Sven worked hard on the docks, lifting with only one arm what most men lifted with two. He had been working for hours non stop when one of the foremen came to him.
"Why don't you take a break, you've been at it all day." The Swede didn't argue, he finished hauling his load then sat on a crate near his shirt.
"Sven," the man began, "I was wondering. How did you lose your arm?" Sven looked at him. Not many asked him, most avoided looking at the severed arm.
"Sven not lose arm at first. Still want Sven tell long story?" The foreman laughed,
"Go ahead Sven, you've done enough work for the day, we have plenty of time."
"Sven remember it was many years ago, when Cardinal Richelieu came......"
The docks were a bit quieter than normal. Sven kept his eyes looking into the shadow. For some reason, and the Swede knew not, something wasn't right. He looked to the "Misty Rose", then to the "Viking Maiden". They both seemed all right. Before he could turn... *THUNK* something hit him hard on the head. Sven was down on the cold docks.
"Get the blasted Viking ship first. They would have the stronger of the crew, if we get them, then the other will be easy pickens." One of the large men whispered to the others.
"Right on cue. They are all passed out and drunk." Came from another one.
Bjorn heard some noises. He tried to be as quiet as he could, he watched to see what they had in mind. These thugs had to be the mercenaries that Elrick had spoke of. The old man crawled on his belly, trying to get to Elrick's cabin. He heard a noise, felt something hit, then felt the warmth of blood running down his face as he slipped into unconsciousness.
The screaming began, as the men of the Viking ship began to awake, calling for Elrick. One of the men had set fire to the captains cabin. Elrick woke up coughing, gagging for breath
He searched around his room, grabbing anything heavy to break in the window, he needed air. "BJORN! BJORN!" He called out for his first mate. He clenched his fists as he heard the silent answer.
Sven was beginning to wake up. His head being harder than what most think, the shock of the blow didn't last long. He heard the yelling upon the "Viking Maiden". He made a quick glance to the Misty Rose, then scurried up the gang plank.
"FRIEND ELRICK!" Many of the mercenaries went flying as the large Swede went through. "Friend Elrick! Where you? Sven no can find!" Just as he finished his sentence, the Swede tripped over something, or someone. He squatted down to see who he tripped over. "Friend Bjorn?" He could barely whisper the word.
"Sven! If you can hear me. Help me get out of here! The door to the cabin is blocked, and find Bjorn!" Elrick knew immediately that he had given the Swede too much to think about at once, but this was no time to pay attention to ones intelligence.
"Sven find Friend Bjorn. Friend Bjorn not moving!"
That was all the Norseman needed to hear. The very walls of his cabin shook as a side, blazing with flames came down, Elrick right behind, naked as a jay bird.
"Friend Elrick better get clothes."
"Dammit all." Elrick reaches and finds one of the larger dead ones and grabs the clothes. "Sven, we only have one chance to make it. We need to jump to the Misty Rose."
"Ohh no. Captain no want that."
"I don't give a damn what your..." Elrick pauses as he watches the fire finger the Misty Rose. He begins to bark orders to anyone in earshot.
"Get over there and soak the deck and hull down! Keep the flames from touching her. Anyone...wake up you Captain! NOW!"
"Sven, pick up Bjorn and let's get him over to the other ship! NOW"
The large Swede could only nod his head. All ready the mercenaries had all but departed, leaving only their dead. The Viking Maiden was lost, and what was left of Elrick's crew was aboard the Misty Rose, keeping the fire from reaching there.
"Only one way Sven, you have to jump! Give me Bjorn, I'll take him."
"No, Sven no give Friend Elrick, Friend Bjorn. Sven be useful."
Elrick knew better than to argue at a time like this. He ran as fast as he could, leaping onto the deck of the Misty Rose. Some of the crew there to catch him.
"Ok Sven. Now your turn. There is no other way, and if you wait, you'll be burned, now move it!"
Everyone could see the panic and fear on Sven's face. He took a breath, held Bjorn tightly and began to run, to take the leap. "Sven no let you down. Sven will make it." The Swede jumped, the air got sickly thick, the smoke blurring the vision.
The only thing anyone heard came from the two captains. "NOOOOOOO!!!!"
Elrick watched in horror as he saw Sven go down with Bjorn. He didn't think. He bagan to call out orders, and be damned what that woman thought.
"Get me a rope! Tie it off! Give Logan one as well!" He looked to Sian, he saw for the first time since he had encountered her...fear.
"What y' got in mind Norseman?"
"We have to go get them. Sven is too big for you, and if your captain thinks she's going in I'll give her a lump she'll never forget. I'll go for Sven, you go for Bjorn. Together we just might be able to save one or both."
Elrick didn't give Logan time to answer. He was stripping his sheep skin vest, and without a word, dove into the cold water.
The Viking Maiden was sinking, pulling him down. All he could think of was finding the Swede and Bjorn. He felt a tap on his shoulder as Logan was there. Elrick pointed to one direction, and then went the other. Logan taking the one that Elrick had motioned too.
