10 YRS OLD
Bjorn-*Yawn* Damm it am I late?
I look outside at the bright sun shining over the mountains.
I scramble out of bed, running out to the house.Over to the the old mans house.
Today he said he would teach me some more moves.
I get to his land and see him outside getting the horses ready.The snow slowly falling from the sky.
Bjorn-Hey! Sorry im late.
Tove-Well not too late lets go.Help me take these horses to the raider stables.
The Raiders?
Bjorn-Are they going on raids soon?
Tove-Sorta,seems all the talk today is about the other rival clan.Raven sheild.They have threatened the Jarl Varkan,seems we could be fighting in a war soon.
Bjorn-US! fighting in a war?
Tove-Well maybe not us,Im way past my prime and your just lad.
As we take the horses through the village I see kids playing, fighting with sticks and some chasing each other.
I wonder whats that's like.Ive Been helping this old man.For nearly as long as I can remember.One day I'll be warrior for my Clan.
As we approach the barracks.Tove tells me wait here while he goes and talks to the Hersir.The leader of the soldiers.
As he enters the barrack's.I think of how great the structure is,a large wall of tree trunks surrounding the longhouse.large stables near the training Yard.
How I'd like to fight one day.The old man clearly knows some moves,I think he was soldier, before he took an arrow to the knee.
Tove-Yes,here are the 5 horses.
Thork-Yes yes.Here's the payment.*He looks at me*Who's this young man.
Tove-Oh,Bjorn no no he's but a boy.Only seen 10 winters.
Thork-Well, He's built like a horse,my he's a big one.Hey Bjorn you ever thought about fighting for our clan.Huh?
Woah Hersir Thork, Some call him the butcher because of those large butcher knife like axe's he fights with.
Bjorn-*I look to the old man,he just counting the coin out*Yes,I have thought of it before.Could I really!
Thork-Well certainly,Your just a bit young now.Come see me when you reach 15 winters.
Bjorn-Yes.Ok!
Thork-*pats back*I'll look forward to it young lad.Tove,is the payment right?
Tove -Ye all is accounted for.Goodbye,Bjorn lets go.
We leave as we begin walking back to his land.
Tove-Bjorn why do you want to be a soldier.
Bjorn-Mmmm,I want to fight.
Tove-Really,that the only reason.
Bjorn-Well since my mother died,I don't feel much of a need to stay at the village.I want to go fight and explore or something.
Tove-Im going to tell you this story of a battle,I once fought in then we'll see if you still want to be a soldier.
Bjorn-But what's wrong with fighting people?
Tove-*He ignores me*Many,Many winters ago I was but a young lad.Me and my brother decided we would become fighters for this very clan.We even fought alongside Thork's father.The Great Rollo.
Bjorn-REALLY! The Rollo,wow Is it true he could cut men in half even in armor!
Tove-Ahh every tale about him is true as the fact that the sun will rise tomorrow,No matter what happens.Anyways,This particular battle was during the Age of Oppression.When the Red empire ruled these very lands.Before we drove them away and they fled across the sea.It was an snowy night.The snow as white as is gets but not for long.Our clan was tasked with raiding and pillaging a fortress.200 Storm bears ran upon the fortress.Using the cover of the darkness we broke through before they even know what was happening.
Bjorn-Did you kill people?What was it like?
Tove-On this day especially...many.*he ignores the other part of the question*As me and my brother cut our way into the main building.We were met with a rain of arrows.*deep sigh*My brother fell right then and there.I couldn't even understand what was happening until i had a dozen or so arrows in me.
I managed to get into a room barricading the door.The foot steps of the men in armor running past the door and banging for several minutes until it was gone.Only the roar of the battle outside to be heard.I treated my wounds.And ran back out into the fray the hallways were clear.So I made my way to the main chambers.Tore the door down and slayed the Commander.It was a long battle several close calls but in the end i got him.I thought that was surely a victory.
Bjorn-How good of a soldier were you then?I mean you killed a commander so you had to be good right?
Tove-I was decent at best.The commander was old and frail even then he put up a tough fight thanks to his armor.So after leaving the building the most terrible sight was waiting for me out there.As soon as I left the building The only thing out there was Death it reeked of shit and blood was everywhere you think of.After another 10 minutes or so it looked like we would win this battle.Oh no.A loud horn from outside the walls sounded.The noise still rings my ears to this day.Arrows fell upon the fortresses,large rocks from catapults tearing through men.Even their side suffered to this friendly fire.I saw good men crushed under the weight of those stones.Even Rollo was confused.No one was expecting reinforcements.See any thing can happen in battle and everything goes when its life or death.Everything. So we braved the heavy fire and ran out the fortresses battling the men out there.The things I saw in my first battle still go uneasy in my mind.
Bjorn-That sounds bad.
Tove- It was worse than I could I ever tell.Do you still want to be a soldier.Even after all the carnage that will happen.A steel sword will cut through anyone just the same.A boulder will crush anyone like a bug under a boot.
Bjorn-It sounds bad,But yes.That story got me excited.Even if bad stuff happened.
Tove- Very well. I will train you to be a soldier, a fierce one.I always thought of having an apprentice.Im sure I could teach a few things.
We soon arive at his home.I clean and tend to the other horses making sure they keep warm.
When Im done I head back home.Walking down the road to my house alone.
I arrive to an empty life less home.I light a fire and go lat down on my bed l,looking at the ceiling.Just wondering about the future.Yeah, I'll become a clan warrior,no a hero then I'll go across the world and claim land for my clan Bring honor,riches and story's.
Still I've got a long way to go.And not much help.
Bjorn-I miss you mom.