[i]collaboration between Igraine and Constable Walrus Continued [/i]

As for Eyja? Well she was already fairly enthralled with the one grown man in the world, whose imagination seemed near so big as her own, who magically wore the aspects of Geri and Freki on his face, and could make pictures of labyrinths and whorls with his magically-talented hands. And if Orran said he fought some great bald dragon for their paper and ink tonight? Oh, she was more than ready to believe him, this magical man who as brave and skilled with a pen as with a sword, than any raider she’d ever seen!

Even Raudr and Ranulf’s Fadir! Well… Not that she’d ever tell [i]them[/i] that, because it’d just be a great big fight - even if she [i]was[/i] right. Still, better not to have hard words. Raudr really was pretty nice when he wasn’t trying so hard to be his Fadir. And Ranulf was actually a lot of fun to play with, and he really listened to Eyja, [i]all[/i] her words, like he really did find her interesting - well, when he wasn’t busy worrying and thinking too hard on things like how to stop his brother from trying too hard to be like his Fadir again.

Besides, Tore liked him lots too.

The little girl had established earlier in the great Hall that she was a very good cup bearer, likely the very best in all of Trelleborg! Loker himself had given her his endorsement, and not a drop split! No, not a one! And she could work just as hard as her elder sister and mother - she was far more her mother’s daughter, than indolent little Tore the kitten after all. And so she lay the lazy creature tenderly, so lovingly by the fire and made to bring a wooden bowl - the best they had - to what would be Orran’s seat at their small table. She smiled up at him proudly, showing him that she too could earn her place in this family, and in Orran’s eyes as well.

Orran rose one of his dark eyebrows when Hallerna spoke of Svala and he looked towards the young woman who was blushing; and had the widest smile on her face. He matched the smile setting down his pack carefully before fully moving inside their small living space; He watched Svala for a moment and he grinded his teeth slightly in thought before speaking. [b]“Is that so Svala? I mean ‘Sparrow’.” [/b]

He smiled wide, he might seem as if he gave the woman a hard time, but it meant he cared enough to secretly give her a hard time; and he sat down gently at the table and glanced up at Svala [b]“So I’ll have much more to look forward too, and here I was thinking it stopped at bread,”[/b] he said with a smile; and leaned back slightly in his seat.

Impressed, was a word that hardly came from Orran’s thoughts when speaking of someone, he was very critical, especially when it came to combat. But impressed he was, more so now seeing more of her; and he had pinpointed the moment in memory when Svala got his attention. There she stood bloody and holding an axe, instead of just running, she wished to help him. Bravery and Honor he mused to himself as he gazed at Svala.

He turned his gaze from Svala; which in the line of thought he was in was no small feat, and brought it to Hallerna “I wanted to thank you again for offering a meal with you and your family Hallerna, I am honored.” He smiled warmly but his attention was suddenly caught by Eyja holding a bowl of mead in her hands bringing it to him.

He took the bowl gently and set it in front of him; and he turned back to her with a smile. [b]“And not a single drop spilt!”[/b] he mused and gave Eyja a hug pulling back with a smile [b]“Excellent, now I can see the entire picture,”[/b] and he gave her a gentle press on the nose with his finger.

He looked up at Hallerna. [b]“You have a lovely family,”[/b] Orran spoke aloud with a smile

The elder woman’s smile widened slowly as she turned from the hearth, back to the table where her daughters busied themselves tending to their honored guest. [b]“Yes, I do,”[/b] she agreed with a nod, not the least boast or immodesty on her lips. Hallerna herself gathered up the bowl of water, bringing it to Orran as he stood by the table, to offer him the opportunity to wash his face and hands if he would. 

