Randvi

The sail of our longship rose, and the journey began. "Rather silent eivor, anything to say for the mess you led us to?" Dag questioned, I couldn't tell if he was trying to be humourous. "We suffered no losses in this fight, and the men who humiliated us are dead. What is there to say?" I replied to Dag, it turned out I did have something to say about it. Dag did not stop there, but I was happily welcoming the talk. "O...something like, I was stupid, selfish, reckless, blind, boneheaded. And I smell like blood and shit?" Drag said. "I like my version better" I replied as I made sure we were going the right way, at least the skies were no longer of a blood coloured red and the sun rose and lit up the sky a golden yellow, with a light blue sky, friends to the ravens and people of the water.

With my last comment, the talking stopped and I was there, listening to nothing but the calm waves rolling and folding beneath the way of our longship. "Eivor look! Someone is setting up an outpost on that island" I was informed. "Kjotve's men. Gnawing at any piece of open land like dogs worrying a bone." I observed. "Even with you half in the grave, we could easily take them" Dag said, looking to the shore where the small camp was.

So we turned the longship to point to the shore and sailed towards it, deciding to raid the land, the less of Kjotve's men were in this world, as he had put it, the better. I blew the horn to alert everyone that a raid was about to start, the men on the island already knew we were there, I out the horn down and jumped carefully off the boat, ready to grab whatever I could from this island. We jumped off, there were all of us together now, and the men weren't that experienced at fighting, not to the likes of the raven clan. We soon ended the battle as soon as it begun and I went immediately to the houses, looting chests and foraging anything herbs or food I could find to refill the rations I had used to regain some of my health. I opened the golden chest and smiled, reaching inside to see a weapon, bone-biter, a two handed axe, it would mean I had to get rid of my shield, but for now, I was out of combat, and the extra weight would strengthen my muscles. The next thing I knew was the house being set on fire just as I fastened bone-biter to my back, I went outside to see the last one of Kjotve's men, I wasn't sure if it was the soldier or the idiot behaviour of my clan to light the house on fire, but that didn't matter, I struck him down with an arrow even before my clan could reach him.

We went back to reach the longship, no losses again, that was good, we sailed, now trying to find the direction to go to reach Fornburg. The air was filled with talk between me and Dag, mostly talk of Kjotve, to be careful of him, such anger for a man can make one careless. Perhaps it did, but it would be worth it if his dead body was at the end of Varin's axe. "What he did to your father. He did to all of us. You are not in this fight alone." Dag commented. "King Styrbjorn will scold you for sailing out against his wishes" he said. "Of course he will" I replied, I didn't expect much else. "Is that not something you worry over?" He questioned, turning to look at me. "I worry only that our king will not see that I am right until it's too late" I said as the rowers made the longship turn a little the the right, ready to go down a small River, eager to get off the open sea they worked their oars harder. Dag kept up his interrogation. "What about Sigurd? What would he say?" I sighed a little. "If Sigurd was here, he would be sitting beside you, wiping the blood from his axe, and smiling into the breeze" I replied with a slight chuckle, I knew i was not wrong.  "And what will you tell our king about this misadventure?" Dag asked over the noise of the waves. We grew closer to Fornburg, I knew it. "Only the truth. That we attacked Kjotve's fortress, killed his men, and weakened his control of this land." I replied. "Will you mention the part where you lost your crew and were nearly sold as a thrall?...will that be part of your saga?" He asked as the men kept rowing. I answered. "If there is a skald (poet) who dares sing that verse, it will be his last verse"

Moments later of sailing and a dock came into view. to what looked like a little settlement at the edge of the freezing water. They'd made it to Fornburg. Eivor jumped off the seat where she sat and ran across the edge of the small boat, she now had to speak to Randvi about what happened, luckily, she didn't have to walk far as she was already at the docks. "well, well! The feeder-of-ravens returns. and not half dead." Randvi exclaimed. she was slightly amused. "we thought we had lost you, Eivor. For good this time." Randvi said turning to look at her. "A warm welcome as always, Randvi." Eivor nodded and stepped closer to the other woman, they clasped their arms together, greeting each other properly. "you look like reddened shit. what happened?" Randvi asked looking Eivor up and down. "Nothing to crow about, except to say the men who delayed us are dead. And how are you?" Eivor asked quickly moving on, she looked behind her briefly, the old scars on her neck showing themselves to Randvi. "well enough. though I have spent many tiresome days calming the rages of our king. He is not happy with you." Eivor crossed her arms. "I expected as much. And what of Sigurd? Has he returned from his raids?" She asked her, Randvi's fsce immediately fell and her brows furrowed together looking upset. "My husband should be home today. the last we heard, he was approaching Stavanger." Eivor nodded and kept a close eye on her. "Good to hear. We have need of his courage" her head tilted to the side hearing footsteps behind her. watching as Dag spoke carrying a big wooden box with him. "Sigurd will not save you from his father's wrath, Eivor. you should know that by now." the two women watched him as he walked off, Randvi turning back go look at her. "did your raid not go as planned?" She questioned concerned. Eivor dropped her arms by her side and shrugged. "They rarely go as planned, but we killed many of Kjotve's warriors. And there was this...my father's axe among the dead." she pulled out the axe attached to her back and showed it to Randvi, the other woman blinking numerous times before her eyes widened. "Ah! after so many years. you should take it to Gunnar. He will give it back it's edge." she said, eyes watering slightly. "A good idea. after I see our king" Eivor told her. "That I do not advise, not yet. He is meeting with a messenger from the North." Randvi told her, face turning stone cold again. "I can wait..." Eivor replied looking down slightly, she gazed off into the distance before looking up into the sky, looking at the snowy mountain, the rocky edges covered and dripping with ice. "A cloud hangs over you. is something wrong?" Randvi asked noticing her absence, and the tears in her eyes. Eivor lowered her head and pressed her lips together. "seeing my father's axe after seventeen winters...it stirred something in me." she looked up slightly, shaking her head. "a feeling I have not had since...since the day he was killed. since the day I got this." she mumbled on, tilting her head to the side, showing the heavy scarring on the side of her neck. "Memories of past agonies. Of sadness and pain" Randvi replied as Eivor agreed with a nod. "I should speak with Valka. She could help me make sense of my...my feelings." she softened at the end. "Take your time getting settled. I will see you at the longhouse." she backed up slightly still looking at Eivor for a moment before turning around and walking up the path, leaving Eivor to watch after her, the corner of her mouth turning into a smile.

