Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Basim always had a soft spot and weakness for strong women, who knew what they wanted and who didn’t back down. Most men from his home country, hadn’t shared his sentiment; quite the contrary, for they had almost all preferred their women to be small, almost invincible and most of all, obedient. Everything else was not well received, let alone tolerated. Women usually were raised to be good housewives and even better mothers, while the men’s job was to provide for the family.

Basim’s ex-wife had been headstrong and a force to be reckoned with, especially compared to the other women her age. This was exactly why she had caught the Hidden One’s eyes in the first place and why he had fought hard, to earn her trust and her love. The more devastated he had been, after he had lost her and their son. He had almost sworn to never allow himself to feel love for another woman again, after the terrible loss; the only thing keeping him away from doing it had been the thought of his wife. She wouldn’t have wanted for him to isolate himself, to never allow himself to become happy again. And yet, he had loathed and averted the company of the other sex. The pain had been too great, the hole she had left behind, too large to fill up. Even now, many years after the tragedy had struck; Basim was still suffering and mourning for his dead family.

This was the way he wanted it to be. He was living his life travelling and visiting many parts of the earth; he had found friends and comrades, even an apprentice, but never had he looked at a woman twice. At least not until now...

Eivor was the female warrior’s name, who had earned herself a second glance, even a third one. Sigurd, his current project, had introduced him to the blonde female, whose ice-blue eyes had practically pierced his every defense to strike his poor, scarred heart. He had soon learnt that the women of the Norse people were considered almost equally to a man; they were allowed and trained to hunt, to fight and to do everything a man could do. They were proud members of society, didn’t need to hide and were very rough around the edges. Simply said, there was everything Basim admired and looked for in a partner; someone who could match, perhaps even tame him. But Eivor, the Jarl’s sister, was on another level altogether. The village came to her with every task and problem. She was reliable, strong and surprisingly wise, even though Sigurd was often too blind to see that. Basim was not surprised though; he knew who the redhead really was after all. Hávi had been a blind fool too and he had regretted and paid for it. He would pay again, once Basim was finished with him, but good things needed time. Until then, the Hidden One would observe the blonde drengr. He would study her, get to know her if she allowed it and then... they would most likely part ways. She would want revenge, when he killed her brother. The Arabic would be ready and prepared for it; he wouldn’t allow himself and his heart to get hurt in the process... at least that is what he promised himself.

Hytham, who was standing right next to him, cleared his throat in a telling manner. Basim raised an eyebrow, waiting for his apprentice to speak up, now that he had acquired his mentor’s attention.

“You are staring”, commented the younger man.

Basim hummed. “Am I?”

“Yes and people are starting to notice”, mumbled Hytham.

His voice revealed no emotions, but Basim knew him long enough, taught him long enough, to know when his student was displeased with him. The older man didn’t care and Hytham was too well trained to utter a word about his concern. A mentor was not to be questioned – though Basim thought differently. This was a lesson he had yet to teach his student. Even a mentor was prone to make mistakes and wrong decisions and perhaps this was indeed one of them, but they would never know, unless he tried.

“Let them notice. They are curious about us by nature”, yet he turned his head away from the person of interest to gaze at his student.

“So are you about them, it seems”, grumbled the younger man. This was as far as he would go to voice his displeasure.

“As I should and as you should as well. We are surrounded by many things strange and unknown to us. Doesn’t it spike your curiosity?”

“It does”, answered the younger Arabic instantly.

“So am I”, he grinned slightly.

Hytham slowly nodded. “I understand what you mean, but why her?”

Basim pondered his answer for a moment. His gaze landed back on the female warrior, who was surrounded by men and women alike. They were laughing and enjoying themselves. As it seemed, Eivor was asked to participate in one of their favourite games; drinking. She seemed to hesitate, but was strongly and loudly encouraged by the other participants.

“She hit me”, Basim finally answered, with amusement in his voice.

He remembered it like it had been yesterday. It had been a difference in opinion, the both of them discussing it heatedly. He had overstepped, she had as well, he had said something hurtful and earned himself a split lip and burning pain from the hit for the next few days. He had been very surprised by the strength she possessed and had found admiration and perhaps even a little bit more by it.

“Excuse me?” Hytham stared at him in utter disbelief and shock.

“She hit me; hard”, the older male repeated his statement, without many emotions in his voice.

“Forgive me, but I don’t see the appeal in being hit”, the apprentice said in his typical dry voice.

“I will explain it to you, at some point, but not tonight.”

“Yes mentor”, Hytham replied dutifully.

“Good”, Basim nodded. “Now, why don’t you join them? Enjoy yourself, learn something, be yourself without the burden of a Hidden One.”

 “Yes mentor, I will”, Hytham nodded and dutifully retreated, leaving Basim back to observe the female warrior who had captured his interest.

Eivor was now participating in the drinking game and it seemed as if she was winning. Basim was impressed; yet another hidden talent it seemed. Yes, he definitely had a weakness for women who could hold their ground – and apparently their liquid – and he was not ashamed to admit it. Basim moved further into the shadows, silently observing and gathering as many information as he could get.

Hours later, when the first men and women had fallen into a drunken stupor, Eivor stepped away from the others. She was stumbling, but laughing while doing so. Basim watched her, almost amused. She had clearly drunk too much, but at least she hadn’t fallen into unconsciousness. She seemed to know her limit.

Basim pushed himself away from the wall he had been leaning against and made to follow the female. She didn’t return to the Longhouse, to the Hidden One’s surprise, but rather she followed the trail that led away from it. He kept enough distance between them so he wouldn’t be noticed.

Eivor led him, unknowingly, towards a small waterfall. She sat done on one of the rocks, leaning forward on it, in order to pull her boots sloppily from her feet. She threw them next to her and let her feet slide into the water. She sighed and stared at the night sky. Countless stars were shining today and the moon hung high and full; its light creating a halo around long golden hair that was braided in an artful manner. Basim found himself wondering how it would feel to let his hand run through golden strands.

“You can join me, if you want”, her voice brought the Arabic out of his thoughts.

Basim blinked in confusion and surprise. He had been silent and stealthy, and yet Eivor had noticed him... but how?

“You may be silent, but not invisible”, Eivor’s amused voice sounded once more.

Basim stepped out of the shadows, question clear in his eyes. Eivor turned around, just enough to look at him with her shining ice-blue eyes. A grin played around her lips and she pointed up, towards the sky. With furrowed brows, Basim followed her finger. It took a moment before he made out what she was referring to. High above them, a black-winged raven flew large circles over the treetops.

