Alfric Njallsson

Alfric Njallsson is the second son of Njall Olvisson, Eorl of Hjorvaal.

His father had desired a place for him in the army, but Alfric has taken up service with the Chamberlain of Stjordvik, Hjalmar Helder. Raised as a noble with hunting and survival skills and having witnessed battles as a page in the royal court, Alfric earned the notice of Hjalmar. Njall hoped to see him given a position as a lieutenant in the company of Varri's Own Archers, but Hjalmar offered him command of his own flight of archers and woodsmen. Hjalmar's woodsmen constitute a personally loyal force who the Chamberlain employs in missions requiring the utmost in loyalty, usually as couriers. While the woodsmen sometimes see combat in the kingdom's battles, they are usually assigned to augment Varri's Own Archers, or employed on the flanks in a copse of woods or in a strong position. Hjalmar does not like to risk his small force of woodsmen on routine missions. He could raise a flight of archers in the usual way if routine combat were required.

Njall hopes to win respect from his brother so that in time, he can persude the future Eorl to adopt a more royalist policy than their father has. Njall doesn't know too much about Hjalmar's machinations, but he knows enough to respect the Chamberlain and regard him as a bulwork of the throne. Hjalmar has seen to it that Alfric has spent some time with Bjorn Hollenviker, and attends some of the larger hunting parties lead by King Varri.