Live Free (Stach Short story contest) 199 words.

 It had been a moon since they had seen land, a week since Thriell’s raving had brought Viig's hammer down on his head. Most had feasted after that, not Jan. He knew that it would not be long before more weapons tasted the blood of their own. 

Weeks adrift, culminating in the unspeakable. The older men’s eyes were distant as they were before battle. Not the joyous sparkle of the night before; those ready to fly with valkyries to meet their gods, but before that. Before they knew who their enemy was, the fear of the unknown. 

Jan's mother, a healer, taught him herbs and mushrooms. He’d raided on dozens of foreign shores, but knew from the heat, strange plants and insects, this was further from home than he had ever been. Possibly further than any Viking had ever been from his home hearth. 

He decided he would leave as the color of the eastern sky brightened tomorrow, he was shocked at how casually he came to the decision, and knew he’d made it subconsciously. "Live free", he whispered as he left the glow of the fire, he didn't know if he was talking to his mates or himself.

(199 words) 

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