Vol. 2 Chapter 14 - Charleyth The ‘Poet’
A.D. 867 Kingdom of Northumbria, Oxford
/povMC/
As I'm 'making' my way 'towards'.. the only 'tavern' Oxford where the 'poet' should be.. I can already see him I think to myself as I 'walk' up.. 'towards' the table Charleyth is sitting at..
"Hahaha.. Charleyth my 'eloquent-speaking' friend.. how.. are you?.. on this.. 'glorious' day?.." I ask the 'poet..
Who 'cracks' a 'wide' 'grin' on his face and 'says' "Well if it isn't 'young' Aethred.. 'out' and 'about' I see 'pretty' day indeed.."
"Haha well you know me.. gotta 'make' my 'rounds' anyway Im here with a 'purpose' I 'need' your 'help' my 'friend'.." I start to tell him..
"Well don't know how much 'help' I'll be but I'll 'try' my very 'best' whatcould you 'possibly' .. 'need' my 'help' with Aethred?.." Charleyth 'asked' me
"Here come 'spring' I've been 'invited' by my 'older' brother Ragnar the 'younger' he will go 'raiding' with the Earls Ubba and Guthrum they 'want' to 'strike' at Lundene 'via' the river Thames I could really 'use' you my friend I want to form my own 'faction' on my brother's ship I invite you to join as my 'aide-de-camp' my 'second-in-command' I 'know' you 'know' your 'letters' and you can 'speak'.. 'plenty-well' enough what 'say'.. you friend?.. want to.. 'join' me?.." I ask.. waiting in 'anticipation' he will be my first 'recruit'it's a 'memorable'.. 'moment'..
"I pledge my sword to you 'sire'.. whereerver.. you shall 'lead' the 'poet' Charleyth.. shall 'follow.." he 'kneeled'.. at 'one-knee' 'saying' with 'seriousness'..
"Hahah.. I knew you would 'accept' I know a 'kindred' spirit.. when I see one come on.. there's a 'lean-to' on my 'home-stead'.. by my 'hall' you can stay there.. and once 'spring'.. is 'here' we 'sail' towards 'glory' and all of its 'literal' and 'metaphorically-speaking' 'riches'..".. I 'spoke' in a 'maniacal' manner..
I'll be 'trying' to 'portray' a 'touched-by the 'gods-in-the-head'.. 'Viking' a 'mixture'.. of 'Captain-Sparrow'.. from 'Pirates-of-the-Carribean' and a 'dash' of 'Floki'.. and just a 'touch' of 'Ragnar-Lothbrok'.. from 'Vikings'..
'Balancing' the 'mixture' 'leaving' just the right amount of 'madness' 'cunning' 'ruthlessness' and 'intelligence'..
'Topping'.. it all 'off' with 'plenty' of 'dangerousness' and 'skill-in-battle'..
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***Aethred's 'Home-Stead'***
/povMC/
"Hilda.. 'sweet-heart' come out 'here' for a second.." I yelled.. as Charleyth and I 'approach' my house..
"Aethred!.. thank the gods!.. hurry it's Fenra she's giving 'birth' to her 'pup's come on.. I need 'help'.." she informs me.. almost 'hysterically-filled' with 'worry'..
"Charleyth.. make yourself at home the 'lean-to' is over there.. I know it's not much but atleast it'll keep you out of the cold and out of the rain.. I gotta go help we shall' speak later.." I told him.. as I was 'rushing' to get 'inside' to the 'pups'..
"Get me.. some 'hot' water and 'rip-up' some 'linens' then 'boil' half of them in 'hot' water for atleast 'three-minutes' hurry.." I 'rattle'd' off 'instructions' as I was 'cleaning' and 'petting' Fenra trying to 'calm' her..
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/povMC/
"Hahahah.. good girl Fenra six 'pups' six 'beautiful 'healthy' 'pups' you've brought into this world excellent job my girl.." I spoke.. to the 'wolf'..
