Battle Through the Nine Realms - Chapter 10 - Kroppr (Patreon)

The last rays of sunlight flowed down the path from the road toward their house.

“Tomorrow, I expect the two of you at the Longhouse,” Reinn said as Magnus and Valgard started to walk away.  “I owe a debt, and I will not allow it to hang over me long.”

Nodding once, Valgard turned and put an arm around Magnus’s shoulder, leading him toward the house.

“I mean what I said earlier. I’ll teach you to fight.”

Clearing his throat, Magnus nodded as he felt the wooden shaft from the axe he had taken to the fight in it.  Not meant for anything besides cutting wood, it hadn’t seen any action.

“And I mean mine.  I’ll do what you ask for work around the farm.  No complaining.”

A satisfactory grunt came from Valgard, who squeezed Magnus’s shoulder once before moving away.

Is he that averse to physical contact, or is it something else? 

His mind raced as Magnus continued to try to figure out the path to getting Einar’s apparent stepfather on his side.  The man had obviously fought at some point, and something must have caused him to quit it.  Reinn and the other men knew about it, but none of them spoke regarding it.  Even more, the questions about who Einar’s father was and what had happened left a lot of questions in his head.

“You should run on ahead and tell your mother we’re home.  I need to wash up before I go in, and you do as well.  There is no way she’ll let us inside the house smelling like this.”

Without another word, Magnus started jogging, quicker than he wanted to, but he knew the best way to earn points with Valgard was to obey immediately and with effort.

***

It had been ages since Magnus remembered getting so many hugs and kisses that it felt almost unnerving.  He hadn’t seen his mother since the day he left for the military.  His own father had banished him and declared him dead. It hurt his mother more than his father had realized at the time, but pride had cost that man their relationship. It was for this reason he struggled so much with Valgard.

One life with no father and seeing this man and how he acted lighted a fire inside him.  It appeared only one thing earned that man’s affection and favor and Magnus was determined to ensure he won the man over.

Thora was staring at the two of them, the light of the fire and a few candles casting their glow inside the small house.  

“Einar killed a troll? You’re serious?”

Valgard laughed and nodded, pointing with the piece of bread he was holding while chewing the meat she had cooked for them.  “Tomorrow, I will be very upset if Reinn does not at least give him credit for the kill.  Maybe not all the credit he deserves, but some.  If Einar hadn’t struck when and how he did, I doubt any of us might have returned tonight.”

The smile on Thora’s face barely beat out the one on Valgard’s.  Both were grinning like fools, and Magnus did his best to play the embarrassed teen for them.  All he could think about was eating and getting sleep.  Whatever was going to happen tomorrow would be a crash course on this world and the society he knew little about.  

“Do you both mind if I turn in?” Magnus asked after he finished his third helping of meat.

Standing up, Valgard shook his head no and held up a hand.  “One moment, we need to do something first.”

Thora’s eyes went wide as she saw Valgard move to the small keg that she pulled his alcohol from, three cups in his hand when he got there.  He filled up two of them to the top, but one was only halfway.

Only sloshing a little bit as he came with them to the table, he motioned for Magnus to take the half-full one.

Smiling, Magnus couldn’t resist his first taste of this world’s spirits.  He had enjoyed many different brews around the world, but trying something new was always fun.  That memory almost made him wince as Dawson and Martinez's faces appeared for a second.

“You earned a drink; just don’t expect one with every meal,” Valgard said as he handed Thora the other cup.  “Know that I am proud of you, Einar. I…” The older man paused, his voice for a moment choked off as he shook his head. “May you be the warrior Thor and Odin want you to be!”

Both of them smiled and then drank heavily from the cup.  

Without waiting, Magnus did the same, knowing that being timid was probably not the right response.  

The taste was about as bad as he imagined.  It was a barley-like brew, and something else had been added in hopes of making the taste less painful.  Still, he drank it like a champion, downing the drink in one go and setting the cup on the table with a thud.

Valgard started roaring with laughter, and Thora shook her head as she rolled her eyes.

“Kills a troll and drinks like a Viking!” the older man shouted.  “Now you can go to bed! Tomorrow, we’ll bathe and head into town.”

With that said, Magnus stood up and held out his hand to Valgard.

“Thank you for today.”

A single tear started to form in Thora’s eye almost immediately, and Valgard almost choked on the drink he had lifted to his mouth.  Snorting and shaking his head, the man smirked but shook his outstretched hand.  

Bending over, Magnus gave Thora a kiss on the forehead and moved to where his blankets were rolled up.  The alcohol was already starting to make him feel flushed, his teen body obviously not used to its effect.  

By the time his boots were off and he was covered up, Magnus was fast asleep.

***

“So, tell me, what will happen today? I honestly can’t remember much beyond you and Valgard.”

Thora scoffed as she walked with her arm hooked with her son, beaming the whole time they moved down the dirt road.

Valgard was up ahead, laughing and talking with another farmer who had been out on the road, the two of them occasionally looking back at Magnus before laughing again.

