The Bear and The Dragon (A side story)

Fifty years before the illfated Chatham expedition

Heinrik stood in the empty thingstead, waiting for the clanmoot to start. He had got here early. Heirnrik was the head of the bear clan, a title he had only inherited from his father a year ago. He was a young man of only twenty summers but was already respected as a clanhead. He was tall and wiry, although his frame, like many of his people, was muscular. He wore the bear cloak on his shoulders over his naked chest… He wore simple leather breeches. Although he warmed himself by an open brazier, it was still summer, so he was not chilly this evening.

The clanmoot had been called to decide upon who would be the next Jarl. Jarl Caeeda had grown old, and his mind was known to wander of late. An open challenge against him in The Circle would have been seen as being in poor taste, although perhaps the man could still surprise them. Heinrik had made deals and alliances and hoped he had done enough to secure enough votes for himself. He knew his age would either be seen as a boon or be viewed as him lacking in experience.

The others begin to file in. Eadric from the Wolf Clan. The Wolf Clan was one of the other larger clans within Lovenskoid, like the Bear they had considerable farmland within The Midden. Eadric was getting on in years. One was heavily scarred, and he was missing fingers on his right hand. Heinrik nodded to him respectfully. Eadric returned the gesture and took a seat on one of the benches. He was followed by Arne of the Deer Clan. Arne was a small, skinny man. He was not known for his combat prowess, but his family were keen hunters. Arne was famed as one of the best archers of his clan.

Heinrik watched as representatives from other clans entered the hall. Some arrived early, as he had, and some holding back as if to make a dramatic entrance. He looked at the faces of the men from Whale, Snake, Ox, and Seal. He watched the arbiter enter. He was an older man who walked with a stick these days, bald except for the braided grey beard he still maintained. The arbitrator was clanless and gave up his name for the position as a mark of dedication. Heinrik looked over to see the last man enter his younger brother, Dain. Dain sat down with other members of Clan Horse. Heinrik was cautious regarding his brother’s presence here. Dain respected his older brother but was known for holding opinions which the more traditional clan heads saw as controversial.

Heinrik took his seat as the Arbitrator approached the brazier.

“You know why we are gathered here today. Noble and brave men of clans. I see faces from Bear, Wolf, Deer, Whale, Snake, Ox and Seal. Fox has decided not to grace us with their presence today. Perhaps Hroth is privy to counsel not shared with the rest of us.” The Arbitrator mused.

“Or Conras is a fucking coward.” Osbeorn from Clan Snake called.

“And where was the Snake in the last Vargr attack?” Wassa from Clan Seal shouted back at him.

“Cease your bickering like children. There will be time enough to fester over old grievances.” The arbiter slammed his cane against the floor, silencing them.

“We gather as we have in the past to vote on who will next be Jarl. Caedda has grown long in the tooth and may not even last out the end of Summer. Make your cases and then cast your votes and pray your horsetrading was enough.”

Heinrik studied the faces of those who were gathered. He knew that Wolf and possibly Snake were likely to be his main opponents standing against him. He imagined both had made the same kind of deals that he had.

Heinrik was surprised that Snake was the first to stand. Osbeorn was not what one would expect as a natural leader. He preferred to do so by fear, intimidation, and skullduggery. There must be some reason Osbeorn was standing rather than playing both sides from the shadows.

“Our city has been besieged of late. Trespassers, outsiders, come, their influence corrupting the spirit of our people. House Snake will ensure that such invaders are repelled, our borders secured.” Osbeorn shouted.

Heinrik smiled. This was House Snake’s play. Preying upon the fears of those gathered. There was a common mistake regarding the Ragnars that they were isolationists, that they hated outsiders. There was some truth to this but the simpler one was also true they held little interest in involving themselves in the affairs of other nations. They were welcoming enough at times to foreign visitors and often welcomed their trade. He heard the murmurs of those gathered as people commented on Osbeorn’s words. Osbeorn sat back down, and Eadric took his turn.

“The Snake would encourage your fear and paranoia. Trade from Ithaca, Mercied and even the Web has always been accepted here. We risk losing sight of the real threat if we start turning away those who come to us from the sea. I would strengthen our Northern borders. The Vargr grow bolder, prey on our farmstead and take our women and children. I would raise warbands and chase them down in their nests.” Eadric stood there looking proud of his words.

Heinrik respected Eadric far more than Osbeorn. He was a warrior at heart and not a politician. He was right: the Vargr were becoming more of a threat and one that would need to be dealt with or at least kept at bay. Eadric’s rhetoric drew far more favourable replies than Osbeorn's, thankfully.

Heinrik knew it was his time to speak. “I agree with my brother in arms. The Vargr are a threat, although one which has always nipped at our heels. We will weather that storm and return it in kind. I would open trade further, send emissaries to our fellow nations. A time of prosperity is needed, one which can not be achieved by us cutting ourselves off from the rest of the world. I would reestablish our outposts.”

“We should be looking further North. Not beyond the sea,” Heinrik heard Dain calling.

