"It's an ill omen..." Bjorn frowned as he pulled the hood of his cloak to further cover his face from the howling rain.

A storm had rolled in during their journey to Korden. The sky had turned dark even though it was midday. He slowly shook his head as he glanced at the dark clouds before checking to make sure everyone was in place. After the events of yesterday, he was certain that the Jarl would soon appear. 'He won't have been too far behind his men. He'll definitely come straight here.'

​​

Little did the Jarl know, his home town had already been turned into a trap meant for his own execution. 'The key to this is making sure that Harik survives. Plus... We have her...' Bjorn's stern gaze turned to look through the open shutters of the shabby building behind him. His eyes landed on Ania, who was sitting on a chair with her head hung low. Her hand gripped a spear while a shield rested against her leg.

'There's no telling what she'll do once the battle starts...' Bjorn sighed as he tried to figure out how best to ensure her survival. 'This will turn into a messy melee. I need to be in the front to lead the attack and archers won't be enough to protect her.'

He turned to continue studying the sky. He was hoping the weather would break before the Jarl arrived. After all, the Jarl would have seasoned warriors on his side while they had a rabble of villagers. Fighting in the middle of a storm would only make it difficult for those without much experience. He knew from experience that a cold rain could make it difficult to keep ahold of your weapon and to keep your footing as the ground would turn to mud and slush.

A distant rumble of thunder sounded in the sky, sending a shiver down his spine. That sound gave him the feeling that Exile was angry, but he had no idea why it made him feel that way. A deep frown appeared on his face as he pondered the matter.

"He's watching... He's angry..." Ania's soft voice sounded in Bjorn's ear, startling him.

'When did she sneak up on me?' It surprised him because he was always alert to his surroundings. He knew Ania well enough to say that she was not capable of such a feat. However, that was when his shock turned to confusion.

"What do you mean, Ania?" Bjorn could not help but ask.

"Can't you feel it?" Ania asked as she stared at him with lifeless eyes. "Exile's warmth has left our hearths."

Bjorn's eyes went wide. Now that Ania mentioned it, he had to admit that he no longer felt reassured when sitting in front of a fire to keep himself warm. 'That should be impossible!' His mind raced to find a solution. Of course, he knew that the gods would evolve as they grew in power. But an event like that should still be a long way off. If anything, they should have felt his presence more clearly from their hearths first.

'What has happened...' He felt confused as there was nothing in his book that he could use as a reference. He turned a questioning gaze on Ania. It seemed like she had a deeper understanding of what might be happening than he did.

"The sky... You've probably already sensed it." Ania's voice was solemn as she gave voice to an answer.

Bjorn turned his gaze back to the sky as understanding dawned on him. 'How? Lord Exile should be a fire god... So why do I feel his presence in the sky?' He now understood why he felt like the storm was an ill omen and why the thunder had him worried. But he could not fathom how a fire god was able to change his very nature like that. 'Some big changes are coming...' Bjorn sighed.

"The Jarl's men are approaching!" The lookout suddenly shouted as they blew the horns to welcome the Jarl home.

Bjorn's gaze turned fierce as he glanced towards the gate as people came out of their homes to cheer at the Jarl's return. Of course, these people were, in fact, the followers of Exile and his Pantheon. They had taken over the homes that lined the route that the Jarl would take. Until all of the warriors were in the middle of their trap, they had to make it seem like nothing was amiss.

"Bjorn..." Ania's tone sounded cold. "Make sure to take some prisoners."

Bjorn frowned at Ania's unusual demand. "Why?"

"For Lord Exile, of course. Let these fools see what happens when they go against the gods..." Ania's eyes turned stone cold as she almost whispered those words. Sending a tremor through Bjorn's heart.

'She finally understands!' Bjorn felt ecstatic to see Ania's sudden change. He felt as if he was watching the birth of an Oracle worthy of the gods before his very own eyes. "As you wish... Lady Ania."

Bjorn summoned one of the nearby men and had them pass the message along. 'Forget a few prisoners. Let us offer as many of them as we can to Lord Exile!' The orders he sent were to aim to maim their enemies but keep as many alive as possible to appease Exile's wrath. For that was what he felt when he saw the first sparks of lightning break the sky in the distance.

"Bjorn... I don't know if Lord Exile will help us with this. It may very well be a test he has placed upon us. No matter what, we must succeed." Ania spoke with a grim determination as she turned to hide inside of the house. "Oh, and Bjorn. I forbid you to die... I have a feeling Exile will have need of you in the days to come."

Bjorn closed his eyes as he bowed his head. His body trembled at Ania's words. He would not shake them from his mind lightly. He knew that oracles could sometimes feel the intentions of their god without speaking to them. 'Don't worry... I will give my all to Exile...'