vikingmorphs

[vikingmorphs]

Two Years Earlier: Fatherless

He'd gone to get her a husband. 

He'd ignored her protests that she didn't WANT a husband.

It had been four months and he wasn't back.

"Niece." Earl Beren told her, as she stood before him, back straight, posture perfect, weapons sharpened and oiled, not a hair out of place. 

"Lord Uncle. Cousin." She said, nodding to both him and Jake, who stood behind his father's shoulder.

"We share your sorrow over the loss of our brother, your fa-" Earl Beren began, but Rachel interrupted.

"His journey's gone long. We don't know he's dead." Rachel said sharply. "I don't accept that he would die in such a stupid mission as finding me a groom."

The Earl shook his head. "Nevertheless, Rachel, we must face the facts that you must be married off. With the loss of Tom from the family, we have to face the fact that the succession of the family must be continued."

"Sadler's not married." Rachel countered. 

"Sadler's not well. You fight, you may die. We're working on a marriage for Jake, but so too must we have you wed and bedded. And in a year, your elder sister, and Brooke and Justin also." The Earl said calmly, ignoring the building fury on Rachel's face. 

"I am no prize mare to be bred! I am a fighter!" She cried.

"Women fight on the battlefield and in childbed. And sometimes they get up from childbed and fight again on the battlefield. Your duty to the family comes before your wish for glory."

"My wish for Valhalla!"

"You swore to obey me on your ring, Rachel!" The Earl thundered. 

She touched her ring and hesitated before sighing and bowing her head. "So I did. I'll wed, then. But. I want a fair time to give my father a chance to return home with his choice, as is his right. If he is embroiled in discussions, I don't want him shamed by coming home to a daughter with a husband."

The Earl considered this and sighed. "You have another six months for my brother to return, niece. Then you wed who I say."

[vikingmorphs]

Three Years Earlier: The First Raid

Thirteen and a real shield maiden on a real raiding trip. Rachel was vibrating with happiness on the boat, sitting next to her father, who laughed uproariously when he noticed.

"The sight of land has brought the taste of blood to your mouth, hasn't it?" Danyel said fondly, ruffling the hair of his eldest child, the only one that was following him down the path of blades and violence. And to think he'd been disappointed when the child Naomi had first presented him with had been a girl. What son could match this girls joyous battle hunger?

Still, she was a girl, and the Earl had bade him to find the right match for her. His brother had reminded him of his duty to the family, given that they were the ruling family of their lands. 

He'd have to make sure the man he found for Rachel would be one who brought her greatness.

"It's been forever since we set off!" Rachel said, fetching a stone out to make sure her weapons were properly sharpened. She didn't intend to shame her father, who had vouched for her capacity to fight in a raid at her age.

Another warrior chuckled. "Remind us not to take you on a truly long voyage one day, little one. You might just kill your crewmates out of frustration."

"Will not!" Rachel retorted, glaring, the other warrior only laughing more at her fierce reaction.

They reached land soon enough, and left the ship to find the plunder they sought.

It wasn't what Rachel had thought. After an initial thrilling battle with a man armed, a man to truly fight, a man she slaughtered all on her own, she faced a man who had nothing more then a knife. A man with no armour, no training.

The stink of his guts was worse then she'd ever imagined.

Quietly, she found a place in the bushes to be ill.

[vikingmorphs]

The Pool

With the power gifted to them, Ax-as-Tobias made them all touch and absorb the 'essence' of a rat that had been the first small creature to cross their paths.

The journey to this pool took less then half an hour. "This is the only entrance I have found, there's not been much I could do on my own." Ax-as-Tobias told them, the cave entrance just barely visible. He had them duck around the other side of a slope and turn into the rodents then, after scanning the area for what he called 'tiny magical recording devices.'

It was an entirely unnerving experience, they all agreed later, their bodies  all taking different routes to reach the same shapes. Rachel's face had burst outward and become rattish before anything else changed. Tobias shrank before anything else became different. Cassie's skin sprouted fur first, while Jake gained a tail before anything else. Marco, who'd still had a hard time believing this was even possible, felt his organs shrink and change before anything more happened, something impossible even for him to deny.

<Are you all ready? It's not to late to back out.> Ax asked, nose twitching as he surveyed the five mostly-morphed creature before him.

<We're fine.> Jake said shortly.

<Let's do it!> Rachel agreed.

Six brown rats surged out from behind the hill and followed the lead rat to a cave entrance that sloped sharply downwards.

