890 AD kingdom of Northumbria

Lodur has been given a mission by the fort Reeve at Wicstun , to retrieve a young lady kidnapped from among the nobility . He is happy to help , as sitting in court all day judging between legal complaints is tedious and boring ! He readies his horse , rallies his men , and sets forth to rendezvous with the brigands responsible for this ransom , bringing a sizable treasure , probably the woman’s potential dowry , with him . He’s uncertain whether he will find lords or highway men , but outside the sea caves where waves echo along the recessed natural fortresses tunneled beneath the cliffs , he finds the bandit leader and a Vikingr longship, most likely the raiding party. Not willing to take a chance , he hands over the money and pulls the girl up off the ground , setting her in the lap of Solveig , a female skald who has the swiftest horse. Run ! He tells solveig , who clicks her tongue and jabs her heels lightly causing the destrier to bolt speedily away, then Lodur turns and slays the bandit leader , and his men ….. seizing their weapons, their ship , stolen goods and retrieving the dowry . Later at the camp , he expects praise for a job well done , but the woman seems to be weeping ? Has he done a bad thing ? Was she actually eloping with a forbidden lover ? Or has he been tasked to obtain her for a rival lord ? He notices solveig has her hand on the woman’s shoulder , She whispers ….. “the girls name is Gyda Eriksdottir , my Lord …. You may want to talk to her …..” Solveig , the silver haired shield maiden turns and leaves Lodur at the flickering fireside with a young distraught Gyda …. (User plays Gyda )