Chapter 2: A New Land

Night had fallen on the river. The only light which shown was that of the lantern attached to the front of the ship. A vague amount shone from the half moon and the stars that hung softly in the sky.

Astrid sat perfectly still with her head hung low. She was heartbroken and scared of what was to come. The flashbacks of her dead family replayed over and over in her mind, leaving a numb sensation dulling her heart.

Jezebel glanced over at Astrid, nudging her lightly on shoulder. "Try to sleep child." She insisted with  a tender smile.

"I cannot sleep, I know, I have already tried." Astrid replied, glancing up at the stars. "The only thing I can think of is failing my family. They are dead because I was not there to protect them."

"You look just like your mother." Jezebel whispered, looking at the stars also. "You act much like her too."

Astrid had dark brown hair which fell midway down her back. He narrow eyes were a cognac brown, which melted in with the other light features of her round face. Her full lips were a healthy pink that showed the dry cracks around them.

"Do you know where they are taking us?" Jezebel asked, breaking the subject of Beatriz.

Astrid looked at Jezebel with a smile, exposing the dimple that caved in on her cheek.

"To their homeland. The earl there will decide what is to become of us upon our arrival." Astrid stated. "Where did they ever find you?"

Jezebel smiled softly. "I ran down soon after you left. I could not bear to watch and know that I am alone up here." Jezebel shrugged. "Anyway they would have found me at some point. They scavenged all the land clear to the top."

Astrid nodded in response but didn't speak. She had no words to say about anything and if she did she would rather keep quiet.

Astrid's eyes begin to grow heavy as her head bobbed around from fatigue. In no time she had dozed off into a light sleep with her head leaned against Jezebel's shoulder.

The morning sun had rose leaving the sky with a pinkish glow and hints of bright blue in them. Astrid woke to the sudden, frantic jerk of Jezebel's shoulder. She quickly opened her eyes and saw Knute and two other men inspecting the prisoners, seeing who was still alive or who had died throughout the cold, spring night. Only one of the elder priests had passed in the night, whom they threw over the siding of the boat. Some of the captives were heaving, on the verge of death, but remained alive.

Astrid glanced up at Knute, who returned the stare with a smile.

"When will be arriving to your homeland?" Astrid asked him.

"Soon." Knute answered plainly, nodding in assurance before turning his focus back onto his work.

Astrid watched as he walked away, returning to the bow of the ship where where he had been before. She focused down onto her lap. Her dark gray woolen dress was sporting holes along the bottom and at the end of the sleeves. The light blue linen apron, which covered over woolen part, had traces of dried blood splattered atop it. Her rough, calloused fingers traced over the bony, bruised knuckles of her hand.

Hours and days ticked by slowly as silence crept heavily along the deck of the boat. Astrid's mind was gone. Nothing but uneasy thoughts lingered in her mind, leaving her with a melancholy expression. Jezebel was resting on Astrid's shoulders, just as she had done previous nights before, giving her a small sense of security and love. But how long would it last? Astrid thought to herself.

Astrid looked up at the sky that was beginning to set, painting colors of dark orange, yellow, purple and blue with wisps of white clouds in the sky that reflected onto the river, which caused a peaceful glow. The sound of water pushing under the heavy ores movements was the only sounds that could be heard along the boat. Occasionally the Northmen you communicate with each other so the silence would depart, only to return quickly. Out in the distance was a haze of a dark green blob, which grew larger and larger, forming into a mass of land, as the longboats moved closer to the fog covered mountains.

Astrid nudged Jezebel awake at the foreign sight appeared before her eyes. Jezebel's eyes opened widely as she watched the land grow bigger with each stride that was taken. Astrid gave her a comforting smile, assuring her everything was going to be alright-even though she didn't know what was to come herself.

The dragon and snake shaped longboats rowed up beside the green, mountainous piece of land. Bright, flat, green grassy shore folded into rolling hills. Once the ships were completely stopped, the men began unloading them and evacuating off hastily, jumping into the cool, clear water as deep as the knee.

The next ship to disembark was the ship which held the German captives. Each person arose with overwhelming and frightening thoughts in their mind. Astrid was the first of the slaves to leave the ship. Taking a deep breath, Astrid focused her mind to be prepared for whatever was to come. Knute and a red haired man lined the captured people along the coast, examining the qualities of each individual.

