Chapter 7

Thorge followed cheekily after Naya and the slaves behind.

Of course it would not have looked good if Naya had bought this slave, so he had. And since then he had probably fallen in her favor. At least she ignored him completely and he did not like it. He gritted his teeth and listened to them.

"I still do not understand. Why is your name Loah? And why were you a slave? What happened, Kjell?"

The guy could barely walk, but he kept himself upright, even though he looked like he was in pain. He had nothing on his feet and you could see the trail of blood that made his soles.

Now he laughed, but it was not a happy laugh.

"The Jarl sold me when his wealth dwindled!"

She held a hand over her mouth in alarm.

"You were a free man and not a slave. How could he sell you?"

He shook his head sadly.

"I could not prove that I'm not a slave. Both parents dead and no close relatives. No uncle, no cousins who could confirm it. Your dad wanted to buy me too, but he did not have enough coins for me. The jarl saw that he could get coins from the children."

Naya stared at Thorge.

"Is that fair?"

He shook his head.

"No! But as the Celt had said, it will be hard to prove."

Loah snorted.

"I'm not a Celt! I am a Nordmann and I have a name. My name is Loah."

Naya leaned slightly towards Loah.

"I do not understand that, too. Why is not your name Kjell anymore?"

Loah shrugged.

"Kjell was the name the jarl gave me. He said my father was also named Kjell, but I heard something else. My dad was Loah Tyrsson, a warrior. He died honorably in a battle. That's why I accepted his name."

His legs buckled under him and Thorge held him by the arm.

For a moment he wrinkled his nose, because the guy stank pitifully.

"We made it soon," Naya tried to cheer him up, "just keep telling me!"

Thorge, however, did not believe that he could accommodate the Celts in the whorehouse.

Loah nodded and continued talking.

"I was twelve when the slave trader came into the yard. He took five boys and three girls with him. I do not know what happened to the others because I was sold first. First to a farmer who wanted to beat me to death because his wife wanted me. She sold me to the next best guy who went over her land. He dragged me to a city. There I scrubbed floors in an inn and emptied the cesspool. But at least I got food and had a roof over my head. But then the landlord lost me at a game and I was again a slave of a farmer. But at some point I was lucky. An old combat companion of my father recognized me and took me along. I spent two years on his boat."

Thorge listened.

"You were at sea for two years?"

Loah nodded.

"We sailed to the Franks and on. Then back to the islands of the Celts. That's where I learned the language, that's why I'm called the Celts."

Thorge took a step forward. He was excited inside, but outwardly he tried to keep calm. For all the gods, if that was true, then this man was a gift from the gods.

"How far have you sailed?"

Loah snorted.

"We wanted to move on to the new country. An island that is sparsely populated. But we were attacked by pirates. They killed almost all men because they were afraid of the Vikings. I was just lucky. Shortly before, I fell ill and puked my soul out of my body. That's why I was very thin. Through my dark hair, they took me for a Celts and sold me back as a slave. And so I came here."

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before looking back at Naya.

"By all gods, girl, I could hardly believe that I really have you in front of me! I thought the gods are playing a trick on me!"

She laughed softly.

"The gods have really brought me here, Kjell!"

His face darkened for a moment.

"Call me Loah. Kjell does not exist anymore."

He hugged her tightly and Thorge stifled a growl.

Naya took a step back and held her nose.

"First of all, we will bathe you. You stink pitifully. And then you will eat something."

She hooked up with him and ignored Thorge. But Loah stopped and looked at him.

"I can work, sir. Really! Even if I have scars from the whip, it does not mean that I'm defiant."

Thorge really growled.

"You're not my slave, you're her." He pointed to Naya, "she actually bought you, I just gave the coins so nobody would ask questions!"

Loah stared at Naya.

"Girl, you should not have done that."

She laughed.

"Yesterday I earned well in the whorehouse. I had the few coins to buy you out."

Loah's head slowly moved in Thorge's direction.

"You damned dog. Is she your whore? Are you taking her out? Do you have any idea who she is?"

Thorge's eyes sliced.

