Bothvar

Torvald 1

"We will not be leaving for another week, brother," Nanook said as he and Torvald walked through the towns market. "If you want us gone so earnestly, then make all of my men suddenly appear here well armed and ready to leave."

"My apologies brother, I'm just excited about ruling in your place." Torvald picked up an apple and inspected it.

Nanook gave a small chuckle. "You are still young, brother. Perhaps when you are Ragnars' age you will not need to rule in my place, but you'll have your own land to rule."

"Perhaps... Ragnar does not seemed pleased with your choice to let Ulf rule of Hvall."

"Ragnar wouldn't be happy if I let Ulf do anything."

"Why does Ragnar hate Ulf so much anyway?" Torvald put down the apple and began walking again.

"One day, when you're older, I might tell you."

"Might?"

"Might." Nanook stopped the conversation.

The two walked through the towns market, inspecting products and seeing old friends they had not seen in a long while. Torvald quickly grew bored of the walking and returned to the fort to find Ragnar staring at pages in a book.

"What does it say?" Torvald exclaimed in the silence.

Ragnar jumped a little from shock as Torvalds voice broke the sweet silence, he turned to Torvald who had left the door open.

"It says close the damn door." Ragnar joked. Torvald closed the door with a heave as snow collected at the base. "I actually don't know what it says."

"Why are you reading it then?... How are you reading it then?"

"I'm trying to figure out what language it is, daufi*." Ragnar retorted.                 *daufi : dummy

Torvald walked down the hall to stop himself from further disturbing his brother, he entered his room but as soon as he entered he realised how bored he was. He walked back out to his brother who still stared at the book, but this time noticed Torvald's presence.

"What?" Ragnar asked, clearly irritated.

"I want to spar." Torvald exclaimed.

Ragnar leaned forward and looked at Torvald with a sly grin. "If you want to spar, fight someone who you are fit to fight against."

"And who would that be, dear brother?" Torvald asked sarcastically.

"Ulf. Maybe this time you'll take his whole hand off." Ragnar sank back into the chair he sat in.

Torvald did not reply, picking up his coat of furs, opening the door and walking outside into the slow drifting snow.

Sylvi and Ulf were already sparring when Torvald appeared at the training area. Ulf was steadfast as Sylvi attacked with her quick ferocity. Torvald picked up a blunt axe and a sharp axe, then peered over to Ulf and Sylvi, Ulf raised his shield to block Sylvi's attacks. Torvald looked at the sharp axe, it was smaller than the blunt one. Ulf raised the shield in front of his face, bracing for Sylvi's swing. Sylvi lifted her blunt sword to strike the shield heavily but was interrupted by a small, sharp axe embedding itself into the shield. Sylvi turned to see Torvald running at her with a blunt axe. Ulf lowered his shield in confusion until he noticed his brother. Ulf plucked the axe from the shield and dropped it to the ground. Still wielding the shield he rolled backwards in the mud. Torvald swung the axe at Sylvi, she blocked with her sword, the axe hooked around the blade. With a strong pull, Sylvi lost her sword and Torvald swung the axe at her, stopping just before her neck. Sylvi chuckled and backed away. Ulf threw down his cracked shield and brought forth his two axes. Ulf spun the axes in each hand dexterously and made a gesture to Torvald. Torvald exhaled heavily then charged at his brother, swinging the small hand axe desperately at his brothers core. Ulf did not strike but only blocked, using both axes to catch Torvald's. Torvald managed to disarm Ulf's right hand axe, leaving the half-hand to strike down on Torvald's back with the axe. Torvald scoffed.

"I yield, I yield." Torvald joked.

"If you hadn't had spent your time trying to disarm one hand, you might have won." Ulf reassured Torvald, patting him on the back. "I'm a bit pissed that you broke my shield though."

Torvald laughed. "I'll get you a new one."

"No. You lost, you'll make me a new one." Ulf joked.

*

Torvald mounted his horse, burdened by too many clothes. He sat atop the horse as Ragnar, Nanook and Sylvi embarked from the port in an amassed fleet of forty ships. Ulf looked up at Torvald, smirked and began on the long trek back to Leirhofn. Torvald dug his heels into the horses side and turned it to go to Hvall. Not a word was spoken to anyone in the party until they reached Hvall, it was not too far from the port. Torvald stopped his horse at the gate and dismounted.

"My lord, why have you dismounted? The stables are at the other end of the fort." A soldier asked.

"I am no lord, nor am I your Jarl. I am but your Jarl's brother who has been left to take care of this place until he returns. I am one of you." Torvald took the reigns of his horse and led it into the fortress.

The fortress was bustling with movement, soldiers were training, archers let loose their arrows at the range, the stables were being cleaned, citizens walked around the courtyard of the fort, buying and selling goods. There was a repetitive clang of metal from the blacksmith. An older, taller man wearing a thick, green gambeson approached Torvald. The man's face was covered in scars, but the most predominant were the ones on his chin and left cheek as they left gaps in his orange beard.

"Greetings, you must be Torvald." The man's voice was hoarse a crackly.

"That I am. And you are?" Torvald replied.

"I am the Huskarl of Jarl Nanook. My names is Halfdan." He replied.

"Good to meet you Huskarl Halfdan, if you wouldn't mind leading me to the main hall and then my residence." Torvald ordered in a tone that seemed to baffle Halfdan and Torvald, it came out nicer than he expected.

Halfdan nodded and Torvald followed him to a great, wooden building, the doors were not as large or impressive as Leirhofn, nor was the hall, it was made of wood with a stone floor and only one bedroom as if Nanook only expected himself to stay in the hall with no guests.

"And if you'll follow me this way, you've been built a permanent residence by your brother." Halfdan gestured outside.

"Permanent?" Torvald looked at Halfdan in confusion.

"Yes, it was the house being built when you were last here."

Torvald followed Halfdan back outside, the house was small, only suited for one or two people. The hearth was already ablaze with flame, warming the small house. Torvald smirked at the comfort of the home, he admired the bedding, finely made fur blankets. Freshly carved bowls and furniture. In the corner of the one room house at an armour stand. On the stand was a helmet that was meant to cover the head and eyes and a byrnie covered a white gambeson.

"Your brother also insisted the armourer give you a new set of armour, the smith was also working hard to make you this axe, the connection between wood and metal is engraved with the thurizas, the preferred rune of Nanook." Halfdan handed Torvald an axe.

Torvald held the axe, carefully looking at the engraving. He pressed his index finger to the blade of the axe and drew it down, it was still sharp. A single bead of blood rolled down Torvalds finger to his palm. Torvald dismissed Halfdan. With a light thud, the door to the home was closed.