"So that's the young North man I've heard so much about since my arrival. And his wife Naya. "

Naya had been expecting an older woman, but Herdi was anything but old. She could only be several years older than her.

She was of strong stature and her long blond hair was braided tightly to the head. She wore a precious fur on her shoulder. Her arms rested on the back of her chair and you could see the numerous rings on her fingers, which she shamelessly flaunted. From time to time she moved her fingers and the few rays of sunlight shining through the windows into the hall made the gems light up, drawing all the attention to the woman.

Her eyes were icy, but when she saw Thorge, she licked her lips.

Naya moved even closer to Thorge, who took her hand and squeezed gently. He had obviously seen Herdi's gaze, too.

Ingulf sat next to Herdi and seemed older than before. He was sitting on a smaller chair and no one noticed any more of his reign, with which he had previously stated. He sat down together, barely daring to say a word.

Herdi laughed mockingly when she saw that Naya was clutching Thor's hand tightly.

"You are from the north. It is said that your family is well known there and there are some stories about them. Your father was supposed to have been a handsome man. "

Naya snorted.

"Stijn Gunnarsson is still a handsome man."

Herdi smiled mildly, but her eyes stayed cold.

"Of course. Although I would probably have preferred Tjark more. After all, he is the chief. "

Naya snorts again and realizes that Thorge suppressed a laugh.

Herdi was power obsessed. That's probably why she chose Ingulf, though he was neither young nor handsome. But he was the jarl and she was his wife, who had certain privileges.

Behind Herdi were two young men who had never noticed Naya before. In contrast to Ingulf they were slim and muscular. They did not move, but Naya noticed that they wore identical clothes. The jewelry they wore was the same and they were both clean-shaven. They did not move and they could have been considered statues if they had not seen their breath.

Like dolls, it shot through her mind.

She could imagine that these two Herdis beds were warming in the night, and she disgusted her face.

The guys were at most two years older than Einar and Herdi had to be old in their eyes.

"I see you've noticed my guard." Herdi gave her a cheeky grin. "This is Tyr and Trygg, as you can see, they both crawled out of their mother's body at the same time, they obey my word you have a taste? "

Naya shook her head, but Herdi waved them over without looking at her.

"Trygg! Beat your brother to the ground! Hard. I want to see blood! "

Trygg did not hesitate for a second and hit his brother hard in the face. Blood splashed on the skins laid out in front of the two chairs, and Herdi clucked his tongue disapprovingly.

"I guess I figured that out. I thought you were stronger, Trygg and the blood would splash up to our guests. Try, Tyr! "

Ingulf snorted for the first time.

"Let it be good, Herdi! Tyr's senses have not returned yet. "

His voice was very quiet. Quite different than before you arrived. Since his voice had been heard to the forest.

Herdi glared at him.

"You have nothing to say to me!", She hissed, but then even she seemed to realize that it was unusually quiet in the hall.

She laughed loudly.

"Not everyone seems to share my sense of humor. But I see that you yourself have some strong men among you. Do not you want to give me a taste? "

She did not speak to Thorge, but directly to Naya.

"What do you mean by that?" Naya asked.

Herdi smiled graciously, then lured Naya to her with one finger.

Naya had to climb over Tyr, who was still unconscious on the ground. She touched his shoulder briefly, but Herdi did not notice. But Trygg saw it and for a moment he seemed very surprised.

"Help her, Trygg. She is quite small and your brother, who is still lying around useless, is tall! "

Trygg hands her his hand. Naya nodded to him with a smile before her face became serious again.

Herdi had ordered a stool and invited Naya with a wave of her hand to sit down. Then she leaned toward her.

"We both know who really is in charge. Your husband is strong, I do not deny that, but you have the scepter in your hand. You are like me! I recognized that from your look. You too want power! "

Naya had to be careful not to shake in disgust.

She should be exactly like Herdi?

Herdi mockingly raised one corner of his mouth.

"I want to see a fight. A fight between one of your men and one of my men! "

Naya's eyes widened and she turned her head to Thorge. He nodded and showed unobtrusively to Jule. Naya shook her head slightly. She did not want to put Jule in danger. But Jule nodded in agreement. She even seemed to enjoy it.

Naya took a deep breath.

"Well! You are the mistress here. Choose your husband! "

Herdi happily clapped her hands.

"Very well! I choose ... Finn! "

A man stepped forward. He looked like a mountain. Naya swallowed hard. She would not even let Thorge or Lasse fight this guy. But Jule grinned and you could see that she hopped excitedly on the spot. Naya did not understand the world, and especially the Gunnarssons.

"Now you choose!" Demanded Herdi.

Naya smiled at her.

"I choose my shieldmaid! Jule! "

Herdi stared at her in surprise.

