Chapter 5 kalmar Union Annual meeting
A week passed since the feast,which gave Siegfried and his crew time to settle in before reporting the true purpose of their voyage.
Three winters.
That was how long Siegfried had spent hunting Olav and his lieutenants. Three winters of chasing rumours across distant shores, fighting people who had no reason to defend Olav, and following a trail that seemed designed to lead them everywhere except to their target.
Now, at last, he had returned to Norheim with news worth bringing before the king.
Father,Siegfrid, and I made our way to the Hall of Jarls, a hall where all the jarls and the king come together to discuss important news regarding Norheim.I don't know why father decided i should come with them,but i wasn't complaining.
The trip was pretty short,about half an hour had passed.I spent most of it staring through the window.
Frostpeak's marketplace was crowded with merchants, travelling performers, craftsmen, and adventurers. Carts rattled over the paving stones while merchants shouted prices from beneath colourful canopies.
The smell of freshly baked bread mingled with roasted meat, horse manure, and the salty breeze drifting inland from the coast.
Beyond the marketplace stood the Hall of Jarls.
"Woah this hall is amazing,"I said i looked out the window of the carriage"How long has the building been here, Father? It looks ancient."
"Queen Regent Margret Daisy Lothbrok ordered its construction over a century ago."
"Wait, Queen Margret…wasn't she the wife of king Ragnar Lothbrok?"
"The very same."
"I remember mother telling me the tale of her sagas but I would always fall asleep after she became king and the byzantine army swearing its loyalty to the king.
"Sleeping while a great tale is told,What a shame brother,I thought u were a drengr…a viking…a man of mans.Siegfried said grinning mockingly.
"Hey,I was 5 years old.i just turned 7,don't u know who you are speaking to."
"I am a conqueror of the nine realms,tamer of the world serpent Jormangandr,slayer of the Wolf Fenrir,Master of the Horse Sleipnir."I said while puffing my chest out.
"Then u should know about the Great lady King,how she united all the nations and created the kalmar union,singlehandily defended Norheim for 80 years straight ,how she created the Iron maiden army ,the royal army that is charge of serving the kingdom still this day."
"I could go on and on.But I don't want your tiny brain to explode. He said with a comically looking grin."
"Siegfried u jerk,u wanna go ?I said with tears on my eyelids.
"Quiet u too,we Have arrived ."Father said
"This isn't over brother,watch yourself.Brother. I proclaimed while jabbing two fingers towards my eyes then thrust them toward Siegfried.
The carriage joined a line of others waiting before the hall. Servants hurried between the vehicles, guards inspected arriving nobles, and armed retainers stood beside their masters with hands resting near their weapons.
The Hall of Jarls rose above the marketplace like a fortress that had forgotten it was supposed to be a building. Massive stone pillars supported its upper galleries, while enormous iron-bound doors guarded the entrance. Carvings of kings, warriors, and mythical beasts covered the walls. Ancient banners hung from the windows, their faded colours stirring in the wind.
I could hardly believe I was going inside.
Then a voice thundered across the marketplace.
"LITTLE SIGGY!"
Siegfried closed his eyes.
"Ohh by Thors beard,Of course hes here ,Father do u think i can escape him this time?Siegfried said with an exhausted sigh.
"You can try,but you won't get very far,Father grinning.
WHOOSH!!!!
In a flash of lightning the stranger appeared behind Siegfried.
"Little Siggy,look how big you've grown," the stranger said.
"Lor—Lord Ivar,it's an honour to meet you."Siegfried said bowing .
The man stared at him.
"honour?Since when did you become uptight? Have you been spending too much time around old men?"
"–And also tell me."His smile vanished."why hasn't my daughter visited me yet?"
"Do you want to die Siggy?"
"What?N-No.Lord Ivar, Runa has been busy with the guild– she went straight to the academy to give out books we found on our voyage. I'm certain she's on her way to your longhouse now."
"Now listen here little siggy,for my precious pumpkin, I will burn the whole of Midgard if need be….So don't fuck with me on this."
"I promise Runa will visit more."
"Well then I guess that solved… You almost died Little Siggy…Hahahahahahah"
"What?I said as I looked at father flabbergasted.
Father nodded,alerting me that indeed he was in danger.
