Two days later, Asha’s mercenary group arrive. With them were twenty men and women from all over the western kingdoms of Osheara.

Somerled was walking along their formation and inspecting each one, they all wore blue leather armour with a red cross on the chest to mark who they are. When he reached the one on the end, the tallest and from the look the strongest, Somerled could not see his face through the leather helmet, but something about him was putting Somerled off.

“Take off your helmet.” Somerled ordered.

“I could tell you to do the same.” The man said back.

“I said, take it off!” He ordered in a harsher tone.

“Stone! Leave him.” Asha shouted running over.

“Remove your helmet now!” Somerled shouted, not moving from his spot.

He watched as this tall man slowly raised his hands and lifted the helmet off from his head.

His yellow skin, his red eyes and his cornrow yellow hair.

“You have a fucking Gorgodian?!” Somerled shouted changing his gaze to Asha, “I am not fighting with a Gorgodian! Send him back to your base.”

“Somerled!” Asha shouted back, “Samuhal is one of the best fighters we have!”

“I don’t care, there is no way I am having this thing fighting besides me!” Somerled argued.

“How about I fight you and put you on your fucking arse!” Sumuhal the Gorgodian shouted stepping forward. As he did so, Somerled turned back and the two were face to face, their foreheads resting harshly on each other’s.

“Enough! Both of you!” Asha screamed pushing the two men apart and standing in the middle, “Somerled, this is no time for your damn prejudice! We need every fighter we can!”

Somerled kept his staring at the Gorgodian, his blood boiling with having to just be close to such a creature. However, he knew that she was correct and that he would only have to put up with it for another day or two.

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“Just keep this thing away from me.” The knight shouted and stormed away through the frozen fields.

It was a few hours later when Somerled, Asha and Petir were all crouched behind a large boulder, on top of a rocky hilltop overlooking the minor castle that Jarl Kitchner was supposedly staying in.

“I can see soldiers, but they are too far away to make anything out clearly.” Petir whispered.

“Good thing I’m here.” A man’s voice came from behind.

Turning around, Somerled sighed when he saw it was Samuhal.

“What is he doing here?” He asked turning to Asha.

Punching his arm, she replied.

“You know as well as me that Gorgodian eyesight is ten times better than humans. Like it or not, but we need him.”

Somerled sighed and moved aside, allowing space for Samuhal to crouch closest to the edge of the cliff.

“Hmm, well armoured soldiers. You were right, definitely less than a hundred.” He said.

“Any useful information?” Somerled grunted.

“There he is, Jarl Kitchner.” Samuhal whispered.

“How do you know it’s him?” Asha asked.

“His clothing, he has very expensive looking royal attire. Definitely high born.”

“And what of the terrain? How would the best attack be?” Asha asked him.

“The castle is fully surrounded by this hill, the only way I can see in or out is that small valley.” Samuhal said and pointing the valley.

Somerled takes a look and comes up with his best plan.

“All of our soldiers will strike there, get the soldiers out of the castle. While you are there, I will climb down this hill and find Kitchner.”

“You can climb down that?!” Petir gasps looking down at the steep drop.

“I’ve climbed worse.” Somerled gloated.

“I’ll come with you.” Asha said.

“Why?” Somerled replied not happy with the suggestion.

“You might need help down there.” She told him.

“I won’t.” He replied as he started to walk away.

Asha ran up to him, hitting the back of his shoulder and jumping in front to stop him in his tracks.

“Why are you being such a dick head?” She whispered in anger.

“I’m not. I just don’t need you getting in my way!” He growled back.

“I am coming with you down there, whether you want me to or now!” She almost shouted and slammed a palm into his chest.

“Asha! If our soldiers aren’t able to hold off theirs for long then we will be trapped inside of the castle. You stay with the others, if things start going badly you get them out of there.” Somerled told her leaning close so that no others could hear what he was saying.

“I won’t leave you to die.” She whispered, looking through the slit in his helmet and at his eyes.

“Hopefully it won’t come to that.” Somerled said and carried on walking past her.