429 CDXXIX. The Mission Outcome (1/2)

”How could I forget? It was one of the best nights of my life. The only difference is that it was much less cold! Hahaha!” he chuckled, as images of those moments of carefreeness returned to his mind, during which love between them began to take shape.

”What do we do now? The Sun is setting... do you think Kjell and the others will be back at the Fort?” the Shieldmaiden asked, yawning, caught in exhaustion due to the intense sex session in the woods.

”We'll find out soon. In a few minutes, we will be there... I hope they give us good news” he said, riding in the direction of Fort Hvit, trying to pass the time, to make sure he would find his teammates once he arrived at his destination.

When the two lovers stopped in front of the outer walls of the Hunters Of Ullr outpost, the men perched on the towers, seeing them arrive, opened the gate.

Dag and Freydis entered and immediately got off the horse, which although had only traveled a short distance of the road, was exhausted, having brought two people on his back after months locked in a stable.

By the time they entered Fort Hvit, the appearance of the courtyard had changed dramatically: the wooden canopies lining the interior of the walls had been adjusted and wedged to each other, and the barn had been partially integrated into that structure, which had now made it larger and more spacious, giving the four horses more room to move freely.

The palace, on the other hand, always looked the same on the outside, apart from a few small improvements to the well and the door, to which a strengthening iron beam had been added, which also served as an additional security tool to the lock.

Most of the warriors who had participated in the improvements sat on large stone benches, made from old unused bricks, and proudly admired their work, as well as the Hunters Of Ullr, who could not believe that their house had that magnificent look, no more old and dilapidated.

”Wow! This place looks completely different! In just half a day you managed to make it much more beautiful and livable! I mostly like the new stable!” Dag said, approaching Egill and complimenting everyone who had participated in the work.

”Well, we only did what was necessary to ensure an operating base that could accommodate everyone in the best possible way, taking advantage of your valuable help! We never felt it was important to make these improvements because our Fort has always been as good as it was” Skaldr said, wiping sweat from his forehead and smiling.

As they discussed the work done, the gate stopped its advance upwards and one of the two men on the towers shouted: ”They're coming back!”

Immediately, Dag left the reins of the horse in Skaldr's hands and approached the Fort's entrance, ready to meet Kjell and his team, joyfully noting that each of them had returned safely.