Chapter 32: Nioingr's Execution

Ragnar's boots echoed against the stone of the dark pathway that led deep into the manor.

Its damp and dark location left it with a pungent smell from the latrines, forcing Ragnar to grimace as he pushed further into the cellar.

As the warrior reached the deep end, a lone occupied cell lit a torch revealing the morbid Baron, covered by a lone cloth, attempting to get some rest while bundled up in a corner.

Ragnar walked up to the metal door and rattled his new sword against it, "Time to wake up, Baron, your execution has been prepared for you." The warrior sneered in disdain at the slumped figure in the corner.

The Baron finally opened his vacant eyes, face sunken in depression as he croaked, "What have you planned for me? I wish to go to Valhalla."

Ragnar almost felt sad for the shite lord until he remembered how the bastard had condemned them to death. "Get up!" Ragnar said as he opened the cell gates to kick the Baron ferociously in the guts.

The fat lord clutched his guts in agony as a low grown resounded in the cellar.

"Oh, how long I've been waiting to do that," Ragnar smirked as he ripped out one of the hands from under the Baron and stomped on it.

The Baron howled in pain, gazing at his now broken wrist, "Please, have mercy. All I wish for is a quick death."

Ragnar bent down on the balls of his feet to face the Baron who was clutching his wrist, "A swift death? Is that what you sent us to when we led the charge into the camp? No! If you believe you deserve Valhalla, then you're in for a big surprise."

He laughed as he picked up the fat bastard, kneeing him in the balls to prevent him from trying anything.

The Baron groaned at the treatment, as he'd never once in his life faced such brutality. His opulence had been provided on a platter to him for his entire life. Born into nobility, he'd never had to fight for anything. His father being a powerful lord, demanded excellence in his men, allowing for the Barony of Le Havre to become his. When he finally decided that it was the Baron's turn to succeed him, he abdicated to prevent a power struggle and left his son to his own devices.

It's been over 20 years since then, the Baron having failed to produce a son, trying with two females, yet having no success. The last ounce of fight left the Baron's eyes as he received a knee to balls.

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The lord collapsed under his own weight, and his face went purple as he fought back the tears.

Ragnar tutted, sighing as he dragged the Baron up the stairs, realising that he brought this upon himself.

By the time Ragnar and the now-disgraced lord reached the top of the steps, the Baron's face was bruised and bloodied from having hit each step along the way.

"Alright, up! Enough laying on the floor, the people will want a good look at their shite of a lord one last time." Ragnar sniggered as he hauled the Baron up to his feet before pushing him forward to the doors.

Ragnar used the Baron to shield himself as he burst out of the manor's front doors to a large gathering of people.

The moment the Baron came into view, the dissenting crowd exploded into fury, shouting all sorts of profanity as they threw food and stones at the fat Baron.

Ragnar felt like he was in the matrix, dodging stray stones and food with his cat-like reflexes, such that a pro boxer would be impressed.

"Enough!" A loud roar tore through the entire clearing as Thorkell strode forward, massive battle-axe in hand as he approached the captive.

"As Marshal of these lands, I, Thorkell Sigvald, will proceed with the execution. On the count of cowardice and treachery towards his subordinates and betrayal of his religion to the Christians, the Baron shall be dishonorably executed through streeting."

The Baron's face went white in horror, "NO! please, anything but such disgrace. I refuse to be dragged naked across the streets! My stature demands a warriors death!"

The entire crowd jeered at the grimy Baron as the second round of stones and food got hurled at the Baron, whose face was beginning to swell beyond belief. Through the chaos, a couple of larger stones clipped the side of the Baron's temple, cutting it open and causing blood to pour across the side of his face.

"I said stop! Otherwise, the Baron will die of stoning instead." Thorkell said with a chuckle.

He turned to face the Baron once again, his scar stretching as he sneered in disgust. "You are now declared nioingr, an outcast to our peoples, and shall die a death worthy of such."

Thorkell turned to request the commencement of the execution, "Father, can you bring the horse?"

Harald slowly approached with a majestic and powerful shire in tow. Such a horse was the only mercy he would give his overlord, as a powerful horse would lead to a quicker death. "Three cuts across his back for each member of the Sigvald family he plotted against," Harald stated, with a glint of disgust in his eyes.

The three of them simultaneously drew their blades as Ragnar kicked the Baron over onto his back and carved their marks into the howling Baron, who at this point had started to become pale with the blood loss.

"Alright, that's enough. Let's begin the execution!" Harald roared as he turned to face the crowd, as everyone cheered in approval.

Ragnar grinned at the brutality of it all; though he wasn't used to such events, he slowly felt a small part of him becoming more and more Norman as he too roared alongside his brother, "Kill the bastard!".

A low chant broke out as the Baron was stripped naked and subsequently tied to the back of the horse.

"Hyah!" Harald smacked the hind leg of his massive beast, sending it into a slow trot down the hill, dragging the naked and bleeding Baron down the rubble.

Cheers followed as the crowd ran after the naked Baron, keen on seeing when he would die.

Ragnar grunted in satisfaction, "Finally, justice for our family."

Thorkell looked at his brother before grabbing Ragnar's head and bringing it into his embrace, "Yes, brother. Remember that the Sigvalds will rise to the top once again."

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