Hammer of the Gods Page #3

that would encourage

education and learning.

Well, I can see the benefits

in education and learning,

but when you start

talking about your God,

reason

doesn't really come

into it, does it?

Think about it.

Come on, just a sip.

Cut my ropes.

Watch out!

Stab him again.

And again.

And again. And again.

You all right?

What about him?

Didn't like being tied up.

Took one of the guard's ears

off.

Where's vali?

He went with them

to meet their holy men

and bow down before the white

Christ.

Keep him alive.

We need him to tell

us where we're going.

- I'm not leaving without vali.

- Look, steinar.

He denied the existence

of the gods.

He begged to be converted.

Let the boy go.

You dare break the sanctity

of the house of God?

You talk of reason.

When it comes down to it,

you're just as superstitious

as the rest of them.

Now lay down your weapons

and let the boy go.

Oh, we will hunt you down

and kill you like the godless

animals you are.

You go to such lengths

to build these churches,

making sure they strike terror

into the hearts

of all who come near.

It's just a room with a door...

No different to a prison.

Steinar!

Secure them inside!

Get in!

Do we have what we need

to find hakan?

You were true to your word.

Remember me to him, prince.

When you see him,

his eyes Pierce the soul.

He knows

who you truly are, hmm?

Like a God...

Sees men.

You believe in the gods,

don't you, hmm?

You believe in...

Valhalla?

Yeah.

Oh.

Valhalla, I'm coming.

Shh shh.

Whose was this?

- It belonged to my mother.

- What happened to her?

She was

swallowed up into the darkness.

Like everything else.

- Are you finished?

- The boy.

- What about him?

- He went willingly,

prepared to accept

the white Christ.

It was that or death.

You didn't yield

and neither did we.

And I won't now.

Vali has brought us

nothing but bad luck.

If we offer him

up as a sacrifice,

the gods will look over us

for the rest of our journey.

It's worth it to safeguard

the future of our people.

So long as there's men who think

like you, our people have no future.

He's a traitor and a coward.

And he deserves to die.

- Step aside, steinar.

- Don't make me do this.

Then you leave me no choice.

Yield!

No!

No!

What about the people

in the church?

Wait.

No, we shouldn't touch it.

I'm telling you, this isn't just

somebody's head on a stick.

This is a sign.

This is telling us

to stay the f*** away.

Well, what is it?

It's a runestone.

This is what ivar

was leading us to.

This isn't good, steinar,

I'm telling you.

To find hakan, we had

to find this first.

What does it say?

This isn't telling us

how to find hakan.

It's a warning,

saying what will happen

if we try.

Well, what does it mean?

It means we're close,

nothing more, nothing less.

I can't go in there, steinar.

I just can't.

- Nothing to fear, jokul.

- I know these things.

If I step foot

in that forest, I'm dead.

You'll be dead if you don't.

Jokul.

Agnes!

You're not dead...

Not yet anyway.

You want to know why

you're not dead?

Huh?

Huh? Huh?

Because he chose it.

He decides who lives, who dies.

Who are you, huh?

I am

Ulric the chronicler...

A humble servant

of the great master.

Well, Ulric,

if you wouldn't mind

telling the great master

that his brother's here

to see him.

He has no brother,

no father, no mother.

I'll tell him

what you said though.

It might amuse him.

Vali?

Vali, untie me.

Vali, where's Agnes?

Where's jokul?

Vali?

You're a long way

from home, steinar.

So is he.

This is his home.

Our father's dying.

What do you see...

When you think of home?

I think of the...

The blue of the sky,

the green of the forest.

The smell of the pine trees.

I see nothing.

Nothing...

But darkness.

Why have you

come here?

Our father sent me.

He sent me to bring you back...

To lead your people

as king.

You don't know what you ask,

but you will.

Let the feast begin!

Friends,

- this is a momentous day.

- Yeah!

This is a truly

momentous occasion.

Commence the festmties!

The people I arrived with...

What happened to them?

Hey,

how old were you

when hakan left?

10, 11.

Were you never

curious as to why?

I always loved you.

I never wanted us

to be separated.

No mother would ever

wish for such a thing.

But that's all going

to change now.

Now is the time for the world

to bow down before his might.

Hakan! Hakan! Hakan!

All men will bow

down before him.

Hakan! Hakan! Hakan!

Hakan! Hakan! Hakan! Hakan!

Hakan! Hakan! Hakan! Hakan!

Bow down before the king!

Hakan! Hakan! Hakan! Hakan!

Hakan! Hakan! Hakan! Hakan!

Bow before him.

Kneel before your king.

Do you deny him?

I deny him.

You dare question your king.

You dare question your God.

Now your questions

will be answered

through his immortality...

And your destruction.

Steinar.

Steinar.

Well, where's hakan?

He was sent to find his brother

and he returns

with his head in a bag.

He was sent to find the king.

Looks like he found one.

How many people do

we have in camp?

600, 650.

How many more could

we muster by the morning?

A few hundred more.

And how far away

is the Saxon army?

No more than a day's ride.

Good.

We leave at first light.

Open your mouth.

Swallow it!

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