“In the future, I might,” Erik answered. “I decided I would learn to be a good merchant here in this land first. Travel to foreign lands is costly and dangerous and I would want to be certain it was worthwhile before I set out.”
“Of course. I would do the same thing,” Einar replied.
Erik yawned and stretched. “I am weary,” he said. “I think I will retire to my bed. In the morning, I shall go to see Torsten and Frida. I was here for such a short visit last time that I did not get to see them.”
“Erik!” Torsten exclaimed. “What brings you to my farm?” He dropped the hoe he was using and hurried over to greet Erik. The two had grown up together in Myrkvior Fjall and were like brothers.
“I have not seen you for a long time,” Erik replied. “I am here for a few days before my next journey so I decided I would find you.”
“Well, it is good to see you,” said Torsten. “Have you spoken with Einar? He will be here later today, working on his house.”
“Yes, I arrived last night and we spoke before I went to bed. I am always glad to return home.”
“Soon it will be your home,” Torsten said with a grin.
“Yes, soon I will buy it from Einar and it will be mine. It will be an easy matter to take a wife if I have a home for her to live in.”
“Einar’s wedding is not far away,” Torsten said. “Then you will be the last one of us that has no wife. Have you been seeking one?”
“I have not,” Erik replied. “My focus has been on building up my trade. But lately, the thought has been on my mind.”
“There will be many children born over the next few years and yours should be among them.”
Erik looked serious. “It is an important matter,” he said. “I am doing well with my trading now and once I own a house, there is no reason why I cannot support a wife and pay the bride-price. I will give the matter some consideration.”
“Where will you seek a wife?”
“I know not. But perhaps I will find an eligible girl who is still available when I am on my journeys.”
Torsten rolled his eyes. “The rich men snap them up far too quickly,” he said. “I am fortunate that the Christians do not follow the same practices or Frida would have been betrothed long before I arrived here.”
“How is it working out? You are a follower of the old ways and Frida is a Christian. There are big differences.”
“It is working well,” Torsten replied with a smile. “Frida would not agree to marry me unless I promised that she would be free to practice her faith as she chooses. I even worship with her sometimes. She likes that and I do not mind.”
“You are fortunate it has worked well,” Erik said. “I will keep my mind open to the possibilities. A Christian wife might be one of them.”
“It is a pity that our parents died in the raid on Myrkvior Fjall,” Torsten said. “They would enjoy seeing grandchildren now.”
The mention of their former village triggered a memory in Erik’s mind. “I saw Taft on my last trading journey,” he said.
Torsten stood up straight and looked fierce. “I hope he was suffering for killing so many from our village,” he muttered.
“No, he was alive and well. I did not have the opportunity to accost him. It was at a marketplace and he disappeared among the crowd before I got near him.”
“He deserves to pay for what he did,” growled Torsten. “He is a murderer and should not get away with it.”
“He disappeared and we were too busy trying to survive to seek vengeance,” Erik remembered. “But now, if I should happen to see him again, I would try to bring him to justice.”
“It needs to go before the Thing so that we are not accused of murder,” Torsten said. “Even though it would be tempting to take revenge before he could escape.”
“You are right,” muttered Erik. “I will do my best if I see him again.”
“Where was he?”
“He was in jarl Jerrik’s lands.”
“Jarl Jerrik would be sympathetic to our cause,” Torsten said. “He is married to Halvar’s sister, after all. And he knows what Taft did to our village; Halvar has visited them and told him. But he probably does not know that Taft is in his lands.”
“I will go there again on my trading journeys,” Erik said. “I will make it my business to find the jarl and ask him to get his men to keep watch for Taft. We were friends in our youth.”
“He is a just man and a good ruler,” Torsten replied. “I am certain he will hear your request.”
“I have been taking some of my longer journeys by boat,” Erik said. “It is faster and easier than travelling by land. It means that I can visit many of the faraway marketplaces and buy lots of new goods to sell during the year.”
“That is a good idea,” Torsten replied. “Travel by land is often difficult and slow.”
“I am planning to go to the markets at Fram Hváll soon but I will be taking my wagon. Jerrik’s lands are not far beyond its borders. I will simply extend my journey to go and see him.”
“I am certain you will not be disappointed. He is a good man; he will listen to what you have to say.”
“Taft must be brought to justice. The blood of our people is crying out for us to take action.”
“You are right. But be careful; he is likely to have men with him.”
“I will,” Erik