There were two guards, but they were uninterested in rodents.

A stink wafted up from before them, and they heard distant screams. They scurried onwards.

There were huge monstrous lizards acting as guards a little ways on, but they didn't seem to notice the rats. <Hork-Bajir.> Ax explained. <Their sight isn't very good, they won't have seen us.>

A horrendous creature much like a gigantic toothsome maggot tried to eat Rachel, who squeaked angrily and evaded the mouth that crashed down where she had just been. <That's a taxxon.> Ax told her.

<That's dead meat, once I'm not a meagre creature like this any longer!> She retorted angrily.

They reached the Pool not longer after.

It was an awful place, one that needed destruction sooner rather then later. Cages full of despairing people who screamed, wept, and worse. A pool of water with unnaturally straight walls. No, it wasn't water. It was something grey with an odd consistency, and things showed breaching the top of it at times. Yeerks.

On the far side, away from the cages, there was a person they knew. Two, actually, since they were familiar with the wife of Hedrick Chapman, as well as the man himself. Though they were not so familiar with the two as they suddenly were now, with the floor of this cave used as a marital bed.  Tobias turned away and caught sight of a struggling man being pulled along by two 'hork-bajir.'

"The gods damn this place! The gods damn you! This shall not last!" Screamed a voice that Jake knew too well, and with a despairing cry in thought-speak, Jake saw his brother be dragged towards the pool, his head forced to the water. His brother stood, shook out his robes, and nodded to the guards. 

<I'll kill them! I'll kill them all!> Jake howled, and would have demorphed to attack, but the second it was noticed that his ears shrank somewhat, Cassie bit down on his tail hard, causing him to let out a rattish noise of pain.

<You will leave with us and we will come up with a plan of action to drive these creatures from our home.> She said crisply, releasing his tail and going in front of him to meet him eye to eye. 

<I will save him. And I'll destroy them.> Jake said and turned to look at Ax. <We're leaving. Now. And tomorrow, we visit Cassie's parents.>

<Yes, Prince Jake.>

They started to leave, but one of them didn't move. Rachel returned and nudged Tobias, who stared at the cages. <We'll be back.> She promised.

<They deserve freedom.> He said, not meaning for her to hear.

<They deserve a chance, that's all anyone ever gets. Come on.> She ordered him, and this time he turned and joined with the group.

The guards were not so willing to ignore a large group of rats leaving together a second time, so soon after they'd gone in. "Let's destroy them, to be on the safe side." One said to the other, who agreed and pulled out something strange. It had a handle that fit in his hand well, and a oddly formed attachment to that handle, and it was nothing like any but Ax has ever seen.

<Run!> Ax ordered.

<Run? From wh-> Marco started to demand, and then his tail was burned off by the burn of a dracon beam.

Then he ran. They all did. Fast and hard, followed by shot after shot until they'd left the pool far behind.

And, once sure they were safe, they demorphed, with ten minutes to spare, according to Ax. They were nude, but no one other then Tobias cared much. The slave curled up and turned away from the group. Jake snarled and hit a nearby tree until his knuckles bled. Cassie lay back on the grass and closed her eyes, listening to something no one else could hear. Marco and Rachel looked at each other, and then at Ax.

"So it's true." Marco finally conceded. "And we can take these creatures and destroy them?"

Ax's eyes, split between looking at Cassie, Jake, and them, seemed uncertain. <I doubt it. But it's better to work as a group, then for me to give up and integrate with human society as much as I can, as I have been doing.>

"We'll win. The gods are on our side. And if we lose, Odin will choose us to fight for him every time." Rachel said, standing up and lifting her chin proudly, wearing her nudity as armor.

"I will destroy all of them." Jake growled.

"The gods bless our attempts." Cassie said serenely.

"It's just not right." Tobias muttered to the forest, not looking at any of them.

[vikingmorphs]

Acquiring the Power

The Andalite explained the power he meant. <I can give you a power to morph into  any creature you choose. To change your bodies and become any other species. Any animal.>

“Any animal?” Tobias echoed, just before Cassie spoke with the same hungry look in her eyes as he had in his.

“How?”

Ax held up the box. <This can give you that power. There are dangers. Limits.>

“We don’t care about dangers, nor do we listen to limits.” Rachel snapped.

<If you stay in one shape past two hours, you can never leave that shape again.> Ax said simply, and Rachel’s mouth snapped shut. <You can ignore the limits, but it will be to your benefit to listen.>

“Whatever perils, whatever limits, we accept this power. We must defend our people against this threat.” Jake decided.

