A The Mark Of A Stallion Novel:CLAIMING THE VIRGIN'S BLOOD (Published)

Chapter 1.1

988 A.D.

Halvar surveyed his vast farmlands. A smile curved on his lips when he focused his vision on the green field of grains, rye and oats. At dahil mataba ang lupang minana niya mula sa kanyang mga ninuno, malulusog din ang iba't-ibang uri ng gulay, halaman at mga puno na nakatanim dito.

Mula sa mataas na lupang kinatatayuan, tanaw din niya ang lambak kung saan naroroon ang kanyang mga alagang hayop. He had more than thirty heads of cattle, twenty- five goats and pigs, fifteen bulls, and more than fifty sheep. Second in importance to a Viking's life as a farmer was his sheep. They were raised for their fleece, milk and meat. He had few horses also. He kept them only for their utility for travel and transport. In his village, horse meat was prized. It was a common, inexpensive part of their diet. They even sacrificed them to their pagan gods and the meat consumed as part of their feasting ceremonies. But when he was baptized as a Christian few months ago, he banned the killing and the consumption of horseflesh in his territory.

He owned the best breed of horse in their village, the Icelandic gray horse. Though short, it was hard and sturdy. He named it Sleipner, after the mythical eight-legged horse of their pagan god, Odin.

He breathed a heavy sigh. Winter season was fast approaching on this part of Denmark. Kung sa ibang tao ay nangangahulugan ito ng pagkukumahog sa pag-iimbak ng pagkain bilang paghahanda sa malupit na panahon, sa isang katulad niyang Viking warrior, ito ay nangangahulugan ng paghahanda para sa isa na namang pananakop at pakikidigma.

But that was before. Today, he realized that there was something more to live, far better than being a ruthless Viking warrior.

Walang kasing-lupit ang digmaan. At silang mga Vikings ang nagpasimula nito sa bawat pamayanan sa malaking bahagi ng Europa at ilang bansa sa Asya na napili nilang sakupin. Isa itong kulturang minana pa nila sa kanilang mga ninuno. When still young, he developed the unusual skill and passion in explorations and conquests in search of treasures and new settlements. As a blood-thirst warrior, he enjoyed burning, plundering, pillaging and molesting women. And like any other Viking, he found it honorable to kill whenever and wherever he felt like it. At ang bawat tagumpay niya bilang mahusay na pinuno ng hukbo ni Rangvald ang nagluklok sa kanya upang hirangin siya bilang isang 'jarl', ang pinakamataas na uri ng mamamayan sa kanilang village.

Ngunit isang umaga, nagising na lamang siya na taglay ang masidhing pagnanais na iwan ang marahas at makamundong mga gawain. At alam na alam niya ang tunay na dahilan kung bakit ayaw na niyang balikan ang dating pamumuhay bilang isang malupit na mandirigma. At iyon ay si Thora, ang pinakamamahal niyang si Thora.

More than a year ago, he and his men successfully raided a small village in northern part of United Kingdom. They killed many villagers including children and a Christian monk and burned houses and structures including the only monastery. After the attack, they named the place Volundr which means 'a battlefield territory'. Nagdala sila ng mga bihag na lalaki at babae upang gawing mga "thrall" o alipin kabilang na ang napakagandang si Thora.

Si Thora ay nagtataglay ng kulay mais na buhok, maamong mukha, kulay bughaw na mga mata , maputi at makinis na balat at balingkinitang katawan. The first time his eyes laid on her, he knew then that he wanted her to be his wife. That's why he personally instructed his men to spared her life. He even killed some Vikings who dared to touch while they were sailing home. He even refused to sell her to Arab merchants nor allowed her to be a servant in the longhouse of their village chief, Rangvald.

Nang minsang tinanong niya ito hinggil sa pangalan nito ngunit hindi sila nagkaunawaan gamit ang kani-kanilang wika, ipinasya niyang tawagin itong Thora. Malugod namang tinanggap nito ang pangalang Thora na ang ibig sabihin ay 'kawangis ng isang kulog'. At sa pagdaan ng mga araw ng kaniyang panunuyo rito at pagtrato na katulad sa isang tunay na babaeng Viking ay tinanggap nito ang iniluhog niyang pag-ibig. One thing that he was proud of was that unlike other cultures, they didn't force women to marriage. And a Viking woman's honor was taken very seriously by the Vikings. Marahil ay nakita at nadama ni Thora ang dalisay niyang hangarin kung kaya napahinunod ito na magpakasal sa kanya.

