NOVEL NEXT Chapter 50: Strange Affliction
It was a few days after everyone returned from Darkmoon Forest and Kattegat was already busting with activity. Thorfinn did not want to wait a moment before he started enacting his changes. What was most important at the moment was expanding the harbour and building new ships, Kattegat was well placed and could turn into an important trade centre for the villages further north and those south. That wasn't even mentioning the future raids upon the West.
There were also numerous upgrades that Thorfinn wished to make to Kattegat itself. He had read in numerous texts and had seen himself, roads of stone. He had seen how useful they'd been in helping people transport things around the castle. Fewer axles broke and it was an overall better look. Sadly there were no masters of stone in the village, no one who could make such beautiful works as the Romans did. However there were those who knew how to work stone to a small degree, the Jarls longhouse as well as Mikaels and his own had a foundation of stone —as did most smithies. Thorfinn thought that would be more than enough to replace the roads with stone.
Despite winter approaching men and women still worked hard, they hunted and fished and foraged what they could. They were under the belief that the recent conflict would cause a famine this winter, as farmers had been taken away from their farms and those who owned land found themselves lacking the labour they needed to harvest properly. Thorfinn allowed them to think this, he didn't inform any of them that there would be enough food to survive through the winter.
Ragnar had been the one to suggest this, he said that it would make them more grateful and would solidify his position as Jarl if he got them all through the winter. Thorfinn at first felt dubious about it, he didn't want there to be conflict in the village —people stealing from each other. However in the end he agreed, solidifying his position was more important now.
While the people of Kattegat worked for their short-term goals. Thorfinn with the help of Floki, Ragnar and Storri started to plan for the long term, more specifically the expansion of Kattegat. Gold and silver would soon flow into this village, and that would undoubtedly attract people from all across the north. Where the spikes had been placed now would be the inner city, Thorfinn planned to build a wall there that stretched across the village to the water. They would then start making the land suitable outside the walls for construction.
There was also a river that ran through the nearby forest. Once most of the construction was done they could build an aqueduct. That seemed to be a requirement if Thorfinn wanted to construct any of the more advanced buildings he'd read about.
However, they all agreed that the main long-term plan was to expand. They needed skilled workers, luckily for them, they were plentiful in number across the ocean to the west.
Floki would build Thorfinn more boats, and they would sail west again. Northumbria, Mercia, Wessex, East Anglia and Kent. They were all touched by the great empire and would no doubt have ancient knowledge stored there. Ragnar had told him that the lands there were much fairer than ours were, that the future of our people could lay there. Thorfinn disagreed, he would then Kattegat into a city not even rivalled by Constantinople, and he would do it all in his lifetime.
...
Thorfinn yawned as he walked back into his room from the main hall, these meetings were exhausting and seemed to be endless. He knew of their importance but he honestly just wanted to rest, the more he worked the more he realised there was to do. He was lucky to have competent men around him otherwise he'd have a much more difficult time. He wouldn't know what to do if he didn't have Floki here, despite his childish behaviour and numerous pranks he was a wise man and an even better shipbuilder.
Thorfinn couldn't imagine a shipbuilder any better than Floki was, and it was because of his ship that we first went west. Compared to the Jarl's ships, Floki's were faster, they were stronger, and they were built in such a way that they cut through the waves without damaging them. He would give Floki whatever he needed to make more.
Rubbing his eyes he pushed open the door to his room. When he opened his eyes a smile formed on his face as he was greeted with a sight he hadn't expected to see, but was very welcome.
Thyri sat on his bed with her legs crossed. She wore not a single garment, her entire body exposed to Thorfinn. She had a sultry smile on her face, but Thorfinns gaze did not stay there for long. His eyes trailed down her neck and collarbone to her breasts which had long erect nipples at their peak. Further down her pale skin and smooth stomach was a thick dark bush that hid away most of her womanhood from him. At least until she uncrossed her legs and spread them wide showing her sex to Thorfinn which was already gushing with her juices.
"You've been working so hard my Jarl, won't you let me take care of you," she spoke in a hum as she moved up from the bed sauntering over to him putting an extra seat in her hips. Thorfinn stepped forward and closed the door, his cock hardening inside his clothing. He hadn't fucked in weeks, not since he had taken Thyri the first time, and his balls were full of his seed. Seed that he needed to release.
"Come here..." Thorfinn growled as he stepped forward wrapping his arms around her back and pressing his lips against her.
"Mmmmn!" She moaned into his mouth as his tongue forced its way inside and started twirling with her own. She felt her juices start to flow down her leg as Thorfinn flicked his tongue against the roof of her mouth. As he kissed her his hands roughly fondled her backside squeezing and stretching her cheeks apart. "Mmmmmnn please!" Thyri moaned as they disconnected from the kiss and she pressed herself tightly against his body.