Eivor too turned on her heels to begin making her way through the settlement, chuckling at the Norse man who spoke to her as she passed. "Eivor. looking rough, you are. Welcome Home!" he greeted. She slowed down as she reached a brown wooden shelter where a Norse Child stood and greeted her. "Eivor! Did you bring us any treasure?" He asked. "I returned with a boat and a full crew. that is worth more than silver" She told her proudly. "That doesn't count! you need silver! and jewels!" The Norse Child complained making Eivor chuckle loudly. "Shut up, Rolf! How do you know? You never went on a raid!" she left the children to their arguing and went to the stall beside her where a Norse woman was. "caught anything?" Eivor inquired looking over the woman's shoulder as she fiddled with a knife. "not today. the fish aren't biting. Too many passing boats churning the water." she said dropping down the knife and turning to face Eivor. "I lack the patience for pole fishing. I would have better luck with my bow" Eivor told the woman. "shooting fish with a bow? That could work!" the woman laughed, seemingly amused. Eivor ran up the main path that began leading up to the longhouse, getting greeted along the way, though she didn't stop her jog until she saw Alvis stood there with his hands on his hips dressed in a black that matched his long wavy hair and beard. "well, look who it is!" Alvis said. "practicing your wordplay, Alvis?" Eivor asked. "Ah, Eivor...the only mouth in Midgard from which I fear mockery." Alvis told her. "You taught me the art of writing poetry, old friend. it is only natural that I surpass soon" she teased him. "how about another lesson, then? A quick flyt (word battle), right here, right now. What do you say?" Alvis challeneged. "Let's try flyting" Eivor agreed crossing her arms. "I always put a few coins down as a wager. Most of those who enjoy flyting have an equal fondness for betting." he said looking at her. "But today, we'll abstain. let me begin" he said. "I'm ready" Eivor nodded, arms still crossed against her chest.

So Alvis began. "in flyting, it's key to match cadence and rhyme." he placed his hands on his hips. "it's as much about sound as it is about time" Alvis nodded. "so be careful in choosing the words that you say..." Eivor took a moment to think. "with your teachings, I'm sure my neck challenger I will slay" Eivor responded. "Hmm. no. The rhyme is good! But too many words upsets the rhythm." Alvis told her. "Now let us examine meaning! ahem." he extended his arms and cleared his throat. "in flyting, you'll need to be cutting and keen. it's about wielding wit more than venting your spleen. if I tell you you're foolish, and stupid. and dull..." he trailed off waiting for Eivors reply. "then I will spit in your face, and I will bash in your skull." Alvis nodded with a shrug. "Not bad. Not had. the rhyme is there, the sound is good, but...consider that I said you were silly, and you told me you would kill me." Alvis responded making her nod. "at times. it might be best to...remain on theme. something to consider." Alvis told her. "last one..." Alvis challenged. "so go then, and conquer the world with your wit. Go be clever, be quick, show your spirit and grit! I look eagerly forward to seeing how you fare..." he waiting for Eivors reply. "I will flyt you with flourish and best you with flair!" Eivor exclaimed extending her arms to the side. "Perfect, yes; You could destroy me with such a line!" Alvis congratulated. "there's still much for you to learn about flyting, but I'm confident you'll pick it up." he said noticing the snow begin to fall around them. "Happy to help you learn if you'd like to come back again." he offered leaning into her a little. "perhaps I will. thank you, Alvis." Eivor nodded.

There was much else to do, but for now, she needed to follow Randvi's advice and go see Gunnar about her father's axe, based on Randvi's reaction, she imagined she wouldn't be the only one excited about seeing such a glorious weapon after seventeen long years.