Over the next two years, Rurik and Eilin went on several more raids, thoroughly impressing Harald and the older guard of warriors. Several of Rurik's loyalists were also reaching the raiding age and were now coming along. Naturally, this gave him his own little band of warriors during battle.
In the meantime, Harald's intentions for England were quickly spreading across Scandinavia. Alliances were forged, promises made, and warriors prepared themselves for glory across the sea.
Naturally, Rurik and his allies also got older. With two more years having past, Rurik was now eighteen, Eilin twenty, and Maria sixteen years old.
By now, Rurik was fully grown, and once again reached his whopping height of 205 centimetres (6' 8.7"). This was an impressive achievement, even for the usually tall northerners, mostly because people in this time simply grew smaller.
At this height, he towered over practically anyone else. Even his father was a mere 180 centimetres (5' 10.9").
Combined with his fighting skill and impressive muscle mass, his sheer size made him one of the deadliest warriors in Harald's retinue, despite his young age. Only the most experienced fighters still stood a chance, which included Harald, who Rurik had yet to defeat.
The fact was, although Rurik had the experience of his past life, melee weapons were still a new skill for him, which meant his past life only helped him improve faster, not easily beat someone with decades of experience.
Meanwhile, Eilin was also becoming renowned. By now, she was known as the spearmaiden, had grown to about the same size as Harald, and could defeat men who were both stronger and older than her.
Only Maria remained relatively unknown due to her age. Yet, her skill in a fight was rapidly improving. She incorporated parts of both Rurik and Harald's fighting styles but made them her own because her size remained much shorter than her father and brother.
She had some more to grow, of course, but even now she was only 160 centimetres (5'3"), earning her the moniker of midget berserker… because that she was.
Contrary to the usual cute little sister persona she portrayed, when a fight started, she'd turn into raging whirlwind of axe blades. Forced to compensate for her size and corresponding strength, Maria compensated with a mix of agility and ferocity that was hard to match.
Eventually, she was taken along on a skirmish with some nearby outlaws, during which she was heavily supervised by Rurik, Eilin, and Harald… but she did fine. She had her first kill in the heat of combat, and it barely slowed her down. By the end, she was covered in blood and asked for praise with a bright smile.
'My little sister is a bit of a psycho…' Rurik couldn't help but think at the time. 'But I guess a regular little sister would be boring,' he chuckled while patting Maria's head. Later, she was also taken along on a raid, and the result was much the same.
Between Maria and Eilin, the opinion of shieldmaidens among Harald's warriors was rising rapidly. In the end, Vikings respected victory in combat more than anything, regardless of gender.
There were still plenty who believed their presence on the battlefield to be detrimental, despite their accomplishments, but they were drowned out by the general support. Not that they inspired a wave of warrior women to step forward or anything… Maria and Eilin were seen as the exception, not the rule.
Just like that, time moved forward until the day departure arrived, and it was time to sail for England.
* * *
Thousands of people were gathered around the Nidaros docks as the king and his warriors prepared to depart. The royal family was surrounding Harald but divided into two distinct groups: those that went to England, and those that didn't.
The group that went with was much smaller, however, as it only held Harald himself, Rurik, and Maria. Eilin came long as well, but she wasn't part of the family.
Elisiv and Ingegerd were currently involved in an emotional goodbye with Rurik and Maria. Naturally, the latter duo was commanded to return safe, but both Elisiv and Ingegerd managed to keep themselves together relatively well.
Despite their reluctance to let them go, seeing warriors off before a raid was an honoured tradition for the Viking women. Besides, despite knowing this was a far larger undertaking, they'd still done this plenty of times before—during every raid Rurik and Maria went on.
"Don't worry, Mom. We'll be fine," Rurik smiled as he hugged Elisiv. "I'm sure you'll see us again soon."
Rurik was not, in fact, sure that was true. He didn't even know what would happen on this journey, all he knew was that 'something' would. Yet, telling them that would be pointless.
Elisiv and Ingegerd took his platitudes with a brave face, but Erik actually wondered about something else. 'I wonder if I'll miss them…' he thought inwardly with a complicated expression. 'Even if nothing happens that prevents me from returning, it's still going to be a while before I do.'
But then he shook his head. 'Well, time will tell, I suppose. In the meantime, I've ensured their safety in return for the love and care they've given me. If I don't return, then that will have to do.'
Currently, Rurik's network of loyalists was spread throughout Nidaros, and even outside of it. Many members would travel with them to England, but not all of them. Those that remained had only one objective: protect Elisiv and Ingegerd.
Rurik had no doubt that a portion of his people would desert if anything happened to him, but he was confident that enough would remain to ensure their safety. Honour was important among Vikings, and those that made genuine oaths of loyalty to him, would not care whether he was alive or dead—they would follow orders all the same.
Meanwhile, Tora and her two sons, Magnus and Olaf, stood a little off to the side. The boys were now twenty and sixteen, respectively, and would co-rule over Norway during Harald's absence.
The relationship between these halves of Harald's family had warmed a little after the tension over Norway's succession was resolved, but it remained distant.
Just before departure, Rurik and Magnus shook hands. "Can I assume you'll keep my mother and little sister safe?" Rurik asked calmly.
"Of course, they're family as well," Magnus nodded, equally calmly.
Rurik scoffed slightly but choose not to mention Magnus and Tora coming after him, who was also supposed to be family.
Rurik's interaction with magnus had been limited, but he'd realized Magnus was honourable, yet ambitious. Fortunately, the worst he could do to Ingegerd in the name of ambition was marry her off. Outside of that, Rurik was relatively confident he'd keep them safe.
And if he didn't, or if he tried to force Ingegerd's marriage to some brute or old pervert, Rurik's network would help them flee to the Kievan Rus, where Elisiv's influential family resided.
Thus, he was as confident in their safety as he could be, without taking them with, or staying there himself… neither of which was possible. There was no way he'd convince his father to let them come, and neither was there any chance Rurik would remain behind, when Luna clearly indicated his reunion with her depended on going to England with Eilin.
Finally, after all the goodbyes had been said, Rurik and Eilin got on one ship, while Maria, and Harald boarded another. With eyes pointed forwards, they set off towards the horizon… never to arrive at their intended destination.