Basim let out a huff. “I see.”

“So... sit with me?” The female drengr offered, patting the rock next to her. She turned around again to let her eyes come to rest upon the glittering river created by the waterfall.

Basim hesitated, but eventually moved forward. His steps were dead silent and he sat gracefully down next to the warrior, folding his legs beneath him.

“I come here often, it’s so peaceful. I can think more clearly and... I love how the fireflies dance over the water”, she sent him a small smile.

“It is indeed peaceful”, Basim readily agreed.

“The company is not too bad either”, the female drengr nudged his arm with her elbow.

“How flattering”, he tilted his head, silently wondering if she meant it or if it was the alcohol speaking.

“Oh, this is merely the beginning.” She laughed heartily.

Basim barely kept himself from grinning. She certainly wasn’t shy. He liked it.

“Are you always this direct?”

She shrugged. “I deem it easier and better to be open and honest. Hiding away doesn’t make it easier and there might be a risk of being too late in the end.” She paused. “Alcohol helps too.”

The Arabic wondered if she had been too late once too. Had there been someone she loved in the past? Someone, she hadn’t told how she truly felt... perhaps she regretted it?

“Those are wise words”, Basim finally admitted nodding.

“I know”, she grinned sassily, which earned her yet another amused huff from the dark haired man.

“And modesty is one of your strong suits too, I see.”

“You know me too well,” her grin grew wider, but upon seeing the unbelieving look on Basim’s bearded features, she laughed heartily.

“I will leave you to your imagination then”, he retorted.

She hummed, more or less satisfied with that. There was still that amused glint in her eyes and the sure way she held herself.

Basim let his eyes wander over her feminine, yet strong frame. Sadly most of her was hidden under armor and cloaks.

“Do you like what you see?”

Basim inwardly cursed. He had been caught staring again, this time however, not by his apprentice, but by the very person he had been staring at. Today just wasn’t his day. He found her grinning broadly and knowingly at him, it was almost infuriating.

“I am merely curious”, he finally said calmly, “Many stories are being told about you and your adventures. I am wondering which of them are true and which are not.”

She tilted her head and with the light of the moon and the way she had braided her hair, he could make out the prominent scars on her neck which had earned her the nickname ‘Wolf-Kissed’.

“People tend to exaggerate. I am, like you and everyone else, just human.”

Basim didn’t protest, but he certainly knew better. He wasn’t just simply human and neither was the drengr’s brother. They both were much more, chosen ones, by the gods of old. While thinking that, he felt Loki stir at the back of his head.

“That may be so, but some humans are meant for more”, he answered in a riddle.

“Sigurd used to say this as well, ever since we were children.”

“But you don’t believe him?” Basim guessed.

“I do. But things are rarely as black and white as we think.”

They sat in silence after that, both of them lost in their own respective thoughts. The Arabic was left wondering about the truth of this statement. The female warrior was right of course, but wasn’t it too easy? Loki would say that matters between him and the Mad One were exactly that, black and white. Hávi had done a lot of harm to a lot of people. But was it really as easy? The Trickster protested and flooded his mind with many images. Basim had trouble keeping up, without showing anything of his inner struggle on the outside. He was glad that Eivor was lost in her own head though.

Eventually they bid each other good night and he had left for the Bureau. Hytham arrived much later, when the sun was almost on the horizon again. Basim had pretended to be asleep then, when in reality, he hadn’t found a single second of sleep this very night.

Chapter Text

Eivor was intrigued by the two men her brother had brought along. They were distant and strange, yes, but also very curious. She had talked a lot with Hytham already. The younger of the Hidden Ones had been as wary and distrustful of her, as she had been of him at first, but eventually she had somehow managed to say the right things at the right moments. It had broken the ice between them and now they got along quite well. She gladly told the younger of the two Hidden Ones everything he wanted to know about her culture and about herself and in return, he showed her techniques with her hidden blade and other things that usually weren’t for eyes outside their order. She felt proud to be trusted with knowledge like that.

Then there was Basim. The tall man was a mystery to her. He seemed closed off, cold and almost distant and yet he had an authoritative aura surrounding him. He wasn’t as joyful and open as his apprentice, neither with sharing his knowledge, let alone with asking questions. He was also a very skilled diplomat. She had witnessed, more than once, how he had made a ruler believe that the idea he had put into their minds, had actually been their own idea; an impressive feat.

He had surprised her, by his unusual outburst during their argument. He had been out of line, she had given him a fitting answer and he hadn’t stopped. The black eye he had received from her had been well earned. Sigurd hadn’t been happy about it, but he hadn’t commented about it either. He knew her, after all, better than anybody else.

She was surprised once more when Basim had followed her last evening. She hadn’t heard him, but Sýnin’s eyes had almost instantly spotted the figure in the shadows. The raven had alerted her to his presence and her animal companion had even lent her its sight. It hadn’t taken long to figure out who the approaching shadow was. There weren’t many people in the village, who could sneak up on her like that, without her noticing. In fact, there were probably only two and one of them was Hytham, who she had definitely left to his fate at the feast.

Her drunken mind had made her say stupid and way too flirtatious things, but Basim hadn’t seemed offended; quite the opposite. He had almost appeared to be enjoying himself. It was this thought that kept her from burying deep into her blankets to never come out again.

“Eivor? Are you up already?” sounded Sigurd’s voice from the entrance to her room.

“Yes, you can come in”, the curtain to her room was pulled away only a moment later.

“Good morning, little sister”, the red-headed male gave her a broad smile and set himself onto her bed.

Eivor was still putting on the last pieces of armor and didn’t mind his presence. They were siblings after all; they had pretty much seen everything from each other. There was no real secret between them.

“Good morning to you too, brother”, she returned the smile and fished for her father’s axe which was quickly put into its holster. “You are up early.”

“No, you are just up very late”, he chuckled. “So I guess you enjoyed yourself yesterday?”

“It was pleasant and fun, yes; though I missed you.”

Sigurd sighed. “I know and I’m sorry, but...”

“You weren’t in the mood, I know”, she ended the sentence for him.

Eivor sat down next to the taller male, who immediately swatted her hand away to help her with the last straps of her armor. She rolled her eyes good-naturedly. She was more than capable of doing that herself, but sometimes he needed to do it for her; he needed to be the big brother who took care and was responsible for his little sister. He often had the need to do such things for her, when he felt uneasy or particularly insecure.

When he was finished, he nodded to himself, seemingly satisfied. He didn’t stop there though; instead he began to braid her hair. She allowed this as well. It was an intimate thing for their kind. Braids had meanings and were a part of you and your history. To let anyone touch your hair was more than a sign of trust and comradery.