Marco frowned and put a hand on Jake’s arm. “We should hear the dangers first.”

“Are you scared?” Jake challenged, glaring, and Marco backed down but still squared his shoulders.

“Should we not be? These creatures, if they’re real, are taking our comrades. Our family.” There was something about the way he said that...

“You think you know someone with a yeerk.” Rachel said, staring at him. Now all eyes were on Marco.

“No,” he lied, glaring at Rachel. “I’m just concerned about those that you’re responsible for, Jake.” He said, turning his gaze to his best friend.

“...Marco. Do you suspect someone?” Jake asked quietly, reaching out and touching Marco’s ring in an unspoken command to speak the truth.

Marco groaned, then took a step back and pushed Rachel’s slave between him and Jake. “It might just be the effect of using magic on a man’s mind, we’re not made for that sort of thing. But-”

“Mag- do you mean TOM!?” Jake demanded, hand going to the hilt of his knife, and Rachel jerking on the leash to pull Tobias out of the way of her suddenly furious cousin.

The unfortunate Marco, who’d probably seen this coming, held up his hands. “Now Jake, let’s be reasonable about this, you’re the one who made me say anything, and now you’re assuming that’s who I meant without even giving me a chance to say if it’s not!”

Jake paused, his half-unsheathed knife sliding back into the scabbard. “So it’s not him, then?”

Marco chewed his lip for a second and then sighed, his hands still up in self-defence. “I don’t even believe this is real, I wanna point out. But. If it is... it would explain him coming back to claim the title after he gave up his - Jake, stop!”

Jake slashed at his older friend, who yanked out his own knife in self defence.

“He had murder in his eyes when you weren’t looking, Jake.” Marco said, not without some pity as he warded off a second blow.

“Take it back!” Jake shouted and Marco slammed the butt of his knife into Jake’s wrist.

“If you attack me again, Jake, I will actually hurt you.” Marco warned him as Jake looked at him in shock. “Whether or not Tom is one of these Controllers remains to be seen. But he’s the most likely candidate I can think of. You can believe it or not.”

“He would never let that happen to him.” Jake said coldly, but seemed to be calming down.

“He might not have had much choice.” Marco and Jake stared at each other, until Jake’s shoulders relaxed. Then Marco stooped and grabbed Jake’s knife, handing it to him hilt-first. “Don’t make me hit you again, m’lord.” He said with a humourless half-smile.

<I had a brother I thought the galaxy of as well, Prince Jake. I thought he could do no wrong. Brothers are mighty things before you see their mortality.> Ax told Jake, his eyestalks twisting around to look at the pile of dirt before flicking to Cassie when she spoke.

“If we’re done with this nonsense?” She said primly, sniffing. “Ax, I believe there was something about shapeshifting and that box? May we get on with it?”

The box was held out, balancing on Ax’s palm. <All of you, put one hand on a side.> Cassie’s hand was on it first, followed by Tobias’ and then by Rachel’s. Jake’s hand went on the top, and he looked at Marco who sighed and touched the remaining side.

And then a strange feeling ran through them, starting at their palms and running through their entire bodies, like a gentle electrocution.

Ax took the box away and stored it back in his home before they’d all recovered from the odd sensation.

“That’s... it?” Tobias asked, looking at Ax with a wondering expression.

<That is it. Give me your hand, Tobias.> Tobias complied without hesitation. <To acquire something, you simply touch them, like this,> Ax explained as his hand touched Tobias’s hand, <and concentrate on who they are. What they are. They will become docile for a short time, and you will take their D... take their essence into yourself. And then, later....> He pulled his hand back from Tobias’ and concentrated, and began to change. This time not into the Ax they knew so well, but into the form of the amazed slave before him. “You can become them.”

[vikingmorphs]

[Guess which blog has a new theme courtesy of the wonderful bunnypunker? This one does!]

[vikingmorphs]

An Explanation

They left Cassandra’s home, left the village, Ax leading the way, half naked and in human form once more.

Cassandra followed demurely behind him, cloak brushing on the ground. Jake flanked her protectively and Rachel and Marco trailed after, neither of them easy with trusting the otherworldly creature.

For once, Tobias showed not even the slightest amount of unwillingness to follow at Rachel’s heel, the rope between his neck and her hand slack.

Ax led them out past the village, past the well-worn paths, through the forest until they were so deep in there was only the sparest amounts of signs that humans and human-shaped creatures ever came this far.

