Chapter 43 - the Searching II
The group was excited to get to see the family property, and many of the men wanted to go roaming around as much as they wanted to get a hot bath and get settled in.
"Aye, we will see it in the morning light. With little Rye to see us about."
Ryeamund was waiting on them before they got close to the great-house.
"How did you know we were coming?"
Ryeamund smiled easily.
"First? My cat's ears told me something was about the place. Then, my dog's ears confirmed it. From all the noise, I thought perhaps the little outlanders had grown enough a sack to come over the hills."
"Aye, you jest. You have nothing in your hands, Little Rye."
"What would I even need, to see a few little outlanders off. And how was your journey."
"Pleasant enough, for most of it."
"What parts were not pleasant? The summer seems to last forever down here."
The man was not content to merely clasp forearms with him, he simply had to hug Ryeamund.
"Not every district, is as quiet as this one. Your High Lord? Has done well, it would seem."
"The man tries. He says he would see the North Star well pleased, and the steward as well. I see you have met the youngest son."
"Aye, we have. I wish my neck was not sore from all the traveling. Looking up at him is a chore."
"It is. You should try such from my own height. I have grown used to it. Shan will see your horses out, follow him, after you drop your things. I'll blow the fires hot for the bath houses. Have you all eaten?"
"Husband, we took them to the tavern first. The girls? Served the keeper and his daughter."
Shan led everyone to where they would keep the horses. They were used to stabling the bigger horses. By the time they all walked back up from that farthest horse barn, Eira and Ryeamund had each seen to a hot fire in either of the two bath houses. Mekall and Gareen helped them carry in the piles of the traveler's things, and re-made the piles in the great-room, near the big fireplace.
Shan had never met the other Oxen, and was delighted to talk and be around them. He spread out his sleeping furs near them, and Gullina sat with him, talking to everyone. Everyone formed groups and arranged their thick furs they slept on near enough to be sociable while everyone took turns using the bath houses.
When Var came out the bath with Theyer, they went and sat again on their furs spread out. Eira couldn't help her wit.
"Var. Did you enjoy the bath house?"
Var shook her head yes, emphatically.
"And Theyer… does she still smell like a well fucked goat's ass? She complained several times. I was worried I would have to go and bring her some duck shit, If I didn't get her bathed quick enough."
Theyer took a smell of her neck, and pronounced her clean.
"Aye. She now smells, at least as good as a virgin goat's ass."
Var pulled his hair to bring him near.
"And to think I was nice, and didn't even mark you up in the bath. If it does slip my mind? Remind me to scratch you up some, husband."
Theyer smiled.
"I will be sure to."
"Is he still a smooth talker? And after so many winters."
"Yes, Eira. The Oxen are all good men, as far as we know of it. I sometimes wonder, if they are such trustworthy men? Or if the younger girls at the great-houses are scared to sit near them."
Hlin chuckled.
"Could be both."
Everyone was slowly getting tired and sleepy socializing around the fire in the great-room. They slowly fell off to sleep, by one's and two's. The few left awake were all laying down, still gabbing and teasing. Much like little children who are supposed to all be falling asleep, yet will keep up as if afraid to miss something. Shan and Gullina paired off and walked about to "have a quiet word".
Shan, as well as everyone else? Naturally assumed they wanted to make eyes and be close as young lovers are wont to do. Gullina as it turned out, actually wanted that quiet word with her man.
"Aye, I will make eyes and kiss you quietly, yet, after I would know something."
"Pry it out of me then."
"I would know of your old man friend, if you remember who it is that I mean."
"Though I am young, I know more than one."
"Hmm. Your… fountain friend."
"Oh. You now sound as mother, when I was young. Mother always insisted he wasn't real. It vexed me as a child, that mother thought I lied to her."
"Shan? I approached you from behind that day, and I saw you talking away, for some time. There was no one. I would not lie to you about it. I always told you, that I asked who you were talking to? To tease you, that you were talking to yourself again."
Shan furrowed his brow.
"Now? You sound exactly as mother. I went through this with her, again and again, as a small child. Old patch is real. As real as you and I both are, Gullina."
"Shan…"
"Gullina? To tease you back, perhaps I would keep it up a good bit, yet… after all this time? What would my motivation be."
"I know not. My curiosity peaks."
"Old man patch is real enough. Ah… I can prove it."
"Hmm. How?"
"You… Gullina, remember I used to share meat pies with you, when we were very little?"
"Yes. You used to split your own in half. It was very sweet of you."
"Yes, and after a time… did you not prefer the pork meat, while I chose the cow?"
"Aye. You did. I never told you, that I didn't get so much meat as a child. I was quite keen on your meat pies. Yet, what has this to do with old Patch? You are reminding me how generous you always were with me, to get me off of my examination."
"Odd statement on your words."
"Why?"
"Old man Patch gave me my meat pies. When one day he asked if you liked them as well, I mentioned you liked the pork. After that? He began to give me pork pies for you, and I still got my cow. If old man Patch were not real, where did the very real meat pies come from then, high reckoner."
"You jest."
"I do not. While I will not pretend to understand your sudden interest in this, I will not lie to make you happy. If I begin to lie to make people happy? I might never stop such."
"You are serious then."
"Quite. Gullina, what is my motivation to lie at this point in the story? I have nothing to gain by my lie. If anything, I am earning your mild displeasure for refusing to lie. Mind you, Gullina… at this moment? We are stolen away a bit, and I would much rather make eyes and perhaps kiss you. Had I less honor, I would tell the small lie to satisfy you, and get to that which I enjoy. Do you now believe I tell my tale to prevent my eyes and my kiss? I mean nothing by it, yet… make what foundation of logic you might build on that soil."
"You never told me Patch gave you meat pies."
"I honestly never thought it was any matter. You never questioned where your pork pie came from, you simply ate it. Gullina? I am permitted to lie, and spread falsehoods. Yet, only towards an enemy. To mislead them. I can't imagine you as my enemy. Is the examination done?"
