章 63: Ch 62 Civilization At Last
Ignu walked forward through the muddy dirt path as we neared the town of Töreboda.
we had only recently found this path and followed it along as I held Skade tightly against me to keep her as warm and shielded as possible from the cold wind and pouring rain.
The downpour was not terribly heavy but it had continued for hours.
We all carried waxed tarps and had them over us but somehow a portion of that damn rain still found its way in and slowly began to soak our clothes.
We crested one small hill and were greeted by the sight of the fortified town and it's sturdy looking walls only a mile away.
As we approached I noticed Töreboda was larger than I had expected, it had strong wooden pallisades and watchtowers on every corner.
It was nearly a stronghold and many of the defenses seemed to be built fairly recently.
I immediately assumed Borg had been preparing for a conflict over the course of a few years.
Jarl Borg was a Wulfing, member of an ancient line supposedly descended from wolves...A Prince by any other name.
From everything I knew if Borg, he was as respected and feared as a King but without the official title.
There was a reason Horik hadn't just attacked and forced Both to give up his lands, That bastard King was only a bit more powerful that Borg.
And If King Horik lost against Borg his entire kingship might be called into question by the powerful nobles of Denmark and North Eastern Svealand.
As our warband neared the fortified town we were spotted through the rain, our group was large after all.
a horn was sounded by a watchtower.
"~~~~TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT~~~~~"
The warhorn blasted and we could hear shouts and rushed yells of men from behind the walls as they prepared themselves for whatever trouble was outside.
Archers lined the walls under wooden structures to keep their strings dry, Heavy infantry stood alongside them while gripping their spears and axes tightly.
My men scoffed at their little display, although we were severely outnumbered my men were not impressed by Borg's warriors.
I turned to Balgrud.
"Go introduce us Big Guy." I spoke and he nodded with a smile.
After taking a white handkerchief from Anguy, Balgrud urged his large draft horse forward as it's heavy hoofs sploshed mud with every step.
We all watched as Balgrud rode forward lazily and waving the white flag of Parley.
After a few minutes Balgrud reached within shouting distance and stopped his mount.
There was movement on the walls and I could see Jarl Borg appear.
The Jarl was staring at the huge Berzerker from atop the Wall.
"DONT YOU DARE SHOOT YOU CUNTS!!!" Balgrud bellowed and my men snickered at his usual banter in these situations.
"Who are you and what is a foreign warband doing in my lands!" Borg yelled out from under a thick cloak to keep himself dry.
"I AM BALGRUD THE BERZERKER, SWORN SHIELD TO THENN ODINSON!!! MY LORD COMES HERE TO DISCUSS IMPORTANT MATTERS!!!" Balgrud bellowed out and I saw Borg and all his men immediately look off into the distance to try and get a look at me through the rain.
One of his archers with good eyes stared intently and spoke. "My Lord it's really him...." The archer spoke in amazement as the guards murmured amongst themselves, Borg nodded then turned back to my Berzerker.
"Very well, you all may enter my town in peace!" Borg yelled out the diasapeared from view.
The Jarl had returned to his Manor within the town to await us, he wanted to escape the rain as well.
The gates were soon opened wide, Balgrud waved for us to approach.
The men at the walls sheathed their weapons but stayed staring at me as I rode forward.
As I got closer one man noticed a little blonde with a black stripe on her lower lip and chin....and a tattoo on her forehead.
"Is...Is that Skade.." one man asked in confusion.
""Where?"" ""Why would that maniac be here?"" A few men asked.
"Right there, sitting with Thenn Odinson..." The man with good eyes spoke.
"No way, why would that crazy she-devil be riding with.....oh wait I think that is her." Another man spoke as we neared the walls even closer.
They all saw Skade snuggling up to me tightly with a cute smile on her face and the Men at the walls were shocked, Most of them were from Göttenburg and knew of the girl.
We rode through the gateway while the guardsmen stared in awe, I continued on as a Slave guided us to the stables.
After dismounting Ignu I spoke to the stable slaves who were nearby ready to take care of our mounts.
"This one doesn't get tied up." I ordered through my veiled helm and they all nodded vigorously in fear.
Soon a Captain of Borg came by and spoke.
"Your men will be given quarters, You and your Lieutenants may follow me to meet The Jarl." The bearded man spoke.
"Very well." I responded then motioned for Balgrud, Anguy, Ragnar, and Rollo to follow as I walked with the lovestruck Skade on my arm.
Soon we entered his Manor and were taken to a large meeting room and seated across from Borg.
"Thenn Odinson.....Your name has been spoken many times in many Halls.....Why have you come to seek me?" Borg asked coldly as slaves walked in and poured us tankards of Mead.
Balgrud snatched an entire pitcher from one woman and drank it all deeply, Ragnar and Rollo didn't touch theirs yet.
Skade who was seated beside me brought the tankard to my lips and I took a small sip before responding.
"I have been requested by King Horik to mediate an issue which the both of you have been entwined in...." I spoke and I saw his brows furrow.
"I can tell you at once Earl Thenn, you're wasting your time. It's my land, and I want it returned to me. That's all I have to say." Borg spoke coldly and I just let out a little smile.
"If you have nothing else to say then our business is concluded.....May your war with Horik be long and Bloody." I spoke and rose to leave but Borg rasied a hand and I looked down at him.
