Eyes that burn with hate. Scales thicker than armor. Sharp fangs that drip with venom. The serpent rises from the sea, reaching the clouds, hungry for blood. The maw opens up into an endless black hole as it plunges to engulf the world. I shoot up from my bed, drenched in sweat. It was only just a dream. Just a dream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We spend many days doing slave work when we\u2019re not honing our fighting skills and practicing the crafts because of the trouble we got in when mother caught us fighting with Grom. Mother forces us to do the lowest of lowest slave work. Shoveling the shit of our barn animals. This is for the worst slaves to do, not the children of the Earl. It\u2019s humiliating. Especially because Thormar loves to watch and tell us it\u2019s our own fault. Of course, Thorkel takes great pleasure in tossing shit at Thormar. He hit him square in the face, making him run off crying to mother. And that earned us both an ass spanking with a switch. We had to chop and stack the wood while the slaves get to do the easy work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When the slave boy named Morcar, who\u2019s our age, comes walking by, Thorkel trips him. \u201cWhere ya going, weasel? You should be doing this work, not us. Stupid slave.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m sure your mother will not appreciate you two preventing me from doing a task she sent for me,\u201d Morcar says, as he struggles under Thorkel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thorkel grabs a chunk of dirt and smothers it in his face. \u201cTell our mother anything and you\u2019ll regret it, weasel. Trust me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thorkel gets off of him and kicks him in the rear as he gets up, causing him to trip and fall right into the hay full of horseshit. He quickly scurries off in tears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhy do you treat him so?\u201d I ask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBecause he\u2019s a filthy weasel. I don\u2019t trust him. He\u2019s all honey to our mother but treats the others slaves like rats unless he wants something from them. Keep an eye on him or he\u2019ll stab you in the back. Besides, he told mother on me when I snuck into the kitchens and ate the pudding,\u201d Thorkel says. Thorkel has never taken kindly to tattle tales, and he hates people who are friendly to those who have power over them but arsefaces to others. We call them two faced weasels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHey, guys,\u201d Gudrod says as he skips in through the barn doors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHey, Gudrod, we’re busy. Mother has us doing slave work for fighting with Grom,\u201d Thorkel says. Gudrod is an orphan youngling that lives with great uncle Alvi. He follows us around like a lost pup. He\u2019s a good kid, but a bit annoying at times. But he stokes our egos. He thinks we’re both gods reborn or something. I\u2019ll admit it feels good to have someone who looks up to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNeed some help?\u201d he asks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNow that you ask, we could use some help,\u201d Thorkel says with a grin. \u201cWe have to shovel out all the shit from pens. Want to give us a hand?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSure! I\u2019d love to,\u201d he says as he grabs a spade and gets shoveling. The boy will do anything Thorkel or I ask. He\u2019s so\u2026 naive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSay, Gudrod, could you do us a huge favor?\u201d Thorkel asks, wrapping his arm around the boy\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSure, anything for you two,\u201d Gudrod says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, you see, we\u2019re supposed to meet up with Asfrid and Arngunn, but we can\u2019t leave until we get all this shit shoveled out. If you could maybe fill in for us, we\u2019d greatly appreciate it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOkay, sure\u2026\u201d he says, his original excitement waning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI promise, Gudrod. We\u2019ll make it worth your while. I\u2019ll show you a super-secret, super effective sword form father taught me. You have to keep it a secret because father doesn\u2019t want anyone to know about it,\u201d Thorkel says, causing Gudrod\u2019s eyes to light up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cReally?\u201d Gudrod asks, practically drooling at the mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, but don\u2019t tell anyone we had you help us or my mother will be very mad at all three of us,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDon\u2019t worry, Thorkel. You can count on me,\u201d he says with a wink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI knew I could. You\u2019re the best, Gudrod. And if that weasel Morcar pops his head in here, throw some shit at him, okay?\u201d Thorkel says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gudrod claps his fist against his chest as if he was taking an order from our father. \u201cI won\u2019t let you down.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s why I know I can always count on you, Gudrod,\u201d Thorkel says, earning a smile that is as wide as the boy\u2019s face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As we sneak out, I can\u2019t help but snicker. \u201cYou are terrible, brother.