"The wealth you claim to have stolen may not be the wealth we seek," Torhyl speaks. "For we all do not see eye to eye when it comes to the value of some things."

   Torhyl had returned to the ships at the day's end, rallying her troops and preparing them for the raid tomorrow. She made sure all of her soldiers and shield maidens had gotten sufficient rest equally before putting them each on a watch rotation.

Though she would never show it to her battalion, she was exhausted. She had not had a proper night's sleep in weeks and it was taking its toll on her. She would busy herself to keep herself distracted from focusing on her fatigued state, but she couldn't ignore her weariness for too much longer.

"Commander, you have not had sufficient sleep for weeks," Brunhild places a hand on her mentor's shoulder. "You should rest."

Torhyl sent Brunhild a weary smile, her body slightly above Brunhild's smaller stature. Torhyl places a gentle hand onto Brunhild's shoulder also.

"I appreciate your concern, Brunhild," Torhyl nods courtly, "But it should be better placed elsewhere. I will sleep when this raid is over and we are on our home soil once more."

Brunhild headed to her Commander's wishes and let her walk along the shoreline. Torhyl followed the coastline stretching around the island of the East. She enjoyed the peaceful silence that surrounded the beach and the soothing echoes of the waves meeting the shore. Torhyl's ear prick at the sound of movement in the woods that lingered behind her.

Torhyl stands her ground, not even bothering to look behind her as she speaks to the intruders.

"If you wanted to attack in the still of the night, you should have at least attempted to be discreet." Torhyl spun around, drawing her sword and pointing it at the intruder.

The tip of sword is pressed into the jugular of tall skinny man. His eyes are darkened with the use of black paint and he wear an amused smirk playing on his lips. Torhyl's face contorts into a look of disgust. How could a man be laughing in a situation such as this?

"What is a little girl like you doing out this late in the evening?" the man asks in a sinister voice.

"I could ask you the same." Torhyl replies with a smirk.

"I was just taking a stroll and watching foolish clan attempting to raid a land already claimed." The man replies, his voice and body language almost unbothered.

"Do not test my patience, sir, for I will not hesitate to dismember your head from your body." Torhyl shoots the man a glare, firm and crisp.

"Oh, I would not be so dismayed if you did," the man snickered menacingly. "You may try if you wish."

"Do you come alone or does your company lurk in the shadows?" Torhyl motions to the woods that lie behind them.

"What is it to you?" The man asks. "It won't matter soon enough."

"I am Torhyl Firesyhs, the Commander of the Eastern fleet, and I come to collect riches on an unclaimed land. I will not face you without giving you a chance to keep your honour."

"I am Floki of the North and we have come to claim riches from our land. You have come far too late, my dear, for the wealth is already ours." Floki explains, his voice pitched and varying with each giggle.

"The wealth you claim to have stolen may not be the wealth we seek," Torhyl speaks. "For we all do not see eye to eye when it comes to the value of some things."

"I highly doubt that." An unfamiliar voice rebuts from the shadows.

"Why would you say that?" Torhyl asks the faceless voice, genuinely intrigued.

"Because no matter your view, something of value..." Ragnar Lothbrok steps out of the shadows and takes in her aura before continuing. "Is worth the risk...no matter the price."