Chapter Text
“I must know, what is your name warrior?”
Thorkell’s voice cut through the hazy pained fog that threatened to consume me. Each breath felt like it took more and more effort than the last, one of my ribs had to have broken. That would be my luck though wouldn’t it? I clenched my arm, I could feel my muscles straining to stay up. My daggers suddenly feel all too heavy, but I couldn’t give in. The stiff wood of the bridge dug into my back- it was the only thing keeping my body from crumpling in on itself.
“Thorfinn,” I managed to spit out, “son of Thors.” I swallowed down the encroaching metallic taste in the back of my throat. This wasn’t looking good at all. I heard the giant man splutter, his frame buffering for a split second.
“Son of Thors? Hey when you say that you wouldn’t mean-”
It was now or never. Askeladd had called for a retreat. If I waited any longer the old bastard would have no problem leaving me behind. A rush of adrenaline burned my chest and the hot liquid flowed through my veins. I couldn’t let that happen. Mustering up all the strength in my body I pivoted on my toes and made a running leap for the edge of the bridge. Hoisting myself up- ignoring the way my shoulder screamed at me for putting weight on it so soon after Thorkell had ripped it from its socket- I launched myself over the ledge and plummeted straight into the icy river below.
As soon as my body hit the water I regretted ever jumping in. A different type of pain seeped its way into my bones. My entire body burned, a dark cloud plumed right in front of my face. Blood? My blood. I needed to surface- now.
Of course that was easier said than done. I lifted my arms up towards what I thought was the surface, but I couldn’t be sure, my head…my entire body felt like I was sinking further and further down towards the river bed. I pushed down, trying to push my body up only for the searing pain in my shoulder to shoot down my spine like fire. I couldn’t help the short scream that ripped itself from my throat. A trail of bubbles flying past my face and blocking out even more from my already cloudy vision.
Damn damn damn damn damn! Damn it all!
I can’t die here! I can’t die, not until the old bastard’s dead. Gritting my teeth- ignoring how they seemed to creek as I did so- I ignored the pain and pushed my arms out, batting away the water around me and propelling me forward.
I don’t know how long I kept it up for. What direction even was the shore? As I swam each stroke felt like ten pounds being added to my body. My vision, blackness encroached just out of the corners of my peripheral, flickered in and out. I couldn’t die. If I died now I wouldn’t even be sent to Valhalla. I need to keep going. I need to live. I am going to live.
–
“Hey Asgeir, did you see the kid resurface anywhere?” Thorkell turned to his second in command, the stoic man paused from wrapping bandages around Thorkell’s mangled hand, and with a huff he turned to look over the ledge where the kid- son of Thors he’d called himself- had jumped not even fifteen minutes ago.
“Nah, can’t see anything. But honestly, with his injuries? I’d be surprised if he didn’t knock himself out as soon as he hit the water.” He turned his gaze back to the hand he was still bandaging and pulled the material taught and securing the ends. “We’ll probably find his body someways downstream. Poor kid probably drowned by now.”
“No.”
“Sir?”
Thorkell took his hand from Asgeir’s grip, clenching his fist he stared at the two bandaged stumps where his fingers used to be.
“The kids not dead. No way. Did you see the look in his eyes?” The tall brute stood up a crazed glint in his eyes. He turned towards the water, peering over the edge to look at the rushing river below, a wild grin stretched across his face. “That kid's got the look of a warrior.”