Ch 64 Bathing Maiden

(Two Days Later)

After a slow and long ride we crested a hill along the crystal clear river and spotted the Famed Ash Tree...it was beautiful.

My men all stared in amazement....it must've been two hundred feet tall with a huge canopy which spread wide and dense.

The tree was on an ancient mound with stacked stones all around it....I could immediately feel it's sacredness from here and so could my men.

I felt Skade trembling at it's sight, The ancient tree's magic must have resonated with her.

I wrapped my arms around Skade and spoke to her gently. "Relax My Love....Breathe in slowly...." I slowly and kissed her head lovingly.

It took her a few long moments but eventually she stopped trembling as I cuddled up to her.

my men all saw her condition and were even more deeply rooted in the belief that she had strong magic coursing through her veins.

We rode down only a hundred yards from the tree when Nils, our guide sent by Jarl Borg turned to me.

"We have an area nearby where we always camp, it is dry and the wind does not whip your skin there My Lord." He spoke respectfully.

"Very well, take us there." I ordered.

Nils nodded and spoke. "There is good fishing up the stream at the waterfall my Lord, some men say the fish caught there are full of magic....The area is teeming with huge juicy trout and we can find wild onions and fat mushrooms in the hills around us so we can eat well during our stay...." Nils spoke and my men's mouths watered.

"I'LL GO CATCH SOME!!!....RIVEN GIVE ME YOUR FISHING LINE!!!" Balgrud bellowed out and mugged one of my men for his fishing line while licking his lips as he imagined the juicy roasted fish he'd be eating.

"I'll go with the Giant, his huge clumsy hands will see half the fish lost to us and I don't want to go hungry tonight." Anguy spoke and whipped his horse to flee upstream from the angered Berzerker as we all laughed.

"WE'LL SEE WHO CATCHES MORE LITTLE MAN!!!... I'LL USE YOUR GUTS AS BAIT!!!" Balgrud bellowed out and had his heavy horse charge after him.

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(Back in Töreboda)

Rollo and Jarl Borg were sitting together in a dark study having a quiet meal and conversation.

Borg had been interested in extracting as much information out of Rollo so he'd spent time with him, earning his friendship and trust, he hadn't made a move yet but he felt the time was right.

Since Rollo was a pariah at Kattegat he immediately warmed up to the man who didn't treat him with barely concealed revulsion.

Borg stood and paced around the room slowly as he began speaking to Rollo, his tone made Rollo focus more that he had previously.

"So, Rollo, how do you get on with your brothers?" Borg asked.

"We get along fine....Why shouldn't we?" Rollo spoke and Borg could hear the defensiveness in his voice, he knew there was some tension between the brothers.

"No reason at all....But not all brothers get on so well, Sadly I know that from personal experience." Borg spoke and saw Rollo lean in, he was interested.

"What do you mean?" Rollo asked and set down his spoon.

"I too had a brother, I loved him, We were very close, as befits blood brothers." Borg spoke with a sad smile and Rollo instantly saw the pain in Borgs heart.

"We fought together in the shield-wall, We shared the same women as well....we were inseperable." Borg spoke, immediately Rollo thought of him and Ragnar.

Secretly Rollo loved Hasta but she only used him for a short while before discarding him like leftovers.

"When my father was killed by our enemies, there was fierce competition to replace him as Jarl over these lands and people...And although I was his eldest son I was not sure I was going to succeed." Borg spoke and sat down just beside Rollo.

"But...You did succeed..." Rollo spoke and Borg nodded grimly.

"Yes, the worst day of my life....I was elected at the Thïng, We had a feast to celebrate.

My wife was there... my young, beautiful wife -

we'd just gotten married..." Borg spoke and wiped a tear from his face as Rollo listened intently.

"On that day we were also joined by all the others who had stood for election against me.

My brother poisoned us all.....and nearly killed me with his treachery as well." Borg spoke and Rollo's eyes widened in surprise.

"I only survived because... my wife took the cup I was about to drink from and drained it herself in celebration.....I shall never forget her screams, It's my wife's screams that will haunt me for the rest of my life." Borg spoke and a dark look came over his face.

"My brother denied responsibility, but his guilt was too obvious....So I blinded him with my own hands, and then I burned him alive....That's what I know about the love between brothers." Borg spoke and patted the idiot on the back solemnly.

"Thenn and Ragnar would never do something like that." Rollo spoke defensively.

"No, your brother Thenn is different....Your brother's a great man, a great warrior." Borg spoke with a hint of feigned admiration in his voice which made Rollo jealous.

"AS AM I." Rollo declared while glaring into a nearby brazier.

"I'm sure you are.....And yet I've never heard of you." Borg spoke and he immediately saw the reaction he was looking for.

Barely concealed hatred in Rollo's eyes.

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(Back at the Waterfall)

Anguy and Balgrud dismounted near the waterfall and tied their horses to a tree before getting their gear and walking toward the loud crashing waterfall and it's beautiful waters.

"I SAID YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO FOLLOW ME...MOMMA SAID THE GODS OF FISHING BLESSED ME, I BET YOU A BAG OF THAT SPICY POWDER THAT I'LL CATCH...." Balgrud stopped when Anguy held a hand to his chest and stared over towards the crashing water.

Immediately Balgruds beady eyes focused and he saw a Woman bathing completely naked, he didn't feel any attraction toward her since he had his Kyra at home.

"The Boss would love her....almost as pretty as his first Wife." Anguy spoke.

