Chapter 206 A Page From The Devil's Book
Tyr had orchestrated everything, he had taken a page out of Burger's book and this gave him the edge he needed for this strategy he had utilized.
The sexual assault on Nora was no coincidence, Tyr had manipulated the person responsible in the end, every man was blinded by the promise of gold or success but killing him was never part of the bargain.
Tyr had noticed his lustful eyes trailing Nora everywhere she went and as the Chieftain, Nora had to do everything he said.
But Tyr never had any plans of letting him live, his dying was always part of his plan because he wanted to test the hypothesis of what one would do when their life was saved.
And the result was complete and absolute loyalty, for a sixteen-year-old boy still finding his place in the world.
This was an invaluable experiment that bore fruits.
Tyr's plan was adjusted to fit every new information that he had assimilated, this included Gudrun and Nora's lovers.
He knew strength was not the only thing that made a warrior, Birger had taught him that much with his attempt at overthrowing King Askild.
Plotting and scheming for years, was almost admirable but Tyr wondered why he did not kill Askild and his commanders to cement his place.
That is what he would have done in his place and that was why Birger failed in his conquest.
He had discreetly told Noa and Isak where to meet him, unbeknownst to Nora who had no clue what was going on as she had excused herself for a minute to urinate.
That night, he snuck out to meet the brothers in the designated location where he told them the condition for joining the clan was to kill someone.
He had given both brothers two different tasks.
Noa's and Isak had no problems with their task but this was not the only thing Tyr benefited from, he had gotten valuable information regarding their clan.
Tyr told Noa when to strike or rather, gave him a date and this was part of the reason he spent so much time with Gudrun in his room.
She was the target of this attack and he knew as long as she was alone with him in his room, he could play hero once again and trigger that same effect he had triggered in Nora but the results he got from this were grander than he expected.
Isak's task was to drop the ax Tyr had with him deep in their own territory. A task Isak completed without fail.
Tyr was playing with fire and he knew it, he did not know he could trust these two but a charismatic and approachable demeanor was enough to create an illusion that he could be trusted.
The brothers looked happy that they had finally gotten into the clan, they had betrayed their own but it was worth it.
But Tyr was not stupid, men that could betray their own for the love of a woman are men that cannot be trusted.
Tyr dropped his ax on the floor and both brothers looked confused.
"The one who picks it up gets to live. I own your lives, if I want it to end right now, you will enforce my will." There he was, Tyr's true nature had resurfaced and the brothers did not know who they were looking at.
But they knew they were in trouble, Noa was reluctant to pick up the ax because he knew it would result in the death of his brother but Isak did not share that same sentiment.
He lunged at the ax without a second thought, when presented with death is where man shows his true nature.
"I-I got it! I go-!" Isak was cut short by the sledgehammer that came crashing down on his head, splitting his skull into two and spilling his brain everywhere, his neck was sent a few inches into his body, crushing his spine in the process.
Crimson red stained the snow, and Isak's lifeless body fell with a thump.
Noa looked up at Tyr, it was hard to believe that this was the friendly boy that Nora had introduced to them.
He had killed Isak with absolutely no hesitation and Noa knew he was next.
At this moment, Tyr was the god of death that decided if he lived or not but if he was going to die, he was going to die a warrior's death.
Tyr did not do anything, he just watched him to see how Noa intended to get out of this situation but Noa had second thoughts about fighting Tyr.
He did surrender his life to him the moment he swore loyalty so his life was not his anymore.
He cracked a weak smile, resigning to his fate.
"You can do as you please with me, Chieftain. I am glad I was of use to you in your goals but I beg of you, grant me Valhalla…" Noa said and this seemed to amaze Tyr.
"Fascinating. You had the chance to survive but you did not take it because you knew it would result in the death of your brother." Tyr said; this was commendable because it showed Noa had some semblance of loyalty in his bones.
"Noa, I will take you under my clan, cast away who you were. For today, you are reborn anew. You're reborn as my sword and shield, you will kill and die for me…"
Tyr said and Noa's eyes teared up because while his brother had just betrayed him, Isak was still his brother.
"You are my brother now, Noa. And thanks to you, I am a step closer to my goal. You will return to your camp, and tell them that Isak was killed by Kolbeinn Ungi Arnórsson but you will give them the wrong attacking routes. Tell Gissur we are planning to attack from the north. This is an important task that I entrust to you…." Tyr said and Noa wiped the tears from his face, his face turning stern. This was misinformation as they intended to attack from the east.
"Yes, Chieftain!" But there was a problem, Gissur would doubt this information as Noa had no injuries on himself.
Tyr picked up the ax and handed it to a confused Noa.
If Isak completed his task, the purpose of planting the first ax in their usual patrol routes was so that they would find it, and the reason he used the second ax was to back up Noa's story.
"I want you to impale yourself thirty minutes to your clan district with it, and tell them. Tyr, The God Of War, is coming…"
"Tell them… Death is coming…" Tyr warned with a sinister grin.