Siegfried had faced monsters, armies, and warriors capable of killing ordinary men with a glance. Yet this man had reduced him to a terrified child by asking whether he had visited his daughter.
I liked the stranger,the jerk deserves it.
"Father, who is this man?I asked as i was confused by the relationship between the stranger,brother and father.
"Father?" Ivar said while he gave me a once over.
"Erik,is this the little drengr you spoke of?he said.
"Yes he is,Hakon say hello to uncle Ivar,the Jarl of Danska.
"Greetings uncle…lovely to meet you,are you really fathers brother?he said while shaking his hand.
"Aye, little drengr,me and your father are blood brothers ..So we ar — " looking at my left hand.
"What's this,a full stormbringer insignia.then that means he is —"
"YES…Yes ,he is…."father said while giving ivar a stan look to not say another word.
"Sheesh,fine …you know son, your father has alot of anger issues."
"Come visit Danska Whenever you have the time ,I'll show you all your fathers old weapons he used in his berserker days." He said grinningly.
"Can I really go father,please? I said begging.
Siegfried pressed his lips together. His shoulders were already shaking anticipating fathers response.
"Sure….No Problem.."He said while trying his level best to keep his cool.
"Though I should warn you that most of them still have the blood of your fathers enemies."
My smile vanished.Ivar burst out laughing.
"That's enough, brother."
"We still have a meeting to attend to."Said the new stranger who joined the group.
"Ubbe,You like sucking the fun out of things."Ivar said looking bored.
"Someone has to."he said.
Ubbe turned towards Siegfried."Little Siggy? By Thor's beard, look at you!"
Before Siegfried could answer, Ubbe reached out and examined his hair as though it were a rare artefact.
"Have you been combing this properly? It looks like a nest."
"Lord Ubbe," Siegfried said, bowing his head. "It has been a long time."
"Lord? come on,I told you to stop calling me that,Its uncle Ubbe to you."
"Yes, Uncle Ubbe."
"Better."
Ubbe turned towards Father."Erik Stormbringer, how are you brother?I see the winds still brag about your manliness?he said while grinning.
Father threw his head back and laughed.
"Ubbe!!!Good to see you brother,As you can see. Those gossipmorgers were correct ,but I heard you made the storm your mistress?"He said with an excited passion
Ubbe nodded gravely."Aye…You know me and mistresses….."
….
"Hahahahahahaha!,Ohh man that never gets old.Father said with tears in his eyes
"Hahahahahaha!! I know right,that's the funniest thing ever…"Said Ubbe while slapping his hand over his thigh.
"Brother what's happening?I asked confused
shrugging his shoulders. They've always done this each time they meet.Brother said.
"They have been doing it since we were kids.Ivar said
"But why?"I asked confused.
Folding his arms."They refuse to tell me the story behind it little drengr,It's one of those things we'll never know."He said, .
"Well for now,let's get inside, we'll catch up later."Ubbe said.
I just met two of the craziest indiviuals,on one hand stood Lord Ivar Lothbrok, a fellow Jarl like Father.
He had raven hair, thick and swept back from a face carved in hard angles. His eyes were just as dark, so black that the torchlight seemed to disappear in them rather than reflect. There was something predatory about his features, not quite a snarl, but the suggestion that one might appear if the conversation bored him.
At his hip rested a sword that looked less like something forged by a smith and more like something torn from the jaw of a great beast. Its dark scabbard curved in uneven ridges, resembling interlocking fangs, while the blade itself narrowed toward a cruel point.
Faint grooves ran along its length like the marks left by claws. The weapon was savage without being crude, a thing made with enough skill to turn brutality into an art.
On the other side stood Lord Ubbe, a contrast to his younger brother—and, somehow, far more dangerous.
His hair was raven coloured as well, though kept shorter and more neatly arranged, exposing a broad brow and a face whose stillness made it difficult to guess what he was thinking. His eyes held the same bottomless darkness as Ivar's, but where his younger brother's gaze prowled, Ubbe's settled. He looked at a man once and seemed to remember everything worth knowing about him.
He wore no obvious trophies, no extravagant ornaments, and nothing about his clothing begged to be noticed. His dark wool and fitted leather were well-made but unadorned, the sort of garments chosen by a man who preferred that people remember his decisions rather than his appearance.
