It has been two weeks since Somerled had agreed to help Petir. Since then, Petir has been sending messengers to the other towns and one by one more men ready to fight were arriving.

The sun was at its highest point when Somerled stood in front of forty five peasant men with make shift weapons.

They have no armour, their weaponry is tied together with string. Maybe if this Jarl’s army are blind we might stand a chance. Somerled thought.

“What do you think?” Petir said running up to Somerled.

Two men were shouting whilst fighting each other with wooden swords as practice, when one of the men fell to the ground and the other tripped and landed on top of him.

“Well, at least they have heart.” He said back.

“Somerled Stone!” A woman’s voice called from behind. Turning back he saw a woman in leather armour walking through the blizzard with her arms spread wide.

“Asha!” Somerled shouted back and walked back towards her.

Extending their hands they grip each other’s form arms.

“It’s been too long.” Asha says holding firmly onto the knight's armoured arm.

“It has, how have you been? How’s life as a sword for hire?” Somerled asked.

“Making more coin than ever, how’re you? Still a soldier for a forgotten order?” She mocked.

Not listening to her insult, Somerled says to her.

“I need your help.”

They both released each other and Somerled guided her towards the peasant men practice fighting.

“Your message crow sounded urgent. What is happening?” She asked.

“I have a mission, Jarl Kitchner.”

“What?” She asked stopping in her tracks, “That’s not like you to get involved in these matters.”

“This one deserves it.” Somerled tells her, “Are you in?”

After a moment of contemplation, she tells him.

“A Jarl, I won’t be cheap.”

“Asha, this man is slaughtering men, women and children. If he is left to it many innocents will die.” He tries to argue.

“And I have a band of mercenary to feed. They won’t fight for free, it doesn’t matter about our history.” She tells him.

Somerled is disappointed in her response, however it was not unexpected.

“We will sort the finances later, come and see our army.” Somerled tells her.

They both stand silently while they watch the peasants, after thirty minutes, she turns to Somerled and tells him.

“These can’t take on a Jarl’s army.”

“He doesn’t have an army, only a hundred at most I have been told. Plus, that’s why I got you.” Somerled laughed.

“I don’t know Stone, this is going to be a bloodbath.” Asha said in a worried voice.

“Since when do you turn down a job?” Somerled laughed, “Just stay the night, you will change your mind.”

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Later that night, Somerled, Asha and Petir are sat at the dining table in Petir’s house. Suddenly footsteps came into the room and entered Petir’s wife and a young blond girl.

“This is my daughter, Sharon.” Petir said as his daughter came and jumped onto his lap.

Somerled looked at Asha and could see a small smile leaving her face, hoping that she is changing her mind about the job.

“So, you two go know each other well?” Petir asked as his wife placed down a bowl of potato soup in front of each of the guests.

“We have fought together many times, we met at the battle of Euclid when Lord Duilsidon last attempted to invade.” Somerled informed him looking down at the bowl of soup.

“Lord Duilsidon? I thought that was just stories to tell the kids, all the monsters and the Rakhai invading the world.”

“Some are exaggerated, but a lot are true.” Asha told him.

“Well I never knew. We don’t travel much, especially since we lost our son. My work here has become too much to miss a day's work.” Petir said as a saddened look took over his face, his eyes gazing to the ground.

“What happened to your son?” Somerled asked.

“Will you take off that damn helmet?!” Asha shouted. “I know you don’t want to but you are being rude not eating this delicious meal and talking through that bloody thing.”

Somerled was hesitant, never wanting people to see him under the helmet. However, Asha was correct, if he was about to fight for these people’s lives, he could show them his face.

Unbuckling the leather strap under his chin, Somerled slowly pulled the helmet over his head and a loud thud echoed around the room as it crashed onto the table.

His thick and matted black hair fell to his shoulders, wet from the warmth under the helmet.

“Daddy, what's wrong with his face?” The little girl shouted and pointed at Somerled.

“Sharon! That is rude!” Petir scolded his daughter.

“It’s okay. Many years ago I was injured, most of the left side of my face was unfortunately burnt.” Somerled said whilst running his hand across the large burn across the left side of his face and over the patch of his black beard that was missing due to the burn. Then moving his hand over, he traced his finger from a scar that started at the top of his temple and went all the way to the bottom of his ear.

“This, was a misstep that I stupidly made.” He said.

“I’m sorry, she shouldn’t have asked.” Petir said, clearly shocked by the scaring.

“It’s okay.” Somerled continued, “Please, tell us about your son.”

Petir once again glanced to the ground and then back up, he was stuttering and whispering as he spoke.

“My son, John. He was sixteen and helping with the work around the farm. Until he went to visit his friends in a town not too far from here.”

Asha looked at Somerled with a disturbed look on her face.

“Jarl Kitchner had made that town his target for the night. When we got word, my wife and I rode for the town immediately.” A few tears began to stream down Petir’s face as he whipped them away, “We saw our son, tied up onto the church. His intestines hanging from his stomach.”

Somerled knew bad man, evil men, but it somehow still surprised him when men are evil without a cause. Monsters he understood, they had a purpose and a goal. However, a rich lord with just a desire to cause pain and suffering, it made no sense.

“I’m sorry for your loss.” Asha said, placing her hand onto Petir’s daughters thigh.

The rest of the meal was done in silence, Somerled and Asha finished their soup and Petir’s wife showed them to a room that they could stay in.

“I’m sorry, the house is only small. This was John’s room.” She said and then shut the door.

“Looks like you’re sleeping on the floor.” Somerled laughed.

Suddenly Asha gripped his arm and pushed him against the wall.

“Shut up you idiot.” And then she planted her lips against his.

Within an instant his tongue was running against her as they passionately kissed against the wall. Asha took off Somerled’s armour, most would find it difficult but she has done it enough times to know how to do it quickly.

Somerled took off Asha’s leather armour and they made their way onto the bed once fully undressed.

An hour later, Somerled lay naked next to Asha, the bed was only small and they were cramped up next to each other. She was using the this sheet to cover her naked body as she turned, looking at Somerled she told him.

“This is not a good army, you know they won’t have much effect on a Jarl’s soldiers in full armour.”

Somerled sighed, then said.

“I know, I need them to distract them long enough for me to get to Kitchner. I can deal with any of his personal guards myself, but I can’t take on a full unit of soldiers.”

“So you are sending these people in knowing they will die?” She asked, her dark brown eyes not giving away any emotion.

“It is a small sacrifice to save many more.” He told her.

“I’m in, I will bring my group.” She said making Somerled smile.

“Good.” Somerled replied and turned his back to fall to sleep.

“I’m not doing it for you. I am doing it for them, my soldiers will keep as many of them alive as possible.” She whispered.

Somerled didn’t reply, he closed his eyes and slowly drifted to sleep.