Herdi crept unnoticed to the estate.

She was dressed in leather pants and a tunic. In addition, she had her hair hidden under a helmet that also covered her face. No one recognized her and that was a good thing. She wanted to get so close to Thorge. Or his wife.

But she could not reach him!

She bared angrily with her teeth.

He was just too well protected by his men, but she still laughed. She knew he loved his wife and she would be looking for her. She would take whatever was important to the jarl.

The gods were weighed.

The noise and the whole mess helped her unnoticed to penetrate the estate.

She quickly hid behind a hut and watched the hustle and bustle around her.

The real fight was still in front of the big fence, but some of their men had managed to shoot fire arrows at the huts. It did not burn brightly, but the women had trouble clearing the little fires. There was smoke everywhere, and they all coughed while they were doing their work. Again and again, injured people were taken care of. Strangely, the women also took care of their men, the enemy. They made no difference.

But her men resisted. The intoxicant they had all taken together still did its work. They roared, trying to get up and beat the women.

Herdi chuckled and looked around.

Where was the Jarl's wife?

She did not spot Naya with the women. Was she in the longhouse?

She crept on and entered the longhouse. Again, there was a lot of activity, as they brought here the injured, who were already taken care of. But she was not here either.

She squeezed into a niche as Jülf came into the hall.

Again she gritted her teeth. He looked different. Not so weak and lanky anymore. He had muscles and his blond hair had been neatly braided. Only the beard had been shaved off. Herdi had always thought that Jülf was in Ingulf's age, but now she saw that he could not be much older than she was.

He put a man off on a table and she heard a woman screaming.

"Finn!"

Herdi recognized the woman. It was Smilla, the woman she had thrown into the fire because she had seemed too beautiful to her.

Smilla threw herself over Finn and cried aloud.

The other women came and wanted to comfort her, but Smilla was not comforted. Only when Juliet picked her up and took her away did the crying soften.

"He died bravely, Smilla. You know that! He will be with his ancestors tonight! "

Smilla only sobbed and let himself be carried away by him.

Herdi shook it with disgust.

Smilla was covered in scars. Herdi knew that only her left side was affected. Not the face, but her arm and leg. Herdi knew that Smilla was still dragging her left leg because she could no longer use it properly.

Why did a man touch such a scarred woman? Finn seemed to have been the companion of Smilla. She could not imagine that. Finn had been a good lover. Why did he just choose Smilla? She shook with disgust.

Jülf carried Smilla into a room and Herdi hid behind a wall curtain. She was lucky that there was a niche there and she went undetected. She could watch Smilla and Jülf alone.

"I can not lie here. It's the room of Jarl and his wife. "Smila's voice was still whiny.

Jülf laughed softly.

"Believe me, it will not bother the jarl if you rest here. And Naya also not. You know her. She is the kindness in person. She'll scold because we did not send her to you! "

Smilla nodded.

"I know. But she is safer with the children. Besides, only she is able to calm the children. I can understand that they all wanted to know hidden! "

Julie laughed.

"Just do not let 'em hear it."

Herdi did not hear for a while, then smiled loudly.

"Finn! By all gods, what am I doing without him? "

Jülf took her back in his arms.

"Pst, Smilla. I know Finn. He would not have wanted you to grieve like that. "

She shook her head.

"I am nothing without him! I should follow him! "

Jülf held her an arm's length.

"I do not want to hear about that. You will rest now and then you will see it differently! "

She sobbed again and Jülf put a fur over her body.

"I have to prepare him for the next world." Herdi Smilla heard whispering.

Jülf sighed.

"You'll! Later. There is still time! "

He got up and left the room. Herdi huddled against the wall as he passed her. She stayed behind the tapestry for a while, but apart from Smilla's sobs and whimpers, nothing was heard. Not even the bustle in the hall.

Carefully, she pushed the fabric aside and looked around the room. He was tall and you could see a small camp. That was probably meant for the boy, the big warehouse where Smilla now lay even had a rack. Bed curtains hung over it, keeping the cold outside in winter. The room was simple and not to compare with hers. You could see that he was really only used for sleeping.

But then Herdi discovered something and she began to grin maliciously. A cradle stood beside the big camp. So there was another kid!

Herdi took the knife in her hand and stepped quietly from her hiding place.

A window, which was actually protected by boards, stood open and the sun shone into the room. The gods really seemed to weigh her.