His sword remained sheathed at his side.The scabbard was long and dark, bound with blackened fittings and a narrow strip of dull silver near the throat. Its worn leather bore shallow scratches, old enough that their edges had softened with time.
The hilt rose just above it, plain at first glance, with a dark grip and a pommel shaped like a closed fist. There were no jewels, no gold filigree, no boastful runes announcing its history.
That, more than anything, made me wary.
Ivar's sword looked as though it had been designed to frighten a man before the fighting began. Ubbe's looked as though its owner had never needed to frighten anyone.
I had the uncomfortable feeling that the difference between the brothers was the difference between a man who enjoyed making others fear him and a man who had long ago stopped caring whether they did.
We entered the hall,there were two other groups of people inside already.
This was the 1st time i saw most of these people,but i could tell that they were very powerful.
Siegfried told me afterwards that Everyone who was there was :
Sven Lothbrok,king of Norheim,Continent and his attendant Canute the wise(commander of the byzantine army)
Erik Stormbringer,Jarl of Bryhold,nation and his attendant Siegfried Stormbringer(Son,S-rank adventurer) and Hakon(Badass Viking Warrior whose accomplishments are so great that it would take 8 years to list all of them,so i won't)
Birger the destroyer,Jarl of Svadska,nation and attendant Count Dohna(commander of the Iron maiden Ravens wings)
Gissur thoraldsson,Jarl of Fronhold,nation and his attendant Snorri Sturlusson
Ivar the boneless,Jarl of Danska,nation and his attendant Ubbe the Mad(Grandmaster of the Academy in the Norheim, Mimir's Hold )
I tried to remain still, but my eyes kept wandering towards the other delegations. Their weapons, armour, and expressions fascinated me. Some looked bored. Others watched everyone around them with the cold attention of hunters.
I could try to explain what happened after but my mind was abit hazy,I remember thinking that the room wasbecoming colder.
At first, I thought the chill came from the stone walls. But the cold continued to spread, creeping beneath my clothes and settling against my skin.I rubbed my hands together.
Then came the smell.
Sweet,Pleasant.Almost familiar.
I frowned.
"What is—"
My fingers tightened around the armrest.
Across the table, a beautiful woman watched me.
She wasn't surprised,In fact, she was smiling.Not kindly,Not cruelly, either.It was the smile of someone who knew something I did not.It made me mad how for some reason.
I tried to stand.My legs refused to obey.My body had betrayed me,Imagine that.
Panic flashed through me. I reached for Father's sleeve, but my fingers had become clumsy and unresponsive. The hall tilted, the faces around me blurred, and the woman's smile was the last thing I saw.
***
Siegfried watched Hakon's head fall against the table.
Nobody moved.
Then father sighed as he looked across the table,''Now Christina ,did you really had to do that?''
The woman's smile vanished.She hated being called Christina.
Christina was her birth name,while Count Dohna was a title she earned after she the battle of succession in 4065 ,when she infiltrated an enemy camp under cover of darkness, flayed and removed the blood of the enemy.By morning, every soldier in the enemy platoon was dead.
Their commander had awakened to find his entire camp silent.
To her, Christina belonged to the girl she had been while Count Dohna belonged to the woman she had become.
Yet Father still called her Christina mostly to annoy her.
And, somehow, he remained one of the few people alive who could get away with it.
She leaned back in her chair, her eyes narrowing."It's Count Dohna, Lord Erik."
"I'm aware."
"Then use it."
Father merely smiled."No."
Siegfried lowered his gaze.
There it was,the same old argument.
Count Dohna was powerful. Powerful enough that most warriors would think twice before standing against her.
But Father wasn't most warriors.
She knew it.
Everyone in this room knew it.
If Count Dohna decided to turn that pheromone against Father, it wouldn't matter.
He would still win.
Not because he was Jarl of Brynhold.Not because of his title.Because Erik Stormbringer was simply stronger.Much stronger.
Count Dohna clicked her tongue."You're insufferable."
Father's smile widened."Is that so"he said.
she leaned back"The spell will wear off."
Erik's face hardened,"Why did you use it in the 1st place?"
"He was staring."
"He's eight."
"Then he should learn not to stare."she said.