“The whole village of all the farms will be there.  This is a special day as it is the end of the month.  We will get paid for our work, purchase some supplies, and enjoy a meal.  Reinn is responsible for the meal and the drink, as is the Lendmann.

“His wife, Bolla, can be a harsh woman sometimes but not usually at these events.  She cares about two things, her power and her son.  Remember that.  Many of the other kids will be there, and the few families with thralls will be there as well.”

“Thralls?”

“You really can’t remember anything?” Thora asked, cocking her head as she raised an eyebrow.

Shaking his head, Magnus frowned.  “I can remember everything about the All-Father and his raven and wolf.  From his spear to his armor and eye patch,” he replied quietly, watching Thora’s face change as he spoke.  She became enthralled, pulling him closer.  “He said the knowledge he would give me would help me fight.  I just didn’t realize it would make me forget everything… even…”

Pausing, Magnus went silent and shook his head, seeing Thora's concerned look.

“I can’t remember anything about my real father.”

Thora closed her eyes and bit her quivering lip.  She said nothing, using her grip on Magnus’s arm to keep from tripping as they walked. 

Her tan linen dress flowed as she walked, and her blond hair was tied back in her usual headcloth.  For a moment, she said nothing and finally opened her eyes, fighting back the tears that threatened to form.

“We will talk later about that. For you to not remember means you have forgotten or had those memories taken for a reason.”

“Then let me ask other questions,” Magnus said, changing the moment as he knew it was time. “What am I supposed to do while we are there? Do I stay with you all or go elsewhere? Do I have money? Can I buy things? Where could I get a book to read about things?”

Thora held up her hand and chuckled.  “Slow down! So many questions!”  She sighed and looked up at the sky. “Odin, you really are testing me…”  

Turning her attention back to him, she poked Magnus with a finger on her free hand.  “I’ll answer them, one at a time.”

***

The village area where the Longhouse was located looked more like a medieval Viking or European style than Magnus had expected.  

Most of the homes inside the area within the wooden walls were made of wood, but there were a few that had stone walls.  The sound of laughter and celebration was coming, and more people were walking through the gates of the ten-foot wall that surrounded the village.  

He had learned there were about forty houses and buildings within the wall.  The nearest one to the village was a quarter of a mile away.  

Smells of all kinds assaulted his nose, and Magnus wondered how long it would take him to not be bothered by the stench of body odor, manure, and drying fish.  A river was on the north side of the village, which led to the great waters around the land called home to all the Vikings.  

The same river allowed passage to other towns and trade.

Most gatherings wouldn’t be this large on bath day, but as Thora had mentioned, since it was the end of the month and they would all get paid, everyone came to celebrate and trade.  Combined with the knowledge that a troll had been slain, even more would be gathered.

Osvif was outside the walls waiting for him to arrive, and Magnus got the go-ahead to run off and join him and the other teens.

***

“You need to strike the metal while it is hot!” Osvif exclaimed. “The girls are practically foaming at the mouth, wanting to meet the great slayer of the troll!”

Magnus sighed and saw the group of a dozen or so teenage girls who were all wearing dresses similar to the one his mother had on, watching him and Osvif as they moved toward the gate.  Every one of them was smiling and watching the two of them.  Many chuckled or covered their mouths as they whispered to one of the girls near them.

My god… am I really going to have to deal with dating again? 

Inside, he groaned, disliking the drama that came from all that.

One girl who looked a little older than the others didn’t fuss like the rest of them.  She was a bit taller, and her red hair and green eyes held his attention.  Unlike all the other brown or blond-headed teens, she was a rose among the weeds.

“Who is the red-headed one?”

Osvif started to cough and pounded his chest.  

“Seriously? Did Guat’s blow to your head really knock everything out of you?” Osvif asked, blinking his eyes rapidly.  “That’s Hrein’s daughter, Avitue!”

Smiling, Magnus nodded, his eyes locked on Avitue’s, and a chorus of oooohs and giggling erupted as everyone knew the two were staring at each other.

“If Hrein doesn’t kill you, she might,” Osvif whispered. “She’s training to be a shieldmaiden!”

“Sounds dangerous, but I’m not worried about that right now.  For now, just do what I do.”

Grinning even more, Magnus gave her a nod of his head and then turned his attention back to the gate, keeping watch from the corner of his eye.

Avitue’s head pulled back slightly, and her eyes fluttered. She stared in confusion as Magnus and Osvif walked on as if nothing else mattered but getting inside the walls.

“She looks flustered,” Osvif said, trying to mimic Magnus’s attitude. 

“That’s because we’re supposed to be interested, but by not acting like it, she’s confused. If you like someone and need advice, let me know, I’ll help.”

A punch came from his shorter friend, and Osvif started to laugh.  “Okay, now I’m going to ask Guat to hit me in the head with a stone, because you suddenly knowing how women work has to be from that.”

Chuckling, Magnus had to decide how best to use his knowledge.  He could easily get in trouble with women if he weren’t careful.