Snippet #1929878

Olaf Ironskin. The name conjured images of a bearded warrior with a huge battle-axe cleaving his way through foes without regard to pain or death. It was a good name and the current Earl of Dawnsea was the sixth person to bare the name in history, all of whom were his ancestors. The fifth Olaf Ironskin was born over a hundred years ago, where he proved to be a scourge of Luxor, raiding its coastal cities and even cities further inland via rivers with their longboats and beserkers during the spring and summer where the ice in the north melted and their longboats could sail across the ocean. Before that, the Northmen had often raided further south or west inland out of necessity for food was scarce in the north and trade was nonexistent before a DeGrey defeated the fifth Olaf Ironskin in a duel and promised them food and grand cities to live in. Over the years, they had converted somewhat to the monotheistic religion prevalent throughout the continent, but they did so on their own terms and kept many of their traditions alive, but anyone who wagged their tongues about it were silenced by the flourishing of the axe and the gold they possessed now.

The current Olaf Ironskin was riding through Arva in full armor as he was wont to do whenever he visited other lands. People needed to know that the North was strong and Olaf took pleasure in the stares and chatter of the peasants and craftsmen and, later on, merchants, bankers, and nobles as he approached the palace with his honor guard, geared for battle as always. There were more murders in Winnfell Palace than anywhere else and if there was one thing that Olaf was determined about, it was that he would die in honorable, fierce battle, preferably with his enemy taken with him. When they arrived at the castle, the Duke smiled at the guards as though there was an equal chance he might shake their hand or challenge them to a duel.

"I am the Duke of Dawnsea. Please express my apologies for not making it to His Majesty's coronation on time," he announced in a thick Northern accent.