Thorge seemed to be more sullen than usual. At least to Naya. He barely spoke to her and kept away from her.

She had done everything he had asked for.

She had gone to an inn with Loah, which also had a bathhouse. Before, she had bought him decent clothes and now he was almost unrecognizable. His matted hair had been cut off, as was his beard. He did not seem as powerless as before. Now you could also see that it was a Northman.

As Thorge had announced, Einar had arrived at the inn after a while. Not him. Einar could not say why he had to look for Naya.

The evening was the same as the previous one. She had been able to collect many coins again. But this time Thorge had not accompanied her to her room, but Lasse. He had only grinned when she had asked and said Thorge would go through something.

The next day Thorge had sent word that they would soon set sail. As soon as she and Loah got to the harbor, they left.

She had barely said goodbye to Amira and the other women who had come to the harbor. Rabije had been able to give her a bundle and had assured her with a wink that she could use all the things. Naya did not want to think about what the women had packed for her.

Even at sea, Thorge had not spoken to her. He'd always let his messages be targeted by others. Mostly from his brother or Lasse.

Loah, on the other hand, he had immediately put to the helm.Wide away from Naya, who sat at the rear.

Loah had not rebelled against it, but did his work as required. Most of the time he did even more. One realized that he knew his way around on a boat and the men appreciated his knowledge. He was not treated as a slave by them and that seemed to impress Loah.

Naya was under the tarp and only chickens and goats Thorge had bought made her company.

The sea was calm and there was only a slight breeze. That's why the men sat at the oars and listened to Roar's instructions.

Naya was bored. She unwrapped the bundle she had received from Rabije and gasped slightly. They had packed her the blue dress that had been so good to her. Then another dress and a fine belt. But that was not all. She spotted a bag of wax and the pieces of coal she used to beautify her eyes. And there were small clay pots with scented oil in it.

By all gods, when should she use that?

Nevertheless, she packed everything and stowed it in her chest, which she had also bought.

Thorge had looked at the chest suspiciously, but she had lied that it was a present for Jule. Only then did the suspicious look disappear. He had just turned around and sat at the helm.

She hummed softly, as she always did with Kjell. She smiled, thinking that she would soon see her foster son again. He certainly had grown a lot in the weeks. She did not think that Kjell would miss her like that. But now she felt more and more like his mother. Only thing missing was the father, but the right one was unfortunately very stubborn!

Tired, she lay down on the hard floor of the boat and tried to sleep.

It would be a very long journey. But not as long as the one she had before her. Thorge would rage, she already knew that! But she did not care. He would realize at some point that she was good for him.

Raik stood by the dock, waiting for Roar's boat.

It was a coincidence that he was with Thorvald when the arrival was announced.

So Thorge would come home again.

He sighed softly.

Now it was no secret anymore.

Stijn's eldest son would leave soon.

"You lose some good warriors, Raik Tjarksson."

Thorvald had stepped behind him without Raik noticing, but he did not show it.

"I wonder how he managed to scrape up so many coins that he could afford a boat." Raik was still slightly angry about that, especially because his plan had not worked out the way he had planned By now he knew it had not been a good plan.

His eyes went to the three boats. One of them was from Heftan, who had arrived a while ago. Since then he was a guest at Thorvald. He and his men had not been idle and they had brought the two new boats from Lasse and Thorge here.

"It would never have gone well with you and the two, Raik. You know that. I just hope you put on no bullshit! "

That was exactly what Raik had intended. He had even already caught this brat and wanted to bring it to Thorvald. But his mother had caught him. She had had a long talk with him.

Gradually Raik had realized that he could hold neither Lasse nor Thorge. And they were all right. It would never have gone well if he had applied the two coercion.

Lasse might have joined, but Thorge was different. He was really a born leader and Raik regretted he was jealous of him. Thorge would have been a good advisor.

Raik had accepted the punishment his mother had imposed on him.

He had had the best tool made available to him as a gift to Thorge.

"I have other warriors, too," he told the Jarl.

He nodded and they were silent again.

"Are you going to accompany her home?"

Raik nodded.

"I did not expect them to be back so soon, but I'll ride with them. I have to talk to Thorge and explain myself. I just hope he understands me and does not go in anger. "

Thorvald dropped his hand on Raik's shoulder, crashing.

"Thorge is like his father. He forgives quickly! Especially when it comes to his family! "

But this time the jarl was wrong!

Tjark had asked Thorge and Lasse into the sweat house.

