Sigurn didn’t know who had made the meeting room but she could tell they hadn't been a real carpenter, it wasn't a real room, just a three walled lean-to, it didn’t even have a floor just a fur throw rug to keep the chill of the ancient stones at bay. A few tables had been dragged in from the merchant caravan, unsold inventory thanks to their entrapment in the tower, which had been adorned with a couple of A few dirty mugs of room temperature mead, only half full of course it wasn't like they had much of it, and some slates and pens had been scattered around but Sigurn wasn't sure who they belonged to.

“You could have mentioned you were bringing a vitki lady Sigurn.” Of course, it was Bors who spoke up first Sigurn had seen his little power plays with the other leaders, pushing for more control of the tower and its treasure, maybe he hoped to settle it after everyone else left? Sigurn didn’t know nor did she care.

“I for one would have welcomed the warning, if I had been informed, I could have kept my people more easily in line.” Said Ragvald primly trying to politely glare at Sigurn as she calmly sipped her mead, despite being lukewarm it wasn't half bad actually.

“Yeah, that wasn't very nice Sigurn… half my lot nearly bolted when they thought we had a way out and they got even nastier when they found out it wasn't.” Sigurn did feel a little bad about how tired Hakon sounded, but only a little the job always came first… and Hakon had a reputation for cunning so he might just be faking.

“I told you I was retrieving my missing men and that should be enough,” Sigurn sighed and dropped her mead back onto the rough tabletop. “You three should remember I represent both the Althing of the Iron Lands and the richest woman in the world, none of you lot are exactly in my confidences, ok?”

As expected Ragvald folded at the statement even as Bors bristled, Hakon cut off the nomad with a shard gesture and a warm smile directed at Sigurn which she thought was probably fake. “Of course, of course and we do not wish to annoy the high-king, I hear you were her housecarl before you retired to join the delvers?”

“For a while.” Sigurn said noncommittally, Aesir above she hated this, all the careful speaking and sizing each other up but without Alvis it was her job now and you didn’t get to be a housecarl for anyone if you didn’t learn at least a bit of fancy talking… although in her case Sigurn thought it was more like fancy silences and pointed statements, still just as boring but at least tolerable.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“While that is quite fascinating it isn't germane to our situation, rather I would like to ask if the young lady in question might be amenable to an offer of employment which would help Golden blood merchant syndicate... do feel free to tell her she would be generously compensated.”

“Damn merchants trying to steal a march on me… look I’ve got a dozen jarl kids with me, they aren’t in heirs but they’ve got pull, if your vitki leads us out of here they’ll make sure she is well-compensated by their families, silver and favours both.”

“HEY! Neither of you…”

“She can’t.” Sigurn said simply.

Hakon drained his mug and looked suddenly older and more haggard, Ragvald spluttered and wrung his hands and Bors sighed and slumped back down into his chair which he had leapt up from as the argument began to pick up speed.

“You could have led with that!” Hakon muttered sinking deeper into his chair. “Do you have any idea what I have to deal with! Dozens of refuges who lost their homes, nine spoiled brats who think only having two thralls is being poor and who refuse to eat anything but the finest fresh meat and these two morons who use me as an interpreter for the Vracians… those thing's freak me out ok! Their weird armour and those lifeless masks they wear are creepy.”

“Oh, you think I'm happy dealing with you lot?” Bors snapped back. “Half your baby jarls think of my people as only one step above vermin and they refused to stop you refugees from getting into my tribe’s food store, we had to post round the clock guards! I don’t have the people for that! I need them exploring the tower and gathering treasure.”

“I’d like to remind both of you that it’s my caravan that’s been looted of all its foodstuffs,” Ragvald sniffed. “My expensive preserved meats and fine pies all devoured without a single pennygar of compensation, my fellow merchants weep daily for the profits they have lost!”

Sigurn sighed through her nose, a long slow and loud exhale that took nearly a half dozen heartbeats, this was why she hated politics they had had this exact same argument the last time she was here!

But all of this was at least pacifying the other factions, as she let them rant Sigurn focused on what was important, the scouting missions she would soon be leading, first she’d find Alvis, then she’d find the runes keeping them here and then… then she would find the Fragment, the treasure beyond treasures and the Iron Empire would rise again.