"A shieldmaiden? You choose a woman? "

Naya shrugged.

"She fights just as well as the men and she lacks the fighting! A little variety is good for her! "

Herdi looked very surprised.

"Are not your men offended if you prefer a woman to them? Or are they so weak? "

Naya laughed.

"Jule has been to numerous battles and the enemies are afraid of her, as of all the men who belong to our estate. But if your fighter does not dare ... "

She left the sentence open.

Herdi shook his head.

"Finn will fight against her! Put out the battle feather! "She looked at Tyr and made a face." And take care of Tyr. Jülf, you know what you have to do, I do not want him by my side today! "

Jülf and Trygg grabbed Tyr and took him outside, while the other men spread the leather.

Women brought Naya and Herdi something to drink and Herdi leaned back, smiling happily.

"I'm always enjoying a good fight. Do not we want to make the whole thing a bit more exciting? "

Naya raised an eyebrow as arrogantly as possible.

"What are you suggesting?"

Herdi laughed.

"I thought of a small bet. If your shieldmaid defeated my warrior, what do you want from me? "

Naya did not have to think twice, but she looked around arrogantly, as if she did not like anything in the hall.

"Mh ... I have enough goods in my own boats. What can you offer me?"

A muscle in Herdi's face twitched uncontrollably. She was obviously angry. But then she smiled again.

"I think I could offer you workers. The way I see it, you need more men and women to help you! "

Naya had to be careful not to laugh out loud. It was exactly as Jülf had anticipated. However, he had thought that she would negotiate with Thorge. Naya would never have believed that she would really offer a fight.

"You mean on loan?"

Herdi chuckled. It sounded bad.

"No! They can stay with you. I do not need it anymore. You see, I have enough men here myself, so I can do without those few. "

Naya snorted.

"Do you think I'm stupid? Nobody gives up men and women! Unless they are disobedient slaves! But good. I will teach them obedience. Nevertheless, I have a problem. "

Herdi raised his eyebrows.

"Yes? Which one? "

Naya smiled.

"How should I transport it? Our boats are full! "

Herdi made a dismissive gesture.

"You get my boat. But only on loan. I will send along some of my men who will bring my boat back safely. "

Naya pretended to think for a while. Jülf Thorge had already prepared for that to happen.

"What do you want if your fighter wins?"

Herdi licked her lips again.

"I would like the boy standing next to your husband."

Naya looked at Thorge and froze. Einar stood beside him. Should she really dare?

She raised her chin.

"I can not decide that alone. He is the brother of my husband. Allow me to talk to him for a moment. "

Herdi nodded majestically and Naya got up. Her knees trembled as she approached Thorge.

She had to control herself so that she did not fall into his arms.

"What's going on?" Thorge asked when she reached him.

Naya's hands were shaking.

"She is crazy! She says I'm just like her! But otherwise it is just as Jülf has predicted. She is really sure of her victory. She is so repugnant to me. I do not know if I can stand it any longer, Thorge! "

Thorge nodded and stroked her hand lightly.

"You are doing very well! You do not notice that she disgusts you. "

Naya was not so sure.

"Jülf was right. She suggested me a bet. But the effort is high. "

Thorge raised an eyebrow.

"She wants Einar!", Naya explained.

Thorge wiped his face, but Einar grinned.

"Do the deal! Jule defeats this mountain. Especially if she knows I'm the prize! "

Jule, standing by Lasse, nodded.

"Yes! Do it! I watched Finn. I can defeat him! "

Naya's eyes widened.

"You Gunnarssons are not at your senses! And if Jule loses? "

Jule laughed softly.

"I wont! Go back and say that you agree. "

Thorge stroked her cheek lightly.

"Remember, you have to convince her, Naya. Give something glorious of you! Then we'll be gone soon, before they realize that's exactly what we intended! "

Naya was not sure she could handle it. But she just stood up and yelled at Thorge.

"I have it so decided! What is a man against at least ten? "

Thorge bowed his head. She saw exactly that he was grinning.

"If you think it's right, we'll do it!"

Einar made a tearful face, which turned out miserably.

"I do not want to stay here!"

She gave him a little slap.

"Face the task! It is for the good of our new settlement! "

Einar also lowered his head.

"She's damned good!" She heard him whisper as she turned and walked over to Herdi, who had watched closely and now smiled.

"I see you have decided against her."

Naya nodded and shook her hand.

"I agree with the bet!"

Herdi struck and Naya sat down again.

Finn stood in a corner and emptied a drinking horn in a train under the men's rumble.

Jule, on the other hand, stood with her back to him. Lasse had put both her hands on her shoulder and spoke softly to her as he eased her shoulder.

Herdi clapped her hands.

"Begins!"