There had been a dangerous quarrel between Raik and Thorge.

Thorge had inspected his boat barely that he had set foot on land. Carefully, he had touched the dragon's head and reverently stroked the planks.

Then he had noticed a chest that was not intended in his plans for the boat. He had lifted the lid and found exquisite tools. He had been surprised when he heard that Raik had given him all the tools.

Of course, Thorge had wanted to know why Raik gave him this gift. He had not liked the answer.

If Lasse had not interfered, he would have demanded Raik and would have fought him to the death. He did not know the whole story. It had been enough for him that Raik Naya and Kjell wanted to hurt.

Tjark had seen on arrival, however, that Raik had come out of the matter not quite unscathed.

Thorge only wondered what he was up to.

And that should probably clarify now.

In the vestibule, he pulled and Lasse went out and went naked to the others.

Raik sat with Sjard next to Tjark and Stijn. Straight Raik looked like a scolded villain and the blue eye, that Thorge had missed him, did the rest. Tjark pointed to the empty seats opposite them and they sat down. Thorge glanced at his father and this time he felt like a little dwarf. Stijn's expression was ominous.

"Greetings, father!" Thorge tried softly.

Stijn just snorted.

By all gods, it was probably worse than he thought.

Alone, that they were sitting in the sweat house, had much to conclude the following conversation. It was offside and you could not hear the roar that was bound to happen.

Tjark leaned back and pointed at Stijn.

"You begin! I'm still too angry! "

Thorge was getting smaller and he realized that Lasse was no different.

Stijn glared at them.

"You bought a boat! Now! ", He began.

Thorge nodded, but said nothing.

"And you too, Lasse!"

Lasse nodded, too.

Stijn took a deep breath.

"When did you actually want to tell us that my two eldest children disappear together? And you're ready to go anytime? "

Thorge wanted to answer, but Lasse rammed his elbow into his side so he would stay calm.

"We're not nearly there yet," he interjected, "and you already knew that Thorge was leaving!"

Stijn snorted.

"You hold yourself back, brat! You want to take my daughter and my grandchildren! "

Thorge got up.

"Do not be unfair, there! What should we expect here? I am not your birth son, and your inheritance passes to Sjard. Lasse is the third son and he has less to expect than me. We will always be only warriors of Thorvald. And if he does not need us, we will be unsubscribed to Raik. You have seen for yourself that it will not be good if Raik once takes Tjark's inheritance! "

Tjark raised his hand.

"Sit down, Thorge."

Thorge took a deep breath before sitting down.

Tjark wiped the sweat from his face.

"I can understand you. Really! But we are a family. You should not have kept a secret from us! "

Stijn snorted again, but Tjark went on.

"As for the other one ... Raik was blinded. He really wanted to apologize for the tool. It was not clear to him that it was not done away with. "

Raik winced as his father hit him on the back of his head.

Lasse leaned forward.

"What did you really want to do with it? I do not quite understand it, and I'm sure Thorge does not understand it either. "

Raik lowered his head.

"I do not know it either!"

Sjard snorted. He, too, had incurred the wrath of his father and his uncle because he had covered Raik.

"Raik knows that if she leaves, he'll lose four good warriors! That's why he did it! "

Stijn raised his eyebrows.

"Four? Can you not count? Thorge, Lasse and Jule. That's three for me! You do not even count Yall on that? "

Thorge grimaced.

"Einar wants to come with us too!" He mumbled.

There was a loud bang as Stijn got up, threw a wooden bench against the wall and roared.

"Einar? You also want to take Einar with you? He is fourteen years old, damn it! "

Tjark stood up and pushed Stijn back onto a bench.

"He's almost a man, Stijn. You have already nerved me in his old dad, because you would have loved to sail for years! So stop him treating him like a little boy. Besides, Raik still has not said what he was up to. And that would really interest me. "

He made a demanding gesture to Raik.

He sighed.

"I thought if the child disappears and the woman seeks him, Thorge will stay with her."

Thorge rolled his eyes.

"Do you even think about it? I will not stay with Naya! "

Lasse looked aside but said nothing. But his face betrayed that he did not believe Thorge a word.

Tjark stood up and poured a bucket of water over his body. After that he shook his head and looked at his youngest brother and Thorge seriously.

"When are you ready? What else do you need? "

Stijn roared again indignantly.

"You let her go? And you want to help them too? "

Tjark nodded.

