[i]Healing House, Harald[/i]

The small group of survivors, for that was what they were: few and having barely escaped with their lives, eyed Harald with a mixture of distrust and hope. Those loyal to Ragnar he could pick out instantly, whether they openly declare it or not, by their glares and the barely concealed contempt for his presence. As the group parted before the Thegn and his men Harald spotted his former possessions, the giant Saxon who was holding the girl he had enjoyed the day before in his arms and the Pict who also sat with a small, blood covered girl before him who would not stop her infuriating screaming.

[b]"You've come to aid us I take it?"[/b] The seidrmadr's question had Harald's lips curling up in a half smirk half snarl on instinct.

[b]"It looks as if the gods no longer favour you, which is ill news for us all."[/b] Harald replied loudly, deliberately undermining Vigi's power; he may not have sided with the Ragnar family overtly but Harald could see the allegiance forming already. Ignoring them he walked forwards, between Haakon and Vigi, pretending the former did not exist, and eyed the bulging door in mild amusement.

[b]"The only way to rid us of them safely is to fire the building."[/b] Without the need for a direct order, Harald's men walked implacably forward, ignoring any protests until they were in range and threw their lit torches in a high arc to land atop the Healing House. Within seconds the flames grew taller as the roof caught easily, any dampness burning out quickly until the flames were roaring.

[b]"We will sacrifice these monsters to Hel, so that she may keep their twisted souls safely in her domain where they belong!"[/b] Harald cried to the crowd before stepping away from the blaze. He nodded at Robbie and the little girl and two of his men approached, one of them hauling the Pict roughly to his feet and the other picking up the girl tentatively. Already his other men moved to block the path anyone who might protest as the girl was brought to him.

[b]"She has a bite mark."[/b] His man said which Harald repeated to the crowd who reacted as expected, retreating fearfully from the soon-to-be-monster.

[b]"She must join the others of her kind or else we will all fall prey to her once she has become one of them!"[/b] Murmurs of agreement came from the crowd; her family had already been lost in the Healing House and no one would accept the charge of a child who might turn into a Draugr before long. Robbie struggled, kicking and screaming as the girl was taken towards the flames. The door was kicked in and she was thrown in. Draugr began to rush out but were pushed back by waiting guards while more dragged boxes and barrels into the path to block their way out.

[b]"She was not bitten, I checked!"[/b] Robbie yelled, finally wriggling free of his captor and dashing forwards, past the shocked crowd and surprised guards, and leapt over the makeshift barrier into the flames.