“Landwulf!” she called as she spotted her middle son walking past the vegetable patch, rake in hand.
“Yes, Mother. What is it that you want?”
“Please take these carrots to Eira for the stew she is making for the evening meal. I believe Kaarina is also with her.”
Landwulf’s eyes brightened and he blushed. “As you wish, Mother,” he said, taking the carrots from her hand.
Minna watched him go thoughtfully. If what she suspected was true, Landwulf had feelings for Kaarina. She decided to probe a little deeper and walked up the rows of vegetables until she reached the place where Frida and Sigrid were sowing summer greens.
“We’ve got lots of work done today,” she told them, sounding pleased.
“We’re almost done with sowing the summer greens, Mother,” Frida replied.
“When you’re done, you can stop for today,” Minna decided. “There are indoor chores that we need to do.”
“And more weaving,” added Sigrid. “I’d like to finish the cloth I’m making.”
“Did you know that Kaarina is here?” Minna asked, changing the subject. “I saw her walk over a while ago. She’s probably helping Eira in the kitchen. I sent Landwulf down there with some carrots for the stew.”
The girls gave each other a sly look that Minna immediately noticed. “Your brother seems to like hanging around the house when Kaarina is here,” she said.
Frida stifled a giggle. “No, Mother, really?”
“She’s a nice girl,” Minna said lightly. “Does he care for her?”
“You will have to ask him yourself,” Frida replied. “He would never tell his sisters.”
The girls looked at each other and sniggered. Frida tried to disguise her mirth as a cough. Minna had seen all she needed to know. “I shall be down at the house,” she told them, standing to her feet. The girls had confirmed her suspicions. Now she would have to come up with a plan to help Landwulf find someone more suitable than Kaarina.
CHAPTER 7
E ira watched as Landwulf strode out the door to the storage barn where the firewood was kept. Minna wanted more wood for the fire. She waited a moment then slipped out the door after him, hoping that no one noticed. This was the opportunity that she’d been waiting for.
“Landwulf!” she said quietly.
He spun around, shocked that someone else was there.
“Eira!” he gasped. “You startled me.”
“I am sorry,” she said. “I wanted to speak to you while you are alone. There are few opportunities.”
“True. What is it that you wish to say?”
“I wish to ask you what your feelings are for my friend Kaarina.”
Landwulf looked surprised. “I ... uh … don’t know,” he stammered, turning red.
“It’s all right,” Eira said. “Your secret is safe with me. You care for her, is that not true?”
“It is,” he admitted, relief in his voice.
“Kaarina thinks she has done something to offend you,” Eira said. “You have been avoiding her.”
He looked at her with stricken eyes but said nothing.
“Is it Gerfrid?” she asked gently.
He nodded, a miserable expression on his face. “We do everything together. I cannot see how we can love the same girl. It will not work.”
“What if the girl only had feelings for one of you? Would that make things different?”
He thought for a moment. “Well, if she would only accept one of us, yes, I think it would.”
“What if I told you that the fortunate man is yourself?”
His eyes lit up. “Really?”
Eira smiled. “Kaarina does care for you but she is confused by the way you have been treating her. And she has no feelings for Gerfrid so you don’t need to feel guilty about that.”
A huge grin split Landwulf’s face in two. “Really? I cannot believe that a girl like Kaarina could think of me that way.”
“She is special,” Eira agreed. “But you owe it to her to make things right with her. She is trying to think of what she has done to hurt or offend you. Tell her that you think she is special and put her out of her misery.”
Landwulf looked sheepish. “I ... uh … know not how. Pretty girls do not grow on trees around here. I have never had one like me before.”
“Be brave,” Eira advised. “Kaarina is kind. She will not intentionally do anything that will hurt you.” She looked at him directly. “But if you do nothing, you will lose her to someone braver than you. What have you got to lose?”
“Landwulf!” Minna called from the house. “Where is the wood? My fire is going out!”
“I had better go,” Landwulf muttered, gathering up the wood.
“Remember, be brave,” Eira told him with a grin.
He pulled a face and hurried to the house with the wood.
Later that evening, Eira went to the kitchen after everyone else had retired to the communal room. She wanted a drink of water. Landwulf waited a moment then followed her.
“May I speak to you for a moment?” he whispered so that no one would hear them.
“Of course,” Eira whispered back.
“When Kaarina comes to see you tomorrow, tell her that I will be down on the beach. Just tell her that, nothing else.”
“I will,” promised Eira. “And I wish you good fortune,” she added. She liked Landwulf.
The rain came down steadily as Kaarina donned her coat and boots to see Eira.
“Are you sure you want to go out?” Emiline asked doubtfully, peering at the leaden sky.
“I need to get out of the house for a while,” Kaarina answered. “Besides, I want to show Eira the new bracelet I am making.”
“Of course. Well, enjoy your time, dear,” Emiline said.
Kaarina scurried across the road to Eira’s house, ducking her head. Eira opened the door and let her in