There was a meadow, and in that meadow, a pile of freshly overturned earth near a strange structure made out of odd materials, which Ax went inside. The humans clustered together, Rachel holding the leash tight to prevent Tobias from following Ax, after seeing him lift a foot to follow the thing.

“Do not fear.” Cassandra said calmly. “He made a promise to give a gift to humans who asked for it. The gods have told me they have set this in motion.”

Ax made a rude noise as he emerged, a small blue object in hand, back in his native shape. <Your ‘gods’ have done nothing. My brother was a soft touch and oddly fond of your planet from the moment he saw it. I should never have agreed to his mad request.>

Rachel, Marco and Jake all bristled at the tone in which Ax said ‘your gods’ and at the insult implicit. Cassandra waved them down. “What is it that he told you to give us? That?”

<Something you don’t know, Seer?> He said sharply, main eyes focused on her, one stalk eye scanning the rest of the group, and the fourth looking behind him towards his strange home.

“The gods don’t spoonfeed their people, creature. Have you decided to honor your promise or not?” She said, her own tone suddenly just as sharp.

He glared and then trotted towards them. <This is an Esca--. This is a blue box. If you are ready to fight and defend your people, this can give you power to help with that fight.>

“Of course we’re ready to fight.” Rachel said without hesitation.

“Can we actually get specific information on this mysterious threat?” Marco said, putting a hand on Rachel’s arm lest she attempt to eat the blue thing and gain it’s power.

<The Yeerks are on your world.>

“Yeerks?” Jake asked.

<Yeerks are...> Ax hesitated. Then he closed his eyes in concentration and an image appeared in each of their heads. A small form, green and gray, entirely unthreatening and disgusting. Like a slug.

“Thats it?” Rachel asked.

<You don’t understand. By themselves, they are weak and easily killed. They have no body, like yours or mine. They live in the bodies of other species, they take over their bodies and thoughts. They could be any one of the people you know. If I hadn’t watched you all, to make sure you never fed as a Human-Controller would, you could be one.>

“Human-Controller?” Tobias questioned.

<It makes referring to hosts simpler.>

“This isn’t real.” Marco said firmly. “The gods are testing us, or it’s Loki playing a trick. There’s no proof of these yorks.”

<You wish for proof?> The three eyes Ax had just focused on Marco were narrowed, the Andalite clearly affronted by his doubt, even though he still doubted the wisdom of his own actions.

“It’d be nice.” Marco drawled, his own eyes cold and unfriendly.

Ax waited a second, and then, just as Jake opened his mouth to assert his authority once more, said <You have noticed of late that Hedrick Chapman has behaved slightly differently?>

“No.” Marco scoffed, rolling his eyes.

“Yes,” Cassie and Rachel said at the same time, Rachel being more emphatic.

Jake just ‘hmm’ed.

“He married off Melissa!” Rachel said at that, a curl of her lips twisting her pretty face.

“She was his daughter, he had a right.” Jake told her, but sounded trouble. Hedrick’s habit of doting on his daughter was well known, and the marriage, unwelcome to her, had come as a surprise.

“He SWORE any husband he chose would be agreeable to her as well! On his ring, he swore!” Rachel smacked her own for emphasis. “And she told him she would not take this man, but they were wed regardless!”

“He’s the same as ever in battle, in planning, and in discussion over food.” Marco argued.

<The goal of the yeerk is to blend in until conditions are optimal for a more aggressive approach.> Ax pointed out, holding the cube carefully in his delicate hands.

“A father lying to his daughter is not proof.” Jake said, his brow creased with thought.

“You mentioned that they feed, Ax. I assume there’s a specific way they eat that normal people don’t?” Cassandra inquired, her hood still shadowing her face.

Ax’s tail swished back and forth.

“Well?” Marco demanded after half a minute. “How do they eat? What do they eat?”

<Be patient. I’m trying to think of how to explain it in a manner simple enough for you to comprehend.> His eyestalks twitched and another half minute went by before he finally continued. <They need the sun of their home to live. So they have a tiny piece of their sun to sustain them. They need to swim in their own forms in special liquid from their realm under the tiny piece of their sun. And they need to do this once every three days.>

“So, show us this pool they swim in under the light of their sun.” Tobias suggested.

Rachel’s whole face lit up with enthusiasm. “Yes! Who needs whatever that box can give us? We’ll take the warriors of the town and mount an assault!”