Taglay ngayon ni Thora ang simbolo ng kapangyarihan at karapatan sa kaniyang bahay at kayamanan, ang susing tanso na siya mismo ang gumawa. Lagi itong nakasabit sa kasuotan nito. Hangga't nasa katawan ni Thora ang simbolong ito ng kanyang pagmamahal at pagtitiwala, mananatiling matibay ang bigkis ng kanilang pag-ibig. At walang sinuman ang may karapatang magtangal nito sa kanya.

Naging mabuting kabiyak si Thora sa kanya. She learned easily how to bake bread, milk his cows, mend his clothes and most of all, how to make his favorite honey wine, the mead. Sa kasalukuyan ay dinadala nito ang kanilang unang supling dahilan upang lalo niya itong mahalin.

It was Thora who taught him the Christian belief. Few months ago, he went to other christianized village and asked a German priest to baptize him to become a Christian. Mula noon ay tinalikuran na niya ang kanyang dating buhay bilang isang mandirigma at isang pagano. Sa kasalukuyan ay mas ikinalulugod niya ang kaniyang buhay bilang isang magsasaka. Ni ang pagiging isang blacksmith ay tinalikuran na rin niya. Sa katunayan, sa trabahong iyon niya nakuha ang bansag sa kanyang 'the Ironside'.

Ngunit nang ipinaalam niya sa buong village ang kaniyang pagtalikod sa paganong relihiyon ay marami ang hindi natuwa, kabilang na ang kanilang malupit na chieftain, si Rangvald, ang pinuno ng kinatatakutang tribo ng Berserkers.

His thoughts were disturbed when from a distance, he saw a group of men riding on horses. Alam niyang siya ang sadya ng mga ito. Mabilis siyang sumakay kay Sleipner upang bumalik sa kaniyang tahanan. Doon niya planong salubungin ang papadating na mga panauhin.

Eksaktong nakarating siya sa harap ng kaniyang bahay ay padating naman ang grupo.

"Ipinatatawag ka ni Rangvald," wika ng pinakapinuno, si Ansgar. He was tall and muscular. Unlike most Vikings, he had curly and jet black hair. Most Vikings hadblond or red hair maybe because of their long stay in the sea as sea pirates. He too, had red hair.

"Wala ng dahilan upang mag-usap kami, Ansgar. Nasabi ko na ang aking pasya at wala na akong balak na baguhin iyon," matatag niyang sagot. He threw glances on the other men, they were six including Ansgar. He recognized them, they were his men when he was the commander of Rangvald's army. When he gave up the position, it was Ansgar who took over.

"Paumanhin, Harval. Pero mahigpit na iniutos niya na kailangang sumama ka sa amin dahil kung hindi..."

"Kung hindi ay ano?"

Lumipat ang mga mata ng kanyang kausap sa bandang likuran niya. Nang sundan niya kung ano ang tinitingnan nito ay nakita niya si Thora habang maingat na ibinubuhos ang nakatas na pulot-pukyutan sa isang sisidlan upang gawing alak.

Nag-init ang kanyang mukha. He knew Ansgar very well. Noon pa man ay tila may kompetisyon na sa pagitan nilang dalawa. And he too, liked Thora very much. Kahit mag-asawa na sila at halata na ang umbok sa tiyan ni Thora, batid niyang pinagnanasaan pa rin ng hayop na ito ang kanyang kabiyak. Naramdaman niya ang pagsulak ng kanyang dugo kasabay ng pagpintig ng kanyang mga ugat. Gusto niyang patayin si Ansgar sa mga oras na ito. Sapagkat para sa kanya, isang kalapastanganan na tingnan ng may pagnanasa ang kanyang asawa sa harap pa naman niya mismo.

Bumalik ang tingin niya sa mga kaharap. He calculated them. They were six and fully armed. He knew, he could beat them. He was Halvar the Ironside, the most ferocious warrior of Rangvald's army. Kahit ilang warrior ang humarang sa landas niya ay kayang-kaya niyang pugutan ng ulo gamit ang kanyang blood axe. Even Ansgar couldn't match him. Hindi ba at paulit-ulit niyang tinalo ito sa napakaraming beses ng kanilang pag-aaway? Ngunit batid niyang ang pagiging marahas sa loob ng kanyang sariling bakuran ay hindi makakapagpabago ng isip ni Rangvald. Isa pa, baka lalong malagay sa panganib si Thora at ang kanyang anak.

Kung kaya ipinasya niyang minsan pa ay makikiusap siya kay Rangvald. Susubukan niyang muli na kumbinsihin ito na payagan na siya sa kaniyang naging pasya na maging isang Kristiyano katulad ng namayapang hari ng Denmark, si Harald I "Bluetooth" Gormsson.

Hmm, magpaka-historical po muna tayo and let's find out how would a character from Middle Ages enter the contemporary age and more so, play a big part in the love story of our heroes. Don't forget your votes and comments, dear readers. Thank you!

-Ara-