Norseman Chief by Jason Born Read Free Book Online Page B

oppressive.  Several times we sailed into rivers and fjords where we saw fields of broad leaf crops extending away from the water.  Only once did we see people, a boy and an old man.  They looked something like your people but did not have the extensive tattoo markings.”
    Ahanu set the pipe down and slowly took my wrist in his palm, gripping it firmly.  “Halldorr, I believe you are the most widely travelled man I have ever met.  It is a blessing from Glooskap that I know you.”
    “Ha,” I said.  “I have spent my life striving to settle myself next to a good woman and to farm the land and to raise children.  Now you tell me my travels are a blessing, to you at least.”
    He pointed at my chest with his other hand, “I know you have emptiness in your heart for a woman.  I know of your losses, but your travels are a blessing to you as well.  Have you not told me that this One God says that he can turn all things for good and his purpose, no matter what man has in mind?”
    I nodded.
    “Then this life you live is good.  You read those markings in your book and follow its words.  You live, love, kill.  What more can a man do?”
    I shrugged.
    “It is good you’ve come to us,” he said releasing me.  “Now go to your home and sleep well.  Etleloo will want to show his strength even though he does not lead.  Be forgiving.”
    “I will,” I said as I stood to leave.
    “I know you will, but you would rather smash his nose.”
    I just flashed a grin and trudged out into the snow, thinking of what kind of man and what kind of people I had found myself living among.  What would tomorrow bring?  Death?  That had usually been my experience when I woke to strap my sword to my belt.  One more passing of the sun would give me the answer.

 
    CHAPTER 4
     
    The entire village was abuzz about the potential for conflict the next morning.  So it was in Hurit’s mamateek after my meeting with Ahanu.  Kesegowaase asked many questions of my people and the way we went to battle, trying to learn all he could, though of course he would not be going along since he was but a boy in the eyes of the skraeling.  At first I answered each round of inquiry in much detail, but a harsh look from Hurit told me she did not want to discuss the subject.  I did not want wrath from the woman.  Her look softened when I began to change the conversation to hunting and more of my tales of Dyflin, a city of such great size, they could hardly comprehend.  My desire to show them my books was long forgotten.
    After a fitful sleep, we began walking before the sun rose, mostly in silence except for the light crunch of snow beneath our feet and the light panting of men working their muscles.  I had borrowed a pair of snowshoes made from rawhide strung between two bent sections of wood.  They were excellent despite their obvious, well-worn use and helped me hover over the snow without plunging in.  All the other men with us had snowshoes of the same design which I thought was far superior to any I had seen used in Norway or Greenland.  As I breathed in the cold air, creating puffs of fog around me from my exertion, I thought I would one day take the idea for the shoes back to my people and sell them.  Maybe I would be a cobbler of sorts rather than the farmer I had always longed to become.  But I knew even then that such thoughts were hopes and dreams to be dashed against the rocks like the constant beat of the surf.  Foolish thoughts.
    I could tell the men with whom I marched knew these woods and valleys like they knew the bodies of their women.  Each had most likely spent countless days in their youth running these hills playing battle games in preparation for a day such as this when they would be called as men to defend their people from some formidable threat.  A possible threat, I reminded myself, for I truly did not know who Etleloo had found hiding in a secret longhouse.
    Rowtag had sent two groups of scouts ahead