“I actually came to ask a favor of you”, Sigurd said after a while, his fingers still braiding her long golden strands of hair.

Eivor hummed quietly. She had guessed as much. Her brother usually only woke her up, when something was the matter. Otherwise he would let her sleep, let her get the rest she needed.

“What is it?”

“The sons of Ragnar, Ivarr and Ubba asked for our help. They are in need of a few trusted and well-skilled warriors.”

“Let me guess”, she began, the annoyance clear in her voice, “Ivarr did something rash and stupid again and now they are in trouble.”

“Ubba worded it differently, but yes”, Sigurd sighed and stopped for a moment. “I know what you think of Ivarr and I share your sentiment, more than you think, but they are our allies. They have sworn their help and loyalty to us, just like we sworn it to them.”

“I know Sigurd and I will go. That doesn’t mean that I’ll like it.”

Sigurd nodded and finished the braid with a leather strap he pulled out of his own hair. She was touched by the gesture, knowing full well the hidden meaning behind it. A part of him was coming with her, protecting her in the form of a charm.

“I don’t like it either, but you are the only one I can trust with this”, he leaned forward and rested his lips on her temple for the briefest moments. “But I will not let you go alone. The gods know I want nothing more than to join you myself, but business awaits me in the South.”

“I understand, Sigurd. You are our Jarl and have important tasks too”, now that he was done with her, she turned enough to face him fully.

Again the red-head nodded. He took her hand in his. Eivor knew why he was this affectionate, he was worrying for her. After the last time they had dealt with the Ragnarssons, he had almost killed one of them in her honor.

“I will be alright”, she assured him. “I can defend myself, as you know.”

“I do, but I also know Ivarr that slimy bastard”, he barely managed to grit out between tightly clenched teeth.

Eivor felt her own blood begin to boil. She remembered the looks the Boneless had sent her way. As long as it had been only looks and watchful gazes, it hadn’t bothered her much, but during a celebration the alcohol had gotten to his head, made him braver and his tongue looser. He had made advances on her, which she had declined. Clearly not happy about being pushed away, he had become even more insistent. Eivor would have broken his jaw - and perhaps something else - but it had been Sigurd, who had stepped in, as soon as the Boneless had touched her in an inappropriate manner. It was only thanks to Ubba’s and Eivor’s diplomatic natures that no war had broken out between their clans. Still, Eivor dreaded returning to the unhinged son of Ragnar Lodbrok. 

She sighed. “Who have you chosen to accompany me then?”

She rested her hand on top of his, in order to calm him down. He gazed where their hands touched, before turning his own around and returning the grip.

“Our best warrior, after you of course, is Dag… But I know that the two of you often clash.”

“Oh, I don’t trust him to have my back when it truly matters either”, she readily agreed.

He appeared as if he wanted to defend the man’s honor, but Sigurd just sighed and probably deemed it not worth the effort. “We both know Ivarr, someone hot-headed would do more harm than good, which is why I finally thought of Basim.”

“Basim?” She raised her eyebrows. 

“He is good with words, better than you perhaps. Also he is a capable warrior, even if his fighting style is very different to ours. That might give him an advantage against Ivarr. The Boneless is used to fighting heads on, he will not be prepared for a more… thoughtful approach.”

The drengr hummed in thought. Her brother’s reasons were good and made sense, but she wasn’t too fond of the idea. Basim and her - despite the previous night - had a problematic past. They often did not see eye to eye. As Sigurd had said, he wasn’t like them. Eivor too preferred an open approach, while the Hidden One remained in the shadows, unseen by his enemies until it was already too late. And while she didn’t doubt his diplomatic nature, she didn’t believe that Ivarr would be persuaded by pretty words. He was a man that acted first and thought about possible consequences later, if at all. Still, Sigurd had thought long and hard about who to trust with accompanying her, she could tell by the way he looked at her.

“Have you asked him already? He might be too busy to travel with me”, she wanted to know.  

“Of course I did. He readily agreed, but asked for time to prepare.”

She was surprised by the man’s readiness to join her on her mission. He was involved in the village, but his influence was usually limited to Sigurd. He acted as an advisor and sometimes he involved himself a little too much in matters that shouldn’t be of concern to him, Eivor thought. So she wouldn’t bring that up now. Perhaps it was a good thing for Basim to come with her after all. This way, he was away from Sigurd and she could perhaps figure out more about him. And who knew, perhaps he wasn’t as secretive and withdrawn as she thought he was; perhaps he just needed more time to come out of his shell. Eivor thought back to the previous evening. He had been more open than she had ever seen him, his tongue swift with fitting retorts.

“I need some time to gather my belongings as well”, she finally said, “When have you planned for us to begin our journey?”

“As soon as you are ready”, Sigurd replied. He was smiling and squeezing her hand. “Thank you, sister. I knew I could count on you.”

“As always”, she nodded readily, mirroring his grin with one of her own. “And who knows, perhaps I will know our Hidden friend a bit better afterwards.”

“Don’t scare him off, Eivor”, Sigurd chided, though there was an amused twinkle in his eyes, “Remember, he isn’t used to our openness or your direct approach.”

“I have no idea what you mean”, she lied, while innocently blinking up at him.

“Mhm”, he didn’t seem impressed, “Do I really have to remind you of that young earl we met soon after we had claimed this settlement as ours?”

“You mean that shy, dark haired weakling?”

“Oh yes. He was indeed shy and not too fond of our kind, but after you were done with him, he was quite smitten with you. Didn’t he even try to propose to you?”

She made a face. “Don’t remind me. That was a pathetic attempt and he looked like a kicked puppy, once I refused.”

Sigurd chuckled and lightly shrugged his shoulders. “That was your own fault for flirting with him. He thought you were infatuated with him as well.”

“How should I have known that his skinny arse wasn’t able to differentiate between friendliness and flirting?” She pouted, which only caused the older male to laugh harder.

“You were beyond friendly, sister of mine. For a moment or two even I thought you wanted to bed him and I truly doubted your taste in men.”

“Well, I do love you, dear brother. So tell me, if my taste in men is this bad, what does it say about you then.” She grinned smugly at him.

“Brat!” The redhead immediately retorted and nudged her shoulder with his own.

She retorted with a shove of her own, which Sigurd couldn’t leave unrequited and for a moment it was like they were still children back in Norway, playfully fighting and brawling. At one point, the both of them landed with a loud thud on the ground. Sigurd, who was surprised by the fall from the bed, let his guard down, which the female immediately used to her advantage. Sigurd let out a huff, as he was pinned down onto the floor, with the female sitting proudly on his chest.