"And I have already told you that the spell will wear off."
"See that it does before the conclusion of this meeting."
"You see if i was you,i would've punched his ugly face ."Ivar said mockingly
She wanted to respond,to comment ,but she could see that Erik was now irritated.The thought of pissing off the Red painter of Midgard was too dangerous.
She said nothing.
''Now,now brother, what happens when you fight Erik or should I remind you of the scoreboard.''King Sven said.
Most of the people chuckled ,though it was more subtly so as to not bruise his ego even more.
Let's get started with the business of the day. He said while he signaled to his attendant to get started.
Canute stepped forward and raised one hand. A projection spell unfolded above the table, revealing an Atlas map of Midgard.
The image narrowed towards Norheim, displaying its holds, villages, roads, and coastal settlements.
Now I have called you here today to discuss 3 agendas .the 1st and main issue being Olav and his lieutenants.''
Sven looked towards Siegfried.
"Little Siggy. It's good to see you return in one piece."
"The gods favour me, my king," Siegfried replied while bowing his head. "They continue to grant me opportunities to write an epic saga and earn my place in Valhalla."
Sven chuckled.
"Three winters ago, I entrusted you with the task of hunting Olav and his lieutenants. How did you fare?"
Aye my Lord,3 winters ago Olav created a decoy that escaped to Kongsberg village,east of brynhold while his real plan was to escape to Valland where he maintained a base.
A red marker appeared on the map.
"My party intercepted him after he departed. He abandoned his route and sailed towards the southern isles, using a different merchant vessel to avoid detection."
The marker moved to the southern isles,to an Island called Drakanshold.Scottheim
"My party intercepted him as soon as he landed,which he used a different merchant ship to go to the southern isles where he manipulated the foreigners who prayed to ''the banished ones'' that we were there to destroy their homeland.
"Sneaky bastard as always,what happened next Siggy,the king asked with great intrigue.
"Then We were forced to slay the natives of that land."
"We killed many of the people who opposed us before we understood how thoroughly Olav had deceived them."
He paused.
"I will not pretend those deaths were necessary. They were the consequence of his manipulation, but they remain deaths we cannot undo."
Even Birger's expression sobered."What happened to Olav?"
"He escaped with two of his lieutenants. We captured one of his men and questioned him until he revealed that Olav intended to recruit a mercenary force of Scot warriors from an island in thesouth western isles."
"Isn't that Island part of Hibernia region?"Ivar asked stroking his beard.
Aye my lord,so before we even went to that island,we had to go to the king of Mester ,King sheamus and he denied us requested entry to his island.
"Denied?"the king asked in curiosity.
"Aye,he said that he only allow us entry if we would would help him catch the war criminals who had terrorized his nation for 6 years.
Ivar leaned forward."Six years? And you agreed?"
"We did. It cost us three months."
Birger gave a low whistle."And did you find them?"
"We found one. The other remains at large."
Siegfried pointed towards a coastal region on the map.
"After Connor,the first criminal was captured, King Sheamus received us as guests and formally pardoned us for the delay. We then sailed west."
"How large?" Birger asked.
"Three thousand men."
Birger's smile widened."And how many were you?"
"Five."Siegfried said
For the first time that morning, the Jarl of Svadska looked genuinely impressed.
"Three thousand against five. Now that sounds like a proper battle."
"It was a difficult one," Siegfried admitted.
"Difficult?" Ivar scoffed. "That's what you call it when you're outnumbered six hundred to one?"
Siegfried gave him a nervous smile."I prefer to call it an unpleasant afternoon."
Laughter travelled around the table.
"Tell me, little Siggy," Birger said, "when will you finally take over as Jarl? Your father has grown senile."
Father leaned back in his chair.
"Perhaps the fish you always consume have finally reached your brain,you bloated bastard. I wonder whether you will fit through Valhalla's gates when your time comes."
The hall erupted.
Before he was large in....Stature.He was a mighty warrior who swung a hammer so hard that with each swing,3 heads would roll.now the only thing he swings is a horn of mead.
Birger himself laughed so hard that he slapped the table.
"If I cannot fit, old friend, I shall ask you to gut me and trim the excess fat!"
"You can count on me, drengr."
"Please continue son."Erik said pointing to the projector.
