"I have never experienced the boys so calmly. You really have a silvertongue, Naya! "

Jule stroked his arched belly and grimaced painfully.

Naya was sure that her next child would not be long in coming.

She had just told the children of Lasse and Jule a story while she had fed Kjell.

Lasse was a pleasant and calm man who had not been asked for permission touse Naya for the old cabin. It was more than just a cabin. Jule had told her that the Gunnarssons used to live there when they were not rich. This hut even had a staircase, but Naya did not need the upper part. There Lasse continued to store goods that he and Thorge wanted to sell on the market.

With the Gunnarssons Naya had really no problems. She liked the men.

Especially with Stijn she understood herself well, because he shared her sense of humor. Sometimes they just had to look at each other and both started to laugh loudly. No one understood why they did it, but most just grinned. Especially Thorge seemed to be happy that she got along so well with his father.

But she still had difficulties with some sons. Above all Raik and Sjard.

As Thorge had already explained, it was still young men who had a lot of imagination for their skills. They really had not suffered any defeatand boasted about their stories. In contrast to the Gunnarssons, who were not too bad for any work, they gladly distributed their tasks to the younger ones and preferred to fight each other.

Naya could not do anything with it. In their eyes, the two were spoiled brats, though they were not much younger than themselves. And her exercises were pure statement.

Especially because they had once watched Lasse and Thorge doing their exercises.You were already scared when you only looked at the exercises, which was not the case with the younger ones. They did not spare each other, and it happened more than once that Liv, Thorge's mother, had to sew one of the two wounds.

But you also saw how they dealt with the children. That was very loving with both. Lasse to his children and Thorge to Kjell. He often visited her just to watch the little one and hold him in his arms. She wondered if it was more than just responsibility, as he always liked to emphasize.

She looked at Jule, who did not look happy.

"It'sraining and her dad is not there. It is clear that they are restless. If I could, I would go outside with them, but unfortunately it has been raining for three days. I'm sure Lasse would not have left if he had known that. "

By n ow she knew Jules husband so well. He liked to play with the boys and at least try to get Jule off work.

Julesighed.

"ButI also understand Lasse that he left with Thorge. I have not been friendly with him lately. "

Naya laughed out loud.

"That makes the pregnancy."

The two men had left a week ago and had not told anyone where they wanted to go. At least they had not told Tjark. Stijn knew what his son was up to. He was not happy about it, but he understood him too.

Jules hifted impatiently on the stool, trying to find a more comfortable seating position.

Naya sighed.

No!It really would not be long.

"Lasse is not exactly happy to stay here while Thorge is traveling! I told him I could stand it, but he does not want to know about it. "

Naya's eyes widened.

"You would go abroad too?"

Jule nodded.

"I notice how dissatisfied Lasse is. He is like Thorge. The two do not like to say something. Especially not if the commands make no sense.Before leaving, I talked to Lasse again. I hope he thinks about it and also builds a boat. There are many able sailors among the men who want to join Thorge. "

Naya nodded.

It would also be more reasonable if they had several boats. So they could take supplies.

Jule sighed again.

"But even if he thinks about it ... it will be a very long time before everything is ready."

Naya understood it well.

She felt the coins she had sewn into the hem of her dress. She always used her coins very sparingly and hid what she did not need. It was not a fortune, but she could live on it well.

Here she earned her living with stories and songs. Sometimes she was called into the estate of Thorvald. He also gave her coins, but she just did not trust him. She only went there when she was called.

Jule groaned softly and rubbed her back.

"By all the gods. I sent Lasse too late. He will miss the birth. Again. He will never forgive me! "

Naya got up and went to the children. Yall hugged Kjell into her arms.

"Go to your grandparents. If the gods want it, you'll be big brothers tonight! "She tapped the young Lasse on the nose." Then you're not the youngest anymore! "

The  boys screamed excitedly, but when they saw their mother with a pained face they trolled quickly. Yall kept Kjell very careful.

Naya tied an old apron.

"Here or in the sweat house?"

Jule groaned softly.

"Ido not think I can make it to the sweat house. It also went so fast at Lasse. "

Naya lifted her skirts and nodded.