[b]“And the honor is ours, completely, Orran. I will never forget that the reason I still have this ‘lovely family,’ is in large part because of you, and what you did this night. Please, come, sit with us here.”[/b]

Eyja crawled up into her own seat after setting a bowl of mead by her mother’s spot, a lighter version by Svala’s place and then, by her own, the drink that was far more water than mead of course - though she liked it just fine nonetheless. She felt almost a grown-up when she was allowed this on special occasions, like tonight, when they had Orran come to visit for dinner. 

Svala moved exactly as she’d seen her mother almost every day of her life, serving her father, her brother and uncles and cousins with a dignified poise that was equal parts grace and long habit. The hot stew, and then the bread to eat it with, alongside the strongest mead they had to serve, first for Orran and then for their small family. The very best part of their first offerings had been given to Frig and Freya before the Christian arrived, in thanksgiving.

[b]“Well, yes… I mean, it [i]is [/i]so Orran. You know Madir had so much to do today,” [/b]she began softly, her voice gathering strength with every word past her lips. [b]“She was with all of you men in the village today, and then on to the unloading the supplies found - and [i]then[/i] to the healing house right thereafter. Well she’d have precious little time to [i]eat,[/i] much less cook, and so… “[/b] Svala shrugged, meeting Orran’s laughing gaze with her own deep blue eyes. [b]“Well, we all do what we can, don’t we? For the ones we care for? Like you and Anndrais, I imagine, all these miles from your home.”[/b]

Orran sat; and he watched Svala carefully how she gracefully moved around the table, serving everyone he had nodded at no particular question or statement and suddenly said out loud [b]“Yes, you’d definitely suit a sword…”[/b] He shook his head suddenly and chuckled, meeting Svala’s gaze with his dark eyes [b]“Apologies, I was thinking of something very important.”[/b]

He shifted, and listening to Svala he nodded, placing his hands in the bowl to wash his face and hands gently; and he looked up at Hallerna [b]“Thank you…”[/b] He turned to the rest of the family [b]“All of you for making me seem so welcomed in your home.”[/b] And he breathed out a heavy breath and returned his gaze to Svala. [b]“That is very kind of you for your mother Svala, not only a good head but a good heart it fits.”[/b] He stated promptly his dark eyes met her blue before he spoke again [b]“Svala, at your words and actions I am more than impressed… And that is very true, but Anndrais came not for his own benefit, he came with the attempt to stop the violence.”[/b]

Orran leaned back and glanced around at the family before him. [b] “Though that is a topic of another time, I am here, presented with good food and excellent company. Such dour talk is not for an hour such as this.”[/b] He stated and the smile returned to his features; and he drew his gaze to Hallerna. [b] “You have a very strong daughter Hallerna, it echoes my own people very much. Strong are the women of my people, warriors as the men are.”[/b] 

Orran straightened himself as he spoke [b]“Svala has skill, I can see it… Raw potential,”[/b] he said softly and shot a sidelong glance at Svala before returning his gaze to Hallerna [b]“As much as I joke about bread and food, and how lovely the ‘swallow’ is.”[/b] He smiled softly [b]“She has so much potential to be even more.”[/b]

Hallerna eased herself into her chair, golden eyebrows knit curiously as she looked at Orran curiously as he spoke. [b]“I don’t understand… What more should she be? Svala is already… Svala?” [/b] Her gaze turned from their guest to her eldest daughter, just finishing her serving and taking her seat. She was a beautiful girl, smart and hard-working, and if the lovingly crafted bearded axe leaning against the wall now beside her mother’s own well-worn blade was any indication? Oh, she was certainly brave as any ten men, courageous and steadfast. But she was a farmer’s daughter after all, and though Hallerna loved the girl with all she had, Orran’s words were simply impervious to her understanding.

Svala looked to Orran with a smile, perhaps a little less perplexed than her mother though she wondered nonetheless. She at least had seen him fight, defend the Ragnarsson children and Eyja and even herself, though they were none of his own. But he’d likely already witnessed her humiliating attempt, all off-balance and sent akimbo with Sigrid’s spear, the escape from that vile man that almost felt more luck than any natural skill of her own. 

