The dawn after the test feels different. The air itself hums—charged, waiting.
Word has spread through the settlement: Ragnar Lothbrok has built a device that finds the sun's path. Some call it witchcraft. Others call it genius. All agree it's dangerous.
Kalf trails behind me as I walk toward the great hall, his voice low.
"You sure about this, brother?"
"No," I admit. "But it wouldn't matter if I was."
The hall looms ahead, its carved dragon-heads glaring down like silent judges. Inside, the smell of smoke and mead mixes with iron and sweat. Warriors crowd the benches, whispering.
At the far end sits Jarl Haraldson—broad, grim, his beard streaked with silver and his eyes like chips of ice. Sten stands at his right hand, arms folded, gaze unreadable.
Haraldson's voice fills the hall the moment I cross the threshold.
"So. You're the boy who would sail where no man sails."
I bow slightly, the gesture awkward in Ragnar's young body.
"Jarl Haraldson. I seek only to prove that the sea does not end where we think it does."
Laughter ripples through the room. Someone mutters, "Madness."
Haraldson lifts a hand, silencing them.
"My son speaks of your trick—your 'sun finder.' Show me."
I step forward and place the device on the long table. The firelight gleams off the polished bone pin.
"It measures the sun's shadow. With it, you can know which way is west, even when clouds hide the coast."
Haraldson leans forward, his expression carved from stone.
"And why would a farmer's son need to know that?"
The question is a test, but also a threat. My pulse quickens.
"Because the world is larger than we've been told," I say.
"Because there are lands across the sea—fertile, rich. If we reach them first, Kattegat will be remembered forever."
A long silence follows. Fire pops. Mead sloshes.
Then the jarl smiles—but it's not kindness. It's the smile of a wolf.
"Many men dream of glory, Ragnar Lothbrok. Most find only the sea's teeth."
He stands, towering.
"You speak boldly for one so young. Boldness is a fine thing—if it's tested."
He gestures toward the warriors nearest him.
"There's a merchant ship readying to sail east to trade furs. You'll join them."
I blink.
"East?"
His smile widens.
"If your device can find west, surely it can find east as well."
The hall laughs with him, rough and cruel.
"Prove your skill," Haraldson says.
"Bring the ship home faster than any before it. Do that, and perhaps I'll listen to your talk of distant lands."
It's not an invitation—it's a leash. But I nod.
"I'll prove it."
Haraldson's gaze sharpens, searching for fear.
"See that you do. The sea is hungry, and I'd hate to lose such a promising tongue."
Sten's eyes meet mine briefly. There's something there—respect, or warning. Maybe both.
I back away, bowing again. The laughter follows me out into the cold morning.
Kalf is waiting just beyond the doors.
"What happened?"
"I've been given a test," I say.
"One meant to break me."
He grins anyway.
"Then we'd better make sure it doesn't."
We walk together down to the docks. The ship lies moored there—a broad-bellied trader smelling of tar and salt, its sail furled like a sleeping beast. Men move along the deck, preparing for departure.
As I study the vessel, a thin, sharp-eyed man with a streak of soot across his cheek watches me from the shadows near the sheds. His hands are stained with pitch and iron.
He grins when our eyes meet.
"You're the one who built the sun finder," he says, voice rough as gravel.
"Interesting. I make ships that don't sink."
Before I can answer, he disappears into the gloom of his workshop, laughter echoing after him.
Kalf frowns.
"Who was that?"
I glance toward the dark doorway.
"Maybe someone I'll need soon."
The wind shifts, carrying the scent of the open sea. The horizon gleams—east this time, not west.
I touch the compass at my belt, feeling its steady weight.
Haraldson thinks he's set a trap.
But every voyage begins somewhere.
Tomorrow, I'll sail east to prove a point.
Soon, I'll sail west to change the world.
---
The next day dawns cold and gray, the sky heavy with clouds. Mist clings to the ground like a shroud, and the sea churns impatiently against the rocks. Kalf and I arrive at the docks early, the smell of salt and wood filling the air.
The merchant ship, *The Sea Breeze*, is bustling with activity. A group of sailors scurries about, hauling crates and rigging the sails. I spot the captain, a tall man with a beard like tangled seaweed, barking orders at his crew.
"Ragnar!" Kalf nudges me.
"Let's find out how they plan to sail."
We approach the captain, who squints at us with suspicion.
"What do you want?"
"I'm here to join the voyage," I say, trying to keep my voice steady.
He crosses his arms, unimpressed.
"And why should I let a boy on my ship?"
"Because I can help you navigate," I reply, gesturing to the sun finder still slung across my back.
"It will guide us."
The captain raises an eyebrow.
"Is that so? Show me this device of yours."
I pull out the sun finder, its polished bone surface gleaming even in the dull light. I explain its function, how it uses the sun's position to find true directions. The captain listens, his expression shifting from skepticism to intrigue.
"Very well," he says finally.
"If you can prove it works, you can join us. But if you fail, you'll be off my ship faster than you can blink."
I nod, feeling the weight of his challenge.