"It will probably take a while. You are not far enough yet. I'll send Einar out to ride Lasse! maybe he can do it! "

Jule nodded gratefully and Naya walked quickly to the young Viking, who swung himself on his stallion and galloped away.

For a moment she admired him, because he almost never used a saddle. Einar was very good with horses, and it was he who had broughtThorges horses up in such a short time that they had a good price onthe market.

Smiling,she went back to the hut. Jule had got up and was walking restlessly.

"Well!I put on water and line up. But I tell you one thing: don't die!That would make me very angry if I have to slit someone's belly again. "

Jule laughed.

"I'm going to try my best!"

Itwas pitch dark night when they arrived at the estate.

Einar had ridden out to meet them and they had instantly fallen into a wild gallop.

Lasse did not wait for his stallion to stop, but jumped off in front of his hut, where light was still shining.

He knocked on the door furiously.

"Jule. I'm there. Still waiting!"

Thorge grinned while Einar took his stallion to lead him into the stable. As if a child was waiting for his father to come.

The door opened a crack and Thorge saw Naya's face. She was exhausted.

"It will not be long. Do you clean yourself, or do you want to receiveyour child so dirty? "

In the hut Jule groaned and cursed. Most of the curses aimed directly at Lasse, who then flinched.

"Yes,I ... um ... I think you're right!"

Naya laughed and closed the door again.

Lasse ran into the sweathouse and Thorge followed him.

"By all the gods. Somehow I am glad that I was not here all the time! Did you hear your sister? "

Thorge nodded.

"You miserable dog ? Moron? Rutting boars? I cut you off your manhood when I'm done here? I think at the moment she does not like you very much. "

Lasse nodded laughing and pulled the tunic over his head.

Thorge did the same and they just emptied some water over their heads.

Then they heard the cries of a child and Lasse ran out again.

Thorge followed, shaking his head, but his uncle was already gone. Instead,he met Naya, who sat in front of the hut and leaned her head wearily against the wall.

He sat next to her and she turned her head slightly.

"A girl! Very healthy and very loud! ", She explained to him.

Thorge nodded.

"Was it difficult?"

She laughed silently.

"I just had to catch the kid. Jule did not need me and Liv. "

At that moment his mother came out of the hut. She smiled, too.

"Maer Lassesdottir. I think I could hardly be happier than the two! "

Thorge got up and hugged her.

"Go to sleep, Mom!"

She nodded tiredly and trotted over to her hut.

Thorge sat down next to Naya.

"You too should sleep."

She shook her head.

"I'm tired, but I will not be able to sleep. Let me sit for a while. "

He nodded and also leaned his head against the wall.

Fora while they fell silent and listened to the voices of their new parents.

"Do you have your boat?", Naya asked after a while.

Thorge nodded.

"Yes, but it cost me more than I thought. I will have to be very sparing with the supplies. But it still takes until it's done. I talked to the builder and he made some reasonable suggestions. It will not be a fast boat, but can carry a lot of burdens. "

She smiled.

"You still have time. You can continue trading. "

He sighed.

"I have to, too. Especially now."

Naya frowned, then looked at him as if she knew what he meant.

"Lasse comes with you! He has decided! ", She stated.

He nodded.

"I'm not comfortable with it, although I could not imagine anyone with whom I would rather travel in the distance. But the kids ... "

She raised her hand.

"The kids and women are tougher than you might think. And you need women."

Thorge laughed softly.

"Who knows ... if we make an effort, maybe a few will fall in our laps!When we have everything built up. But I have to be able to supply them too. "

Naya shrugged.

"Maybe they can take good care of themselves. You almost sound like you're carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders! "

He frowned.

"Maybe not the whole load, but I'm responsible for the people who want to travel with me!"

She raised her head in understanding.

"Ah!You want to become the new Jarl! "

"What?No! I do not have to decide that! "

She stood up and tapped his cheeky cheek, which obviously stunned him.

"You buy a boat, you are already worried about the men, women and children who accompany you. Thorge Stijnsson ... that makes a good jarl. And there are not many Jarl who take care of their people. I have only experienced very few so far. "

He frowned.

