Chapter 7

The next day Skadi woke alone, it was still dark, but the first rays of sun were beginning to peak out over the town. While Geri seemed quite content staying curled in bed, Freki was no where around. Something told Skadi to find, though he wouldn't have gone far, right?

The hall was quiet, only a few thralls were beginning they're morning chores. It was easy enough to slip out, setting off towards the stables. She hadn't seen her horse for weeks, something she was sure he'd be grumpy about.

Entering the main stables, she saw a familiar stallions head stick out. His golden coat stuck out compared to the other horses, most of which shared the same dark coats. Magni's tongue was hanging out, which caused his rider to giggle at him. Tacking him quickly they were off, the town was in the beginnings of rising, and the sun was almost completely up. As she came to the gate she heard a certain guard come up behind her.

"And were are you off to so early?" Ulf was nearly as tall as she was, even when she sat on Magni. Freki trailed behind him, something she noticed he did often.

"I can't find Freki, I was going to look for him" she was going to nudge the horse on but Ulf has a firm grip on his reins, keeping both of them still. "Let go."

He cocked an eyebrow, annoyingly so.

Ulf was around the same age as her brother Hvitsick, but was nearly a foot taller, and far more dense. Skadi liked Ulf, she does, but he has a tendency to tell her what to do. Something she didn't take from her actual brothers, let alone him.

"Skadi your still hurt, do you want a repeat of las-"

"Ulf I'm not a child."

"Yes you are." Skadi wanted to smack him as hard as she could. For as long as she could remember, everyone babied her, her brothers, Hild, Ulf, Helga, even Floki hovered over her. "I don't want you to get hurt again, no one does."

"I can take care of myself."

"Is that why you were kidnapped, shot, and showed up at the gates half dead?" He had his cocky smirk again.

" but I wasn't dead. I'm going."

"Skad-"

"Your not my mother Ulf, it's not up to you."

"She right"

Skadi didn't need to turn to know that voice, it was the same one that's defended her for years. Bjorn stood back a few feet, his hands were tucked into his leather breast plate. His hair was freshly washed, and pulled into his usual style.

"Let her go," Skadi stuck her tongue out at the guard,"but,"

Oh here it comes.

"Take this with you," he held out a dagger, though it wasn't his. It's handle was very intricately carved, with wolves and ravens alike. "Father left it for you."

"He left?" Skadi sounded more upset then she had thought she was.

"He went back to Kattegat last night." Bjorn seemed to notice the disappointment, placing his hand on her knee before coming closer, deliberately blocking off Ulf. As much as Bjorn liked him, Ulf didn't have a say in what Skadi did it did not do. "Don't worry, you'll see him again."

"I don't want to see him again."

"I know your angry with him, and you have every right to be," he moved his hand to her cheek," but he is our father, give him the chance to explain himself." He reaches up kissing her forehead before pulling away,"go."

She didn't need more encouragement then that to set off, Geri just to her side. Soon she was miles outside Hedeby, the remnants off Arne's camp stood in front of her. Most of the tents remained, though the majority had fallen. The fire pits remained untouched, though it seems the camp had been rummaged through, probably by the warriors of Hedeby, trying to find swords, arrows, anything that could be used or scrapped to make another. The center of the camp came into view soon, the table Arne had sat at through most of her detainment had been knocked over. His tent, however, still stood, looking almost untouched, and the tree she'd been tied too held scrapes at the bottom, and the rope slacked around it.

Entering the tent, Skadi saw that it too had been emptied almost completely. Only a few useless things remained, among them though was a broken stool, and buried in the muddy ground was a short dagger. Two thing that had effectively helped her escape, she took the dagger leaving the rest.

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it's a working title, but it's funny to me. Also idk if Hedeby is in a valley I could find any geographical area for it anywhere. So now it's in a valley.