"Aye, it would seem so."
"Then? I am going to sleep, as most of the others already are. Are you coming?"
Gullina followed loosely behind, and found her own furs, which were next to his own. Shan fell asleep quicker than she did. He had given up trying to make eyes and kiss her. It left her with a very slight hollow feeling in the pit of her stomach, and she didn't enjoy it. It was a small, open hollow that no meat pie would fill.
In the early morning, Var was up first. She slipped out of the furs and felt the chill air tingle her tan skin, and set her tiny blonde limb hairs on end. It woke her up. She pulled on her tight leather slippers so she she could walk quietly. Var looked around, and saw everyone asleep or rolled back over.
She wrapped a soft, rectangular piece of fabric around her waist and tied it and tucked the ends in to hold it. At her own home, she would just walk around at this hour without it, but she wanted to be polite. In so doing, she draped another rectangular piece of the same fabric over her upper back and shoulders, letting it fall over and down, to cover her breasts. She took her soft little instant short dress off, and wrapped it again so it contained the two loose ends of the soft rectangle wrapped around her shoulders and covering her front.
She knelt down and softly fed the embers. Blowing softly on them, so when others awoke they wouldn't have to enjoy the chill early morning air that she herself found solace in. She heard furs sliding against one another and glanced over her shoulder. It was Shan. Var smiled and nodded, and Shan waved back gently. It was polite to let everyone stay asleep if they still were. Shan was dressed enough in his long cotton tunic for this hour, but he pulled his burlap trousers on and tied the drawstring on them after tucking his long tunic in, and stepping into low soft leather house shoes.
Var pointed at the kitchen and upended a palm. Shan smiled and nodded. They lightly walked over and sat in the kitchen. Shan asked if Var would like a small morning fire in the kitchen, and she smiled and shook her head and spoke softly.
"I like this cold air. It reminds me of home. During the day? I feel like I am being boiled to be eaten for dinner, Shan. I was thinking of a quick dunk in the bath. With no fire."
"A tiny fire, just something for eggs and breakfast meat?"
Var shook her head, smiling. She grabbed two apples and some grapes and put them on the table in front of her. She sliced a few thin portions of cheese to go with it, and cut it all up in a bowl. She pointed at it, and Shan nodded. She made him the same while she did it and softly placed his bowl in front of him.
Shan realized she lived in the far north. The cold southern autumn nights would only on the coldest ones even slightly remind her of this time of year up there. He could see the hair on her tan arms wasn't standing up, and she wasn't shivering as well.
"I wouldn't want to ruin your own coming breakfast, if you're used to eggs and morning pig."
Shan grinned and shook his head, as he picked at the fruit and cheese.
"Mother teases that I learned to eat like my father. That we have another meal after we eat our meal. My brothers tease that my legs must be hollow."
"Did you enjoy your brothers, when you were growing up?"
Shan smiled and shook his head.
"I am most fortunate. Mother and Father often enough say they would have me unspoiled, yet… I can often not help but feel spoiled on that count."
Var wanted to quiz him while she put fruit and cheese into her mouth.
"How so?"
"My brothers are older than I am, by a good many winters. It is less like having two older brothers, and more as if I have three fathers. One older father, and two younger ones. They are that good to me."
"Family is important. You know me and my girls I run with, are Ravins, as your own mother is?"
"Aye. I saw you in your armor and merchant robes. You three? You travel as the men travel."
"It's a Ravin custom. The children? The boys and the girls alike, all play together. It goes on, until the boys are old enough to start wanting to wench. Some of the girls? Start MannenYeagn… and some girls, if they wish…"
"I know this part. Mother told me, she studied blades and hunting, before studying boys. She often spoke of her ladies she ran with when young. I know you three are not delicate little creatures."
Var pouted, then smiled.
"A woman still wants to be found pretty."
Shan almost chuckled.
"Mother has a fair face, yet… I know she has fair sword arms and fair knife hands to go with it. I expect that you women are gentle but not weak."
"Well then. I need to stretch, and I wish to do it in what cold, bracing air will be here until the sun rises to bake me into sweetbread. Will you join me? Unless you wish to roll over with everyone else."
"No. Do I need my trick shoes?"
"I have mine on. Meet me outside then."
Shan went and exchanged his house shoes for his trick shoes and joined Var in the cold morning air. A light misty fog was still being slowly dispelled by the coming sun. They stretched and slowly warmed their muscles up on the cold, flat stones out front of the great-house.
"I'm sure your mother taught you to stay limber. It is important enough now that you are still young, yet… every winter that passes? Makes it more important to stay so. One day, before thirty winters… you will not be able to recapture being nimble, if you lose it. Do not lose it, young Shan."
"Mother insisted on such."
"After thirty winters? Other men that did not stay so, will be dried clay to you, if you stay as you are now."
Shan started doing handstands and walking around some to keep it up. He regained his feet neatly, and asked Var if she didn't do tricks.
"I do. Yet… if I do not fix my cloth differently? Your woman will not be as pleased with my company as you are."
"Whatever do you---"
Var turned around, and undid the knot on her hip of her little impromptu dress she had made. With her back to Shan, he could see nothing as she held it open and pulled it tight to her lower back and hips.
"Oh. Go on. I hadn't thought of that."
Var pulled it reasonably snug and evened it, before passing first one and then the other down through her legs.
"Would you be so kind, as to hand them up to me?"
"And now? I would rather your husband not appear at this moment, even though I do nothing. I would not have an oxen think I was doing the opposite of what I am doing with your cloth."
Shan pulled gently and brought the ends up and around crossed over, so Var could pull them snug then knot them.
"Mother wears trousers when she performs tricks."
Var stayed with Shan at her back while she rearranged her top cloth. She pulled it tight around her upper shoulders and lower neck, but instead of letting it fall loose in front to get tucked into her wrapped cloth dress, she wrapped it snug around her breasts. Shan took each end and passed it back to her. When Var had it knotted snug, she turned around smiling, and upended her palms.
