The Kinslayer: Book 1 by Putt S.K

Author:Putt, S.K.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Holmganga Publishing
Published: 2023-11-18T00:00:00+00:00

‘Do you like?’ Blek the tattooist said as he wiped clean the ink-mixed blood from my arm.

I looked at the intricate swirled patterns that ran across my left arm, all the way to the drawn wolf’s face that had finished on my hand. I couldn’t take my eyes from looking at the magnificent lines and swirls pierced into my skin. These tattoos were exclusive to the Wolf-Shields of Úlfurheimn. I would wear them with honour. Mokka sniffed my arm and licked my fingers, cleaning them with the mix of blood and ink left over. Blek laughed at Mokka’s caring nature, and he moved beside the wolf to help clean my arm.

‘Thank you Blek, I love them!’ I responded, pushing the sleeve of my tunic back over my inked arm.

‘I am honoured to ink the first shield-maiden of the Wolf-Shields. Congratulations again, young lady. Now, shield-maiden, go earn some battle fame so I can see you again to draw more stories,’ Blek said.

‘Aye, I’ll try my best, sir. Let’s go, Mokka,’ I replied. Blek gave me a comforting pat on the back as I ventured out of his shop into the icy night with my wolf.

We walked back up to the village where I was to meet my new brothers at The Soul Road tavern to celebrate my trial victory. I tugged at my new warrior braid that rested on my left breast and ran my right hand over the bristly shaved sides of my head. This was the happiest I had ever been in my life. To be a drengr was a dream come true. I knew within my heart Afi would have loved to have seen this. Mist was forming around the bottom of my eyes and streaked my cheeks. I bent to hug Mokka, and he cleared the tears.

‘At least I have you, my wolf friend,’ I said to Mokka.

His amber eyes looked up at me, and his head rested on my leather-clad legs. We arrived at the building with the ram’s skull and horns displayed on top. Mokka and I made our way through the foggy hall that was packed full of people and a band providing musical accompaniment. Mokka scared people, but I was unfazed. Wherever I journeyed across The Fleshed Lands, Mokka was pack and would be beside me.

‘Bone-Biter! There you are. Come over and let’s toast. One of many tonight. From farm girl to shield-maiden, your Afi would be proud of you, missy. Look around you.’ Geirmundur Shield-Nose waved his arm around the tavern. He then continued, ‘These men are now your brothers, men who will protect your life as you will protect theirs. Protecting our Jarl and Lady is the duty of the Wolf-Shields. But mainly, to ensure the safety of Úlfurheimn. May Fenra look over and guide you, shield-maiden. To Øxa!’ Geirmundur raised his horn of ale to drain its contents. Not one drip fell into his ringed, rope-knotted beard. The drengrs of Úlfurheimn shook my shoulders, rustled my new warrior’s hair and raised their horns whilst chanting ‘Bone-Biter’.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.