Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

A cold wind howled along the stone wave breaker that ran along the now quiet harbour, where dozens of ships lay moored with thick hemp and horsehair ropes. Over the heads of the sleeping sailors and sleeping towns folk a cold spring night sky revealed the cold light of the stars whom twinkled like fine jewels up in the endless darkness of the night sky.
The only sounds that could be heard was the waves and the distant sounds coming from the inn that lay up in the town, nestled amongst the houses.
Even if winter was almost at an end it did not seem so as the wind that came in from the dark sea bit deep and left anyone outside feeling as if the very claws of king winter had sunk into them.
But the people whom lived on the shores of the kingdom of Mansar was not afraid of the cold winds or the great endless sea that ran along their shores. The tall and grim faced sailors with skin tanned by the sun and the cold salty spray of the oceans had few if any rivals when it came to their skill when sailing or navigating. But even the sailors of Mansar knew better than to dare set sail when the weather was as it was now, unless one sailed with a experienced captain and crew.
They called it the season of mourning, for any fool whom set sail from the ports that lay so far out from the calmer inner seas of the world just as winter released its grip and before spring took hold risked leaving his wife and children in mourning. It was a time when the seas boiled and the patterns of the winds changed, it was also when the great beasts whom lived in the deep rose from their dark dominions and hunted anything that came within reach. So for now the men waited for the time when the seas calmed and they could once set sail.
But this was not a spring like any other, instead it came with the rumours of unrest in the inner seas. And the looming threat of war between the kings and lords whom ruled there, while few of those whom ruled there saw the lands of the Mansar and their neighbouring people as more than lands where life was hard, cold and at the mercy of the gods, they did not ignore the fact that those same people where numerous and very skilled sailors. Many times in ages past had the kings and queens of the inner kingdoms sowed unrest amongst those whom lived at the fringes of their world, or sought to sway the wolves of the sea to serve under their colours in exchange for gold and promises of aid in hard times. But these plots more than often came at the expense of many dead Mansar, Vardar or any other that had sworn their service to them.

A lone figure could be made out standing on the stone wall that ran along the harbour in the town of Lund. A tall and sinewy man clad in a thick wool cloak, his face marred by the icy winds of the seas and many long days standing at the helm of his dragon ship.
He was a man whom knew no home and knew not the love of woman and child, his eyes the colour of the great glaciers that calved into the seas far, far to the north where the seas ended and the endless white began. When he walked he walked with the posture of a man whom distrusted almost all and had befriended even fewer men. The cloths he wore was of thick wool and his booths where made of thick walrus skin, around his neck hung a almost simple silver necklace that consisted of a a great tooth that had almost turned yellow with several threads of silver wrapping around it. When he rested or drank his free hand often clutched the tooth and perhaps rubbed it as a form of prayer to the gods of the seas. The axe that hung from his belt signalled to anyone whom had any knowledge of the Mansar that he was a man that one crossed at ones own peril.
Watching his breath turn into mist and being blown out to the seas Torgrim stood lost in deep reflection and watched the sea break against the sea wall, and the white foam that was tossed about by the waves. He did not mind the cold that bit his cheeks or made his beard sting as the sea water from time to time hit him with a few drops. He had stood here for a long time now, looking out over the seas and hoping to the the shape of a familiar sail coming towards land and the shelter of the harbour that lay behind him.
Cursing under his tongue he turned and pulled his cloak around him as he began to walk back towards his own ship.
While he passed by coils of rope and stacked fishing pots left by fishermen waiting for better weather and warmer waters he could hear the sounds of the crews on the ships he passed.
“ Damned wine soaked fools” he muttered and spat into the dark water below as he stood by the broad walkway that would lead him to his own ship. His own crew would not be soaking themselves with wine or strong mead, for they had been exhausted from the long and bitterly cold voyage down from the distant shores of Muspelheim, where they had sold their wares to the towering people whom lived in the land where winter never ended, and the howls of wolves and endless white realm of silence lay. Those people where in his mind either insane or too fond of snow and ice to be completely sane but it was no doubt in his mind that they where some of the more honest folk to be meet by a sea captain seeking trade. Despite their somewhat lacking sense of humour. But he did not walk down to his ship and crawl under the thick polar bear hide that awaited him. Instead Torgrim walked up towards the town and began following the cobbled street that would lead him to the place where he could get news of what was happening further down the coast and inwards to the inner kingdoms.
Passing the now silent merchant quarter and the closed stalls where the men and women whom made a living selling anything from trinkets of silver and bone to food and cloths stood during daytime he took in the smell of the town and made a grimace.
It stank of garbage and of the refuse of soft town folks whom had not known much hardship beside the cold winds coming in from the seas and the darkness of the long winter months.

