Bothvar

Nanook 1

The ship rocked gently over the waves, water spraying onto the deck like icy rain. Darren had wrapped himself in furs to keep him from the cold. Nanook sat on the bow, watching the land grow ever so closer with the clouds. Sylvi sat idly at the other end of the ship, staring into oblivion. Nanook looked at Darren and shot him a quick smile. Darren shivered and smiled back weakly. Nanook sat down in front of Darren.

"Are you cold?" Nanook asked idiotically. Sylvi chuckled at his stupidity.

"Yes, very." Darren replied, not recognising the stupidity of the question.

"We'll be at Norvegr soon, then you can get inside and warm."

"Are you cold, Jotunn?" Darren asked.

"I'm used to it." Nanook replied.

"That wasn't my question."

Nanook looked at Darren and smiled again. "Yes, always."

"Always?" Darren asked confusedly.

"When you live somewhere that's always cold, you're always cold."

Darren shifted uneasily in his place.

The wind began to pick up and the waves began to lash at the ship. Nanook rose and looked to the fleet behind him. Water began to spray on the deck with every wave.

"OARS!" Nanook shouted.

The sail was lowered. Men from all about the ship, including Sylvi and Nanook, rushed under a leather cover each grasping onto shafts of wood. They pushed the oars away from them and back again then away then back with each of Nanook's shouts. Nanook gestured to Darren to come and help. The small boy hobbled stiffly over to Nanook and grasped the oar, following Nanook's lead. Waves tried to sink the ship, rain tried to discourage the men and the wind tried to force them back.

*

Nanook wrapped a coat around the small Darren as they walked through the gates of Hvall. Torvald stood waiting at the halls entrance. Torvald stepped down to greet his brother. The two embraced in a hug, patting each other on the back and laughing. Torvald moved on to his sister, then stopped confusedly.

"Where is Ragnar?" Torvald asked.

"He was captured." Nanook remarked bluntly.

"By?" Torvald seemed to be getting angry.

"One of Quillan's former lords."

"And we aren't saving him?"

"That's why we have this little man." Nanook gestured to Darren.

Darren looked at Torvald with intrigue and shock, yet confused to what they were saying in this alien language.

"Who is that?" Torvald asked, pointing at Darren.

"That is our ward, Darren. The prince of the Guard and son of Quillan."

Torvald slowly turned to Darren.

"Does he speak Norse?"

"Neij."

"A small amount." Darren intervened.

Nanook looked at Darren with pleasant surprise.

"So you will take care of him?" Torvald asked.

"Yes, he will stay with me here." Nanook replied.

"What about Leirhofn?" Torvald rushed.

"What about it? This is my hall. Leirhofn can be Ragnar's, yours or even Ulf's for all I care." Nanook began to get heated. "Just because I am king does not mean I must rule where my father died."

Torvald backed away. "I'm sorry, brother, I'm sorry about my arrogance." Torvald almost collapsed.

"Don't be, I wish to tell you something, brother."

"Yes?"

"I wish for you to be my steward."

Torvald almost collapsed again, swaying in place for a moment then regaining his balance with a smile on his face. The two brothers began to laugh. Sylvi approached the two.

"I did not forget about you sister," Nanook turned to her. "I want you to be my marshal, train my soldiers and take care of my armies, I have been waiting for the whole trip to tell you this."

The three embraced in a hug.

"Halfdan!" Torvald called.

"Yes, lords?" Halfdan appeared swiftly.

"Send word to Ulf, tell him Nanook is back." Torvald looked to his brother. "Also tell him Leirhofn is his."

Halfdan bowed and made for the stables.

"What about Ragnar?" Nanook asked.

"I have a fortress in construction for him, midway between Leirhofn and here. I named it Midr."

"I knew I could trust you with this. My brother." Nanook embraced his brother once more and lifted him off of his feet.

Torvald looked guilty.

"What is wrong?" Nanook asked worriedly.

"There is one more thing..." Torvald shied away. "There was a rebellion."

"What?!"

"The eastern most parts of Helheim have rebelled against your rule why you were away, damn bastards always hated father. They are lead by Jarl Karl, the iron hand. They say their nation is Kyrheim."

Nanook looked to the stables and saw that Halfdan had not yet left.

"Halfdan!" Nanook shouted. "Call the rest of my council members. We have much to discuss."