CHAPTER 11
“Heill, friend!” Halvar greeted Erik. He stopped the oxen as they neared the edge of his farm with a log he’d felled in the forest. “What brings you to my farm?”
“I am going on another journey soon,” Erik replied. “I wished to inform you of a matter that arose on my last big journey.”
“What is that?”
“I found Taft.”
Halvar’s eyes grew wide. “Taft? Did you take him?”
“No. I had no need. He is crippled and unable to fight or defend himself.”
“You mean, you let him go free?”
“Not entirely. I bought a slave from his wife so I did not see Taft himself. But I know where he lives.”
“This is a strange tale you tell,” muttered Halvar. “You had better tell me all of it.”
Erik told him about seeing Tara at the markets and how Taft had outbid him to buy her. When he related how he had found out where Taft’s farm was located, Halvar grinned.
“That was clever thinking,” he said. “Enticing the woman with some trinkets was a good idea.”
“So I ended up buying three slaves instead of one,” Erik admitted. “And we brought a forest cat back with us also.”
Halvar burst out laughing. “You were tricked, my friend,” he chuckled. “This woman must be very special to convince you to buy her friends and her cat!”
Erik decided not to mention that he’d set them free as well. “She is,” he said.
“Why do you not take her for a concubine?” asked Halvar.
“Because I wanted to set her free,” explained Erik. “She would not be free if I took her as a concubine.”
“So you have lost your money. You gain nothing from this arrangement.”
“It is a satisfying arrangement for me,” Erik replied. “I am happy that I was able to give her the gift of freedom.”
“Where is this woman you set free? Has she disappeared, never to be seen again?”
“No, she is lodging with Leopolda. I am sure you will meet her sooner or later.”
“Why do you not take her for a wife?”
“Perhaps in time, I will. But I wish for her to choose me as I choose her. You know what that is like. You chose Eira and she chose you. It works well for you.”
“It is true. But she will not choose you unless you make it clear that you are available to be chosen.”
“I will tell her,” Erik said. “But I will give her the freedom to say yes or no.” He kicked a clod of dirt with his boot. “But I did not come here to discuss my wife or the lack of one.”
“Why did you come?”
“To tell you about Taft. And to tell you that I stopped in and saw Jerrik on my way back with the woman and the other slaves.”
“What did he say?” Halvar asked eagerly. “And what of Freja and the children?”
“They are well and send their greetings. And I told Jerrik about Taft. He said he would send some of his men to visit Taft. Perhaps there might be justice for the destruction of our village and our people, after all.”
Halvar looked sad. “I wished to pursue justice,” he said. “But the needs of the present were more important than chasing shadows. Taft could not be found.”
“Well, perhaps Jerrik will be able to do something about it. Taft was still very unwell when I left. It is a miracle he is still alive; the slaves said his injuries were severe and he spent many months between life and death.”
“I am glad that you found him,” Halvar said.
“Jerrik said he would send word if Taft was in a fit condition to go before the Thing,” Erik replied. “It is possible that he will not be able to attend. For all I know, he might have died since we left there.”
“How did you manage to buy his slaves?”
“His wife had no idea who I am and she was glad to be rid of Tara. Taft bought her as a bed-slave and his wife was unhappy about it. And because of Taft’s injuries, their farm has not been as productive this season so Gunilla was happy to have fewer mouths to feed during the winter months.”
“You are a wily and resourceful man,” Halvar said admiringly. “It gives me pleasure to think that you have taken Taft’s slaves from beneath his nose.”
Erik grinned. “It was not only because Tara is a beautiful woman that I wanted to set her free,” he said. “It gave me great satisfaction to take her from Taft.”
“You have done well. I will wait in hope that Jerrik sends word.”
“Come in, young man,” Leopolda greeted Erik as she opened the door. “I am guessing that you are here to see Tara.”
“I am,” he replied. “It is good to see you again, Leopolda. I hope you have been enjoying good health.”
“Oh, I have,” she assured him. “It has been wonderful having Tara and Kappi here for company. It does my old heart good.”
“I am glad,” Erik replied. “I hoped it would work out well for you.”
“It has,” Leopolda said. “But I am guessing that one day, you will take her away to be your wife.”
“Only if she will have me,” Erik replied. “I wish to give her the freedom to choose.”
“She likes you,” Leopolda said. “She was wondering the other day why she hadn’t seen you lately.”
“I went on a short journey down the coast to collect some goods from my customers,” Erik explained.
“Well, she is outside working in the kitchen garden,” Leopolda