"It's easy to forget you grew up in the south. If I don't face you while I arrange my cloth tight, it's nothing indecent. I am sure my husband would prefer me to have tight cloth about me when performing tricks."
Var could now join him standing on her hands, and walking around each other on them. They stood up and went back to walking on their hands a few times, then Var went back to her feet the other way, walking on all fours like a crab facing up. Shan did it as well, following her lead. Var giggled, and kicked at his feet and hands a few times. Shan laughed and did it back. They looked like two human crabs, trying to knock each others limbs out from under. When they were done, they flipped back around and up onto their feet neatly.
Var skipped and bounced around a little. She seemed to bounce on air. The second time she did so, she did a few somersaults and finally did a few one handed, alternating her hand she used for it. Shan followed her suit.
They each stood on one of the long, thin polished timbers and grabbed the wood directly in front of their feet. Var counted off and they raced down their timbers. Var had a tiny bit more balance, but Shan had much longer legs making it more even.
"Hmm. Perhaps I can get you by more of a margin, if we add one twist."
They repeated the race again, except they had to stop racing and go to their hands and over and regain their footing and continue down. It was still pretty even. Var had a tad more balance, but Shan gained ground by needing perhaps one less step to finish.
"Two twists, then?"
They repeated it a few times with two somersaults in the middle. Then with three.
"Well. Someone was gefted very long arms and legs. Each twist? You gain another small bit on me. I'm simply going to lose more, with more twists… yet, we might as well see."
Then they started the same, and did all somersaults down their timbers. Shan was standing and waiting for Var's last twist at the end.
"I need no string to tell me you have arms and legs gefted to you twice while still in your mother's belly. Our muscles are oiled up enough. A light run will warm us up more, until the sun comes out to do its job."
Var took off running lightly and Shan joined her. Var sometimes sprinted a little, and Shan didn't have any trouble keeping up with her or passing her up. He took her out the field, and past the last barn and on to the far woods line at the back meadow, then they ran lightly back.
"Well, you have balance and wind, young man. I didn't expect my lady would be lazy bringing you up."
Var then smiled and winked at him. She was standing near the pile of long thin sticks brought up for tinder to start fires in the house. She kept eyeing him up and smiling, as she lazily poked in his direction slowly. When Shan made for the pile to get his own, Var jumped out at him, and he twisted away. She lunged out and down, until he got the idea he wasn't going to get a touch stick of his own yet. Shan shrugged. Var chased him around, trying to swat him or poke him, and failed. She only swished or poked air near him.
Var handed him her stick out the tinder pile, and smiled again.
"Even us up then. You're fun to play with this early in the morning. Unless you're scared of a girl."
"I'm not."
Shan went over to several evenly long sticks laying under an overhang. He brought two of them back, and showed Var they were even in length, then let her choose hers, politely. Var grabbed both suddenly, and came for him, giggling. Shan was used to playing with his brothers like this, and avoided her poking and swishing at him with both long thin sticks. Var finally ran her forearm across the sweat on her forehead, and walked over to get two more. She held all four out upright, to politely show they were even, and put an empty palm at the pile.
"Take your two."
"If you want swatted and poked, fine."
Var gave him her best deadpan.
"You will try."
They fooled around with each bearing two sticks. Poking, swishing… avoiding each other. Var sometimes made her characteristic mean faces, and sometimes crossed her eyes and made silly faces to show him it was all in fun. Var even started whirling suddenly into her signature surprise cat spring moves. When they finally stopped, they were both sweating well, and sat next to each other.
"I could swear, I remember us having equally long sticks when we started. Is my memory growing faulty with my winters?"
"No. You politely tease at my long thin arms."
"I do. You can poke me with those things, from across the meadow. Hah. Would you know a few tricks, to go with those long arms?"
"If my brothers do not know these tricks? Surely."
"All right. Come at me slowly, then."
At very slow instruction speed, Var showed when she started her whirl, and how she switched her grip the way she was coming in when she tried it.
"Most men like to go flat on their feet. To try to develop a powerful swing. This works best on those. If one gets tired and goes flat in the foot? He's ripe for these tricks as well. Now… stay slow, and do them back to me."
"No. Switch your grip when you back is turned to me. I know you're going to switch, but, you opponent won't know it. Remember, it's your business what goes on when he can't see it."
"I can't turn as quick as you do, hunched down like you do it."
Var smiled.
"Yes, you can. Watch… It's a dancing trick."
Var whirled around standing up, going to one foot and turning in place. First with her arms out, then with her arms in closer.
"You turn quicker dancing, with your arms in, aye?"
"Aye."
"Well. Don't be foolish and expect to turn quickly with your long arm and long stick hanging out like an apple tree. I'm doing the same thing, though I am hunched down. Watch, I'll show you even slower. Come in on me."
Var showed how she drew her sword arm in, and lifted her stick up, and turned while hunkered down on the balls of her feet.
"Slow you can't really see it, but… at any speed…"
And Var did it again, just fast enough she had momentum enough to swing around on the balls of her feet. She got him to imitate her now.
"That's better. Now… here's the dancing trick, that you can practice until your oily enough at it to try it on one of your brothers."
Var bounced around a little, and did a few light turns standing, arms out. Then a few more, arms in for speed. Finally, a couple where she crouched into her turn and came back up, again with her arms out at first, for balance. Finally… several with her arms in for speed. Shan was waiting on it, and it was still all but a surprise when she popped back up out of the crouch.
"Now. We both do this already."
Var did a neat one handed somersault and regained her feet smoothly. To one side, then the other.
"But? You don't have to go side to side. You do it a few times, either left or right… but then."
She suddenly instead of coming up to the right or the left, ended up quite near him, off to one side.
"The same way I turn in my crouch? I twist my hip on the last one doing it on my hand. Notice how close I end up to you? If the man is flat on his feet, a great slow pig…"
Var did it again slowly, and ended up a little behind him to the other side. Poking him with her first two fingers firmly just below his ribs.
