“Where are we eating? Is there a restaurant or something?”
Gerhard waved at a group of women who looked to be about his age and they seemed happy with the gesture. “Something, yes.”
Gerhard stopped in front of a modest house and knocked on the door. A few minutes later Fulla pulled it open, holding a pair of small pots.
“Gerhard, I…” She stopped talking when she saw Erik was there.
“You?” Gerhard chuckled.
“You hadn’t said you were bringing him as well. I have cooking. I have to… take these.” She handed the pots to Gerhard. “The rest’ll be done in the afternoon.” She looked at Erik and swallowed hard. “Thank you.”
Erik raised an eyebrow. “For?”
She blushed and turned around. “I have work!” Fulla closed the door and Erik could hear her walk quickly away from it.
Gerhard handed the pots to Erik and motioned for him to follow. “Seems she likes you.”
Erik gave a nervous smile at the statement. “She seems nice.”
There was something too normal about it all. There was no way he could say that to Gerhard, at least it didn’t feel like he could. And what would he say? Where are all the sword fights? Why haven’t any giants attacked? He wasn’t even sure what he wanted or expected Helheim to be like, but somehow it wasn’t what he imagined. That was something of a running theme since Göll showed up. Gerhard’s popularity meant regular stops along the walk back to the alehouse to chat with people. They all welcomed him, no one asked any questions beyond his name and where he’d come from. Gerhard was subtle in interrupting anyone who asked much more, but he did it each time without fail. They were nearly back to the alehouse when Gerhard explained himself, even though Erik hadn’t asked.
“They will have plenty of time for questions later,” he said, not looking back. “Best you have some time to arrange your thoughts. Us in Kvernes… we’ve been about a very long time. We forget what it was like.”
Gerhard pushed open the door of the alehouse and shut it back behind them. He sat his pot down on a table near the windows and opened the shutters.
“Sit. I’ll fetch the drink.”
The thought of the syrupy alcohol from the night before made Erik think it might be better to decline the offer, but he didn’t, sitting across from where Gerhard had put his food. He came back with a pair of the odd spoons and two mugs. Instead of the golden liquid from the night before, they contained a dark brown liquid that smelled much more like normal beer, if more pungent.
Gerhard took his place across from Erik and pulled the lid from his pot, smelling it and smiling. He noticed Erik eyeing the mug. “Problem?”
Erik looked up, seeing Gerhard had opened his pot and so did the same. “No, no.”
“Not used to the drink, are you? Had a few like you through Kvernes before. Ale for lunch and dinner, mead for dessert.” Gerhard took a big spoonful of the stew in the pot and shoved it into his mouth. “That is the way we live. In time, you’ll wonder how you lived without them.”
Erik doubted that. “Is Kvernes the only town?”
“There are others. Are you a restless sort, Erik?”
The stew was well-made, if a bit light on beef. “I don’t think so. No one’s ever called me restless. I’d just like to know where I am.”
Gerhard looked at him, considering the statement for a moment. “There are other towns, if they could be called that. More you’d call them farmers who’ve banded to one another. Two and three dozen at most. Best that you get your bearings here before venturing too far without some guidance.”
Erik didn’t know enough to argue with the point, though the city seemed safe and generally happy. He hadn’t seen all of it, though. Maybe the world was dangerous. It was strange that he hadn’t heard any mention of Hel or of gods or valkyries out of anyone.
When lunch was done, Gerhard grabbed the pot and mug and carried them toward the kitchen, talking as he went.
“There’s work for you. Real work.” He went into the kitchen, coming back running a dry rag. “At the south edge of town, there’s a small farm.”
“South?”
“Right. The main path runs east to west, same as the sun crosses the sky.”
Erik looked out the window, as if that would confirm something. “Okay.”
“The work won’t kill you, it’s a small plot. Enough to grow some root vegetables we need. House with a green door.” Gerhard looked out the window to the street. “Best you get there. Sun won’t shine forever.”
The streets weren’t exactly bustling, but there were enough people to make Kvernes feel larger than it had in the morning. No one talked to him without Gerhard leading him around the city. They stared, though, and a few gave idle waves. Erik wondered if it was simply because he was new or if it was somehow related to the reaction to his mention of Göll the night before.
The farmhouse was easily found just past the south edge of the rows of houses. A field about fifty yards square had been marked out with a fence, though it didn’t really look like a farm so much as just a big rectangle of patchy land.
Not sure what he’d be doing, Erik knocked on the door with some hesitation. It was a few minutes before anyone came to answer.
“Had to get dressed, y’see.” The woman looked up at him without issuing any sort of greeting. “My fool arse of a husband broke ‘is leg yesterday mornin’. Won’t be right again ‘til tomorrow. You can hear ‘im
