004

A few days later, four more men showed up. I think I need to start selling tickets or some passes. I met them by chance in the forest clearing.

- Boy, do you know anything about these three bodies lying at the foot of the cliff?

- Yes, it was Ättestupa. Brave people, they chose death themselves.

- Ättestupa?

- You do not know? When you are too old to die in battle or you are a burden to your family ... you jump off the cliff, you die and you go to Valhalla.

- I know what Ättestupa is.

- Then why are you asking?

- I am asking because two of them were naked and the third was fully dressed.

- Interesting and fascinating ... but I don't care.

- What's your name, boy? You live here?

- Ulf, and I don't have time to talk. Good luck with your search or whatever.

- My name is Gunnar. Maybe we'll meet again.

(Gunnar POV)

Strange kid, I think he knows more than he says, but it doesn't really matter. These three were outlaws, everyone who met them had the right to kill them ... Ulf I must remember and ask the people. Maybe someone in the area knows him.

(End POV)

If all went as Weles said, Rollo should be nine now, and Ragnar and Lagherta eight. So I'm still twenty-three years old for the events of the first season. Of course, I have to find Lagherta before Ragnar. Bjorn was twelve in the first season, so he was born when they were nineteen, meaning they begot him when they were eighteen ... so I have less than ten years to seduce Lagherta.

Nobody is going to tell me that math cannot be of use in seducing girls.

Two years later

I am twelve years old now, enough to go back to the village and challenge my father to Holmgang.

For the last two years I grew a lot and gained weight, I was already 160 cm, I did not know the exact weight, but I think it may be 60 kg. Life alone forces you to exercise, wood, water, hunting ... nothing falls from the sky by itself.

I loaded all my treasures gained over the years into a backpack I made, I threw a bear skin on myself and headed towards the village. After a few hours, I set up camp for the night, built a fire, and started to roast the squirrels over the fire. It tasted like chicken ... unsalted chicken.

After a night of sleep, I continued my journey and when I got to the village, it was noon.

The village didn't change much, it was still dirty, it smelled ... maybe more than I remembered, or living in the open air for so many years changed my nostrils, they became more delicate.

I headed towards the forge. I stood in front of her entrance.

- Old man, you still don't know which hole to put in? !!! Get out of this hovel you call home, I don't have all day !!!

After a few minutes my father showed up, he gained weight, turned a little gray ... but it was evident in his face that he still liked to drink.

- Who you are?

- You don't recognize your son, a drunkard? I'm Ulf ... and I want to finish what I started seven years ago. I challenge you on Holmgang coward !!!

- You? Me? You have no right, you are the son of a slave.

- Yes, my mother was a slave, and you are my father. Twelve years ago you recognized me as your son, and now it is too late ... In three days, at crossroads there will be a designated place. If you don't show up, you have no honor, Father !!!

Of course, I was shouting loudly to make the crowd bigger. Good performances require an audience, and the loss of face and honor in the eyes of his neighbors will force him to act.

I left the village and went to the forest. I cut some wood and set up a ring in the place of our duel, I also prepared animal skins. They will be spread out on the ground ... all I had to do was wait.

Three days later, near the village, quite a large crowd of people gathered at the crossroads. I spotted a few familiar faces in the crowd ... mostly secondary characters from the show.

Leif was here, and Torstein was here, and so was Floki ... they weren't more than ten years old in appearance.

- I, Ulf Ericsson, challenge my father to Holmgang. As his first son, I am claiming his land and property.

I could also mention my mother, but she was a slave and was sacrificed, I preferred not to risk insulting their religious feelings ... for that there will be time later.

Two hours later, the sperm donor arrived. He was dressed in chain mail, under which he had several layers of linen clothes, a helmet (Gjermundbu) and was equipped with shields and a sword.

He looked as if he was going to fight the ice gates, not a twelve-year-old boy.

- I don't know why you hate me so, but if it's because of that whore, who was your mother then you are a fool.

- Father, you are wrong. You assume I hate you, that's not true. I hate many things, such as when the milk is too warm or when the water is dripping on my head and you're not so important that I have any feelings for you.

I undressed to the waist and tossed the ax aside.

- And how do you want to fight without weapons? or maybe you get scared and give up without a fight?

- I will fight with this sword you are holding. I will take it from you, stick it in your bloated belly ... and gut it like the pig that you are. But you are also lucky ... you will be mentioned in the Saga that will be written about me ... as the first of many poor fools to stand in my way.