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFather always said, always use the resources at your disposal,\u201d he says with a grin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat secret sword form are you going to show him? How come father didn\u2019t show me this form? I don\u2019t remember him saying anything about a secret form,\u201d I say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDon\u2019t be a fool, Bothvar. I\u2019ll just show him any basic sword form, and he\u2019ll think it\u2019s the most secret form there is,\u201d Thorkel says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou are devious,\u201d I say, which earns his famous grin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thorkel convinces the others to sneak out again. This time, instead of going up to the mountains, we head over to the river that goes into the bay that is all blocked off from the sea but by a small passageway. We\u2019re not the only clan that has their town on the bay. The Builder Clan and the Valkyrie clan also sit on the bay. The Builders sit on our side of the river and the Valkyrie have their village across the bay on the other side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thorkel leads Griotgard, Solmund, Skardi, Asfrid, Arngunn, Vog, and myself as we head around the bay and down the peninsula by the Builder\u2019s town to where the river is at its thinnest point. There, the five of us boys chop down a tree next to the river and it lands clear across to the other side. All of us walk across it, but Arni falls in and I dive in after her. Of course, the water isn\u2019t very deep. I learned that as I eat a mouthful of dirt and sand as I smash into the bottom of the river. I quickly stand up, spit it out and clean my mouth out with water before Arni and I make our way to the other side, soaking wet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBothvar, why would ya dive in like that? That wasn\u2019t very smart,\u201d Vog says with his stupid smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI thought it was valiant. You tried to save me, didn\u2019t you?\u201d Arni says. \u201cThank you, Bothvi.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I stick out my chest. \u201cI was just making sure you were okay.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vog laughs. \u201cThat\u2019s stupid, Bothvi.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA hare, let\u2019s get it,\u201d Thorkel yells as he and the other boys dart after it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo!\u201d Arni screams after them. \u201cLeave the bunny alone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The boys chase it all around while Arni and I chase after them. Arni shouts at them. \u201cLeave it alone. Don\u2019t hurt it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thorkel circles around while the others chase it as it zig-zags and darts here and there. Griotgard leads it right into Thorkel, who dives and gets its hind leg before he grabs it by the ears and holds it up. \u201cHa, got the little shit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDon\u2019t hurt it. Leave it alone,\u201d Arni says as she runs up to him. \u201cPlease!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCome on, Thorkel. Just let it go,\u201d I say, even though I shouldn\u2019t. They\u2019re going to think I\u2019m weak, but I can\u2019t stand seeing Arni so worried like this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, come on, Bothvar. You\u2019re acting like Thormar. What, are you going to tell mother? She\u2019ll be pissed at all of us for being out here, but she\u2019ll welcome the hare for stew. It\u2019s just a hare,\u201d he says as the poor thing kicks and struggles in his grip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cJust let it go!\u201d Arni cries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cStop being a baby, Arni. You\u2019re always so sensitive,\u201d Asfrid says as she walks up to Thorkel. \u201cIt\u2019s just a rabbit. What do you think we eat in our stews half the time? Besides, I thought you wanted to be like Frida. Remember? She\u2019s our favorite goddess. She wouldn\u2019t hesitate to kill the hare.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut, it\u2019s so cute,\u201d Arni says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe should kill it,\u201d Vog says, drawing a knife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYeah, and maybe our fathers will let us come on their hunts when they get back from raiding. I heard they hunted down a bear last time,\u201d Solmund says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vog steps up to the rabbit, making Arni cry. I step up to Vog and Thorkel. \u201cDon\u2019t do it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vog looks down at me with a grin. \u201cAnd what are you going to do about it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Suddenly something swoops in between us and a long wooden staff smacks the knife right out of Vog’s hand, swipes the rabbit from Thorkel, and sweeps all three of us off our feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSorry about that, I didn\u2019t mean to get you, just these two, but you were in the way,\u201d a girl says as she reaches down at me with her staff. I grab it and she yanks me up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thorkel and Vog scramble to their feet as the girl, who is actually quite pretty and appears to be around our own age, spins the staff with one hand and cradles the bunny in the other. She looks ready to fight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhy I outta,\u201d Vog says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thorkel stops him. \u201cAnd who might you be? I\u2019m Thorkel, son of Beorcol. You\u2019ve probably heard of me. My father is Earl of the Krakens.