BTtNR - Book 3 - Chapter 029 -

“Hurry!” Avitue shouted at Einar.

The sound of wheels clacking against the stone floor echoed in the tunnel, hooves pounding quickly as they tried to pull the carts they were responsible for.

Shouts came again as the Vikings and the dwarves ran alongside the caravan, putting as much distance as possible between them and the pack of stone trolls chasing them.

“There’s at least twenty!” Skardi called out from the opposite side of the caravan. 

A long and loud horn sounded from the front, adding to the cacophony of noise that filled the stone prison they were in.  

Einar could see the shapes of the monsters as he sent another bolt of fire as the horde behind them.  It washed over the one he struck, creating an eight-foot-tall, flaming stone figure that roared at him.

“We can’t keep this up forever!” Avitue yelled. 

“There’s no other option! Keep them going. We’ve only got four miles left!”

“But the horses!”

“Either we make it or more will join those who already died!”

She didn’t reply to his comment, each of them knowing the six Vikings who were already dead from the ambush wouldn’t just suffer rune injury. The loss of items made the pain of these deaths sting even more.

It’s too organized… something is driving them like this.

His occasional flames, which he sent at the ceiling in different directions, revealed nothing, and the fact that the dwarves were helping to push carts as they ran spoke of how dire this situation was.

Odin… Thor… 

He almost cried out to Locki but paused, unsure that if he did, the god might save him and his warriors but require a price he didn’t want to pay.

“Get the Vikings to do what the dwarves are! Help the wagons, take some stress off the horses! We can keep this pace!”

His wife vanished and Einar glanced at the men around him.

Vidar was dead and his pack had not been happy about the call to flee but they obeyed. Over forty trolls had come in rapid succession and they had been forced to fight a non-stop battle that required this action when more appeared from behind and engaged. 

When the roar came from deeper behind them and caught the ears of the dwarves, their announcement of a troll king left no doubt on what had to be done.

His heart felt the pang of knowing Thorodd would miss the axe he had just acquired and the hammer he had been using.

So much wealth they had traded for was gone in a single moment.

The price of keeping their promise to help the dwarves was costing him far more than he had anticipated.  He knew there would be battles that came when the loss would be great, but he hadn’t expected it to be like this.

Running felt wrong, but he had learned in two lives that fleeing was required sometimes to win the war.  

“Einar! Bartia says the guards will help us at the first gate! Just another four miles!”

Osvif’s shout ignited the fire in his heart. He knew there would be a moment when they would need him to do what he was about to do, and the words that Geiravör had told him echoed in his mind.

Death wasn’t always the option and he didn’t need to be a hero. He just needed to buy time.

He moved to where Skardi was and held out his hand.

“What do you want?”

“Give me your hammer! I’m going to buy some time!”

The giant frowned and shook his head, sweat dripping from the miles they had already run.

“I’m coming with you, go find a different hammer!”

“No! Stay here! Keep everything–”

“NO!”

Skardi’s shout surprised him, but Einar could see the fire in the Viking’s eyes.

“You will not make me leave you to die, even if you think you can live, I will not give you my weapon for this.”

He breathed deeply, grunting at the warrior who had pledged his axe to him.

“If I die, you get two coins,” Einar said. “If you die, you lose two.”

Skardi almost tripped, hearing those words and knowing what potential gains could come from this decision.

“Decide, they’re drawing closer and I can always find another hammer.”

His old opponent growled and let out a loud roar.

“Three if you die! Now go, don’t be stupid!”

Einar took the outstretched weapon from the warrior and nodded.

“Three it is. You’re in charge. Jepi’s in front, Vidar is down. Lead well.”

He almost laughed at the shock on the giant’s face as he started to slow down.

“Skardi is my second! His word is law! Do not stop!”

A few men near them gave him a look but said nothing as they continued running behind the carts, pushing to help the horses.

“Odin watch over that fool!” Skardi shouted as Einar disappeared into the darkness behind them.

He sought the place he needed.

While he had been talking with Skardi, Einar focused on what needed to be done and let the rage build inside.

His wyrd ached, wanting to be unleashed. 

A thought had come and he wasn’t sure if it would work, but holding the hammer built for a dwarf, almost as big as he was, Einar channeled every bit of power he had into what would come next.

His body started to crackle, lightning starting to spark off his feet as they touched the ground, light illuminating the stone.

Each step was a power of rage, controlled, and yet a fury that begged to be unleashed.

He could hear the sounds of the trolls coming at him, his eyes somehow starting to make out the shapes of the ones in front.

A roar so primal and true came from his lips as he let loose, calling upon the power of the god who had spent a moment giving him advice for this very moment.

[ Rune Empower ]

Einar swung, his body swelling with strength, every stat doubling and the sensation was water to a thirsty man.

His muscles soaked up the wyrd inside him, the power he needed and felt became denser as his ability to draw more doubled.

A troll had come, stone claws swinging at him, but Einar felt it all happening in slow motion, his speed so fast they were like children to him.

