Chapter 9 A Year Later...

A year and a few months passed since that day, Kattegat sat and enjoyed a fragile peace with other kingdoms not making any moves only due to their military prowess and disdain for one another.

It was survival of the fittest and right now, Kattegat held that title, King Askild struck fear in his neighbors ever since the capture of Egil Iversen with something as simple as a raiding party.

But King Askild was no fool, he knew he needed allies because even he would not be able to withstand an invasion from his neighbors if it was coordinated well enough but what worried him the most was that King Asmund did not reached out nor tried to get Egil Iversen back, it was like he abandoned him or rather, left him to fate.

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The year saw a lot of progress, Ragnar bonded with Tyr, teaching him how to speak Old Norse as well as become a better fighter but Tyr did not seem like a stranger holding the blade and learned the skills Ragnar taught him naturally like it was second nature to him begging the question of where he came from.

Bjorn, however, started to feel neglected and began training extensively with his uncle, Ulf.

He did not have a problem with Tyr being labeled his brother but he did have a problem with his father treating him like more of a priority than him.

This was no longer some pebble-throwing rivalry, it took the form of a true rivalry with Bjorn taking his training far more seriously, and Ulf acknowledging that he has greater potential than both him and Ragnar, his growth in a year was nothing short of breath-taking.

"Uncle Ulf, I am headed home," Bjorn said after a training session, he managed to nick Ulf, even if it was just a little, but this was more than most Vikings have done but was it because Ulf was going easy on him? That could not be it, there was something behind the blade that Ulf himself could not wrap his mind around, and it had a resolve to it.

"Alright Bjorn, greet your father for me," Ulf said, sending Bjorn on his way.

Bjorn was a lot more muscular and taller than he was a year ago, he was bigger than kids his age, and his combat skills improved so much that he could hold his own against the slightly below-average Viking warrior, this was very impressive for a twelve-year-old.

He arrived home and say Tyr, Tyr had a single tattoo strip on his forearm to cover up the stamp of a slave, he was now the son of Ragnar Lothbrok and was treated as one but people did find it blasphemous that an outsider was given the name of one of their sacred gods.

Unlike Bjorn, he was of average height despite being age mates, and a lot more slender.

Appearance-wise, Bjorn looked a lot stronger but did that hold for skills?

"Hey, Bjorn!" Tyr called out but Bjorn did not respond.

"BJORN!" Tyr called out again and Bjorn responded this time, he did not hear him the first time due to the distance and instantly ran to Tyr.

Despite all this, the two kids were not on bad terms and shared a strong bond despite their rivalry.

"Hey Tyr! I managed to cut uncle Ulf," Bjorn immediately gloated about his little victory to his younger brother and Tyr was awestruck by this news, with his mouth opening in admiration.

"You did!?" Tyr asked him in admiration, he was not surprised about his brother's little victory, he knew Bjorn was strong as he had never won a spar between the two, Bjorn had a unique fighting style he had to create to counter Ulf's attacks and it worked flawlessly for him, he was always evolving as he took into account how to counter attacks he could not counter into his style so he came back stronger after each defeat, he knew he was years too young to win a battle against Ulf but this did not mean he would not try to, because he knew that Tyr's potential was great but he did not know what the seer told Ragnar, only Lagertha was aware of it.

"Of course I did, the awesome Bjorn fears no man beneath the heavens!" Bjorn exclaimed in an excited voice, with Tyr chuckling.

"My rival is truly strong, you will be a great warrior!" Tyr said but Bjorn was quick to respond.

"As will you, the sons of Ragnar will have to do our father's name proud!" Bjorn said, with Tyr looking in admiration. He looked up to Bjorn, he was strong and the first person to accept him, even when he once had his status as a slave and when he became his brother, he treated him as an equal.

They had grown close, and Bjorn finally got the brother he always wanted but Tyr was still cautious.

The Lothbroks' might have accepted him but this could not be said for the other Vikings, he had to somehow prove himself to them or he was just a slave in their eyes regardless of his ties to Ragnar.

He knew deep down that he was not a true Lothbrok but he also knew he owed his life to them because if Ragnar did not buy him, he would not be free to this day.

"I hope I can join father in his next campaign," Bjorn said, he wanted to be on the front lines and who could blame him, real battle experience forces growth in warriors due to the life and death terms attached to it, one mistake will result in the death of him or his enemy.

This was something you could not get by just training and Bjorn realized that but Ragnar still saw him as unprepared, him and his brother.

"I want to go too but father is strict," Tyr said with a sigh.

"What if we snuck up on his boat, brother?" Bjorn said but Tyr knew this was near impossible.

"I have a better idea, let's meet Hagen!" Tyr exclaimed. He knew the boat maker might just make this near-impossible idea of Bjorn possible.