The young woman chewed her lip softly though she smiled still, a small, self-deprecating laugh escaping her. [b] “Would you make a shieldmaiden of me, Orran?”[/b] she asked, realizing halfway through the words that some small part of the young woman genuinely, truly and desperately hoped that was [i]exactly[/i] what he meant.

Orran looked at Hallerna carefully. [b] “As in more skilled; she showed more courage and bravery in one look than I’ve seen in awhile.”[/b] He turned his gaze to Svala and spoke [b]“She held that bearded axe in her hand, and was covered and blood…”[/b] He said softly keeping his gaze on her intently,[b] “If I would have called you would have came to my aid, I knew you wished to help me, aid me… That act enough, to save a stranger, tells me plenty.”[/b]

He kept his eyes on Svala as she chewed her lip, and nodded [b]“If this term means some sort of warrior woman, than yes… I would.” [/b]He glanced over at Hallerna the smile replace by his stern look [b]“It is not base skill, or body type, or talent that makes a defender, a protector, it’s courage beyond measure the heart to defend the innocent. Those who need it the most.”[/b] And he rolled his shoulders and glanced at Hallerna. [b] “So I ask to train your daughter, build her up, strengthen her. She has the heart and mind for it, she just needs training.”[/b]

And Orran glanced down at his food before drawing his gaze directly to Svala.

Svala met his dark gaze with her own steady, thoughtful eyes, gaining confidence with every word, a pleasure that didn’t raise the color to her cheeks or the child-like smile to her lips, but something deeper, older, a hint really, a small promise of the woman to rise in the years to come, should any one of them survive Trelleborg. Without a word, she nodded her assent to Orran, before turning to look to her mother who would, by all counts in their world, be the end all word for whether she would or no as the head of their small family.

Hallerna’s chin had come to rest in the palm of her hand, propped up on the table as Orran spoke, taking in every last word he said and weighing it as thoroughly and unsparingly, as only the wise wife of a farmer could ever do. The chaff from the grain, she sifted those words and, after her own careful consideration, finally gave voice to the thoughts in her head.

[b]“You would teach my daughter to be a warrior Orran? Before today, I admit, I would have laughed in your face - but there is a great deal of this world I’d have long considered impossible that has come to pass, and the idea that today Svala would have to kill a man in the very streets of Trelleborg, in the shadow of the Jarl’s Hall? Oh, that would certainly be one of those ‘impossible things.’”[/b]

[b]“But you should know, and I tell you nothing either of my girls don’t already know - we’ve no way to pay you for this, even if Svala does show an aptitude with a blade. Her brave heart is never a question - she’s got the very heart of a bear. But most everything we ever had, was left on our farm when the draugr came - what you see here, is all we’ve got.”[/b]

[b]“And yes, I know… I saw Anndrais’ reaction when Sigrid tried to offer him coin in payment for what good he’d done poor Tora - I offer you no insult in the offering, Orran. You are foreign to us, and there is no disservice in saying we are a proud people - not beggars. I hope my meaning is clear?”[/b] Hallerna said with a genuine smile as she sat back in her chair, deep blue eyes still lit on Orran.

Orran listened to Hallerna intently, as much as he wished to train the girl, the mother had to at least approve; and when she spoke of Anndrais’ he finally spoke up [b]“I seek nothing for the training of Svala, save her company during the training. As for Anndrais, you mistake him, the insult was not for the coin. But for the reason the coin was given, do not mistake that for a martyrdom of sorts. He is difficult for even myself to grasp at times.”[/b]

His gaze was kept on Hallerna’s blue eyes. [b] “So I understand the world we live in, things change, and we adapt.” [/b]He glanced at Svala and smiled. [b] “Heart of a bear? I can see that, or a wolf.” He smiled and turned back to Hallerna. [b]“So Hallerna, I do wish to train your daughter, and if you really must ask of me to take a payment for this service, then if you would welcome me back to your humble home, then I would enjoy that very much.”[/b]

