"I will always honor my ancestors.
I will always impress my Gods.
I will always respect nature.
I will always speak my mind.
I will always fight for justice.
I will always defend myself.
I will never stray from honor.
I will never break an oath.
I w...
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Any lingering doubt that Leif isn't among the ship's crew is squashed when his voice carries across the waves to the docks. Svea relaxes into the side of me, so I try my best to keep her upright for a moment and throw my other hand into the air and wave.
It is never guaranteed that your loved ones will return when they go off raiding. The only cure to keep the sadness away is the assurance that they'd be waiting for you inside Odin's hall.
And by the looks of it, they were more than successful in their two winters of raiding. The ship lays heavy in the water as the rowers grunt in unison as the rows cut into the choppy waves in perfect time. The neck of the ship jutting high with the red sails opened wide behind it. It looks as though a dragon is approaching.
Excitement flows from me in the form of a rolled-tongue call. The sight of them in this ship would have made so many piss themselves with fear.
The ship docks, and the clan's people buzz and cheer when they see their loved ones on the deck of the ship. Supplies are lifted from the ship in loads and wooden barrels, proof of their successful raiding. From the helm, Leif appears among the crowded deck carrying a large wooden box in his arms; his cunning smile is always the first feature I notice.
He drops the box to the dock with a loud thud as the items inside clank and jingle. My stomach flips and my heart hammers in my chest, and like a spirit has taken over my body I've dropped Svea's arm and thrown myself against him. Strong arms wrap around me and hold me even tighter against the hard body in front of me.
"My brother, I'm so happy to see you!" I clutch onto him feeling both overwhelmed yet calm and relieved.
"Tove, I've missed you!" He exclaims back then grabs either side of my face forcing me to look into his icy blue eyes, "Your face? Have you been raiding without my knowledge?"
Scoffing my eyes drop, taking in how much of him has changed. I didn't think it was possible but he looks the same but also completely different, "A beard?" I ask him, grabbing the hair on his face and gently pulling it, "You look like utter skita (shit)."
Leif bursts a laugh and wraps me into another tight embrace, resting his bearded chin on the top of my head.
"Ah!" He exhales loudly and I step back, the two of us finding Svea waiting patiently. Leif steps over to her and fixes her white hair behind her ear, "My wife," He says then kisses her lips. "How is it you've gotten even more beautiful?" He asks her and her cheeks flush a pale pink, "Not one line of worry mares your face." The pad of Leif's thumb spans over her forehead and she catches it breathing out a laugh.
"Tove has taken good care of me, my husband."
Leif kisses her again, while I admire the bounty still being removed from the ship.
"I've brought the two of you something." He adds and spins back to the ship, dodging the men leaving the boat and swings around the mast then digs through a pack blocking our views.