The sounds and smell of beer, warmth and din of music and laughter reached his ears as he entered the courtyard of the inn he had decided to enter. As he walked over the cobblestones whom just had been released from the blanket of ice and snow a low snarl reached his ears, turning his head he saw a pair of hounds whom no doubt belonged to the owner of the inn. The pair looked more like wolves and looked to be unfriendly as any guard hound he had ever seen.
“ Evening lads” he said as he pulled two strips of dried seal meat from a pouch and tossed it to the two moody beasts, the hounds maintained the growling for a few more heartbeats before they took the offered gift and padded back into the gloom of the stable.
As the Mansar captain pulled open the door, and stepped into the warmth of the inn, his eyes taking in the buzzing crowd of the inn. He could see the regular mix of what one could expect to find in a inn almost anywhere in the known world.
He walked up to the age worn and beer stained bar counter and gestured to the gaunt looking figure whom apparently ran the inn, the woman walked over and gave him a brief look over as if judging if he was going to be a source of trouble.
“ Alright what can I get you” she said and continued to polish a beer stein made of green tinted bronze.
“ Information and a warm meal if possible” he replied and fished out his coin purse, witch hang around his neck and well away from the reach of any would be pick pocket.
“ Well what do you want to know about sailor” she said and sett down the beer stein and leaned back against the counter.
“ Have you heard anything from the inner seas? How are the weather and are there much in the ways of perils for a captain and his crew?”
Taking a moment to think the woman replied slowly as if weighting her words.
“ The weather is as it always are come this time of the year, expect that there has been several storms whom has caused much trouble for the traders seeking to cross from Tir to Kesitran, last I heard at least five ships had gone down with all hands near the islands a day away from Tir. There are always the looming threat of Kesitran galleys hunting smugglers and pirates. But for a Mansar I dare say it would be plain sailing”
Torgrim grinned at the somewhat hidden sting in tone of the innkeeper and thanked for the information, leaving several pieces of silver as payment for both the things he had asked for.
“ Find yourself a table, I will come with the food shortly” said the innkeeper whom let her eyes rest on the sea captain as he walked of to find a place to sit.


As the tall Mansar captain walked towards the only free table in the crowded common room, he took the time to observe the other guests and patrons. It was a mixture of fishermen and various town folk with the sprinkling of sailors from the dozens of ships that lay moored down in the harbour. There was dark skinned men from Astan and the wild jungle lands of the far south gambling with bronze skinned Vardar and shifty eyed men from the swampy tracts of land that ran between Tir and its neighbours. And there was common towns folk whom simply let their shoulders down and where deep in their cups with neighbours and friends.

Pulling the sturdy made chair out from his table he sat down, and leaned back as he fished out a bone pipe from his belt and began stuffing it with the strong tobacco he had spent so much silver on. As he sat there preparing his pipe and pondering the times ahead the food arrived, it was a very generous portion of what he suspected to be goat served with dark bread that smelled of honey and herbs. The serving maid set the plate down and as she did gave him a good look at her ample cleavage. She no doubt meant to do so and gave him a devilish smile as she asked him if he wanted a beer or something else. He smiled at her wit and told her that he indeed had forgotten to ask the inn keeper for a beer.
While he ate he took the time to listen in on what the group whom sat on the table behind where discussing. The men where discussing the price of slaves and the increase in demand for said wares from the inner kingdoms. One of the men seemed to be of the mindset that the kings and noble lords there needed to free men from the tasks normally occupied by the free folk of their realms, and this could only be because they where needed in the armies and aboard the warships those whom ruled needed for conquering their neighbours.
“Mark my words! I am willing to bet my ship on that the bastard that now rules Kestrian is looking to wipe the deck, with his neighbours and then take the islands of Frigja. Then he would be the unrivalled master of the inner seas and he would also control the straits between his own kingdom and that of Tir!”
“ Bah that is the worst piece of whale puke I have heard in a long time, what could Kestria hope to do against Tir? Or Astan or for that matter the Kesh?”
“ Oh just wait and see! When the Kestrian galleys sack Tir and runs down the ships of Kesh you will all choke on your words and say I was right!” the man whom clearly did not have warm thought of any of those kingdoms or people. “
Torgrim listened in while he chewed and sipped his beer to down the chewy meal of goat he had been served. It did seem like there was unrest ahead and while he did not fear war or violence it was not what he wished for, unless there was the only way to keep his beloved homeland of Mansar safe from the madness that seemed to grip some of the kingdoms of the inner seas from time to time.

Deciding that was probably a dog somewhere whom could be better of with this particular plate of goat he pushed it away and took a deep sip of his beer. The din of the common room was now reaching new heights as men drank more and more and thus felt some strange need to yell like the damned house was on fire.
“ Well damn this sorry lot to the depths” he muttered and rose to his feet and straitening his cloak.
As he walked out into the cold night and the relative silence of the courtyard he was however disturbed from any further plans by a scream and a frantic call for help coming from the gloomy stable.
Ida screamed as the tears ran down her cheek as the three drunk and brutal men of Kesh pinned her down and tore her cloths of, she tried to resist but they had her pinned down on the cold and straw covered floor. For a girl no more than nineteen this was a horrible nightmare there was no way of waking from or escaping.
She could feel one of men cupping her left breast and saying something obscene to his companions, then it seemed like the world came crashing down.
One of the men screamed and stumbled backwards, pinned as she was she could not see clearly.
Then a sound the weeping girl almost indistinctly recognized filled the air.

