Before we get ready to head out to the All-Clan Meeting, my father calls a meeting with the steersman and Skippers, or captains as we\u2019ve come to call them, including myself and Thormar since I will be the captain of my father\u2019s ship. They\u2019ve managed to convince me to take up the position of Captain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thormar and I head into the hall while Bodvar heads off to his room, grumbling all the way. Several of the ship captains and steersmen are here already. Koll Alriksson with his second wife, my aunt Ingithora. Einar Alriksson with his second in command, his son Vog Einarson, Brynhild Svarkollrdottir, a woman with blond hair who fights like an eagle and is now a captain along with her son Thorvir, Rodmar Asulfsson who was Throst\u2019s second in command and is now a captain as well. Lastly, Throst Thorhallson with his new second in command, Gamal Ornolfsson. They talk with my father and all nod as Thormar and I enter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I take the seat to my father\u2019s left and Thormar stands behind me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Einar sighs. \u201cMy nephew has requested to join me this raiding season.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI see no problem with that,\u201d my father says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe is weak. The boy can\u2019t even stomach the sight of blood without fainting. He is no Viking, that is for sure,\u201d Einar says with clear disdain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, come on, Brother. Give the boy a chance. He is our sister\u2019s son after all. May she feast with Fridgerd. He just needs to get his sword wet,\u201d Koll says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen you take him on your ship,\u201d Einar says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI barely have enough room for my own children,\u201d Koll says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ingithora sighs. \u201cThat\u2019s the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSure\u2026 You just don\u2019t want to carry dead weight. Trandil is utterly useless. He should\u2019ve died in the womb to save our sister from death. She was a warrior. He\u2019s just an utter coward,\u201d Einar says. I know it must be hard for him to accept the boy seeing how he blames him for his sister\u2019s death, but he doesn\u2019t seem to give the boy a chance. Thormar seems to tense up, gritting his teeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think you should at least give him a chance. Who knows, maybe he will be the one thing you need in a moment you don\u2019t expect. But you never know if you don\u2019t give him a chance to prove himself. Besides, it is partially your own fault for his weakness. You didn\u2019t even bring him to the mountains to train,\u201d I say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That did not make Einar happy, but it is true. My father interjects. \u201cMy son is right. Bring the boy. If he dies, he dies, but at least he has the choice and the opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFine,\u201d Einar says, grumbling under his breath. Koll and Einar may be twins, but they are nothing alike. Koll is always calm and collected, while Einar is always angry. Einar is more like a grease fire with water poured on top, while Koll is like a hot but simmering coal fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
More Steersmen and Captains enter. Among them are Kodran Tjorvisson, Sibbi Hreitharrsson, Vebrand Haraldsson, and Thrain Haklangsson with Grom. To my surprise, Grom takes a seat next to Thrain. His eyes burn as they see me, but he holds his tongue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slowly, the rest of the Steersman and Skippers trickle in and my father begins the meeting. \u201cI\u2019ll try to keep things brief seeing how we all have much to do before the All-Clan meeting and we go off raiding. If no one objects, we shall maintain the same raid plans as last raiding season.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI object,\u201d Thrain says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My father clenches his jaw. \u201cAnd what exactly do you object to?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He stands up. \u201cMy crew and I, along with the rest of our raiding party, are sick and tired of getting the leftovers of those you favor. It is bad enough you let your son get to take the best route even though he has no experience being a captain. We will not stand any longer. We will not accept scraps.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Father leans in and meets Thrain\u2019s eyes. \u201cWhy do you think you deserve any more than I\u2019ve given you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thrain spits and sputters, but no words come out. Father smirks and looks around at the others. \u201cShall we vote?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The others nod, and the vote begins as the others get up and place their votes. It\u2019s overwhelmingly for keeping the raid plans the same as last cycle. \u201cThen let it be. The raiding shall remain the same. Is there anything else?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The silence in the room is answer enough. \u201cThen the meeting is adjourned. Meet with your raid parties and crew, prepare your ships, and head out when you feel ready after the All-Clan Meeting. You\u2019re all dismissed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The men and the few women trickle out, with only my father, my brother, and I behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We wait as my father gives word to send for my crew.