Tostil lay comfortably on his bed, the many furs and heat of the room comforting him as he enjoyed a brief moment of indulgent relaxation. Divna stood before him, her slender form keeping his eye as she moved from the bed, her lengthy dark blonde hair tangled and matted somewhat from their morning activates. Grinning he sat up and stretched out, his muscles still slightly sore and his head somewhat foggy from the previous day’s activities. One of the freeman families on his estate had needed to extend their home to better accommodate a pair of twin boys that had been born several seasons ago, and then afterwards the father, Hlenni, one of his best fishermen and good friends had needed experienced drinking companions to celebrate the occasion – something he had gladly done and with great enthusiasm. It seemed an appropriate end to start of the raiding season as any, marking the time that he spent away from his land and doing what he loved to do, what he waited each year to do. He wasted little time washing and dressing himself, strapping on his full arsenal of weapons once more. He spared a moment to hold the blade of his sword in his hands before him. The metal was dull and showed some signs of heavy use, but the edges were still keen as ever – not bad for such an old blade taken from his father’s enemies all those years ago. He swung the sword mockingly through the air several times before he sheathed it, a slightly unstable grin still lying upon his features as he wondered who would be tasting his blade this year. As he stood Divna approached him from behind, her arms slipping around his waist as she embraced him and her familiar scent filled his nostrils. The feel of her naked form against him filled him with happiness as he turned and returned the embrace, the pair sharing a deeply intimate kiss as she gripped at him with what felt like the force of the All-father himself. “Be safe my brave one” she whispered into his ear as her hand gently caressed his cheek, her emerald eyes boring deep into his own as they again shared a moment together. A confident grin once more returned as he pulled her down onto the bed, pinning her below his lithe frame as he again kissed her. Moving away from her embrace he chuckled softly and replied “Do not worry my tender wolf, the gods have always smiled upon me”. Moving towards the doorway he picked up the small sack that he intended to present to Einarr and the gods before turning back to Divna as a wild look crossed his features as he cheekily added “And if not then I shall go to Valhalla and demand the gods themselves that you take your rightful place beside me” before he turned and slipped away into the frigid cold of the morning. Divna stared after him, her heart already aching as she said a silent prayer to the gods. [i]Odin, far-wanderer, grant him wisdom, courage, and victory. Friend Thor, grant him your strength. And both be with him.[/i] ---------- Råå was bustling as it always was, Tostil wasting little time as he made his way through and towards the Earl’s longhouse, shouting a few greetings to those he recognised as he was eager again to see his friends and companions. The mood was light and there were many who had gathered, his eyes searching through the crowd for a few moments before he spotted Freiga stood towards the rear with her sister and brother-in-law. Making his way through the throng he greeted them eagerly “Freiga!” he boomed clasping her arm in greeting before he turned to Katla and her husband “Oh-ho, so another little warrior on the way eh? More reason for me to behave myself if they turn out like your husband no?” He grinned as Katla smiled softly and he received a mocking thump and a mug from the man who repeated his statement of a few moments ago, informing Tostil that there was something new to be announced concerning their raiding this year. “Is that so?” he replied as he wondered what it may be, his thoughts going back to the last year and the unimpressive results they’d had, the dwindling wealth of the eastern lands almost making the trip not worth the time and effort it took them all before he shrugged. Such announcements and decisions were beyond his control, his taste for slaughter and plunder a much more pressing issue as far as he was concerned. “Divna sends her regards” he said lowly, his gaze moving back to Freiga as he spoke “I think she has missed you and wanted you to know you are still always welcome with us.” His grin faded somewhat as his thoughts turned back to the last raid, back to the skirmish in which she had lost her husband and she had been left alone in this world. Tostil had been very close with the man, the pair having fought together many times before he had left to go drinking with the gods, leaving her without child and without a certain future, and he without any he’d consider as close as a brother. Turning his thoughts away from such matters he downed his mug in one and added “Besides that I have found myself missing your company also. For what other woman as fierce and able to drink as much as I is there hmm?”