The sun breaks through the clouds, revealing a pale blue sky. I set the sun finder on the deck, aligning it with the sun's rays. As I adjust the pin, I feel Kalf's eyes on me, watching, waiting.
"West," I say, pointing confidently.
"The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. Follow the shadow."
The captain's lips curl into a smile.
"Impressive, boy. You might just have a place on my ship after all
."
He gestures to the crew, and they begin to prepare the ship for departure. My heart races with a mix of excitement and trepidation. Kalf claps me on the back, a grin splitting his face.
"You see? You've already made your mark!"
"Let's not celebrate just yet," I reply, my eyes scanning the ship. The sailors are still skeptical, but I can sense the shift—a subtle respect beginning to form.
As *The Sea Breeze* sets sail, the wind fills the sails and the ship lurches forward, cutting through the waves. I stand at the bow, the salty spray misting my face, and watch the land of Kattegat recede into the distance.
"Keep your eyes on the horizon, Ragnar!" the captain calls. "The sea can change in an instant."
I turn my focus to the vastness before us, the water shimmering under the sun. Every wave that crashes against the hull feels like a pulse of adventure, a heartbeat echoing my own.
The crew works efficiently, but I can sense tension among them. They're seasoned sailors, familiar with the ocean's moods, yet something about this journey feels different. I can't help but wonder if they sense the weight of my ambition, my desire to prove Jarl Haraldson wrong.
As the day wears on, I spend my time learning from the crew. I help with the rigging, learn the intricacies of the sails, and familiarize myself with the ship's layout. Each knot I tie brings me closer to understanding the life of a sailor.
At midday, I gather the crew around me and bring out the sun finder again. "Listen," I say, "the sun is at its highest right now, and we're headed east. I can show you how to use this to keep our course true."
Some of the sailors roll their eyes, but a few lean in, curiosity piqued. I demonstrate how to read the device, how to calculate our position using the sun's shadow.
"See?" I say, pointing to the direction we're heading. "If we maintain this course, we'll reach the trading ports in no time."
The captain watches, arms crossed, a mix of skepticism and intrigue on his face.
"Let's see if you can keep us steady, boy," he finally says, his tone gruff but not unkind.
As the afternoon wears on, I take my place at the helm whenever I can, using the sun finder to guide us. I feel the crew's eyes on me, their doubts slowly giving way to a cautious respect.
But as the sun begins to dip toward the horizon, a sudden squall sweeps in from the east, dark clouds rolling over us like a shroud. The wind howls, sending waves crashing against the ship.
"Get the sails down!" the captain barks, his voice cutting through the roar of the storm.
Panic erupts among the crew. They scramble, shouting to each other as the ship pitches violently. I grab hold of a railing, heart pounding.
Kalf appears at my side, eyes wide with fear.
"What do we do?"
"Trust the sun finder," I shout back, trying to keep my voice steady. "If we can keep our course, we'll ride it out!"
But the wind screams louder, and the waves grow taller, threatening to swallow us whole. I feel the weight of the crew's lives resting on my shoulders.
"Ragnar!" the captain's voice cuts through the chaos. "Get to the helm! You're in charge of the course!"
I nod, determination flooding my veins. I sprint toward the helm, gripping the wheel with white-knuckled intensity. The sun's position shifts, filtered through the thickening clouds, but I can't lose faith in the sun finder now.
"Adjust to the west!" I shout, recalling my earlier calculations. "We can ride the edge of the storm!"
The crew responds, forced to trust me as they work to adjust the sails. My heart races as the sea roars around us, the ship bucking wildly.
"Steady!" I call, my voice fighting against the storm. "Keep her true!"
With every wave we crest, I feel my confidence growing. This is where I'm meant to be—at the heart of the storm, steering our fate.
The clouds darken, and rain pelts us like daggers, but I keep my focus on the sun finder, trusting it to guide us through the chaos.
Time blurs as we ride the storm, the ship lurching and dipping, but slowly, we begin to level out. The crew works tirelessly, their faith in me solidifying with each passing moment.
Finally, after what feels like an eternity, the storm begins to recede. The clouds break, revealing a sky painted in shades of orange and purple. The sea calms, and the ship steadies beneath me.
Cheers erupt from the crew as they realize we've weathered the worst of it. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding, the adrenaline still coursing through me.
The captain approaches, a glimmer of respect in his eyes.
"You handled that well, boy. You've earned your place on this ship."
I nod, a mix of relief and pride swelling within me. But even as I bask in their approval, I know this is just the beginning. The journey ahead will be fraught with challenges, but I'm ready.
Tomorrow, we sail further into the unknown. And soon, I'll find a way to turn my dreams into reality.
As the sun sets, painting the sky in fiery hues, I stand at the bow once more, gazing out into the vast expanse. The world beyond the horizon calls to me, and I can almost hear its whispers—promises of lands yet to be discovered, glory waiting to be claimed.
I am Ragnar Lothbrok, and I will not be bound by fear or doubt. The journey has just begun, and I will change the world.