In the evening in the great hall, Great trestles have been set up and the freemen sit around them, drinking and ready to feast. Music is playing. Earl, with his wife and family members, sits at high table. There is much laughter in the hall. Then a horn is sounded for silence. 'Before we feast, we have an

important ceremony to perform. Two young men have joined us for the first time and must receive their arm rings. Ragnar the son of Ingolf and Sigurd son of Olaf hadarsson. Both of you come up here.' Said the jarl 

Sigurd and the other Young man approach the high table. The Earl walks round to the front of the jarl and draws his sword. 'Kneel' the jarl said as they both kneel. A housecarl slips two ornate bracelets of twisted silver, the clasps fashioned as animal heads, onto the blade. Jarl Kalv holds the blade close to the young men's faces.

'These rings symbolize your coming

of age  and they also bind you in loyalty to me, your chieftan. Any oath you swear upon your ring, you must honor and keep, or else lose your honor. Do you understand and do you swear so?' Jarl said 'Yes, lord.' Replied the boys, 'And you freely fealty to me?' Said the jarl 'Yes, lord.' Replied again by the boys 'Then take your rings.' Said the jarl.

The boys take their rings from the point of the sword and clasp them around their arms. Olaf looks on proudly. Then sees that Kalv is staring at him. But the moment is lost as the freemen shout out their approval, banging their fists on the tables as the boys return, embarrassed but delighted, to their seats.

'Let me look! Ah it's a fine ring.

Never lose it, my son, or something dreadful will happen to you.' Said Olaf 'I won't father.'said Sigurd, 'Now let's feast.' Jarl said.

Olaf suddenly stands up.

'My lord we all want to feast, but

we also want to know where we will be raiding this summer.' Said Olaf 'Can't it wait?' Replied the jarl

'No, tell us. We're anxious to know.We have a right to know.' Said harold 

A beat. The hall has fallen silent.

'Very well. Then we shall go raiding

to the east again, into the Eastlands, into Rus' said jarl

'Every year we do the same thing. We

raid people who have nothing more than we have. We have a hard life, and they have a hard life but we take from them even the few things which they have. But, lord, we have an alternative...a choice...another journey' said Olaf 

There is a groundswell of noise...of some disagreement. The Earl is aware to it.

'Oh yes, I too have heard the rumors. I hear that if we sail west, across the open, fathomless ocean, we shall somehow come to lands far richer and more plentiful. Yes, I have heard those stories. But I tell you now that I will not risk my ships or my reputation on wild, speculative and unrealistic visions. I pay for the ships. Therefore they go where I tell them to go, and that is the end of the matter.Now let's feast.' Said jarl

He claps his hands and the feast is brought in. Olaf looks at Harold , who shrugs. 

Later Olaf is brought before the jarl who is angry with the ambitious Viking and warns him that if he keeps challenging his authority the will be taken care of and that his farm land will be given to someone else as they are in demand and Olaf nods in agreement and leaves.

I have made my own pat reon so it would help if the is support and allow me to make more content

Pat reon..com/Typicaldream