Chapter 8

LYRA.

Sounds of drumming and victory chants of warriors filled the air making it electric.

I smiled with pride as I watch my men jubilate.

 This is yet another cause to celebrate.

We won the war with Thane’s troupe against the beastly Border rogues.

My joy new no bound as I danced with them.

I’m sure the Viking Alpha is looking down smiling proudly at us.

There has been victory upon victory and prosperity since his death.

As much as I didn’t want to sound pompous, I knew a large part of why was my excellent leadership skills.

    

   Thinking about my life and how I got here made me somewhat emotional.

From my humble beginning to becoming the leader of a clan as large as the Vikings.

I raised my hand and there was instant decorum from the crowd. It was time to address them.

“My brothers, my wolf warriors,” I began. My voice sounded loud across the crowd. 

“We celebrate yet another victory tonight. Our strength, unity and loyalty have been tested and proven true. It is known all across that our tribe is not a tribe to be played with and we hold pride in that.”

The crowd erupted in loud cheers and applause and I smiled at their enthusiasm.

“They seek to tear us apart but they do not know that there’s more to our success and bravery.”

I stopped, basking in the silence before I continued

“It is our loyalty, faith and selflessness for one another.

The love that exists between us didn’t just spring up now but has been deep rooted, planted by our ancestors.

Our determination to protect and provide for each other, our commitment to our clan.

All this are what has brought us here today.”

I took a short pause again matching gaze’s with the warriors.

Their faces held great determination and diligent attentiveness.

They were silent, hanging on to my every word.

“I’m honored and proud to be the leader of this clan.” My voice cracked with emotion as I said this.

“I’m also proud to call each and everyone of you my family. So let us continue to stand for one another, to fight for our clan and show the world what it means to be a Viking.”

There was a loud uproar and applause at the end of my speeech.

The drumming, dancing and celebration resumed.

At noon, Cleo came to my quarters to call upon me.

“The Moon Black clan has sent their appreciation booties,” he announced.

“That’s very thoughtful of them. What about Thane?” I asked on a second thought.

“He has promised to come over himself and show his appreciation and uphold of our alliance, but I believe he is still busy settling all the spoils of war in his clan.”

I noddded at this, trying to show nonchalance but my interest was completely piqued.

For the past few days, I have found myself thinking of him more and more, wondering what it would be like to see him again, to hear his voice and…

I tried to push thoughts of Thane aside.

“There’s something else,” Cleo said with hesitation.

The look on his face suggested that whatever he had to say might not be all that pleasing.

“What is it Thane?” I asked, my curiosity piqued.

“The high septon, he has summoned for you.”

The high septon is the highest spiritual figure in our clan. He lives in the outskirts of the clan in his shrine like cave, never seen in the camp unless on special occasion.

It has been quite a long time since I received a summon like this from him so I was a little trepidated.

“What does he want?” I asked more to myself than Cleo who was standing in front of me.

“I’m not sure,” he responded scratching his head in confusion.

“But I’m guessing it has something to do with the recent happening.”

“The recent happening?” I repeated with a frown.

Cleo nodded.

“And exactly what is wrong with the recent happening?”

Cleo didn’t say a word but I could feel he was hesitating.

“Cleo you do know that if you know something and is hiding it from me, it is considered an offense right?”

“I’m not sure my lady, in fact I might be wrong but I think the high septon wants to discuss the wish of our late Viking Alpha with you,” Cleo explained.

Now that is a discussion that I hope was forgotten but the sudden mention of it has got a sinking feeling of nothingness in my stomach.

The Alpha Viking’s wish was that we unite the Viking clan and the Black Harem clan.

In fact it was the last mission he had embarked on but couldn’t see it through before his demise.

The history between the Vikings Clan and the Black Harem clan is an ancient one passed down from one generation to another as stories.

The first leader of both clans were once very close friends, some say they were siblings but either ways they had a very close relationship united in their quest to find the lost city of Eldarath.

Then came when it was time for them to both claim a mate.

According to history, the Viking Alpha had met a woman named Astrid first. She was a beautiful intelligent and fierce warrior from a neighboring clan.

The Viking Alpha had taken a liking to her and she to him.

They fell in love and soon became inseparable, but the leader of the Black Harem clan also had his eyes on Astrid.

He claimed to have also met her first and with that a feud between the two friends began.

This feud expanded to their clan and a grave animosity was implanted in both clan’s heart against the other.

It is believed that the leader of the Black Harem clan made a big offer to Astrid’s father, one he couldn’t refuse and because of that Astrid was forced to marry him to protect her clan.

This only brewed more hatred between both men and they eventually went into war.

It was a bloody battle that claimed thousands of lives.

The battle did nothing to change the hatred between both clans as they became sworn enemies from then till this day.

There has been several leaders and generations after then, but the stories were told on and the relationship remained the same.

The last Viking Alpha before me revealed to me one night that he had a calling and it was to unite both clan.

He confided in me and made me swear an oath that if he wasn’t able to make that happen that I’d see to it that the clans were united under my lead.

That is a very bold and courageous step but now that I think of it, I don’t know how I can make that happen.

The Vikings and Black Harem hatred goes beyond just a regular one.

Any Viking citizen that sets foot on the Black Harem land is immediately killed and vice versa.

How am I supposed to end such feud?

“I’ll see him tomorrow,” I finally said to Cleo who nodded and took his leave.

I retired to bed with heaviness in my heart.