Later that day, Kaarina pulled on her coat and boots, ready to visit Eira.
“Thank you for your help. You worked hard today,” Emiline told her, smiling.
“I am glad to be of service,” she replied. “I will be home in time to help with the evening meal.”
A few minutes later, she was seated in the common room. Frida and Sigrid were weaving, while Eira was sewing a pouch out of cloth they’d made earlier. Kaarina had no desire to weave or sew. She pulled out her leatherwork and started to braid a leather rope. It was far more satisfying than working with cloth.
“Why are you both not wed yet?” asked Frida, getting straight to the point. “Do not your people usually marry young?”
Kaarina was taken aback by the direct question but Eira spoke up.
“Neither of us has parents to arrange a brullaup for us,” she said. “And Halvar is in the same position.”
“Will you wed with Halvar?” asked Sigrid.
Eira smiled at their curiosity. “I hope so,” she said. “But the ceremonies that come before a wedding take a long time, sometimes even two years. A lot can happen in two years.”
“You could have a Christian wedding,” suggested Frida. “They are simple and can happen in a short time.”
“Perhaps. I hadn’t thought about that,” Eira replied, then changed the subject. “Why are the two of you not wed yet?”
“Our people marry later than yours. Our parents want us to be mature when we take on a home of our own,” Sigrid said. “Besides, we haven’t met any young men who are suitable.”
“You mean … you have to find your own husband?” Kaarina was incredulous.
“Our parents guide us but they leave the final choice up to us. They would never force us to marry someone we don’t love for the sake of family alliances or wealth. Our people value our freedom to choose for ourselves,” Frida replied.
“Where would you find a suitable husband? I haven’t seen any growing on the bushes around here,” Eira said.
The girls all laughed.
“Our parents prefer us to marry someone who shares our beliefs. So, it’s not always easy for us to find the right husband. Sometimes we must visit another village or attend the eindingida each year.”
Frida sighed with pleasure. “Last year at the eindingida, I met a handsome young man. He comes from a village far away from here and we didn’t get to talk until it was almost time to leave. I hope I see him again.”
Eira and Kaarina looked at each other in disbelief. Whoever heard of young women choosing their own husbands? It was beyond comprehension. These sabbatati Christians surely had some strange practices!
“Which young man was unlucky enough to catch your eye?” teased Landwulf, walking through the door.
Frida squealed. “You nasty beast! You were eavesdropping!”
“No, I wasn’t,” he said innocently but he couldn’t keep the smirk off his face.
Frida rolled her eyes. “Brothers!” she exclaimed. “You could at least be polite when we have guests!”
Landwulf looked at Kaarina and a blush spread across his face. He rubbed his short, fair beard with a large, work-roughened hand. His blue eyes met hers then quickly dropped away. “I apologize,” he murmured, then brightened. “My sister is so much fun to tease,” he said. “She always reacts.”
Eira burst out laughing. “You will forever be in trouble, Landwulf,” she said. “It follows you around like a pet dog.”
Frida and Sigrid laughed too.
“You will never find a wife who would put up with you,” Sigrid said.
Landwulf threw his hands up in the air. “I cannot argue with so many girls,” he said. “Four is too many!” He turned and left the room but they could hear him whistling as he went outside.
Kaarina thought he was the most handsome and interesting young man she’d ever seen.
“Kaarina!” Emiline called.
“I’m here with the twins,” Kaarina called back. They had been playing a game of stacking little wooden blocks on top of one another.
“I’m finished now,” Emiline said, wiping her hands as she entered the room. She’d been making cheese. “The storm has passed now and that means that there will be kelp washed up on the beach. Can you take a basket and get as much as you can while it is light?”
“As you wish,” Kaarina replied, but inside, she was afraid of the water. It seemed to have a life of its own as the waves rushed onto the sand. How did they know where to stop? Was there a risk that they would rise up and carry her away?
But Emiline had asked and so she would go; she would do her best to stay away from the water’s edge.
She walked purposefully down to the shore, bundled up tightly against the cold. It felt strange to walk on the snowy sand; nothing like the feeling of solid ground. She walked gingerly, feeling as if it would collapse under her weight. Her eyes darted here and there as she searched for kelp; Emiline had said it was brown and shiny.
It wasn’t long before she spotted what she thought was kelp. There was just one problem: it was right near the water’s edge. Fear clutched at her heart as she realized that she would have to go close to the water to get it. The waves gobbled up the beach before retreating and she pictured them sucking her out to sea, where she would certainly drown or get eaten by a sea monster. She stood frozen to the spot, unable to move.
“Hello, Kaarina,” said a voice behind her.
She screamed and dropped the basket she was