The sicking sound of steel biting into flesh and the screams of the man whom now clutched the stump of his severed arm filled the air as the man whom had been busy undoing his belt fell hard was horrid and Ida yelped as the two whom had been pinning her down stumbled to their feet and clumsily drew their long bladed daggers and stood to face their attacker.
Like a wrathful nightmare the Mansar sidestepped the first knife trust aimed at him and with one hard swipe of his bearded axe split the man from neck to arse before with a return blow taking his head almost of.
The last man now seeing just how badly he was outmatched and with the very real prospect of a brutal and bloody demise turned to flee from the scene. But he only managed a few steppes before he screamed in agony as the gore stained axe wielded by the now blood hungry Mansar struck him in the back of his head and dropping him dead in his tracks.
Ida had crawled away and now had her back to the cold timber wall, and felt the sting of mortal fear grip her young hearth as the gore stained man ripped the axe out of the skull of the dead man of Kesh. Even if he had saved her he looked very much unlike a kind hearted saviour.
Perhaps sensing her fear and the already horrible chain of events the Mansar slid the axe back into its scabbard and kneeled before her.
“ Do not fear me girl, I will not harm or take advantage of you” he said as he pulled his cloak of and handed the heavy wool cloak to her.
“ These dogs will not harm you again, either come with me or wait here while I get someone to help you.” he said and carefully offered her his calloused hand.
The girl whom had probably scared for life by these past horrid moments hesitated, as if fearing that the man whom just had struck down her assailants with such practised ease would take the chance to force himself upon her. She did not reply but her trembling hand took his calloused hand and he helped her up to her feet.
He was going to ask her if she had any kin he could take her to but before he could, the poor girl began to vomit as the stench of the dead men reached her nose, the shock and fear also probably played its fair share Torgrim thought as he carefully held her hair as she stood bent over.
“ Come on girl, I will see you to safety and away from this mess” he said and opened the stable door and followed the girl whom walked on unsteady feet across the courtyard towards the servant entrance.

At first when he knocked on the door he got not reply, nor did his second bout of knocking. Feeling frustrated with this he was about to give the door a solid kick when it opened and the annoyed face of the innkeeper peered out, ready to give the fool hammering on her door a firm verbal beating.
Her eyes went wide and her face pale when she saw the grim faced sea captain and the haggard looking serving maid standing out in the cold spring night.
“ By the wrath of the seven gods man! What have you done to my poor maid!” she spat in surprise and anger.
“ I did not curl a lock of hair on her, however the three dead men now currently stinking to high heavens in your stable whom intended to force themselves upon the poor girl did. If those dogs from Kesh had any other companions witch still remain here I would send for the city guard if I where you.”

Nice to see you back, Trondheim!

A nice, atmospheric opening. Really liked the scene-setting and the depiction of the dangers of the seas. Good economical use of language to portray the bloodshed, too.
Good work, mate!

Many thanks for the feedback, greatly appriciated. What did you think of the main characther?

 Trondheim wrote:
Many thanks for the feedback, greatly appriciated. What did you think of the main characther?

I would agree with Necroagogo when it comes to the atmosphere. It's an excellent openning for a noire story. Excellent use of a short synthax and structure to set the tone for a harsh and bitter univers. The town feels like a moody, damp, cold and dangerous place. As for the main character, so far we don't know much about him, or, more accurately, we don't know much beside what defines his archetype. He's an old seasonned captain whose used to violence, a loner and gruff by nature, but still with a good heart. It's a good archetype for the type of story you write, but as of yet, we don't really know how he's different from the other character of the same genre. Of course, this is a short story and the beginning, so I don't expect to know or see a lot of differences in the character in so little time. You did excellent job at establishing his core characteristics so far. I don't know if you wanted to keep the story going or if she was to gain a role, but you might have wanted to give a hint or a few traits to the rape victim, beside young woman victim of rape and the same to the three rapists. It could give the scene a bit more realism and already establish a character you might want to use later. Of course, if you don't intend to use the maid, it's not that important to give her a proto-personnality. In general, it's an excellent work. You got a very good writting pen. Can we expect an other chapter?