Just over the top of the rocky, green hill was the Viking village of Oleifsborg. Carved on the hillside was a dirt path, leading over to the other side, where the busy settlement lay calmly. Here, the tired men from the boats took in a run, hurrying to reach the other side. Knute held the rope that tied Astrid and the others together tightly in his clinched fist. He nodded to them before leading them up the sloping hillside, which didn't take very long to climb.

Reaching the other side, the alien world was now focused on the foreigners that was entreating the settlement, bound by their hands and led like animals through the village. Astrid kept her focus off of those that was staring as they emerged from the markets and tent-shaped, wooden homes along the streets. The walk left Astrid feeling ashamed and weak, but somehow she managed to find the strength to cover her emotions and raise her head high as they marched on the long street beside many peering eyes.

Knute stopped in front of a large, wooden longhouse which sat off to the side of the village. He glanced up at the fearful German slaves then at Astrid.

He cleared his throat. "Tell your people they will be turned over to Earl Erick, from there he will decide what happens to each of you." Knute proposed, turning to enter the large, rounded wooden door.

Astrid faced her fellow German neighbors, who were frightened and scared, and informed them what Knute had spoken. She watched as each person nervously heave for a breath. Tensions ran high among all who were captured. Astrid fought back all what she felt, falling back into the line of the slaves.

Soon, standing at the door was a large, middle-aged man. He wore a black cloak that was embroidered in gold around the edges and the neck. Beneath the dark over piece, was a bright red kyrtil which met the tops of a pair of knee-high leather boots that tucked perfectly black leather trousers into them. His sandy hair was cut in a short bur, showing the swirling tattoos that embedded his skin. A pair of bright blue eyes popped from his pale, scarred up face. On his slender, tattooed wrist was a spiral, golden band, which had wolf shaped heads that met on the ends. Knute stood to the right of him, sharing the details of each slave.

"Can any of them understand us?" Erick's deep, booming voice asked, looking at them all.

Knute nodded his head lightly, before pointing at Astrid. "She is the only one." Knute replied, looking at her.

Erick stopped in front of Astrid and placed his large hand onto her youthful face.

"Do you understand me?" Erick question Astrid, pushing back a dark strand of hair away from her face.

She met his cold, powerful eyes with a bob to her head. "Yes, sire."

Erick studied Astrid for several minutes before glancing back at Knute, who remained leaned against the wooden siding of the house.

"She is worth more to me than the others." Erick stated, watching Astrid once more. "In fact, I will already claim her as mine."

Erick winked at Astrid who stood expressionless, staring at nothing or no one in particular. He took a knife from his belt and cut the rope that attached Astrid to the rest of the group. He continued walking down the row, picking and choosing those of which he wanted for himself. He chose a young man and Jezebel.

"Take the rest to the square." Erick said, preparing to enter his home. "Sell them there. If they do not get sold, kill them. I have no use for them."

Erick strutted back inside the longhouse, plopping down at the large, carved throne that sat in the middle of the wall. The house was near bare on the inside. Curtains hung where the room ended, leading into the sleeping quarters and separate rooms. A big fire pit was in the middle, built inside a square box.

"Come 'ere." Erick said, motioning Astrid to him. "What is your name child?"

"My name is Astrid Egger, sire." Astrid responded, bowing to Erick.

She heard his low coarse laugh come from within at her strange obeisance.

"Sit." he demanded, patting to the smaller chair that was beside his. "How old are you?

Astrid felt his cold glare peer onto her as she sat down beside him. She glanced over at Jezebel and the other man, who were now seated at a table off to the side of the room where candles were burning.

"I am fifteen." She meekly replied, looking up at Erick who was now smiling at her.

"You are quite younger than I thought." Erick remarked, patting her on the cheek.

"What is to become of us here?" Astrid questioned, pulling away from Erick.

"I can guarantee that you will be taken well care." Erick assured her. "For the others I cannot say much on their behalf." He shrugged, rising from the throne. "Since you are familiar with our native tongue, you have an advantage over the others." He spoke. "I suggest that if you want your fellow companions to stay here with you, you will help them learn our language too."

"This is your home now. Get that in your head and it will all be alright. Understand that everything in your past life is no longer. I can be your friend or your master, you shall choose."

Earl Erick stretched his arms upward, then reached his hand out to Astrid who reluctantly grasped it.

As she looked into his eyes, she realized she was no longer free. Her life was this now and she had to make the best out of it as she could.

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