Vikings One Shot

"I have heard that if I want a vessel built to take me across the seas, you are the man I am to speak to... Floki?" You spoke out into the empty forest, your words echoing around the tall trees and ricocheting off their thick bark. "I was told to meet him here, yet, the forest is fruitful of all but people..." Your eyes darted around the forest, hoping to find some kind of encampment, a hut, or at least remnants that somebody had been here, a fire or footsteps. You turned to leave, to return to the village to find the old drunkard that had told you about this legendary boat-maker but as you turned you felt a tap on your shoulder.

You spun around to answer the call but all that you found was the swirling of the leaves in the midsummer breeze and all you heard was the swirling of the alpine winds, yet, once again a tap on your shoulder, this time much harder, almost a grab that held onto you.

"I think I may have heard somebody asking for Floki?" A voice behind you called out, an impish inflection rolled out with each sentence that fell out of his naughty grin.

"Yes... that would be you I presume." He nodded and bowed deeply. The man bore blackened eyes and muted, short hair that stuck out in all directions, he held his fingertips touched together and jerkily moved around. "And do you build boats?" He laughed, almost maniacally. He did not look like much of a Viking, a rather... toned-down build and spindly appendages.

"Na, I do not build boats, I build vessels. Vessels that can carry a crew far beyond the horizon and a vessel that can withstand the barrages of the greatest army, no, a vessel that can hold up against Jörmungandr itself with it's crew still living to tell the tale." As the spilled from his mouth as if he invoked the very spirit of Bragi his eyes sparked with excitement, with a hint of mischief. "So, tell me, what kind of boat do you need?"

"A cheap one..." Floki's head shook from side to side.

"No, no you see, I do not make 'cheap' boats. The trees speak to me, telling me where the find the finest planks, the iron shivers and twinges, asking me to have them turned into nails and embedded into the wood. Cheap boats are not something I do... Come back when you have something more respectable to say."

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Written by Aaron.