@ Yes you can expect several Chapters in fact

The surprised and equally scared inn keeper lead the now deathly pale girl into the kitchen and yelled to a sleepy looking boy whom sat by the large brick fireplace and dozing on a stool.
“Get of your lazy arse Henrik! Get me a new blouse and bring me the strongest wine we have! And see to that tell the rest of the staff to keep an eye on anyone from Kesh in the common room! “ she almost barked.
Helping Ida to a bench she wrapped the girl in a wool blanket and looked her over with what seemed like experienced eyes.
“ Did they do anything to you expect tear your cloths and fondle you? Its important that you tell me if its so girl so I can get you the best care.”
The girl whom was clearly heading into shock and disbelief shook her head and answered in a low trembling tone.
“ No miss, they did not get that far.. Well not before he showed up” she continued and pointed at Torgrim whom stood silent and watched, one eye on the girl and the other keeping a keen eye on the door they had come trough. One bloodstained hand resting on his axe hilt.
“ Well that is at least good news, now listen to me. Once Henrik manages to stumble back here you are going to drink a cup of wine and then explain everything that happened to me! Then in the morning we will tell the aldermen”
As if meaning to ask the Mansar a question or praise him for saving her maid the innkeeper turned to the man.
“ Thank you very much for saving my daughter, I can not pay you much in the way of silver or goods but you are forever welcome here. All you want from the bar or our cellar is free of charge, so is drink for you crew. Bedding as well, its the least I can do.”
“ Many thanks fair lady, saving your child from these devils dose not really require any real payment” he said and rested his eyes on the innkeeper.
“ You are then a far kinder soul than you look like from the outside captain! Not many would have declined payment in drink and free lodging.”
“Well not all men are born and raised like us Mansar, most men are cowards and have only silver, women and wine on their minds”
“ No argument there” said and innkeeper and turned her attention back to her daughter whom looked to be on the edge of either falling into sleep or something similar to sleep.
The page came stumbling back, carrying a heavy wine jug and carrying a fine silk blouse in his hands. He could not help himself from giving the tall and grim faced Mansar a long look witch was a mixture of wonder and perhaps fear. Sensing this the captain gave the boy a look witch could have sent a polar bear running for its life alongside a flash of his teeth, witch had been sharpened to resemble the teeth of a predator when he was ten years old. The lad seemed to gulp down his fear and bowed to them all and vanished like a gust of wind, no doubt seeking to find his courage again.
“ You know, I never gave you my name Mansar” said the sinewy woman and looked into the fire as she spoke before taking a deep draft of the strong wine. Pausing to look at her now sleeping daughter whom had been trough so much and now clearly was exhausted and most likely also traumatized by the ordeal.
“ No I do not believe you did my lady” said Torgrim and straightened his posture
“ Lady eh? Well aren't you a snake in the grass! My name is Ingvild Austerholm. Born into the clan of the white mare and third daughter to its thane.” she said and fixated Torgrim with her fierce eyes.
“ Well I am noting more than a humble sailor, whom spends far too much time alongside unwashed hairy men and rather unfriendly beasts. So I do try to play the part of a well mannered man at times. Seeing how you have so formally introduced yourself I figure its my turn, my name is Torgrim Ulfson of Mansar. “ he said and bowed in a somewhat accurate imitation of the way the nobles in various courts used to greet each other.
“ Hmm you do look like a wolf alright” Ingvild said as she walked over to her daughter and kneeled beside the girl. Her hard surface seemingly melting as a trickle of tears began to trickle down her slender face. She sat there held the pale hands of her daughter, looking as if she was lost for words and the will to do anything than to care for her child.
“ I hate to ask but do you have anyone whom can protect you if the comrades of the dead should come looking for vengeance?” he said and wondered if he should have waited to ask, as it was perhaps a ill moment to ask such questions. But he seemed to be wrong, for Ingvild got on her feet and reached for the wine jug
“ I do have my clan, and I know I can count on at least one mercenary band whom owns me that much at least. But yes, I can understand that you asked. But did anyone expect my child and you witness the bloodshed?”
“ No no one expect us and the three dead devils saw it.”
“ Well I dare guess no one heard anything either, but I will tell my lads to keep their ears to the ground if any rumours of murder start flowing. But what shall we do about the dead men?”
“I would not worry about three dead vermin from Kesh” said the Mansar as he light his pipe with a candle and took a deep draft of the strong tobacco
“ They will simply vanish, like so many souls have done. After all its dangerous to walk in the darkness of the harbour, and many a rouge may be lurking, waiting to part men from their coins and life.”
“Oh I see....Well then I guess I am even more in debt to you”
“ Nonsense woman! You do not own me a thing for it, consider it a favour done by one whom has a strong dislikes for such cretins. And beside you did promise me unlimited drink and a warm bed for the remainder of my days.” he said and blew a ring of stinking blue smoke towards the fireplace.
“ Well consider me in debt to you with gratitude at least”
“That is a debt I can live with. I wont take more of your time, I imagine you want to get the girl to bed and what not, I will come back in the morning and see how things are. Until then take care mistress” Torgrim said and pulled up the hood of his cloak and stepped out into the gloom of the cold spring night.
As he walked down towards the harbour and his ship, he found his mind filled with images of things, witch he had thought long gone from his memories. Pushed down into the darkness of his soul and all but erased from his once warm hearth. This made him deeply uncomfortable and his puffed hard on his pipe, as if wanting the sting of the tobacco to chase away those ghost like memories.
“Dammit, dammit it all to the frozen wastes and beyond” he muttered as the harbour came into view and the smell of the sea and the smell of tar coming from the ships.
A cold lonely wind blew in from the ocean where the waves rose and fell, the icy blue water almost taking on the colour of black as it greedily drank the light form coming from the shoreline.
As he stepped onto his ship he felt his mind and hearth calm down, doing this always had that effect on him. It was like the ship knew its captain was feeling uneasy and offered comfort and a haven without asking any questions or demanding anything from him. Resting one calloused hand on the reeling he felt the faint warmth of the tar and the rolling of the sea from underneath the keel.

