SHADOWS [UBBE RAGNARSSON]

1: WAR IS COMING

CHAPTER ONE — 'WAR IS COMING'

york, northumbria
The girl stared up at the huge church. It's bell tower stood tall and proud, towering miles above her.
"For a Christian thing, it's not bad." She smirked up at the boy stood beside her, making him snort with laughter.
"We are still better builders." He shrugged, his grin mischievous.
"And better warriors." The siblings giggled together as they continued to walk through the bustling town. Surprisingly, it was the first time the girl had visited the town even though her clan had been living in Northumbria for months. It was a beautiful place — well-guarded within brick walls, a quaint market that seemed lively and welcoming, and people everywhere. The looks they got, however, were less than inviting. They were Vikings of course, so they didn't expect happy smiles and hellos from the townspeople, but they had settled their parcel of land for months now with barely a handful of problems. Nonetheless, Saxons were not joyful about the Viking clans that were beginning to settle here. They'd had to land peacefully on Northumbria's shores, no fighting or raiding allowed, and offer a small payment to settle and farm on a small piece of land. She didn't know how or why King Ælle and his court had accepted, after she'd learned of his hatred for Northmen and how it stemmed from the legendary Ragnar Lothbrok himself.

"Leif! Eira!" A small voice called, and the two siblings turned around to see their youngest sister rushing towards them.
"Tove," Leif grinned at her, "I am surprised to see you have not been stolen by a Saxon yet." He pushed her playfully and she rolled her eyes, swatting him as she did so.
"I have charm, unlike you." She remarked, making Eira giggle. "I found a tavern! They serve ale and mead, and there are some people playing great music in there."
"Come on then, Tove, let's go and see."

As the three siblings entered the tavern, the music, chatter and laughter lulled and it's Saxon inhabitants turned to look at them. They stared, open mouthed, at the Vikings that had just walked through their door. The Vikings, however, were smart enough to know that when finding themselves around Saxons, it was better to leave their axes and their shields at home and also their pendants that displayed Thor's hammer.
Leif raised his hands in the air. "We are settlers, from Vidby. We are Christian, and we are not raiders."
"You're Christian?" A man turned his nose up at them.
"Yes, we were baptised by King Ælle's Bishop when we landed on these shores. Now we only look to the Lord himself." Leif said as he made the sign of the cross on his chest. The man who had turned his nose up at them shrugged his shoulders and continued drinking his ale, at which point the music began again and the chatter continued as if it had never stopped.

Tove looked up at Leif, a slightly worried look clouding her face.
"And you say I don't have charm?" He winked at her as he walked towards the bar.

————

The siblings sat and drank for hours, the cheerful music still ringing through their ears throughout.
"Do you not feel that Odin will punish us for lying and saying we are Christian? It is not the first time we have had to do it." Eira sighed at her brother.
"Odin understands. He gave his eye for wisdom, remember, and so he knows why we must lie."
As Leif spoke, the door barged open. The people in the tavern all swung their heads to look at the loud disruption, Eira included. A tall, dark-haired man stood in the doorway and Eira could see that it was dark outside now. The man said nothing as he walked through the tavern and towards a small group of men that had been drinking and chatting with the tavern owner all night. Eira had her back to them but she listened, knowing the man seemed angry over something.
"They say the King killed Ragnar Lothbrok. Here, in Northumbria."
Eira froze, as did Leif and Tove. They didn't dare look at each other.
"In battle?" One of the other men questioned.
"No, Ecbert of Wessex handed him over. It was only him, no warriors, no battle."
"Dear God," the other man breathed out, "their people will have revenge."
"He has many sons. No doubt they will gather an army and march on King Ælle."