"At some point you explain to me why you are so against the Jarl!"

She laughed.

"I do not think so. Because you will not be there then! "

She  simply let Thorge sit and went to her own hut.

A plan matured in her mind.

Thisman was exactly what she imagined to be a jarl. Maybe a bit too honorable and too stubborn, but you could already see that he thought carefully and would never let anyone down. Under him no children would go hungry.

So why not go with him and explore a new world?

That could be funny.

She also had to admit that her Thorge was getting more and more popular.He only had to run to her  and her heart did a jump.

She knew he would never take her voluntarily.

Butthere were other ways and means.

And she knew some tricks.

She would make sure Kjell grew into a good man. And he would take good men as his role model. Such as Lasse Gunnarsson and Thorge Stijnsson.

"I want to know what they are up to!"

Raik spit out a blade of grass he had been chewing on for a while.

Sjard shrugged.

"That's no secret. They will leave us soon! "

Raik grimaced.

"Ido not like it when the two best warriors disappear. And your sister will leave too. "

Lasse and Thorge had started hunting three days ago. Today they had returned and brought a lot of game. They even killed a wolf. But instead of leaving the women to work, they had taken off their own skins and were now processing them. The meat had been brought to the meat chamber. Raik snorted again.

Lasse and Thorge were not much older than him. Nevertheless, they were always showered with praise and treated like men. They had already made a name for themselves when he had to stay on the estate and keepthe cattle. He still felt like a little boy who had to prove himself in everything.

In the beginning he had laughed when they had bragged about their miserable wealth. But the boast ceased. However, the coins piled up.

Even when Lasse had sought his wife, who was also Thorges sister, they came back richer than before. They never said anything and did not look at them, but Raik knew they were rich men. He hardly had a coin.

His father always told him that.

His father, Tjark Gunnarsson!

He and his brother Stijn already surrounded the stories like legends.And that was not just because of the women.

Everyone spoke in awe of the Gunnarssons.

Tjark,who had transformed himself from a poor farmer into a wealthy landowner and did not want to face combat. His wife, who supposedly came from the future and impressively represented her husband when traveling with the Jarl. No one would contradict his mother or cheather, because she noticed something immediately.

Stijn,who used to be a hothead but now fame and glory in the fight. His wife was a healer and even Leif, Jarl's healer, often asked her foradvice.

Sjard and Raik were the eldest sons of the Gunnarssons, and they already had high expectations of them. When they were traveling with theJarl, every step was watched by them, and the men did not forgive mistakes so easily as others.

Sjard did not mind. His mother always smiled and said that Sjard was very much like his father Stijn. He took nothing seriously, always messing about with messy hair and sloppy clothes. Nevertheless, the women were watching him like honey. It had happened many times that they had raided a village and the women had thrown themselves down at Sjard's feet so he could take them.

He was different. Raik was serious and always eager to please his father.

But he just could not always do it.

Tjark and Tilda were good parents and Raik knew that they loved him.

They had barely spanked his pants. But on the contrary. They had come upwith other punishments that should be instructive or gave him plenty of time to think about his actions.

Nor had they ever demanded anything.

His parents are not, but the people!

He had heard more than once that his uncle Lasse and Thorge were takingthe right path. And that Tjark Lasse would have educated properly. Hewas only his youngest brother, but the stories proved that Lasse was something of Tjark's eldest son. People never talked about him like that. From him we only asked that he would be so like his father.

Thorge was not Sijn's biological son and yet Stijn loved him like his otherchildren. Stijn could have made it easy, because even from him, they demanded nothing. But neither he nor Lasse were careful about the work or the fight.

Asa boy, he had always run after them and wanted to learn from them.But at some point he had become aware that he could never keep up with them. And that disappointed him more than he wanted to admit.

And from then on, he had tried everything to make life as difficult aspossible for both of them. But he did not succeed. They were not provoked. But on the contrary. They looked good-naturedly over his pranks.

It was clear he would in herit the estate from his father. He and notLasse!

Once he had thrown it in the face in anger Lasse. But he had stayed calm and only shrugged his shoulders. That would have been clear to him for a long time.

