Lagertha was alone at home, she was sharpening her blade with a rough stone because she knew war could breakout today if Vestfold dare attack Kattegat directly but there has been no movement from Vestfold, she knew of the situation, and every Viking knew.
She hated that she was being drawn into this part of her life, for she almost lost her right eye in one of the many battles she has fought for Kattegat.
She was more scared for her children than herself, this was her motherly instinct speaking because no mother will want to be the one to bury her child.
A knock was heard at the door, and a voice followed, it was the voice of Herfj?tur.
"Lagertha, open up. It is me Herfj?tur." The lady said and Largetha rushed to the door to open it and embraced the much bigger Herfj?tur, she could not believe her eyes even though she heard that King Askild had called back the Vikings on a campaign.
"How are you, Largetha?" Herfj?tur asked and holding Lagertha by the waist and pushing her back to break away from her suffocating embrace.
"I heard you were in Kattegat but I could not believe it," Lagertha said despite knowing the circumstance that brought her back.
"I returned not too long ago. The death of Egil Iversen has escalated into a war. Who knew one man's death could screw things up this bad." Herfj?tur said with a tired sigh accompanying these words.
"I am just as surprised as you are but it looks like this maiden will have to put on her battle clothes once again," Lagertha said with a worried smile.
"You do not need to be worried Lagertha. You have skills I could only wish to possess." Herfj?tur said but her tone did not sound like one to give empty praises. She believed what she was saying.
"You honor me Herfj?tur but I have not held a sword in years," Lagertha said, she was going to be rusty. Despite picking up her training, she was not as sharp as she once was and it worried her.
"How are you?" Herfj?tur asked out of the blue despite the conversation having progressed past asking this.
"I am good, the boring tale of a typical housewife," Lagertha said with a yawn.
"I do not mean that, Erik is back," Herfj?tur said and Lagertha immediately tensed up, she did not give her a verbal response.
"You have not told Ragnar, have you?" Herfj?tur said with a hint of concern but once again got no response from Lagertha.
"Ragnar has nothing to do with this... This is my cross to bear, a cross I will carry alone." Lagertha said as a pretentious smile crept up on her face. She was not fine, and she could not fool Herfj?tur either.
"I hope you know what you are doing Lagertha," Herfj?tur and Lagertha shook her head, and just then, a scream was heard outside forcing both women to run out.
"Wake up! Who could do such a horrible thing!" A lady screamed, she was holding the body of her bleeding son, his jugular had been severed and he slowly bled to death.
Murder was a rare occurrence in Kattegat, and for this to happen just when the war was approaching was no coincidence. Whoever was behind these killings aimed to inspire fear and chaos within Kattegat.
Herfj?tur rushed to his side and help him up.
"I need you to tell me who did this to you!?" Herfj?tur asked him but the boy couldn't speak due to his severed jugular despite trying his best to speak. All that came out of his mouth was blood but his willpower was admirable as his fingers scribbled something on the ground but he passed away in the process.
His mother crying profusely, Lagertha was surprised that such a thing happened on a broad day, and in no time the area was flooded with people who came to see what the commotion was about.
"Be careful Lagertha! The murderer could be in the crowd!" Herfj?tur whispered to Lagertha.
Lagertha was cautious because no one knew who the killer was meant he could walk freely in Kattegat as he pleased.
Herfj?tur looked down at what the man scribbled down but it was unreadable, all she could make out was the symbol l><l or M. This was hard to make out but it was at the end of whatever was written. It was a pity this warrior died without getting his last word out but Herfj?tur took the hint she could scavenge for she did not know when it would become useful.
The chances that this was the same person that killed Egil Iversen was evident but Herfj?tur scattered what was written in the crowd and Lagertha watched the crowd carefully to monitor the facial expression of the people in it to see if anyone would react strangely to the act of Herfj?tur.
But no one did, if the murderer was in the crowd then he was an experienced one for an amateur would have taken that bait easily. Largetha shook her head for she did not find anyone suspicious other Vikings soon came to the scene as both women vacated the perimeter.
"Stay indoors Lagertha. Something is happening in Kattegat." Herfj?tur warned but she paused for a moment, face creasing into a smile.
"I forgot who I am talking to. Lagertha, the famous shield maiden, does not need my help." Herfj?tur stopped herself and the ladies went their separate ways.
-
"King Askild! There has been another killing!" A Viking reported, but Askild did not look bothered by this development. He trusted that they would soon catch and hang the one responsible for this for all to see. He would do with him something far more heinous than he intended to do with Egil.
He won't just deny him Valhalla, but he will kill his family and all those they loved, but this was one of his lesser concerns.
"King Askild! Birger! A man claiming to be Birger is here!" Another Viking informed Askild and Askild's face creased into an eerie smile.