"Now that is a fine trick… yet… you are far too close to be using your sword…"
Var winked.
"I know that, silly. Break me off a short stick out the burn bundle, so I can show you."
Shan got her a dagger's length of stick, and Var shoved it into her cloth trick shorts she had made out of her soft fabric.
"When you start going left and right using your hand? They will be watching your sword arm. Your other hand? Comes up with the short stick that you left in your belt."
Var showed him with her long stick, how it went flat on the ground under her one handed somersault. Her free hand came up with the dagger.
"Whichever hand he holds his sword in? Make sure you come up on the other side of him. Because…"
Var did it again, this time suddenly at full speed… and she was suddenly on his weak side, her short stick under his rib cage, her long stick scratching his neck and the underside of the back of his jaw.
"… you can't reach me here, even with arms that long. Can you."
"No."
"You don't even need a sword, if the man is flat on his feet, and slow and strong about it. All you need is your tricks and your dagger in your belt."
Var dropped her sticks and grabbed either side of his head firmly.
"Stay… notice if I hold your head, you would wring your neck to get turned around, eh?"
Shan nodded imperceptibly. Var whispered in his ear…
"Great way to get behind a big, strong man when you are fighting with yer hands, innit?"
He nodded again, and she released her firm grip on his head.
"The bigger and stronger the man? The more they fall for such. Now… do it to me, slowly."
After she was happy he was doing it right, she had him do it one last time… and when he had her head firmly, she reached back and grabbed the empty fabric in his loose, soft burlap trouser. Scrunched it up firmly.
"If you are not armored there? This trick needs no explanation, does it?"
Shan wagged his head no, it certainly didn't.
Var whispered to him.
"Show no one outside of your family these tricks. They don't work but a few times, before people learn them. The man that learns these tricks? Should be dead, and unable to share what he has learned… are we understood?"
He nodded yes, so, she released his fabric.
They sat and drank some water.
"If you ever find yourself in a fair fight…"
Shan finished for her.
"… then I'm not showing enough wits in battle."
"Smart boy. Your head is for more than a handy place to rest your helmet. I've had enough water, and I may have lost more than I took in. Do you get the morning's milk?"
"Aye. I'm the youngest."
"Well, go grab the milk bucket. Me and my husband have no servants on our farm either. I'll go with."
Shan reappeared with the milk bucket, and rinsed it out. He went in and out a couple times for the milk pitchers. He put out the old in a pan he rinsed out, and the cats came in waiting on it, well used to their morning snack. He rinsed out the pitchers, and Var was about to walk to the cows in the barn with him. When he paused, she asked what he had forgotten.
"I forget my manners. It is not decent for me to be seen in the barn alone with another man's woman."
"Maybe with a weak southern girl. If my own ox thought something happened between us in the hay in the barn? He would blame me, not you. I doubt you could force me to, if you tried. I do have a few tricks to show you in the barn, yet, they are not night riding tricks, young man."
"I'm not comfortable."
"Oh, the south-lands. By Odin himself, I? Am all but your aunt. Your own mother? Is closer than a sister to me. My husband? Is as close as any brother to your father, he is all but your uncle. Put your teeth together and go, or do I need to poke you well with a sharp stick to get you started."
Var carried two large milk pitchers, and Shan had the bucket handle in one hand, and the last milk pitcher in the other. They took turns milking the two small dairy cows into the bucket, and the one not yanking udders into the bucket, poured it into the pitchers in turns. When they were done, Var had him set the bucket and the now full pitchers down and out of the way.
"What?"
"Did I not tell you, I had tricks to show you in the hay, young man?"
"I told you, I'm not comfortable, making those jokes with you."
"I wasn't joking. Stand there, I'll show you… move over here… there. Ready?"
"For what."
Var smiled and walked up to him batting her eyes, and sashaying her hips like a young girl. Shan put his hands up to protest as she got near him, and… Var had her hands clapped on either ear and whipped his head around, and he went over her hip and landed in the deeper hay she had positioned him for. She stood over him, and stuck her foot on his chest to shove him back down.
"In the north? The boys are meant to toss the pretty girls onto the hay pile. What's the custom here in the south, then."
She released her foot and laughed, and let him up.
"When you hold your opponents head, his body has no choice but to go where his head goes. Control his head, and control his entire body. Am I stronger than you?"
"I don't believe so."
"Then I must be using my wits, aye?"
"Aye."
"Do it back. And? Use your wits. You want to get close to me, without me suspecting anything. I'm a girl, I can bat my eyes at you. You? Act like you want to tell me some secret. Go on…"
Shan walked up easily, as if sharing something, then did it back. Var didn't go flying, she more of fell over his hip.
"Not bad. You're twisting too early. Good way to trip me, but, if you want to toss me? Like this…"
Var did it in slow motion, until he felt his feet lifting up as she arced over and had him balanced on her hip. She lowered him back to his feet, and he was surprised until she let him go, that he had no purchase from which to derive any strength.
"See? When your feet are loose or off the ground? All your greater strength is useless. Try it a few times. Just bring me up and get my feet loose, until you feel it…"
"There. Feel it?"
"Hmm. All your weight goes away, as you come over my hip. If I get it right."
She let him do it slowly a few more times, then let him toss her as she had done to him to start it.
"Not bad, yet… you are drawing me up, to balance on your hip… then pausing before you throw. It's all one smooth motion."
And Var did it suddenly at speed, even faster than the first time she surprised him with it.
"Now. Stand… here… I'll do it very slowly… see that post?"
"Aye?"
"I'll give you a closer look at it."
Var made to slowly smack him in the face with her right hand, and he slapped her wrist slowly as she did it. Her other hand was on his ear, and she could shove his head up to the pole. It was obvious, that with bad intent, she would knock his head off the pole and he would be out of commission.
"Now… move over… I don't need the pole."
She did the same thing, but stepped on his foot and shoved him down with her other hand when he slapped her wrist away.