“Rough times at the tavern captain?” a low rumbling voice said from underneath a great bear pelt where a giant of a man had taken shelter from the night cold.
Torgrim looked at his most trusted man whom clearly had not been that fast asleep as he thought. His second in command hailed from the lands of the Vardar, and had at one point been the heir to the rule of one of the biggest clans, but after his younger brother had been slain in a savage battle where his older brother was supposed to protect the young man, his lust for rule had dried up and fallen away. Devastated by grief the man had left his clan and declared himself a outcast and unfit to lead his people. Despite numerous attempts by his father and other relatives the weight of guilt and sadness had driven the man from his folk and out to sea. And now for the better part of fifteen years the Vardar had sailed with Torgrim.
“ Aye Seon, that it was. Particularly for the more unsavoury part of the clientele of that particular inn”
“ Well that's a shame, if there was a brawl I feel almost cheated, are you sure you are not growing greedy Torgrim”
Grinning at the tone of the man he replied.
“ I would never let you miss a tavern brawl or the chance to crack a few skulls if I knew the chance would be present Seon, I cant have feeling overlooked”
The big man from Vardar grinned and let out a low laughter that reminded Torgrim of the rumbling of a avalanche tumbling down a mountainside
“ How are the men Seon? Have they gotten the chance to eat and sleep? From what I heard during the evening we will need a well rested and ready crew. It seems the seas are more dangerous than normal, even for this season of the year.”
“ I see, are there any particular why the inner seas should be more perilous than normal? “
“ In fact yes, there are rumours that war will come to the inner kingdoms, then there are the weather witch seems fare more wild than normal. And then there are the ever present danger of pirates and such.”
“ War you say? Well that alone is reason enough to take the time to make preparations! I have heard from several other Mansar ships witch is docked here that they too are heading inwards, perhaps we should ask them if they would care to sail with us?” his second in command looked somewhat surprised by these news but if he worried he did not show.
Every Mansar and Vardar knew that the people of the inner kingdoms of the world was a league apart from them, when it came to being treasons and vindictive. How many wars and minor squabbles had been waged over lands, claims to various stretches of seas or just because one king felt inferior to his neighbours. The Vardar and Mansar had know war and strife but it was seldom due to something as foolish as feeling inferior or wanting to claim that you ruled over wind and wave swept islands and desolate tracts of plains and marsh.
“ Do that Seon, ask the other captains and see if they are willing. Also spread the word that the inner sea is going to get far more dangerous for lone ships to traverse. “
To this his second in command nodded and looked to be pondering on how he would present this to the other captains and their crews.
“ Have the lads wake me if anything happens or anyone wants to have a word with me, I need to sleep.” Torgrim said and turned away from his comrade and walked towards the small tenth that stood at the aft of the ship. Well inside he unhooked his axe and his broad bladed sword and lay them on his ship chest and tossed his cloak beside them. With boots still on he lay down on his bed, and pulled the thick wool blanket over him and allowed sleep to take him and dreams filled with the roar of the winter sea and the howling north wind.

Excellent story and great description - will be tuned in for more

The dude's got pointed teeth?!? Didn't expect that! What other surprises await us?

 Necroagogo wrote:
The dude's got pointed teeth?!? Didn't expect that! What other surprises await us?

Well I must disapoint you, he was not born With pointed teeth. Having Your teeth sharpend is a rigth of passage for the Mansar

Dawn was a cold and misty affair for all those whom found themselves waking from their slumber, be in under pelts or inside their relative warm dwellings. The fog was thick as pea soup and it bore with it the stink of the low tide, up and down the harbour sailors cursed the stink of the exposed sea bed.
Torgrim stood at the reeling and pondered how he would go about seeing the innkeeper Ingvild, in his mind the woman was probably busy tending for her child at this time and had not the time for a visitor like him. But he decided that he had to keep his promise of coming back in the morning.
As he stood with one foot on the reeling and was about to set of, he felt a cold chill run down his spine. It was as if death itself ran its cold bony fingers from the base of his skull and downwards, the feeling of his hairs stand like a thousand raised spears on the field of battle.
There was definitely going to be trouble in the days to come he decided as he attempted to shake the feeling of unease as he walked down the pier and headed for the inn. As he passed by the now waking marketplace and various stalls of the merchants he could see that they all offered fine wares indeed but noting that caught his eyes or struck him as a rare find indeed.
The merchants much to their credits hawked and called out the mindbogglingly fine qualities of their goods as people passed by and the town awoke in earnest.

But none of the merchants seemed willing to hassle the tall and grim face Mansar, for the people of Mansar had a grim rumour for being a people whom guarded their coins and seldom saw fit to part with it. Nor did they respond well to people whom did not leave them alone. It was said in many a harbour and inn that a Mansar had more in common with a wolf or a solitary killer whale than his fellow man.
Their neighbours the Vardar was the only ones whom seemed to be on friendly terms with them, and the silent and haughty men of the white city of Tir whom traded their renowned horses and blades for fish, fine ivory and amber with the people of Mansar. But even these folk knew better than to hassle their Mansar comrades too much.
It was said that once long ago the people of Mansar had been far more friendly and open to the world, they had been the beacon of light and freedom many a oppressed man and woman had looked to. But such notions of kindness and warmth seldom last and after a decade long civil war where Mansar had fought Mansar in a brutal war of succession a horrible disaster had struck when dozens of the islands that lay of the coast of Mansar had one autumn night been seemingly swallowed up by the sea and its people drowned by a monstrous tidal wave. After that disaster the kingdom of Mansar had teetered on the brink for several years as the land attempted to heal after the war that had left so many dead and many more displaced by famine and ill luck.
After those long hard years the land and its people had changed, no longer did the red ships of Mansar sail to help free those whom called for help nor did its famed horsemen thunder across the plains to bring justice to those whom dared walk the path of tyranny and madness.
Its neighbours found themselves left to fend to themselves as the men of the end of the world rebuilt and restored their lands. Now when people saw the the red fleets set sail and the horsemen of Mansar sally out a sharp twang of fear gripped the folk. But none of those whom debated the fall of the kindness of the Mansar and their now cold hearts could dispute that the world was a lesser place when the hearths of men grew cold and evil men allowed to rule.

