"The boys are back!" Ottar yelled as his drakkar reached the land and he and his friends could finally go to Oslo's finest inns.
They tied up drakkar in the dock and took some souvenirs to show off to the ladies. But it wasn't lonely for them in the sea, how could it be in such a good company of friends? They reached an inn and requested a jug of their finest mead.
"Ottar! Speech before we begin!" Kisping said.
"Alright, men" Ottar stood up. "This was a successful trip, we found many things, we battled many ships and we didn't lose any of our friends. We got drunk in the shores, in the sea and some days the sun was too bright, but we made it back to our loving town which has so much to offer. So while we're here, let's drink, let's make love and have no regrets!"
"Yaaaaaah!" The vikings clinked their cups together and started drinking.
Soon the alcohol hit their heads and men became even more happy, even more talkative and it wasn't too far when they started asking Ottar to sing as it was known he had a glorious voice, used not only for inspiring, but also to please the ears. He sang a tune and then another while Kisping blew his horn. His talent was greeted with applause and attracted attention of one person who was also drinking mead with a group, but sitting more far from the center.
Ottar was surrounded by girls who were whispering in his ear, he laughed and showed off the things he got. One of the things were bagpipes and that also attracted the before mentioned person's attention as well. So it's no surprise that when Ottar stood up and went outside to let the mead out he was followed.
As he was coming back, a figure greeted him in the doorway.
"Do you want to say something?" he asked.
"Yes, I want your bagpipes." the voice said.
"Why would I give you my bagpipes?" Ottar asked.
"I can pay."
"Well, at least step into the light and identify yourself like a real man."
"As you wish, but you're in for a surprise." The figure stepped into the light and Ottar saw a young woman standing in front of him. Her hair in front was braided so that it wouldn't get in her eyes, she was dressed as a man and her look was determinant and confident.
"But you're a girl!"
"Do you have a problem? Will you sell me the bagpipes or will I have to fight you for them?" she had her hands on her waist and had no intention of moving away.
Ottar laughed.
"You have courage, my dear, I like that. I will give you my bagpipes as a present for you."
"Thank you, but that's not necessary. I can pay for them."
"You can pay for them with a kiss." Ottar approached her, but she twisted at the last moment and he ended up kissing the door. The girl laughed. "Ah, I see." Ottar said. "I like a good conquest. Would you like to sit at my table and tell me what a pretty girl like you are doing in Oslo wearing man clothes?"
"Only if I get my bagpipes."
"Yes yes, of course. Do you drink mead?"
"I would not survive without it."
Ottar laughed and they went inside. The girl showed to her friends that she is going with Ottar and he saw five more young women come out, dressed similarly. They sat at Ottar's table and his mates were as shocked as he was. The girl Ottar met spoke:
"My name is Flokia. This is my crew, we sail together from the Baltics in our drakkar. We may not have been blessed by perfect appearance and we don't have the key for obedience, but the gods blessed us with our wits and we have sharp tongues just like our swords, so don't mess with us."
"Mm, I'd like to try her tongue later." Ottar whispered to Kisping.
"So tell me, where did you get the bagpipes or should I wait till you write in your travel book about it?" Flokia asked Ottar as she sat next to him. The groups started talking with each other as it was interesting for Ottar mates to find out how a drakkar is soaring the seas with a team of only women.
"No no, we just came back from Scotland. Have you been there before?"
They talked about their travels for the whole night. Apparently they had quite the similarities between each other. They started growing on each other. They both had the same reasons for not settling down: they wanted to experience the world to its fullest and they couldn't have something tying them down. Ottar and Flokia did not understand it: sometimes they would feel like they lighted up in each other's night like a torch in a dark cave. They felt connected in a way, so it was no surprise that as they were watching the sun come up Ottar asked Flokia a rather interesting question.
"Flokia, I will be setting sail in a few days, and it interests me...would you like to come with me to the Baltics?"
"I can't." Flokia's smile faded and Ottar felt as if somebody hit him with a cane.
"Why not?"
"I can't break a promise. And I can't leave my girls just like that."
"All of your girls can come!"
"We will slow you down, you will go like a huge turtle. And we have our own goals, our destinations. We have just left the Baltics, we are going to Scotland now. Today actually."
"I see." as if Ottar put on a mask, his face expression changed in mere seconds. "Well, if you have to go, I can not stop you."
"You truly can't. But I can give you something from me."
Flokia came closer and braided Ottar's hair in the front left and put a few beads with amber on it.
"There, now you will have something to remember me."
"Sunshine of the dark, I don't need anything to remember you. This night was plenty." Ottar smiled.
"You're so sweet." Flokia laughed.
"I'm not usually sweet. I think it's because of you." Ottar laughed.
As Ottar looked back, Flokia smiled so sweetly at him and he couldn't help himself so he leaned in and kissed her. His arms winded around her waist while he kissed not only her lips but her neck as well. She did the same. After a few quite passionate moments Flokia pushed him away and told that it was time for her to go back to her drakkar. Flokia stroked Ottar's hair and whispered to his ear that she is sure they will meet again one day. Ottar nodded and smiled as he planted another kiss on Flokia's lips. They went back to the inn where Flokia rounded up her girls and took Ottar's bagpipes.
"What's the name of your ship?" Ottar asked before she left.
"Black Sheep."
"Good." Ottar nodded. "I will look out for it on the seas."
"You better." Flokia smiled as she walked away.
As the door closed Kisping leaned to Ottar and asked: "So is her tongue really as sharp as her sword?"
Ottar took a moment to smile before he answered: "Sharper."
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