Naya hummed softly to Kjell as he sucked on the cloth.

He was such a sweet child.

When she had wandered with him a while ago, he had always lain in his sling and had gotten wide-eyed when she told people stories about the gods and sang. It was almost as if he understood exactly what she was saying, because he grimaced when he said something funny and he remained serious, even if the story was exciting.

Naya was sure Kjell would one day become a skald.

She took the cloth from him and this time he did not protest.

"So you're finally full, little dwarf. That's nice!"

She took him by the shoulder and stroked his back lightly.

Except for the big hunger he was really very easy and she had grown to love him by now. She no longer thought about his birth and that he was not wanted. She wanted and loved him. And there was at least one other person who loved Kjell. Thorge!

She got up and paced, humming softly.

There was a knock and Thorge came in.

"Greetings!" He whispered when he saw that she wanted to bring Kjell to sleep.

She nodded to him and pointed to Kjell.

Thorge came up to her and took her Kjell off.

"How is my little berserker?"

She snorted.

"Kjell is the darling child here in the estate. To call him a Berserker is a little over the top!"

He grinned at her and put Kjell on his shoulder.

"When it comes to his food, he is really out of his mind! I can even hear him up to my hut."

She laughed softly.

"That's true. But otherwise he is nice!"

Thorge patted him slightly and Kjell belched loudly.

"Look at it! You're already becoming a real man!"

Naya laughed and straightened the cradle she had received from Tilda.

"Lay him to sleep. He is tired!"

Thorge did and covered him.

In the meantime, she brought out a pitcher of mead and put it on the table with a cup.

"Are you hungry? I baked bread. And I have a lot of dried meat.

He sat down at the table.

"Where did you get the dried meat from? My mother has not started yet."

She laughed softly, so that Kjell did not wake up and put him a small dining board.

"I got it as a gift. As payment!"

He put a piece of bread in his mouth and chewed slowly. Only when he had swallowed did he continue talking.

"I found out today and I wanted to talk to you about it. Why did you go alone?"

She frowned.

"I did not realize I had to tell you that I'm going on a hike," she answered pointedly.

He sighed.

"You do not have to. But it can be dangerous!"

He had barely uttered the sentence as she spun around and held a knife to his throat.

"That's your mistake, Thorge Stijnsson. You still think that every woman is weak. But that's not true. I learned a lot from my dad and your sister also gave me helpful advice."

He grabbed her hand and twisted his arm so that she landed belly down on his knee. As a confirmation he gave her a slap on the butt before he let her get up.

He raised his finger.

"And I was really nice and careful now! Others are not!"

She snorted furiously.

"You are also the butcher!"

No sooner had she uttered the sentence, she regretted it again.

Thorges face changed. If he was still quiet and smiled, he was now suppressing his anger.

"You do not know me! You do not know anything about me!"

She sat down opposite him. She was a little ashamed that he had just put her over her knee, but she could not be angry with him. He had only wanted to show her why he was so worried.

"Then tell me!"

He snorted.

"You do not want to know it!"

She put her hands on the table.

"I am here and sitting opposite you. I have nothing else to do, right?"

He sighed softly and took a sip of mead.

"It's not a nice story and I'm not a skald!"

She tapped her index finger impatiently against the wood of the table.

"You want to stop me?"

He leaned against the wooden wall.

"Well. I will tell you. But you must not think bad of Lasse or me. We are different now. At least we try."

She raised an eyebrow and he sighed again.

"You probably know the story of Lasse and Jule."

She looked at him in bewilderment.

"What does that have to do with your nickname?"

He took a deep breath.

"The search took years. Then we got a message from a monk that my sister was still alive and happily married to the Danes. Jule is of the opinion that we are home immediately and have sent a messenger to her. But it was not so!"

She was startled. That's what Jule had told her.

"How was it then?"

He sighed.

"I'm not exactly proud of it. Lasse was so angry that for days he was just drunk. And just when we arrived at Thorvald, he prepared a raid. Lasse immediately jumped onto a boat and mumbled something that he wanted to kill Danes. I could not leave him alone, so I followed him without first going to my parents."

She tilted her head slightly.

"That is very honorable of you!"

He snorted.

