Ragnar went to see his brother, Ulf. He was scarce and rarely came to visit him so he took it upon himself to visit him.

Knocking on the door but he got no response so knocked once again.

Once again there was no response but his door was not locked, so Ragnar pushed it aside and gained entry into it.

It was his brother's house so while this might be invading his privacy, it was acceptable since it was his brother and Ulf would not mind either way.

He could not see Ulf but he saw a naked lady on his bed, he averted his gaze like it was no big deal, and entered a different compartment of the house to see if Ulf was in there but no luck.

"You, wake up," Ragnar said to the girl in his brother's bed and she quickly moved to cover up her more private areas under the sheets. Ragnar did not once look away as he has seen a hundred naked ladies with his eyes remaining above her chest.

"Where is my brother, woman?" Ragnar asked her in a tone, slightly aggressive. It took a moment for her to realize who was talking to her because she knew Ulf had family as he had spoken about Ragnar once or twice when he had a bit too much to drink and this made Ottkatla nervous because she did not know just what Ragnar was capable of.

"Do you understand the words coming out of my mouth?" Ragnar asked but he noticed the brand of a slave on her shoulder and this surprised him. Surely, his brother had not bought a slave.

Ottkatla knew she could not speak anyhow for the life of a slave was nothing of value and she could not risk saying the wrong thing and potentially angering Ulf.

"Forgive me but I do not know where lord Ulf has gone." The lady said and Ragnar heaved a frustrated sigh, he did not understand why she was being so strange.

"Hey brother," A voice called out and Ragnar looked back to see Ulf, he was sweating with bloodied fists but Ragnar did not say a word.

"Get the fuck out, whore!" Ulf said to Ottkalta and she immediately rolled out of the bed and ran out while barely clothed and both brothers stood in awkward silence.

"What brings you here, brother?" Ulf asked, walking towards his bed but Ragnar maintained his silence as he looked on at Ulf, he watched him intently.

Ulf then proceeded to apologize for the state of his house and the presence of the thrall in his bed but Ragnar waved it off, and he was fine with it.

"What happened to your hands? Ulf?" Ragnar said in a stern voice.

"Oh this, it is just a scratch. Nothing to worry about," Ulf said, quickly taking his fists from the sight of Ragnar but Ragnar was not going to push it. Whatever reasons he had to keep it from him were best known to Ulf.

"I came to talk to you about joining my expedition," Ragnar opened up the conversation, he got straight to the point as he had no time to waste.

"Expedition? Who is leading this expedition, brother?" Ulf asked. It sounded rhetorical but Ragnar responded nonetheless.

"I am, Ulf and that is why I want you by my side. I need your strength, brother." Ragnar said and the way he phrased his words broke through the attitude Ulf was putting up.

"You have my sword, brother," Ulf responded with a lighter demeanor.

"I heard about the execution, that man made a fool out of us," Ulf said, wiping the blood off of his fists.

"That was no ordinary man, that was a great warrior," Ragnar responded, sitting on the edge of the bed the lady was just on.

"He is an enemy, brother," Ulf said but Ragnar brushed it off, he did not want to continue the conversation because he knew he and his brother did not see eye to eye on so many things but this did not mean they did not get along.

"Who was the girl?" Ragnar asked, effectively changing the conversation.

"She is a slave, a thrall. She is no one important." Ulf responded.

"A slave, why are you with a slave? You do not own her, Ulf." Ragnar said. He knew the trouble it would bring if Ulf was doing this without her owner's permission.

"Hahaha! You do not need to worry about that, brother. How is Bjorn?" Ulf played the Uno reverse card as he too had just changed the topic.

"Bjorn is great, I have decided to take him and Tyr with me on this next expedition as well. The boys are of age," Ragnar said and this brought a surprised look from Ulf.

"That is Bjorn for you!" Ulf said but he did not acknowledge Tyr in his excitement. Ragnar took note of this but it did not bother him as he knew just what sort of person his brother was.historical

"How is Lagertha?" Ulf asked and a momentary silence followed, but it was broken soon after.

"Why don't you come to see her yourself? You liked doing that a lot once upon a time," Ragnar said in a suggestive tone and the panic in Ulf's eyes was apparent. Ragnar knew Lagertha was beautiful, and a strong warrior so he could not blame his brother for his attraction towards her but that was where it should end. She belongs to Ragnar, and Ragnar alone.

"What? I can not see my sister-in-law?" Ulf said in a playful voice but Ragnar's blue eyes looked right at him like they had pierced his soul.

"Ulf, she belongs to me," Ragnar said in a stern tone, maintaining eye contact and Ulf knew at this moment that he was not joking around as his muscles tensed up.

"I know brother, I would never betray you," Ulf responded, and Ragnar smiled.

"I know, brother. I know." Ragnar responded.