Balgrud stared at the naked Woman with his little eyes and shook his head fervently.

"NOT EVEN CLOSE!!! SHE MIGHT BE PRETTIER THAN A FEW OF BOSSES WOMEN BUT NOT EVEN CLOSE TO LADY ALTHEA... YOU'RE MORE BLIND THAN I THOUGHT LITTLE CUNT...EVEN BOSSES MOTHER IS BETTER LOOKING THAN THAT WOMAN." Balgrud spoke loudly while looking intently at the naked Woman, he wasn't checking her out...he was only judging her objectively.

Then a shout came from the woods around them.

"You Two Scoundrels!!! Look away At Once!!!" A Shieldmaiden in full armor yelled out.

"Who are you two Bastards!!!" Another woman in armor yelled out Angrily at my men.

Balgrud and Anguy looked around and noticed more than a dozen women in armor piling around them, a few had bows with wickedly sharp tips...both men were so enraptured in their debate that they didn't notice the women until it was too late.

"What are we suppose to be looking at? We came here to fish not look at some damp Maiden!!!" Arne yelled out as a few of the women walked closer and closer, immediately one woman slashed a dagger at his cheek

The cut was shallow but immediately Balgrud drew his Warhammer and let out a fearsome roar.

"RAHHHHHHH!!! COME HERE BITCH I'LL CRUSH YOUR SKULL THEN THE REST OF OUR WARBAND WILL TAKE THEIR TURNS WITH YOUR CORPSE!!!" Balgrud roared out but Anguy who was clutching his face held him back, he could see seven women drawing their bows.

"What will you do Giant Brute!!! You're going to try to kill us for protecting the reputation of our mistress? Ha! Shame on you!" The captain of the shield maidens spoke aloud which drew a growl from Balgrud but he stayed standing with his warhammer ready.

"We came upon your mistress by chance..We are strangers here, traveling to the great ash tree, guests of Jarl Borg." Anguy spoke while holding a rag to his cheek.

"Jarl Borg? Then why didn't you say so at once? We were about to have you feed to the vultures." The captain of the shield maidens spoke and sheathed her sword.

"We will just return to our horses then.... We shall return to fish later after my wound is cleaned." Anguy spoke and turned to leave while dragging Balgrud but were stopped by The beautiful bathing woman who was wrapped in a large sheet to dry herself.

Aslaug had been observing the duo from above a tall ledge of rocks.

she could see the fine gold accented armor and weapons they wore.

Their boots were made of the finest leather, and gold beads could be seen braided in their beards.

Immediately she knew these men were important and not just some random peasants....if they were this rich what would that say about their Lord.

"You spied on me." Aslaug spoke aloud and Anguy and Balgrud stopped.

"We meant no harm my Lady." Anguy responded while Balgrud stared at her face with displeasure....this woman was the reason they'd not have fish for a few hours longer.

The Captain of the shield maidens spoke in response to her mistress.

"They claim to be guests of Jarl Borg Mistress." The captain spoke respectfully.

Aslaug raised an eyebrow then turned back to the Men.

"Are you alone?" She asked curiously.

This time Balgrud spoke

 "WE ARE NOT ALONE YOU EVIL WENCHES!!! OUR LORD IS NEAR AND YOU SHOULD BE VERY CAREFUL WITH YOUR FURTHER ACTIONS....WE ARE OATHSWORN TO THENN ODINSON THE ONE EYED!!!" Balgrud bellowed out then pointed a finger at the Captain of the Shieldmaidens.

"YOU WILL PAY FOR CUTTING ANGUY YOU LOOSE COW!!!" Balgrud bellowed out and the captain snarled back at him with equal anger but Aslaug rasied a hand and they calmed significantly.

Immediately all the women recognized the name of the Earl Balgrud yelled about and they felt uneasy...all knew of the One Eyed Earls legendary reputation from Feasting on human flesh and killing a hundred men alone in a legendary battle.

Aslaug on the other hand was quite intrigued... hundreds of Men had vied for her hand but she always thought them to be pathetic and disgusting.

Now she was so near to someone who might be worthy of her and it brought a smirk to her face.

"I think that Earl Thenn Odinson owes me an apology on your behalf, Don't you?" Aslaug spoke, my two men didn't answer.

Instead they both retreated from the warband of crazy Women and mounted their horses before rushing back to camp.

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(Ten minutes later)

I sat against a tree stump with Skade on my lap as we stared at the massive tree In the distance.

"I sense something strange in the air..." Skade spoke to me cutely and snuggle up to me.

"Aye, I sense it too.... When we visit the tree later try to resonate with that feeling okay my Love?" I asked Skade and kissed her cute cheek.

She nodded and closed her eyes as we relaxed.

Soon enough I heard hoofbeats approaching and my men shouting out.

"Why are you back!!!"

"Where's the damn fish!!! 

"Who the fuck cut your face Anguy!!!" 

"I'm hungry already!!!" They all let out complaints as Balgrud and Anguy hitched their horses and made their way to me.

I looked over and saw Anguy with a handkerchief pressed against his cheek.

"Don't tell me the Pike did that to you..." I told Anguy and Balgrud laughed.

"AHAHAH...NOT A PIKE BOSS, SOME CRAZY BITCH IN ARMOR WITH A DOZEN OF HER ILL BORN ILK!!!" Balgrud spoke angrily and sat down in front of me, he made a heavy thud upon hitting the ground.

Anguy sat as well and began explaining the story to me as Skade remained cuddled up to me....