Spoiler alert: Some scenes are from Assassins Creed Valhalla.
The Shores of England
How did the wolf travel?
Child, the wolf and his pack sought for something greater. They flown on the wings of the raven, searching for a home. The black wolf feast his eyes upon the mountain that peaked above the clouds. It is said that the top reached the gods.
Why would the black wolf want such a mountain?
Child, the black wolf has sought a home for himself since he was a cub. Never truly belonging and seeking something that he, himself, did not understand. The brown wolf, his sister, shared something similar. As if they were something that once belonged to the land. The battle on the mountain left the brown wolf to choose between the white and black wolf.
What side did she choose?
Child, no one knows. Only the raven that guides the black wolf know her story.
The shores of England were nothing special in her eyes. The look of wetlands that swirled together in small hills and villages in the distance. She could see smoke in the distance and smell many scents that were foreign to her. Her heart beat steadily against her chest in anticipation of what is to come. She cast her eyes to the warriors before her. Watching as many different emotions flick across their faces. Some who have seen battle and were seasoned knew that glory was over the horizon. Others who were fresh wanted to seek what was beyond the golden sunlight.
To Kaya, there was danger.
He could see the concentrated look upon Kaya's face. She looked to the shores with an ever guarded look. Her fingers itching to release the hidden blade. Always guarded. Always looking for something that wasn't there.
He has noticed such strange and peculiar things that Kaya does or says. She can be guarded, but also civil. She can be mouthy and yet, she could be silent like that of passing wind through mountains. Her comrades were strange and mysterious like her; Basim more-so. Eivor wanted to unlock such mysterious that have presented themselves. Sigurd did not speak much of their secret clan and Kaya spoke in riddles or was uninterested in giving away such secrets.
Though, there was something that caused Kaya to be more unease the closer they were getting to shore. England has been touched by his kin since the days of Ragnar. Those before him have seen and plundered for the riches that England has to offer. It's people, well, there was bad blood. Could Kaya see a potential threat if they were not careful? He wondered as he looked at the woman closely.
"There she is… England. Our new home." Sigurd stated. Loud and full of pride within his voice. Kaya placed her chin upon her palm; looking at the land that was crawling with the shadows that have haunted the Hidden Ones. Their enemy lurks somewhere- high in their castles and awaiting to strike where they deem fit.
I can feel it. There is a change and poison in this land. The air was not something pleasant to her senses. It reeked of something fowl. Something familiar to her.
The raven perched on one of the poles looked to the shore. What it could see was not observable to humans. As if it could see the danger itself and waited for it to draw closer. It's master below sensed his friend looking at something far away, but he also waited.
"Not a patch of Norway, but we'll make this land our own soon enough." Dag said, looking at the vast lands the sun was shining upon. Kaya could see the eagerness within their eyes and their hands ready to plow the lands. Kaya held back from a sneer within, knowing that if she was to show her disgust and opinion, these men and women would be more enemy then friend.
"I am glad to see any land at all. And will be happy to have my feet on solid ground again." Kaya looked over her shoulder to Eivor's voice. Many of the crew agreed openly with Eivor. They could not wait to stretch their legs and aching muscles. The journey to England was a strenuous one, but it was smooth sailing. They have yet to encounter danger along the way. The gods truly had given their blessings for a smooth sail. Not a grey cloud or strong wind set them off coarse.
Sigurd was truly a blessed son that would lead his clan to a new home. They have placed their utmost trust in the young prince. Forced to leave his home and people, Sigurd could not let his title go. He had to claim his blood right. But, in his memories, Norway would forever be in his heart. One could never leave their blood.
Though, upon the shoreline was a different matter.
No doubt the people have seen them coming from miles out.
"By the look upon your face, you wish to speak of something, but dare not want to cause alarm." Eivor spoke from beside Kaya. The young woman closed her eyes to the feeling of the suns warmth. Her body was fatigued and her stomach growling for food.
"Afraid of what lies in wait? I did not believe that men such as you have fear within their blood." Sigurd smirked at Kaya's sharp tongue. The young woman was as calm as a cat before it pounced on a mouse. Kaya gave a warning, but her words spoke truth. In order to train Eivor as her apprentice, she had to tell him in riddles in order for him to come to understanding.
Those who hide in the shadows were not always friend.
