Training

The night sky's darkness on the Island of Birka was glittered by bright stars lightyears away.

A blonde young man laid comfortably on her wooden-framed bed in a finely furnished room in Jarl Gunnar's home.

Frida's heart fluttered as she thought, "Why did father bring home such a handsome stranger? Erik knows so much about our world and even helped my father fight the lawless men on the road to Uppsala."

Erik's stories enchanted Frida as she was naive and innocent from being sheltered and doted by Gunnar as his only child.

The pent-up feelings within forced her to scream into a straw pillow but immediately stopped when she heard footsteps by her quarters.

Frida recognized her mother as she entered the room and jokingly asked, "What's going on, and why are your cheeks so red?"

Frida hid her face in the pillow for a moment before asking, "Why can't I choose my husband, mother? I've heard so much about Jarl Aron's cruelty from the folk here in Birka."

Thora sat down on her bed and lovingly explained, "Jarl Aron's father abided by the treaty between our communities, but his recent death had created armed conflict by our domain's Southwest border. The young Jarl clearly desires you as his wife and uses his false claims to force your father into an agreement. We've tried our best to offer alternatives for the last few summers, but Jarl Aron is growing impatient."

Frida asked worryingly, "Is there no other recourse, mother? Shall I be condemned to bear children for a tyrant?"

Thora reassuringly replied, "Things have changed, my dear. I was told your father had been ambushed a few days after the sacrifice at Uppsala, and no one would dare attempt to murder him so close to Birka except Jarl Aron. So Gunnar will never agree with him now, but war is imminent."

Frida was concerned as she felt the conflict was because of her, but Thora comforted her by saying, "Worry not, as the Goddess Freyja had blessed our family again with her champion! Destiny brought Erik to this island during our time of need. What do you think of the young warrior, Frida?"

Frida stuttered as she replied, "He is. He is like a dream, mother. The son of the Old Gods among men with the handsome face of Baldr and the height of giants."

Thora said, "Your father may be too honorable to ask for Erik's assistance against Jarl Aron, but I'll persuade him to at least try."

-------

The following morning Erik's entourage arrived at Birka; he awoke early as a force of habit from his Marine and Navy SEALs days and exercised before eating breakfast.

It was fairly dark, but a few free folk and slaves were already beginning their long day of labor and work.

Jarl Gunnar's home didn't have a fully furnished training center like the ones in stateside US Naval bases. Still, he made do with the classic bodyweight exercises and utilized random heavy objects for resistance.

One can't be too picky out in the field, so improvising was an integral aspect of success for anyone within the modern military.

The cold air entered his lungs while doing pull-ups at the barn, resulting in lower oxygen efficiency. Yet, he accepted the challenge of familiarizing his body with the local climate.

After performing various exercises for thirty minutes, a brown-heard man in his mid-20s with a thick beard walked close and said, "I am surprised to see you awake so early in the morning, Erik."

Erik amicably replied, "I'm just doing a bit of training. Ah, Torvir, you're one of Gunnar's household guards. I remember you from the journey to Birka. So how can I help?"

Torvir respectfully said, "Champion, you mentioned traveling on a long voyage this coming summer, and I'd like to join."

Erik answered, "I'll be choosing candidates after training with Jarl Gunnar's men for several fortnights and assessing each warrior's skills in various criteria, but I'll teach you the ways of warfare of my people if you're so eager. Though I would appreciate it if you could guide me in the sword, shield, axe, and spear in exchange."

Torvir excitedly replied, "I'll do anything for the opportunity of exploring the rich lands you mentioned to Jarl Gunnar."

Erik used Identify on Torvir to check his physical stats and was satisfied to find them above average at 17 points in each category.

Erik explained, "I'll need to devise replacements for important equipment we used like rifles and grenades, but first, I'll teach whoever is willing the basics of what we called Small Unit Tactics. It's a military concept that focuses on a small number of flexible and maneuverable warriors and is the backbone of employing much larger forces effectively."

Torvir wondered curiously about the unknown concept Erik mentioned and asked, "What kind of tactics does it involve specifically?"

Erik replied, "A significant number, but I'll show you one practical example. Does the Jarl have any heavy-duty rope laying around?"

As a member of the household guard, he knew of some and procured a bunch from the barn before handing it over to his new mentor.

Erik walked to the wooden wall surrounding Jarl Gunnar's estate and up the battlements before securely wrapping the rope around a log in a square knot.

He threw the other end of the rope towards Torvir on the ground and said, "I'll train you to scale walls while wearing your heavy full kit of armor and weapons, but let me show you the proper technique first."

Erik readied himself before firmly grabbing the rope and planting both feet on the wall. He steadily pulled himself up, bending his knees, lowering his center of gravity, and eventually reaching the battlement.

Erik chuckled before saying aloud, "So can you get up here without burning your hands, Torvir?"

-------

An hour later, half a dozen servants prepared breakfast for Jarl Gunnar's family as they awoke from slumber.

Thora arrived at the dining table and found her husband eating while in contemplation; then, she sat beside him and asked, "Have you thought about what we discussed last night, my love?"

Gunnar sighed and replied, "I've slept on your suggestion, but you know why I haven't offered Erik a sacred arm ring. I would never dare to ask Freyja's Champion to do my bidding and fight for my problems. If he wanted to help me, why has he not said anything since the ambush?"

Thora held both of her husband's hands and said, "Erik is a courteous young man and wouldn't pry into your business unless you allow him. I ask you to at least try, Gunnar."

The Jarl countered, "And if Erik is willing to hear my plea, what can I offer in trade to set aside his God-given quest and fight for my cause?"

Thora zealously replied, "Don't you see? Our family has no male heirs, and Lady Freyja's blessing saved our only child from a near-fatal illness. Is it not a coincidence that the Old Gods brought Erik into our home? He has no family and allies here as a stranger, yet he can quickly change that by marrying Frida."

Jarl Gunnar sat in contemplation for a moment and wondered where his guest was before summoning a guard on duty and asking, "Could you fetch Erik from his quarters to join us for our morning meal?"

The Northman respectfully replied, "I apologize, my lord, but Erik has been busy training a few of the guards in unique and odd forms of warfare outside since dawn and may not be available."Gunnar smiled and said, "Alright. Fetch my daughter and have her join us first, and then request Erik's presence at his convenience."

The guard slightly bowed and left the dining room, then Gunnar said, "I will ask Frida's opinion about marrying him before making a decision."

----

Around 100 miles southwest of Birka, a young Northman with auburn hair and a scar across his right cheek sat on a wooden throne in a fairly empty hall.

Aron the Cruel, the Jarl of Norrköping, earned his nickname by murdering his father and brother for their titles and wealth generated by the settlement's market.

He noticed a young blonde slave woman replacing the firewood in the hearth and commanded, "Come here."

The young woman anxiously followed his orders before Aron began feeling her bosom and buttocks with both hands and said, "You almost look like Jarl Gunnar's daughter, Frida, but surely not as beautiful. I only met her once during a visit to Birka with my family when I was young, yet I vividly remember her sweet smile and voluptuous curves."

Aron gripped her by the hips tightly as she feared for her life, then he said, "My father thought I was unworthy of ruling Norrköping and promised my stupid brother Frida's hand in marriage in exchange for an alliance. So I said screw that, and just take her and Birka by force. But before that time comes, you'll do as a substitute and do it well."

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