The Valkyrie Rises

Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine

It was calm and cooling late afternoon and Igor and I sat down for supper. We sat in our boats with a few torches to light the night sky. The smell of the sea was refreshing. I have taken comfort in his company. It was quiet mostly between us. Yet Igor sat with a puzzled mind. He glanced up at me occasionally. I did not pay him much attention. At one point he popped his head up and took a deep breath. I looked up at him.

“Troubled?”

“I’ve been wanting to ask you something…” He said, taking a bit of bread. “But I fear what it may cause you.” 

“You never brought me any grief before with any of your curiousties…” 

He placed his plate down and looked up at me, “How did Ivar die?” I stopped putting my spoon in my mouth. I placed my bowl down.

Before the pain of the memories came, I began to tell him the story. “You know Ivar was always very sick-”

He nodded intensely. “One gloomy battle day, Ivar was facing off King Alfred and his men and his legs gave in…” my voice cracked.

“His eyes were already turning blue and he knew about it, he kept pushing to conqure King Alfred’s land for me…” I swallowed the ball in my throat. 

“He figured if he conquered the kingdom he could free me and make me Queen…” 

I turned away allowing some tears to flow down my face. “I blame myself everyday for his death.”

Igor’s stare became intense. “How dare you to blame yourself…He loved you!” He sighed, looking down.

“I’ve always knew was sick, it was only a matter of time.” Igor noticed the pain on my face and quickly changed the subject.

“Do you have an idea where Baldr could be?” 

I cleared my throat, “There is a very good chance he could be in Wessex.” I giggled to myself.

“It’s funny Ivar always wanted to plant roots in Wessex and yet, somehow they found a way there.” 

“Will you ever rebuild Kattegat?” Igor asked.

Kattegat? The name sounds to foreign to me and yet just as familiar. It is something I have not thought of in a long time. 

--

The boat suddenly rocked violently from side to side. Tossing many of our men over including Igor. I tossed my food aside and hung over the side and helped him climb back in. I cannot say the same for some of our men. Because of the close proximity of our boats, many of the men drowned underwater. 

Our boats have come to a complete stop. “We have mand land!” Harald called. Igor and I looked upon the new land. It was surely land, covered in black sand and black mountains to match. It was the most dismal place I’ve ever laid eyes upon. 

“Jourmundar is a tretruious monster!” I said. 

“Don’t be so quick to judge, Sigrun, I think we should take this opportunity to rest!” Igor said. “When we are rested we shall look for more Viking tribes!” I nodded.

--

The Gods must’ve turned their backs on us because the next morning we all woke up with floods in our tents. It had begun to downpour during the night. Soaking everything. Some things were salviable and some things we had to leave behind. It was cold and all I wanted to do is be in a warm bed. 

“We must’ve landed in Iceland…” I shouted over to Igor as the pouring rain came down. 

“Ubbe has mentioned black sand in Iceland…”