"Now… do it to me…"
He did. She held her hand up and smiled coyly…
"Well done. Help a girl to her feet?"
When he gave her his hand to yank her smoothly up, she stuck her foot out and into his guts, and pulled him off and threw him ass over tincups onto the hay pile behind her. She put her hands behind her neck to the ground and sprang up onto her feet and turned to face him immediately after she did it.
"Now do it to me."
And twice she let him throw her the same way, laying there. The third time, however… she curled around his leg and twisted his ankle hard. It was clear she could break it, despite their size and strength difference.
"Now… I'm going to do it slowly."
She stopped and told him to place his hand on her shoulder.
"No, the other shoulder…"
"Here?"
"Yes. See… I can't roll and twist your ankle now."
When they finally were done and stood up, Var explained one more thing.
"Being tall and strong? Is no small geft to have, yet… if you would not have wits to with it? A smaller man with more wits, can make you look silly."
"Or? A girl, I now see."
"Men, will tend to use strength, playing rough with one another. Having a girl show you these things? Proves it's a matter of wits, not strength."
"I can hardly wait until you run out of hay tricks, Aunt Var. I am lucky you haven't hurt me yet."
"Last one. Remember my dagger trick?"
"Yes."
"Watch…"
Var did her twisting one handed somersault, and landed practically behind him neatly. She grabbed his wrist, and wound his own arm around his own neck and stood back and down, keeping it with both hands.
"Now. Show me all that boy strength you have. Where did it go, eh?"
She put her knee into the back of his knee and lowered him, and wrapped her legs around him and hooked her ankles to hold on. When he grabbed at her ankle to unwind her legs, to allow him to get out, she giggled and tucked one ankle under her opposing leg's knee and cinched it tight. She laughed in his ear, and poked him in the face playfully, and tickled his ribs a bit.
"Where is that strength? Why don't you use it."
It was obvious he couldn't do anything from this position. She tightened his own arm wound around his neck, and grabbed his wrist with both hands for purchase.
"Sit still, and hear my words… or I'll put you to sleep. You are much larger than I am, and you are much stronger. It doesn't do you any good, if you allow me to get you in a bad position, does it."
"Now then… I can have my way with you, can't I."
Var playfully picked up a piece of straw, and stabbed him gently several times. Then she whispered in his ear hoarsely…
"Once again. Keep these tricks for your family. Any man that learns these things? Should be dead, and unable to tell of it… dead men, make poor teachers."
She let him go, and offered her hand to be helped up. He backed away.
Var smiled.
"No more tricks. I promise, I won't hurt you this time."
Var now stood up like any girl asking to be helped up. Batting her eyes for emphasis, before flashing one of her hard faces, and making a silly face to finish it off, and make him laugh.
"So… did my sister's son have fun with his aunt in the hay pile?"
Shan blushed and shook his head yes.
"Last thing, Shan. And don't worry, I won't throw you… when your feet are both on the ground? You are bigger and heavier. Until… I step my leg behind you, like this…"
She shoved but not enough to trip him.
"Now, if you lift your leg just a little… there, see? I can't. But, take care… when you have one foot off the ground…"
She kicked gently and almost scooted his planted foot out from under him.
"And… if I step on your foot…"
He couldn't move.
"Ah. My brother's use that trick, at swordplay."
"Well then. You have a couple tricks to work on with me? Then you can share it with them. Aye?"
Shan shook his head yes, quite excited. Besting his brothers was a most amusing prospect for a little brother.
Var smiled.
"All right. We can get the milk back now. So… the next time I want to play in the hay pile with you, you won't blush, will you."
He shook his head no.
"Good. If you want to have sport with your brothers?"
"Oh… aye."
"Ha. They are the only two that don't know what we are doing in the barn alone then. We'll have sport with them until you have had fun with your new tricks on them, eh?"
Shan smiled. He carried what was left of the milk in the bucket, and one full pitcher. Var handled the other two full milk pitchers for the walk back, and they took them into the kitchen. Everyone was already up, or awake and talking on furs preparing to be up.
Gareen and Mekall were almost making eggs and breakfast meat.
"I wondered where the milk pitchers were. I thought Mekall here was fool enough to break them, and would not own up to his misdeed."
"My misdeed? Here is the milk, Gareen."
"Aye. Our little brother is ever helpful. Unlike you, you oaf."
Var kissed Shan on the cheek, and thanked him for helping her to get the milk.
"A girl always enjoys a big, strong boy to carry things for her, you know. Good morning, boys."
And Var strode in, to stand near Theyer and the others talking. Shan just smiled at his brothers, who stared at him.
Mekall started in.
"You didn't."
"I didn't what."
"Oh. Gareen. He has hay all through his hair. As does our guest. You young fool, you have to clean the hay off of each other. She's married to an oxen, you witless worm. It's no great reckoning required of everyone, to see you were both missing when we woke up."
Shan laughed it off.
"Pffft. He's free to think what he wants about what we do in the hay pile."
"Gareen? Are you going to talk some sense into him?"
Gareen just shook his head no, and gestured up with his chin. They were talking about it in the great-room already.
"Wife. I wondered where you had gotten to. I went to sleep? With this warm thing in my furs. I woke up? Without it. I grew cold."
"You know I get up early. I had fun with Shan showing me around. We went and got milk for the day. Playing around with as strong a young man? Tired me all out."
"Aye, and watch your tongue, woman. His girl is sitting right there, and she has daggers in her eyes, and they look to be aimed at you…"
Var walked over and put her arms around Gullina, and whispered in her ear. Gullina suddenly laughed and Var laughed with her.
"See? She doesn't mind sharing the boy with me. At least, not in the mornings. She can have him in the evenings. Girls share such things, you know."
"I'm not a girl. I wouldn't know, wife. You didn't hurt the boy out there, did you?"
"I used him gently enough. Can't have him all scared to walk me out to the barn, that wouldn't serve my plans very well."
