“Oh Halfdan,” Erik charmed, he walked to him standing high and proud, then he leaned in by his ear and whispered: “One day, I will skin your arms and face, pull out your guts and hang you with them for all to see.”
He moved back, his smile growing more as Halfdan stood with a shocked expression, shaking his head, and holding his breath.
“Good day all!” He shouted, walking toward the gates where his five guards stood.
Halfdan stood a bit confused at all that had just occurred. He watched Prince Erik walking away through the gates, likely to their horses a few meters from Onka. He finally released his lungs.
“Nothing scares me more than that man.” He turned to see Sigurd silently nodding.
“I can’t believe you were close with him at one point,” Halfdan continued.
“What can I say? He and Eva were the only one’s who befriended me and treated me with kindness. He is my brother after all, no matter what I think of him.”
“I suppose so, but I’d say you’re pretty stupid to become friends with someone like that.”
Sigurd turned his head to look at him. “He was not always like this.”
“Bjorn told me he was cruel even as a child.”
“Only to certain people… if you got on his bad side.”
Halfdan chuckled. “Ah, I see. So if you praise him and never question him, he’ll treat you decently.”
“It’s more complicated than that. Erik and Eva were the only siblings who valued me in any way. Not even my father loved me then. No matter what he did as a child, he always had my back.”
Halfdan walked toward him, standing only a few feet away. “You are a confusing man, Sigurd. I’m sure if one day Erik does something terrible and the King begins to hate him more than you, you will jump to your father’s side immediately. You are a selfish man.”
“If you think me to be so selfish that I’d betray anyone in an instant, why do you work for me?”
Halfdan frowned. “If I’m honest, only because of Sven, Gunnar, Emily, Sigmund, Einar, and all the rest. Besides, I’d have no where to go. I might as well make myself at home here. Even if I don’t like you much. Which honestly, you’re not the worst scum in the world, but you are certainly not the best.”
The Prince shook his head, thinking of how to reply back, as Halfdan waited quietly.
“Well, you are entitled to your opinion on what you think of me.”
Comments (0)
See all