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI might have heard of you, but nothing good,\u201d the girl says with a straight face as she takes us in. She has dark brown hair with a pretty but sharp face. Her eyes narrow into honed daggers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd who the bloody are you?\u201d Asfrid says as she glares at her with her arms crossed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy name is Tonna and I’m the daughter of Amalasontha, who is the War Chieftess of the Valkyrie. You\u2019re on our land and you\u2019re poaching our animals. Why shouldn\u2019t I beat the snot out of you all?\u201d The woman twirls her staff to show she might be able to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vog laughs. \u201cYou got lucky. A girl couldn\u2019t beat me in a fight.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vog steps up, cracking his knuckles with a big shit-eating grin on his face. The grin is wiped off with Tonna\u2019s staff as she smacks it across his face with very little effort, sending him falling to the ground like an enormous oak tree. \u201cAre all men this stupid?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHey! I\u2019m not stupid,\u201d Thorkel says, stepping up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLet\u2019s not fight!\u201d Arni says as she rushes up. Why is she always doing this?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I rush over to her. Tonna raises her staff to me. \u201cI don\u2019t have any quarrels with you two, but your friends have to go. They\u2019re a bunch of stupid pigs who only think with their stomachs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCome on Thorkel, we can take her if we fight her together,\u201d Griotgard says as he, Solmund, and Skardi go to circle Tonna while Vog climbs to his feet and shakes his head as if he has water in his ears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo!\u201d Thorkel yells, stepping up between them. \u201cYou all act like Grom. We\u2019re not cowards like him who need five of us to fight one girl. I\u2019ll fight her and none of you will step in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She smirks. \u201cWell, at least one of you has honor. Even so, there\u2019s no chance you\u2019ll beat me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She sets the bunny down and it darts off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOooh, there goes our prey,\u201d Vog says in a whiny voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat rabbit was never yours. It is on our land and belongs to us,\u201d the girl says as she twirls her staff around before crouching down with it resting across her shoulder, held by her backhand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI made things fair for you and yet you fight with a staff while I have nothing but my hands,\u201d Thorkel says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She sighs and tosses him the staff. \u201cFine, you can use it. I don\u2019t need it to beat you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He huffs. \u201cI\u2019m not going to\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He doesn\u2019t have a chance to finish his words as she charges. His eyes go wide as he swings wildly at her. She ducks, dips, and dodges the staff before he tries to stab it at her. She snags it in her hands, catching him off balance, and yanks it from him as he stumbles forward. He tries to correct himself, but she takes his legs out from underneath him with the staff before she lifts it over him and brings it down hard towards his head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thorkel shouts and turns away, closing his eyes. However, the blow never comes as she holds it only a finger’s length above his head. All of us stand with our mouths agape. Then Vog, Solmund, and Griotgard charge at her. I rush in and burl into Vog as he slams into Griotgard while Tonna trips up Solmund.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d Thorkel yells at them. \u201cI told you not to interfere.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut she beat you and made you look like a fool,\u201d Vog says as he pushes me off him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe got lucky, that\u2019s all. I\u2019ve never practiced with a staff. If we were using axes or swords with shields I\u2019d beat her easily,\u201d Thorkel says, dusting himself off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSure,\u201d Tonna says with another smirk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat is going on here?\u201d We all jump as women with spears appear out of thin air. I didn\u2019t even see them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNothing, mother. I was just playing with these Kraken children. I was teaching them how to use a staff. They\u2019re not very good at it,\u201d Tonna says as she looks down her nose at us. \u201cAlthough, I must admit, at least some of them have honoris. That one, who\u2019s named Thorkel, son of Earl Beorcol, has some shred of dignity, even though he is a poor fighter. And that boy and the smaller girl have much more honoris. The rest have much to learn. They show much delictum.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She pointed at Arni and me. What is she talking about? What are honoris and delictum?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMost men have much delictum and little honoris. But it is far too difficult to teach them,\u201d the woman who must be Amalasontha, Tonna\u2019s mother, says. \u201cAnd what were you children of the Kraken clan doing across the river? Don\u2019t you know that this side of the river is our land?