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He would have probably managed to kill more if he wasn’t chained to the chairs. A fact I think he chose to ignore as he flings himself into the awaiting mass of warriors. Hacking, cleaving, and screaming, as he takes as many down with him as he can.

I have to help. Looking around I spot the torch next to us, placed near the chairs.

Darting forward, dragging the man holding me, I grab it and without hesitating thrust it back into his face.

I smell the burning first before the scream of pain hits my ears, almost deafening me.

The arms fall away, and I pick up a forgotten sword.

Letting out a yell, I jump into the fray.

Bodies are everywhere, and I can barely see in front of me to figure out who is friend and foe, so I just swing.

I swing until I can’t feel my arms, until blood covers my face and I have to blink it away.

Climbing over dying men, I leap and swing.

When there is nothing but bodies scattered at my feet and blood dripping from my sword, I finally look up.

Vasilisy glances back at me from where he stands, yanking his stolen sword from a dead Berserker’s chest. He offers me a grin and I grin back, it costs me.

I don’t see the arrow until it is too late.

It hits him in the shoulder, twisting him as he is knocked back, the sword forgotten.

Another flies through the air and hits his other shoulder.

He falls back again, letting out a scream as he does.

I try to get to him, but the bodies in the way are slowing me down and my legs are aching.

I throw myself across the distance as he drops to his knees, his eyes on mine.

In them I see acceptance, but I won’t let him die.

He can’t. I fall to my knees in front of him with a scream as his body jerks from the impact of another arrow.

He doesn’t cry, he doesn’t beg, he just stares at me.

“I need my right-hand man,” I cry, grabbing his shoulders.

“You have five others,” he gasps out.

“No.” Not again. Standing, I jump over him and stand with my arms spread, facing the crowd. Ivar stands in the very centre, a bow held in his hands with another arrow nocked while the Berserkers hold their weapons, ready to jump in if need be.

“No,” I say loudly and he arches his eyebrow at me. His face is already bruising, which makes me wince.

“Take her,” he orders, and I scream, raising the sword as I rush towards him, ignoring Vasilisy’s advice to bide my time. If I can reach him, if I can kill him, I can save Vassy.

I don’t make it two steps before something hits my arm, making it go dead and my fingers automatically drop the sword. Then bodies are thrown at me, pushing me to the floor as they create a Berserker pile.

“No!” I kick and thrash, but it is no good .

“Bring her and the traitor, let’s remind them why I am King,” Ivar’s voice roars, even reaching me under the pile of warriors, and my blood turns cold. Vasilisy…

We are dragged outside, excited hoots following us as Ivar leads the party.

There is only one reason why he is bringing us out here.

The thought has me fighting again and it takes three Berserkers to hold me, even though Vasilisy doesn’t fight the two who are leading him to the raised wooden stage in the middle of the castle courtyard.

I am dragged to the post opposite and tied up as I kick and growl like an animal.

I take a chunk out of one the Berserkers and he backhands me before walking away, leaving the two others to it.

One leans closer, dangerous on his part really, and I dart forward and bite into his neck.

Like a feral, I dig in and hold on tight, cutting through skin, and with the feeling of a balloon bursting, copper fills my mouth.

He is punching my stomach and screaming but I hold on, I only let go because I have to swallow or choke.

He stumbles back, his face pale as his hands come up and slip in his own blood as he tries to hold his neck where blood is pumping from him.

I grin, blood filling my mouth and no doubt coating my teeth and face.

He falls to his knees and all the other Berserkers ignore him as he faints then and there, I hope the bastard dies.

Spitting out the mouthful of blood, I turn to the other Berserker who seems to have forgotten about me and is staring at the man with a strange look on his face, he almost seems..

.relieved? It makes me falter and before I can bite him as well, he turns back to me and frowns when he sees my reaction.

Slowly, as if not to startle me he holds his hands up, not touching me.

“Calm down, Champion.”

I stop and stare at him and he blows out a breath when I don’t attack him. Leaning closer, he looks around before messing with the chains and whispering. “Sorry ‘bout this. Gotta make it look good or they will kill me. I am sorry, I wish I could stop this.”

“Then do it,” I mutter and look around to notice a few other Berserkers looking my way and winking before turning back to the show. What the fuck?

“I can’t. If I do, it will blow everything we have planned, and it’s so much bigger than one man’s life.”

I growl again and he glares at me. “Vasilisy is my friend too, Champion. But he knew the cost when he did that stunt earlier. Do not disrespect his choices and bravery now. This is much bigger than you and him.”

I blink as I stare at him. “You are part of the rebellion?”

He nods and steps closer, lowering his voice.

“There are a lot here who are. They tire of Ivar, but until there is a good option to replace him, they follow out of fear. Vasilisy convinced us it was you. After tonight, I can see where he was coming from.” Ivar’s laugh booms across the clearing and the man closes his eyes painfully.

“Don’t look away, to do so would dishonour him.

” With that he turns and takes up guard next to me, ignoring me completely.

Looking ahead, I see Vasilisy with his hands now bound in front of him and a noose around his neck.

It’s one of Ivar’s favourite ways to kill people, something about if their neck doesn’t break.

All I know is, the only time I saw it happen haunted me, and this will be so much worse, but the guard is right.

To look away would dishonour him, he made his sacrifice for me.

I must accept that, even if my heart screams for the man I was coming to care for like family.

He meets my eyes as the Berserkers leave the platform and he smiles softly.

I can’t return it, that would mean I would have to move my mouth and if I do, I might scream and never stop.

There has been so much death; I have lost more people I care about recently than most do in a lifetime.

Pain has been my constant friend since Ivar stole me, but this is a different kind and I can already feel it consuming me, the darkness fighting in me, trying to get free, and I might just let it.

It has to be better than feeling...this…

Vasilisy holds my gaze as Ivar starts to talk and I don’t even allow myself to blink, even when my eyes burn and start to water.

“Traitor!” someone screams, and I tune them out.

I can see Ivar talking out of the corner of my eye, but I don’t want to hear it.

He steps towards Vasilisy, a knife flashing in the light.

I swallow deep and harden my eyes, warning Vasilisy as much as I can.

I see him ready himself and the knife descends on his Berserker branding on his chest. It’s where everyone who is voluntarily a Berserker gets them, I am the only person to have it on my shoulder and it was done as a slur to me being a slave.

Most men scream, most men pass out or beg, but Vasilisy just takes it as the tattoo is hacked away, taking half of the left side of his pec with it until you can see muscle. Blood gushes down his chest, colouring his stomach, and into his trousers.

Ivar steps away and holds up the flap of skin, some of the crowd cheers and Ivar frowns. I make sure to take a quick look at the crowd to see who didn’t join in––they can live.

I look back when I hear Ivar moving on the wooden boards again, he walks to the lever and stares at me. I avert my eyes, staring at Vasilisy as he mouths at me, ‘Goodbye, little queen.’ I hold in my cry as I hear the leaver fall and the board under his feet drops out.

I let out a short sharp gasp as he drops through.

His neck doesn’t break and Ivar cheers again.

I have to watch as he chokes to death, his feet and arms twitching as his face turns purple and he gasps out, trying to breathe.

Those three minutes are the longest of my life, I still don’t look away until he stops moving, his body swaying in the breeze. He’s dead. They killed him.

I look to Ivar, he grins at me and I let go, I lose all humanity. I embrace the darkness, I welcome it like an old friend and hide in it so I don’t have to feel. I am a true Berserker and they will feel my wrath before the night is through.