The morning sun broke over Kattegat, casting a golden glow on ships swaying in the harbor. Smoke curled from hearths, traders shouted over stalls, and farmers trudged to the granaries with sacks of grain.
To an outsider, Kattegat seemed like any other thriving settlement. But beneath the surface, change was stirring.
Bjorn Ironside was no longer merely a raider or warlord. He was something more. The whispers spoke it plainly:
"He rules like a king."
"No—like something greater."
But kings rose and fell. Legends endured. Bjorn knew this truth. And so, he prepared to give Kattegat what no Viking village had ever known: laws, order, and a system that would outlive even his axe.
The Gathering of the Hall
The great hall was filled with firelight and smoke when Bjorn summoned his men. Jarls, huskarls, and warriors crowded the benches. Women stood behind them, listening, their faces hidden in shadow. His wife, seated at his right hand, watched with sharp eyes; his concubines lingered near the pillars, their silence heavy with influence.
Bjorn rose. His voice carried like thunder.
"For too long we have lived like wolves, hunting and tearing at each other's throats. A wolf pack survives because it has order. The alpha rules, the pack obeys, and together they thrive. So it shall be here, in Kattegat. Not only by sword, but by law."
A murmur swept through the hall. Some frowned, others leaned forward eagerly.
Bjorn raised a hand. "Hear the laws of the Wolf."
The First Laws
Bjorn declared them, one by one:
Tribute – "Silver, grain, and goods owed to Kattegat belong first to the hall. Any man who withholds them is guilty of rebellion."
Betrayal – "A man who betrays his oaths to his jarl, or to Kattegat, forfeits his life."
Theft – "Stealing from your brother weakens the pack. A thief's hand shall be forfeit."
Blood Feud – "Grievances between men will be judged in this hall, not settled with endless killing. Blood must be answered, but it shall be weighed here, before me."
Faith – "Odin watches us. His blessings flow through me. Any man who curses the gods or mocks the Allfather's gift will be cast out as thrall or sacrifice."
Silence followed, heavy and thick. Then, slowly, men nodded.
It was harsh, yes—but it was clear. Clearer than any chaos they had known.
Justice by Fire
The first test came within days.
A farmer named Arne was dragged before the hall, accused of stealing a goat from his neighbor. His hands trembled, his eyes darted, as the warriors shoved him to his knees before Bjorn.
"My lord, my children starved," Arne pleaded. "I took the goat, yes, but only to save them!"
The hall buzzed with debate. Some shouted for mercy. Others demanded death.
Bjorn raised his hand, and silence fell.
"You knew the law," he said, his voice calm. "The pack cannot survive if each man takes what he pleases. You took the goat. You weakened your brother. And so, the punishment is the loss of your hand."
Arne sobbed, but Bjorn's gaze was steel. "Yet your children will not starve. Kattegat will give them food. For a wolf may lose its limb, but the pack must endure."
With one stroke, Sven Iron-Foot severed Arne's hand. The hall shuddered with horror and awe.
Bjorn stood tall. "This is law. This is order. Remember it well."
And they did.
The Influence of Women
That night, as feasting resumed, Bjorn's wife approached him privately. Her voice was sharp but respectful.
"You are building something greater than any man before you," she said. "But be careful. Fear will keep them silent, yes—but too much fear breeds rebellion."
Bjorn smirked. "Which is why I temper it with justice."
His concubines, overhearing, drifted closer, their whispers sly. One leaned in, murmuring, "And which of us will bear the next child of this order you create?"
Bjorn's eyes glimmered. He understood well: women were not only for bed—they were eyes and ears, tools of loyalty and betrayal alike. His wife gave him legitimacy. His concubines gave him control. Together, they were part of his power.
Children of the Wolf
His sons toddled through the hall that evening, watched by the crowd. Warriors smiled as they saw the children of Bjorn Ironside, heirs to the strength of Odin's chosen.
Bjorn lifted his eldest onto his shoulders, raising him high for all to see.
"This is the future," he declared. "My blood, my line, my dynasty. Kattegat will not fade when I am gone. It will endure, through them."
The hall roared approval.
The Council of Wolves
Weeks later, Bjorn formed his council. He chose them carefully:
Floki, for his cunning and vision.
Sven Iron-Foot, for loyalty and strength.
Haldor the Quiet, a farmer-turned-warrior, to represent common men.
His wife, for sharp counsel and the governance of women.
Even one of his concubines, trusted for her ability to gather whispers.
They met at dawns and dusks, advising Bjorn, judging disputes, planning raids.
And so, slowly, Kattegat became more than a village. It became a kingdom in all but name.
A Kingdom Without a Crown
By summer's end, traders came from far-off lands, marveling at the order in Kattegat. Farmers worked without fear of raiders. Silver flowed. Ships multiplied.
But Bjorn knew peace was only a mask.
Every law he made, every judgment he gave, was not for peace—but for power. The pack needed order so that it could hunt greater prey.
And one night, standing before his council, Bjorn whispered words that would echo through the ages:
"We are not done. Kattegat is not enough. The wolf must hunt beyond these shores. And when the world hears our howls, they will tremble."
The firelight caught his eyes, and in that moment, every man in the hall believed it.
Bjorn was not only a ruler.
He was becoming a legend.
Every saga is not written by the gods alone—it is written by the people who choose to believe in it. Bjorn Ironside: Rise of the Northern Conqueror is my passion project, a dark and brutal legend crafted with care, sweat, and countless hours at the forge of imagination.
From this point forward, I will be updating with 1–2 full chapters a day, bringing you deeper into Bjorn's world—his strength, his ambitions, his family, his lovers, his soldiers, his enemies, and his destiny.
But legends cannot grow in silence. They need voices. They need support. They need you.
So I humbly ask: if you enjoy this journey, if it stirs something in your heart—whether awe, thrill, or even fear—then show your strength. Vote with power stones. Support with coins/currency. Leave your comments and thoughts.
Every stone, every word, every act of support is a shield and sword in this saga. Together, we will carve Bjorn's tale into something unforgettable.
This is not just my story—it is our legend. And with your strength, this wolf's howl will shake the world.
—Your Author ♥️♥️♥️