The suction became greater. Elrick grabbed ahold of the rudder of the Misty Rose for balance. He needed something strong to hold onto. His eyes searched in the dark water for Logan.
Air...I need air. Dammit Sven..where are you? Elrick quickly came up for air, with Logan behind him. They held on tightly to the side of the Misty Rose, then dove again.
Something hit Elrick. He turned, and got hit in the face with a foot. A rather large foot. Sven! He yanked on him hard. He was shocked to see that the Swede still had a hold on Bjorn. Somehow the giant had tied Bjorn to him.
Logan quickly came over, untying the rope that held Bjorn and quickly taking him to the surface. Elrick was having a bit of a time with the Swede. His arm was stuck. Elrick pulled to free him. He needed air, but didn't want to leave Sven. His chest hurt as he tugged more, breaking the wood around him.
Sven's arm was bleeding badly. Elrick could see the bones. He tried to keep from gagging under the water. He pulled one last time. He felt it come free. Elrick didn't stop to check and see if Sven had his arm or not. His only thought was getting air.
Members of both crews had pulled Logan and Bjorn up out of the freezing water. Bjorn's head was bleeding, and he had a large bump. He began to cough and sputter. "Come on old man. Do it f'r Elrcik..come on." Logan kept talking to him.
Logan took time to glance over to his captain. There she stood, sword in hand. Her eyes had a look he had never seen. One that sent chills down his spine. It's the cold Logan. Tend to Bjorn..
A large hand gripped ahold of the side of the Rose, followed by another. Then in one heave, Sven came flying over the side, his arm dangling just above the elbow. Elrick crawled up behind him, breathing hard, his face red, blood trickling out of his nose.
Elrick quickly moved everyone away from the Swede. He straddled him, pushing on his stomach up to the chest. "Come on you dumb Swede. Breath Dammit!" He pushed more, Sven's body jerked. Elrick turned the Swede's head just as the water spewed from his mouth. Sven coughed some more, and again the water trickled.
Elrick fell over onto the deck, exhausted. He felt the sting of tears as he looked from Sven to Bjorn.
Out of nowhere came the quiet voice. "Why Friend Elrick cry?"
"Sven said long story. That's how Sven hurt arm. Friend Bjorn not see again. He stay with Captain Sian Lady, Sven go with Friend Elrick." The foreman patted Sven on his bare shoulder.
"Sven, I am not a religious man, but one might say, you are truely blessed."
"Why don't you take a break, you've been at it all day." The Swede didn't argue, he finished hauling his load then sat on a crate near his shirt.
"Sven," the man began, "I was wondering. How did you lose your arm?" Sven looked at him. Not many asked him, most avoided looking at the severed arm.
"Sven not lose arm at first. Still want Sven tell long story?" The foreman laughed,
"Go ahead Sven, you've done enough work for the day, we have plenty of time."
"Sven remember it was many years ago, when Cardinal Richelieu came......"
The docks were a bit quieter than normal. Sven kept his eyes looking into the shadow. For some reason, and the Swede knew not, something wasn't right. He looked to the "Misty Rose", then to the "Viking Maiden". They both seemed all right. Before he could turn... *THUNK* something hit him hard on the head. Sven was down on the cold docks.
"Get the blasted Viking ship first. They would have the stronger of the crew, if we get them, then the other will be easy pickens." One of the large men whispered to the others.
"Right on cue. They are all passed out and drunk." Came from another one.
Bjorn heard some noises. He tried to be as quiet as he could, he watched to see what they had in mind. These thugs had to be the mercenaries that Elrick had spoke of. The old man crawled on his belly, trying to get to Elrick's cabin. He heard a noise, felt something hit, then felt the warmth of blood running down his face as he slipped into unconsciousness.
The screaming began, as the men of the Viking ship began to awake, calling for Elrick. One of the men had set fire to the captains cabin. Elrick woke up coughing, gagging for breath
He searched around his room, grabbing anything heavy to break in the window, he needed air. "BJORN! BJORN!" He called out for his first mate. He clenched his fists as he heard the silent answer.
Sven was beginning to wake up. His head being harder than what most think, the shock of the blow didn't last long. He heard the yelling upon the "Viking Maiden". He made a quick glance to the Misty Rose, then scurried up the gang plank.
"FRIEND ELRICK!" Many of the mercenaries went flying as the large Swede went through. "Friend Elrick! Where you? Sven no can find!" Just as he finished his sentence, the Swede tripped over something, or someone. He squatted down to see who he tripped over. "Friend Bjorn?" He could barely whisper the word.
"Sven! If you can hear me. Help me get out of here! The door to the cabin is blocked, and find Bjorn!" Elrick knew immediately that he had given the Swede too much to think about at once, but this was no time to pay attention to ones intelligence.
"Sven find Friend Bjorn. Friend Bjorn not moving!"
