Live by the sword, die by thunder, day 2 Rude awakening.

Damn noise! What the hell is the alarm clock ringing? My brain is sluggish and I just bury my head in the pillow. Did I set an alarm for today? For fuck's sake, stop ringing! Voices swearing and shouting? Glass breaking and metal sounds from the balcony? FUCK!! Adrenaline starts pumping and I go straight from irritated sleepy fog to wide awake!

Intruders!!

On the balcony!!

I throw myself over Iselin and feel around with my hand on the side of the bed for the shape of the Boomstick leaning against the headboard as turn on the ceiling light. Shouts, the sound of broken glass and metal against metal. The tip of a sword has even smashed the inner window pane, and a hand is trying to pull down the blinds inside the windows. There is blood from someone that has cut themselves. Iselin says something I miss. A heavy thud is heard from the balcony door. I can hardly believe it, but there really are people on the balcony trying to break in!

Armed and hostile people!

I accept reality!!

I pull out the muzzle plug and take the Boomstick into firing position while aiming straight through the bottom part of the window. BANG! Through the pain in my ears, I hear women screaming. The enemy on the balcony is screaming, and I quickly get a mental image of the shot sending glass flying out of the window and feel a certain satisfaction.

The balcony release handles! I dive for the cover over the release handle, and just yank it away. Something heavy thuds against the balcony door as I grab and pull on the handles. Nothing happens!?! Strange loud sounds as the walls and floor slightly vibrate, followed by more screams of anger, pain, crashing and chaos with sounds of what I think are bodies hitting the rocks and trees below, almost drowned out by heavy wooden sounds.

There is a shout of "ENEMIES! THRYMHEIM IS BEING ATTACK! ENEMIES!" and there is a loud firearms bang, followed by another bang from somewhere. More screams of pain and shouting. Firearms! The bodyguards are shooting at something and shouting. I turn the knob by the handles so that the alarm bell inside here stops ringing. In the light, I see the orange fabric strips on the hunting rifle and double-barrelled shotgun and dash towards them. Iselin appears beside me and I give her the hunting rifle while I take the double-barrelled shotgun myself, grabbing the folding ear protectors from the hunting bag. Stomping feet in the corridor and Alith roaring:

"ROBERT!"

"HERE!"

The bedroom door bursts open and Ryla rushes in wearing a simple leather vest with a few weapons slung across her nightshirt and her sai ready in her hands. Alith rushes in a moment later and takes up a defensive position in the doorway with her hunting rifle ready and holding a tomahawk against the front grip, while her gaze sweeps across the room as Ryla takes up a protective position beside me. Alith has pulled the hunting bag over her head and is wearing only her chain mail shirt over her nightshirt. Alith shouts:

"Thrymheim is under attack! There are many enemies on the courtyard!"

"We're okay! I released the balcony that had enemies!"

Alith sweeps my room for enemies, while I throw the extra ear protectors from the hunting bags to Iselin, and to Jane who is lying on the floor behind the bed staring at us. Through the open door, I can hear more glass breaking, metal-on-metal sounds and chaos as the enemy probably tries to get past the security windows downstairs. Shit! Ciara is standing next to me in a teddy and with her RobA knife. Hillevi rushes in with a spear and shield, dressed in chain mail and helmet.

"Hillevi! Check that Kari is okay and that she comes here, then help on the first floor, we are safer up here! Ryla and Alith are protecting us! Alith! Open and shoot from Ciara's window when I light up the courtyard! The sirens! Activate the sirens! Turn on the courtyard lights!"

Alith is on her way into Ciara's room, while Hillevi rushes back into the corridor, shouting to activate the sirens and turn on the courtyard lights. I turn off the ceiling light and turn on the bedside lamp so that there is some light here on the bed, and then quickly rummage through the pockets of my trousers for the Pocket Burner flashlight while I hear the sounds of the battle going on below, before the siren above drowns out some of the noise. There is light from the window when the courtyard lights come on, but I have got the flashlight out.

Alith shouts: "Opened!"

"Everyone! Cover your ears!"

Just like Iselin, Jane is scared and frightened, and she cautiously peeks out around the edge of my window towards the courtyard. Iselin gives Ciara the rifle and pulls back the curtains on the bed. I open my courtyard window as wide as possible so there's a gap to shoot through. The noise and shouting increase in volume and the cold rush in, and I take a quick peek out around the window frame. People with shields, helmets and chain mail. Swords and axes glinting! Holy shit! Yelling and screaming! Banging on the front door, they're trying to break in! I put the shotgun to my shoulder, push the barrel through the gap and curse the thick walls as I struggle to get the gun in the right position, but at least I can aim at the enemy outside the front door. BANG!! I aim again and am startled when a couple of loud bangs sound in quick succession. It must be Alith and another bodyguard shooting! I aim at two other people. BANG!! The yelling in the courtyard is mostly screams of anger, frustration and pain. I can't understand what the enemy is shouting in the chaos. It doesn't matter. A man standing at the back by the road leading into the courtyard seems to be shouting orders and pointing. Leader! Target!

