Time dwindles

“Ernak I heard what happened!” Alfhild called out to the figure who hadn’t bothered to wash the paint off his face instead keeping it on as a message of “I don’t want to be disturbed” to the Clan Ernak spat back, “Leave me alone!” “No. I want to say thank you and offer this!” she handed a bag of coins to Ernak who turned it nose up from the coins passed them to the nearest child with instructions to share it with the others. “That was for you not the children” Alfhild snapped and shrugging Ernak responded with, “I don’t care what you think. A liar and a traitor that’s what you are!” Alfhild groaned and attempting another one of her hundred excuses and apologies she saw Ernak drink another ale and from the smell he generated, it must have been around his sixth one, “We can’t fix the situation but I will be damned if I’m going to let you sit at the counter drinking you life away. You are better than this; even if you can’t see it. If I have to I will make it better for you because without you the Clan and Ragnor will fall apart!”

“I think what you suggesting is wise… Ernak or whoever he is currently has no direction. We need to give him that. That’s why I have brought his mother in!” Sigurd stated welcoming Artemis into the circle, “He has a purpose. To find Freyja and lead us to the next life, he also needs to stop Loki, not this!” “Could you stop with these lies!” Alfhild snapped to which she received a simple head shake from Artemis who mumbled, “And Logos questioned why we hated the humans soo much. Blind, stupid and canon fodder for menial jobs” they glared at her before returning to their conversation Alfhild spat, “He needs a wife and since most of the time he isn’t sober or talking sense we should choose who. Give us a list of candidates” getting ready to scribble the list. “I’m not sure on this mother…” Ragnor replied remembering the promise they once made, “You don’t want him to because he could then become Jarl!” Alfhild fired back and shaking his head Ragnor replied, “No, he always has a chance of being Jarl but you promised him he could marry for love and there are NO obligations that he has to fulfil. Are you really going to go back on your word here and do the opposite?” “I agree but he is no use to us in that drunken state” Alfhild, “Then give him a responsibility or a reason to live!” “His ‘reason’ is far away and is never coming back. This wife he will have has only 2 roles to fulfil. 1 make sure he stays alive and 2 make him focus on something that isn’t lunacy about Gods and to forget about Lagertha!” Alfhild ordered to the room.

The room was silent before Sigurd confessing what he knew corrected her with, “It’s not lunacy… I interrupted a conversation between Logos and Ernak and… he’s pretty much real. It requires a device to see him but he’s there offering advice and support or at least was” “It’s still Ernak that’s all that matters!” Ragnor responded still unconvinced so returning to her blank list Alfhild simply stated, “Names!”

“Astrid? Don’t you dare offer yourself! That’s an insult” Alfhild snapped in a fiery warning but that wasn’t going to be her point instead Astrid stated, “I was going to say we don’t actually have anyone either single or at a age to marry him. The only women he has a close relationship in this clan to is Skadi and she’s a horse.” “Well… Ivar’s clan?” Ivar spat at her before yelling, “So you want me to ruin his life? He trusts us!” “This isn’t up for discussion!” Alfhild yelled and slapping her sister Estrid growled, “I’ll give you a name. My daughter Porunn; after what your family did to her, you don’t deserve a son. Our terms to this marriage are: you treat her better than your own children and you make it perfectly clear that this is all your idea and we are just trying to lessen the blow!” “At least her will look after her” Ivar worried to which Alfhild nodded before looking over to Sigurd it was Artemis pushed past him and stated, “Morrigan. She has a crush on him and luckily for us their won’t be an defects in any children or whatsoever because our blood is pure; she’ll also understand what he is going through. Let’s keep it close so none of you can make it worse!” the last person pushed forward and forcefully pushing Alfhild to the floor stated slamming her axe into the tabletop, “I put myself forward. I won’t let you all sell him off to the nearest bidder because he isn’t being the prefect little son that you hoped for. No way whatsoever. This is just part of your scheming. With me here at least I can stop any of you from capitalising on it” the room fell silent apart for dotting of her name done to the list before Alfhild carried on with her portion of the meeting.

“He will need compensation…” Ivar shrugged before stating, “He will only want 3 things. Support against the man who has Lagertha, a location of her whereabouts and how to reach her. I suppose that is what will make him a good ruler; determination and humbleness” Sigurd’s head bowed once again before stating, “There is only two ways. I suppose the news of the Norwegian army has landed and started to destroy the nearby clans… if he joins them… then… I don’t want to think about it. Ernak a smart cunning man would use his Örlendr legend and the claim of God blood to gain support would then outthink us and defeat us in any way possible until he got what he wants!” “Or he could see the marriage with Torvi or Porunn has a way to secure his place as Jarl and turn on his allies. Even if he didn’t he has the right to renegotiate as Jarl the deal and hold this claimer to hostage. He already doesn’t believe “he’s the gods chosen one” piece so it would be a amusing standoff” “Does he know about the Norwegians headway?” Ragnor asked and nodding Ivar stated, “He knew before us. If he’s planning something and I don’t think we’re going to like it!” the room fell silent and laughing Magnhild hysterically replied, “It’s funny that you claim you don’t see him as a tool but yet are constantly trying to use him in situations or control his life. Even now you are constantly trying to make up for it; that says more than you believe” Alfhild looked down and confessing spoke, “I wish we could prove you wrong but we both know we can’t. We all thought it would be okay in the end, a few years together and then Lagertha would be free and Ernak happy or Ernak would move on eventually. We had so many ideas for him and thought we knew our son and what was best; yet we just made everything worse.”

“You have heard?” Sigurd questioned already knowing the answer saw Ernak nod before stating, “You wish to control me so come on… who have you suggested? Your whore of an daughter? Erik’s niece?” “No, you have a lot of support even from those you have hurt. Ivar has said Porunn because you’ll treat her well. Artemis wants you with Morrigan because she understands you better and we “humans” have done enough to you apparently. Torvi… well she wants to make a go of it and believes choosing her will protect you from a lot of plots” “Or I could just join the Norwegians…” Ernak suggested checking his gear and looking over to Logos heard the support from him, “Yes, let’s go with them. I’ve had enough waiting around. This war was told in my memories… let the fight commence and we get in and get out. Take Lagertha and leave; our Freyja.” Odin contemplated it before shrugging stated, “If you marry Torvi or Porunn your claim is strengthened, Ragnor’s paranoia will continue to grow and soon they will have to make you Jarl because they will become ****. You could then renegotiate the treaty or go to war with the Madman and take it all or you could do what Logos suggests and probably fail” Logos laughed before firing back to his rival, “Didn’t fail last time!” Ernak contemplated the choices whilst Logos confessed, “If there was an easier way than I would suggest it but my way is quicker” Ernak nodded ignoring Sigurd’s calls of protest, demanding an answer and walking away Ernak stated, “You’ll find out soon enough!”