“Well? What do you say now?” She grinned brightly.

“I yield”, he breathed out. “This time at least.”

Eivor chuckled and got to her feet, offering him a helping hand, which the older male accepted. She helped him up and they both dusted off their clothes.

“Still with the old tricks, I see”, mumbled Sigurd.

“And yet they still work.”

He inclined his head, accepting his ‘defeat’ with grace, before pulling her against him with one arm around her shoulders. “Now, join me in the map room and Randvi and I will tell you everything you need to know.”

Chapter Text

The horse under him, neighed in annoyance as it almost slipped on the muddy ground they were riding on. Basim gently patted its neck and urged it to continue, while the heavy rain continued to pour down onto him and his travel companion. He usually didn’t mind the rain, he actually quite enjoyed it even, but even he had his limits. His clothes were beyond wet and the wind made him uncomfortable. The way was muddy and he feared that his horse might truly slip and he would find himself buried under its body or at least covered by mud and other substances. A quick glance towards his right told him that his traveling companion was not faring any better, even though her horse was steadier on its hooves than his. It seemed to be used to such unpleasant conditions.

“We should have stayed at the tavern”, grumbled the female. 

The hood of her cloak was sticking to her head and she continued to wipe her face to keep the droplets from her hair from getting into her eyes.

“The sky gave no indication that such a weather would be upon us”, retorted Basim.

She gave him a look that clearly stated that she knew that as well. She opened her mouth, clearly to give a snarky reply, as far over the heads, a black raven cawed loudly. She turned her attention towards her bird, her gaze becoming distant and strange. Basim observed the spectacle with furrowed brows, not daring to disturb the already disgruntled female. He had no desire to be punched by her again.

“Sýnin found a cave ahead. I can’t tell if something occupies it, but it might be worth a look.”

The Hidden One wanted to ask how she knew that, then he remembered how the Jarl had told him that the female and her raven had some special bond that nobody could really explain. Loki, who was grumbling about the weather conditions, briefly thought of Hávi and his own ravens, but Basim quickly shook his head to clear his thoughts. 

“Well, ride ahead and we will take a look.”

The woman nodded and encouraged her horse to ride faster, Basim following as close behind as he dared to. He grimaced as his horse tripped yet again and he silently cursed at Ravensthorpe’s stablemaster, who had assured him that this was one of their best horses. If this one was indeed one of the best, he didn’t want to see the worse ones. 

“Basim, take a firmer grip on the reins. Grani needs a firm hand, otherwise he will get distracted and mess up his steps.”

The Hidden One gazed towards the female, who was looking right back at him, over her shoulder. Taking the advice - she knew her peoples’ horses better than he did after all - he pulled the reins tighter, giving the horse clear instructions what he wanted. To his surprise, the steps became more sure.

“Stubborn mule”, he mumbled under his breath, making sure that he was the only one to hear it.

“I think I see the cave”, Eivor’s voice, despite her almost shouting, was barely audible because of the heavy rain and the mushy sound of their animal’s hooves. 

“Good. What else do you see?” He urged Grani to step closer towards the female, his eyes instinctively scanning their surroundings for any sign of life.

“I can’t see any movement”, she finally stopped her horse. “And Hrafn is completely calm.”

Basim guessed she meant her horse. He hummed in thought. His own was calm too, albeit just as annoyed as he was of the wetness all around them. The animals would have picked up on any predator way sooner than they would have. He remained cautious however, even when he slid off his mount’s back. He shuddered at the sound his poor boots made as he sank ankle deep into the soaked ground. He still continued onwards, leaving the female to take care of the animals. 

He inspected the entrance of the cave and searched for anything. It did indeed look abandoned. He couldn’t detect any movement from inside the small cave and there were no bones or other traces of any kind of predator living in it. His hand still came to rest upon the handle of his blade as he stepped closer. He heard how Eivor also slid off her horse, but he concentrated more on what was ahead. When he stood in the entrance, his guess turned out to be true.

“Nothing and nobody has been here in a long time”, he called back. 

He ducked into the cave, pulling off his hood and ran his hand through his soaked hair. Not a moment later, he felt Eivor brushing past him into the cave. She was carrying both his, as well as her own, traveling bags. 

“Cozy”, she mumbled sarcastically. 

“We can’t light a fire inside the cave, the smoke would kill us, but perhaps at the entrance”, he thought out aloud.

“I would usually agree, but good luck with finding dry wood in this weather”, the warrior commented. 

Basim hated to admit it, but she was right. So no fire for them today, at least not while the sky was practically trying to drown them. What a way to start a journey; a bad omen perhaps? 

His darkening thoughts were interrupted, when he felt the clattering of metal against rock. Startled, he gazed up, expecting an attack or something else. He didn’t expect for Eivor to have started to undress herself. He blinked in confusion and while he knew that he should avert his gaze and give the female privacy - though that was hard in their current location - but he found himself unable to do so. Instead he took in what she so freely offered. His eyes roamed over her muscled yet still feminine frame. He followed the black lines on her back. Loki recognized the patterns and symbols as Jormungandr. The world-eating snake began where her neck met her back and traveled over her whole back. It was a beautiful piece, made by a true master of their craft. It suited her and Basim felt that even Loki admired the piece. It wasn’t the only tattoo on her body, but it was the one that intrigued him the most.

The Hidden One cleared his throat and rapidly shook his head to get back to his own senses. Thankfully Eivor hadn’t noticed his staring and wandering eyes. 

“What are you doing?” His voice was only a little rough, though he hoped she didn’t notice.

“Undressing”, she responded as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “I don’t know about you, but I will not sleep in these clothes.”

“I… see.”

“I hope you do, otherwise I would be worried about your eye-sight”, she grinned cheekily, taking him by surprise once more. She seemed to have a talent for that and Basim wasn’t sure if he liked it or not. “Or should I be worried about your virtue? I hadn’t thought you to be a virgin, but the way you are staring and blushing, I wonder if you have ever seen a woman naked…”

The Arabic barely kept himself from sputtering nonsense. Deep in his mind, he heard Loki cackling in delight at her antics.

“I am merely surprised by your approach”, he defended himself. “We have no fire and while our clothes are wet, they would offer at least some protection against the wind and the cold.”

“I highly doubt that”, she shrugged.

Left with only her undergarments, she kneeled down and rummaged through her pack. This way Basim could take another glance at the artistic lines on her frame. With a triumphant sound, she pulled out some furs that seemed mostly untouched by the rain. She wrapped the furs around her frame, before settling against a cave wall. Her deep blue eyes regarded him interested, daring him to say or do anything.

