CHAPTER TWO

Anne's POV

Cliff Edge

I didn't need more warning to know battle would soon be joined, and the scene unfolding before me would be an unpleasant one.

"Why don't we take this prize and put her away somewhere where our battles won't touch her? You go through me, you can take her. But if you can't, I will have to transfer your souls to the underworld." Father said, with so much boldness.

The other man chuckled, his face serious and stern. "How many years has it been? Are you sure you will still be able to keep up with that swinging like ten years ago?"

Not listening to him, Father took me and placed me on top of a rock near the edge of the cliff, the water roaring beneath, his head touching mine while he spoke slowly. "If you see me go down, you run as fast as you can towards the pole. As fast as you can."

I noted my head while tears wet my eyes, wiping them as the cold air blew wildly across my face. "Please come back."

"I will be back, before you know it."

"Father? I like the sound of that. Hope you are prepared for death now, Gunnar?"

Gunnar, who I had always called Father took out his axe from his back, letting it's shiny head reflect light in their faces, his body already glistening sweat despite the blast of cold air. He sneered and unleashed his claws, his fangs also popping out while he looked at them.

"For the halls of Valhalla and the Elysian fields await me when I die. I'd just die in honor and servitude."

"Nah, you ain't going to Ulysees, we are both hell-bound." Then he looked at his henchmen. "Attack, rip his head off his body and feed it to the birds. Korvus sends his greetings."

"What?" was the last thing I heard Gunnar said and battle was joined, my curious and fearful eyes watching from the top of the rock.

Gunnar took the men with calculated precision and mechanical accuracy, throwing his axe at the wolf-man at the front of the line, taking out his life without as much as a whimper.

He removed the axe and beckoned to the others, his claw to the ready. The other wolves were bigger and looked scarier, but Gunnar used his size to his advantage, slipping and sliding out of their reach. He ran forward to the direction of the second one, switching lane at the last moment to lurge at an unsuspecting one.

He changed lanes and broke into a slide, stretching out his clawy arms to the wolf's throat. He slid right under it and his throat came free in his hands, staining the fur with heavy blood. The wolf transformed to human form quickly, holding his threat and Gunnar slammed the handle of the axe to his nape again, dislocating his neck and finally killing him.

The man crumpled to the ground and Gunnar instantly switched to the next man on the list, not even giving them time to react. The man seemed to be in a ready position and pounced on Gunnar who slid on the floor and gave the man a sliding kick on the hind legs, making the wolf sprawl on the floor. Gunnar jumped and brought the axe down in a violent crash against his skull; his last roar filling the morning air.

He yanked the axe open from his head and threw it violently towards the rock, catching another wolf fair and square in the back. His cloth was already smeared and he was covered in blood and chopped parts, his eyes scanning the remaining five wolves.

"You are a man of skill, I give that to you. But this doesn't have to end this way."

Gunnar sneered, a smile flashing on his face, but the smile disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. "Why don't you take your minions and turn back? And I promise I will leave you unscathed. You have my word."

****

After more than thirty minutes of fighting, lashing, swinging and clawing, Gunnar had decreased the number of the remaining men to just two, his shaking hands holding the hilt of the axe firmly. Blood ran down his forehead from a nasty gash that was placed there by one of his opponents. He had suffered different cuts and wounds, and there were multiple openings on his body, through which blood flowed out.

"You are weak now, we can still resolve this without much blood," the other man implored.

"Like I said earlier, you talk too much," Gunnar replied weakly.

"I would really hate for you to die, but then, I can't let the death of my men go unpunished."

Gunnar ignored the men and walked slowly to me, my vision already blurry with tears and he gave me a necklace, a key hanging at it's anchor. He spoke to me, his voice barely above a whisper. "This key has the answer to all your questions, even the one you have not asked."

I held him firmly, "I don't want you to go back there." He reciprocated the hug and turned my eyes to the roaring body of water. "Remember the swimming lessons we took?"

I understood, but there was no way I was letting him go. I would rather sacrifice myself to those that wanted me than leave him at their mercy. "No dad, I would never let you go."

He looked at me intently, his face filled with emotion, while the snarling of the wolf reminded us of it's presence, making me wonder why they have not attacked yet. "I'm sorry Princess, you have made me a very happy man indeed and I hope you'll find a place in your heart to forgive me after everything I have done."

"You have done nothing to me, Father." I repeated, desperate and frantic.

Holding the key firmly, he handed it over to me again, "Remember, the key," and I slowly felt his arms disengaging from me, as he walked back slowly.

"Thank you for allowing me speak with her. I will grant you the mercy of a fast, painless death because of that."

"Well, I hope you said your last prayers and wishes too, both of you."

Gunnar picked up his axe and started walking towards them, the trio eventually forming a circular motion on one another. "How much did Korvus pay you?"

"Pay me? You are the one that betrayed a mission. You had only one job, Gunnar, one f*cking job, and you decided to play kite with it. And now, here we are."

"I know you've always wanted my head, life just gave you the proper opportunity to do so."

"Guilty as accused, but I will finally satisfy my craving today," he said and charged towards Gunnar like a mad man. Gunnar swung his ax but the man went lower, catching him in his legs and roughing him in the dirt.

The second wolf leapt over to where he was lying and delivered a heavy swipe across his face, blood spilling out.

With the last strength in him, he swung wildly and cleared enough space for himself, rising up and looking at me. Without warning, he took the axe and swung it in my direction, the hilt hitting me square in the stomach and sending me sprawling to the back.