Chronicles of Hedda Bardinsdottir - Beholden to None

Lohner may not be any closer (so he says) to finding Hedda Bardinsdottir, but his search has turned up pages from her journal.

From the Rhunikron of Hedda Bardinsdottir

At sunrise my pledge o’ service to Barak Varr was fulfilled. I’m free to steer the Grungni’s Whisper in any direction. In fact, we’re already steamin’ full ahead... there’s a certain goblin pirate that’s gonna catch it hot, but more on that later...

The ceremony for my fulfilled oath of service was short. Always said Barak Varr was a practical hold, at least once you get past that whole ‘going out to sea thing’. It was nothin’ like those stuffy Engineering Guild rites that go for days. Anyhow, all I wanted to do was start a gorog, twirl my plaits and maybe stomp out me own version of a sailor’s jig. I still recall one that cousin Okri taught me as a young lass. Morgrim’s Beard! I don’t know how I did it, but I held it all in. Still, I could’na keep a grin off my face!

The crew are in a celebratin’ mood too, ‘cept a few elder Endrinkull and maybe some longbeards. They’re more traditional like, and aren’t so disposed to a smiling lass full o’ cheer, they prefer their Angaz Kvinn their Shieldmaiden of the Sea, the Captain that sank the vampire fleet of Count Noctilus and led the boarding action against the scourge Blackfist.

Well, they’ll be no celebrations, least not ‘til we catch our quarry. As for the dour traditionalists – plenty o’ them in every hold– well, I’ll be too busy to smile soon enough, they’ll just have to grumble into their beards ‘til then.

Me ma would be proud, as she’s the one taught me to defy expectations. I owe her a letter, and others besides. Three messages sit unanswered amongst my maps and charts. One from each of my parents, both seeking my whereabouts. The last is from an Umgi, a northerner named Franz Lohner – an associate of both my father, and, strangely enough, of another one of my old travel partners. Not sure how I feel ‘bout them knowin’ each other. One day I’ll have to ask ‘em how that came to be. I don’t believe in coincidences myself.

For now, hearth and home and intrigues can wait. I won’t let any squall – real or relations –blow me off course. I have my own mission: an oath to fulfill. My mind is made, it’s logic as airtight as this ship. After I rune-seal this entry, there’ll be time to toast the crew during ale rations, then it’s back to business... my business.

And right now, vengeance is my business.