053

Everyone gathered at Jarl's house, I sat in his chieftain's chair... now my chieftain's chair, and my wife Lagertha sat next to me. People waited for my first words as their new leader.

- I'd like to announce a few things. First, I am giving up my share of the spoils of the last raid to the west, it will all be distributed among the crews of the ships that participated in it. The families of the fallen can also count on their share of the spoil.

This caused waves of satisfaction among the people.

- Secondly. Siggy ...

Siggy stepped out into the center of the room, her face showing no emotion.

- ... Your husband was a brave man and although there was a conflict between us, there was no hatred among us, at least on my part. Your husband will be buried with all honors. We will send him by ship to Valhalla. You can choose one of the slaves to accompany him, and I allow you to take away a third of the wealth your husband has accumulated...

- Jarl Ulf, I'd like to accompany my husband to the other side.

- No, I don't allow it. Siggy you loved your husband and it's admirable, but you also have a daughter. Think about her first. When you're gone, who will take care of her?

- My husband wanted to send Thyri to his friend ...

- I know that, Olafur told everything. Jarl Bjarni was supposed to donate Olafur twenty pounds of silver for your husband. Thyri would become his wife when she grew up. If you want it, I will send your daughter to Svealand and let her keep the twenty pounds of silver. When Thyri grows up, Jarl Bjarni will only be in his fifties ... so he won't be that old.

Siggy was surprised by what I said, but she didn't say anything, although I knew everything from the series, Olafur became my scapegoat ... and he himself has a meeting with Wiła soon.

- Thirdly. The wealth accumulated by the previous Jarl will be spent entirely on building new ships. So we can send more of them west next year. Kattegat is an important trading settlement, thanks to our trip its importance will increase even more. That is why we need to fortify Kattegat, and enlarge the port, and I hope that everyone will help to achieve this goal as much as possible.

I have set goals for us, which always helps to motivate people more. They feel better when someone above them has a vision of the future and seems to have a plan on how to achieve these goals.

Leif stepped out into the center of the room. He knelt, pulled up his sleeve, and grabbed the bracelet on his wrist.

- Jarl Ulf, I came here to swear an allegiance to you and your family.

- Leif you are my friend, as are Ragnar, Erik, One-Eye and others.

Then Erik, Floki, Ragnar, One-Eyed Arne, Torstein, Kauko, my father-in-law Arne, Rollo, Tostig and others came out in turn ... and they all took the same oath.

Now I had to organize my Aett (clan) and Hrid (warband).

First, I chose Skutilsveinr (table men), Erik, Leif, Floki, Tostig, Ragnar, one-eyed Arne and my father-in-law. They were people who could sit at my table at the feast, they were also my court and hirdmenn (companions and bodyguards).

The others I chose only to be my huskarls and they were Rollo, Kauko, Torstein.

Erik also got the Briti position and my father-in-law got the Stivardur position.

It was tiring as hell, but now I had someone to use.

I had Erik deal with the raid loot and my father-in-law to check how much and what wealth Jarl Haraldson had accumulated. I told Floki to pick the ship for Jarl's funeral, the one that needed the most repairs. It will be burnt so it does not have to be of the best quality.

The next task will be to choose new colors and banner ... in fact, the colors of the previous Jarl, black and red were quite stylish, but the pattern had to be changed ... The wolf would be the best solution, since that is my name ... Each sail and banner will announce my arrival.

Jarl Haradlson's funeral was held the next day. People gathered on the shore, all drank mead or beer. The six men carried the body on their shoulders, and Siggy and her daughter walked in front of them. When they were at the ship, the priestess ordered the body to be placed in a specially prepared woodpile, then various valuables, bread, herbs and dead animals were placed next to the body.

Finally, Leif, Torstein, and four other men brought Jarl's favorite slave girl. Each of them had had intercourse with her before. She was led before the priestess, the slave took off her jewelry and was given a decoction of magic mushrooms to drink. As the drug took effect, the slave girl spoke.

- I see my master ... He is in Valhalla ... He is calling me ... let me join him.

The priestess took a knife in her hand and cut the throat of the slave, two men held her body, lifted her up and carried her to the ship. They put her next to her master's body. One of the men grabbed the torches and threw them on the deck, and a few more men pushed the ship into deeper water.

The flames swiftly engulfed the deck and the funeral pyre, and in a few minutes the entire ship was on fire.

People on the shore were drinking, making toasts, eating and having sex ... and Floki was jumping around giggling like a little girl.

The ceremony was interesting, but not my style. In the future I have to tell my wife and my child to bury me with the ship after burning my body ...

I will think about my death later, but now I have a few things to do ... arrange a date for Olafur and Wiła, the slaves from the east, and provide fertile land.