The stranger smiled at him though the stoic Northman didn't return it, instead lending her his ear when she went on t tell him that she was an experience fighter and hunter — both of which, admittedly, Stavanger Bay needed at the moment, especially given Julooke's disappearance and Verrine's assumed death. He needed the remaining wolves of the Bay to step up to the plate, especially because winter was practically upon their backs. Ragnar worked tirelessly to prepare them the best that he could but he was only one man and it was a job that required the dedication of each and every capable member. “Jarl,” Ragnar corrected her, breaking his own silence with the word that left his lips in his naturally soft, heavily accented voice. He didn't expect her to know the title that he preferred to 'Alpha' but since she was a candidate for the Bay the Lodbrok figured that he might as well inform her what he liked to be called. Her spoken word held promise to the Viking, but he wasn't quite ready to let onto that just yet.
After correcting her he fell silent once more as she seemed to have more to boast to him of. At the end of her montage, Ragnar drew in a soft breath and let it out. “As I am sure that you understand I cannot just take you entirely at your word,” It seemed, probably, silly to ask the wolves seeking a place within his Bay their skills then, but it was imperative, nevertheless. “If it is true what you say about your skills then there is a place within my Bay for you, Aemilia,” Ragnar didn't bother stating that he didn't really care where she came from. Place of origin had no bearing upon the Viking, but he was nice enough not to say it. If being from “Rome” (where ever that was) was supposed to impress him he hated to tell her that it didn't, really. The scarred Scandinavian would be impressed when she began to prove herself to him and the pack.. “Just telling me something isn't good enough. You'll have to prove it to me,” He paused, salmon pink tongue gliding across his platinum colored lips. “The easiest way of doing that is trying to go for a trade. We are in need, especially of hunters and fighters.” Ragnar told her simply, drawing on a pause once more.
“Loyalty is something that I hold in high esteem, myself. I do not tolerate abandonment, traitors, or those who are insubordinate to me or my Queen Wife,” In truth, Ragnar wasn't sure why he still referred to Thistle Cloud as his “Queen Wife” when she was now his only wife. Old habits died hard, he supposed. “I will not hesitate to deal punishment for those crimes. I do not harbor the hesitation most men do when it comes to killing. The severity of the punishment depends upon the severity of the crime.” Just so, before she told him that she absolutely wanted to be apart of Stavanger Bay, she was very clear on how tight of a ship Ragnar ran. He was giving her, as he gave everyone, a chance to bow out without consequences.