Basim turned away without another word. He briefly looked at the horses and if they were secured good enough at the cave entrance, then he stepped deeper into their current hideout. He too searched his pack for anything that wasn’t soaked. He wasn’t as lucky as his female companion however, which left him to sit down in his dripping clothes. 

He was sitting across from her, his eyes closed and breathing in a controlling manner, trying to fade out the rain and the unpleasant state of himself. He wasn’t very successful. On top of all, a puddle had formed around him and he was silently debating if he should move to another spot, only for the same thing to happen once more.

“I can hear your rattling teeth and your shaking bones… do us both a favor, get rid of your clothes and join me.”

Basim’s eyes snapped open and he found the drengr’s calm gaze. She had raised an eyebrow and slightly lifted a side of the fur she had wrapped around herself, in a silent invitation. The Hidden One didn’t move. This was highly inappropriate and while he could easily admit that the woman in front of him was easy on the eye and definitely to his liking, they simply didn’t know each other well enough for such physical contact. Furthermore she was the sister of the Jarl and a false word could most likely leave him in a most compromising state. It was already risky enough that he had joined her to protect her during her mission. In fact, he had only agreed to protect her to get into Sigurd’s good graces. He needed the man to trust him in order to get his plan moving along. If the redhead’s sister were to get harmed in any way, Basim could lose the trust and his present progress. A high risk, but perhaps a worthy one. 

“I won’t offer again”, Eivor said, beginning to grow impatient with his lack of response. 

“Then I don’t need to refuse again”, he retorted.

“Don’t be childish and stubborn”, she scolded him. “You are of no help, if you catch a cold.”

Basim grunted, partly because she was right and he didn’t want to admit that and partly because of annoyance. Despite his better judgment - perhaps it was Loki taken a bit over - he got back to his feet and began to open his robes while making his way over towards her.

“This doesn’t mean anything”, he added.

“I never said that it did”, she replied calmly.

Her piercing eyes were following his movements with interest and open curiosity. He almost felt completely exposed, despite a few clothes remaining on him. He certainly wasn’t as liberal as she was. It also bothered him that he couldn’t tell if she liked what she saw.

Eivor rolled her eyes and lifted one side of her make-shift blanket so that he could join her. He made sure that they weren’t touching in any way and though he would not say it out aloud, it was definitely better with an already warm fur around his body. The fur was soft against his skin and it helped with keeping him warm. Her warmth helped too.

“See, much better”, she grinned at him. “And don’t worry, I won’t bite… Unless you want me to, of course.”

“To be called Raven-Pecked?” He dared to shoot back, “I think I can do without that, thank you.”

She blinked, before laughing. “Cheeky”, she grinned.

“Mhm… And what now?” He wanted to know.

“Now… We wait and try to stay warm. It looks like it won’t stop raining for quite a while so perhaps we should use the time to get some sleep?”

The Hidden One - he was still wearing his hidden blade, like she did too - wasn’t too fond of the idea of sleep. First of all, he wasn’t comfortable enough with their near nakedness and the closeness between them. Secondly, in sleep they would be easy targets, even with the horses and Eivor’s little flying spy guarding them. 

“We could take turns”, she offered, feeling his denial even before he spoke of it.

“Yes. I will take the first watch”, he nodded readily, hoping for some peace and quiet. 

“If you wish”, she shrugged, before snuggling closer into the fur. “Just keep your hands to yourself.”

“I would never”, he began in a startled manner, but was interrupted by her laughter.

“Relax, Basim. I just wanted to rile you up. Everything is alright”, her smile was genuine and Basim found himself relaxing despite everything, though she could really improvise her sense of humor.

Eivor’s breathing soon evened out as she slipped into slumber. Basim allowed himself then to take a deep breath. His head came to rest against the hard cavewall, but it didn’t bother him much. He was more bothered by the female at his side. He couldn’t remember the last time a woman had made him feel so uneasy; not even his latest wife had caused such feelings within him. He had been sure back then, sure that she wanted him and he wanted her. With Eivor things were entirely different, they were entirely different. They had other cultures, even though Loki heavily disagreed with him on that matter. She was the sister of a Jarl; he himself was a mysterious man who had wormed his way into said Jarl’s life. She was headstrong and hot-headed, he was calm and usually collected. She was so open with her approach, while he preferred the more subtle way of showing anything. 

He startled, as something came to rest on his shoulders, which caused the female to grumble disapprovingly. He stared down, with big eyes, at the blonde head that rested on him. His first impulse was to shove her away from him, but Loki urged him to enjoy the moment while it lasted. He swallowed and weighed his options. She was asleep and this was most likely the first and only chance to be near this strong woman, who had caught his interest with a single blow to his face. He sighed, stared at the opposite wall and ever so careful, he allowed his own head to rest against hers. This… Was surprisingly nice.

Chapter Text

His awakening was rough and utterly unpleasant. His back and neck were stiff from the position and the way he had been woken up, hadn't been pleasant either. To be nudged by a booted foot was definitely not his favorite way to return to the land of the waking. 

He hadn't commented on it, only sent his traveling companion a rude gesture behind her back, which she thankfully hadn't spotted. He had huffed and made to pick up his clothes that were still damp, but at least not dripping water on the floor anymore. It wasn't comfortable to put them on, let alone how they stuck to his frame, but it would make do for now.

“You snore, you know. Like a wild boar”, Eivor commented drily. 

She was already fully dressed and looking after the horses, who had settled down at the cave entrance to escape the rain as best as they could. The animals were probably as foul spirited as Basim was.

“Excuse me?” 

He couldn't believe his ears. Was she really insulting him? He knew that this mission wasn't a good idea and with every passing minute he continued to be right. He deeply regretted having agreed to it.

“You are forgiven”, she grinned, not looking at him. “Sigurd is even worse when drunk, so I am used to it.”

Basim felt his hand twitch, but refrained from throwing anything at her head. He couldn't hurt her and he certainly couldn't kill her. He also wondered if she had misunderstood him on purpose or if she was just dense. He guessed it was the former.

“You didn't seem to mind, judging from the way you cuddled up to me”, he shot back, voice as cool as the ice in Norway.

She finally turned to look at him, her eyes widened briefly. He would have grinned satisfied, but he stood above that so his face remained calm and without any emotions.

“Well, I didn't want my favorite travel companion to freeze to death, because he didn't remember to properly pack his back and bring something to warm him up with.”