Thorfinn could feel her nipples pressing into him through his tunic. He nearly rippled the piece of clothing off so he could feel them brush against his skin. Thyri's hands trailed down his muscled stomach before they traced the thick length that outlined his hosur's. He grunted as she squeezed his length and started to gently rub it. Thorfinn however was not a patient man and he forced Thyri to her knees, something she gladly did.
She looked up at Thorfinn eyes clouded with lust and she bit her lip as she pulled down his hosurs and released his thick length that hit her face with a thud. The heat that warmed Thyri's core turned into an inferno as she inhaled the scent of Thorfinns cock. She breathed deeply trying to inhale the essence into her very being. At the tip of it was a thick transparent liquid that dribbled out and onto her forehead. Hesitantly she grabbed the length in her hand, it was soft and warm yet hard as iron.
Thorfinns cock twitched as Thyri put her hand around it. He loved her hands, they were soft, no callouses, just like Rebekah's, they felt amazing wrapped around him. She stroked his cock up and done, though she didn't a little clumsily. Thyri had no sexual experience before Thorfinn and so she only knew what her mother had told her she would be expected to do to her husband. Thorfinn hummed as her other hand joined the other and she started to stroke his length faster than before.
She kept looking at him, keeping eye contact as she breathed heavily. She felt a tingling sensation rush through her body when she opened her mouth and licked the head of his cock, tasting the fluids that dripped out. They were rich and musky but slightly sweet too, Thyri hadn't tasted anything like that before but she knew she wanted more. She moved her mouth around the head of his cock engulfing the entirety of it.
Thorfinn closed his eyes and moved his hands around her head pushing her a little deeper. She gagged slightly as his cock made its way further into her mouth but she didn't try to move back and instead bobbed her head along what shaft was already in her mouth while using her hands to stroke the rest. She kept doing this while twirling her tongue around the head, licking up any fluids that leaked out.
Eventually, it became too much for Thorfinn who hadn't released his seed in weeks. He gripped her hair tightly and started thrusting his hips forward, Thyri could only hold onto his legs as he thrust in and out of her mouth going deeper than before. "Gugh Gugh Gugggh." Thyri choked and gagged on his cock as he pushed it further into her mouth and past her throat. Tears started forming in her eyes, but she had never been so wet before and she moved a hand down to her sex and started rubbing it.
Thorfinns balls started to churn and expand and moments later his cock started shooting rope after rope of thick seed into Thyri's mouth. She had to grab Thorfinns cock as she struggled to swallow all of it, but after seven bursts Thorfinn slowed down and Thyri was able to drink it all down.
Thyri smiled as she drew her mouth from his cock. "Have I pleased my Jarl," she cooed as she kept stroking his length which had not softened in the slightest.
"Not yet," he spoke before pulling her up and turning her around. Thyri felt his cock push up against her bum and it made her stomach tighten in anticipation. He marched her over to the bed before he pushed her over making her go on all fours.
"Uhhhh!" Thyri moaned as Thorfinn grabbed her cheeks and licked her from the top of her dead to her anus. Thorfinn hadn't meant to lick that far but in his haze of lust, he was doing strange things. He saw how her toes had curled when he had licked her other hole. Thorfinn tried it again, giving Thyri a long slow kick. He could feel her soft pubic hair under his tongue, it was soaked with her juices and held an addicting taste.
"Oooooh!" Thyri moaned as Thorfinns tongue ran across both her holes. Except this time it stayed at her anus, Thorfinn traced her wrinkled hole with his tongue. "Uhhhh! Thorfinn!!! What are you! Ohhhhhhhhh!!!" She moaned and gripped the furs of the bed as he was more aggressive. She could feel the pleasure in her body, building as Thorfinn switched between holes. "Yes! Thorfinnnnn! It's so dirty!!! Oh, it's so good!" She moaned as she could feel herself reaching her peak.
However, Thorfinn abruptly stopped "Noooo! Please!" Thyri begged, her face was flush and her sex was twitching, the hole gaping. Thorfinn stood up to his full height and let his cock slap between her cheeks. He grabbed it before lining it up with her sex and then in one strong thrust, half his cock was buried inside her.
"AAAAAAHHHHHHH!" Thyri screamed as she squirted all over Thorfinns cock and balls. Her body tightened and contracted as pleasure surged through her body.
Thorfinn grunted as he felt Thyri's already tight hole tighten more around him. He had to grab her hips and thrust a few times forcing more of his cock inside her and making her scream in pleasure more and more. When he buried himself to the hilt, Thyri had still not come down from her orgasm. He drew his cock out before thrusting again. Her soft behind rippled and clapped every time he thrust inside her; the juices from her orgasm made it easy to keep moving. Thorfinn moved hard and fast barely paying attention to how loud Thyri was. He moved his hand down her back before coming to her small dark hole. Stroking his thumb across it he penetrated her as he thrust right down to the hilt.