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before long, they all trickle in. It\u2019s hard to believe I am now the Captain of Thorkel\u2019s ship. After Arngunn and my son died I thought I\u2019d never sail out to sea again, but my father was right. I have to in order to make sure our people do not starve in winter. I\u2019ll do whatever I have to in order to make sure our people are safe and provided for. Especially my family and the people I care about. As Amalasontha taught me, duty is the most important thing. My duty to my family and my people must come above all else. Through duty and service, I will earn my honor, and, hopefully, I will earn my place in Valholl next to Thorkel and be reunited with my wife and son.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I meet my crew with my father and Thormar as they all come in and take a seat. They all seem to treat Thormar like a little brother, joking with him and acknowledging him. He takes it rather well, but still fights smiling. Most seem to either ignore me or steal glances in my direction. I remain seated next to my father with Thormar taking the seat to my right. Skardi, Griotgard, and Solmund trade nods with me. I get along with the crew rather well. They all see me as one of their own and we all went through the worst of it together, but I feel like I have yet to prove myself, especially now as a Captain. I also feel as if I abandoned them after Thorkel\u2019s death even though most don\u2019t see it that way. Either way, they\u2019re all respectable men and women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBothvar, why don\u2019t you lead this meeting? You are the Skipper now,\u201d father says. I nod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, finally decided to join us, huh?\u201d Thialfi asks with a flat face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThialfi, shut your trap or I\u2019ll shut it for you,\u201d Gunnstein says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe\u2019s right. I\u2019m sure many of you feel like I abandoned you\u2026\u201d I say, meeting their eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe understand. Losing Thorkel hit us all, and then to lose your wife and son on top of it. It\u2019s more than any man can take,\u201d Rognvald says with an empathetic nod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I place my hands on the table and stand up before them. \u201cIt\u2019s no excuse. I took leave of my duty to you, my family and our people, and for that, I am sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The crew exchange looks and all nod. Gunnstein meets my eyes. \u201cYou don\u2019t need to apologize, thanks to you, we\u2019re all much stronger and without you, those giants would\u2019ve killed off most of us. Not only that. But you saved many of our lives and our loved ones when you came back from the mountains with those mushrooms. We all owe you. You deserved a few cycles to yourself, besides, we all understand. You did it for Thorkel. A man we all owe our lives to. Along with Varin Hialtisson, and the brothers Styrkar and Saksis Hreinsson. Without their sacrifice, the elves would\u2019ve taken many more of our crew.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gunnstein turns to the rest of the crew, specifically his younger brother Thialfi. \u201cIf any of you lot have a problem with that, then you can take it up with me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I give Gunnstein a nod of appreciation. My father clears his throat. \u201cWell, now that that\u2019s settled, let\u2019s discuss the raiding, shall we?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The crew all nod and relax a bit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I clear my own throat and sit back down. \u201cWell, as was talked about in the other meeting with the captains, we are to head down the same course as the last few times. We\u2019ll head south along the Western coastline of the elves with Koll, Throst, and Einar\u2019s ships, not straying too close, and take on any merchant ships we find. Any questions?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBlunt and to the point, Bothvar. Some things never change!\u201d Griotgard laughs. The others join in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong with that?\u201d Gudleif asks. He\u2019s a tall brute of a man with a bald, shiny head and a graying goatee and mustache. \u201cWish all bastards were as blunt as him. I hate when people speak without saying anything. Just get to the damn point.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI agree. Never trust anyone who talks too much or speaks in riddles,\u201d Gizor says, combing his bright red beard. He\u2019s just as tall as Gudleif. Most of the crew have started to get that graying skin from the mushrooms and ore water, and all seem to have gained a sizable bulk of strength.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMen,\u201d Audbjorg, Gudlief\u2019s wife and Gizor\u2019s sister, says with a sigh. \u201cIf you knew how to use your words properly, we wouldn\u2019t have half the wars in history.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong with war?\u201d her husband asks. \u201cA good war weeds out the weak.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDa, seriously?\u201d his daughter, Turid, asks. She has her mother\u2019s red hair but is every bit as blunt as her father. She\u2019s also as much of a warrior as both of them. \u201cWar isn\u2019t something to seek.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong with a good fight?\u201d Gizor asks as he focuses on his hair now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEnough, banter. Let us get back to the topic at hand,\u201d I say with a sigh. \u201cDoes anyone have anything to add?