The icy winds howled over the big piece of rock, lashing on the army of chained people scuffling back and forth, hauling and laboring on one task or another, most of them a few body parts short due to frostbites being in ample supply among side them. Pyra watched them with critical eye, signaling for members of her host to use their whips on any thrall she spotted slacking off or not doing what she deemed as sufficient labor. She was tasked with overseeing the preparation of the grand fleet by the orders of Haraldr and she eagerly took her new duty, looking for a way to wash the stain that was casted by the mysterious stranger she encountered back when her host was raiding Camp Hearth. Spotting another thrall that has fallen off, a woman who’s toes were on the brink of needing amputation as frostbite overtook them, she mechanically signaled one of her warriors to go deal with it as her thoughts flew back to the duel she had with the stranger, the shame in her getting stronger remembering the stranger would probably beat and then kill her if she hadn’t retreat.

“Scared?” an unknown, but yet familiar voice asked in her head, Pyra shuddering as her soul started getting restless, the remnants of the soul she overtook when her god, the System, brought her back to life after centuries of slumber, started struggling to get back control.

“Silence, maggot. You are too weak to survive without me, so stop your futile struggle” Pyra responded mentally, clamping her soul passenger back into submission. Shame in her only got stronger, uneasy feeling about her own weakness to subdue an inferior soul consuming her. She didn’t have any way to know if she was the only one experiencing this or was it an issue with her people as the whole, but even asking that question would expose her weakness and weakness was what got you killed when dealing with her people. She was tired of putting down challengers after she was forced to retreat from Camp Hearth, single – handedly killing a fifth of her host when they decided they have a more preferred person for the job. The remaining members of her host were sufficiently cowed, for now.

She was pulled from her thoughts by the arriving thrall, a fat former merchant, a sort she preferred when taking thrall, loving the sight of the pampered and spoiled brought down to earth and humbled by hard labor they had to perform when serving as thralls. This particular thrall was in bad shape, however, frostbite eating his whole body, a large spots of his skin completely black as the ice and cold took its toll. She leveled a hard gaze at the arriving thrall, startling him a bit but he regained composure and started speaking.

“Mis – Mistress, warmaster wishes to see you”

Hearing the words spoken through shiver, Pyra casted a look at the imposing long hall that towered over all of them, housing warmaster Haraldr and his most elite warriors, a place that used to also be her home before that damnable stranger shamed her, warmaster punishing her by stripping her of her elite status and assigning her for preparation of his fleet. Gulping hard, she tried to steel her resolve and started moving, not wanting to waste a second of her warmaster’s time.

“Mis- Mistress, please a – a cloak” the thrall stopped her, shivering preventing him from speaking clearly. Casting a look at the unfortunate man, even briefly flaring her “Appraise of the witch” she realized that the man was doomed, cold seeping enough of his life. Her voice lacking any emotions, she whispered “Ice dagger” a giant icicle manifesting in her hand which she immediately use to stab the thrall into the throat, immediately killing him. Her action was immediately followed by the word of god, as she acted in the way that pleases it and the System was now bestowing its grace by directly speaking to her. Almost zealously, she opened the message, reading every word with fiery devotion.

“I’m just a humble servant, aiming to please” she whispered as she dismissed the words, focusing instead on her step, trying to avoid holes or sharp edges that could force her of balance or, even worse, plunging her into depths of the stormy sea, bound to float until some monster or another kill her. The long hall was getting bigger and bigger as she covered the distance, allowing Pyra to cleanly see the elaborate woodwork that the army of thralls worked tirelessly to make, hundreds of them dying in the process. Motifs of men fighting beast and other men, depicting Haraldr achievements and his dreams made an imposing greeting to any new arrival, Pyra not being an exception. The guards at the entrances immediately recognized her and let her through, her feet following the familiar path leading her to the main hall. Inside, the feast was going, Haraldr and his elite warriors enjoying the fruits of the tireless raiding, thralls always on the move to refill a cup or plate. Suddenly feeling very lonely, Pyra remembered the previous feasts when she was still in good standing, delicious mead wetting her throat, food filling her belly and the reveling that comes after with the thralls of your choosing. Locating Haraldr, sitting on a elaborate throne made to resemble one of the longships, she quickened her pace, finding herself in front of the throne. She prostrated herself, making sure to bend her head a little bit to leave an exposed neck, a sign of total submission.

“You summoned me, warmaster, and I answer” the Ice witch spoke, her words trembling with fear and respect for the man in front of whom she was prostrating.

“Rise, Ice Witch” Haraldr commanded, Pyra quick to obey “tell me, how the preparations are going?” she asked when she was standing.

“As you commanded, warmaster. The last of the ships will be finished tomorrow morning” Pyra reported.

“Good. Now, who shall lead the vanguard?” warmaster asked, warriors all around him tensing, the honor of leading the first sails of The Great Raid a chance few would like to miss. Pyra controlled her sigh, knowing that this task is only for the best of the best and she didn’t belong in that category anymore.

“Yag. Step forth” the warmaster shouted after a period of silence, the blue haired warrior hefting a giant hammer quickly placed himself next to Pyra, managing to throw an elbow to her ribs, her face slightly twitching in pain as she tried to control herself and ignore the provocation.

“Behold, my warriors, the two great heroes poised to lead our Great Raid. Yag, do you accept this honor?” Haraldr asked, her face stern as he looked over the murmur of the gathered crowd.

“Yes, my lord” Yag solemnly said.

“Pyra, do you accept this honor?” Haraldr said, turning to face the stunned Ice Witch.

“Warmaster, I must protest. The witch has failed you and brought you great shame, she isn’t fit to lead the vanguard?” Yag started speaking next to Pyra, every word out of his mouth feeling like twisting a dagger inside her entrails.

“Do you challenge my decision, Yag?” Haraldr asked, his change in demeanor seemingly sucking all of the heat from the room as the pure and unaltered font of power exploded from him, dropping all of the hall to their knees.

“No, of course not, my lord” Yag muttered, his body overwhelmed by the sheer amount of pressure warmaster exluded.

“Then be silent and let us proceed” Haraldr simply said, calming down to the almost visible relief of the room “Pyra, do you accept this honor?” he asked Pyra again, the Ice Witch finally managing enough composure to answer with the simple “Yes”.

“Then let it be known to the whole world that Yag, Bone Crusher and Pyra, Ice Witch are leading thee vanguard of our people and despair as we come for them, our god, the great System, approving and blessing our actions” Haraldr shouted, the whole hall erupting in cheers.

“Ice Witch, this is your chance to clean the stain of shame. You will set sail to Camp Hearth with your hosts and whoever else wants to go with you and you will prepare it for the arrival of the rest of the fleet. It is about time I meet this mysterious stranger that foiled you, my strongest warrior” Haraldr said, his voice almost a whisper, Pyra flaring her whole Perception in a bid to hear him.

“Of course, warmaster. And thank you for your kindness” Pyra said, the shock fading, being replaced with excitement. There was a lot to do, negotiate with some hosts, subjugate others and once again swelling her numbers, maybe even managing to challenge Yag who was commanding the biggest host, aside from the warmaster. She casted a quick glance towards the man, managing to catch him looking at her, his face radiating pure hatred. The feast continued just as Pyra started going back to her post, her path intercepted by the giant hammer dropping in front of her.

“You maybe got off easy now, witch, but the sea is vast and accidents happen” Yag whispered as he pass her, dragging to male thralls with him, eager to get to the private part of the reveling. Sighing, Pyra made some changes to her initial plan, a long voyage awaiting her.