"It's coming!!!!"
"Thorfinn!!! It's coming!!!"
"It's coming!!!"
"She's coming!!!"
"I'm coming!!!"
Thyri nearly passed out as she had one of the most intense orgasms she'd ever had. Thorfinn growled as he felt her sex start to contract and ripple across him, as if trying to milk his cock. Thyri felt Thorfinn start to thrust faster as well as his cock start to twitch. "Yessss!!! Inside!!! Baby! Please!" She said almost incoherently.
Thorfinn roared as he started to shoot his seed deep inside. Every time his cock shot a rope of his seed, Thyri's sex would contract and draw out as much as it could. Thorfinn breathed out, sweat marring his and Thyri's body as he moved next to her on the bed collapsing beside her. Thyri moved and wrapped her body around his chest humming in content as she could feel Thorfinns warmth inside her.
"Are you satisfied my jarl," she asked as she laid her chin on his chest and looked up at him.
"For now," Thorfinn replied.
"Then perhaps next time you should use this hole..." Thyri said with red cheeks as she moved Thorfinns hand to her bum.
Thorfinn felt his cock twitch. "If you're not careful I'll use it now," he growled.
Thyri giggled as he rubbed her face against his chest. However, before they could settle down and rest there was a knock at the door. "Who is it!" Thorfinn shouted.
"It's Storri Lord, there is a problem at the docks," the man said through the door.
Thorfinn breathed out in frustration. "I'll wait here for you, and have a bath ready," Thyri said as she moved up and pressed her lips against his before moving off him. Thorfinn sighed before getting up and putting his clothing back on, it took a few minutes but he was then out of his room still as tired as he was before he came in. Storri stood outside waiting for him "Could no one else deal with this?" Thorfinn asked as he walked past Storri, the man falling into step next to him.
Storri shook his head. "We've tried, the man won't listen to anything, he's been touched by madness, he won't let anyone get close."
Thorfinn frowned. "Tell me from the beginning," he asked as they walked out of the longhouse and into the streets.
Storri nodded. "Floki has been at work scrapping down the old and weak ships to use in the expansion of the harbour."
Thorfinn nodded.
"All was well until one of the men stopped working, he just collapsed to the ground at first and started shaking," Storri said a look of concern on his face.
"A sickness? Why did you not bring him to a healer," Thorfinn asked.
"We thought it could be, but the man stopped shaking soon after, he stood up and we thought all was fine," Storri then paused causing Thorfinn to look at him.
"What happened?" He asked.
"He killed one of the others, he drew his dagger and slit their throat before he started laughing, a few of the others tried to grab him but he climbed up the mast of the ship and is still up there," Storri explained.
Thorfinn frowned at the information he'd been given, he'd heard of people afflicted by madness when at sea, but to be normal one moment and kill your shield brother the next, it didn't make sense. His instincts told him that there was more going on, but he wouldn't say anything yet, causing undue panic would be foolish. 'Perhaps one of my spells could heal him,' he thought to himself as he pushed past a group of people with Storri by his side.
The sight that greeted him at the harbour could only be described as madness. The afflicted man sat on the mast covered in blood and waving around his dagger while laughing. He laughed as if someone had told him the most humorous joke that anyone had ever heard. As Thorfinn passed the crowd he saw people aim with their bows. "Not yet," Thorfinn said firmly holding his hand up to them. His words announced his presence and numerous voices saying the jarl was here could be heard.
Thorfinn walked across the sand and into the wooden dock where Floki and Ragnar stood. When Floki saw him he giggled "It's good you're here Thorfinn, people are spreading rumours that I spread my madness to him," he said before laughing again.
"It would not surprise me," Ragnar said with a grin though his eyes never left the man.
Thorfinn looked up at him. "Who is he?" He asked.
"His name is Haraldr, he's no one of importance, he helps around during planting and harvesting season, sometimes he will raid," Floki told him.
Ragnar hit Floki in the arm before his face scrunched up as if trying to remember something "He did once hit a man through the eye from a hundred paces away..."
Floki shook his head. "No that's Hereldr, he was a good shot."
"Ahhh yes, I remember now," Ragnar said nodding his head.
Thorfinn shook his head "Let's remain focused on the task, who did he kill?"
Both men looked at him. "Hereldr," they said at the same time.
Thorfinn closed his eyes for a second before opening them. "Have any of you tried to speak with him or get him down?" He asked.
"He slashes at anyone who gets too close and when we try to speak he ignores us, all he does is laugh and mumble something to himself," Ragnar stated. "We were about to shoot him down before you came."
