The Saga of Medlepad
Kolbjorn, Count of Medlepad gazed out upon his land from his small castle near the sea. Barren now due to the harsh winter he, he longed for the lush green that covered the heavily forested lands during the summer. Kolbjorn loved his homeland dearly; it had always been home to his family. Way before Kolbjorn had been born his family had been the most powerful clan of the pagan tribes that were scattered over the land. When the Medlepad family was had become the most powerful clan in the area they carved out a home for themselves and proclaimed rule over all of it. Kolbjorn was now Christian as his great grandfather Ulf of Medlepad converted and established it as the religion of the land.
Kolbjorn was married to Ulvhilde, a local girl whom he had spotted one afternoon a year ago while hunting. Though not of noble blood, she was of good stock from the land he loved so dearly. He hoped that she would provide him with a fine, masculine heir that was as much a part of the land as Kolbjorn felt he was.
Wise and well educated Kolbjorn had no great desire to become a man of any power beyond what he already held. Some said he was a coward, but Kolbjorn knew he lacked the finesse required to obtain claims, tittles and power. But Kolbjorn knew that he would be put to the test as the two kingdoms around him would try to claim him as their own. There was also the constant threat of the pagan tribes to the north, once brothers they were now enemies due to there religions. Though he cared not if men were heathens or Christians, Kolbjorn knew that they were a threat to his lands and that he may have to take the offensive against them in order to protect himself.
Kolbjorn knew that tough times were ahead of him, and that his home and his people were on the verge of obliteration, but Kolbjorn were persevere and fight as hard as he could to save what he loved.
Some days later Kolbjorn poured over the current financial standing of the land with his Steward and Cousin, Helna Forsa. The two sat in Kolbjorn’s private chambers and discussed the different ways to increase income.
A knock came at the chamber door
“Enter” Kolbjorn said as he glanced at a tax report. At the door messenger boy appeared bowed his head and handed Kolbjorn a scroll with and official seal on it, bowed his head again and took two steps back out of the room. Kolbjorn looked at the seal; it was that of a cat of some kind holding an ax. Kolbjorn knew it to be that the seal of Austmod, the Magistrate of Jamtland. Kolbjorn broke the seal and opened the scroll, his eyes widened as he read.
“Helna, send for my wife, and Ragnfrid immediately!” Kolbjorn exclaimed with enthusiasm. Without word Helna darted from the room and returned a few moments later with Ragnfrid Flugga, the Chancellor of Medlepad and Ulvhilde, wife and Spy Master to Kolbjorn.
“I have news, astounding news. We have an opportunity for a new ally! Austmod, the Magistrate of Jamtland has requested an alliance! I have decided this is most assuredly in our best interests and have already sent back to him word of our new friendship. We may have a future indeed.”
The courtiers smiled with glee at the news and Ulvhilde stepped up to embrace her husband and kissed him lovingly and whispered something into his ear. Now that there was a possibility of a future for Medlepad it was only fitting that she provided an heir to that future. Kolbjorn smiled for the first time in ages.