“On streaks of slime in people’s heads? Don’t speak nonsense.” Marco ducked the swing of her fist. “And don’t hit me for telling the truth! We’re both too junior to be taken seriously, especially with something like this. Everyone’s unsure about taking Jake seriously as earl-”

“Thanks.” Jake said sourly.

“No problem. Cassandra is a Seeress, not a commander, and young enough that it could be argued successfully that speaking to the gods has driven her mad. It’s us on our own, if this is true, and we’ll need every advantage we can get.”

“He’s right. Show us the Pool, Ax.” Jake was authoritative and Ax’s stalk eyes turned to him.

<Prince Jake,> the blue creature hesitated, and touched the ring he’d replaced on his arm. <It will not be safe.>

“Nothing ever is. But if we die, we drink with Odin Allfather tonight.”

<I will show you an entrance, but we should not enter.> Ax hesitated. <Not.... as ourselves.>

[vikingmorphs]

One Year Earlier: Succession

The Earl was dead and the sons watched the flames devour the ship.

Tom’s eyes and lips were stained black now. When Jake looked aside at his elder brother, he saw that so too were his ears.

“We should speak.” Tom told him, the smell of burning flesh reaching them.

Jake grunted agreement and went with Tom a little ways off from the crowd.

They studied each other, studied the differences that a years time had wrought.

“I was hasty in leaving.” Tom finally spoke, spreading his arms. “I was rebellious and angry, and I see now that my place is here, that you’re too young to become Earl.” Tom sighed heavily. “So I will have to-”

“Brother, I appreciate your concern. But I am Earl. No one will accept you as their liege lord, not a man among them will swear to you. You’d start a riot, and then I or whoever killed me would still be Earl. But not you.” Jake was somber, his gaze resting on the burning ship that his father’s body was burning in.

This let him miss the twisted mask of fury that Tom’s face had turned into. “But-”

“You spoke true a year ago. This is your path. Now that you’ve started to walk it, our people will never accept you now that you’ve started the path of magic.” Jake turned to his brother, and Tom’s face had smoothed out into calmness. “Know there will always be a place for you at my hearth. You’re my brother. But for now, Tom... stay. Feast. And then go back to your new life. You sacrificed the role of the heir when you left.”

“You’re right. I just worry for you, little brother.” Tom said, laughing and swinging an arm around Jake’s shoulder. “Let’s drink some ale for Father’s memory.”

Marco watched them walk off from where he stood in the crowd, eyes narrowed, having watched the two of them speaking the entire time.

[vikingmorphs]

Two Years Earlier: The Heir

  Tom tossed a small stick up in the air and caught it, lounging against the wall. He was waiting for his turn to approach the Earl.

Jake stood next to him, mimicking his posture. “So, what are you talking to Father about?” He asked, keeping his voice low, but unable to keep himself from asking the question.

“You’ll see, little brother.” Tom looked his brother over and then sighed, ruffling Jake’s hair. “You’ll have to do. Try not to mess up too badly, little man, but I just don’t find the idea of-”

“Tom, any time now.” Their father snapped, having finished his prior decision.

Jake followed in Tom’s wake as he approached their father, stopping at the front of the crowd. He went no further, as Earl Beren had been in a perpetually foul mood of late.

“Father, I wish to inform you that I am forsaking my claim to your throne in favour of my younger brother Jake.”

The mentioned brother’s jaw hung open. The crowd filling the gathering-place where the Earl held court broke out in shocked gabble. The only ones who did not have much in the way of reactions were Earl Beren and his wife who sat silently beside him.

“Silence!” The Earl finally bellowed. “What reason have you, son, for throwing away your birthright?”

“The gods have called me to their service, Father. Like Odin, I will learn and walk the steps of magic.”

Jake's jaw was practically unhinged.

A sullen muttering began to fill the room again.

“When you were born, the midwife took with a sudden trance and told us that you would use magic, in the tones of one speaking for the gods.” Jean said, touching her belly lightly.

“I know.”

Jean’s look was sharp. “You do not, we never told you. We didn’t want to encourage such foolishness in a son.”

“And yet I know that midwife was old Ellae, and that I am already hip-deep in foolishness.” Tom said calmly.

“I won’t permit this.” The Earl said, getting to his feet.

Tom raised his chin. “This isn’t a request, Father. I am going to go and learn more about my chosen trade. I am a man, and I may choose to follow my fate.” He took the ring from his arm and cast it to the ground. “Jake is your heir now.”

And then he left, and didn’t look back, even when Jake shouted for him to stop.