"Ciara! The rifle!"

I swap weapons with Ciara. The rifle's open sights are difficult to use in the poor light. Damn it! I should at least have painted the sights with white dots or drilled in white horn! The laser! I turn it on and aim at the centre of his body. I stabilise against the edge as I breathe out. The man looks at me, shouting something, while waving his hand in the laser beam that is clearly visible in the faint black powder smoke. BANG!! The man is hit and falls. I take cover, turn off the laser and put the hunting rifle on the bed. I pull open the cupboard next to the bed and take the belt pouch with cartridges for the Boomstick. Alith comes rushing in, and Kari is here.

"Turn on the other bedside lamp! Reload!"

Ciara is already reloading the rifle. I quickly reload the Boomstick by whipping the barrel so the empty shell flies out and off somewhere. Time is of the essence! Enemies must be injured and rendered combat inefficient as quickly as possible! Insert a new cartridge! Click it into place! Boomstick loaded!

"Everyone! Cover your ears!"

I cautiously peek out from the side of the windows. Fewer enemies visible. They seem to be taking cover at the entrance and behind two shields, and someone is trying to use a spear to extinguish the lamp on the corner of the entrance. The thick glass seems to have held and the arc lamp is swinging in its chain casting moving light and shadows. I aim with the Boomstick. BANG!! The empty brass casing bounces away as I flick it out and reload the Boomstick. No enemies show themselves or try to break the lamp. Voices and screams of pain below the window. It's hard to hear the language, mostly cursing and screams of pain drowning out speech, plus the siren that's still going. The enemy seems to be hiding against the outer walls, which are a blind angle. I can't see or shoot down there because the windows can't be opened any further. Damn! I'd have to shoot from the wings attic. Or the window above the porch? The bastard I shot by the road has tried to crawl aside but has only moved a couple of metres and is lying in the open behind his shield, slowly moving. He should be seriously injured if he's not already dead. Oh, what the hell. I aim the Boomstick at the shield where his stomach and chest should be on the other side. BANG!!

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Jane crouches naked next to the window.

"Jane! Get dressed! Everyone, get dressed!"

I pull on my trousers with my MB belt, throw on my shirt and slip into my indoor shoes. Ciara hands me my chain mail and helmet, and gives me a quick one-armed hug that takes the edge off the stress.

"Ciara, get dressed and come back."

We quickly reload while the siren above us begins to slow down and falls silent. Alith has already finished reloading her rifle and is loading my spare hunting rifle. I start reloading the double-barrelled shotgun with the pre-loaded paper cartridges loaded with the coarsest shot. Kari has taken my bow and arrows. Iselin and Jane stand there a little lost after putting on their clothes, but Iselin has taken my hunting rifle. Totally the wrong situation for them to be wearing high heels! But better than no shoes at all if there is broken glass on the floor. Kari's fur slippers are not ideal either. Ryla is wearing normal leather shoes. Jane is so scared or full of adrenaline that she is shaking, so I give her a quick hug and a kiss, and the same to Iselin and Kari. Ciara comes back with a determined look on her face, her hand on her belt knife and her special cat eared ear protectors on her head, and I kiss her too. There are still screams of pain outside, but they have subsided. We hear people trying to discuss, shouting at each other and trying to organise themselves. It sounds like some hard to understand Norse dialect. I throw the sword belt over my shoulder as I hear another loud bang. Someone is shooting and the screams of pain outside are getting louder. One of the air rifles and the air revolver are in the office!

"I'll get the pump-action rifle from the office!"

I rush in there with Ryla and Ciara close behind, grab the pump-action rifle, the bag with the tanks and magazines we used to carry everything down to the shooting range, and the RY1 air revolver in its shoulder holster! I throw a pair of ear protectors to Ryla and take the extra pairs with me. Back in my bedroom, I throw ear protectors to Kari and Alith. The air rifle won't need ear protectors, but other weapons are loud and hearing is important in combat! And afterwards. Considering the situation, it's not really appropriate for Ciara to have ear protectors with cute cat ears, but that's how it is. I load the pump-action rifle with a magazine of heavy bullets and screw on a large pressure tank. The pocket burner has a universal mount, so I clip the flashlight onto the pump-action rifle. Then I verify that the air revolver is fully loaded and pressurised, and put on the shoulder holster with the air revolver. The headlamp! I dig it out and put it around my neck because I don't trust it to stay on my helmet. I find the maglight and clip that to the shotgun Ciara is holding.

"We're opening the balcony door! Alith, crouch down on the floor and aim under the door. If the enemy is hiding by the corner of the mansion, shoot them right in the head! I'll cover the forest below and where the balcony fell! Ryla and Iselin, hold on to Alith's bag and the sofa so she doesn't fall out!"

Alith smiles grimly and takes the pump-action rifle.

