(Viking Glory: The Viking Prince #1) - Jarl Rollo forged an alliance with King Horik of Hedeby by arranging a marriage between his son Jon and Horik’s daughter Princess Asa. Horik’s advisor Hakon the Soothsayer came to Gallund to negotiate the dowry. Jon was in the middle of a brawl with his friends against a group of fighters that raged across the village. Jon took time out of the fight to flirt with the young women of Gallund, and Rollo was proud of his boy, telling Hakon to observe his fighting prowess and might. Hakon secretly despised Rollo and Jon, seeing them as savages, but Jon was the only available suitor for Asa after his own choice, Amled of Slesvig was assassinated. Jon and his men, including his sea chief Svend Forkbeard, sailed to Hedeby but were caught by a fierce storm. Jon cut the sail ring but was struck by lighting and swore he felt as though he’d been touched by the power of Thor and Wodan. Jon felt out of his element in Hedeby, which was a rich and opulent trading community. Jon was introduced to Horik, and they drank in his hall into the night. Jon was disappointed that he wouldn’t see Asa until the betrothal banquet, and questioned whether or not she was attractive. This comment almost led to a fight, but Svend pleaded that he was drunk from mead. That night while the others slept Jon prowled the hall hoping to get a glimpse of Asa. He found her in the family quarters, and was astonished by her beauty. Asa saw he was nothing like what she expected a Viking to be, but was wary of his arrogance and how he was used to getting his way. Her bard Harald, Hakon’s son, was bitter that he was ineligible to marry Asa because he was crippled, and sang a disparaging song about Jon. Svend was furious with Jon’s behavior, and warned him he needed to earn the respect of the people of Hedeby. At the wedding banquet King Horik announced that he respected the old ways and knew the gods had to be satisfied so the marriage would be a success. He demanded Jon take place in a wedding quest to retrieve the Rune of Trondelag from the Isle of Ice so he’d prove worthy of ruling Hedeby one day and producing worthy heirs. Against Svend’s orders Jon agreed to the quest. The housecarl said Jon was to train under him to prepare, and Harald sang of the rune saga and the dangers it entailed. Asa grew to care about Jon and they made love before he left for his quest. Jon learned that with Horik devoted to his religion and worship he’d already handed over much of his power and work in statecraft to Asa. Hakon planned on Jon dying in the quest, and was plotting to assassinate Horik so he’d rule Hedeby with Harald. Harald, unable to stand seeing Jon with Asa, tried to have him assassinated and failed, and Hakon was furious with him for not sticking to his plan. Before Jon left for his quest he requested Harald accompany him as his bard and learned from Asa that she was pregnant. Jon and his honor guard arrived on the Isle of Ice and he found the grotto of Ansgar the dragon, which contained the rune he sought. Jon retrieved the rune, and with the help of his honor guard he slew Ansgar after an intense battle. Svend perished during the fight and was given a Viking’s funeral. Jon the viking Prince would go on to have many more legendary adventures recorded as sagas such as “Jon Gallund and the Lost Princess” and “The Lost Ship of Gold.”