Snippet #2566530

Astrid Shatter-Shield

Many men and women got off the ships, only a small detail remained on each ship to ensure that they were not tampered with whilst everyone was gone. However out of all those who walked off the longboats, only a chosen few were to stay with Astrid. As was customary they all got off their respective boats by order of least in rank to highest. The Merkismathrs were the first to stand before the Avuvian delegation, then after them came the Huskarls or captains of the ships. After them came the Jarl's Kaupmaðr and about 3 Skalds. Lastly the two Herse's beneath Astrid's father walked into the fray and of course after them came Astrid.

The young Northswoman was curious, and wasted no time in making her way to the front of the group, her lessers making an opening after some had been shoved aside. When at the front she took a few steps forward and then examined the Avuvians before her. They were...different. Those in the military wore uniforms which gave them an aurora of importance and discipline, while the politicians of the group were without a doubt wealthy and well cared for. They were men and women of refine, who lived comfortably in their homes with their luxuries. Meanwhile the Frostborn seemed to have been painted with the same stroke of the brush, they were all wearing leather or fur, no metal save for their shields and even them most had shields made of animal hides. The men seemed to prefer not to cut their hair at all and thick but somewhat attended facial hair was the norm for them. The women were not too different from the men, save of course for the facial hair. They seemed more inclined to getting tattoos and other markings on their faces and bodies then the men but the resemblance was there. Being from a land where everyone must fight, they displayed this well but despite their similarities to one another Astrid stood out.

Surpassing all the women in height, and some of the men, was Astrid, still coming up with her own opinions of the Avuvians. She was young and fit, the leather and furs that made up her clothing hide her body from all, and she was beautiful. However she was not the kind of beauty that the Avuvians were accustomed to seeing. Her hair was brushed but unkept for the most part, left in braids to ease management, her skin was not made moist from bathing in exotic oils from distant lands, and her lips were not painted. She did not walk holding her child in one hand and her husband's coinpurse in the other. Her stance was not passive but dominant and the look on her face was that a woman who was convinced that she could kill you if she wanted but choose not to. Out of all those aged and rugged Danes before the Avuvian delegation, the youngest of them, was the one who appeared like they belonged in command and they were.

" You must be Caspain...". She spoke, her voice loud enough for all to hear and clear. One of the Champions behind her stepped forward and handed her an Axe which Astrid inspected before offering it to Caspain. " I am Astrid, Daughter of Jarl Belgruf. Avatar of Asger and Tryne. King Asmund used this Axe to slay the pirates that plagued both our waters. I offer it to you as a reminder of the friendship our people shared once, and the friendship we seek to restore here.".

Caspian

She was beautiful, Caspian noted, beautiful in a way which differed from the women he knew among his own people. Her voice came out clear and strong despite the murmuring if his delegation and he was handed a familiar axe.

"I know it. You honour me with its possession," he noted. He handled it, standing before her in bright armor. His hair was long, but his face was clean-shaven after the manner of his own people.

He entrusted the axe to a guard captain and clasped her forearm.

"Come, Atalantae is at your service, Lady Astrid. Let it never be said that our hospitality was wanting. Tonight, we will hold a feast in your honour."

Astrid Shatter-Shield

Now the sight of a clean shaven face was not alien to Astrid. She had seen many when she embarked on the yearly raids amongst those unfortunate enough to have become a target and amongst her own people, all the children had clean faces. It was the first time that she had thought a man with a clean shaven face was attractive but this she kept to herself, there was a time for such thoughts and it was surely not now. This feast came as a pleasant, although inconvenient surprise. Such an event was something, she felt, all of the men deserved to enjoy, and she had just sent the majority of them on shore leave. At the same time, her father had voluntold her to yet another task of political intrigue in the mainland. Jarl Belgruf had dispatched messengers about two weeks ago, saying that Astrid would host a summit of sorts to discuss trade with the Shattershield clan to gain an advantage over the others and of course, see how far the tale of their civil war had spread. It was a matter most urgent and she was to attend to it immediately after this meeting, ensuring that all arrangements were made in due time. This courtesy that the Avatar of Ulmo did her would surely cost her some much needed time.

Annoyed by this, Astrid looked over her shoulder and in Norse, ordered the Houseskarlars to sally forth into the City and muster all of their men. She then turned to Caspain, eyed his delegation, who continued to whisper and murmur to one another as this all went on (something she thought was very rude), and answered him. "How generous of you. I will need some time to gather my men for this occasion and surely you will need to show these individuals behind me to their quarters. In the mean time why don't you show me your city and it's people. The only time I have met you Avuvians is when you stand at the receiving end of my spear."

Caspian
"Of course, there are many sights I would love to show you. Why don't you accompany me to the shipyards. They are quite a sight," Caspian offered.

Astrid Shatter-Shield

In response to his offer, Astrid took a step forward towards him and from among the group one of the Merkimathrs moved to her. Astrid shook her head and motioned with her hand to stay with the group, something that obviously did not set well with her. The daughter of Jarl Belgruf went onward and moved past Caspian, as if to lead the way but then halted and looked over her shoulder to the Avatar of Ulmo. "It's hard to follow someone who isn't leading."

Caspian

Caspian laughed at her words, "Then come and see."

Ignoring the muffled protests of the other noble gentlemen and ladies of Atalantae, Caspian led her down the docks. He breathed in the salt air, the smell of home happily. Around them, sailors and merchants moved, embarking and disembarking on to ships with goods from the four corners of the world. The air smelled of spices and incense, two particular luxury items that had recently started to be grown in Gela and Icharus. A merchant passed with a baskefull of freshly caught fish. Caspian grinned.

"You should not worry about arriving late to your meeting. I wouldn't have permitted the feast if it would delay you. I plan on attending myself. Our magi, myself included, can summon winds for a period of time with myself lasting the longest... And of course, among the navy, that phrase turns into a double entendre."

They arrived at the shipyard. Cranes moved piles of lumber into place as a scores of nailed pieces of wood together, all under the supervision of various architects. The ships ranged from small fishing dingys to large war ships armed with multiple ballistae. He grinned.

"Our greatest treasures."