Haakon the Good: A Viking historical fiction adventure by Bakkejord Tony & Åsli Ole

Author:Bakkejord, Tony & Åsli, Ole
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Envig AS
Published: 2023-11-02T00:00:00+00:00

Farm

As the evening sun cast its warm glow over the landscape, Haakon and Hauk settled comfortably inside the dimly lit longhouse. The crackling fire in the central hearth danced and flickered, casting shifting shadows upon the rough-hewn wooden walls. The scent of smoke and the earthy aroma of freshly cut logs permeated the air, mingling with the faint fragrance of cured meat hanging from the rafters.

The longhouse reverberated with the sounds of laughter and conversation, blending with the occasional clink of drinking horns and the rhythmic tapping of drinking songs. The wooden benches and tables, worn by time and use, displayed the scars and marks of countless gatherings. The room resonated with the warmth of camaraderie and the anticipation of shared stories and merriment.

Haakon recounted his story since the last time they had seen each other. Hauk followed up with some questions, but Haakon kept it short as he was more interested in hearing Hauk’s tale.

‘Which led me here, just in time to save your sorry arse!’ Haakon said with a grin.

‘As I recall it, it was that archer who saved my life!’ Hauk said. ‘I don’t know what your plan was. Bore the Dane to death? It almost worked on me!’

‘Ha! I had him right where I wanted him. And you! It was about time someone took you down a few notches!’

‘Honestly, I am just happy to get out of that spot alive. That knife kept twitching like a leaf in the wind. Anyway, who was the archer?’

‘Do you remember the bandit boy I saved from the gallows?’

‘Yes. Was that him?’

Haakon nodded.

‘I am glad you found a way to save him!’ Hauk lifted his horn in a skål.

‘Yeah,’ Haakon said, lifting his mug. He wondered if Arrow would be more trouble than gain going forward. However, he did not regret saving the boy’s life. It was the right decision, and he would do it again. Be that as it may, the young man kept getting in trouble, and Haakon worried that it had been unwise to bring him with his army.

‘But what happened to you? Last time I saw you, you were in a hurry to leave Lunden and come back here. Did you find what you sought?’

‘It is a long story.’

Haakon spread his hands. ‘I’m in the mood for a long story.’

‘Alright. I mentioned Vigar back in Lunden, remember? At some point Vigar and I were in Holmgard in Gardarike. We were on a mission from your father, and we came into conflict with a few of Erik Edmundson’s men—he was the king in Svearike at the time. Anyway, this Bjørn Blåside and his friend Svegar Serk were not the sort of men who let go of a grudge. Years later, we met once more, and it came to blows. I killed Bjørn, but that Svegar bastard plunged his spear through Vigar.’

Hauk took a sip of his beer, a faraway look on his face. Haakon kept silent.

‘As Vigar was dying, he pulled me closer to whisper in my ear.

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