Chapter 5
Thorvald stared in mild disbelief as he watched the remaining defenders being arrested and sent down to the dungeon. He tried to ask about Lokus, but was told only that 'the dead will be cremated'. Back in the same cell he woke up in this very morning, Thorvald realised that his life was drawing to an early close. The Swadians kept conquered populations under control by executing the ringleaders of resistance movements, and monarchs and soldiers were not out of the question. The surviving prisoners smiled at Thorvald, and chuckled, as they knew as well as he did that he would not be spared the noose any more than Yaroglek, who he had fought to keep alive.
Yaroglek saw the Swadians marching upon him and the men, and knew resistance was hopeless. He commanded the men to lower their weapons, and lowered his own, allowing himself to detained in the dungeons with the rest of the prisoners.
While Thorvald was fending off the leers and evil glares of the other prisoners with equally evil glares, the gate opened and two Swadians with a stretcher came in, with a bloody figure suspended between them. They carried the stretcher to Thorvald's cell and opened the gate. He let them in, and saw what was left of Lokus Axehand.
