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“Ulin!”
Ulin turned his head from the female on his left when Ivarr barged into his chambers. “Not now.” He grabbed the breast and squeezed the nipple of a female on his right, while he went back to the female on his left, licking her just below the ear, causing her to moan as she stroked his shaft.
“As you wish,” Ivarr said. “I guess you don’t want to know where I got this.”
Ulin glared back at Ivarr for interrupting his afternoon dalliance. His eyebrows shot up, noticing Ivarr holding out Lothar’s cuff and turning it. “Everyone out!” he commanded, pushing the women aside then pulled up his leggings. He waited for the two women to quickly gather their garments then depart.
“You have completed your task, Ivarr.” Ulin held out his hand.
Ivarr placed the cuff in Ulin’s palm.
“How did you come upon it?” Ulin turned the cuff over for inspection.
“A tax collector received it as payment.” Ivarr smiled. “I relieved him of his burden.”
“Where is the other one?” Ulin placed the cuff on his wrist and twisted his lips in satisfaction.
“Lothar wears the other.”
“At the bottom of the sea in the sea god’s kingdom, it’s just as well. As long as I have this one...”
“I didn’t say he was dead.”
“Alive? You were to make sure he died.” Ulin started pacing. “My plans to be chieftain are ruined because of your incompetence.”
“After stabbing him and his ship being torn in half by the storm, I didn’t expect him to live,” Ivarr explained.
“You survived,” Ulin said gritting his teeth and turning the cuff on his wrist. “This will have to suffice. The people will recognize this was Lothar’s, the heir’s right to become chieftain. Since he no longer has it, they will obey me when the time comes.”
“And your father, what will he say?”
“He is near death. This will send him to the other side.”
“How will you do it?”
Ulin backhanded Ivarr. “Never ask me that again. Loki must be near and I cannot wait until the gods take the man.”
Ivarr rubbed his cheek. “He is your father.”
“But I wasn’t treated like his son; Lothar was always his favorite,” Ulin spat. “I was never good enough; I was coddled by the women folk while Lothar went hunting, fishing even trading in far off lands.”
“Lothar is five years older than you,” Ivarr reasoned.
“It should not matter. I wanted to be his champion. Even now Lothar is gone on an adventure and I am stuck here while the man lies dying.”
“He has you to take charge when he does journey on. It should be a relief to him, that his son will see his passing.”
“No, I’ve seen the disgusted look in his eyes every time I’m near. I refuse him a sword so he will not journey to Valhalla. Once he is gone, I will claim my right as chieftain even with one cuff,” Ulin sneered. “So where did you leave Lothar? Frankia? Mercia? Wessex?”
“He’s on Hibernia, not far from the area that we attacked last year. Come next season, I will lead a raiding party and crush...”
“No!” Ulin interrupted. “He will not be able to make it back home until spring. Thank Odin for that.” Ulin rubbed the wolf design on the cuff. “We have to prepare quickly.”
“For his return? Are you giving up your temporary rule?” Ivarr questioned.
“We will attack as soon as weather will allow. I want to surprise him,” Ulin stated. “Any other survivors?”
“I saw Aric swinging in the small village near the river.”
“Good. That will rile the men into wanting to attack to avenge their countryman,” Ulin concluded. “How wide is the river?”
“A drakar ship could easily slip in and launch an attack.”
“I want complete information about the village.” Ulin placed his arm on Ivarr’s back, leading his taller friend to the table and set of chairs.
“There is a fortress overlooking the river and a church nearby.” Ivarr sat on the lower chair.
“All worth a raid. Draw a map of the area, showing the locations of market, fortress and church; and have it ready by Thorsday,” Ulin ordered.
“That is only two days from now.”
“Plenty of time. We need to prepare the ships.”
“That will take some time,” Ivarr reasoned.
“With a promise of land, riches and a direct attack on the church,” Ulin countered, “the men will work themselves into a frenzy in preparation for our attack.”
“What of Lothar?”
“He’ll just be one of the many left in our bloody wake as we rage up the river to raid unsuspecting villages along the way.”
Ivarr nodded in agreement.
“Odin be praised for your fortunate return with useful information.” Ulin clapped and rubbed his hands together.
“There is more.”
“Let’s hear it.” Ulin sat back in the chair.
“I witnessed Lothar in the presence of a local woman.”
“Of no concern, he’ll be dead soon.”
“She is reported to possess magical powers.”
“Thor’s balls.” Ulin slammed his hands down on the armrest of the chair. “Are you afraid of a woman?”
“No.” Ivarr straightened to his full height in the chair. “I am a Norseman.”
“Lothar has his hands full then.”
“I’ve also seen him in conversation with another.”
“Another woman? No matter.”
“A monk.” Ivarr said. “He didn’t draw his sword on the man.”
“Lothar, a converter, more reason to have him executed for treason against all we hold true to our Gods. Odin’s wrath will reign down on him and may Thor’s hammer, Mjolnir, strike the final blow to such a traitor against us,” Ulin raged.
“Some of the men may not sail against Lothar.”
“Then send them to our new allies to the southeast. Their caliph has asked for warriors to do battle against the Byzantine emperor.”
“The same caliph we traded with this season?”
“They will be warriors for hire. The money will compensate our men and our village, it matters not which side we fight.”
“What if they refuse to go?”
“Raise their taxes, and have them understand that in return for being a warrior, their families will be under the protection of the chieftain.”
“But your father is ill.”
“By tomorrow, we will be lighting his funeral ship pyre while setting him out to sea, then I shall be chieftain.”
“You will take care of their families while the men are gone? I don’t believe it.”
“I will take care of the women personally. Whether they are willing or not makes no difference to me.”
“That’s more like the Ulin I know.”
Ulin smiled. “Why didn’t Lothar sail after you?”
“I took the last ship available. Before I slit the man’s throat for not informing me of all the crew members, he told me that Lothar repaired and loaded the cargo in return for passage.”
“That was very clever, Ivarr.”
“Chieftain.” Acknowledging the compliment, Ivarr bowed.