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe were only playing around, I swear,\u201d Thorkel says, bowing his head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman looks over at Arni and me. \u201cWhat are your names?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe\u2019s my little brother, Bothvar, and that\u2019s Arngunn. She and Asfrid are the daughters of Hrut, my father\u2019s quartermaster. Their mother and father serve on my father\u2019s ship,\u201d Thorkel says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She narrows her eyes at us. \u201cAnd those boys? What are their names?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s Vog, son of Einar, a ship captain. Those two are Griotgard and Solmund, son of Sigvid, son of Varin. And that one is Skardi. He doesn\u2019t have any family that we know of,\u201d Thorkel says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ll remember your names. Make sure this is the last time you walk upon our land uninvited. I\u2019m sure your father is raiding, so tell your mother. Amalasontha and the Valkyrie don\u2019t take kindly to trespassing even if they are children. I\u2019ll know if you don\u2019t follow through.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, your Earlness. Or Chieftessiness? A\u2026 your highness?\u201d Thorkel says, stumbling over his words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCome, Tonna, let us be off,\u201d the woman says, turning her back to us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ll be right behind you. Let me say my farewell,\u201d Tonna says. I barely blink before her mother and the other woman warriors are gone in a flash. I could hardly see them move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou lot are lucky I decided not to tell mother you were poaching. We don\u2019t take kindly to poachers. They usually end up dead,\u201d she says, once again, sticking her nose up at us. \u201cEven so, I did enjoy meeting you all, especially you, Bothvar, and you, Arngunn. I won\u2019t forget you two. And you are okay, Thorkel, son of Beorcol. You have a little Honoris. The rest of you lot have much delictum and I\u2019m not sure if there\u2019s any amount of Officium you could do to find Apolutrosis.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat in the name of the gods are you talking about?\u201d Asfrid asks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt’s the Valkyrie way. Our five core values. Kath\u00edkon, Honoris, Officium, Delictum, and Apolutrosis. You should learn it. Even then you\u2019d still lack honoris,\u201d she says. Asfrid sticks her tongue out at Tonna. \u201cSee? That\u2019s my point.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then, just like that, she\u2019s gone. Asfrid growls. \u201cWhat a stuck-up, turd-eating cow.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know. She seems alright,\u201d Thorkel says, scratching his head. \u201cDo you really think that Chief lady, Amalasomanoma or whatever, will really know if we don\u2019t tell mother about this?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s Amalasontha,\u201d I say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYeah, whatever,\u201d Thorkel says as pushes my head away. \u201cCome on, let\u2019s get back before it gets too late.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The entire way back, Asfrid complains about Tonna, calling her every foul name I\u2019ve ever heard. Once we get back, Thorkel and I both decide to tell mother the truth, fearing what the Valkyrie War Chief might do if she really would know if we didn\u2019t tell. Of course, this leads us to getting our ears boxed, our bottoms switched, and slave work for nearly the rest of the summer. Obviously, mother told us it would\u2019ve been far worse if we didn\u2019t confess.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When father finally comes home with the fleet, we all crowd the harbor and welcome them. They bring many treasures and slaves they\u2019ve taken from ships they\u2019ve raided. Father\u2019s hard face softens into a smile as he sees us all. Svala runs right for him and leaps into his arms as the rest of us crowd around him. She tugs on his braided beard and he pretends to be hurt. Mother stands back, watching, as she holds the hand of the youngling Bodvar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He looks at each of us, his bright blue eyes take us in one at a time. \u201cHow are my boys?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019re doing well enough, father,\u201d Thorkel says, standing tall with his chest puffed up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThorkel and Bothvar spent most of the summer doing slave work for all the trouble they got in,\u201d Thormar says, earning a slap against the backside of his head from Thorkel. \u201cHey! What was that for?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFor talking too much,\u201d Thorkel says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Father only sighs. \u201cSome things never change.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDid you bring us any gifts, father?\u201d Svala asks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes! I want a gift,\u201d Bodvar says, trying to push Svala aside, which earns him a thump on the head by Svala\u2019s fist. He tries to kick her, but she just puts her hand against his forehead as he swings and kicks at her, not able to land a blow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI did. For you, my daughter, I brought you a golden necklace with a big red ruby. I know how much you like red,\u201d he says, pulling it out of his pocket. Svala\u2019s eyes light up as she takes it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you so much, father! I love it,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He brings out a sword and gives it to Thorkel. \u201cThis is a sword I took from a good warrior who fought me well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen I will become a great warrior to wield it,\u201d Thorkel says with pride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He pulls out a big glowing orb. This one is green. \u201cThere you are, Bothvar. Another one for your collection.