That was all the Norseman needed to hear. The very walls of his cabin shook as a side, blazing with flames came down, Elrick right behind, naked as a jay bird.
"Friend Elrick better get clothes."
"Dammit all." Elrick reaches and finds one of the larger dead ones and grabs the clothes. "Sven, we only have one chance to make it. We need to jump to the Misty Rose."
"Ohh no. Captain no want that."
"I don't give a damn what your..." Elrick pauses as he watches the fire finger the Misty Rose. He begins to bark orders to anyone in earshot.
"Get over there and soak the deck and hull down! Keep the flames from touching her. Anyone...wake up you Captain! NOW!"
"Sven, pick up Bjorn and let's get him over to the other ship! NOW"
The large Swede could only nod his head. All ready the mercenaries had all but departed, leaving only their dead. The Viking Maiden was lost, and what was left of Elrick's crew was aboard the Misty Rose, keeping the fire from reaching there.
"Only one way Sven, you have to jump! Give me Bjorn, I'll take him."
"No, Sven no give Friend Elrick, Friend Bjorn. Sven be useful."
Elrick knew better than to argue at a time like this. He ran as fast as he could, leaping onto the deck of the Misty Rose. Some of the crew there to catch him.
"Ok Sven. Now your turn. There is no other way, and if you wait, you'll be burned, now move it!"
Everyone could see the panic and fear on Sven's face. He took a breath, held Bjorn tightly and began to run, to take the leap. "Sven no let you down. Sven will make it." The Swede jumped, the air got sickly thick, the smoke blurring the vision.
The only thing anyone heard came from the two captains. "NOOOOOOO!!!!"
Elrick watched in horror as he saw Sven go down with Bjorn. He didn't think. He bagan to call out orders, and be damned what that woman thought.
"Get me a rope! Tie it off! Give Logan one as well!" He looked to Sian, he saw for the first time since he had encountered her...fear.
"What y' got in mind Norseman?"
"We have to go get them. Sven is too big for you, and if your captain thinks she's going in I'll give her a lump she'll never forget. I'll go for Sven, you go for Bjorn. Together we just might be able to save one or both."
Elrick didn't give Logan time to answer. He was stripping his sheep skin vest, and without a word, dove into the cold water.
The Viking Maiden was sinking, pulling him down. All he could think of was finding the Swede and Bjorn. He felt a tap on his shoulder as Logan was there. Elrick pointed to one direction, and then went the other. Logan taking the one that Elrick had motioned too.
The suction became greater. Elrick grabbed ahold of the rudder of the Misty Rose for balance. He needed something strong to hold onto. His eyes searched in the dark water for Logan.
Air...I need air. Dammit Sven..where are you? Elrick quickly came up for air, with Logan behind him. They held on tightly to the side of the Misty Rose, then dove again.
Something hit Elrick. He turned, and got hit in the face with a foot. A rather large foot. Sven! He yanked on him hard. He was shocked to see that the Swede still had a hold on Bjorn. Somehow the giant had tied Bjorn to him.
Logan quickly came over, untying the rope that held Bjorn and quickly taking him to the surface. Elrick was having a bit of a time with the Swede. His arm was stuck. Elrick pulled to free him. He needed air, but didn't want to leave Sven. His chest hurt as he tugged more, breaking the wood around him.
Sven's arm was bleeding badly. Elrick could see the bones. He tried to keep from gagging under the water. He pulled one last time. He felt it come free. Elrick didn't stop to check and see if Sven had his arm or not. His only thought was getting air.
Members of both crews had pulled Logan and Bjorn up out of the freezing water. Bjorn's head was bleeding, and he had a large bump. He began to cough and sputter. "Come on old man. Do it f'r Elrcik..come on." Logan kept talking to him.
Logan took time to glance over to his captain. There she stood, sword in hand. Her eyes had a look he had never seen. One that sent chills down his spine. It's the cold Logan. Tend to Bjorn..
A large hand gripped ahold of the side of the Rose, followed by another. Then in one heave, Sven came flying over the side, his arm dangling just above the elbow. Elrick crawled up behind him, breathing hard, his face red, blood trickling out of his nose.
Elrick quickly moved everyone away from the Swede. He straddled him, pushing on his stomach up to the chest. "Come on you dumb Swede. Breath Dammit!" He pushed more, Sven's body jerked. Elrick turned the Swede's head just as the water spewed from his mouth. Sven coughed some more, and again the water trickled.
Elrick fell over onto the deck, exhausted. He felt the sting of tears as he looked from Sven to Bjorn.
Out of nowhere came the quiet voice. "Why Friend Elrick cry?"
"Sven said long story. That's how Sven hurt arm. Friend Bjorn not see again. He stay with Captain Sian Lady, Sven go with Friend Elrick." The foreman patted Sven on his bare shoulder.
"Sven, I am not a religious man, but one might say, you are truely blessed."