As if.. she were my 'own' 'child'.. 'meaning' it too.. I've 'come' to 'love'.. this 'wolf' she's a 'part' of me now.. the 'pups' will be to my children.. what Fenra is to me..
"Aw!.. so cute!..what will we name them?.." my wife asks..
"We will see.. names are very 'important'.. I shall have to think on it.. we will 'pick' the 'perfect' names.. Im sure of it dear.." I told her..
"Im gonna run and get Brida and Thyra.. I know they would love to know the pups have been born.. you already.. 'promised' them.. and Uhtred each.. a pup that only leaves three.." she starts to say..
"The 'pup'.. with the 'white-coat' and black 'sprinkles' is your 'pup'.. the two 'pups' that both.. have a 'pitch-black' 'coat' with 'yellow-eyes'.. those 'pups' are the 'twins'.. the 'twins' you are going to be 'giving-birth' to.. for me.. eight 'moons' from now.. I have seen it.." I inform her.. 'stopping' her whilst 'mid-sentence'..
"Twins!.. how.. do you 'know'?.. right.. the 'gods' 'told'.. you I forget hahaha.. ok.. I'll believe you.." she says.. 'starting' to laugh a little to 'hard' for my liking..
"What's so funny?.. the gods do tell me things.. you shall see.. whether you believe me or not.. doesn't change the facts.. eight 'moons'.. from now when we 'hold'.. our 'first-born' son. and daughter.. I'll say.. "told ya so".. it is 'known'..".. I inform her.. in a 'matter-of-fact' manner..
"Ok Aethred.. we will see then.. won't we?.." she laughed back.. at me.. 'obviously-skeptical'.. about what.. I told her..
"See.. we shall.. we shall see.. indeed.. anywho.. my dear.. me and the 'poet' gotta 'hop' on over.. to Ragnar's.. gotta talk 'business' with him.. won't take long.. we will be back in 'plenty' of time for me to 'whip-up' supper for us.." I 'informed' Brunhilda.. before 'walking' out.. and heading to get Charleyth.. then visit.. Ragnar.. as I'm walking.. I decide to check my status see where I'm 'currently' at on.. my 'perpetrations' for my first 'raid'..
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/Status Panel/
Name: Aethred
Age: 11
Status: Healthy
Height: 5' 5"
Weight: 145.0lbs
/Attribute Panel/
Physique: 1.6
Strength: 1.2
Dexterity: 1.6
Spirituality: 1.5
/Combat Skill Panel/
'Basic' Boxing : lvl 3 (0/300xp)
'Basic' Axe-Play : lvl 1 (10/100xp)
'Basic' Sword-Play : lvl 1 (10/100xp)
'Basic' Spear-Play : lvl 3 (0/300xp)
'Basic' Archery : lvl 3 (0/300xp)
'Basic' Horse-Riding : lvl 1 (10/100xp)
'Basic' Throwing : lvl 3 (0/300xp)
/Personal Skills Panel/
'Basic' Carpentry : lvl 3 (0/300xp)
'Basic' Black-Smithing : lvl 3 (0/300xp)
'Basic' Farming : lvl 2 (0/200xp)
'Basic' Tailoring : lvl 2 (0/200xp)
'Basic' First-Aid : lvl 2 (0/200xp)
'Basic' Cooking : lvl 3 (0/300xp)
'Basic' Teaching : lvl 2 (0/200xp)
'Basic' Beast Taming : lvl 3 (0/300xp)
/Commander Skills/
Leadership : lvl 1 (10/100xp)
Infantry Commander : lvl 1 (10/100xp)
Cavalry Commander : lvl 1 (10/100xp)
Artillery Commander : lvl 1 (10/100xp)
Siege Commander : lvl 1 (10/100xp)
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Not bad looking pretty 'balanced'.. 'fa-sho' need to get 'first-aid' to 'level-three'.. I'd 'imagine' it will come 'extra-handy' in the future.. in 'numerous'.. 'occasions'..