Thorfinn is tempted to let them, but as his Jarl, he owes it to the man to explain himself or to at least see if he's beyond saving. "Wait till I'm done speaking to him," Thorfinn instructed before jumping on the ship. He stepped over the deadbody and strode towards the mast where he jumped up using the ropes to pull himself further up. As he climbed the mast he could hear the laughing getting louder and louder. He could also hear the muttering, he kept repeating a phrase again and again.
"She is coming... she is coming... she is coming... heheh heheh she is coming... she is coming Hahahahaha."
"Hail Haraldr," Thorfinn said as he climbed near the top and looked to the wooden beam reaching out to the left that the man sat on. Haraldr paused for a moment before he continued laughing and mumbling to himself. "Haraldr... you've murdered a fellow freeman of Kattegat, speak now, defend yourself," Thorfinn shouted as he climbed onto the beam wrapping his legs around either side.
*Swoosh*
The people down below gasped in shock and archers nocked their arrows as they looked at what had just happened.
Thorfinn sat there unimpressed, in his arm was the hand of the man who had just tried to slash at him with the dagger. "You have a final chance to speak and defend yourself for your actions," Thorfinn said with a blank expression.
Haraldr just looked at him with utter jubilance, his laughing had not stopped even for a moment. "She is coming," he said to him before he laughed again.
"Who is coming?" Thorfinn asked as he tightened his grip around the man's wrist. His anger was starting to bubble up, as he was reminded of his nightmare from over a week ago.
The man didn't answer him just laughing, something that began to get on his nerves. "Who! Tell me now!?" Thorfinn commanded, but Haraldr just laughed more even pointing at him with his other hand.
*Crunch*
Thorfinn whose hand was surrounded in a transparent white aura broke Haraldr's wrist, yet it was as if the man didn't feel it at all. Thorfinn took a second to calm himself before deciding that they'd need to examine him, he needed to understand what this madness was. "You're coming with me," Thorfinn said as he dragged Haraldr across the beam.
Suddenly the man stopped laughing and he started to struggle, throwing punches and kicks, trying to get loose. In the struggle he fell back and off the mast falling straight onto the dock and smashing his head open on the wood. Thorfinn cursed as he looked down, he jumped grabbing a rope to break his fall. "Floki, I want you to burn his body, and burn the body of the man he killed... this madness is strange," he said as he stepped over the body.
Floki nodded and instructed two men to pick the bodies up. He along with Thorfinn and Ragnar all left the dock taking the bodies out of the harbour. Though as they did Thorfinn noticed a young woman laughing as she watched them carry the dead bodies. However, this was overshadowed by something else. He saw a cloaked man attempting to stick into the shadows, normally he might succeed but Thorfinn could nearly see in the dark his eyesight was so sharp.
The man was big and muscular, not as tall as Rollo but just as muscular. He wore a cloak that covered his face and he seemed to be watching the scene with interest. Thorfinn grabbed onto the pommel of his sword before he split off from the others and headed over to the man, he started pushing past everyone trying to get closer though as the Jarl he drew attention to whether he walked, and so people started to greet him. He greeted them back half-heartedly trying to make his way through, but he was barely a quarter of the way through the crowd before the man spotted him and disappeared into an alleyway.
Thorfinn had many answers that needed solving today. What was the affliction of this man and who was the stranger that watched, but most importantly.
Who is coming?
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Witches... they are some of the foulest beings to walk this earth. They are also some of the most dangerous, though not all of them are like this. Most witches were content with learning magic, staying in their covens or on their own. But they are not true witches, they are simply those blessed with magic, and while some of them do attempt to pervert nature with their power, it is inconsequential in the long run.
True witches are direct descendants of the human survivors of the antediluvian. More specifically, the descendants of the first witches of Enoch. The number of witches that were in the first city is unknown, as is the number that survived, but each was powerful as they were the first to tap into and use the magic of the world, filling their bodies with it.
Stories from that era are rare, so much is unknown, but what is known is that every witch was unique and had their own power. Their descendants while weaker than their ancestors inherited their unique magic, it was what made them so dangerous.
It was why he had swore to hunt them all to extinction. They were monsters and it was his job to exterminate monsters.
He had been chasing The Witch of Whispers for years, but she was always on the move. But he's had a stroke of luck, he knows where she is going to be, and if he can plan this right. He can end her before she even knows he is here.
The man with a cloak watched from the shadows as the Jarl of Kattegat looked for him again. He could smell the power that leaked off him, he could make a good ally.
He grunted.
Best wait and observe.
(AN: So here we go things are picking up. I thought it would be cool to add a little bit of Lore to the story, It won't be the only pre Flood thing I add as I like the concept, but yeah Dahlia is kinda different than the TV shows atm. She doesn't have raw power at the moment, but that doesn't mean she isn't strong. She's a True Witch. Now who's that stranger that has been watching, I've given some hints I don't wanna make it too bait, but yeah he'll be kind of important in the future. I hope you liked the chapter.)
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