Quietly she sneaked to the camp, then she held the blade to Smilla's throat.

Smilla's eyes opened in alarm.

"Greetings, Smilla!" Herdi whispered.

Smilla swallowed hard.

"Herdi!"

Herdi nodded.

"Yes! I see, did you feel well here? You even took one of my men, even though you knew it belonged to me! "

Smilla snorted.

"Finn never heard you! But he was my husband! And you took it from me! "

Herdi pushed the knife a little closer to her throat, but Smilla did not seem to touch that.

"Kill me! I have nothing left that still holds me in this world. Go on! Kill me! That's what you wanted then! Finish it this time! I am happy to follow my husband! "

Herdi smiled.

"It will not work, Smilla. You'll tell me where to find the wife of Jarl and his children. "

Smilla laughed.

"I will not do that."

Herdi let out a shrill scream.

"You obey me!"

Smilla shook her head.

Herdi took a log out of the fireplace, which was still shining slightly. She blew lightly on it and the wood caught fire again.

"A pity, Smilla. Then you have more people on your conscience. You will not see Finn in the other world. You know what the gods are dealing with criminals. "

Smilla started to scream, but Herdi held the piece of wood against the bed curtains.

"A sound and the long house will burn!"

Smilla laughed softly.

"Then your men will die too!"

Herdi shrugged.

"I'm not attached to them. Not like the three stolen from your so-called Jarl! "

Smilla snorted.

"They were not stolen from you. They stayed here voluntarily! They hate you. I saw what you did to Finn! I saw the scars on his back. "

Herdi stood up and pulled Smilla by the hair behind her.

"He deserves it. He lost to a woman and made me look weak! I could not tolerate that. "

She gave Smilla a shove to the window.

"Climb out of there. And no sound! Otherwise, I throw the piece of wood in the room! It will burn nicely and everyone will die! "

Smilla grabbed the skirts and climbed out of the window.

Herdi drove her in front of her.

"Hurry up!"

Smilla led her behind the sweathouse. Herdi chuckled.

"You're good for something."

Smilla snorted.

"Do you think I do that because I want to be of use? I want to protect my people! "

Suddenly she screamed with all her might.

"She is here! Herdi is here! She wants to kill Naya and the kids! Help! Hurry up!"

Herdi ran to her and rammed the knife down her throat. Smilla collapsed.

"You stupid piece!"

Smilla laughed and blood flowed from her mouth.

"Finn! Now I follow you! "

Naya heard Smilla scream and stood up. She took a sword and reached for the boards.

Leya stopped her.

"What are you doing?" She hissed.

Naya shook her off.

"Smilla needs my help," she whispered.

The other women grumbled and even the children began to cry softly again.

"Did not you hear what she called? Herdi wants to kill you and the children. "

Naya looked up again.

"But Smilla ..."

Leya snorted.

"Smilla certainly did not mean that you should rush to her aid."

Naya knew it herself, but the voice had sounded as if she were close. Herdi would find her if Naya did not do anything first.

She pushed a board aside and climbed up without listening to Leya or the others. Quickly she pushed the boards together again and put the grass over them.

She had to lure Herdi away from here.

She quickly ran to the sweat house. There she found the body of Smilla. Tears came to her eyes as she took the scarred hand in hers and pressed a kiss on the hand.

"Oh Smilla. I am so sorry! How do I explain the Finn? "

In the corner of her eye she took a move and jumped up.

"Finn, you will not have to explain anything anymore. He is already on his way to Hel! And Smilla will find him there! "

Herdi came up to her and grinned at her. The whole face was a single ugly mask and you could see the madness in her eyes.

Naya swallowed hard.

"Finn is dead too?"

Herdi laughed loudly.

"As you will be soon. You and your children! I will take everything that is important to your husband! "

Naya laughed.

"You will not kill my children, because you will not even come near them!"

Herdi ran to her, sword raised high above her head. Naya sought a secure footing and waited for Herdi to approach.

She was not a fighter, but she had learned a lot from Jule. And now she was glad that she had listened to her.

Herdi came closer and Naya took a step aside, so she passed her. Her sword slashed her tunic and Herdi screamed out her anger and pain. But then she seemed to calm down, because suddenly she was calm and stood in front of Naya.