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI hope we get a merchant ship with that wine those Southerners make. It\u2019s delicious,\u201d Thialfi says, licking his lips. \u201cI\u2019m definitely taking a barrel for myself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf you do, you\u2019re sharing it with the rest of us,\u201d Thialfi\u2019s older brother Skarf says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLike hell I am,\u201d Thialfi says. \u201cGet your own barrel.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIs there anything more on the raid itself?\u201d I ask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen do we head out?\u201d Rognvald asks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs dawn arrives on the second day after we get back from the All-Clan Meeting. We\u2019ll sail out tomorrow for the meeting, remain there for the night, and come back in the morning like usual. You\u2019ll have the rest of the day and another full day to get your shit together, then we sail out the morning after,\u201d I say. The men all nod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo, you\u2019re saying we get a full day to recover from the festivities?\u201d Thialfi says as he runs his hand through his short, blond hair with a turd-eating grin. Thialfi often comes off as a drunken, gambling fool who puts too much effort into getting out of work. But he\u2019s a good fighter and smarter than he looks. I also trust him with my life. Even though he goes overboard in underachieving, when push comes to shove, he always comes through. And for most of the clans, the All-Clan Meeting is just one giant drunken celebration where they get to dance with the other clans. For my family and I, we have to suffer through a long, boring meeting where my father and the Wolf leader bicker the entire time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou better be recovered by the time you sail out. You don\u2019t want to be the reason why you all die of thirst because you were too hungover to remember to store enough freshwater on board,\u201d my father says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The crew goes as silent as the dark of midnight in the mountains on a windless night. I would give my strength to the gods in order to do that. When he speaks, people not only listen, they obey. It doesn\u2019t matter how strong I get; the crew will always see me as Bothvar Beorcolsson. No matter how many titles I obtain I will always be Beorcol\u2019s son. As much as it disappoints me in some way, I also cherish it. While others see me as a giant slayer, some even laugh at that title. Not that I blame them. The crew\u2026 They\u2019ll always see me as Beorcol\u2019s son or Thorkel\u2019s younger brother. I cherish this because when all else changes, as it always will, at least this will stay the same. They are not only the crew of my father and brothers, they are my friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAre there any questions?\u201d I ask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thialfi raises his hand. I let out a sigh and nod. \u201cAside from the barrel of wine I claim for myself, can we have one for the crew on the sail back?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAre there any important questions that can\u2019t be answered while we\u2019re at sea?\u201d I ask. They all look at each other and shrug. I stand up. \u201cThen go off and prepare yourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd get a good fuck in with your wives,\u201d Thialfi says with a grin and a wink. \u201cI sure know I am.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s hard to believe you\u2019re married,\u201d Gunnstein says with a flat look. \u201cI can\u2019t imagine why Sigrid would want to marry a knutter like you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDon\u2019t worry about it, brother, some women just have good taste,\u201d he says with a smile as he wraps an arm around his older brother. Gunnstein pushes him off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat is that supposed to mean?\u201d Joreid asks, who is Gunnstein\u2019s wife. She crosses her arms and puffs a string of long, brown hair out of her face. Her amber, almond eyes bear into Thialfi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He goes stiff as a board with eyes the size of gold coins. The big ones. Then he tries to act casual. \u201cNothing, nothing at all.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She only narrows her eyes even further, becoming as thin as a stitch needle to sew up clothes. Are they even open?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat my son meant when he ended the meeting is get out of my hall and go home. I\u2019m hungry. I want to eat, and I want to get some sleep,\u201d my father says, interrupting their conversation with a rather annoyed look as he impatiently taps a finger against the table. The crew is out of the hall faster than my father can fill a mug up with ale, leaving a smirk on the old man\u2019s face. \u201cThat went well enough, but you need to be more assertive. Do not let your friends disobey orders. You can let them have their fun, but disobeying orders can mean death at the hands of the enemy. Understand?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He doesn\u2019t even look at me as he fills a plate up with food as if he was talking about the weather. But his tone would make a Jotnar stand still. \u201cI understand, father.\u201d And I do. I\u2019ve learned my lessons about death. Many times, over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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