Eivor found interest in spewing conversation in Kaya. She was slowly accepting the many changes that were surrounding her. She spoke honestly- with some hostility- but, she could speak truth if she wanted. She showed with action and talk.
"We must not rush our landing. All you see here are Saxon territory. The Kingdom of Mercia, largely unpacified. There will be watching us from the trees, with bows drawn and traps set. We must be wary." Sigurd gave fair caution, but it was evident that he was waiting for whatever wants to come after them. They may be strong in heart and mind, but never seek glory where there is none. Kaya frowned as she thought of this.
Why should it matter to her if they wanted to seek glory and death? Such… backwards thinking.
"Even danger goes unnoticed if you do not keep a cautious eye." Kaya said, earning a scoff from Dag. The one who looks down upon an ally is someone who does not need a helping hand. Kaya paid it no mind, nor did it deter her from anything. She already knew her status among these people. It was always best to show her strength in battle for Kaya was a shadow that strikes fast.
"What kind of danger do you believe we will encounter?" Eivor asked. A lazy smirk upon his lips. Kaya truly wanted to teach her apprentice that he should never question his mentor. The coming days will be torturous in rigorous training for the fool. Not even his raven could save him from what Kaya plans. The gods will see her anger and feel her strength in her agility of the silent kill.
"Randvi! Dig in your oars! All standing!" Sigurd spoke before Kaya could retort with an answer. This was the moment for her to keep her mouth shut and not cause further disturbances.
"Have you spotted something?" Randvi's voice was loud and clear across the waters. Her longship sailing side by side with her husbands and never straying too far. It has been as such since the beginning of the journey. There was laughter, singing, stories, and navigation to keep one's mind occupied. The three hooded strangers kept to themselves for most of the sailing.
Though, Kaya and Eivor did have moments of going at each other's necks from time to time.
Kaya looked to the shore once more to observe the surroundings before her. She could hear shouts from people who were cautious as they were curious. This was unsafe territory and Kaya was feeling discomfort. If their enemies were to know that they were here, a bounty would be placed for their heads. Too much influence was within England.
This was the danger that Eivor should know. Men who wanted to take everything from the will of the people. Those who wanted to destroy and take over without any fight. Ones humanity would fade and nothing but a shell remained. Killing any who want to stand before them from taking over.
"Not yet, but let us go ahead to clear the path of any dangers. Then follow our lead when the sun brushes the horizon." Sigurd shouted.
"Understood! May Thor bless you all on your way! We will see you soon." Randvi's long ship lowers their colors. Drifting away from the main lead, she and the rest of her crew were off. Basim and Hytham with her. Kaya was left to her own devices as she was a mentor who could leave her apprentice. Such was custom and tradition.
"Sail on!" Sigurd's words echoed.
They would be the first to see what lies ahead.
"Yes! I am ready for whatever these green-thumbed fairy folk have to throw at us." Kaya gave a side-eyes glance at the seasoned warrior. A rather burly, stocky-looking man that spoke freely without consequence. Unfortunately, Kaya's mouth was faster in the killing blow. Her sharp tongue would always get her into trouble. Sigurd and Eivor were too late to stop her from speaking again.
"One who underestimates his enemy is a fool who falls into a pit." Kaya spoke, giving an off putting glance to Dag. The two were at odds since they began sailing to the shores of England. Dag just did not put any trust in her or the other two hooded strangers. What use were they when they looked like easy prey in battle?
"And what would a small frail woman know of underestimating an enemy she has not fought? Brief me your tale of glory or would you bore us with your silence and speak as if you know something we do not." Dag pressed as if he was feeling insulted by Kaya. The young woman had this air about her that he did not like. She seemed to be close to Sigurd and that troublesome Eivor.
Sometimes she would speak to them and exchange harsh words to Eivor, while being more civil to Sigurd. Her hood always covered her head and she would be in a corner with arms crossed. The silent type from an unknown background. Could her kind even be trusted?
Her fingers itched to release her blade.
Kaya sneered, "I have seen plenty a man fall because they believed in something that was promised. I say words of caution because these lands hold more then what is seen. Should I brighten the sun so you can see the shadows?"
