The time for the final dance had come, and the cheers from within Vestfold could be heard from where the forces of Kattegat were stationed, Skarde and Sven were curious to see what choice Asmund would take because the war was still in their favor.
Creaking noises could be heard, it was the sound of a single compartment of the large gate opening. Out of it came Asmund alongside Earl Aksel and Earl Kjell, all on horseback.
They stopped at a considerable distance as Asmund unmounted his horse, he was not stupid enough to think that Askild would honor his word.
"Where is my son?" Asmund's voice echoed, carried through the wind with the breeze that danced softly on their skin.
King Askild snapped his fingers and Signy appeared from behind him, his swollen face had somewhat reduced but it still looked terrible.
"Sorry, one of my men had a bone to pick with him. You understand, don't you?" Askild explained the current state of his son to him so he does not get the wrong idea.
Askild nudged Signy gently, and Signy was confused as to what he wanted him to do.
"Go, don't you want to return home?" Askild asked, and Signy did not know if he was playing mind games with him but this was not the time for redundant thoughts.
ραпdα nᴏνɐ| сom Signy began to walk towards his father with Asmund doing the same, the hostage exchange was underway as both began their walk.
Everywhere was quiet as there were so many things that could go wrong, but Askild did not make a move because he knew what would happen if he did. He could not be careless, they had come too far.
He also knew how he killed Asmund would shape how his warriors and enemies viewed him.
They were both within range and Asmund winked at his son right before walking past him.
Signy looked at Kjell and Aksel, Askild had told him he was going to kill him yet he was letting him go. He knew once he got behind the walls, there was no way for Askild's sword to reach him. They both completed their walk at approximately the same time.
"Asmund, my dear friend…" Askild greeted with a smile but this was not a genuine smile but a sadistic one.
"You have me now, how do you want to end my life?" Asmund questioned, and Askild chuckled.
"You are too hasty. You might be my enemy but I do respect you…" Askild said. He was trying to make conversation with Vestfold's king. He was trying to change how he was perceived as he watched Kjell alongside Sven and Signy return to the walls.
They rode as fast as they could because they expected Askild to try something but to their surprise, he did not. He actually let Signy go.
Askild watched with intent as the same partial compartment of the gate was raised to welcome Signy back within the walls but he had the biggest fish of Vestfold in exchange.
There was nothing he could do but he had his hands on Asmund, the prize of the war.
Erik saw him and could not help but salivate, he was drooling like a rabid dog that had not eaten for days. He wanted a bite out of Asmund and Askild could sense his bloodlust.
"Hahaha! Erik The Berserker. It is good to see you too…" Asmund greeted but he soon clutched his abdomen subtly because a sharp pain shot through his lower torso.
"Are you in pain, King Asmund?" Askild asked and Asmund tried to play it off but looking into the single eye of Askild told him that he knew.
"You are aware?" Asmund asked and Askild chuckled.
"You know King Asmund… a sword smeared in shit and piss is a far more effective weapon than one covered in fire," Askild said, and Asmund immediately knew why his wounds had not healed properly and the constant pain that rocked through his body.
"You are as repulsive a fighter as I remember, there was no way you killed Xenophanes with skills alone.." Asmund responded. Everyone was listening to the back and forth between these two men and Erik looked to be the most disappointed.
"King Xenophanes was a sentimental fool, he was going to run Kattegat into the ground if I did not do what I did…" Askild said.
"You killed him for such a reason?" Asmund asked, he knew Askild had ambition but he was not stupid. Askild was filling Asmund in on the information that he had missed.
"I have wanted to kill Xenophanes for a long time but I knew it was not possible with Vestfold allied with Kattegat, I knew there was no way you would let me succeed him if I killed him so I had to find a way to sever your bond…" Askild said in a very suggestive tone and Asmund's eyes dilated in shock, feeling his heart drop.
"Don't tell me…" Asmund muttered, the missing piece he has been searching for for years was right in front of him the whole time.
"That is right, I was the one that helped Raum The Old. I gave him the information he needed to break through your defenses. Did you not find it strange that they broke through so easily after 7 years?' Askild asked and Asmund never thought about it, he just assumed that Raum found a way around their defense as his reputation had shown that this was within his skill set.
"You bastard…!" Asmund cussed out but Askild just giggled, he was getting under Asmund's skin.
"You tossed your friend to save yourself and your kingdom, the nature of man is indeed cruel." Askild teased but Asmund wanted to find one thing out, how Xenophanes died.
"How did he die?" Asmund muttered, trying his best to suppress his rage but his voice betrayed him.
"The old fool could not bring himself to kill me…" Askild said and the story of how Xenophanes was in his final days began.
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