Heinrik was not expecting to be interrupted by his own brother “Beyond the Midden is nothing but untamed chaos.”

“And now is our time to claim it. We fled from the North once. It is our birthright to take it back.”

“Perhaps in time, brother,” Heinrik replied.

He could see his brother looked annoyed rather than placated, but chose not to speak further.

The Arbitrator spoke once more, "Is there anyone anymore who would have a say?

The old adjudicator waited for anyone else to stand and make their case, but it seemed Bear, Wolf and Snake were the only ones that would stand today. “Then your votes will be cast.”

The Arbitrator signalled for men to bring in three small wicker baskets. He invited men up one by one and handed them a black stone. Heinrik joined the queue of men and waited to be passed his stone. He put it into the basket set aside for him and returned to his seat. The voting was over more quickly than he believed it would be. The moment had become tense as the Arbitrator counted the stones from each basket.

The old man looked apprehensive as he declared the results. “Three for Snake. Four a piece each for Wolf and Bear. A tie.”

Heinrik had held back on declaring the alliance he had secured for himself last night.

“There is one more vote,” Heinrik advised.

“The young bear is more cunning than I give him credit.” The arbiter told him.

“I spoke with Conras of House Fox last night. I hold a writ from him containing his seal pledging his vote for House Bear.” Heinkrik told him.

He stood and approached the arbitrator and showed the writ to him. The arbitrator smiled at Heinrik. “So Fox has attended after all. This sways the vote in your favour, young Bear.”

The Arbitrator grabbed Heinrik’s left arm and held it aloft. “All hail the new Jarl of Lovenskoid.”

The assembled lords joined in with the chants of “Jarl Heinrik”

Heinrik looked over the gathered people. He could see his brother proudly chanting his name despite their earlier disagreement. He could see Osbeorn grumbling due to the vote not going his way. Eadric had declared for Heinrik with his shouts, though. Heinrik decided he would meet with Eadric regarding his proposal.

After it all had ended, Heinrik once again found himself standing in the empty thingstread by himself. He was to be Jarl, he was not sure the votes were going to go in his favour, regardless of securing Fox’s favour last night.

________________________________________

They had celebrated all night. Heinrik and his men had spent many hours drinking. There had been contests of bravery in his honour, fighting, arm wrestling, mead drinking. Heinrik was half passed out on his bed when the Bear clan’s Seiðr maiden Agnessa appeared in his chambers. She was neither one of ceremony nor politeness. She was tolerated as wise, and her words often came true. So on the night of his being declared Jarl, he was not surprised to see her. She had not taken part in the festivities, which did not surprise him.

“You recall what I said to you when you were five?” Agnessa asked.

“The hour grows late, woman, and I have drunk too much. Could this not wait until morning?” Heinrik asked, knowing his question was futile.

“What did I say?” Agnessa repeated.

“That after twenty summers had passed I would be Jarl.” He answered.

She nodded proudly.

“I cast the bones tonight. Their meanings were curious. I saw images of The Bear, A Dragon, water, ships, far off places. There are things beyond our borders which we should attend to.” Agnessa told him enigmatically

“I already said I would send emissaries,” Heinrik complained.

“The bear itself must go.”

“I have just secured my seat.”

“The bear is more than just yourself.”

“You would have me send my brother.”

“He is ambitious,” Agnessa said grimly.

Heinrik knew what was meant by that remark. Sending Dain away would prevent him from attempting to usurp control of their house. His brother was well loved and could easily gather enough support to make such a move. He loved his brother but also knew that Dain was ambitious.

“I will call for him in the morning,” Heinrik told her

Agnessa left without another word. Heinrik fell into bed and knew tomorrow would not be easy.

----------------------------------------

Heinrik sat in the hall of the Jarl. His first day in his new title, and he had to make one of his first acts under his new role, and it would be one of his hardest. He had the hall cleared so he could speak to his brother on his own.

Dain had only turned twenty last year and was already an accomplished warrior. He was tall and broad. Down one arm an intricate tattoo showing a Vargr raid he had been part of and helped to put down. He had short black hair, calculating bye eyes and, unlike many of his people clean shaven.

“Good morrow to you, brother.” Heinrik greeted him.

“This is auspicious, brother. You are summoning me to an empty hall.” Dain replied.

“I would speak privately,” Heinrik told him.

“Then speak,” Dain instructed

“There is an outpost of ours to the West, long abandoned. Overlooking Ithica and Mercied. I would have you raise a crew and take these men to restore it.”

"That sounds a lot like exile, brother. Is this because of what I said at the moot yesterday?

“Our seer spoke with me last night.”

“The grey bitch commands and we obey?”

“She has never steered us wrong.”

Dain looked crestfallen, knowing his brother was right.

“You would be my voice to the outside world, brother.”

“Then I will carry your name with honour.”

Heinrik got up from his throne and embraced his brother. He let a single tear fall from his eyes. They seperated and Dain left the hall to gather men to him. Heinrik wondered if he would see his brother again after this.