Eivor pushed aside Kaya before she started trouble again. The men and women aboard were already cautious of the young woman. There was little trust to her and her comrades because of their mystery. With a temper to set fire to a village, Eivor sought it best to let this small fued rest before it turned into a bloodbath.
"It should be wise to know when to begin a war and when to retreat from the battle." Eivor warned Kaya. Her eye almost twitched from being openly scolded by her own apprentice! Though, when she looked at the longship, she could see the warriors readying themselves to defend Dag. His honor and pride was like that of his ego: big and obnoxious. She scuffed, not giving any satisfaction to any of it.
"Lecture me and the apprentice shall surpass the mentor. I have no patience for little qualms, but I will keep the peace for the time being. I am not one to trample on." Kaya said, looking at Eivor then to Dag. Men who seem smug die because of mistakes and it seems that Dag did not favor Eivor, by the way he was openly giving a glare to him.
Heh, we share the same enemy. Kaya sat back down without looking to Dag himself. Win a battle, but could you win a war?
Sigurd could not help but sigh heavily to himself. There was already unease, but Kaya was not a fool. She knew something lurked, which was why he did not come between her and Dag. They were already at ends with each other and their was no point in forcing a friendship.
"Sigurd, do the sons of Ragnar know that we are coming?" Eivor broke the tense silence. There were more pressing matter that needed addressed. Being at sail had already shown its effect. They were all on edge and unsure of their future. The enemy surrounded them. The coming months we're going to be brutal.
"They do not. But they will not scoff at our visit. Of the four kingdoms in England, the sons of Ragnar have settled only one. The rest is ripe for the taking." Sigurd's words have brought the spirits of the crew up. New land for their clan to claim and settle for generations to come. It was like a fools dream that was becoming reality.
"Do we mean to join their army?" Dag asked, not affected by Kaya's show of strength. She was but a feeble looking woman who wore little armor and long robes. Her weapons would not even scratch his skin! Why Sigurd wanted a friendship with these people was beyond's Dag's understanding. He would keep an open eye on them as these strangers were something more then what they show.
"No, no. We will speak with them, get the lay of the land. And carve this country into as many pieces as we see fit." Sigurd wanted to put ease into his people. Giving them some hope that they will find something to call home. He wanted to put away the tension of being at sail for several days without stretching their legs. He knew that Kaya was not an easy person to find friendship with, but the young woman was not one to put any in harms way.
She was… complicated.
"Look ahead there. Is that what passes for a town? Plain brick and a single rune to the timid god?" Kaya crossed her arms over her chest as Dag spotted a tower upon a hill. From the looks of it, it could be a fortress hiding soldiers or a monastery for the masses to go to pray to God. Kaya loathed and showed anger towards this Christian God.
One of the factors to… She shook her head before her thoughts finished. Eivor noticed this strange behavior as she looked away from the structure upon the hill. He raised a brow, but said nothing about it. This woman was strange and easy to anger.
"That rune if called a rood, Dag. The cross upon which their god was sacrificed. It sits atop a monastery, a place of worship." Sigurd stated. To many aboard, it was strange and different. Absurd and ridiculous to them, as their gods were not like the ones in England.
And used to kill in the name of God. Kaya thought.
"That cross killed their Christ, and now they display it in worship! Bizarre." Dag continued his monologue of the costume of the English religion.
"We carve idols of our gods and make wishes before them. Like our sacrifices to Odin the One-Eyed." Eivor cut in, showing and telling how it was not something new. Where one went, there was a god and those who worshiped. Kaya has seen her fair share of rituals that spanned before the dawn of man.
"But we do not worship the wolf that killed him. That is the difference." Dag wanted to defend the reasoning of their differences.
"Is their truly a difference between what those one shore worship and what you worship?" Kaya said. She was not defending or making conflict, it was simple observation. It could be interpreted to them that Kaya believed in this god, but they did not know that she did not believe in much of anything. Dag ignored her off handed comment without a reply. She did not deserve any breath out of him for the time being.
"Whatever strangeness we see in these Saxons, they must think the same for us." Sigurd stated. The curiosity within many on board perked their ears like eager dogs. Some knew about this Christ and the religion, but it was something that made no sense. Others were new to this and wanted to know more of their customs. Whether to make friend or foe depended on these simple looking villagers.
"The hammer! Now there is a symbol worthy of a god. A bolt of lighting would take the cross clean off!" Dag continued to be boast about.
