Nic picked up his axe, staring down at it. He was nervous. Soon enough, his father would step down and make him the leader, the king so to speak. Nic straightened his back, trying to feel confident. He stepped out of his longhouse and met up with his father and some hunters. They started to make their way to their usual hunting grounds.
"I'll rest well knowing I left you as the leader. You're strong, intelligent and empathic. Qualities that make a great leader." His father said, patting his shoulder. Nic smiled, glancing at him.
"Your mother would proud of the man you grew into." His father added. Nic hoped she was watching him from up in the clouds, smiling proudly down at her son.
"Find yourself a good lady or a handsome young lad to keep your bed warm." Nic chuckled as his father winked at him. Time seemed to slow down as the whistle of an arrow echoed through the air. Nic watched as an arrow entered his father's head in a clean shot. His father fell back and chaos erupted. Nic quickly got over his shock, falling onto his knees and looking at his father.
"Locate where the arrow came from and bring back the killer!" Nic shouted at the hunters. They nodded, going off to find who killed their beloved leader. Whoever shot him meant to kill him. His father didn't even get to fight back. Nic clenched his jaw, standing up. Two hunters returned with no luck so Nic had them help him carry his father back. People circled around, whispers and murmers spreading through the crowd.
"My father was killed." Nic announced. Felix, his father's second in command, approached him.
"I'm so sorry." He whispered. Felix had always been an uncle figure to Nic.
"We need to find who did this." Nic said, watching them cover his father's body.
"Do you really want your first action as leader to be bloodshed?" One of the elders questioned, standing beside him. Nic held back a flinch, not expecting her.
"Our people will want revenge." Nic replied.
"You'll have time to mourn later, we need to talk about your sudden new status." Felix said.
Nic felt odd sitting on his father's throne but Felix assured him that it would be what his father wanted. Suddenly, three hunters entered with someone who had a bag over their head. One hunter tossed a bow onto the floor. Nic sat up, his attention on the person.
"I wanna see them." Nic said. They took the bag off and Nic was surprised to see a young man with white paint on his face. Nic knew the markings.
"Du-te dracului." The male grunted, glaring at him. Felix frowned.
"Watch yourself, you're in Bard territory." Felix hissed.
"What's your name?" Nic asked, studying him. The male stayed silent. One of the hunters hit the male in the back of the head.
"Answer-" The male elbowed the hunter's family jewels causing the hunter to groan and almost fall over.
"Don't touch me." The male growled before looking back at Nic.
"Aki." The male huffed. Nic glanced at the hunter he had hit. He was strong and was clearly a good shot.
"Leave us." Nic instructed. Everyone, including Aki, shot him odd looks but did what he said. Nic stood up, approaching him slowly.
"Why did you kill my father?" Nic asked.
"An eye for an eye." Aki replied. Nic furrowed his brows, confusion clear on his features.
"You don't know who I am, do you?" Aki asked.
"Aki, son of the late Geir. You put a knife in my father's back so I put an arrow in the head of yours." Aki sneered. Geir was the late leader of Aslaug which meant Aki was technically a prince.
"Aslaug already wants a war so killing me won't mean rahat." Aki told him, eyes flickering to Nic's axe.
"What?" Aki blinked, looking at him. Nic shook his head.
"I won't let my first action be killing someone. I don't wanna be that type of leader." Nic explained. Aki stared at him.
"Then you're more stupid than I thought. Being a leader means having to spill blood, doesn't matter who's blood it is." Aki said. Aki knew his shit. Nic could use someone who was experienced.
"I'll only do it when necessary. You said it yourself, an eye for an eye. We're even." Nic gave a small smile. Aki blinked, shaking his head.
"Please just kill me. I don't wanna be stuck with you." Aki mumbled. Nic chuckled.
"Your punishment is living." Nic replied, calling for a guard.
"Take Aki to my longhouse and make sure he cleans up. No harm is to come to him." Nic informed as he went back to his throne.
"He's kidding, kill me." Aki looked at the guard. A huff left him when the guard threw him over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Aki sent Nic a glare earning an amused grin in return. A start to a beautiful friendship.