"Oh. You have plans fer him, do you? You wench…"
"Ha. I have plans for you as well… husband…"
Var beat him with her fists on his shoulders, playfully, laughing.
"Will my lazy husband now get up? I want a quick morning dunk in the water, before they heat the water up. I have all this sweat and hay on me, I want it off. Gullina? Grab your boy and join us… the water's cold, not as if much will be going on. The eggs will be done by the time we get dried and out."
Gullina came and took Shan's hand, and they all went into the cold bath, and came out a short time later.
"I don't believe this, Gareen."
"We have no choice. Our eyes and our ears would not deceive us."
"Mother and father? Say nothing… why, even the husband approves!"
"I'm not so brave, unless one asks me. Remember, Mekall. They cross swords as well as mother does."
Mekall and Gareen eyed Shan up all through breakfast without saying anything. Shan just sat with Gullina and smiled. When the chance came for a quick word with Var apart from Theyer, Gareen asked plain enough.
"And did you have fun with our brother in the barn?"
Var smiled and giggled.
"Sure. He was shy about it, and I had to farst him to play in the hay, yet… once he got the hang of it? We had fun and worked up quite a sweat."
"Your ox does not mind such?"
Var shrugged and shoved some sliced apple and cheese into her mouth.
"I play with him the same in the barn. He doesn't mind, as long as I don't hurt the boy."
"Aye. Don't hurt him, and it'll be all decent."
Var grinned, and had some milk.
"I get a little rougher each time. He'll be fine in my hands… I promise, I'll barely mark him up."
Gareen nearly choked on his breakfast meat, and his parents both laughed.
"Little Rye… Eira… you are the boy's parents. Do you mind if I have him in the barn every morning, and it takes a little longer to get milk?"
Eira smiled and shook her head no.
"Aye. If you want to pitch in and do your part to make a man out of him? Have fun with him. Gullina… do you mind if mother's friend plays with yer Shan a bit each morning?"
Gullina shrugged.
"So? You two can carry on all you want. Just don't hurt the boy."
"I already promised his brothers, Little Rye. I'll be as gentle as I can… at first."
"Ah. All is well, then."
Mekall almost spit milk out, and Eira clapped him on the back.
"Something in the milk, son?"
"No…"
"Well? Try not to choke to death on your breakfast, then."
Little Rye and Lady Eira walked everyone around the property. The Ravin hunters wanted to "scout" the woods while they were staying there. Ryeamund explained what direction and how far not to go, roaming around the hills. No one had any desire to frighten the outlanders into anything foolish. The hunters wanted to take the Lady Gullina riding with them. She asked Shan if he would mind.
"Should I?"
"Well. If I am to let you play in the barn with pretty blonde Ravin women… I want a spirited ride in the woods now and again, with these handsome hunters."
"Seems fair to me… no sense being greedy about it."
Mekall and Gareen just smiled and nodded. Before lunch, the girls wanted to "play" in the yard, and asked Eira to join them like old times. Eira came out of the house and joined them for a warm up session. The women entertained Rye and the other oxen, while Gullina was off with the Raven hunters, riding. When the girls were done warming up eventually, they had a go at each other in turns, tapping armor.
Eventually, the armor came off. The girls wanted to play with Eira's three sons. All three of Eira's ladies were keen on playing for scratches with Shan. All the boys, except perhaps Rye himself, were amazed how good the women were with their long, thin swords. The Valkyrim all knew the older boys from when they were younger, of course, but hadn't met them since they became kingsmen.
After another break, the girls included Shan on a session to learn how to warm up with them. They slowly increased the speed of their practiced rhythm of parries and blocks, until Shan was comfortable warming up with Eira's swords in his hands. Even Eira was impressed with some of their newer moves the girls had picked up over the years that she herself didn't know about.
The highlight of the fun, was everyone having "little Rye" and Eira practice some to entertain them back, while everyone hooted and teased them.
Mekall and Gareen smiled and stayed silent, and pretended nothing was amiss when the other girls demanded "milk time" with Shan in the mornings. One of the other two oxen, wondered aloud if that was decent or not, and he got threatened by his woman and her friend, at sword point. He just put his palms in the air, and shrugged.
"Women… what can you do, eh boys? They'll have their way."
Mekall and Gareen continued smiling and nodding, and eyeing each other up. Var told the girls that they had to go through her, to get any morning milk time with her "new boy", so? Another show ensued. The girls ended up with a couple light scratches each, before Var relented.
"All right, you greedy girls. We'll share his milk time then… you happy?"
Ryeamund found it amusing that Shan wasn't as nervous about playing with them for scratches, as his two oldest boys were. No doubt it had to do with mainly Var's faces and loud taunts. Var made sure to only make her silly faces so Ryeamund, Eira, and Shan could see them.
The brothers were mildly impressed seeing Shan get goaded into wielding a sword in each hand, for instruction from Var who had both of hers out as well. Var had a light scratch on either thigh, and one on her tan midriff. It wasn't until she was done practicing, that she quit sweating so much and they clotted up.
Var acted as if it were nothing.
"Ah, a scratch here and there. It wouldn't be fun if I didn't get them."
Eira and Ryeamund had trouble keeping straight faces for this old show they already were wise to, but pulled it off for the older boys benefit. They both knew that the scratches on Var's tan thighs and midriff, were nothing more than a thorn ran across them. The rivulets of blood that ran with her sweat? A person could give themselves worse plucking a rose without minding the thorny stems. Her injuries only looked as if they were almost serious, and she had narrowly missed constant disaster.
This show went on for over two weeks straight. The tall, pretty women that wore armor and wielded swords as good or even better than the men? Pushed and shoved and yelled, and threatened swordplay for their "turn" with Shan and the morning workouts. They "shared" him several times, two at once. Naturally, the brothers were noticing Shan's morning trips to the barn on those days, with heightened interest.