"So you can fight too? Very nice. Then it will give me even more pleasure to kill you! "

Both women stared at each other and each waited for the next step of the others. Naya could have screamed, but she knew that no one could be with her so fast. And Leya should stay with the other women rather with the children.

She wanted Herdi!

The woman had threatened her family and had to be punished.

Herdi finally took the first step and let the sword fly out. Naya parried and quickly turned around her own axis in the hope that Herdi again ran into the void. It worked well too and Herdi bellowed out her anger.

"Are you all fighting with the sword?"

Naya laughed mockingly.

"To protect our families? Yes!"

Herdi attacked again, but this time she counted on Naya's move and kicked her on the skirt.

Naya fell to the ground and her sword fell from her hand. Desperately, she tried to get her knife out of the skirt folds. She felt a sharp pain as Herdi caught her leg with her sword.

She rolled away from Herdi, but she came after her and tried to stab her sword in the back. She almost succeeded, but Naya was able to straighten herself at the last moment, so the deadly blow failed to materialize. Nevertheless, she was injured in the back and she moaned in pain. Finally she got hold of the knife and pushed Herdi into the thigh. Herdi stumbled back and blood spurted on Naya. She tried to get up, but Naya's leg hurt like hell. Moaning, she got to her knees, but she just could not get up.

Herdi came towards her, breathing heavily.

"You're the first to die from Thorges family."

She raised her sword high above her head.

Naya closed her eyes and awaited the deadly blow. But he did not come. Instead she heard a pained breath of relief. Naya raised her head.

Leya had sneaked up on Herdi and rammed a knife down her throat. The blood flowed slowly but steadily down the shoulders.

"You!", Groaned Herdi.

Leya nodded.

"Yes! I!"

She moved the knife slightly in the wound and Herdi cried out in pain.

"How is this Herdi? I know for a fact that when I pull out the knife, you'll bleed to death like a pig that's been killed. And you know what? You deserve it. But I do not do it so easily! "

Again she moved the knife.

Naya saw one of the men come running, which Thorge had chained in the stable. When he saw the situation, he stopped.

Herdi slowly dropped to her knees, but Leya did not think to pull the knife out.

"Oh no, Herdi! I want you to relive everything you did. Look at Smilla. She was a beauty and everyone liked her. She was a nice woman. But you could not bear that. You did not want her to run out of rank. That's why you pushed her into the fireplace and prevented her from coming out. Do you know how many days and nights she screamed in pain? "

Herdi groaned.

"She disobeyed!"

Leya rammed the knife deeper into her.

"That's a lie!" She yelled.

The man approached Naya and picked her up.

"Should I intervene?" He asked.

Naya shook her head.

"You can not!"

Leya tore at Herdi's hair.

"How many women had to die because of your arrogance? Even I was more dead than alive when Tyr had to beat me up. This time, you did not even do it yourself. You ordered it! And Finn had to whip me too, until the meat almost fell off my bones. I can forgive you, but not you. "

Again someone came running.

It was Jülf.

"Leya!" He whispered.

Leya did not look at him. It was more like she did not even notice him. She talked incessantly to Herdi.

"You ordered the men to take me. And they did it. And woe, they were not brutal with me. Then you offered them penalties! And they knew you would do it. "

Jülf turned white.

Leya was not finished yet.

"Over and over again! And you stood by and laughed. "

Jülf stepped forward.

"Leya! Give me the knife! She can not do you any more. Nobody will do anything to you again! I will take care of that!"

Only now did she look at Jiilf and tears came into her eyes when she saw the horrified face of her husband.

"Jülf! What am I doing here? "

Trembling, she took the knife from Herdi's neck.

Herdi made only a brief sound, fell to the ground and stared into space.

Leya dropped the bloody knife and rubbed the blood off her skirt. The movements were hectic. Jülf came up to her and took her in his arms.

"Quiet, girl. It's over! I'm with you!"

Crying, she threw herself into his arms.

The man who held Naya in his arms turned around.

"We leave her alone and tell of the death of Herdis."

Naya nodded.

She was in pain.

"The children?"

He nodded.

"That's what I care about. But they are safe now! "

He carried her to the longhouse.

From a distance she saw Thorge.

"Jarl Stijnsson! Your wife is hurt! "The man shouted.

Thorge turned, then ran to her.

"Who dared ..."

Naya was handed over to him and she snuggled up to Thorge.

"Herdi is dead! It's over!"