"Yes! We already had talks about your elder. He will make his way. And who knows if we will not see him again sometime! I like it as much as you do, Stijn, and I would like to keep the family together. But we knew from the beginning that it would happen. "

He sighed.

"I have two sons and three daughters. You even have four sons and four daughters. How is that supposed to work, brother? "

Stijn growled softly.

"But with Einar ..." He looked to Thorge. "We'll talk about it!"

Naya looked at the sweat lodge, from which bellowing could be heard.

Jule grimaced, hugging her daughter to her chest.

"By all the gods. My father is very angry! "

Naya nodded and sat down next to her.

Loah was working with Jules's children in the smithy and Kjell had fallen asleep in her arms.

"Did he not know that Thorge wants to go?"

Jule nodded.

"Yes, but I think he thought Thorge did not get that far. He had the hope that Thorge could not afford a boat for a long time. And now that Lasse has a boat too, it's going to be very difficult for him. I do not know any man so fond of his children as my father. "

Naya could understand that, for she'd seen Stijn Gunnarsson deal with his children.

She looked again at the sweat lodge before leaning toward Jule.

"I need your help, Jule!"

Jule looked at her seriously as she nodded.

"What help?"

Naya took a deep breath.

"I want to come with you. But Thorge does not want to know about it. "

Jule rolled her eyes annoyed.

"Thorge and his damn sense of responsibility. He's also asked me more than once to stay home. "She also leaned forward.

"What you up to?"

Naya grinned.

"I sneak up on the boat. He should not notice it until we are at sea. "

Jule nodded, then grinned.

"You like my stubborn brother, am I right?"

Naya lowered her eyes as she thought about the kiss.

"I think he and your husband are good role models for Kjell. That's why I want to follow you. "

Jule laughed softly.

At that moment, it crashed out of the sweathouse and you heard a roaring man again.

"Oh dear. Are you sure you want Gunnarsson and Gunnarsson's son as role models for Kjell? "

Naya laughed.

"Sure!"

They put their heads together again and thought of a plan.

It was not long before they saw the men building naked in front of the sweat lodge and pouring cold water over their heads.

Naya looked embarrassed the other way as Jule called over to them, "Cover yourself, men! There are still unmarried women present! "

Naya heard laughter, but she did not look anymore. That was better for her soul salvation.

"They are giants in every way!" She whispered.

Jule laughed loudly.

"You can bet on it."

At last his father had realized that he could not persuade him to stay. He even allowed Einar to join Thorge.

Since then, the whole family helped with the preparations.

Even Naya did her work, though she had nothing to do with it.

But Thorge liked how prudent she acted. He always secretly watched her prepare his journey with his mother. He did not talk to her much because he just did not want to argue with her, but by now she seemed to accept that he could not take her. Not yet!

He sighed softly. What was he still doing? If he had stayed here, he would have long since made her his wife. But he wanted to protect her as well as the boy, who was also dear to his heart. Every free minute he tried to spend with Kjell. But only if Naya was busy. He just loved it when the little berserker snuggled up to him and clawed his beard when he wanted Thorge's attention. He too would miss Thorge!

Soon he was ready, then his family would move to Thorvald for some time.

Light excitement was already spreading in Thorge.

At last it was time.

He made a final tour of the storeroom he had built with Lasse. He only hoped that he had forgotten nothing. It was different when planning for a robbery or changing your entire life.

But he was satisfied.

He left the camp and stretched.

"Thorge? Can I talk to you for a moment? "

Naya was standing in front of her hut, Kjell had tied her again in this sling in front of her breasts.

Thorge smiled slightly uncertainly and approached her.

"Naturally."

She asked him to her hut.

He sat down at the table again and she handed him a cup of mead. He hesitated for a moment, as the hut seemed somehow empty.

"You're going away soon, too?"

She nodded.

"I will accompany you to Jarl Thorvald, but then I will go my own way. But that's why I did not pray you here. "

He nodded, but inside he collapsed. She would go away!

She sighed softly and put Kjell on her lap. The little boy was tired, but he babbled softly to himself before he stretched out his arms to Thorge.

Thorge took him and let the boy play with his bracelet. It felt so right.

"So, what is it?"

She sighed.

"I want to give you presents because you saved me then."

Thorge laughed in amazement.

"I did not save you."

She raised her hand.

"I do not think so. I was with a farmer a few days ago. I bought some chickens and a cock. Besides, I want to give you my goat. "

Thorge's eyes widened.