Torgrim seldom paid much heed to these discussions, or what people thought of him or his fellow men. It never did any good to take to hearth the gossip of those whom where afraid to sail the howling winter seas or had grown jealous of the power the ruler of Mansar had at his disposal. And much the fools said where often utter nonsense, but it still sometimes filled him with anger that people dared spread such gossip of his folk and homeland.
As he saw the inn where he was headed he felt almost worried for some strange reason, he had none in the first place but still. It was a feeling that still made his heart beat harder than it had done for a long time, as he walked into the courtyard and saw that is was all but empty he almost immediately drew his axe and looked around with a growing sense of unease.
He approached the door leading into the kitchen and knocked hard with the axe hammer and almost expected to have to kick the door in, when it was open and revealed the pale and sorrow filled face of the inn keeper.
“ Oh it is you Torgrim” she said and looked to be relived by it being him.
“ Are you expecting anyone else this early? “
“ I have to be honest, I have not slept well this night. I fear that the kin or comrades of the men you killed will come for me and mine sooner or later, I know you said no one would know of their fate. But still I worry they will”
“ You do not need to explain, I can imagine it is a heavy burden to bear when you have not only yourself to fear for should they come. “
Ingvild looked like she was on the verge of tears but she seemed to gather herself up emotionally.
“ You know, I hate this stinking harbour town, the mouldy stink of the low tide and the claustrophobic feel of the streets. I hate the townsfolk whom do noting but gossip, drink and squabble over coin. Had I been a man I would have left this place behind me and ridden out onto the steps and kept riding until I fell dead from my horse. Or found some fair place to spend the rest of my days, but alas. I am bound to this place as of now and so are my poor child.”
She grinned and reached for a mug of mead and took a deep sip as she sank down on a chair beside the fireplace.
“ You know, I would give anything for a chance just to see a different view each morning and a good life for my only child” she said and smiled as a single tear trickled down her face and fell on the cold stone floor.

Torgrim stood silent and listened to these words in silence, his mind taking in these words as the slender woman spoke. When he spoke he himself was surprised over the words that came out from his lips.
“ If you are willing to walk away from all this” he said and gestured to the kitchen and the inn at large “ Then you and your girl are welcome aboard my ship, I will take you wherever you wish to sail. There is not a man whom sails with me whom will protest against this, people call us Mansar cold hearted sea wolfs but I will be trice drowned and damned if I will leave you here to dwell in uncertainty and fear. But know if you simply walk away from this place that it will be very difficult to come back and expect to find it as you left it.”
“ Oh I do not worry about the inn, it belongs to my uncle whom rules the lands here around. No one will take it away from him even if I leave this place. He will simply find one of his servants to run this place. It makes him far to much silver to be allowed to run aground so to speak” she said and seemed to feel a strong distaste towards the mentioned blood relative.
“ I have not many possessions that I need, except my valuables and a few things whom belonged to my father.” she said and looked Torgrim directly into his eyes without blinking.

As she had spoken those words the door that lead up to the personal quarters opened, and Ida stood there, clad in a thick wool dress and her hair braided. A single bronze hair pin gleamed in the dim light of the fire place as she stood and looked at the two whom had been speaking before she entered.
“ Ida my child, are you alright? Did I wake you up when I got up? Her mother asked and looked her child over.
Ida replied with a low voice as she looked at Torgrim
“ No you did not wake me, sleep evaded me since before dawn. I did not want to stay and bed and sulk” she said as she poured herself a mug of water from the water barrel and almost timidly sipped it. Looking to Torgrim and as she looked a bit unease she spoke.
“ Thank you for saving me your lordship, I do not know how I can repay you.”
“You need not thank me girl nor even think about any form of payment. It is what any man who wish to sit besides his ancestors in a good standing would do.”

Ida looked taken by surprise by the humble words offered by the Mansar, clearly she too had heard the stories about all Mansar being sea faring devils aboard their red ships of war.
“ I am sorry mother, but I heard every word you and him said, as you where talking. Is it true? Are we leaving ?”
Ingvild walked over to her daughter and took her pale white hands in one of her own stained hands, and held them firmly as she brushed a lock of hair away from the face of her child. No words where needed in that moment of naked and bare laid emotions between mother and child.
“ Yes my dear, I think its time we find a place where we both are free. A place where we do not break our backs on working from sun up and until far into the night for a meagre payment, and no real promise of freedom.”
Her daughter stood silent and gripped the hands of her mother as tears dripped down as the promise of freedom and the chance for a new life.
Torgrim stood silent and watched, his face set in a tone that seldom if ever found itself way to the outside from the depths of his heart. Deciding that the women would need a bit of time to pack what little they apparently had in the way of belongings.
He poured himself a mug of foaming mead and stuffed his pipe, and stood in the door opening and sent plumes of blue strong scented tobacco up into the morning sky, and felt strangely at ease and perhaps even satisfied with his strange display of kindness. Well it must be either the onset of the years or something in the wind he mussed and grinned to himself.

