The Saga of Bloodaxe

[Severyane]

Rurik Asgersson
392 CE

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The ocean breeze and the crashing of waves were the noises Rurik awoke to. He opened his eyes, fixating on the thatch roof of his long house. He turned his head to the left and kissed his still sleeping wife's forehead. She let out a peaceful sigh and it brought a smile to his face. It quickly faded, however, when he remembered what was happening today. Soon he would gather the men from his fishing village at the docks to board the boats and set sail for the city of Suur Saal. From there, after meeting up with the other village's men, they would sail east to raid the cities of the Vostic kingdoms. As Linnapea of the village, it was his duty to lead them to Suur Saal to meet the Krahv. It was a tradition that had been repeated for generations, since his grandfather's grandfather had been Linnapea.

Breathing in deeply Rurik rose from the small wooden bed and slipped on his leather trousers and his well worn cloth shirt. He stretched his arms and legs as he stood and plodded over towards the simple cooking area on the other side of the hut. He prepared himself a small meal of porridge and dried fruit, as well as a few salted herring and then he walked to an empty part of the hut to eat his breakfast. The next to wake was his son. He had only seen fourteen years and yet he was nearly as tall as Rurik. His name was Ake, and he took after his father in more ways than height. His sand colored blonde hair looked exactly like Rurik's, so too did his eyes which were the color of the ocean water during a storm. Both Ake and Rurik had pale white skin, with just a smidge of color from working on the fishing boats all season. Rurik smiled and ran a hand through his beard, this would be his son's first time sailing with the Krahv's raiding party to the Vostic lands. Rurik had been training his son for the past four years, and had intensified the training preceding the raiding season. Ake excelled at fighting, yet he still worried something might happen. Training in the goat pen was one thing, fighting the Vostic tribesmen was another. Ake walked over to where his father was and sat beside him, a smile on his face. Rurik noticed the hints of hair growing in on his son's chin and upper lip.

"So when do we go father? When do we get to leave for Suur Saal?" Ake asked, excitement in his voice.

Rurik smirked at his son. "I wouldn't be in such a rush Ake. A month from now when we are in the Vostic lands you may be wishing you were still here. Enjoy it while it lasts boy." Ake frowned and ate a salted Herring. Rurik sighed. "However... we'll most likely leave soon. I don't like to wait around while the morning burns away. The quicker we get to Suur Saal and greet the Krahv the better. It'll be a nine day voyage."

Ake perked up at that. "I can't wait father. Will I have to swear the oath to the Krahv when we arrive?"

Rurik nodded. "Yes, just like all the other boys your age. It's tradition, I had to do it when old Krahv Eerikki was alive and again when his son Frode took power." Ake smiled and finished eating his morning meal. "Now, Ake, run along and pack your things. Don't forget your axe and shield." The boy stood up and ran outside to the store shed. Shortly after Rurik finished his own meal. He stood up, stretching his legs again, and walked to the far wall of the hut where his shield and axe hung on the wall. The haft was smooth from two decades of use but head was in pristine condition. The shield was painted with the symbol of Rurik's family, a gold snake on a pine green field, with a few nicks and scratches in the wood. He removed them both from the wall and fastened them to a small leather bag. He sat the bag by the doorway and knelt down by his sleeping wife once more, planting a kiss on her forehead. 

"Hüvasti taas, mu arm."