239 CCXXXIX. The Public Execution (1/2)

Then he came up to his ear, completely covered in blood, and whispered: ”I imagine you desire is to receive a funeral worthy of a valiant warrior so that the Valkyries can gather your body and lead you to Valhalla... well, if you don't want your remains lost in this isolated jungle eaten by alligators, I suggest you take us back to the island... what do you say?”

Oyvind responded with another incomprehensible verse, barely moving his hand, which failed to reach the handle of the axe because of the shattered arm bones.

Dag placed the enemy's body on the ground, grabbed his hand, and put it in place, helping him turn the axe and activate the portal key.

...

After yet another flash of light that lasted only a few moments, he opened his eyes again, and finally, in front of him, he saw again the two torches that lit up the entrance of the stone palace of the village of the Horns Of Heimdallr.

When he was able to distinguish the surrounding sounds, he raised his head towards the terrace.

Freydis was still there, on her knees and with her hands tied, shouting his name and crying tears of joy, in discovering that he had beaten yet another enemy, whose dying body was leaning on his legs.

After looking at Freydis, he turned his gaze towards Gridd and his companions, discovering that they were standing next to Roar, sitting on the ground because of the wound and tied firmly with an iron chain to a half-destroyed wall, with Gridd's shining blade pointed at his neck and Reidar on the other side, with the Failnaught loaded.

At that very moment, Karl dislodged Freydis, after killing two enemy warriors alone, that having seen Dag disappear, had taken courage and had come out into the open to help their defeated Masters.

”Dag! Brother, behind you!” shouted Gridd.

He immediately turned back, discovering the rest of the enemy warriors were lined up in front of him, with weapons ready to use, but motionless from fear.

Dag grabbed Oyvind's braid again, crawling him to the ground and placing him in front of them, so everyone could see him.

He took the Giantbane and placed its blade on the throat of the dying enemy.

Five enemy warriors took courage and began to run towards him, who barely noticed he was under attack and with a clear gesture, slit Oyvind's throat, dropping him to the ground in a pool of blood.

Enemy warriors tried to hit him chaotically and without any tactics.

As his teammates were busy with Roar, Dag confronted them alone: he parried sword blows and quickly counter-attacked two of them, activating Storm Bolt, repulsing them and hitting them with a beam of electricity that quickly expanded into a shockwave.

Three other men attacked him simultaneously, two ahead and one from behind.