"Aye father, where was i?Ohh yes,upon reaching Scottheim we slaughtered a surprising number of mercenaries .not the group opposed us,around the last quarter begged for mercy in exchange of giving us the now prisoned lieutenants.
Upon torturing the lieutenants,we didnt kill him,instead we gave him to the dragonborn people to answer for his crimes,which was when we learnt that Olav returned to norheim and is hiding in konsberg.before returning here,we made sure to close any exit he might use .So he actually boxed himself in konsberg.
Excellent work as always Little Siggy.
You honor me my lord.he said bowing his head.
Then i will personally hunt the bastard,its been awhile since my blade tasted blood.Ivar said as he unsheated his sword.
Apologies lord Ivar,but i'm i cant let you take my prey from me.Siegfried said smiling nervously.
What did you say little siggy?do you seek to deny me of my revenge?Ivar said while pointing the sharp sword at siegfried.
Again my lord,apologies but i must insist on not giving away my prey he said as he gave Ivar a stern look.His blue eyes activated.
It was moments like these which made the council in that room love Siegfried,especially Ivar,he loved siegfried as his own son.
Alrighty then,drengr,sate my thirst for vengeance and bring me his head.Ivar said with a proud look on his face.
Will do my lord.Siegfried grinned
King Sven dismissed the map projection, and Canute replaced it with a sealed letter.
"Our second matter concerns Albion and Valland."
He broke the seal and read the contents.
"King Richard of Albion has negotiated a five-year truce with Valland. He now proposes a formal alliance with Norheim, to take effect when the truce expires."
Ubbe folded his arms."Those two kingdoms have fought for more than a century. What do they expect to gain from involving us?"
"Who can really say, however their motives are deviously clear,this king thinks that he can use us as puppets and drain our resources while they recover theirs.the king said as He struck the table with his palm.
"When their truce ends, we may find ourselves fighting a war that was never ours to begin with."
Ivar's eyes gleamed." We could take advantage of this opportunity. We have armies of our own, and the byzintine army stands at the king's command. Give the word, brother, and we could raid their coasts before either kingdom has recovered."
Canute remained silent, though his expression suggested he had heard similar proposals before.
"We cannot commit to another campaign so easily," Erik said.
Ivar turned towards him.
"Afraid of a little war, brother?"
"No. I am wary of fighting one without knowing what it will cost."
Erik placed both hands on the table.
"Norheim is still recovering from the demands of previous campaigns. Our forces need time to rest and rebuild. Our stores must be replenished, our ships repaired, and our settlements secured. If we send our armies abroad now, we weaken the very lands we are meant to protect."
Birger stroked his beard."Then let us demand payment. An annual fee, favourable trade agreements, and guarantees that neither kingdom can draw us into a war without our consent."
"That is better than marching blindly into battle," Ubbe said, "but it still assumes their promises are worth the parchment on which they are written."
Gissur, who had remained quiet throughout the whole meeting, finally spoke."Albion does not seek peace because it has suddenly discovered wisdom. Valland is weakened, and Albion needs time to rebuild. If we become their ally without binding terms, we may simply become the instrument through which they recover."
Sven studied him."You suspect the alliance is a trap?"
"I suspect that both kingdoms will pursue their own interests. We should do the same."
Erik nodded."Then we renegotiate the terms. We do not accept the alliance as offered, and we do not reject it before learning what can be gained. We establish conditions that protect Norheim and its people."
Birger grunted in approval.
Ubbe gave a small nod.
Even Ivar seemed satisfied, although Siegfried suspected he would have preferred a declaration of war.
Sven considered the matter for several moments.
"Then that shall be our position. The proposal will remain open, but no commitment will be made until the terms have been reviewed and our military readiness assessed."
Canute recorded the decision.The second matter was settled.
The king then raised a hand.
"Our final concern is Norheim's readiness for the coming winters. Before we commit our resources to foreign affairs, we must establish what we can spare without endangering our own people."
He looked towards the assembled jarls.
"Each of you will provide an account of your stores, ships, and available forces. We will review those reports before the next council."
Nobody objected.
Even Ivar understood that an army could not march on empty stomachs.
The meeting continued for some time,until shortly after it came to an end and Hakon woke up an hour later
the trio went back home.
