Vagabond

Set Sail

1100 BC

Hünenburg bei Watenstedt is a beautiful place on the coast of Scandinavia. Perched atop a lush, green hillside and surrounded on all sides by fortified wooden walls, the trade city serves as the only connection we have to the outside world. The main road leading to the gate is a constant highway of traffic. Carts of amber, wood, livestock, and crops are consistently moving in and out of the village.

My name is Ylva Ingouf. Firstborn daughter of Henrik, the autokrat of Hünenburg. My father has served as one of the greatest warriors of this century. His goal was always to have a son to pass that title on to, however my mother Kelda died nine years ago before this could come to pass. Instead, he is the doting father to three girls.

The youngest of my sisters is only ten years old. Her name is Helga, and she is the kindest and most spirited child I have ever met. Her dark hair, courtesy of our father, falls in thick strands to her lower back and her bright, round, blue eyes are filled with such an innocent curiosity! She truly is the heart of our family.

My second sister, Margareta, is a walking juxtaposition. At 17, where her features are soft, gentle, and youthful - her personality is anything but. The bite of her tongue and the chill of her heart is enough to drive even the strongest warrior away. The idea of marriage sickens her, the idea of being in the spotlight even more so. She is more content to hide in the hills and read her books than socialize with others. The one thing we have in common, other than our looks, is our brains. She shares the intelligence that I have, she just doesn't share the vision.

I am my fathers only hope at securing our place in the rapidly changing world. Margareta has no desire for power or standing and Helga is still too young to concern herself with such matters. As the eldest daughter, already 22, I have a responsibility to my family to marry into a prominent and lucrative marriage. Father has spent the last eighteen months negotiating the proposal from Adras Doukas, a noble from Greece who can promise lifetimes of wealth and trade and power to my family. It is there that I am currently sailing, my sisters and father by my side, to celebrate and publicly announce the engagement.

"Are you sure that you are okay with this?" Margareta's voice came from behind me where I stood overlooking the sea.

Turning to my sister, our matching blue eyes clashed, she was carrying another book like I suspected and her brows were pinched in disdain. Despite her obvious disgust, I could tell by her question and the look in her eyes that she was genuinely concerned for me.

Smiling at her I replied, "Of course I am, Reta. Why should I not be?"

Margareta came and sat on the box that sat next to me, rolling her eyes as she did so.

"You have never even met the man you are about to marry Ylva. Why should you not be worried? What if he is hideously ugly or incredibly stupid or even beats you."

"Shush! You must not say things like that! You never know who is listening." Glancing around I made sure none of the men were paying attention to us. They weren't. They never were.

"Listen to me," I continued, "Adras is a very powerful man. His position in Greece will help the Ingouf name to strengthen even further and secure our place in the world. I will be so rich that I can afford to send you to any scholar in the world to study whatever you wish. I can buy Helga all the dresses she wants, one in every color! Reta, I will have a place at his side in the courts. Everything we want is going to come true with this union! Besides, Adras is rumored to be very handsome."

I winked at her which drew a watery laugh from her pink lips. Her eyes had misted up while I spoke, the tears only brightening the blue of her eyes.