[vikingmorphs]

Three Years Earlier: The Brothers

The Heir and the Spare. Jake was acutely aware of which one he was.

It’s not like he wanted to inherit the title from Earl Beren. Or that he begrudged Tom his rights. But a man (and at 13, he was a man) got tired of being eternally second to his older brother. Of always being compared and coming up second.

Marco wasn’t even here, he’d gone home to help his father with the farming.So Jake had no one to distract him from his sulking with jokes and insults.

“There you are, little man. Let’s practice your sword skills.” Tom interrupted his brother’s sulking, two swords in hand, his other hand landing heavily on his brother’s shoulder.

“I’m not little.” Jake grumbled, but eagerly accepted his sword from Tom and followed him outside.

That was something else, he considered as he faced off against his brother. This may be as close to real combat as he’d really get. Beren preferred to keep his heirs close to home and safe from risk.

His cousin, Rachel, was on a raiding party right at this moment, and Jake was green with envy. She’d not been shy in her elated gloating either. The young shield maiden was probably drenched in blood and glory right now.

(A long way away, Rachel puked noisily into a bush, her first kill lying on the ground behind her, his guts spilling out of his stomach. The noise was dreadful.)

Sword hit sheild. Again, again, again. “Focus, Jake. I’m not always going to go so easy on you.” Tom warned. “You want me to send you out on raids when I’m earl? You’ll have to be an impressive warrior.”

With a grin and a war cry, energized by that promise, Jake threw himself into the practice bout.

[vikingmorphs]

The Honor of a Creature

Ax was held by Marco and Rachel, and was struggling like a mad thing.

“He’s not of Midgard? What is he?” Jake questioned sharply, on his feet now and staring in alarm at the 'man' he'd trusted.

“The gods have told us that if we hold him long enough, his true nature would reveal itself.” Cassandra told him as Rachel jerked the axe off of Ax’s back and tossed it to the side, and Marco stripped him of a knife.

“What are you?” Someone asked, and Jake was surprised to see it was the slave, standing in front of the creature he had considered one of his most trusted guards.

Ax didn’t answer, just thrashed and made Marco and Rachel hold onto him all the more firmly.

“What are you?” The slave repeated.

“I am - I’m just like the rest of you, I don’t know what she’s talking about.” He said finally, calming down. Trying deception now, too late for them to believe him.

“If you really were, you wouldn’t have bolted. What are you?” Jake said, stepping up besides the slave.

“I thought you would act on her baseless accusations before-”

“The gods saw you for what you are, now tell us.” Jake interrupted, drawing his sword and just barely keeping himself from putting it to Ax’s throat. For one, he didn’t know if he wouldn’t slit the throat at the first opportunity, or if the creature would slit its own throat rather than speak the truth.

“We will hold you here until you have no choice to show us.” Cassandra said, returning to her seat and folding her hands. “So, creature, you may as well tell us what we face now.”

It took more than an hour, during which Ax fought and screamed and pleaded.

Finally he gave up. “Fine. Fine, you dull, witless creatures want the truth so badly? Here’s the truth.”

And nothing seemed to happen for long, tension-filled moments. Then two extra eyes opened on his forehead, and Jake jumped backwards. The eyes seemed to push forwards, becoming two moving tendrils of flesh. His hair started to turn blue, his beard became thicker and covered more and more of his face. Marco and Rachel backed away now. Changes happened faster and faster. Soon his clothes were falling off or tearing, two extra sets of legs burst from his torso, his hands had too many fingers. His mouth seemed to be sewn up and vanish, even has his nose flattened into strange vertical nostrils. And last of all, and most terrifying of all, a large and powerful tail drew, tipped by a viciously sharp blade.

The slave stood frozen, staring at the thing. “You’re incredible.”

<I’m an Andalite.>

They all stared at the creature, with various levels of shock. They hadn’t heard the voice, not exactly. It had simply been inside their heads.

Cassandra was the one to break the silence. “You’re our only hope to help defend those we love. Tell us what we’re defending them from.”

<No.>

Cassandra went quiet for a second, then went to her feet, pushing Tobias gently out of her way and standing before the thing, ignoring both Rachel and Jake’s cries of alarm. She pushed her hood back and met the gaze of his main eyes. “You made a promise. Honor it.”

<How do-> Ax’s eyes had gone wide, and his tail twitched, as if he’d been tempted to swing it and hit the unarmed girl.

“The Gods know, not I. Though you wore no ring at the time, there is a promise on you that you owe it to a fallen comrade to honor.”