Some time afterwards the two women, whom carried what would be their remains of the life they had had here, in two wool sacks and with their few valuables hidden in leather bags next to their breasts underneath their clothing. They both wore warm fur cloaks and wore good leather shoes.
Just in front of them Torgrim walked while puffing his pipe and his face set in deep thoughts as he lead mother and daughter down along the harbour front to his ship.
After passing by dozens of ships and their crews, some whom came with rather unsavoury offers to the pair but whom where silenced either by their ship mates or a glare from Torgrim, they came to where the Mansar had his ship.

There they where greeted by the towering figure of Seon whom eyed the pair whom followed his captain with a curious glance, and he looked ready to ask the man whom he had sailed with for years a few questions but it seemed he decided to do so at a later date.
“ Are we ready to set sail Seon?”
“ Aye Torgrim, the lads and I finished loading the last of the water and supplies some time ago. We should not be wanting anything bar a good fight or good weather” the giant said and grinned, showing yellow and stained teeth.
Nodding in approval Torgrim took one last look back up at the town and looked to Ingvild and Ida as if to see if they had changed their mind about leaving this place. But both women had seated themselves near the bow of the ship.
“ All hands ready to cast of! Steersman take us out of port and set sail for Heflandir! We are going home lads!” he yelled and where greeted by the cheers of his crew.
Meanwhile both Ida and Ingvild sat in silence and watched the now busy crew taking up their duties as the large ship cast of and slowly began to make its way onto the open sea. Powered along by the strong arms of the men whom sat at the oars and rowed with practised ease

I really liked the back story of the Mansar and their fall - I hope you go into more detail on this down the line. What caused the tidal wave? Will they return to being the 'good guys'?

Well I intend to anser that in the comming utdates to the story, and well who knows.

In the darkness of a great hall whose windows where made from the finest stained glass, and set in frames of polished bronze and the floor covered in the finest rugs weaved by countless skilled hands sat a lone figure upon a throne made from a solid block of grey rock, and decorated with precious stones and fine engravings.
The figure was clad in fine sable pelts and a fine dress of dark crimson silk, her face was fair and her long raven dark hair hung like a dark mane down her slender shoulders. She looked like the definition of a fair maiden in need of aid and salvation by a brave warrior, but noting was farther from the truth. Her grey eyes was for anyone whom locked gaze with her like that of a great hunting cat, or the lifeless eyes of a great shark as it closes in on a helpless man lost at sea.
One slender hand idly spun a dagger as the woman sat lost in thought, or some intricate plan.
High queen Esfir of the Keshian kingdoms and its numerous vassals was in a foul mood as she sat on her throne and mussed over the whims of fate. Before her feet this cold spring night her spymaster stood with his head bowed in respect, and perhaps fear for his life, the man was a thin and pale man with the appearance of weasel dressed like a man. His pale forehead was moist from sweat as his monarch glared daggers at him.
“ I am quite keen to hear why your trio of praised spies have yet to return from their assigned task? Now a rather talkative bird informed me that you are withholding word of their fate from me and now you come before when summoned drenched in sweat and looking like you do have reason to growl at my feet, and spare me any far fetched and lengthy explanation” the queen said and fixated the man with her eyes while her hands continued to play with the dagger they held.

Swallowing hard the man whom went by the name of Fredrick and had served the current queen for two years, after his predecessor had been found dead in his bed, apparently from a hearth attack began to explain with a trembling tone.
“ Well my queen I would never withhold anything from you as you are my ruler, but I simply wanted to make sure every fact was known about their delay. I received a messenger pigeon from across the seas, the bird was sent by a trusted agent of mine whom has been sent to keep an eye on the ongoings of the clans that rule those tracts of land. “
“ What did I say about lengthy explanations Fredrick?” the queen said in a dangerous tone and dropped her dagger witch landed with a clatter on the cold stone floor as the slender queen got a dangerous look on her face.
“ Pardon my queen. But you did tell me to not withhold anything. The message informed me that my agent had learned of the discovery of the bodies of three dead men, Keshian looking and clearly having been killed in a gruesome manner, as indicated by the grim wounds upon their bodies. He also informed me that a Mansar had been observed shortly after the men had vanished from their would be comrades.”
The man paused to draw his breath and wipe the sweat of his forehead as he did his best to avoid pissing himself due to the dread he felt gripping his hearth as his queen had him fixated before her throne.
“ It also seems that the missive one of the men where supposed to carry where missing, my agent could not say of the message had been taken by the mentioned Mansar, or lost to the seas. But I do not believe in such luck, thus it leads me and my underlings to believe that the mentioned Mansar to be a agent of the crown of Mansar. The last sighting of the man whom slaughtered my servants was as he boarded a Mansar longship and promptly set sail.”
Having finished his lengthy explanation he let out a audible sigh and kept his head dipped in respect.
“ I see then! Well while I find the facts you present adequate I find it odd that the three spies you portrayed as the best men for such tasks to be found anywhere in the lands, where so easily rooted out and slain by a lone man? Or am I whom is but a mere woman wrong and should best busy myself with ruling my lands and allowing you and yours to ply your cloak and dagger trade?”
The queen said as she beckoned for one of her maids to hand her a glass of spiced wine. As she was about to sip the wine she did however pause, and rather than drinking it she held her hand and looked to the man at her feet.
“ I say you do look rather thirsty spy master, care for a sip of fine spiced wine? I am sure it will help calm your nerves. Seeing how this whole ordeal must be taxing for even such a man like you.”
As she spoke these words Fredrick turned even paler and his eyes widened.
“ If your majesty would be so kind to share some wine I would be glad for the compassion indeed” he stuttered as the queen rose from her throne and almost glided down the steps from her throne to where he was kneeling.
“ On your feet spymaster and savour the wine! For your deeds done in the name of the throne you deserve as much” the queen said, her tone having changed from cold and hard to something akin to being laced with honey.

