"Now, let's form a semicircle…everybody! Quickly!" continued Taya.

Instantly, all the kids formed a perfect half-moon shape around their Master.

"For the newcomers, listen to me carefully… I won't speak a second time".

Dag paid attention to Taya's words. 

Out of the corner of his eye, he looked at Freydis.

She was focused on the speech, but, feeling to be overlooked, she turned her eyes in Dag's direction and he looked away, embarrassed.

"On Skjold, warriors have a key role in society. Whether you are a man or a woman, a Berserkr or a Skjaldmaer, deciding to be a warrior, you must swear eternal allegiance to Odin, the Allfather. The highest aspiration you can pursue in your warrior life is Death" Taya stated, addressing the crowd of young warriors.

"The strongest warriors of Skjold are called the Everlastings. Each of them owns an ancient artifact, a symbol of power. These artifacts are the Emblems. There are ten emblems on the entire planet. Einar, the King of all Vikings holds the Emblem n°1".

"Can anybody become King?"

From the crowd of kids, echoed a voice. 

It was Freydis'.

"Yes, little girl. But to be King you have to defeat Einar, the Lone. The legend tells that nobody's ever been able even to scratch him! But don't worry, Jernhest, the capital and all cities around the planet need warriors: each of you will find his place in this world. What you only need is a constant effort" Taya answered amused.

Freydis seemed dissatisfied in her answer, while Dag couldn't stop staring at her.

"Today, it's time for you three novices, to swear in front of Odin. To do so, I called the Chieftain of the Berserkr's Order".

When Taya finished her speech, a muscled man walked from the back. 

He was a tall man, with a black beard collected in a thick braid and a ring on his nose.

A big, black tattoo of an open-winged eagle was painted on his face, from the forehead to the chin. 

He looked accurately at each of the guys in the crowd, including Dag.

"My name's Arne, and I'm the Berserkr Order's Chief" he said, in a deep and raspy voice.

"Who are the newcomers?" he continued. 

Timidly, Dag was the first one raising his hand, followed by Freydis and Karl.

"Step forward, children" 

They obeyed. 

Behind the big man, there was a metal bucket with smoke coming from the inside.

"Your turn" Arne pointed to Karl.

The little one got closer to him, trembling and Arne put his big hand on Karl's shoulder, then took off his shirt.

"Now say: I swear to Odin, the Allfather…"

"I s…swear to Odin, the Allfather" repeated Karl

"That from now on, my life is his, and I will serve him without hesitation until the day I'll die".

Karl repeated again.

"When I will seat among Thor, Freya, and all the true Gods in the Valhalla".

After that Karl echoed Arne's words, the man turned back, grabbed a molten rod from the iron bucket, and branded Karl's shoulder who began screaming in pain.

Freydis looked down, closing her eyes. When Arne removed the rod, a bloodied mark appeared on Karl's skin. Then the boy turned to put his shirt back and Dag was able to see: the mark represented a big shield with an axe at its center.

Painfully, Karl put his shirt on, covering the Berserkr's Symbol. 

The white shirt started to turn red on the back. 

He slowly joined back his position, next to Freydis.

"Your turn" Arne said impassively as if this was his daily routine.

He pointed at Freydis.

She took a breath and was ready to move when Dag made a step forward: "I'll go next. In this way, when she will get her mark everybody can turn around, without looking at her body".

Freydis look at him: these words were unexpected. 

Nobody had ever spoken like that, for her, protecting her young woman essence.

Her eyes turned misty.

"How dare you, little…" Taya said, stepping in.

"It's fine, it's fine… tell me a thing, kid… are you from Earth?" Arne continued.

"Yes" replied Dag, worried but sure of what he just said.

"Only an earthling could say so. If you were a Skjold native, I would probably have banned you from the Arena. But you yet lived enough misfortunes. Do you agree girl?" he asked to Freydis, that unhesitatingly nodded her head, confirming.

"Let's continue the pledge, step forward, earthling".

Arne dipped the rod back in the iron bucket.

Dag walked towards the Berserkr, turned himself around and put his shirt off.

"Now repeat with me…" began Arne.

"I swear to Odin, the Allfather that from now on, my life is his, and I will serve him without hesitation until the day I die. When I will seat among Thor, Freya, and all the true Gods in the Valhalla!" Dag said in one breath, interrupting the man, that looked at him, surprised. 

A hidden smile appeared on his meanest-looking face before he grabbed the rod and branded Dag.

The pain was unbearable. 

Dag felt as if something was digging in his body, through flames. 

He stayed unmoving, with his eyes closed to resist the suffering.

At the end of the process, without a word, he clothed himself and got back through his comrades. 

Taya was looking at him and didn't seem to be proud of that action. narrowing her eyes and trying to figure out Dag's behavior.

"It's your turn girl. Turn around everybody, respect your comrade's gender" continued Arne, incredulous of his own words, arising from Dag's courage.

The apprentices turned around, chattering. 

Finn looked at Dag, thinking how was it possible for a kid to have a say with a powerful warrior as Arne.

Freydis gave her speech, followed by the sound of burning skin. 

She mourned and after her pledge, everybody turned around again, facing Arne, that ordered the young girl to join her friends back. 

"The pledge to our Gods is over. From now on, these three fellows are officially Warriors of Skold, Berserkrs, and Shieldmaiden. Please welcome them" said Arne.

Each guy in the crowd raised his sword and with one voice, shaking in time their weapons, they all yelled together: "Uh! Uh! Uh!" 

In a few seconds, Arne stopped them with a gesture of his hand.