<None of you are worthy.>

“By whose standard?”

<What I promised to do is illegal.>

“And yet you promised.” Cassandra pointed out, and his tail did strike then, stopping just barely before slitting her throat. She didn’t move. “You promised, and then he died. Did his honor and yours mean so little to you?”

<You have no right to speak of our honor!>

“Ax, you swore a vow to obey me in all things, and one of my orders was to respect the Seer. If you don’t keep that vow, if you don’t keep this promise, how can you claim to have any honour at all?” Jake finally spoke again, just barely getting over the shock of the true nature of the man he’d had at his back.

Ax kept meeting the eyes of the strange Seer who knew too much and claimed ‘gods’ had told her and looked at the humans before him with his stalk-eyes. The leader who’d never wanted power and gotten it anyways. The warrior-girl, who had already pushed the slave who’d been so fascinated behind her for safety’s sake. The warrior and tactician, who was watching the blade at the Seer’s throat with calculating eyes.

Ax pulled his tail back. <I have my honor. But you do not know what you are volunteering for.>

[vikingmorphs]

I don’t even watch Vikings but I am into Vikingmorphs.

[vikingmorphs]

Summoned by the Seeress

"Lord Cousin?" Jake looked up from the game he played with Ax.

"Yes, Rachel?"

Her slave was still tied by the leash, and stood just behind her. "Cassandra requests you to come to her immediately, with Marco and your bodyguard for company."

He sat up a little straighter. "This is an oddly specific request on who she wishes to attend her."

"Jake, stop acting like you don't have a boner for our Seer, and get moving."

"Rachel, that's not how a warrior should address her-" Ax began, but was silenced with a hand on his arm.

"Alright Rachel, go and tell her we will be there soon." Jake told her, and she grinned and nodded before heading back to the tent of the Seer.

"I will fetch Marco for you, Prince Jake."

"I'm not a Prince you know, Ax, I'm an Earl."

"I'm aware of that, Prince Jake."

"...Alright." Jake watched as Ax trotted out of the room, his signature weapon strapped to his back.

When he got to the tent, Cassandra and Rachel were sitting around a table with five places set out. Rachel's slave sat at her feet, his leash tied around the back of her chair, his knees held to his chest, and the barest hint of a pout on his face.

"How's this working out?" He asked, taking a seat besides Cassandra, looking at his cousin, and not at the woman who haunted his dreams in a way that was probably very disrespectful to her station as a conduit to the gods. 

Even without examining her, he knew how she looked. A cloak over her short curly hair, her lips, dark as any seidr's, blending into her dark brown skin, and her bright brown eyes just barely able to be seen with the shadow cast by the hood.

"What?" Rachel asked, looking confused.

"The slave, cousin."

"Oh, fine. He's learning." She scratched the dirty blond hair of the boy at her feet idly. He rolled his eyes, forgetting that while Rachel couldn't see his face, Jake was able to. He caught Jake's gaze and paled in alarm. Jake winked, and changed the subject of the conversation.

Marco and Ax showed up. Cassie lifted a hand as they entered. "Close and bar the door. Did you make sure no one was around before entering?" 

The door was closed by Marco and Ax confirmed that the building was secure.

"What's this about, Volva Cassandra?" Jake asked, putting his hands on the table and leaning forwards as Marco and Ax took their seats. 

"The gods have spoken to me." She said, her voice rich and serious, hood shadowing her face. "The gods have told me we have a great destiny, one which may lead us all to Valhalla. The gods have told me there is a great threat in our lands."

Rachel straightened, blue eyes bright. "We will fight it! What threat is coming, Cassandra? What do the gods say threaten us?"

As she spoke, Jake looked around. The shield maiden was more then happy to have a new glorious chance at Valhalla, and her slave was still sullen, but interested in what he was overhearing. His warrior friend Marco, golden skin looking darker then usual in the dim lighting of the Seeress' home, and his face was calculating, trying to figure out what was posing a threat to the land, that was so dangerous as to create such a magnificant destiny for them. Cassandra was serious and her eyes were fixed on... Ax.

Who looked faintly alarmed, and as serious as Jake had ever seen him.

"The gods say this is not something they have knowledge of. The gods say this is not of Midgard." She stood and point at Ax. "The gods say you are not of Midgard, nor of any realm they know of."

Ax stood, paler then his brown skin had ever been before, and attempted to bolt from the room.

