Alyward struck true enough for Kolskegg to know the blow was a decidedly grave one. And yet the sorcerer Cho removed his fire stick, racked a round and fired it point blank into the shield of the Viking. At this distance the round carried the full brunt of its kinetic force. The muzzle energy pounded the shield with 8,372 ft. lbs. Punching through the shield, the greatly reduced round slammed home into the left shoulder of Kolskegg, piercing the chainmail and ripping though the shoulder.

[color=f26522]“Odin’s blood!” [/color] The Viking uttered as the shock swept through his body, his fingers losing sensation and the shield, suddenly heavy dropped from the loosened grip. Clattering on the hard, scrabbled ground, the shield rang with a hollow emptiness in the deathly silence. Alyward slipped from his hand as the Viking instinctively grabbed for his damaged shoulder. Drawing his hand away, the wetness was blood.  Then he simply fell.  After a long moment of lying where he fell, the shock wore off, leaving an intense burning sensation and throbbing in his left shoulder. 

Turning his attention to the small wizard on the ground, the blood seeping from the grievous wound he had administered a moment before.  Grunting the Viking reached into his bag, pulling some runes from it he cast them into the air, his voice rising as he cried out.  When the burning runes landed, they burned rapidly, leaving small piles of ash. 

With a hoot, Kolskegg struggled to his knees, and with a fierce scream he scooped the ashes into his good hand.

[color=f26522]“Engi! Engi! Not today sorcerer Cho. You shall not venture to Valhalla before me.”[/color]

Crawling to the small man, Kolskegg packed the wound with the ash. After he was done, he removed his sword belt and wrapped it around the smaller man’s waist.  With a grim smile upon his face, he shook Cho.

[color=f26522]“Wake my friend. This is not the day you die. Today you shall be counted among the living, the great hall of Odin shall have to wait before you grace it.” 
[/color]

The rune ash, packed into the oozing wound would slowly coagulate the blood and begin scarring over the wound. The belt would begin to heal the small man. In a few hours he would be as good as new, abet with a nasty scar on his side. 

Kolskegg laughed heartily and stared into the sky, above a Valkyrie hovered, uncertain on what to do. 

[color=f26522]“Go back; tell them in the great hall that Cho the sorcerer shall stay here in this realm. He is worthy of you Odin, but this is not his time. The runes foretold this moment.” [/color] Pointing towards the dark marks where the ash ground in to the rock where he scooped it.  [color=f26522]“Even you All-Father can see this is true.”[/color]

The Valkyrie turned and vanished in a flash of light. Slumping back he smiled, then blacked out.