"She's not a whore, you idiot!" For a moment he wondered he was using words from the future again, but it was fitting. "I know what she is, too."

Loah reared up in front of him, which was more ridiculous than threatening, for he just handed Thorge his neck.

"What did she lose in a whorehouse?"

Naya put a hand on Loah's narrow chest.

"It's not what you think. I bathed there because they have a bathing hall. In addition, Harald has some rooms, which he also rents to guests who are not interested in his wives." She laughed pleased. "I had a whole room for myself! And I sang yesterday, so I earned coins."

Loah did not even look at her. His eyes were focused only on Thorge, but he held his gaze.

"Thorge! What's going on here?"

Thorge almost heard Naya sigh with relief when they heard Lasse's voice.

"Leave! I'm glad you're here. I found and bought Loah on the slave market. He is a childhood friend and not a slave. He does not think Thorge has the best intentions."

Lasse stared in amazement between Thorge and Loah.

"And why is he so stupid to threaten Thorge?"

Naya mumbled something about Loah not threatening him, but he saw it differently. On the one hand, he could understand that at first he had misunderstood it. But now everything should be clear. Nevertheless, this little man stood before him and stood his gaze.

Lasse put a hand on his shoulder.

"Let it be, Thorge. Do not argue with him, or you'll have a fight with the little bird!" He whispered to him before turning to Loah," and you should know that Thorge Stijnsson is best not to challenge you so much."

It was Loah who finally gave in, but only because he staggered and had to grab himself against the wall.

Naya supported him.

"Lasse is right, Loah. You should not challenge him."

Loah looked at Thorge again.

"I've heard of you, butcher!"

Naya did something Thorge did not expect. She pulled Loah close to his threadbare smock and glared at him.

"Never call him that again! You have no right to! You do not know him!"

You could not say who was more baffled at that moment. But Loah bowed his head.

"I am sorry!"

She nodded and took the bundle from Thorge.

"I will take him to a bathhouse. It's better if you do not see each other until you leave."

Thorge nodded.

"Accommodate him in an inn. I'll have him picked up when the time comes."

She shook her head.

"I will accompany him and we will come to the harbor at the appropriate time."

Thorges nostrils flared up.

"Where do you want to sleep tonight?"

She shrugged her shoulders.

"I will find something!"

Thorge shook his head.

"You will be in your room tonight! Otherwise I'll get you! You will not stay with him alone longer than necessary!"

Loah snorted.

"I will not do anything to her!"

Lasse raised a finger.

"What did I tell you? Keep your mouth shut and do not interfere in things that are none of your business!"

Naya sighed.

"I will appear with Harald for the Last Supper. Maybe he'll let me sing and tell again."

Thorge did not want to know that either. But he was silent. She preferred to be near him tonight than the Celts.

He looked at Loah.

"You take care of her until I send one of my men."

Naya frowned.

"You do not know where I am."

He looked her straight in the eye.

"I will find you! Everywhere!"



"He's quite possessive!" Loah noted after they left the market.

Naya raised her head.

"Who?"

Loah rolled his eyes annoyed.

"Odin himself! I mean Thorge Stijnsson. Who else!"

She smiled at him.

"He can not be possessive. I do not belong to him."

Loah raised an eyebrow.

"Does he know that too? Or did he already have you? Are you lying with him?"

She stopped and her mouth opened in disgust without her getting a word out.

It took a while for her to answer him.

"I do not think that's your business. But before you draw the wrong conclusions: I was not with him and I will not. Thorge draws it into the distance. He wants to explore the new country. And he thinks that women have no business here."

Loah chuckled.

"Forgive me. It just felt like that to me. And you have just turned pretty red in the face. But he is right! It's not easy when he really wants to start over."

She snorted.

"You are not better than him. Lasse Gunnarsson also takes his family."

Loah shrugged.

"I know the stories about Lasse Gunnarsson and the Shieldmaiden, who is his wife. She will be able to assert herself. But you ... forgive me, but do you want to chase away a possible enemy with your song? Or tell a story to the storms?"

He looked at her searchingly when she did not answer.

"You have something in mind? You really want to follow him? Are you out of your mind?"