"That's very generous of you. But do not you need the goat for Kjell? "

For a moment she seemed to hesitate, but then she shook her head.

"He can already eat solid food. That's why you can take the goat with you. She gives you good milk and you can make cheese out of it! "

Thorge bowed his head.

"Then I thank you!"

She laughed uncertainly.

"That is not all. I want to give you Loah too! "

Thorge wanted to argue, but she raised her hand.

"He's a seasoned sailor and he's been almost where it's dragging you. He can be of great help to you. "

Thorge was aware of that.

"Is he okay with that? I would prefer it if he accompanies you. "

He hoped he was not being noticed, that he was currently logging on. It was not right for Naya to have another man by her side. Especially not Loah!

She snorted.

"Loah is not meant to accompany me from farm to farm. He wants to go to sea again. "

Thorge nodded. Loah could really help him.

"Then we will not meet again soon."

She nodded slowly.

Thorge ran his fingers through his hair.

"I know that you are disappointed. But I also explained why I can not take you. "

She nodded again but did not look at him.

"Naya? You understand it? "

Finally she looked at him. Her eyes flashed angrily.

"No! I do not get it."

He sighed. Now it would come to the fight again. He did not want that. He did not want to spend the last days together in the fight. He wanted something else!

"Oh well. Be sensible. You are a woman and you do not want to leave Kjell alone. I understand that. But Kjell is too young! "

She snorted.

"Maer is even younger than Kjell and yet you say nothing!"

Thorge sighed again. They had discussed that too often enough.

"Maer is Lasse's daughter. If it were up to me, they would only follow us when she was old enough! "

When she wanted to reply, he raised his hand. Suddenly he had an idea. It was unfair to Naya, but he had to try.

"Please, Naya. I do not want again to fight with you. "He hesitated a moment. Then he took something out of his tunic." I also want to give you a gift. "

He handed her a chain and heard her gasp.

"That's an amber, Thorge!"

He just nodded, before cradling Kjell, who was now asleep in his arms.

"But I know what is going on with the amber of Gunnarssons up. And yet you want to give it to me? "

He smiled uncertainly again.

"I hoped you knew. I do not really have a right to give it to you. I have no rights whatsoever, even though I would like to implore you to kneel, waiting for me! "

She stared at him.

"What?"

He squatted in front of her and took her hand.

"I know that I can not ask for anything from you. Nevertheless, I want to give you the amber! "

Naya did not reply, just staring at the necklace in her hand.

The amber of the Gunnarssons!

How many times had she heard about it and come up with the most romantic stories? She had told him. And now she looked in disbelief at the stone he gave her.

She reached out her hand.

"I ... I can not accept him. You kept saying that I'm not the woman you expected. You should give it to a woman you love and want to marry. "

He closed her hand around the amber.

"I have that!"

She laughed uncertainly.

"But you do not want to take me with you."

He nodded.

"It's dangerous and I do not want to endanger you. But I'll never give away an amber again. Only you!"

She opened her eyes.

"And if you have another ...?"

He put a finger to her mouth.

"No! There will be no other one for me. "

He picked her up from the bench and turned her over. Then he took the amber and put the necklace around her neck.

She felt his lips on her neck.

"It's not just amber, you know? The Gunnarssons and now their descendants remain true to the woman who once gave her the amber! Well, Lasse once got away with it, but otherwise there is no other one for us. That's why I'll stay alone! "

She turned to him. Tears were in her eyes.

"I know you do not want to hear it, but it does not have to be that way."

He laughed softly.

"Do you want to wait for me?"

She gently stroked his short beard.

"Ask me for it!"

He took her hand and breathed a kiss on her fingers.

"You do not know that I would prefer nothing. But it can take years! "

She smiled slightly.

"Maybe not! Who knows what the gods are going to do with us? "

She stood on tiptoe and kissed him gently.

"I will not give you up, Thorge Stijnsson. From the first moment I realized that you are a special man. And over time, I liked you more and more, even though you're really the staunchest goat I've ever met. "

He grinned at her.

"I felt the same way. You are the stubbornest woman I have ever found. Yet I love your independence and your courage. "

He leaned over and kissed her.

"In the future, men sometimes said that they had found the perfect woman. I was too young to understand that. But now I know it. You are the perfect woman! I would be the luckiest man on earth if you would wait for me! "

She nodded and leaned her head against his chest. For a moment he thought she was giggling, but that could not be.

"I'll wait for you, Thorge, but I hope you'll find me soon!"