"Can I shoot too?" Ciara looks determined as she stands holding the double-barrelled shotgun with the hunting bag hanging at her side.

"Crouch down and aim straight out towards the strait and the road, and shoot if you see any enemies there. Jane, hold Ciara if necessary."

I draw my RY1 revolver, while Alith crouches down, ready. The cold really sweeps into the room when I open the door. It feels so wrong that the balcony is missing. The moon beautifully illuminates the mountains and the sea, and the sky has begun to lighten in the east. I cautiously look out into the darkness around the edge of the door. The courtyard lighting illuminating the treetops makes it difficult to see down into the darkness below, but my eyes begin to adjust. I can't see any enemies that pose a threat. Alith turns on the flashlight on her rifle and leans out. Bang! Bang! Bang! More shouts and screams of pain and panic! Alith shouts, "They've fallen down the cliff!" and I see her aiming. Bang! Bang! Bang! "Some are fleeing towards the strait!" Alith aims outward towards the trees and more light from Ciara's light too. Bang! Bang! BANG!! BANG!! Ciara's much louder shots make me jump, and I'm not alone, judging by how Alith's rifle light jerks. Movement by the balcony! Enemy! Aim! Bang! Bang! Bang! Ha! At least one hit! Alith sweeps towards the balcony. Movement! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! The rifle is out of bullets. Bang! Bang! The revolver is out of bullets. Alith pulls and throws throwing spikes downwards. No movement by the balcony, but Alith sweeps with her rifle light.

"Some enemies have survived and are fleeing towards the harbour, but I can only see distant vague movements in the darkness!" She looks at me and points to the pump-action rifle. "Robert, this is a wonderful weapon!"

I feel the same way about the RY1 revolver! The pump-action rifle gets a kiss before Alith hands it back to me, and I turn off the flashlight and reload the air rifle while Alith helps Ryla close and lock the balcony doors and takes her hunting rifle. Ciara has already started reloading the shotgun and looks so pleased, giving Alith a high-five. I reload the air revolver, and Iselin takes the hunting rifle's hunting bag around her upper body when I ask her to. I'll leave the Boomstick in here. I sling the pump-action rifle bag over my upper body and verify that the sword is in place, while I survey the group. I quickly pull out a pair of knee-length shorts and hand them to Alith, and Ryla gets my long johns. Ciara stands there with the shotgun in her hands, the bayonet facing forward, seemingly ready to use it to continue harming those who have tried to harm us. Or more likely, to execute those who are trying to kill us.

"The windows above the hallway so we can check along the front, then the mezzanine!"

Alith and Ryla confirm my suggestion and go first as we all head there. We reach the balcony and see Agnes looking out from the corridor on the other side, armed, and Caecilia's head peeking around the corner from the attic stairs. Alith shouts, "REPORT STATUS!"

Gunhild's voice replies, "No enemies seem to have entered the main building! The wing door is locked! All of us bodyguards are okay, but Bodil is wounded in her left arm! There's broken glass everywhere on the floors down here by the courtyard windows!"

Alith shouts back that some enemies seem to have fled east towards the strait and the harbour. As we hurry to the windows above the entrance hall, I order: "Kari! Caecilia! There are large wooden panels behind the bodyguards' bedroom door. Get one each and come to the mezzanine! If you can, put on good flat shoes without heels! Bring flat shoes without heels for Iselin! And whoever has flat shoes closest to Jane's size, bring an extra pair for her! Iselin and Kari, get your MB belts and long-sleeved warm sweaters for yourselves and an extra one for Jane!"

Caecilia nods and holds out her foot to show she already has good shoes, while Haera, who was behind her, disappears up to the attic. Damn! I forgot Haera was here! Alith quickly instructs Caecilia to grab her bib and brace trousers and indoor shoes, which are ready on hangers inside the door, and bring all the weapons they see. Agnes, Iselin and Kari disappear after Caecilia. I cautiously look out around the window edge along the front of the house. Two bodies, which appear to be dead. Can't see anyone else who can be shot from the windows. Shit. Similar in the other window. Best to continue towards the mezzanine, and we do so. Peering cautiously around the edge of the large mezzanine windows, we can't see anything moving on the south side. One door to the entrance room is open, and in the darkness, it's impossible to miss the red glow of the raven's eye above the front door. Haera comes running down from the attic and joins us. Agnes, Iselin, Kari and Caecilia appear with a couple of spears, a sword, clothes, shoes and wooden panels and shields, and we quickly hang the wooden panels on the railing so we have a little more protection and a stronger defensive position. There is a quick hug and kiss fest where my sambos want to convince themselves that I am safe and sound, that the others are safe and sound, and that we're all together. Iselin and Caecilia hug and kiss each other, while Jane changes into the shoes Kari brought. They strap the belts around their waists and pull sweaters over their heads. Gunhild and Raneigh come from the east corridor and say there are no enemies at the east end, just broken glass in the meeting room and gym. Bodil and Hillevi are down by the entrance and the day room, looking out towards the courtyard.

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