Fredrick could not believe his luck as the queen finished questioning him and offered him a glass of fine wine.
The wine smelled of fine spice and had a faint whiff of a warm summer day as he allowed himself to sniff it as he took the offered glass and took a sip. The wine tasted as good as it smelled and he took a deep second sip. Thanking his queen for the fine wine and her kind hearth the man adjusted his cloths.
The queen whom now had returned to her throne looked at her spy master with a neutral face and spoke.
“ It seems that the plans we have laid for the unwashed and unshaven rabble rouser's that share the seas with us have been discovered, either by design of our foes or by pure chance. Thus we need to act sooner than later! Send for my generals and send word to my fleet master. I want them all to gather here sooner than later!”
As Fredrick was walking out of the throne room and leaving the queen and her various rabble to their schemes and other nonsense he felt a sense of satisfaction. Once again his sharp mind had outplayed the rest of the court of fools he lived in, even that shapely harlot of a queen had been duped by him and his minions.
After having said hello to various people and smiled and played the social and political game, he was about to set his course homewards where he intended to relax and perhaps summon that new maid that had been employed in his household, a sharp and burning pain gripped him and caused him to stumble as he felt his bowls growl in agony as it felt like liquid bronze where being poured into his veins.
While he stumbled forwards and cursed his body for beginning to misbehave at this moment in time, his knees failed and he fell down gurgling as he felt his bowls emptying themselves and the stink of sewage and the unpleasant feeling of gaking his own pants.
Then a sudden sense of sickness gripped him and the sting of rising vomit filled his mouth as he spewed up blood and bile.
“Help me” he gurgled and tried to crawl towards the now gathering crowds of people whom stood watching the feared and hated spymaster soil himself and vomiting blood and bile like a man dying from the plague. “ help me you damned oafs! Help me or I shall send you all to the gallows!”
But none seemed to move a finger to aid the now clearly desperate man, instead the crowd began to part and bow for the person whom was approaching.
Looking up Fredrick saw the face of his queen, whom stood and looked down upon him with a predatory smile upon her beautiful face.
“ My queen..... aid your loyal servant” he coughed before spitting blood.
“ Loyal servant? Why I see no loyal servant laying in his own blood and gak before my feet. No any loyal servant of mine would stoop so low to first kill the man whom had your role before you disposed of him. Let alone lie to my face on numerous occasions! You will not die from this. You will be taken to the healers, and then you will be hanged, drawn and quartered before everyone whom wish to see you rewarded.”
His face became drawn in hideous lines as he heard the queen speak, and as the queen turned her back to him and walked away accompanied by her retainers his howls of anguish filled the halls as the household guards dragged him along the floor towards the mercies of the healers.

Leaving behind a shocked and horrified audience of lesser nobles, merchants and foreign envoys, the clear and brutal statement on the queens behalf was not missed. Cross or conspire against the crown and you would meet a grim fate like the now disgraced and soon dismembered former spy master had doomed himself to.
Queen Esfir felt a twang of satisfaction over having finally rooted out the serpent whom had been lying to her for far too long, now with the last matter dealt with in her own court she could focus all her energy and time on the things that lay on the horizon.
The thought of taking the crown of the heads of the various bastards and charlatans whom ruled lands whom was hers by deeds of old and the merit of her house made her hearth beat like a war drum. But she was no fool, for she knew while some of the minor dukes and earls would bend their knees to her she had no illusions of the resolve and willingness of some of her foes to make her kingdom pay a grim price in blood and coin before anyone at all could think to claim victory.
Among these was the men of Tir, Vardar and last the grim faced Mansars whom prowled the outer seas like wrathful drakes on the prowl.

The coming war would be unlike anything the world had seen, and when the last sword blow fell whomever was left standing and able to claim victory would go down in the annals of history with eternal glory and a massive kingdom for themselves and their lines of successors.

Now that's one evil queen! Nicely written, Trondheim. I particularly liked the bit about curing the spymaster of the poisoning in order to hang, draw and quarter him.

That's the personal touch you don't get from all tyrants.