He leaned back in his chair and eyed Eyja with a smile [b]“Have to keep coming back to visit the little one.” [/b]And his eyes grew brighter, and his smile wider as he spoke. [b] “I have a promise to keep. Isn't that right Eyja?” [/b]

Eyja’s head turned up to Orran, wide-eyed and a little startled at the sound of her name, both her hands firmly planted beneath the table, absolutely [i]not [/i]holding Tore the kitten in her lap, giving him a surreptitious nibble of a piece of her stew meat while his raspy little tongue licked the stew broth from her fingers. [b]“Yes you do, Orran,”[/b] she chirped in quickly, because Eyja was quick and clever, and even in her silent moments that mind of hers never stopped - and there was rarely ever a conversation that child’s ears couldn’t follow, whether she would or no. 

And she really had been following as the older people spoke, and Eyja knew very well that little twinge in her belly was a pang of jealousy. Raudr and Ranulf [i]both[/i] got to play with wooden swords - and someday they’d have real ones! But they were boys, one day men, and… Well, that was just the way of things, she supposed. But now Orran, her very own Wolf Man and slayer of bald dragons, the master of paper and ink and whorls and swirls, was going to teach [i]Svala[/i] to be a warrior if Madir said she might? 

Well, in truth - and Eyja was really a very good girl, and tried to be truthful in all matters - she envied Svala something fierce, the chance to fight like a boy. But as deep as the envy might go, the love for her older sister went further still, and Eyja knew she’d had treat enough, learning to write and draw on real paper, with real ink, with her painted man.

[b]“Can I at least come watch? You teaching Svala all that fighting… Ummm… Stuff?”[/b] If sticks were good enough for drawing in the snow, well… There was nothing to say she could [i]pretend,[/i] was there?

As intently as Hallerna had listened to Orran’s proposition in the first place, so too did she listen to his explanation, and finally nodded her approval. [b]“As you will Orran - and of course, as Svala will as well, though that light in her eyes right now tells me all I’ll ever need to know of her answer to that question.”[/b] she added with a small, warm laugh, as much for Svala’s eagerness as for Eyja’s sweet, hopeful question. 

[b]“Though she’d best not forget that tomorrow morning we move on to the Jarl’s hall. We were invited by the housekarl, and I accepted - it seemed wise, and the offer genuine, and would take some of the worry from my heart, if I’m honest, after all that’s happened this day. But I’ll not forget you Orran, nor Anndrais - a deal is a deal after all. And Svala will absolutely have to finish her work before she begins practice - and I sent them to Freya in the first place because I know she’ll see them set to needful tasks!”[/b]

[b]“Even so Svala, are these terms acceptable to you, sweetling?”[/b]

Svala needed no kind of pushing at all, for once the young, inward-turning girl’s voice leapt to the fore. [b]“Yes! Please Orran yes - when can we start?”[/b]

Orran smiled warmly at Hallerna and nodded [b]“I didn’t think you would…”[/b] He glanced over at Ejya [b]“And that would be your mothers decision little one.”[/b] and he laughed gently as Svala burst out with her admission and he eyed the young woman.

[b]“Good, I enjoy the enthusiasm, I say we can start in two days time or so, if that is good for you. I have to prepare some things for the training, but other than that we are set to go very soon.”[/b] He rolled his shoulders and nodded with a smile before settling back to eat some more of the stew and gazing at Svala for a moment before speaking again.

[b]“In either case it would be an honor to train you Svala.”[/b] He turned his gaze to Hallerna.[b] “I will take good care of her, and I am sure you will be as pleased as I am already with her skill, even under pressure.”[/b]

He brought his gaze back to Svala [b]“Be ready Svala, I will not take training easy on you, because I know you can take it.”[/b] He smiled softly and gave her a wink.