Chapter Sixteen: Voyage

                                    

                                          
It was time. It was time to go. I found it harder than I initially thought. How can I leave my home behind? I didn't know if I had the strength to travel to a foreign land with no connection to my world. 
                          
I soaked in the sight of my favorite place. I wrapped my cloak tightly around my body. I held onto my necklace of Mjölnir for protection. 
                          
"Stop brooding, you'll get wrinkles." I heard the seer say behind me. 
                          
I turned around to see him in his raggedy black cloak. His long filthy fingertips wrapped around his staff. 
                          
"The ships are almost ready." I sighed as I watched warriors and slaves load them with cargo. Farmers and families would be coming too to settle our claimed lands. 
                          
"You cannot think of Kattegat. You have more important things to worry about." He stated as he joined my side.
                          
"I know, but it's hard. I am going to miss you." I admitted with a weak grin. 
                          
"Do not miss me. I am always with you." He said flatly. 
                          
"Of course, Seer." 
                          
I watched the ravens perch on the sides of the boats, unaware of their future motion. 
                          
"You know what you must do. Do not come back until that prince has followed his right path." His tone was very stern, it caused chills to run down my spine. 
                          
"Yes, Seer. I won't fail you or the gods." 
                          
"I know you won't." 
                          
He went to turn away but I reached out for him. He turned to face me. I hesitated but I pulled him into a hug, but he didn't hug me back but I was okay with that. "Goodbye, Seer." 
                          
"Goodbye, Hedwig." 
                          
When it was time, I climb into the boat I was assigned. My cargo was stacked around me with a blanket pitched over a gap, making me a small fort of my belongings. Ingrid sat close beside me on her fur mat. 
                          
I embroidered my leather holster for my dagger. I sewed floral vines along it, making it look lovely. 
                          
I could hear the boat rocking along the waves as it waited eagerly for all the passengers to board. 
                          
I smile at Idun as she boards with her thralls and husband. She was given a nice tented area. The ship was huge for many passengers. The crowds of people were huge clusters. Walking around would be difficult but thankfully we would be on the sea for less than a week. 
                          
I watched as people got ready to row the large ship away from land. I noticed Bjorn give me a quick grin of acknowledgement. His younger brothers join in after. Ivar sits on a wooden chair. He had a thrall pour him a cup of alcohol. 
                          
I then heard the waves being moved and I felt the boat move towards a big stretch of blue.
                          
I ate ginger to help with my upset stomach. It helped for the most part. I found distractions. Ivar and I would play chest even though I barely knew how to play. 
                          
He liked the company anyways. He let me talk non-stop with him. I made myself laugh while he strategically took my wooden men. 
                          
"Ugh!" I growled as he beats me again. 
                          
He had a proud grin on his face. "Maybe you should pay more attention." 
                          
"Want to play something else?" I asked him. 
                          
"Like what?" He questioned, playing with a chest piece in his hand. 
                          
I thought for a moment. "I spy?" 
                          
"What are you? A child?" He taunted.
                          
"Come on!" I begged. 
                          
He rolled his eyes. "I spy... something red." 
                          
"My hair?" I questioned.
                          
"No." 
                          
I looked around and found King Harald with a red cloak. "King Harald' cloak?" 
                          
He sighed. "Yes." 
                          
We played that for quite sometime. We managed to entertain each other. It soon became too dark to play the game and we all decided to go to sleep- apart from the ones rowing the boats. 
                          
I lay beside my thrall. We both curled up under our warm cloaks as the icy air blew. 
                          
The night time was the worst. I felt like my fingers were going to fall off. It was hard to sleep when you were frigid.
                          
I took naps during the day, it was the only time I'd get comfortable rest. Letting out your waste was a difficult time as well. When you went, everyone knew because you held your bucket and tossed it overboard. 
                          
There was no privacy. People would just watch you pee. I'd normally go to the bathroom when it was dark out. It made me less tense. 
                          
I ate some salted meat. I wasn't getting a full meal but it was a little something to keep me from parishing away. 
                          
I joined Idun to entertain her for a bit. She talked about how nervous she was to meet her son. She was worried that she'd fail him. I reassured her that she'll make a great mother. She had nothing to worry about. 
                          
"Are you anxious to land in England?" Idun asked me. 
                          
I thought for a moment. "I don't think there's been a moment where I haven't been nervous." I stated plainly. 
                          
She let out a dry laugh. "Fair enough. If I had the weight on my shoulders like you, I'd be pinned to the floor with anxiety." 
                          
"I am pinned to the floor with anxiety. But I couldn't imagine what you're going through. You are bringing a being into this world." 
                          
She pat her belly happily. "It'
's a good kind of nervous. But your kind is not good." 
                          
"Is any anxiety actually good?" I questioned. 
                          
"I think so." She said with a grin. "Have you seen anything?" 
                          
"Regarding what?" 
                          
"Anything." She shrugged. 
                          
"No, I haven't had any visions, but from my experience, that means I'm due for a big one." I admitted.
                          
"I just hope this Freydis stays away from us." 
                          
"No, she will appear. It's just the matter of when." 
                          
"When do you think she'll appear?" 
                          
"I don't know. But I have a feeling that I should stay on my toes." 
                          
She nodded her head. I had a grrat feeling that a storm was rolling in and I'd have to do all I can to stop it.