Bior Hallmundsson

Profile

• Name: Bior Hallmundsson
• Age: 23
• Height: 1.68m
• Sexuality: Homosexual
• Status: In a relationship with Sigurd

Life Excerpt

With an ease that showed how synchronized they were, Bior got his steed, Parsifal, to slow down to a trot with the slightest of movements. Ahead of them on the road was the prey that he was hunting. He fit Reda’s description precisely. A jomsviking that had turned his back on his duties and forsaken the people that he’d once served. He wasn’t alone though. He was accompanied by three large men, all of which were heavily armed with greatswords and big battle axes. They probably had more weapons than that as well, he just couldn’t make them out from this distance. Taking a deep breath he made Parsifal hurry up slightly. When he was at a more comfortable distance he made the horse stop sidelong on the road. Then he took out the predator bow that he’d been carrying on his back, nocked an arrow, and after taking another deep breath he aimed at one of the three large bodyguards of his target. When he had the man’s head lined up with his arrow he let the arrow go. Bior wasn’t surprised that it hit exactly where he’d expected it to. Hauki had taught him well when it came to archery, and if asked Bior would say that he was almost as good at it as his teacher, the master archer of the clan.
The rest of the group were now looking around to try and find the person that had shot their travelling partner. And it didn’t take them long to notice Bior as he was just down the road from where they were. They shouted something that sounded like insults before starting to run towards him. Bior calmly nocked another arrow, took aim at the one he was actually after, and fired the arrow, which hit him in the middle of the neck. By now the last two were getting too close for him to shoot any more arrows so he quickly got off of Parsifal. He then slapped the horse on its behind to make him run off, and out of harm's way. Now he could focus on the two men that were rushing towards him with their weapons raised. Bior took out his daggers and got ready to defend himself. As the first guy reached him he strafed to the right in order to avoid the first swing of the greatsword his enemy was wielding. He then quickly stepped behind the guy and then started stabbing the back over and over again. The big guy cried out in pain before stumbling and then he fell over.
Bior looked up at the last guy just in time to combat roll away from the battle axe that had been thrown at him. But as he was getting up the guy had reached him and was now brandishing two big hammers as weapons. Hammers that he swung at Bior, who was unable to get away in time to avoid them both. As he strafed to the side he could feel one of the hammers hit close to his left shoulder. The pain was excruciating. And it felt even worse as he tried to raise his left arm in order to use the dagger he was holding in that hand. Realizing that he wouldn’t be able to use that arm anymore he instead focused on his other dagger. Even though he was injured he was still more agile and a lot quicker than the big guy he was fighting. And he was going to use every advantage he could in order to come out victorious. Despite the pain it caused him he quickly moved behind the guy at the same time as he started to climb his back. And once he was in the right position he reached around to the front and then slit his enemy’s throat. As the big guy was falling over, Bior jumped off of his back. Breathing heavily he looked around at the carnage he’d wrought. Just another day at work when you did missions for Reda. He took a step in the direction that his horse had gone, and felt a sharp pain shoot through his body. The adrenaline was leaving his system now and with it came the real scope of the pain from the injury he’d sustained. He had to fight the urge to just sink down to his knees and not move at all. Instead he headed over to the low stone wall that was flanking the road, and as he was getting closer he let out a loud whistle. As he was gingerly getting up on top of the stone wall he could see Parsifal heading towards him. When the red roan horse got close Bior called him over so that the horse stood sideways next to the stone wall that Bior himself was standing on. With yet another deep breath he then started the very painful job of getting up on Parsifal’s back. After a lot of painful mistakes he was finally sitting in the saddle. But all of the pain had his body shaking, and he was feeling weak and lightheaded. After taking a few minutes to steady himself he finally let Parsifal start moving. Bior tried letting Parsifal gallop but the movement made him wince with pain every time that the steed put his hooves down, so he had to slow down. Even at the slower pace it was painful because of the up and down movement, but it was less painful than at the higher speed, so he just had to make it work. They had several hours of travelling to do before getting back to Ravensthorpe at this pace after all.

By the time that they were about an hour away from the settlement Bior was so exhausted, and in so much pain, that he couldn’t stay conscious anymore. Thankfully Parsifal knew where they were in relation to their home and kept going along the familiar roads.