"It is not honorable to miss out on its rage of innocents! Lasse was drunk most of the time and cursed my sister. I became angry myself because I knew the whole story. I knew she was not so happy and she still missed Lasse. She could not leave, however, without summoning a war. But Lasse did not want to hear it. As soon as we arrived at the first estate, that we wanted to attack, staggered Lasse go. He was not able to fight, so I stayed close to him. But any man who could reasonably fight and saw Lasse so drunk wanted to take the chance to kill a Gunnarsson."

He ran over his head. Then his fingers dwelled on the scar on his face.

"I killed everyone who came too close to my uncle. I had so much anger in me. Anger on Lasse, anger on the Danes and on myself. This scar has missed me a boy. He was too young, but already had a knife. He approached me and stabbed when I was busy with a man. Because of the blood, I did not realize he was still too young and cut his throat. It was only later that I learned that I had massacred his entire family. In blind rage. Men, women and children. Everything that got in my way, I killed. Many compared me to my uncle, who had probably once in such a rush of blood. But I even exceeded him! And from there, I was the butcher!"

She put her hand on his, which was clenched into a fist.

"You wanted to protect Lasse!"

He nodded, but she realized that he would always blame himself.

"And the boy ... you do not approach any warrior when he's fighting! He should have known!"

Thorge pulled his hands back abruptly.

"Do not try to comfort me or justify it. Before, I used to fight in a calm manner, but that day ..."

She shook her head.

"I do not want to comfort you. You blame yourself enough. But I want to tell you one more thing ... then I'll keep my mouth shut!"

He laughed softly.

"You can not do that!"

She hit him hard on the shoulder, making him laugh even more.

"Listen to me and do not make fun of me! You may have fought on that day out of anger. But imagine, you would not have protected Lasse? What would have happened then?"

Thorge snorted.

"As drunk as he was, everyone could have killed him!"

She nodded.

"And what would have happened to Jule and the children then?"

He was pale.

"She was not feeling well here in the beginning! People reproached her and it would have been worse if Lasse had fallen!"

She was silent while he thought about it. He thought for a long time and it seemed like a burden had been taken from him. A small load, but he seemed a bit relieved.

Then he got up.

"I'll ask the jarl for a boat. Mine is not finished yet. I have to sell goods!"

Her heart jumped.

"May I come with you?"

He frowned.

"To the jarl?"

She quickly shook her head.

"No! To the markets!"

He grimaced.

"With Kjell?"

She shook her head.

"I'll ask someone who cares about him. Please, Thorge. I need a new dress and materials for Kjell's clothing. He's growing so fast."

He took a deep breath.

"That's a good reason. But I'll pay for the materials!"

She snorted.

"I do not want alms."

He raised his hand.

"I do not want to argue! If I get a boat, you can go with me."

She hopped excitedly on the spot. Thorge smiled at her, then shook his head and walked to the door.

"But by then no longer alone. Especially not with Kjell. If you go hiking again, take one of my brothers with you!"

She snorted, but the prospect of reaching a market made her keep her mouth shut. Instead, she just nodded and bit back a sharp answer.

He went out and left her alone.

Naya took a deep breath.

This man drove her insane with his protective instinct and patronage. But at least he had given something away.

She cleared away the cup and the food tray and scolded quietly to herself.

"Thorge Stijnsson! I'll have a lot of trouble with you. I already know that!"

"You do not need to ask the jarl, Thorge. I have my own boat and am a good helmsman."

Thorge nodded.

He knew himself that Roar was a very good helmsman. Roar was related to the Jarl, even calling him his cousin. He was his father's age and had lost his sons in a robbery. His wife was long dead and now Roar was alone.

"I did not mean to offend you, Roar. Besides, I wanted to show respect for your grief!"

Roar declined.

"I'm out of sadness and I'll be fine if I'm gone for a while. Here I am to no use. Everything here reminds me of my family and the good times. A father should not survive his children!"

Thorge looked suspiciously at the man in front of him.

"How do you mean?"

Roar laughed and roared over the long beard, which already had some white strands. He was the same age as his father, but he had visibly aged since the death of his family.

Now he put a hand on Thorge's shoulder.

"I know what you're up to. Your father told me that you are planning a trip. A journey without return!"

Thorge swallowed.

"Does Thorvald know it too?"

Roar nodded.

"He is not happy that his two best warriors are looking for a new country. But he understands you! I think if he were not Jarl, he would do the same. But I do not want to go beyond that."

Thorge swallowed again.

"If you want to talk it out, then I have to disappoint you. My father has been trying for years."