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you, father! I do not have this color,\u201d I say, taking it in amazement. I can\u2019t pull my eyes from its glow as mist seems to swirl within it. It\u2019s so mesmerizing. It makes me feel good. More alive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He then pulls out a small round object and gives it to Thormar. \u201cThey call it a compass. It always points north. That way, you\u2019ll never lose your way. Oh, and some more maps, just like you asked for.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, thank you, father!\u201d Thormar says with sheer happiness as he takes them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd for you, Bodvar, a big battle hammer, for your collection,\u201d Father says as he grabs a hammer from his men. It\u2019s taller than Bodvar. He can\u2019t even lift it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThanks, papa, I smash!\u201d Bodvar can\u2019t even lift it. He can barely even drag it behind him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Several slaves are led from the docks. A lot of them are elves. There are some humans and elves with white robes stained and dirtied. Others have what used to be fine silk. I get a good look at them as they are led up to my mother and my Aunt Sigvor. I heard she once had a daughter who would\u2019ve been older than Thorkel, but she got sick and my aunt could not heal her. That is why she has become so devoted to the healing arts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some are older elves; others are women elves. One man has a rather defiant stare. Next to him are two elven women. All three of them have blue eyes like shimmering water that completely take over the eye, leaving no white like ours; instead, the circles are just more intense blue that shines brighter than the rest. Although there are some elves that don\u2019t have any glow and have whites in their eyes. The defiant man has long hair and dark skin. While the two women have pale ivory skin. They cling to him. Those three seem to have vibrant eyes that shine brighter than the rest. The others are rather dim and shallow, besides a girl elf that looks around our age. She has vibrant green eyes instead of blue, but like the other three, the entire eye is green with bright green orbs that swim in the pool of green. I\u2019ve come to learn that the radiance means they have some magical ability. My mother grabs the face of the man to get a better look. He struggles to pull away. My mother lets him go and then he struggles when she does the same to the two women and the girl. He seems to have some attachment to the two women who share the same eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My mother and my aunt look over the slaves. \u201cKeep the ones with the radiant eyes separate. Those Sigvor and I will take. The rest put to work with the others.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cVery well,\u201d Rognvald says, a bald man who is my father\u2019s quartermaster. He separates the three elves with the glowing blue eyes, the man and the two women. My father pulls the little girl with the green eyes aside. Rognvald takes the rest away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Asfrid and Arni join us at the docks with Arni\u2019s hair full of flowers, coming to find their own mother and father who raid with my father. Father looks at them and his face slowly saddens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGirls\u2026 I\u2026 I\u2019m sorry, but\u2026 Your father and mother. They\u2026 They died. They died honorably and now feast in Valholl. I\u2019m so sorry. Your father was one of my closest friends,\u201d father says as he kneels down to face the two girls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut\u2026 Mother said that\u2026 She said she was going to teach us how to fight. She said when she gets back\u2026\u201d Asfrid says as tears well up in her eyes. \u201cShe promised!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI picked these flowers for mother,\u201d Arni says as she drops them. Asfrid turns and runs away. Thorkel takes off after her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mother steps up to father. \u201cWhat shall happen to them? We can\u2019t let them fend for themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe shall take them in as our wards,\u201d father says. \u201cI promised Hrut I\u2019d look after them, and I will keep that promise.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Arni cries and I step over to her to take her hand. She buries herself in my chest. My father\u2019s fist clenches. \u201cDamn them elves! All the blue-eyed bastards.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSon, why don\u2019t you take Arni inside the hall. She needs time,\u201d mother says, and I nod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Father takes a moment to breathe in deeply, letting his anger fade, then turns to mother. \u201cWhy don\u2019t we give this little green-eyed elf girl about Arngunn\u2019s age to the girls so they have someone they can talk to?