[vikingmorphs]

Who Keeps The Hooded Hawk

"I'm keeping him, lord." Rachel said, putting one hand on her hip and glaring at her sworn lord and cousin.

"Rachel, the traders want slaves, and only five survived the journey home, you can't have him. Take some gold, some jewelry, but not the slave."

A rude noise filled the hall. "I have jewelry enough for my vanity, and gold aplenty." She considered for a second, sighed, tossed her hair. "I'll forego the full value of my part of the bounty in order to have him."

Someone - Marco, she saw when she looked, of course it was Marco - whistled. "Have you even sampled his charms yet? That's more money then I'd pay to kiss the hand of the prettiest whore in the land."

"And yet still not as much as she would require to enter the same room as you!" Rachel drawled. "He's clever as well as pretty, and he's mine."

"He's not yours until I say he is."  Jake reminded her, a certain coolness on his face. "But you, Rachel, you are my liege woman, you are mine to command. You wear my ring."

Her hand went to the arm the ring decorated, her fingers touching the metal heated by contact with her flesh. "I am. And I respect your word. But I want him." She said simply, meeting his eyes.

Jake looked at the monk. He looked about as old as the rest of the inner circle that surrounded him, which meant he was young. His eyes were wide, and he seemed to take in everything around him, though his face was carefully blank of emotion. The rope leash that Rachel held the end of hung around a neck reddened by the pulling back and forth he had no doubt been subjected to by his captors.

His hair looked ridiculous, but he thought he had an idea what drew Rachel to this captive. 

His most trusted warrior leaned forwards. "She'd owe you a favour above and beyond her oaths, Prince Jake, and that's nothing to sneeze at with one such as this."

Jake looked sidelong at his guard. Having come to him from a foreign land, named for his fascination with the traditional Norse weapon, Ax was strange in many ways but wise in the ways of battle and those who fought in battle.

And having something extra to help curb his headstrong cousin might yet prove useful.

"Your request is granted, cousin."

Rachel did not shriek in joy like she had done when they were small, but he recognized the gleeful glint in her eyes all the same. She bowed a little bit, and then jerked the monk closer to her by his leash. "As you will, lord." She said formally, but her tone was warm. Jake inclined his head in turn.

Her captive was lead to the back of the room, her walk more of a strut.

Marco made his way to the Earl, all official business done for now, people dispersing. "Is it wise to give her what she wants?"

"Wiser to give her something small now and keep her from growing discontent." Jake said quietly. 

"A slave that can read and write at the prices the traders are offering right now is not small." Marco pointed out, rolling his eyes.

"A warrior with royal blood who's unhappy with the currently leader is far worse then simply giving her a valuable slave in place of her not inconsiderable share of the spoils." Ax told Marco, grave and dignified.

And then a slaveboy brought in some food and his entire face lit up with joy. "Cook sent you some bunsuh, sir." The boy said with a cheeky grin, and Ax didnt even stop to thank him before grabbing a bun and shoving it at his mouth eagerly.

"Will people ever stop calling them bunsuh around him?" Jake said softly to Marco, though he couldn't repress his chuckles at Ax's ...unique reaction to food.

"Jake, he ate twenty, ate the remains of ten others, took two out of the hands of those still eating them, all while shouting 'bunsuh, bunsuh, more bunsuh.'"

"He was hungry. And unfamiliar with our language." Jake defended his staunchly loyal warrior from another land.

"He ate like ten men." Marco countered.

"Well... Now he eats like only three, so that's alright." They were brought ale, and they toasted one another and started to drink, laughing when Ax tried to drink while still having a piece of the bun hanging out of his mouth.

In the back of the hall, Rachel drank and ate, her newly acquired slave sitting sullenly by her side. "Have a bite," she coaxed, choosing an especially tasty looking bit of chicken and offering it to him.

"I'm not hungry."

"So you're eyes are bigger then your stomach, Tobias? Because you didn't look at anything else the minute the bird was brought in." She teased, leaning in and brushing the meat against his lips.

"You're mine now, well and truly, so you ought to get used to listening to me." She said softly, with gentle menace.

He remembered being captured, opened his mouth, and ate.

"There's a good lad." She cooed, grinning at her success. "At this rate, we'll be friends by the end of the week!"

"May the Lord defend me." He muttered.

"Oh, I think he would have done that back at your place of worship where I captured you if he was going to do that at all!" She pulled his leash tight and put her forehead against his. "You'll see, though. This will all turn out well. Cassandra told me, and she's only ever wrong about what she wears."