Roar shook his head.

"I do not want to talk you out. I want to suggest you a trade! I will provide you with my boat for this trade trip. In return, you take me and a few other men with you when you sail to the new land!"

Thorge hesitated.

"Thorvald will not like it!"

Roar snorted.

"I am old, boy! And the men I have in my head too. We all have no family and really only wait for death. Younger men follow. That's why you're planning this trip. I know that Raik Tjarks will succeed. And Sjard will take your father's place. You and Lasse ... you're doing it right. I do not want to commit you, but you could use men with experience. And we can all still fight and we do not shy away from work."

Thorge struggled with himself. By now it was reaching proportions he did not expect.

"I can give you no security!"

Roar shrugged.

"Who can do that? So, is our trade valid?"

Thorge still hesitated.

"Who wants to go?"

Roar called him names of ten warriors. All were aged his dad or older. If he counted the men who promised him, they were Jule and the children nearly thirty men.

He ran over his head.

"So we have three boats."

Roar laughed and hit him hard on the shoulder.

"Good boy! But you are wrong. Heftan Ingolfsson also owns a boat. Enough for goods, livestock and tools, do not you think?"

Thorge frowned.

"Heftan? The brother of Jarl Ingolfsson?"

Roar nodded.

"He broke with his brother and had to flee. He is the only one who takes a family. His wife and four daughters!"

Thorge almost despaired. He had not planned that.

Roar looked at him now that he was wondering how he was going to get all fed up if things got rough.

"Come along, Thorge. We discuss it in my house. As I said, we are all experienced enough and we all know what to expect. But we will help."

So it happened that Thorge and Roar sat together for two days and discussed what they had to do.

After the two days, Thorge rode home again and somehow felt lighter. Although he still felt responsible for everything, Roar was with his experience a help he did not want to miss. And with the two additional boats, his plan would be faster than he thought.

Not for long.

Then he would finally be his own master!

Naya kissed Kjell on the forehead before climbing onto the mare. She straightened her skirt and looked at the boy again. One of Thorges' s sisters had agreed to pay attention to Kjell.

"I'll be back soon," she assured Kjell once again, who seemed satisfied.

Einar snorted.

"He is doing well with Anika. She's my sister after all!"

Anika laughed.

"Do not be so mean, Einar. She feels like every mother. Do you think our mother never worries when you go away?"

Einar rolled his eyes and mumbled something to himself. Thorge raised his hand and they rode off.

Lasse had a wagon loaded with loads of goods, so it did not go as fast as Naya hoped.

She was looking forward to the trip, but she did not like spending a night on the estate of Thorges Jarl. But Thorge had insisted.

She wondered if she could sleep on the boat right away. She really did not want to meet the jarl again. She was still afraid that he would demand Kjell.

She sighed softly.

Again she left some distance to the men. And again it was Thorge who rode beside her after a while.

"What's the matter? I thought you were looking forward to the little trip?"

She shrugged her shoulders.

"I have nothing against the journey. But I do not want to be a jarl!"

Thorge let his breath out in amazement.

"Why?"

She shrugged again.

"I already told you that I had bad experiences with various Jarl."

He looked at her seriously for a moment, but then he seemed to understand.

"You've been on a jarl's estate for a long time before your father brought you!"

She nodded and lowered her head.

"Yes. It was difficult there."

He frowned.

"Difficult?"

She sighed.

"Difficult is the wrong word. There were many children there. Most had family. Others were bastards who were only tolerated. And others had lost their parents. The bastards and orphans were forced to work. We hardly got any food and had to work as hard as the slaves. Most of us barely lived long enough to buy freely!"

Thorge frowned.

"Buying? You had to buy your free? Like slaves?"

She nodded.

"My father had to leave a lot of silver for me with the jarl. Only then was he allowed to take me along."

Thorge wiped his face.

"That's not right!"

She nodded.

"But it's the rule. I was with some Jarl with my father. And there was hardly anyone who did not handle the unloved children in the same way. Not everyone is like your father! I even claim that your father and uncle are exceptions."

Thorge looked very thoughtful.

"Is it really like that? I know it differently."

Naya snorted.

"As I said, your family is different."

He took a deep breath.

"I can assure you that Thorvald is no different. Every child is treated the same. But is that the reason? Is that why you do not want to let Kjell get close to the good?"

She nodded determinedly.

He shrugged his shoulders.

