Erke Bodilsson was the Danish Reeve of East London during the late 9th century AD.
Biography[]
Erke Bodilsson was born in Denmark, and he later settled in London, Middlesex following the Great Heathen Army's conquest of London from Mercia. He was appointed the Reeve of East London by Governor Tryggr, and he became close friends and lovers with the Saxon Reeve of West London, Stowe. In 874 AD, with the help of the Norwegian Viking Eivor, they investigated Tryggr's murder by the Order of the Ancients, with Erke helping Eivor investigate and identify "the Leech", Frideswid. Erke was surprised that the beloved healer Frideswid was partly responsible for Tryggr's murder and directly responsible for dozens of other gruesome killings, and he suggested that Eivor burn her book of cures; however, Eivor decided that it could save more lives, and Erke realized that keeping the book meant justifying the dozens of victims' sacrifices. Erke, Stowe, and Eivor later fought side by side against the Order's leader in London, Vicelin, and, after Erke's death at Eivor's hands, Stowe and Erke made an oath to Eivor, promising to stand with him in his time of need.