《The Adventures of Einarr Stigandersen》1.7 - Feast in the Hall
Advertisement
On their return to the Hall, Einarr and Stigander had turned over their skinned prize to the cooks of Kjell and went directly to the sauna to clean up.
At the feast that night, every time Einarr attempted to approach Runa, an older man of the Hall deftly slipped between them - holding her chair here, drowning his offer of tafl with a spontaneous verse there, and casting challenging looks at Einarr the entire time. Runa took all of this with a polite smile that did not touch her eyes. Meanwhile, at every turn he felt the fire in his breast being stoked.
Then the Jarl called for music, and the tables were cleared to allow for dancing. As the drummer and the piper struck up a lively tune and the revelers formed a circle, Runa took her place at her father's right hand. Without anyone really noticing how he managed it, her new suitor took her other side. Einarr, meanwhile, ended up sandwiched between Erik and the cook he had last seen cleaning their reindeer.
The circle began it's bouncing step to the beat of the drum. Then the piper and the lyrist launched into the tune itself - a quick number, such that the Hall's children and those who had already drunk too much were prone to stumbles. This didn't continue for long, however: within a few bars of the music, Sivid moved to the center of the circle with a clap to the sole of his boot. He was good, one of the best of the Vidofnings, but the hall dance was a competition in its own right. Rather than leave everything on the dance floor then and there, this was a warm-up. He dropped to a bridge and rose again, his hands never touching the floor, and to the rhythm of the drum performed some simple acrobatics. He kicked for the rafters once, and danced out to rejoin the circle at a favorable location.
Advertisement
A man of the was next to enter the circle, and if his agility was lacking he made up for it with spirit. Einarr caught his father's eye and quirked his head before following the Kjelling into the center. Let's put on a show...
When the man of the hall danced out, Einarr trotted in at the first acceptable moment. He clicked his heels and slapped his soles once or twice before dropping into a crouch and twirling on the balls of his feet. Before that could bore anyone, Einarr sprang up directly into a backflip and a one-handed cartwheel. He caught sight of the Princess' face and saw an encouraging smile there. A few scattered cheers rose up from around the circle, and so he made a bouncing circuit inside the wheel before kicking for the rafters himself. Someone a little closer to the Princess let him back into the outer circle, and he was followed by another young man of the Hall. It was poor form, after all, for the guests to try and dominate the Hall dance.
Einarr paid little attention to the new Kjelling. His focus was on the old man with the Jarl's favor, who had not looked away since he ceded the stage. The rest of the hall seemed to enjoy the performance, however, and Einarr tamped down on his impatience. The only person he cared about besting tonight was the anonymous suitor - a man Einarr expected chosen more for loyalty than any particular skill.
Eventually the greybeard had an opening to slide out onto the stage. He moved immediately into crouching kicks, all the while spinning as he moved around the circle. A bridge into a backflip - no hands - kick the rafters, and then he walked on his hands before springing back to his feet. More cheering - someone called out "Trabbi!" He trotted around the circle once more, quirking his head at Einarr as he passed, and returned to the circle.
Advertisement
Einarr bided his time. The earliest he could return to the floor would be four more dancers, he thought, based on the number on the floor. Much longer than that, though, and it would look like he conceded. He watched, half his brain weighing the other dancers and half determining how best to play on his rival's performance.
Finally the Hall Dance came back around to where Einarr could step out, and he opened with a prance into a jumping axe kick that clopped against the floor but rattled no-one's cup. He skipped only a half-circuit before gathering his strength in his thighs. Einarr launched himself in the spinning kick for the rafters, and no sooner had his first foot touched the floor than he hopped up into a hands-free backflip. He heard his crewmates cheering, and probably some of the Kjellings as well, but all that mattered right then was Runa's smiling eyes. He grinned then: if she liked that, she would love this.
He bent his knees and bounced on his toes, kicking out like Trabbi had done for a time, and motioned to Sivid. The man tossed him a cap. He pulled it over his ears and sprang forward, somersaulting into a headstand. The floor here was a little rough, but it would do: he spun.
The crowd's delighted laughter turned to excited muttering. Einarr saw another pair of boots step out onto the floor. He knew those boots: they had been a gift from Astrid before the last Ice.