"But if we sail away, you will have no choice. You are still under my and Lasse's protection. But when we are no longer there ..."

Naya knew what he wanted to say.

Raik would not tolerate her and Kjell for long. He would do anything to make her disappear, even if his father was still in charge. And Thorge knew it too.

But he did not know that she had her own plans.

He would be surprised if he was at sea.

Finally they were on the boat.

Thorge had had a serious conversation with Thorvald. As Roar had already mentioned, Thorvald was not fundamentally against the trip. He even welcomed it. But he set conditions and Thorge did not like that.

Since he had sworn allegiance and loyalty to Thorvald, he should pay tribute. At least as long as he enjoyed the protection of Thorvald.

Thorge had no idea what Thorvald meant by that, but he was already thinking that he should give something of his current sales as well.

He sighed softly.

Somehow he had the feeling that more and more stones were in his way.

He lifted his face into the wind and drew in the salty sea air.

At least the weather had mercy on him. They did not need to settle for the rounds and still made good progress.

He looked at Naya, who was sitting at the stern of the boat, lost in thought, looking at the sea. She was obviously not afraid of anything.

He had really thought that she was holding back with Thorvald. But he should have known better. She had interfered in the negotiations as if she would sail with him to the new country.

Thorvald's first request for Thorge to provide men for battles had laughed them off.

Thorge did not know who was more surprised. He or Thorvald. Now you would have thought Thorvald would throw her out of the longhouse, but that had not been the case.

In his eyes, Thorge had seen an amused flash of lightning and then he had talked cheerfully with Naya, leaving only those charges. Thorge had not included them, but it had not bothered him. Naya negotiated a lot better than he did.

Finally, Thorvald laughingly told him that he felt Naya had pulled the fur over his ears.

In the evening they had listened to their stories. Thorge had been stunned by the passion with which she told every story. At the end everybody had been sitting in silence and only after a while had she been cheered. One or two men had given her some coins and Thorvald had given her a whole bag of coins as a reward. Thorge also wanted to give her something, but she had refused grinning. He would rather keep the coins, she had told him.

When he thought of how she had refused to enter the estate at all, it was strange how she had behaved. She had been self-confident and had not put up with impudence.

But now she sat quietly and even smiled.

He got up and went to her.

She raised her head and made room on the box for him to sit beside her.

"I have to thank you!", He said after a while.

She raised an eyebrow.

"Why?"

He sighed.

"I think if you had not interfered, I would not have gotten off lightly. However, I do not know how to do it with the levies. I do not even know where we'll settle down!"

She smiled mischievously at him.

"You take everything too seriously, Thorge! Did you not understand that it is a tax rather to keep up appearances? The Jarl will not sail after you just to demand his delivery. Of course, he may require your hospitality if he lands with you, but otherwise you will not hear from him anymore."

"I think if you had not interfered, I would not have gotten off lightly. However, I do not know how to do it with the levies. I do not even know where we'll settle down!"

She smiled mischievously at him.

"You take everything too seriously, Thorge! Did not you understand that it is more of a levy to keep the bill? The Jarl will not sail after you just to demand his delivery. Of course, he may require your hospitality if he lands with you, but otherwise you will not hear from him anymore."

Thorge hoped he did not look as stupid as he felt right now.

"You mean he did not mean it all seriously?"

She nodded, laughing.

"I mean that! He has to demand it to keep his face." She chuckled softly. "You really thought you had to sail to the estate once a year to make the levy?"

He wiped his face.

"Even worse. I thought he would take some of my coins!"

She opened her eyes.

"I'm not sure you want to fool me. You are feared by all, but negotiation does not seem to be your strength."

She leaned towards him.

"You have to work on that, Thorge Stijnsson. I'm not always with you to look after you!"

He raised his head arrogantly.

"I can look after myself!"

She nodded.

"Naturally. But when it comes to negotiations, you can be ripped off just because you're worried about making a mistake. Be cautious but at the same time torn. Not everything can be solved with raw power. You have to be callous. Never make a comment if something does not suit you."

Again he wiped his short hair.

"I do not know if I'm made for it!"

She smiled.

"Maybe someone finds for you. Who knows?"

She gently patted his knee, got up and went to the barrel where the drinking water was.

Thorge watched her go.

He somehow had a strange feeling and that was Naya's. Something in him said she was up to something. He knew her by now and he knew he would not like it.