensing a shift in the room at that question.

“I have no doubts that the forces that are against us are aware of what we are doing. It makes sense as you and I both see things happening that require someone behind the scenes.”

“But how… how can we be so influenced by the darkness? Would Vikings really trade the god we serve for darkness?”

Einar frowned; he had already lived in a world where men sold their souls for a single moment of pleasure. Lives were ruined, families were destroyed, and people were killed over small things. How many governments had done atrocities to their people, all just for wealth or continued power?

“I’m afraid somewhere within in Midgard are those who have.”

Spitting on the ground, Bior cursed.

“Then we are in for a much harder fight.”

“That is why Odin picked us. Because we don’t back down from them,” Einar replied.