Advertisement
- In Serial25 Chapters
Malfus: Necromancer Unchained
Malfus, a wanted necromancer, has finally run out of luck. Not that he had much to begin with. Now he just wants to escape. Captured by an Inquisitor who would like nothing more than to see this sarcastic wizard tortured and executed for his crimes against the dead. After they are forced to take refuge in a backwater fort under siege by an army of gnolls, fate may have other plans in store for them both. Will a common enemy create an unlikely alliance? Or an opportunity for one to gain an edge against the other?
8 187 - In Serial28 Chapters
Candor: The Forgotten House
*** Please read note below *** As a 16-year-old mage from a powerful family, Jayce Candor had known from a young age what his future would hold. As the fourth son in his family the possibility of him becoming the heir to the household was very small. But, with his talent as a mage, his potential accomplishments in the military could lead to titles of nobility and political power. However, on what would otherwise be an unremarkable night, everything he had ever known, the only people he ever cared for, and all of the plans for his future were destroyed. House Candor, one of the six great houses that helped build the Eldoran Empire had been erased from history. By imperial decree, all those bearing the name Candor were hunted down and executed as traitors of the Empire. With no home, no family, and only death waiting for him, Jayce decided to escape north to the uncharted Northern Territories to begin a new life. Forced into situations he was never prepared for and trying to cope with his past, Jayce tries to find safety in a place spoken about only in legends. There for the first time, he will make true friends and find people he will come to see as family. He will encounter strong enemies, build powerful alliances, and become a person his ancestors would be proud of. But surrounded by creatures he thought only existed in tales and pressed by the Empire’s constant expansion, Jayce’s safety may be only an illusion. To survive a world fraught with danger Jayce will need to grow stronger with each new experience and rebuild his once forgotten house. ********************************************************************** Note: The story starts slow. Although there is more action as the story progresses, there is a fair amount of introspection and character introduction in the first 30 chapters. Jayce is the main character, however, other characters play a large role and the story is seen through multiple POV's. This is a draft, it is not a finished work. This is not a story that focuses on an OP MC who beats up on weaklings. At times there can be a fair amount of internal monologue. Some of that may be edited out when I rewrite the story. I decided to keep it in the draft because I think it is better to have too much material rather than too little when I edit. Constructive criticism is appreciated as it helps in the editing and rewriting process. Check out my other story Shattered Mind here
8 290 - In Serial12 Chapters
Surpassed the Gods
Forever alone in the unknown realm without a single being excluding him, he the ruler of all will descend to the lower realms to find happiness. He will go from the uknown realm to the primeval realm to the god realms to the higher realms and finally to the mortal realms. To find happiness he will do all things even if it means slaying millions of gods and destroying a realm. --------------------- on Hiatus because I have exams coming and I need to study ! ! ------------------------------------------- Expect a rewrite on summer or my weekends because I want this story to improve. First novel by me. I will try uploading 1-2 chapters a day. I GOT THE PICTURE IN PINTEREST. I COULDN'T FIND THE CREATOR AS IT REQUIRES YOU TO CREATE AN ACC
8 181 - In Serial9 Chapters
Game Of Thrones: Season 8 - The Right Way
Game of Thrones has been an international phenomenon... until this final season. The last few episodes went completely off the rails and everyone slams critics for saying it was bad and challenged people to write it better. I humbly want to accept that challenge and I'm giving it a shot. Some of you may like my take on things and some may not.I will (hopefully) publish each chapter as I write them, every week to two weeks, in between my daily stories and time permitting.
8 182 - In Serial34 Chapters
Butterfly
Ты подобен сну для меня, моя бабочка парящая в небесах. P.S. Пишется в соавторстве сhttps://www.wattpad.com/user/Ancientland
8 134 - In Serial48 Chapters
cRaCkHeAdS | BNHA Chatfic
In which Reader downloads an app about talking to NPCs disguised as different fandom characters, but what happens when they seem a bit too real? ••~KEY~♡ - Main Storyline ∇ - One-Off Pieces ◇ - Contextual One-Off Pieces
8 220