Unable to contain themselves, on the last day of all this? The girls all agreed to share him one last time. Both for the workout, and… the milk run to the barn. Shan and all of the women laughed their asses off the last day in the barn all together. They weren't even working out beyond getting the morning milk. They lazed around telling jokes and stories. When they were ready to go back? They all sneaked out the back and sprinted around to work up a good, honest looking sweat. Threw straw at each other for the roll in the hay pile look that Shan's brothers rolled their eyes at.
Var couldn't help her wit, and kept a straight face as she faked a slight limp coming into the kitchen with the milk pitcher she carried. She laid her head in her hands on the kitchen table, blew her sweaty blonde forehead locks up and shook her head at the two older brothers at the table.
"By Odin, I'm glad we're finally done with your little brother, and his many lessons, boys. I don't think I can walk straight for the rest of the morning, I swear it."
In the bath house with Gullina and the three women, Var confided in Shan.
"So, young man, what have you learned in the last two weeks and then some more days."
Shan started listing off the many tricks he had been taught, and all the advice he had been given.
"You missed the most important lesson, young man."
Shan was curious what that even was.
"A person's reputation? Sometimes, means about as much as a speck of bird shit."
Shan asked for clarification on that count, and Var rattled it off for him… and the other two chimed in and out in turns.
"The people of this village. What do they still know of you, and how dangerous you are? Nothing. They all think you are a gentle fool, who is playing at wearing armor to imitate your big brothers."
"Aye. You could have fought this well winters ago. You already had all the instruction and ability, and even you did not know it yet."
"They still know nothing. They are fools and simply don't know it yet."
"Aye. And your brothers? Ha… what do they think of you and your sudden barn lessons, eh? Those two are not empty helmets, and they clearly think you are seeing more morning rides than your father's stud war-horse, and they believe it to be true as anything."
"And they think Var risks serious injury daily. Your brothers are both seasoned bigmen and kingsmen, and yet they still fell for all of it."
"So? Don't ever fear any man, simply because everyone in the district proclaims him the most dangerous creature about. Deeds? Count for everything. Stories? Are as nothing."
"Flip that matter over, as well. Don't underestimate smaller, weaker opponents. You could dress us three? As village farm-girls… doesn't make us any less dangerous, does it."
"Size and strength mean next to nothing, if you have no experience and wits."
"If you haven't figured it out yet? Deception can be used for many things. For ill, or for good. The kingdom? Has many secrets. Many of them serve a purpose."
Var eyed him with a wry grin. Her arms up and down the wide rim of the bath they were all in. She was prone to lay her blonde head back and lazily talk to the ceiling as much as to her bathing company. Shan realized that with but a warm, wet rag over her face? She would appear to be a pretty, female version of his father… at least, with her attitude and the way she carried herself bathing.
"So girls. Is this foundling ready? Will our Lady Eira be pleased? I say… aye."
"He is."
"Yes."
"So. My Shan is ready to provide entertainment, at the festival?"
Var belly laughed, and the other two chuckled and giggled along.
"Oh, aye. He's ready for that. Yet… that's hardly the main matter here, now innit?"
Shan was amused and puzzled.
"I had rather thought, you were rounding out my brother's and my parent's fighting lessons. Were you not?"
Var fixed him with her wry grin.
"That matter? I could see where that would be important to you. You live here. You're young. Oh, I'm sure you will do very well that day. Yet…"
Var winked without hiding it, to the other girls. Shan eyed her but said nothing at first. Var cracked another smile and wiggled her eyebrows at him.
"Then… what is the main matter at hand, Aunt Var. Tell me, I would know of it."
"Girls? Eira was right. He really is a sweet boy, is he not?"
They nodded and verbally agreed, softly.
"Does he not remind you, of a young Little Rye?"
Hlin smiled and nodded, only Syn spoke back to her.
"Aye. Middle of the forest, blindly groping for a single example of a tree. Surrounded by them."
Var stared at him, with a serious look on her face.
"I thought, you wished to become a Kingsman. To wear the North Star's armor. As your father does. As your older brothers already do. Is this not so?"
"Aye, it is."
"And did your parents, and your brothers often enough tell you, that they can't examine you for such? Others would have to do so."
"Many times."
"Well then. There you have it."
Shan furrowed his brow.
"Yet… I was told, that men the high king trusted the advice of, would see to that. That traveling was involved."
"Yes. You were told the truth on that count. You did mistake one word in your recounting of such, however."
"Which word was incorrect."
"Shan… did your mother ever once say men would examine you? I'm fairly certain, she would have said, that some of the better students of the high king's Bladdenmeister would handle that. Or, am I mistaken."
"But…"
Var laid her head back on the rim.
"Did we three not travel a great way to meet you?"
"Aye. You did."
"Is not the high king's own Wolf here with us?"
"He is."
"We did not lie to you on the man's reputation. That quiet man you enjoy afternoon tea with at the tavern? He is perhaps the most dangerous man in the kingdom with a blade in his hands. What many winters have robbed him of? He more than makes up for with his raw cunning, to this day."
"Am I now to be examined by Wulfgar?"
Var looked with closed eyes up at the ceiling, and spoke matter of fact.
"At his age, he would likely observe… while you were examined by some of his students, that he trusts."
Shan sat quietly and didn't speak. Taking it all in. Var addressed Gullina.
"Gullina… are you not a high reckoner?"
"I am."
"Then… advise your man. He does not seem to grasp it."
"Shan?"
"Yes, Gullina."
"Shan… if I am not much mistaken, and I think I am not. You are a Kingsman."
"Am I? I wear no armor…"
"Aye, that. Does your father not oversee many blacksmiths? That send armor and weapons up north?"
"Yes."
"You will have to be fitted for it. As if anyone else's armor would fit you, anyways."
"I don't know quite what to say. I was worried about that."
"Well then. Worry no longer."
"Now? I can worry about only my Lordship."
Var still spoke distractedly, head back and eyes closed, as if commenting on her speculation of the coming weather.
"Why? Are you concerned you won't wear it well?"