He raised an eyebrow, not believing her words for a second. “Of course”, he replied sarcastically. “In fact I only followed your invitation so that I would finally get some peace and quiet.”

“Mhm, of course”, now it was her turn not to believe him. “But enough of the teasing. I suggest we continue our journey. We should keep an eye open for anything to eat. I could devour a whole boar right now.”

He stepped past her, to ready his own horse. “Should I be worried? Just a minute ago, you compared me to a boar, now you want to eat one.”

She chuckled and hit his shoulder in what he supposed was a friendly manner. It was too hard for his liking and would likely leave a small bruise, but nothing that would overly disturb him.

“You don't have to worry. You're too scrawny and I'd rather save my arrows for something easier to catch.”

A compliment and an insult in the same sentence, he was almost impressed. 

“I try to consider myself lucky then”, he sighed. “But I would prefer if we hunt something other than a boar. A rabbit or a deer perhaps. We could also try our luck with fishing.”

He felt her eyes on his back. “Why the preferences?”

“It has nothing to do with what I prefer, it is because of my beliefs. What I consume has to be halal. There are guidelines I have to follow, which is why I won't join you in your ‘undeniable’ fun drinking activities.”

“Mhm, that sounds tiring and complicated”, she muttered.

“Like your culture is to me. I grew up like this, like you did in your beliefs”, finally satisfied with securing his gear on his horse's back, he turned to face the curious female.

She seemed deep in thought, mulling over his words no doubt. He gave her the time to do so, in fact he enjoyed the silence it had caused. He usually wasn't too fond of sharing anything about his life, but he knew the drengr wouldn't have stopped asking. Besides, it was his own fault for mentioning it in the first place.

Basim elegantly mounted Grani, adjusting his seating position and taking the reins tightly and sure. Eivor was quick to follow and thus they continued their journey.

“What else aren't you allowed to eat?”, the female eventually asked, breaking the comfortable silence between them. 

“Dogs”, he retorted, which earned him a troubled and disgusted look.

“No, be serious, Basim.”

“I am”, he gazed towards her, only briefly. “There are people and cultures who indeed consume dogs. I do not, so your little pet wolf is safe.”

“I would skin you alive, if you were to touch Dwolfg.” 

Basim had absolutely no doubt about that. “I am not allowed to participate in gambling either. Everything that has an intoxicating effect or could cause addiction is forbidden.”

She made a humming sound, contemplating his words. “This sounds… boring.”

He actually snorted. “Not everything can be an adventure.”

Eivor shrugged at that, clearly disagreeing, but she had the mind not to utter her opinion, at least for now. The Hidden One was no fool however and he knew they would most likely return to this topic at some point. If he were lucky enough, Hytham would educate their warrior friend on this matter, but their journey had just started and he doubted she would have enough patience to wait until they had returned to Ravensthorpe.

They managed to catch a proud deer that Eivor shot professionally with her bow. She allowed Basim to prepare the flesh his way, observing how he did it and how he thanked his god for the food. He was thankful for that. He knew that many people wouldn’t have bothered with his beliefs and wouldn’t have waited for him to follow his religion, but Eivor seemed to be different. He should have expected it to be honest, the way she had united all kinds of different people in the village. He briefly thought of the Roman man, not to forget the Saxons and Christians and he guessed he and Hytham were quite unusual as well. She was an open spirit, saw the person behind the beliefs and gave everyone a chance, even a second one. The only thing she required back was loyalty and kinship. 

While the Hidden One had prepared the flesh, the warrior had made a fire that was happily crackling in front of them. They did not only use it to cook their meal, but to dry their clothes and belongings. She would have been fine without him there, he had no doubt about that. Sigurd had told him as much too, which is why Basim had asked the redhead why he was supposed to accompany and protect her then. He had been shocked to learn that one of her own kinsmen would stoop so low to try to force himself upon the strong female and despite what Sigurd had asked of him, Basim wondered if he truly accompanied the female to protect her from Ivarr, or rather to protect Ivarr from her. 

He was brought out of his musings by a waterskin that appeared in front of his face. He leaned slightly back to properly see it, before taking the offered water. 

“Thank you”, he inclined his head, which earned him a small smile. 

The water was cool against his throat, almost too cold, but it also helped keep him awake and alert. He hadn’t slept well the previous night. The reason for this was the dampness of the cave, as well as his sitting position, but also a certain blonde too. He had thought a lot about Eivor, the female that apparently trusted him enough to fall into a deep slumber, leaning more and more against him. He had enjoyed the closeness, though he would deny it if asked. Even Loki had been delighted by the close proximity of a female human. How long had it been since he had last laid with a woman? It must be years. In fact, he didn’t remember ever sharing the bed with a woman except his wife and considering that she was long since dead… 

He gazed at the female warrior, who was standing close and proud. Her own focus wasn’t on him however. She had her arm outstretched and whistled for her bird. The raven, Sýnin if Basim remembered correctly, gently landed on her arm and happily devoured the raw flesh and meat she gave it. 

“A beautiful companion”, he commented, after the raven’s belly was full. It had taken off, as soon as its owner had given it the last piece of food.

“And a very clever one”, Eivor agreed. “Sýnin has been my companion ever since I was a child. I found her when she was but a mere hatchling, abandoned by her parents. I remember thinking that our fates were so much alike and I took her in, just as Sigurd had taken me in. I raised her and she never left my side ever since.”

He hummed and followed the raven’s circles high above their heads. “A strong bond formed by trust and love”, he guessed.

“Sigurd always took it as a sign. We were of the Ravenclan after all and Odin had ravens as well. I never really thought about it, to be honest. Sýnin is as much part of my family as Sigurd and Randvi are and I am happy to have her at my side.”

“I can believe that”, he shifted on the log he was sitting on, poking around the fire to keep it properly burning, “You have an affinity to animals, I believe.”

“That might be… or the gods just like to have fun with me, by providing me with strange creatures.”

Basim thought about the tall white wolf Eivor had brought to the village. Her brother hadn’t been happy, especially when the animal had taken the liberty to sleep with his sister during the night. The man had been afraid for his sister’s well-being, especially concerning her troubled past with wolves. He had voiced his concerns, only to be quickly shut up by Eivor herself. Next there had been the little fox that was spotted lurking around the village as if it owned it. It was a rather shy creature, usually running away when someone got too close to it. An exception from it was of course Eivor. When she called, the fox would listen and it even allowed her to stroke through its fur. She also had a hand for horses and apparently ravens too. She was indeed a wondrous woman.  

