#been really enjoying writing this so far
Do you guys remember me getting excited abt this? Well, i’ve outlined my plot points now and i’ve started writing :))) Here’s my first draft of my prologue! Ultimately I went more AC with this and tried to incorporate more gameplay stuff than completely historically accurate. Also, I obviously played a little w relationships since it’s an AU and all, but I think the basic stuff is there. idk, lmk how you like it so far I’m in my early chapters rn
~500 words feat. Breach (ofc) and Skye!
“Why are you doing this? You don’t have to listen to him!”
Erik stormed past his sister who tried to cling onto his arm, but he withdrew his hand and walked past.
“I have until sunrise to leave. Are you with me or with him?”
“Erik, you have to—”
“My father took you in. He housed you. He raised you, and now he is gone. You heard his words, you saw the challenge, so who’s side are you on?” With every line, he took a step closer. He would never hurt her, no, but he needed to know who was loyal to him, and who was loyal to his brother. “Kirra, but you must choose.”
“It’s you. Of course, I choose you.”
“Good,” he ruffled her hair and smiled. “Then let’s get packed. Those who are loyal to me will meet us at the docks.”
“Where will you go? To the east? The Rus—”
“No. The east is poor this time of year, and my brother already has friends along the rivers and seas there.”
Swords, an axe, his shield, they were all a priority. They would have enough rations for a week’s worth of travel maybe. Erik searched under his desk and found his hidden chest of silver coins. There were other treasures and trinkets that he would’ve liked to bring had he had more time, but this was the lot that was drawn. He needed to get out.
“Erik Torsten. You haven’t answered me yet.”
He stood up straight and gave himself a second before turning to face his sister. “West. We go to the land of the Norse, get what supplies we’re still missing, then go west to England. There’ll be plenty of land, and my brother was never a fan of the warmer weather there. We’ll be safe.”
“Are you giving up on our home?”
There was pain in her voice that was echoed in his chest. This was their homeland. Their ancestors lived and died here. They knew every inch of their land like it was the back of their hand. Both had lived good lives here, full of memories and love that meant nothing the moment his brother turned on him. And if they left, it was unlikely they would come back.
“Yes. For now.”
“What if we reached out to our Norse allies?”
“They would never make an enemy in a different land, and they would never support a coward—”
Kirra scowled and protested his words, “You are no coward!”
“We may know that, but according to our traditions… That is what I am. Now, let’s go.”
He put his arm around his sister and led her out to the waiting longship. There were others that looked to be ready to leave with him – enough to fill another longship, but they were still a minority. These were the ones who would believe in his leadership. The rest who stayed were either too afraid to leave their home, or on the side calling him a coward. Either way, as he looked at the darkness over his town, torches flickering in the chilly air, he knew that this was not the last time he would set foot here. But until then, Erik would need to say goodbye.