"I would rather first have it, before I worried about losing it, you know."
Var chuckled.
"Gullina? You had better not leave this one's side very often. He seems to need constant advice from his high reckoning wench. Would you advise him again, dear?"
"Shan? I think you already are a Lord."
"Am I?"
"Shan?"
"Yes, aunt Var."
"Do I often sit in this water, with a hot fire sparked up, boiling the water?"
"No, you do not. You most usually, prefer a quick, cold dunk. I was curious of that."
"Then? I must plan on being in here a little bit. Girls? Would one of you get us some service in here? Or do I have to yell for it."
Syn laughed, and Hlin chuckled merrily.
"Oh. Var… you're the one with the lungs for it. Call out."
"Ha! Is there no service, to be had in this bath house?!?! Wench! Mead!! Morsels!!"
All three of them erupted in laughter and splashing. Eira appeared at the door. Smiling.
"Var. I thought I heard you whispering for service. Am I mistaken?"
"My Lady. It's a fine great-house you run down here… yet, the service is a little thin! I would celebrate. How about some fine mead, and some morsels, eh?"
"You told him then?"
"No Eira… we celebrate the hot fire in here, and my being boiled for dinner in the south-lands. Do I need to march naked to the pantry and get things for us?"
"Hmm. As amusing as that would be, I do not think my other two sons would survive the shock. If I am not mistaken? I believe both of their eyes follow you girls around with great interest. Even if they are polite, for your husband's benefit."
"You flatter me, Eira. Yet… could I now be flattered with a stomach full of mead and food?"
Eira smiled again.
"I'll be back. Contain yourself."
Eira was back a short time later, with horns and a small wooden cask of fine mead. She came back again with a platter of food. When Eira turned to leave, Var asked her one more thing.
"Does the Lady Eira still honor our bargain?"
"She does."
Var smiled, and the other two girls started hooting and hollering softly. Eira smiled and left them, and the girls passed the horns around, and bowls they put the fruit, cheese, meat and vegetables into.
Hlin had to goad Gullina and Shan into draining their horn for toasts, instead of just sipping at each one. It didn't take long for the laughter and commotion to rise, as everyone had fun. Splashing, yelling, telling stories. Joking, teasing, good nature taunting.
When Gullina finally burped loudly, Var belly laughed and threw a grape at her. When Shan and Gullina finally wore the silly smiles the three girls wore, Hlin reminded Var there was yet one more matter to tend to. When Var upended her palm at her, with her elbows up on the rim of the bath, to ask what it was? Hlin pointed at the hollow of her neck, and Syn smiled and pointed at Gullina.
"Oh. That. I almost forgot."
The girls all smiled and stared at Gullina.
"What?"
Var chuckled,
"Not all the honors are the young lorded kingsman's now, are they?"
Hlin giggled.
"Not hardly."
Syn smiled.
"If my memory serves me, and I believe it might… is this not done with a wet rag over the young man's face? If you two remember, I was serving that night while you all caroused in the bath house. Yet, I have heard the story. Hlin?"
"Aye, that is how it went. Hand me that rag over there, Syn. You're closest to it. Shan will hide his face, if Var forgets herself and gets up to grab it."
Syn dunked the rag in the warm water, and handed it to Hlin, who threw it at Var.
"Gullina? Cover his eyes with the soaking wet rag. It's to be a surprise for him."
Gullina laughed and did it, and pushed Shan's head back. He protested, but with laughter.
Var and Hlin moved over in the water near to Gullina, and Shan could hear the girls whispering to her, and the girls giggling. He heard someone get out of the water, and the dripping on the stone floor, then he felt the water move when they got back in. The girls rearranged themselves, he could feel their movements in the water.
Shan could hear the girls shushing one another, as the giggles got contained and it was silent.
Var finally announced, in her loud, now clearly tipsy voice.
"Do it Gullina. Issue yer terms, Lady."
Shan heard Hlin bark out in laughter.
"Aye. Do it."
Shan felt a scratch on his neck. As if someone whisked a light branch across it. Then, the rag disappeared. It had been whipped off and flung, he heard it hit the stone in the corner. Gullina was standing there, on the opposing side of the bath, standing up. Smiling. He was looking up at the sword in her hand. There was one missing from the display on the wall, and it was in her hand. Resting on his cheek, just below his eye.
Gullina laughed and told him he was hers. She smiled as she removed the leather cord that held her sign coin, and put it on the end of the sword she retracted carefully, and held out for him. When he didn't immediately take it because he was staring at her, she carefully laid it over his head and dropped it over his neck for him.
Gullina wasn't drunk, but she was smiling and laughing a good bit. She sat up on the edge of the bath instead of hiding beneath the water like Shan was used to. She filled the girl's horns and handed them bowls as they wanted them.
Shan smiled back at her…
"Gullina. Will you not sit back in the water, then."
"For what purpose? The women can see me, yet there's nothing indecent about that, is there?"
"Well, no… but…"
"But nothing. You wear my coin, or do you so soon forget it."
"Oh…"
Gullina kicked water at him and laughed.
After a while of this, Var wondered aloud, if they should leave the two to discuss Gullina's terms of her coin.
Hlin laughed.
"Perhaps. There might be some… negotiations required."
Gullina grinned and rested her hand on the sword standing up in the bath directly in front of where she sat. As the women started to stand up, and carry on getting out and getting dried and put the thin cotton robes on before leaving… Gullina picked up the sword and looked at it, smiling. She pointed it at Shan.
"You can keep your eyes on me, if it's not too much a chore for you…"
The women laughed and waved, as they left. Gullina walked over, and sat down on his lap, facing him. She put her sword flat on the rim of the bath behind him, and grasped it firmly in both hands. Used it to draw him to her. Smiling and making eyes at him.
"You haven't heard my terms yet. I would suggest, you keep yer teeth together and heed them. I'm bored with grooming my horse. I intend to ride it. And? It had best be a spirited ride. No more blushing… coin pet."