“You cannot expect us to believe you accomplished all these things!” Koigrim exclaimed. “If that were so, you should have brought back many more trophies and reagents!”

Einar fixed his eyes on the brown eyes that seemed enraged at him for some reason.

“Unfortunately, our relations with the elves has not been the greatest. The main honor I was given was meeting the King and Queen of the elves and this axe granted to me. They did inform me that if we continued to offer assistance that we could acquire items that we need for new runes and weapons at a reduced cost.”

“Bah! Why should we give into their demands?! What have they done for us in hundreds of years?! They do not fight for us! They do not–”

“Koigrim, enough.”

King Erik's deep voice abruptly cut off Koigrim's tirade, a stark reminder of his authority.

“I know we are not doing anything for the elves as they have done nothing for us. Still, I do not believe we need their assistance. Nothing has happened within our realm that requires us ask for help from anyone. Even the things you claim to have accomplished could have been done by the elves if they were willing to sacrifice themselves. Tell me, do you truly believe the deaths of you and your men were worth it?”

Einar had waited for this moment, having expected it to come. Only Bior, Arngrim, Guat, and Avitue knew of the knowledge he was about to share.

“I do my king. Simply because the boons were worth it.”

A gasp came from those still in the room, and Erik's stony face broke, eyes widening slightly as his eyebrows raised.

“Did you say boons? As in multiple boons?”

“I did. The truth is we received over three boons and–”

“Lies! No one has–”

“Cut me off again, call me a liar and I will challenge you to the death,” Einar growled, his face turning red in an instant. His hand stopped as he touched his weapon, hearing the movement of the guards near the door, remembering that drawing it would end in death. Smirking, he instead called upon his wyrd, summoning flames around his hand as he tapped the metal head.

“While you have hidden behind walls, not risking yourself, my warriors and I bled for not just the elves but for our people. Do you wish to take back what you just said? Otherwise, I may risk the penalty for what I’m about to do.”

A gasp and choke came from Koigrim as everyone turned to see the man holding both hands and waving them before him.

“I… I apologize, Viking Einar. My… lack of knowledge of boons in so long made me misspeak. Forgive me.”

Each word felt like the man was being tortured, forced to say those words while not meaning any of them.

Grunting, he turned back to the king.

“Three boons were given, one specifically from Freyr as we entered his temple.”

Einar smiled, turning his eyes back to Koigrim, daring the man to protest or respond but his mouth was clamped shut.

“My men and myself, as well as every other Viking that was present, was granted a blessing, marked as an elf in the eyes of their god.”

Coughs came and Unnulf pounded his chest a few times, unable to hide his shock at that statement.

“You have been granted the status of an elf?”

Nodding, Einar watched as Erik frowned.

“Why… why would you be granted such a thing?”

“Only the gods know, but it appeared we earned honor by how we treated his people. As such, we were given boons that assisted us in helping with their needs. However, none of those boons compared to the greatest gift the gods gave us.”

Standing there, he waited. Letting the mood grow as everyone leaned forward.

Finally, when the moment had gone on long enough, even the king could not hold back.

“Are you going to tell us or tease me and try my patience?”

“Forgive me, I mean no disrespect. However, once I say this, I know that if word does get out, it will change the minds and hearts of every warrior within Midgard. Perhaps if only you and the two Jarls were here?”

Some protests from those advisors still in the room started to begin and then stopped when their liege raised his hand.

“There could be nothing so special that would require such a thing. Now stop playing games and tell me what makes you feel all your deaths were worth it.”

“As you wish. We received a blessing that completely healed our runes and slots.”

Silence only lasted two seconds before shouts came from everyone in the room.

Erik’s head almost slammed into the back of the throne, eyes wide and his head shaking a few times.

Chaos continued to grow as advisors moved closer, leaving the edges of the room they had been regulated to, demanding answers to questions they shouted out.

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“Silence!”

Slamming his hand on the arm of the throne caused it to crack, the power of the king’s simple act shocking Einar as he witnessed what was probably a true representation of what the man possessed.

How strong could he be? If he can hit that with an open palm and do that much damage.

The echo of his voice faded and men remembered their position, shifting backward to their spots.

“You are claiming something that sounds impossible to believe,” Erik said slowly. “Do you have any way to prove such a claim?”

“Ask any of my men. You could ask us to swear by Odin and we would do so inside the temple here if you wish. Know that each of us would take whatever oath was required in the All-Father’s name to verify what I say is true. Even Thorve, our healer will tell you that not only did our warriors receive such a blessing but the men and women who worked our caravan as well.”

Mutters began to rise again for a moment until the blue eyes of their liege fell upon them.

“Forgive me my king,” Unnulf said as he turned in his chair. “If this is the case, how can we not see the value in what Einar and his warriors are doing? How can we not–”

“Do not ask that question on your tongue!”

The force at which the king spoke made Unnulf flinch and Einar felt Avitue squeeze his hand.

