Thread: Drowning in Sin (heartlesskitten x Kuro)

The sun was bright in the sky, causing rays of light to glitter off the water like jewels. It was a breathtaking sight, as were the sunrises and sunsets. The reflection of stars in the sky in the darkness of the sea at night made it seem as though they were sailing through the night sky. They were but a small dot in a vast ocean with nothing save the whales, dolphins and seals as companions. As beautiful as it was, it didnt make sailing any less miserable for Vigi. The constant rocking then the powerful jerks of the waves seemed to nearly always cause him to fly from his feet. Once hed been thrown from his feet so violently by a storm that he found it amazing he hadnt been swallowed into the sea. The men teased him for being so thin that a mere lurch could make him stumble when they, the heavy oafs, could remain in place. Theyd laugh until one of them inevitably threw up over the side of the ship for one reason or another. Then who did they turn to for something to ease their stomachs? At least he was a capable enough sailor, thank the Gods Bui had the foresight to teach him months before they set out to sail. If he hadnt been able to even do the correct knots he would have been ridiculed far more. He moved through the crowded upper deck, looking to see if there was anything he could help with. He patted the shoulders of men he was friendly with and avoided the ones that sneered at the sight of him. When the journey began he had been furious near constantly with the men that loudly objected to his being here. They believed it bad luck to have a man such as himself, that could hardly shoot an arrow, come on a raiding voyage. That it would anger Odin to have him anywhere near the battlefield, even though he would be their doctor and not a fighter. It had angered him and humiliated him to hear such things. After the months of stale food, little sleep and being knocked about like a small stone in a great river, the rage had long since dulled. He admitted though, he was stunned just as everyone else had been when his mother told him to go. Somehow she had used her charm to convince the Jarl to send him off with the warriors. Try as he might he could not get her to explain her reasoning. She merely smiled in her enigmatic manner and brushed her hand down his cheek. It was frustrating and more and more he and his brother were beginning to worry for their mothers sanity. As of late she seemed to becoming more forgetful and when she spoke she did so in a lyrical and riddle like manner. There were times she would become very quiet and stare into nothingness, sometimes in the middle of a conversation. It was worrying and Vigi had done this more to please than him actually believing there was a valid reason behind it. Land! He jumped at the bellow and quickly moved to the bow of the ship. He squeezed his way between two warriors to look out into the vast ocean. Sure enough there was the vague shape of land partially obscured by fog. Wow. Vigi muttered, a sense of awe sweeping through him at the sight and the realization that he was about to visit a completely different country. He had heard so many things about the British isles, he couldnt wait to explore and see how different it was. A hand grasped his arm and he turned away from the sight of the approaching islands to look into a pair of pale green eyes much like his own. His brother, Sven and he were twins, birthed from the same womb at the same time though they were as different as night and day. Fitting seeing as Sven was born at sunset and Vigi was born at sunrise the next day. Where Vigi was lithe and almost frail looking, Sven was broad and muscular. Sven looked undeniably like a man, with his long coarse beard and scarred, weathered skin from many hours under the sun. Underneath the facial hair he looked far more like their father while Vigi took greatly after their mother. He walked a thin line between masculine and feminine with his unique features. Most assumed he was a woman because of how fair he was. The mistake never quite lost its sting. I know what youre thinking. Sven said, pulling him away from the bow and out of the way of the other men as they prepared to sail for the land in the distance. Oh? What am I thinking? Vigi asked with a raised eyebrow and a small upward tilt of his lips. You are thinking of going off and getting into trouble. I wasnt going to go actively look for it. Vigi laughed softly, brushing his hair away from his face as it wiped Nevertheless, it finds you. Sven snorted, crossing his thick arms over his chest. Loki enjoys mucking up your luck and you best not push it in a foreign land. The smile started to fade and he mirrored his brothers posture. What are you telling me then? Stay. With. The ship. Sven said slowly as though he was speaking to a child and it caused Vigi to scowl outright. These men may worship a weak god, but you never know what lays hidden in those walls. There could visiting warriors. Vigi stared at his brother blankly for a few moments. Youve any idea how ridiculous you sound? You are talking to me as though I am one of your children. Sven frowned at him. You act like one sometimes. You are so thick headed and stubborn sometimes that when you get an idea in your head, you go and do it ignoring all the dangers and consequences. The two men glowered at each other until Sven raised his finger and pointed it in his face. Stay on the ship. You are here as a healer. The seidrmadr flicked his eyes along the length of the warrior before him. I best go help. He said, giving no emotion away as he let his arms drop down then walked away. Sven stared after him and a short man with dark wild hair came to stand next to him. You know youve just made it worse. Sven tightened his lips and gritted his teeth. I know, Bui. The man shook his head, running his hand through his beard. Let him be. He traveled the north alone since he was barely of age. If he survived that, he can survive this. I mean, tis only a bunch of men that worship a god that does not fight. They are all so young they ought to still be suckling their mothers teet or they are as old as dust. He can surely handle that. Vigi slung a quiver across his back, then his satchel before pulling on a dark cloak with a hood and then a wolfs pelt for added warmth. Most of the men were off pillaging the monastery with only a few manning the ship. He had given them a few hours to finish off the holy men inside, meaning they would now be busy looting anything of value, including gold and food to restock their supplies. He had a number of excuses to use if he was seen by any of the warriors or his brothers, but he was not too concerned. Strapping his saex to his hip he pulled on the hood of his cloak, hiding the bright beads of glittering stone and metal woven into his hair. Picking up the bow he went above deck and seeing he was alone he quickly moved across it. A fast climb down a rope and he was off on the rocky beach. His breath puffed out in front of him as he ran toward the path that lead up the rocky cliffs to the monastery above. He looked up at it with a grin, excitement rolling through him as he ran faster. The gardens were absolutely massive. He did not think he had ever seen one so big before. So much so that Vigi found it easy to hide whenever he thought someone was walking by. He was enjoying looking and collecting all the herbs there were for this land to be pulled away now. And if Sven saw him hed surely try to drag him back to the ship. His brother could be such a mother hen and he did not understand why. They were not children anymore, he didnt need him to come barreling in with his practice sword to fight off all the other children that picked on him. He could take care of himself. A soft buzzing met his ears and he perked up with interest, heading toward the sound that came from what looked like upside down baskets of straw. He could see bee's hovering around the small hole, crawling in and out of the man made hive. Grinning he looked around for some wet wood so he could create smoke to put the bees to sleep. If he brought back wonderful fresh honey then Sven may be less likely to lecture him for wandering off. Once he found a suitable branch he set fire to it with his flint and when the smoke was thick he waved it around and in the small opening to lull the bees to sleep. He pulled his hood off when a bee became trapped inside then opened the small top and reached his hand in to start collecting honey combs. It wasnt completely without pain, some of the bees did sting him but he ignored it and pulled out a hand sized piece of honey comb. He dusted off the bees still crawling on it and picked out as much of the larva and bee bodies he could. Sitting down next to the skep he bit into the honey comb, humming at the sweet taste of fresh honey. He continued to eat, picking up stray drops of honey off his chin with his finger and licking it clean.