The hammer connected, lighting radiating from the spot it impacted. It almost seemed like the crunch and crack, followed by a groan, was delayed as the troll was sent flying backward into the horde it belonged to.

Like a top, Einar spun, lighting covered weapon, crushing and obliterating each troll he struck.  In less than ten seconds, he had killed four and sent another three flying.

[ Rune Experience Granted ]

[ Rune Experience Granted ]

[ Rune Experience Granted ]

[ Rune Experience Granted ]

And then what they all feared appeared in the light of his magic.

It didn’t just slowly approach; instead, it ran right toward him, arm moving forward as it threw a stone troll at him.

It was twenty feet tall and was the driving force behind all these creatures. 

The dwarves had called it something Mal-Tug. 

King of the trolls.

Einar didn’t care. King or not, it wasn’t going to rule over him and his warriors.

But there wasn’t time to play this out and try to take it down. He had made a promise to Skardi and death wasn’t an option. Doing so would anger every Viking under him.

Dodging the flying troll who was waving arms as it flew, Einar dashed forward, swinging the hammer at its knee, using the card he didn’t want to, but knew had to.

[ Thor’s Blessing ]

He hadn’t been sure where the lightning would come from or when. But somehow he sense that it would come.

A boom sent waves of force out from him, stunning all the trolls he knew were closing in from the side and making the troll king even slow down.

His hammer became a lightning rod and a continuous bolt the size of a man arced from its head, striking the oversized troll. It jerked, stumbling as the spell continued, to pour into it.

Yet Einer’s hammer continued its path, slamming into its knee and shattering the leg completely, folding it in half.

Twelve seconds.

He spun, keeping as much momentum as he could, bringing the hammer upward into the exposed jaw of the beast as it fell, helpless and unable to stop his strike

Einar roared, pouring every ounce of strength he had, using his legs and hips into that swing. The next sound was almost as beautiful as a baby’s first word. A crunch that gave way, followed by another, rang out.

He twisted again, moving out from under the troll king’s body as it crumbled to the ground.

Eight.

[ Rune Experience Granted ]

He spun, racing back toward the caravan, his legs pumping with his increased power, and the magic of the lightning propelled him even faster.

Like a rock flung from a siege engine, Einar streaked through the darkness, seeing the light of his warriors ahead.

Three.

Shouts came as he drew near, and Einar slowed down as the last bit of wyrd began to vanish from his body and the empowerment faded.

He stumbled, tired and worn out. He was like a wet rag that someone had twisted until no more water could be set free.

A pair of hands grabbed him, keeping him on his feet. Einar glanced up, seeing Skardi’s face, and a weird smile on his lips.

“You scared me,” the giant said. “For a moment I thought Thor himself was coming and then I realized it was just your ugly face. I guess I won't get any extra coins.”

Einar laughed, letting the large man help him keep running, being pulled toward the wagons.

“Someone help me get him up on one,” Skardi shouted, taking the hammer from his hand. “What the fuck?! This thing is hot!”

More hands grabbed him and Einar was soon thrown like a bag of feed, crashing on the tarp of a wagon.

“Einar’s back!”

Cheers came from those who heard Skardi’s cry, and more came as the message was relayed to the front.

Einar closed his eyes for a moment, taking deep breaths and when he opened them, noticed a message waiting for his attention.

[ Your actions have gained the attention of Thor. He has granted you a permanent boon. ]

[ Controlled Rage - Thor has created a bond with you, helping you to control the storms that threaten to burn you alive. Calling forth Lightning will be easier and less demanding on your wyrd. Caution is still advised as your body may not be strong enough to do this often. ]

He blinked a few times as he read the description.

A permanent boon? Thor! Thank you!

Einar lay there, smiling as the cart bumped and shook, grateful that he hadn’t died and managed to also acquire something he never imaged was possible.

Closing his eyes, he tried to focus on his wyrd. It was there, almost all gone, barely a mouthful having seeped in, yet he played with it, trying to see if he could control the lightning side easier.

A single spark danced across his core and the little bit of wyrd he had vanished, evaporated like water on hot stone.

Exhaustion came and Einar let himself fall asleep for just a moment, knowing he could finally rest.

***

“You lot be fools! Why do you think we haven’t been this way in a while?!”

“Tell that to Gromm and these Vikings,” Bartia replied, not yelling as the guard at the gate was. “Now stop your bitching and open the damn gate faster!”

“Go hump a donkey!”

Einar smiled as Bartia gave the guard peering out the tiny balisteria.

“Seems the typical dwarven hospitality doesn’t change,” he said. “You going to be okay?”

“I’ll be fine. No doubt that one’s grouchy for being stuck on this job. Besides the letter Gromm sent will open doors and gates that you couldn’t have enjoyed on your own. Those three will also sing your praises.”

Einar looked at the trio of dwarven warriors and watched as they inspected the wagon filled with goods they had brought.

“So what happens to them? They stay here until we head back to Mighahm?”

“Most likely,” Bartia replied. “Based on how that one is complaining, I don’t think anyone is headed that way for a while. Perhaps if you did kill that troll king we’ll be fine, but I’m not certain many will believe you did.”