Chapter 13: Chapter 13

Gentle, Gunnar and I exited the room and made our way back to the main chamber. We began collecting all we could find and piled it all up. We moved without exchanging much words. Focused on the task, not yet ready to talk about the events.

"Not much of a fight, but at least I got to wet my axe." Gentle spoke with a small grin.

"Hmm." Gunnar replied while nodding his head.

"Yeah, I wasn't expecting any drama. Just fight some bandits and move on." I added.

"And here we are, funny how life loves to shit in our mead." Gentle entoned, adopting the air of a wise sage.

"Fuck off." I said before snorting.

"Hahaha, so, what do we do now? Are we to leave them here? Or are we bringing them with us? I for one say we take the old man back with us. He's sure to have plenty of stories for the hearth." Gentle spoke in a serious tone.

"I'd love to take the old man with us, even his sons showed promise. The others, well they aren't really our responsibility. I suppose the women wouldn't be able to survive on their own, the least we could do is bring them back. I'm sure Jaren wouldn't mind a few extra hands cleaning the place up and preparing meals. Those two men who chose not to fight however, they can fend for themselves." Gentle and Gunnar nodded at my words. They weren't complicated people, but they sure as hell wouldn't tolerate cowards.

"I agree, the old man and his family are more than welcome to join us." Gentle replied.

"I may in fact take you up on that offer"

We turned to the hallway and saw the old man carrying the girl in his arms and his two sons flanking him. He walked to a spot near the fire in the center of the chamber and placed the girl down. He covered her up with a blanket he found and walked back towards us. His youngest son stayed with the girl while the elder followed behind him.

"Allow me to formally introduce myself. I am Ser Brant Gaumond." As he said his name with sword in hand, he dropped to a knee and bowed his head to me.

"Words cannot begin to express my gratitude. And I have nothing to offer you as a token of that fact." He held his sword in both hands outstretched towards me.

"So I offer the only thing that I have, my name, my sword, my life." He finished with his head bowed in supplication, arms outstretched with his sword held aloft.

His son, following his father's lead, knelt and offered up his sword as well.

"I too offer up my name, my sword, my life to you sir." The boy spoke with surety and lacked any semblance of boyhood.

I looked down at the two of them, wondering how I managed to stumble across a knight, and earning his oath as well. This man had a story I was very much interested in hearing. For now though, I wouldn't mind having a knight by my side. This could prove to be a boon in fact.

Making my decision, I fought to come up with the proper words for the occasion. Knighthood wasn't a thing amongst Nords. The closest equivalent would be a sworn shield or sword. Maybe even a thane, but I think I can come up with something.

"I, Ragnar Lothbruk, first of my name, son of Kyne, slayer of dragons, bane of draugar, conquer of crypts, chosen of Paarthurnax, the last Dragonborn, accept your oath of fealty, rise." They both rose to their feet, though the boy looked puzzled by my many titles.

"I hope you won't regret that decision. For I will hold you to it till the day you die." I said, eyeing the both of them. Ser Brant looked back at me with his dark eyes, unflinching in his vow.

"Well then, I suppose now is the time to tell you, I'm not actually a lord. Not in these lands that is." I said and the boy appeared shocked. Ser Brant however appeared unstirred by my words.

"I had already deduced that my Lord." Ser Brant replied.

"And yet you still made the oath, why?" I asked.

"I was a mere hedge knight, I had left all that behind to start a family. And these savages nearly took everything from me. My wife is de- dead. Fortunately, my children live, and that was because of you, my Lord. Not only that, you allowed me my revenge. You could have left me bound, but you didn't. I was able to say goodbye to my wife, and kill the bastard who hurt my little girl. I need no further reason to give you my oath."

His words held barley contained emotion. His son trembled beside him. And by the look in his eyes, I knew he meant every word.

"I prayed to the gods, old and new, none answered. As my wife and daughter were brutalized, they never deigned to help. I make my path, and I choose to serve you." He finished.

"And if I am in fact evil? What if I commanded you to kill innocents?" I asked.

"My dead wife was innocent, my brutalized daughter was innocent, my son's were innocent, and now my children live. And for that, I am willing to even offer up my soul." His words were like steel, his resolve unbreakable. And I believed him.

"Very well, allow me to introduce my companions. The silent one is Gunnar, Gunnar half beard. And that bear over there is Gentle, Sven the Gentle." After exchanging hellos I turned towards the young boy.

"Your name." I asked.

"Zakar Gaumond, my Lord." He answered with a bow.

"No need for all that, a nod will suffice. How old are you?"

"Seventeen my Lord."

"In private, amongst our own, you may refer to me as Ragnar."

"I couldn't my" I cut him off with the raise of my hand.

"I won't hear another word on the matter. Those are my wishes."

"As you say, Ragnar."

"Well then, why don't we gather up anything of note and head back. The others are no doubt wondering where we are. That reminds me," I brought my hand to my mouth and whistled sharply.

From the path leading outside, Floki and Sceolang bounded in(I completely forgot about them lol). As they came in the girl yelped in surprise and the other boy who's name I didn't catch stood before her with a sword at the ready.

"Do not be afraid, they are my beasts. They will not harm you." I said as the two ignored the boy and girl and ran towards me. I ruffled their heads before introducing them to the others.

"This is Floki, she's not very affectionate to others but she'll not bother you if you aren't a threat. And this boisterous fellow is Sceolang, he is nice to all unless proven to be undeserving of it." Ser Brant and Zakar nodded to them and I looked towards the girl.

"Sceolang, why don't you introduce yourself," I looked over to Ser Brant and he quickly introduced his other children.

"My youngest son Jacker and my daughter Maralynn."

Sceolang being the oversized pup that he is, trotted over to the girl. Jackar, after confirming with his father, stepped aside. Sceolang stood before the girl who looked away while trembling.

With a huff, he inches closer and begins licking her face and head. Then he got closer and laid beside the girl while continuing to give the girl licks. The girl seemed to calm down and just leaned into him.

"Well isn't that a beautiful sight. We're running late so let's get moving. Don't want to miss our own party now do we?"

"Ha, a party is no party without Svenn the Gentle!" Gentle bellowed and we all moved to be on our way.