She arrogantly raised her chin.

"I'm a bit harder than it seems."

Loah wiped his face, pulling a trail of dirt across his eyes. Naya snorted. Loah urgently needed a bath.

Then he raised a hand.

"I do not want to talk you into it, but I know what I'm talking about. I was at sea myself. I experienced the storms. The waves that you see from Walhalla. They try to devour everything. I have experienced the dispute between Thor and Njörd when they are fighting over the rule of the sea. Only the strongest men can interfere in the quarrel of the gods without being harmed."

Naya grinned.

"You are also a skald? I know about the gods!"

He snorted.

"It's not funny, Naya. You have no idea what you're getting into if you follow him. Only the tougher Northmen take such a journey into the unknown."

She tapped him on the chest.

"I have decided, Loah. I will somehow follow Thorge. Kjell is supposed to be a good role model and Thorge is the best man for it!"

Loah frowned.

"Who is Kjell?"

Naya snorted.

"My foster son! I helped him into the world and I will not leave him to a Jarl, so that he might as well deal with him as with you!"

Loah wiped her words aside.

"How old is Kjell?"

She shrugged her shoulders.

"He was born in the summer!"

Loah's eyes widened.

"You are really out of your mind! He is not even one year old? What does Thorge say about that?"

She lowered her eyes to the ground.

"He knows nothing about it!"

She quickly raised her head and threatened Loah with a fist.

"And you do not tell him. I have already made preparations and left him in the dark! I said I needed everything for my wanderings."

He wiped his face again.

"You have always been like a sister to me, Naya. That's why I give you good advice. Let it be! He will thank you!"

She stamped her foot.

"I do not care what you say. I will go through my plans!"

Loah realized that he did not arrive against her.

"Well. But then make sure that he also takes me along. I'm trying to help you as best I can." He raised a finger, "and you will obey me, no matter what I say, it will be a law for you."

She laughed at him.

"I will! I'll do anything you want!" She saw his arrogant expression," Stay out of here!"

Loah sighed almost desperately.

"You have always been stubborn. I really just hope it's worth it."

She grimaced.

"I do not do it because of Thorge Stijnsson. I do it for Kjell."

He shrugged his shoulders.

"If you think."




"What is wrong with you? I thought you had renounced the women? At least for a while."

Lasse ran beside Thorge, who brooded dully.

"I do not like the guy. She looked at him on the slave market as if he were a god."

Lasse grinned.

"I understand. You did not like that. It makes you crazy in the head, right?"

Thorge snorted.

"I have no idea how she does it. But I would like to cut off all the men who just look at them for a bit longer."

Lasse sang softly to himself.

"You're in love!"

Thorge snorted.

"I'm not! Well, maybe something. But I have to beat that out of my head. We will soon go to sea and then I will never see them again."

Lasse shrugged.

"Take her with you!"

Thorge rolled his eyes.

"We've had this before. She is not like Jule. And already there I have a bad feeling."

Lasse laughed.

"I take care of my wife myself. She may be your sister, but if she just heard you, you'd be rid of your head. In the best case."

He bent to Thorge.

"Just tell me one thing. If there was a possibility, would you bring her to you?"

Why should he lie?

"I guess so. She may be the stubborn woman I've ever found, but she's smart. Did you experience how she negotiated with Thorvald? Even the jarl thought she had tricked him."

For a moment he thought of the kiss, but he forbade himself to tell Lasse about it. If he had not held back in the evening, she would have stayed with him. He had felt that.

He had been surprised that she had just kissed him like that. But it had felt right. And yet he had to leave her behind.

"It's not safe, Lasse! Not for her and not for Kjell. I do not want to endanger her."

Lasse took a deep breath.

"You'll see, Thorge, that you can still make such good intentions just to protect them. Somehow there will be a way."

Thorge shook his head.

"Not for me!"

Lasse laughed.

"That's what I said to your sister! And yet I gave her the amber. Twice!"

Thorge felt the small package he carried in his pocket. He did not even know why he suddenly bought an amber. But this kiss ... damn, she really made him confused in the head!

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