"I will listen to your offer." Borg spoke and I nodded before sitting down and bringing Skade into my lap so we could get comfortable.
Borg recognized the She-Devil and wanted to ask but we had more important matters at hand.
"Horik wants to make peace with you and come to some kind of agreement over the land, a peaceful solution to this issue is many times better than a violent one." I spoke and Borg nodded grimly.
"Aye, this nonsense has gone in for long enough....I'd like to see it ended soon." Borg spoke with barely hidden contempt as he thought of Horik.
"King Horik sees your feud over the land as humiliation to his 'Royal' title and would like to settle this matter quickly as well." I spoke and Borg nodded.
"He may feel some shame now, but if I invade and defeat him, will he not be even more humiliated?" Borg spoke confidently but I could sense the unease in his voice, he wasn't sure of victory.
"Perhaps that would come to pass, but what if he fights well, and I'm sure he'll love one last fight before he grows too old to swing his blade." I spoke and I saw a glint in Borgs eye before he leaned forward.
"Tell me Thenn....You've Sailed To Unknown lands to the West and tasted their glory and wealth, Slain a hundred men alone if the Skalds sing true, Defeated an Army many times your size with only a handful of warriors, Made off with the Queen and Princess of a foreign Kingdom and put babies in their bellies, Why are you here doing that Fucking Pig Horiks bidding?" Borg asked while swirling his chalice, the venom in his voice when he spoke Horiks name was impossible to hide.
"We have made an alliance, come the next spring we'll Raid together, Horik tried to convince me to help him with this dispute.
after getting fair payment I sailed here.....I'm simply someone hired for his fame, and it's easy gold before Winter sets in." I spoke and Borg nodded.
"Was his price fair? He always was a cheap bastard." Borg spat with disgust.
"Fair for me, not for him." I spoke and Borg nearly smiled before looking at Skade with confusion.
"Tell me what you do with the daughter of my Steward on your lap like a cat? I've never seen her so placid." Borg spoke in genuine curiousity.
"I paid her bride price, She's mine now." I spoke and patted Skades head gently as she snuggled up to me.
Borg nodded in understanding then he looked at my Men.
"Very well, I see that you are all wet and cold from the journey....You will be provided warm rooms, dry clothes, and hot food....but the day is late, how about we continue these talks tomorrow, I'm sure you and your men are tired and hungry from the journey." Borg spoke amicably and I nodded.
We both stood up and I shook his hand firmly after putting on my helmet.
"You shouldn't trust Horik." Borg spoke when we shook hands.
"I don't trust anyone who isn't family." I responded.
Ragnar and Rollo seemed to like that statement but they weren't family, at least not to me.
"Good....Very Good, I hope you rest well."
Borg spoke with a glint in his eyes, Just that statement alone gave this crafty bastard ideas on how to deal with me should the time ever come.
soon we were led out of the room and toward our lodgings.
My men and brothers got small but nice rooms while Skade and I received a large warm room with its own fireplace, dry clothes were brought to us soon after. Mine was a simple large robe since tunics my size were rarely seen.
We changed slowly while I dried my armor by the toasty fire.
I looked over to Skade who was changing into a simple but pretty dress.
Skade was always dressed in wildling furs so seeing her like this was most unusual.
She noticed my gaze and blushed deeply. "So...W..What do you think." She spoke cutely while giving me a twirl.
"I think your father got a bad deal, he deserved far more for handing you over." I spoke while bringing her in close before locking my lips to hers.
Skade seemed to melt so I wrapped my arms around her and kissed her deeply for several minutes while only taking breaks so she could catch her breath before savoring her sweet mouth once more.
Once my desire was sated I squeezed her plump ass once and we made our way out to find our meal.
Skade blushed deeply while clutched to my arm and breathing in my scent.
Soon we found ourselves in a dining area where Anguy and Balgrud were fighting over a sweet roll.
"HAND IT OVER OR ILL BITE YOUR ARM OFF!!!" Balgrud bellowed angrily but Anguy stayed firm.
"You already ate nine of them you Beast!!! I only had three!!! It's mine by right!!!" Anguy yelled back as Skade chuckled at their antics.
We sat down and soon a slave walked over with a pitcher of Milk for me.
The Slave poured a large chalice and I grabbed her arm then spoke. "How did you know?" I asked the woman.
She trembled in fear and her face went pale. "T...Th..The Skalds...My Lord....Th...They Speak Of Y..Your Love O..Of Milk....I...It's why you got so....S...Strong..." The woman stuttered out while she shook under my grip.
I let her go and hummed in understanding, Skade brought the chalice to my lips, I sensed it for a moment and found that it was perfectly fine.
I took a long sip and immediately I was in a better mood, I'd run out of my stockpile of Althea's Milk many days ago...If only that damn inventory was bigger.
Soon enough large pots of warm venison stew and loaves of bread were brought out for us and we began to eat as our very souls were warmed.
That meal at Göttenburg seemed like so long ago.
Midway through I looked over at Rollo who was pecking at his food with a disgruntled look on his face.
Bastard had grown more and more sour over the past weeks, I only let him come since Ragnar begged me for it.
Eventually we finished eating and I took Skade upstairs and we got cozy in our comfortable room.
I breathed in her delicious scent as we both soon fell into a deep sleep.....
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