Continuing down the river in a steady pace, they observed a baptism taking place. There were about twenty of so people in the water that was a over their knees. If one was silent, they could hear them speaking on verses and the man who is to lead the baptism, would dunk one of the followers in water. This was to free them of all worldly sins and be reborn into a new life.
Dedication to their Lord from this one ritual.
Their hearts and minds giving all their worldly possessions and love to a god that feels corrupted.
…
There was a dock ahead and movement. The village looked abandoned, but there was some things still in good condition. It was a large area and a longhouse could be spotted from a distance.
"Look there, just ahead. Where the sons of Ragnar make their camp." Sharp eyes could see, but the eyes could be deceived. Kaya sensed something that trickled down her spine. The urge to scratch at her nose signaled unease and nervousness.
"At last. To find our feet on steady ground." Dag commented.
There was anticipation within all aboard to finally have kin within company in this strange land. They could almost feel their stomachs being full! Soon, they would be able to settle down in their new homes and begin a new life. This was their promise land! There was a glimpse of hope within their eyes that shined like the sun.
Kaya and Eivor, however, felt differently.
"Sigurd, hold back. Something isn't right." Eivor said.
What was to be a feeling of ease and merriment was taken. What could be wrong? Was there trouble ahead?
"Good eye. There is too little movement for an army. Only tents and a few men." Dag said, noticing the strange scene. Watching both Kaya and Eivor react so suddenly was like watching dogs on patrol.
"Not the army we hoped to find?" There was disappointment in Eivor's voice. He too wanted to be in the confines of kin. There was safety. There was shelter. There was knowledge. To be let down because of strange movement ashore brought about doubt in some of the men and women. The hope that shines just moments before we're extinguished .
Kaya even felt let down by this. Yet, she knew that this journey was not going to be easy to set footing.
"No… let us get a closer look." Sigurd was cautious. He needed answers as to who or what those men ashore were. There was a story in this village that needed to be told. The sons of Ragnar would have noticed their ship and would be waiting for them on the docks, but something was off. Sigurd had to see things clearly before coming to conclusions.
The closer the longship reached the dock, it was evident that the men on shore were not friendly looking. There was something strange about them that Kaya noticed. They did not dress so heavily like the Norsemen, nor did they have similar build. They looked thinner, but heavy guarded and less carefree when fighting in battle.
This was different.
Kaya has not had the pleasure of fighting Saxons. She wondered how they would try to strike at her with their swords and bash her with their shields. She did need to release this tension that has been building since leaving Norway and being stuck on a ship with people who either detested her or did not completely trust her.
"Those are not Norsemen. They are too ragged and soiled." Eivor observed from a distance. They may not even smell any better from what Eivor was describing to them.
"We should proceed on foot, lest they spot the boat." Sigurd said.
Kaya could see that they were preparing for battle. Axes were sharpened before their sail. Kaya could already hear the sound of the songs of their gods in their throats.
"Dag and I will go together." Eivor stated.
Kaya had an uneasy feeling. Fortunately, Sigurd was much wiser and sought it best to grow the numbers on land. Not that he did not doubt the fighting capability of his most trust kin, but it would be in the best interest to have more eyes upon these strange men.
"We all go. If they are friends, I wish to meet them as a jarl. And if they are foes, then we fight them all together." Kaya could feel the itchiness in her fingers. Her heart steady and eye focused like a predator
Authors Note: So much happening in this chapter. Finally in England! We are close to being introduced to the sons of Ragnar! Kaya truly needs to learn that not everyone will tolerate her easy temper. In future chapters, she will learn more of the culture in which Eivor comes from. She will appreciate and show Eivor her culture as well. True friendship is rocky, but in the end, can be a lasting bond for life.
Guest: I have thought about adding the holiday themes and DLC and will probably add them in future chapters to kind of give Kaya an eye opener. I enjoyed the DLC and holiday events and imagined Kaya letting loose for a night or two.
Guest: Yes, to have Sigurd go through with his decision to leave Norway because of the feeling of being betrayed by his father over giving in to a new king must have been and felt horrible. But, Sigurd is going down his own path because he feels he can do better for his clan in England. I also wanted to put how different Kaya and Eivor were in terms of their culture.