“But–”

“I will not say it again. Do not ask what I know you have on your mind. I will not entertain that discussion right now.”

Snorting, Unnulf nodded, not hiding his frown, as he turned from the king and faced Einar. His eyes told of how upset he was.

Erik tapped his fingers together for a minute, no one willing to speak as the king chewed his lip.

“Tell me, Einar. Do you desire my throne?”

Shaking his head, he bowed slightly for a moment.

“I swear by the All-Father’s name that I do not desire to take your throne or your power, my king.”

A slight sigh came that furled the hairs close to his lips.

“What is it you desire?”

“Simply to accomplish the task Odin has given all Vikings. To prevent Ragnarok. To prevent the destruction of our people and those in every other realm and on every other world.”

Bior’s lip turned upward, hidden from the king but visible to Einar.

“And you believe Ragnarok is coming?”

Fixing his eyes upon the blue sapphires of King Eric, now twinkling as the man leaned forward, he nodded.

“We see more attacks and creatures pushing through the barriers than ever before. Our warriors are forced to fight even when we thought we were safe. A variety of foes has attacked the elves and the reports I have is that even the dwarves are under siege from the giants. Everything points to the darkness and forces that want to end everything our gods have created.”

“Those same things have happened for tens of thousands of years!” Koigrim shouted, his face cringing upon realizing how loud he had spoken. “Why should we believe that now is the end?”

“If it rained every season and you knew it might flood, yet it hadn’t in twenty years, would you simply let your crops and family be swept away or build a barrier to divert and protect those you love?”

“That’s not the same!”

“Yet it is,” Einar replied. He fought to keep his voice calm. So many times, he had suppressed the urge to bash the elderly man’s face in. “Both require us to ignore the fact that what we fear hasn’t come in a while and acknowledge that the threat is always there. Doing nothing only hurts if we are wrong. I am not willing to risk that.”

A scowl came, yet no response was given.

“There is much then I will need to consider. I will need to have some conversations before I can make a decision on anything.”

He pointed a finger at Einar.

“You are not allowed to share with anyone else about the boon or blessing you received. Our kingdom does not need that fire spreading through it. Doing so could cause fights and we might become something worse than any other enemy. Do you understand?”

“I swear to not share what you have asked.”

Nodding, Erik rubbed both eyes.

“I am tired. It was a long trip and I have much to discuss with these two before I shall get the chance to return home. Be safe Einar Sibbison. Know that I will summon you again and next time, do not evade my attempts.”

The harsh glare and frown left no doubt how the king felt about what he had done.

“I understand.”

He and Avitue both gave a quick bow before moving toward the door.

***

“That man needs to be locked in a cell and starved to death!”

“Let it go my love,” Einar said as he watched Avitue storm around the room Bior had given them.

“No! He spoke to you! The fool even called you a liar before the King! A liar!”

“And then he backed down when I told him what I would do if he didn’t retract that statement. It’s over and we escaped with more than I hoped.”

She snorted and shook her head, watching him sit in the chair, acting like everything was alright.

“Because we’re not locked in a cell?”

“That is part of it. The other side is we have not been commanded to stay here. That would have been far worse but I know the king was not concerned with that. This is why I controlled the conversation and released as many details as possible. Regardless, I’m not sure what to think of King Erik yet… he played that interaction too well. Bior had said the man was prone to wild actions occasionally, yet I didn’t see it. Why do you think that?”

“I can tell from how you’re smirking that you have an idea in your head already. Honestly, though, I’m not sure the king knew how to treat you. Did you see his face when your hand burst into flames for a moment? I have no doubt the advisors are probably suffering from being outplayed and maneuvered into a corner. Between the boons and the blessings, your show of power and the renown you are gaining with the people, they must know acting against you would be dangerous for them all.”

“Which is why I didn’t push it any further. For now, we need them to leave us alone. Time is our biggest enemy.”

Rolling her eyes, Avitue moved to where he was and sat down on his lap, pulling his head close and kissing him.

“Not only are you a skilled warrior, lover, and easy on the eyes, but apparently, you have a sharp mind as well.”

Chuckling, he shrugged.

“We have one month to prepare for what comes next. You and I both know we need to get our warriors used to fighting as one. We have other Vikings to recruit and then comes the next part of having our runes etched. You then need to decide which of your shield maidens get runes first and the ones that they will need.”

“They are your maidens now,” she replied, winking at him. “I’m simply here to help keep them from sleeping with you or stabbing you in the night after pissing them off.”

“Either way, we’ll need to plan on how we give them runes. Just know, many of my warriors are going to achieve the eight-rune bonus in the coming weeks and when they do, it will provide us with something we desperately need.”

“Power?”

Shaking his head, he pulled her close and kissed her for a few moments, breathing in her scent.

“When word gets out that we have almost a pack full of Vikings with eight runes, it won’t matter what I’m allowed to say. Warriors will flock to us and our cause.”

Laughing, she gripped his braid and poked his forehead.

“Einar Sibbison, I think I love you even more.”