Her confident smile displeased Naya, but she did not show it.

Finn took shield and sword and went to the middle of the leather. Jule kissed Lasse gently on the cheek, then she took her weapon and the shield.

Finn laughed loudly.

"A girl! A little girl wants to take it with me! "

Jule did not allow herself to be provoked, but struck the shield with his sword and put one foot firmly against the ground.

Finn circled her.

"Attack me, little thing. I'll let you have the first blow! "

Jule breathed calmly and only by her eyes one could see that she was watching Finn. Naya held her breath as Finn let his sword fly swiftly toward Jule.

But Jule skilfully dodged and hit Finn hard on the right knee, causing him to struggle for a moment to keep his balance.

Naya looked tensely at Lasse, who had stood next to Thorge. He crossed his arms over his chest and nodded approvingly.

The men were silent for a moment, but then they continued to fire Finn.

He scrambled to his feet and struck again. The sword missed Jule only a hair's breadth, but she rammed the shield in his back.

Herdi's smile was gone.

"Does she use the weapon too?"

Naya jerked her shoulders indifferently.

"When it's time, she will use the weapon too."

Finn yelled out his anger. He had expected a light fight, but since Jule had never used her weapon before and he had had to take it anyway, the first taunts came against him.

Naya already knew that. He would attack unchecked and that's what Jule had been waiting for. She even laughed and raised her chin to Finn.

Steel struck steel as she attacked this time and Finn had to back off, stunned by her hard blows.

The last blow landed on his shield, which broke in half.

Finn gasped, while Jule looked as calm as at first.

He got another sign and knocked on it.

Jule nodded and waited again.

But this time, Finn seemed to have noticed her strategy. They circled lurking, but then Jule grinned suddenly. She took a start and jumped up. Her sword stabbed her between Finn and his shield. The leather holder tore and Finn had to get a new shield.

"You're going to be coping with the girl?" Bellowed Herdi.

Finn winced, then ran for Jule. She dropped to her knees and leaned her upper body back so that the point of the sword did not even touch her and Finn had to jump over her. In a flash, she turned around and rammed her shield back into the hollows of his knees, this time unable to keep his balance and falling face first on the ground. Jule clung to his hair and put her sword on his neck.

"I have you, great man! Your neck is mine now! "

Lasse laughed and even Jule could not resist a grin. Those were the words she whispered to each opponent when she got him.

Finn was angry, but he dropped his sword and acknowledged his defeat.

Jule let him get up and gave him her hand.

"A very good fight, Finn, though I have to admit that you would never have won!"

Finn shrugged.

"You do not know that. Tell me your name, girl! "

She grinned.

"My name is Jule Stijnsdottir!"

Herdi's eyes widened.

"She's also a descendant of the Gunnarsson?"

Naya shrugged.

"Yes. And Lasse Gunnarsson is her husband! Your fighter never really had a chance! "

Herdi snorted, but Ingulf, who knocked his cup approvingly against the back of the chair, hissed at her.

"It was a defeat, woman. Take it. Naya won her bet! "

His voice was soft, almost pleading.

Herdi's anger did not stop, but then she nodded to Naya.

"You won! I'll give you the people as we agreed. "

Naya nodded.

"Very nice! I can use good men and women. "

Herdi's eyes flashed and she bit back a smile.

"But let's celebrate now!"

"I have to admit that you have put off this defeat really well, woman!"

Ingulf leaned towards Herdi, who had been very quiet for a while.

Herdi laughed mockingly.

"The little bitch does not even know that it was me who won."

Ingulf raised an eyebrow.

"How do you mean?"

Herdi laughed softly again.

"I'm not going to give her my best men. I never said that!"

Ingulf leaned closer.

"What's your plan?"

Herdi took a sip of mead.

"I'll give her the people I want to get rid of for a long time anyway. You know exactly which one I mean. "

Ingulf sat bolt upright.

"They'll take it as a scam. They will demand satisfaction! "

Herdi shook his head.

"Not when I bring my best men to guard my boat and bring it back. I know that I can rely on Trygg and Tyr. And Finn, too, is devoted to me and has a lot to do well because he lost to the little one today. Besides, she cheated on me first. "

Ingulf nodded.

"Will you tell them tonight?"

She shook her head.

"I do not want to see any of them tonight. I'll allow you to come to me tonight. "

Ingulf smiled blissfully.

"And what about the men? I mean the brothers and Finn? "

Herdi beckoned to a slave whom she had brought to her a year ago. It was a handsome young man.

"Go to Trygg. He is supposed to drive people to the boat tomorrow. He knows which people I mean. "

She looked him up and down.

"You will spend the night with me and my husband!"

Ingulf snorted insulted, but she patted his hand.

"It will give you pleasure, trust me!"