[i]Healing House, Harald[/i]

Harald eyed the lined, armoured men with apparent nonchalance and walked forward towards Ragnar until they were barely out of sword reach of one another. Although Loker represented the authority here no one was under the illusion of who was truly leading the men and it was to him those around Harald looked to, if not to himself, for leadership; it was unfortunate that Ragnar was physically the ideal of their people compared to Harald's stumpy physique.

[b]"Ragnar, you are late. If you had been here with your men earlier I might have been able to save more inside... as it was I had to put the safety of the fort first. Having even a few Draugr run rampant could spell doom for every one of us."[/b] Harald turned away, gesturing at the healing house. [b]"Where were you when those in danger needed you most? Busy consolidating power? Trying to take the Jarl's Hall before his body is even cold?"[/b] He raised his voice, mimicking impassioned rage, so that all around could hear him.

Just as he began to work himself into higher passions, one of his slaves ran up to him, apparently unaware of the armed confrontation. He had come from somewhere in the fort, not having seen any of the events at the healing house thus far; fear was plain on his face and he focused now only on the task he had been given.

[b]"Draugr, in the fort! I came from the stockpile."[/b] Another slave appeared, also panting and white with fear.

[b]"And I from the Jarl's Hall. I saw one of the others as a Draugr, they're everywhere!"[/b] Harald nodded calmly, looking to Ragnar.

[b]"Now is not the time for petty squabbles, Ragnar. You and I have enough men to put down these Draugr and protect the defenceless within these walls. I will go with or without you... but I will let you defend the Jarl's Hall if it is important to you."[/b] His eyes twinkled darkly in amusement before the dwarfish man turned to his men and gestured for them to leave. As they filed away, leaving Ragnar's shield wall facing the survivors of the Healing House, Harald shook his head at the half-concealed men crouching amongst the rooftops surrounding the house with strung bows held low. It would have been a perfect time to slaughter Ragnar and those loyal to him but as loathe as he was to admit it, Harald might actually need those same men to survive the day.

[b]"We return to the longhouse, arm up and then kill the Draugr. Search every house, every room. Anyone who has been bitten dies, no questions. We cannot risk this spreading further."[/b]

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[i]Healing House, Wilfred[/i]

Once his former master had left, the huge Saxon's shoulders unbunched, his figure visibly loosening with relief as all tension left his body. Although the Draugr were everywhere now, the immediate threat had gone for now, at least. Robbie was still unconscious but would be safest in Vigi's care; they would all be dead if the Draugr continued to run rampant however. Thus, Wilfred approached Ragnar, bowing his head to show some form of respect, or at least servitude.

[b]"I am ready to serve... Ragnar."[/b] He still could not bear to use the word 'master' or any other form of it but he infused the name with enough respect that it in itself could be considered a title; at least from an 'ignorant' Saxon's point of view. [b]"I am well enough to send these creatures back to Hell, if that is what you need of me."[/b] Wilfred chose his words carefully, fully aware of the similarities between Hell as the Christians knew it and Hel, the Norse goddess. He had yet to get a true measure on the Thegn and trod carefully.

The axe he held would be sufficient to kill the Draugr, having the power to strike them down when lesser weapons would merely 'wound' the nigh-upon-unkillable monsters. He hefted it onto one shoulder to show his readiness and awaited his master's command.