Raik did not know why it was so, but it had made him even more angry. He had beaten himself with a younger guy and some things had broken. The punishment for it had been humiliating for Raik. He had had tore place the damage and had been excluded from the combat exercises for a month. And only because the younger guy had broken his arm.

Sjard was no different. Thorge was always put in front of him as a rolemodel.

Sjard had nothing against his older brother, but he was loyal to Raik. And he appreciated that.

"I'm not sure if I'm glad they want to go, or if I'm mad because of that!"

Sjard looked at him in astonishment.

"I actually thought that you want to get rid of them?"

Raik nodded.

"I was thinking the same thing. But they are both very good warriors!Even Jule is an excellent shieldmaid. I would not want her against me. "

Sjard sat up.

"Iknow for yourself that they are excellent warriors. I learned a lot from them. "

Raik arrogantly raised his chin.

"You learned the most from Thorvald's weapon master! Just like me!"

Sjard stayed calm and you could see in his face that he was fighting a fight. He really liked his brother, but he also knew he could not mess with Raik.

His loyalty to Raik won, because he preferred to remain silent on this subject.

"How are you going to make Thorge stay here? Because if he stays, then Lasse will stay! "

Raik shrugged.

"Ido not know yet. But I can think of something! "

"The wolf coat will bring in a lot of silver!" Lasse remarked.

Thorge nodded and pulled off the little fat that was still on the inside.

"Yes,but only if we ride away again. I wonder if I'm not asking Thorvald for a boat. "

Lasse looked thoughtful.

"A trade trip? Not a bad idea. We have enough goods! "

Thorge nodded. He was glad he did not have to hand over the furs to Tjark. Tjark had been on the hunt himself and had made good prey.

Lasse looked at the old longhouse.

"I have even more goods. Yorrick has carved a lot again. The boy is really a gifted craftsman. Jule does not even know where to put everything from him. I have housed some more in Naya's hut. "

Thorge grinned.

"I hope she and Kjell still have enough space."

Lasse scratched his head.

"Getting so tight. But I took advantage of the fact that she was away for awhile and brought the whole product up to the top. Kjell and Naya do not need so much space. "

Thorge listened.

"She was gone? Alone?"

Lasseshrugged.

"No! With Kjell! But yes, she was gone. Before the hunt, when you were with Einar at the horse market. "

Thorge stared at his uncle.

"She was alone with a child on the move? Is she mad? What did she do?"

Lasse raised an eyebrow.

"How did the interest in the storyteller?" He grinned Thorge mischievously at. But then he turned serious. "They moved from farm to farm and Naya told stories. She is a storyteller, Thorge. This is their calling! She make that for years! "

Thorg e gritted his teeth.

"But she did not have a child with her before!"

Lasselaughed loudly.

"But she had a horse this time. I gave her one of your mares. "

Thorge kept working quietly, but inside he cursed.

He did not like that Naya had gone off alone. But he also knew that no one could stop her. She was so damn stubborn and had endangered Kjell and herself. She had to realize that she did not just ...

Confused,he shook his head.

Why was he worried about her? She lived her life. Lasse was right. Naya had been traveling with her father for years. She knew what to lookout for.

He snorted.

Yet she was only a woman. She should take at least one of her brothers with her when she went on a journey again.

He would talk to her.

Lasse giggled, but Thorge tried to ignore him.

"You have not shown that much interest in any woman, admit it, it's messing you up!"

Thorge snorted.

"I can not use a wife, especially not if I want to sail away soon."

Lasse shrugged.

"Take her with you!"

Thorge looked at his uncle seriously.

"I will not take her with me, I can not take care of her, and besides, Ido not even know why she does not get me out of her head, it's probably just the boy, after all, I've taken responsibility for him!"

Lasse nodded and could not resist a grin.

"The boy, of course!"

Lasse turned around and they heard him mumble. And Thorge could hear theword "moron" significantly.

He sighed. Yes, the narrator interested him, but he certainly would not do anything to her if he knew he would be gone soon. He could not do that to her. Once he was on the boat, he would forget her. At least he hoped that.