The blonde sat back down, right next to the Hidden One. He moved to give her enough room to sit and he wasn’t even bothered when their shoulders touched. He offered her back her waterskin from which she drank too. Their meal was almost ready as well, they just needed a few more minutes of patience.

“I can’t wait to finally arrive in Lincolnscire, though I wonder what the Ragnarssons business is there”, Eivor shared her thoughts.

“Have you already grown tired of my presence that you are this impatient?” He retorted cheekily, before he could stop himself. He blamed Loki for it; he even heard the trickster’s cackle at the back of his head.

Blue eyes searched his own gaze with amusement in them. “Oh no. I find myself enjoying your silence and snoring very much”, she tried to rile him up again and nudged his arm with her own, barely holding in her chuckling.

“I certainly hope so. After all, I put in all my effort to keep quiet during the day and loud during the night, like a proper travel companion. It keeps you awake and blabbering for two.”

She snorted. “If you believe you are funny, you are mistaken.”

“And yet you are grinning”, he retorted.

She rolled her eyes good-naturedly and actually gave him this small victory, though he was sure she could have easily found a fitting retort. He had heard about her Flyting talent.

“In all honesty, it is just… I want this mission to be over as soon as possible”, she had become serious all of a sudden.

“Are you troubled about our task or because of the Ragnarssons?” Basim wanted to know.

“The latter”, she admitted. “Ivarr… Is not a pleasant man to be around. He almost killed someone very dear to me. He… Pretended as if the boy was attacked by our enemies, just because he wanted the king dead. He… Ceolbert… He almost died in my arms. It was a close call, the poor boy…”

“You are very fond of him?” He didn’t need to ask, but he wanted her to continue talking.

“Yes”, she readily agreed, “and after I figured out what had really happened, we already killed the king for revenge.” She grimaced. “I almost killed Ivarr, I really wanted to, but… I hesitated and left him lying there, badly wounded. I didn’t think he deserved Valhalla, so I let him live. He wasn’t happy about it, he screamed for me to return and end it. I heard him the whole way down from the mountain we had been fighting atop of.”

Basim gazed deeply into the fire. This was troubling news and he had the feeling that Sigurd didn’t know about this, otherwise the Jarl would have told him. This could actually complicate this mission even more. Now he knew that this Ivarr was not only after Eivor because of lust and desire, but also because something akin to revenge. She had denied him the fate he had envisioned for himself and he knew how important fate and death in battle was to vikingr. This wouldn’t be easy. He had to tread careful, keep his eyes open and his blade ready.

“Be assured”, he eventually said in a calm tone, “whatever it is that awaits us, I will be at your side, keeping you out of harm's way.”

This was a promise he was more than willing to keep and not only because of Sigurd’s trust in him. 

“I know”, she gifted him a small, yet true smile.

Chapter Text

As soon as they arrived at the Ragnarssons’ camp, Basim had scanned their surroundings for any possible threat. He had never met the Boneless himself so he could only rely on the description he had gotten from Sigurd. The man had told him about the ugly scar that was covering half of the Ragnarsson’s face, as well as the unmistakable style of his hair. On one side he had shaved it off, on the other side of his head, the black strands almost reached his shoulder. And there was also that mad look in cold and calculating eyes, at least that is what Basim had been told.

They left the horses at the entrance of the camp, where all the other animals resided. Eivor moved surely and without hesitation or any sign of weakness, not that the Hidden One had expected something else. But he couldn't detect a single sign of nervousness or tension so he guessed that the Boneless wasn't around. He didn't let his guard down however, the man in question could very well hide in one of the tents or appear at any minute to ‘greet’ them.

“By Odin's beard, Eivor”, a deep voice boomed through the camp. “You are finally here.”

A quick glance towards his companion told Basim everything he needed to know. The female drengr was smiling and quickening her steps. She was actually happy seeing the man who had called out to them. The Hidden One guesses, by the authority in the tall and broad man's voice, that he had to be Ubba Ragnarsson. Eivor had spoken fondly of him so there was no malice to be expected there. He remained careful though.

“Ubba”, she approached the bear of a man with a grin on her features and allowed him to pull her into a friendly hug.

Her grin was matched by the Ragnarsson. He truly seemed happy about her presence. Basim didn't like the hug, though he couldn't tell why it bothered him. He heard Loki's cackling, otherwise the trickster god remained silent, the traitor.

“I am glad you came, despite… well”, he cleared his throat. “We can definitely use your help and your silver tongue.”

“We are allies. When you call, I follow”, she said.

“Poetic as ever”, the man chuckled. Only then did his eyes met Basim's calculating ones. “I see you didn’t come alone. I had guessed that that brother of yours would be too busy as a Jarl, still I had hoped to see him again. Well, it doesn't matter. Will you introduce me to your companion?”

Eivor nodded and rested a hand on Basim's shoulder. The Hidden One had his hands clasped loosely before him and allowed the touch. He felt curious eyes regarding him carefully and he wondered what ran through the tall man's mind.

“Basim, may I introduce you to Ubba Ragnarsson, leader of this small army. He wields his weapon as you would expect, without mercy and with much strength behind every blow.”

The tall man inclined his head, still regarding the Arabic with open curiosity, though there was no hostility in them.

“Ubba, this is Basim, a good friend of mine and Sigurd. He is far from home and aids us in all matters concerning our settlement”, Eivor began with her honeyed words. “Don't let his look fool you, he is quick and deadly. He can kill a man and be gone again, before said man even realizes that he is dead.”

The Hidden One stood just a bit taller at the unexpected praise. He enjoyed it, coming from her mouth.

“That sounds more like a cowardly snake in the grass than an actual warrior”, a new voice exclaimed.

Basim didn't need to look to know exactly to whom it belonged. The slimy words, the clear insult and the arrogance spoke of a certain man he had heard about. The way Eivor tensed gave it away as well. Ivarr Ragnarsson had finally made his appearance, though Basim wasn’t sure where he had come from.

“Ivarr”, Ubba began in a warning tone, but Basim interrupted him.

“Better a venomous and intelligent snake than a mindless brute, who doesn't understand the concept of strategic maneuvers.”

Ivarr huffed and came to a stop next to his larger brother. His arms were crossed in front of his chest and his face showed his displeasure and his cold eyes regarded Basim with a mixture of distrust and dislike. The Hidden One was no mind reader, but the man's intentions were clearly plastered on his face, he was out for blood and he certainly didn't like being insulted. Basim was sure, without Ubba Ragnarsson present, the Boneless would have either insulted him back or properly attacked him, or perhaps even both.

“Ivarr”, Eivor acknowledged the newcomer coldly.

