Saga of the Children of Ragnhild - Chapter 5

Winter ended with no further incidents. Spring arrived with Steinar launching his first season as a landowner. He found out that raising livestock was not as easy as it appeared as he had only 2 livestock that survived the winter. He was able to bring in 3 hay though. He needed to trade with his neighbors to get some much needed food. Ingvar Shaggybritches was always friendly and an honorable man. Steinar went with Ragnhild to call on Ingvar. They were greeted warmly. Ingvar and Steinar were able to come to terms to trade some hay for fish. Before they left, Ingvar requested Mohammad to come for a visit at his earliest convenience. They agreed to relay the request.

Ragnhild went to visit Brynjolf. Brynjolf greeted her happily. He had news and some requests of her. First, he was planning an excursion to Norway to trade and visit the king. Ragnar was sponsoring him and thought he could earn great honor and expand his wealth with the trip. Brynjolf went on to tell Ragnhild that his wife Godney was pregnant, and that he would like Godney to stay with Ragnhild while he was away. Ragnhild was agreeable to this request. Secondly, Brynjolf requested that on his return he be allowed to foster his nephew Snorri. As his uncle, it was Brynjolf's responsibility to make sure the boy was raised properly. Ragnhild agreed to this as well. Brynjolf would allow Mohammad to come to his farm so he could continue to teach the boy poetry, songs, and fighting. Mohammad was also teaching Snorri to read and write Arabic. Godney accompanied Ragnhild back to Steinar's farm.

Mohammad left for Ingvarstadir when Ragnhild passed on Ingvar's request. In addition to paying his friend a visit, he would ask Thorlaug Whitehair to come back with him and attend to Niall's birthing which was expected in a couple weeks. Ingvar welcomed Mohammad and presented him with two beaver pelts. He explained that his friend Hadd Skulison had a problem that Mohammad might be able to help resolve. Hadd had learned how Mohammad had helpd Ingvar with the outlaw Hrod and thought Mohammad could help with his problem. Mohammad agreed to meet Hadd and hear the problem. He, however, felt that the Hrod incident was not an action that he would casually repeat.

Mohammad traveled to Hadd's home. He was warmly welcomed. After a generous meal, Hadd explained the situation. His daughter Ljufu had attracted the attention of a farm hand, Steinbjorn, on a neighboring farm. Despite his low station, Ljufu was returning his attention. Hadd needed this to be stopped before it went too far. Mohammad agreed to help, and Hadd presented him with a silver armband. The boy who

Mohammad went to the next farm where Steinbjorn lived and worked. He presented himself as a traveling minstrel who specialized in love songs and poetry. He successfully charmed the household and was given many suggestive looks by single women there. At the end of the evening, Steinbjorn approached Mohammad. He asked for advice on how to seduce  his love. Mohammad offered to help. He would meet with Steinbjorn's love and recite love poems on his behalf. Steinbjorn eagerly agreed and said Mohammad should sent the girl to meet Steinbjorn at the shieling after reciting the poem. Steinbjorn went to the shieling, and Mohammad went to meet with Ljufu.

Mohammad confronted Ljufu, and rather than recite poetry, he told her that Steinbjorn was no longer interested in her. He didn't ever want to see her again. She was heartbroken and fled to her sleeping area crying. Hadd witnessed this and asked Mohammad what had happened. He told Hadd about his plan to break up the young couple by telling each of them separately that they were not interested in each other. He had talked to Ljufu and now needed to tell Steinbjorn that even though he had recited his best poetry, Ljufu had moved on to another man. Hadd asked where Mohammad was going to meet with Steinbjorn. When he told Hadd Steinbjorn was waiting at the shieling, Hadd had two of his men get halberds and go to the shieling. Mohammad was rattled that he just set up the young man to be murdered.

Mohammad ran from the house and rode hard to the shieling. There he saw the two men dismounting before approaching the building. Mohammad rode past them. He burst into the shieling and warned Steinbjorn to run. Steinbjorn took off on foot, but the men were sure to catch him. Mohammad realized that he would have to draw his sword and intervene or the boy would be killed. He did so, and his fierce appearance stopped the men in their tracks. They were not expecting to have to fight. They slowly backed away. Once they reached a safe distance, they turned and ran back to Hadd's.

Mohammad told Steinbjorn that despite his best poetry Ljufu did not want to see him again. Steinbjorn insisted that he hear it directly from her. Mohammad could not convince him otherwise. The only way he could stop him was to start a fight with him. Mohammad beat the boy senseless. He then threw him on the back of his horse and took him back to Ingvar's farm. From there, he took him all the way back to Steinar's. There he was taken on to help on the farm and was trained to fight so he could go on the summer's Viking raids.

Before Steinar left on the raids, two things happened. First, his wife gave birth to a son. He was healthy and good sized. His only flaw was a birthmark on his shoulder. Depending on how you looked at it, it was either an axe or a monster. Second, a stranger arrived on his farm. His name was Sigurd. He was a skilled warrior and wished to go raiding with Steinar. Atli, Ragnar's nephew, vouched for Sigurd. Steinar agreed to take him on. Unknown to all but Atli, Sigurd is really Sigrid Ragnardottir, a shield maiden. She was setting out to make a name for herself and avoid being married off by her father to Skeggi the Fat.

Steinar, Mohammad, Sigurd, Alti, Steinbjorn, Ottar, and some other men left for the summer. They had a very successful season. They gained a lot of silver. In addition they learned some things going on beyond the shores of Iceland. Erick the king of Norway was starting to get pressure from his brothers for larger inheritances to rule as their own. So far he was able to keep them in place and not give up parts of Norway. They also heard rumors of Brynjolf's successful journey. He was making lots of money and impressing important local people including the king himself. Finally, they heard that Brynjolf was recruiting to get additional boats in his service.

They arrived home and tended to the farm while waiting for Brynjolf's return. He returned with great splendor. He was dressed in regal clothing with gold adornments and a gold armband from the king of Norway. He was accompanied by two additional long boats with Norwegian fighting men who were going to be his guests for the winter. He had earned much honor on his trip and the Icelanders were impressed with his feats. Steinar, however, was apprehensive about his arrival with added troops. He felt that Brynjolf might be plotting to forcefully claim Iceland for himself. Ragnhild talked to Brynjolf and scrutinized him. She realized that her overambitious son could not be trusted to not try to conquer Iceland given the chance.

At the autumn Thing, Ragnar again tried to rally local support against the formation of a permanent Althing. Rules should remain under the control of the local families. There was no need to have people from other parts of the island deciding the fate of his people and his family. He asked his thingmen to swear loyalty to resist the Althing when they met next spring. After his speech, Steinar approached Ragnar. He tried to warn him that Brynjolf might be plotting against Ragnar and all of Iceland. Ragnar swore that Brynjolf was not a threat to him. Steinar need not be concerned. Everyone then returned to their homes to prepare for winter.

In the winter, Ragnhild took ill. She had lived a long life and regretted most that her daughter Bera had been killed before she could find a good husband for her. She was not able to regain her strength as she continued to mourn her daughter. Her strength and honor passed on to here two surviving sons who will be influenced by her memory as will future generations of Icelanders.

Here ends this portion of the saga. We are taking a break for a couple weeks due to real life events. Everyone is still excited though as we continue to play to find out what happens. Will Brynjolf really try to conquer Iceland? Has he earned the backing of King Erick to bring the Icelanders back under Norwegian rule? Can Steinar warn Ragnar and the others before it's too late? Only one way to find out - Play.

Concluded at:Chapter 6