When Bior opened his eyes next he found himself in bed. The pain was gone, and he felt the familiar numbness that Valka’s pain relieving herbs left you in. He heard voices coming from the next room. As his mind was adjusting to being awake again he could make out four distinct, and very familiar, voices. He was pretty sure that they were trying to keep their voices down, but the one voice that made him happy to hear was having issues staying low. Bior smiled weakly as he laid his right hand where he’d been injured. Of course it made him worry. Bior wouldn’t be surprised if it was going to be hard to go on more of Reda’s missions in the future because of this injury, and how much certain people were going to worry about him because of it. He laid his head back down again and looked up at the ceiling. Even though he’d been spending every night in this bed for the last six months it still shocked him that he was actually living in the longhouse now. But, where else would he be sleeping? It wasn’t like anyone was going to ask Sigurd to sleep anywhere else. Just because he was no longer the jarl didn’t change the fact that Sigurd was still Sigurd. The whole clan loved him, despite everything, and their new jarl was never going to make him sleep anywhere else. Bior smiled as he thought about the special relationship that Sigurd shared with his brother, Eivor. No matter how bad things had gotten between them, and however weirdly Sigurd had treated him, Eivor never stopped loving his brother. And he stayed loyal through everything. It was inspiring to witness. And being a part of Eivor’s raiding crew Bior had witnessed it from a very short distance.
The low sound of footsteps brought him back to the present, and he looked over at the room opening to see Sigurd enter the room, followed by Valka and Eivor. Sigurd gave him a small smile as he knelt down next to the bed. The worry on his face was very clear to see. As he looked at Eivor he got a bigger smile in return, and his jarl didn’t look as worried at all. He just looked like he was relieved that Bior was safe and sound. Valka was the first to break the silence.
    ”You have a broken bone, Bior, that’s affecting the use of your arm. It will probably take a while to heal properly.” She gave him a look that told him that she knew what he was like. “And it will take even longer unless you take it easy, and don’t use it. So, no archery while it’s healing.” Bior nodded in response. It was disappointing to hear, because he loved being out on missions and going with the rest of the crew on raiding trips. He always wanted to feel like he was being useful to the clan.
Eivor cleared his throat.
    ”Anyway, we’re all very glad that you’re back with us. And Parsifal has been given extra treats for bringing you home.” He winked at Bior before turning to Valka. “I think it’s time we leave, wouldn’t you agree, Valka?” The seer nodded solemnly and they both left the room. Bior looked at Sigurd.
    ”I’m sorry, Sigurd...” The former prince raised an eyebrow and shook his head.
    ”Why are you apologizing? You were injured in a fight, that’s all.” Bior reached up with his right hand and caressed Sigurd’s cheek.
    ”I’m sorry that I made you worry so much.” Sigurd smiled as he pressed his head slightly against Bior’s hand.
    ”While I appreciate the concern, I think I’ll be fine.” He leaned down and kissed Bior’s forehead. “And I’m very glad that you’ll be fine as well.” Bior gave him a weak smile in return.
    ”But I know that you were worried.” He nodded towards the room opening. “I could hear you and the others outside the room earlier.” Sigurd chuckled slightly as he shook his head.
    ”Can you blame me? I mean, I was the one that first saw Parsifal trot into the settlement. With you unconscious on his back. Of course I got worried!” Even though he looked away, Bior knew that there was clear annoyance written on Sigurd’s face. It was obvious from his body language. And his voice when he spoke up once again. “And then I had to find someone that could help me get you off of the horse.” Sigurd’s head fell as he looked at what remained of his right arm. Bior could feel a pang of sadness in his chest as he thought about how much pain and suffering his life partner had been through since they arrived in England.
    ”Sigurd...” As if his mind had been somewhere else completely Sigurd looked almost a bit startled as he turned to look at him. Closing his eyes and then pinching the bridge of his nose, Sigurd sighed.
    ”Sorry. Here you are, wounded, and I make it about myself with my self pity.” Bior touched Sigurd’s forearm.
    ”It’s okay. I don’t mind. Besides, it’s not like you’re not entitled to feeling that way, considering everything.” Sigurd gave him a lopsided grin as he leaned his head down so that their foreheads were touching. In a whisper he added.
    ”I think many of our clansmen would argue that you are way too lenient with me and my hubris.”

Credits

Story by me. Overlay by CORE. Human art: lineart by Reno-Viol, colored by me. Minion overlay by Laurence. The base on which I created Bior (Eivor) & Sigurd belong to Ubisoft, and the Assassin's Creed franchise.