A fake smile appeared on the scarred man's face. “Oh, Wolf-Licked, what a pleasure to have you here again”, something dangerous sparkled in his eyes, as he took a step towards her. The insult clearly had a deeper meaning.

Basim reacted before he could think. He too took a step forward, positioning him slightly in front the only female in their little group. Ivarr’s gaze settled on him again and something akin to a growl escaped him.

“Call off your little lap dog, Wolf-Licked, otherwise I will-” 

They never knew what he would otherwise do, for it was Ubba, who took his brother by his shoulder and pulled him back harshly. “Behave, brother, or you'll be sent away… or imprisoned so you don't go running off doing something stupid again.”

Ivarr practically snarled and tore away from the older Ragnarsson's vice-like grip. The dangerous glint in his eyes had intensified and underlined the madness and bloodlust in the man, but he did take a step back.

“How about we talk about why we are here?” Eivor offered a way out for all of them. 

“Of course”, Ubba took it immediately and made an inviting gesture towards one of the tents that was probably his. “Follow us.”

The taller of the brothers pulled Ivarr after him, despite the scarred man loudly voicing his protest. Basim’s eyes remained on the dangerous man. He only averted his gaze, when the hand of his female companion laid on his arm. 

“Thank you”, she gave him a small small, before taking the lead.

He almost smiled too, but refrained from doing so when he noticed the eyes of the Boneless on him and Eivor. He didn’t want the man to develop even more and crazier ideas in that damaged head of his. He was dangerous and unpredictable enough as it were. He had gathered that from the brief encounter they just had and since the Hidden One was no fool, he knew exactly that the other man was analyzing him as well. It was unlikely that Ivarr would engage in a battle he was about to lose, or at least Basim hoped as much.

They followed the two Ragnarssons into the tent and surrounded a provisionally built table. On top of the table lay a detailed map of the region, with certain symbols and markers adorning it. Basim listened to the Ragnarssons’ plan with only one ear. Ubba explained that there had been a dispute with another clan he had tried to settle with words, Ivarr however, had destroyed every hope of creating any peace arrangement, with his insults and after he had attacked the son of the Jarl of the foreign clan. The son had died, drowning in his own blood and his father had obviously been very angry and wanted revenge. Now the two clans raged a war neither of them seemed to win. Ubba had asked for the aid of the Ravenclan, especially Eivor’s strategic mind and now with two capable fighters - one of them a snake if Ivarr was asked - the taller Ragnarsson felt hope again.

The battle plan was easy and simple and as effective as any plan. Basim didn’t particularly care for the details, he would remain at Eivor’s side, that was clear. Most of his focus remained on the Boneless, who watched him like a predator. The Hidden One was not easily intimidated and he made sure that the mad man knew and noticed that as well. There was an unspoken challenge between them and Basim had the growing feeling he should sleep with one eye open. 

After the brief meeting and with a battle awaiting them the following day, Eivor and Basim made their retreat. The Hidden One felt two pairs of eyes on their retreating backs, one of them hopeful and thankful for their arrival, the other one full of madness and revenge. He allowed the female warrior to guide him towards the tent they had been assigned to. Crude as he was, Ivarr had invited Eivor to his own tent, a lewd smirk adorning his face while saying so. She had ignored him completely, which probably only fueled the man even more. Basim had the feeling that everything was fueling the man.

“I hope you don’t mind sharing a tent with me”, Eivor began.

Basim almost startled at her words. When had she become so unsure of herself? She hadn’t really bothered about his comfort when they had slept in the cave. What was different now? Was it because of Ivarr the Boneless?

“I prefer this arrangement”, he stated, “I don’t trust this Ivarr.”

“Me neither”, her smile was forced and certainly didn’t reach her eyes. “I think he sees you as a rival.” 

“Let him”, Basim shrugged, holding away the cloth of their tent so that the female could enter before him, “His arrogance and madness will be his downfall.”

She ducked into the tent, humming in approval. Basim quickly took another look around, but nothing was amiss. Nobody was watching them and there was no sign of the Boneless. He was probably held back by his older brother. The Hidden One huffed at the thought of the scarred men, before schooling his features and following his travel companion. It wouldn’t do any of them any good, if he were to openly display his troubled thoughts. 

His eyes came to rest on the female, who was already sitting on one of the makeshift beds. She was obviously deep in thought, so the Hidden One let her be. He knew from experience that she would talk once she was ready. For now, he kneeled onto the hard ground, keeping his back straight and closing his eyes. He would meditate and organize his own thoughts. He usually meditated and sometimes even prayed before a battle or an important mission and this time was as good as any. While his mind wandered, calming itself, he felt Loki’s presence emerging more, keeping an eye out and ready to alert him were he and Eivor in any danger. It certainly had some advantages to share a mind with someone else.

When he reopened his eyes, an hour had passed. Eivor was still in the tent with him, but she had moved from her position on the bed to across from him. She had mirrored his position and meditated on her own. He had sometimes seen her do this before a battle as well.

He let out a small breath, ending his ritual and stretching his muscles. Almost immediately, blue eyes opened.

“Basim”, she began, but stopped herself. He waited, but encouraged her to continue with a nod. “I want you to be careful. I have the feeling that Ivarr is planning something. He killed many men and women, he is… Isn’t as mad as you might think either, but he uses dirty tricks and knows which points to push to his advantage and to make his opponents lose their composure and make them do stupid and irrational things.”

Basim was touched by her worrying over him, even though she shouldn’t. After all he was here to protect her, not the other way around. 

“Do not allow worry to cloud your mind”, he gently chided, “I have my own tricks up my sleeve.”

“I know, I know”, she sighed.

Basim hummed. “Go to sleep and try not to worry.” 

She didn’t seem pleased by it. “We both need rest for tomorrow.”

The blonde still didn’t feel safe, which Basim understood fully. He didn’t either. Still he gave her a reassuring small smile. “I am a light sleeper and I am sure your little raven will keep an eye open as well.”

Eivor inclined her head, pondering about his words for a moment, before nodding. “If I figure out that you are lying and staying awake the whole night, I will hit you.”

He actually laughed at that. “I have no doubt about that, Wolf-Kissed and I am not foolish enough to tempt fate… Or you.”

Seemingly satisfied with this answer, she nodded and turned towards the bed she had previously sat on. He inconspicuously watched how she took off her armor to lie down in a more comfortable manner. She was still wearing the hidden blade on her wrist and Basim was sure there were more weapons on her or at least within her direct reach. He nodded approvingly. With this knowledge, he could prepare himself for bed now too.