Vikings: Harsh Lesson
Chapter 11 of my Vikings story, enjoy.
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Now onto the story.
Disclaimer: Vikings belongs to History Channel.
Chapter 11
Laughter erupted around the hall as Bjorn hit the ground. He tried to force himself back to his feet, ready to fight off his three attackers. Watching all this was Hreinn, lounging in the Earl's throne, Porunn forced to sit on his lap as he groped her. He was clearly enjoying himself, as were his men.
There had been several deaths of the people in Kattegat that had tried to escape or defy their new rulers. Several young women had their virtue ruined by the men and some had even been killed. Yet all this fitting in with what Hreinn enjoyed most; after all, he viewed women as disposable pleasures, meant for only one thing.
'My wife failed to deliver that, so I had to teach her a lesson.' He recalled with a grin. 'Who knows, maybe Porunn here will succeed where she could not.'
He relished the chance to find out, before being pulled from his thoughts by the doors opening. The man circled the 'arena', where Bjorn had finally killed one of his opponents, and approached Hreinn
"A group of men are approaching, my Earl." He said. "They bear the marks of your father"
Hreinn nodded slowly, he hadn't sent word to his father requesting more men. So he was curious why these men were here. He gave orders for the fight to be stopped. Bjorn was pulled back and kept still, Porunn sent to fetch more food and drink. Hreinn straightened up and waited for these men to arrive.
The doors opened and the reasonably sized group entered the hall. Hreinn's grip on the arms of the throne tightened slightly; he recognized the man at the front of the group.
He was relatively young, with stubble coating his lower face, he refused to grow a full beard. His hair was dark brown, short and curled, his eyes were a cold piercing blue and he had rather pale skin and prominent ears. Bjorn also noticed the man had the same calculating gaze that Alfgeir and Hreinn had.
"What an unexpected surprise, Steini." Hreinn remarked darkly towards his brother.
Steini nodded his head slightly. "I am here on father's instructions, brother. To check on your progress, regarding your hunt for Princess Aslaug."
Hreinn fought to keep his face neutral as he replied. "Father need not worry; true I have not found her…yet. But I have people looking, scouting parties search for her daily."
"Oh, really." Steini replied in a tone that unsettled his older brother. "I find that hard to believe."
Hreinn stood sharply; glaring. "You dare question me, I…"
"Goran." Steini said suddenly. "Tell me what you say, when you led our scouting party this very morning."
All eyes turned to the young man who stepped forwards; Hreinn narrowed his eyes in intense dislike at the young man. Another familiar and unwelcome face.
Goran was young, no older than twenty, perhaps not even that. He had no beard, his hair was blonde and thick typically hanging down to his shoulders. He had light brown eyes and noticeable tattoos, one on his left hand and one on the left side of his neck.
While he had never seen them before, Bjorn knew what they were, Porunn had told him of them. Slave brands, some slaves were really unlucky and ended up with these. But despite the brands, Goran was bearing arms and did not have the downcast eyes and shuffling gait of a slave.
It was then Bjorn realized another brand had been placed over the slave ones, cancelling them out. Goran had been a slave, yet was now a free man.
Goran began to speak. "I led our scouting group, while scouting, we found tracks, days old, belonging to a woman and two children. These were later joined by a man's tracks. We have reason to believe these tracks belong to Princess Aslaug and her children, we have to figure out who the man might be."
Bjorn felt a spark of hope at that; he knew who the man was. He realized now that his step-mother and half-brother's were safe, his Uncle Rollo had found them.
"However, we saw no signs, of any…other scouting groups, old or recent." Goran continued.
Hreinn glared at him but said nothing. He knew Steini would jump to Goran's defence, despite the boy speaking out of turn against his betters.
Steini shook his head. "I'm disappointed brother, you've sunk yourself in dissipation; ignoring father's orders."
"She is a woman, she is hardly a threat." Hreinn shot back.
"All the same, she is still important, father ordered you to catch her." Steini countered. "Have you at least followed his other orders?"
Hreinn smirked at that. "But of course; that's what we're in the middle of right here, if you must know. I have the notes here."
Steini nodded as if accepting this; he then gave orders to his men and they joined Hreinn and his men as the fight in the 'arena's started back up again.
While fighting Bjorn noted to himself the obvious contention between the brothers. He wondered if there was some way that could be used against them. But he never had the chance, he was taken back to his cell as Hreinn and his brother, along with all their men began feasting.
During the feast Steini turned his gaze to Porunn, humiliated at once more being forced to serve half-naked. She tensed but noticed something odd, there was no lust in his eyes, no signs a man usually showed when viewing a woman in a state of undress.
"So this is the woman you've claimed." Steini remarked blandly. "The one who distracted you from your duty?"
Hreinn glared; it was clear to all that a potential storm was brewing.
However with supreme effort, Hreinn controlled himself. He gave orders to one of the men who left. He then turned to his younger brother.
"I'd advise you watch what you say Steini. I am Earl of Kattegat, you are under my authority here." He snarled. "But at least I can bed a woman, have you still not done so?"
Hreinn was pleased to see his brother looked uncomfortable at his words. He decided to press deeper.
He spoke, even as Lagertha was dragged, chained up, into the hall. "I thought so; still haven't overcome your 'issue' have you. Perhaps you need an older woman, to teach you how pleasurable it can be. I'd gladly give you this one."
He gestured to Lagertha and laughed to see his brother's stormy glare. His own men laughed too; however all laughter died when Steini spoke again.
"Joke all you like brother; at least I have the knowledge of being father's favourite."
Hreinn's glare was back; as was his anger. It was sadly true what Steini had said; despite his 'affliction', Steini was viewed as the favourable son by their father. This meant Hreinn faced the prospect of being passed over as his father's heir.
He shook his head and snarled again. "You keep telling yourself that, it won't happen."
Steini merely shrugged and carried on eating; the tension between the brothers preventing any further laughter at either ones expense.
Later in the night, with Hreinn already retired for the night, Lagertha returned to her cell and others heading for bed, Steini decides to go to bed too. He begins to make his way to the guest chambers set aside for him.
When he entered he found he is not alone. Standing there, clad in just his breeches, looking extremely innocent and calm, was Goran.
"Ah, there you are, I hope you don't mind me coming here unannounced like this." Goran remarked, smiling at him.
Steini did not reply right away, instead taking in the sight before him.
Before he had been freed, Goran had been a slave to his family and was treated brutally, especially by Hreinn. The scars of old lashes still covered his torso and back. He also possessed a nasty looking burn over his right ribs.
Then Goran's words registered and Steini glared. He stepped forwards, seized Goran's wrists and pinned him to the bed, pinning his wrists above his head.
"You have the audacity…" He growled.
Goran just nodded and Steini's expression changed. He leaned in and claimed Goran's lips with his own, drawing a moan from the Slavic boy as he reciprocated in kind.
End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.
Well, we are now introduced to Jarl Alfgeir's younger son, Steini and the family's former slave turned loyal solider Goran, who happens to be Steini's lover. Like Alfgeir and Steini, both are based on actors for their appearances; here they are:
Steini: Iwan Rheon
Goran: Eros Vlahos
Look them up if you like, to get an idea of their exact appearances.