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat is wise. I\u2019ll take a look at the girl,\u201d mother says as I take Arni away. We go to my room, where she goes to my bed and collapses. After I put the orb with the others, I lie down with her and put my arm around her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I don\u2019t know how long we lay like this, but it was some time before someone knocks at my door. There stands mother with the little green-eyed elf girl. Her skin is darker than ours. It\u2019s the color of bronze. Her hair is dark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat do you want?\u201d I spit out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIs that how you talk to your mother?\u201d she asks. Her hand goes to her hip as she narrows her eyes at me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI am sorry, mother.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt is okay. I will let it slide. Since Arngunn\u2019s parents died, they will live with us. The girls will all sleep in Svala\u2019s room. This is Semet. She will be our servant. I would like her to be with Arngunn and Asfrid,\u201d mother says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGo away. We don\u2019t want her! She\u2019s an elf! The elves killed her parents. I hate them!\u201d I spit out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBothvar!\u201d mother says with a shocked and angry expression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s okay, Bothvi. She can stay,\u201d Arngunn says as she rubs her eyes. \u201cShe looks like she could use a friend. So could I.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBothvar, you could learn more from Arngunn. Don\u2019t be so cruel,\u201d mother says, boring her eyes into me. \u201cBesides, there are different kinds of elves. The green eyes are different from the blue eyes that killed Arngunn\u2019s parents. You would do well to learn these differences. Maybe you should also spend time with the girl and learn about her people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then her expression lightens as she looks over at Arni. \u201cArngunn, I am so sorry for your loss. Just know, if there is anything you and your sister need, please let me know. We will treat you like our own daughters, and you will always have a home here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you, I just miss them so much,\u201d Arni says, sniffling as she wipes away another tear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mother wearily steps over and kneels down in front of Arni. \u201cI know. They miss you too, and they will see you again in the halls of the gods where you will feast together. Then, you can tell them all about your journeys and the family you will have.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cReally?\u201d she asks, looking up at her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI know it to be true,\u201d mother says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI can\u2019t wait to see them again,\u201d Arni says, rubbing away her tears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, hopefully you can wait just a little longer. We would hate to lose you too,\u201d I say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Arni smiles and wipes away the last of her tears. She hugs me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWill I get to see my parents too? They were killed by the blue-eyed elves who took me,\u201d Semet says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, you and your parents are heathens and will spend all eternity lost in the cold waste of Niflheim,\u201d I say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBothvar! Why would you say that to her?\u201d Mother asks in a growl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat? I was just saying what is true,\u201d I say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou do not know that. Perhaps her parents are waiting for her in the halls of their gods. Do not speak about things you do not know,\u201d mother says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYeah, that wasn\u2019t very nice, Bothvi,\u201d Arngunn says. She then gets up and walks to the girl and hugs her. \u201cDon\u2019t worry, Semet. Your parents are with mine and soon we can join them together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cReally?\u201d Semet asks, her face full of hope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI know it. We just have to be good so we can join them,\u201d Arngunn says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The little girl nods, wiping away her tears. \u201cI\u2019ll do my best.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut only our gods are the true gods,\u201d I say, looking up at my mother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPerhaps, or maybe all beliefs are true. Maybe their gods and our gods exist within the same realm, or different realms. Or maybe they are the same gods. We do not know, and no one can say for sure. Regardless, it is not for us to say. We follow our gods because that is what we believe. Doesn\u2019t she deserve the same right to follow her own beliefs?\u201d Mother asks, raising an eyebrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI suppose,\u201d I say, considering this. I turn to the elf. \u201cI\u2019m sorry for what I said. Your parents are probably with your gods, and I hope you can join them when it is your time to take the last voyage.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She nods and smiles. Mother is smiling too, but she has tears in her eyes. Why is she crying and smiling at the same time? That doesn\u2019t make any sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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