“I have need of your assistance tomorrow,” Sigurd said, his voice surprising Jarl as he arrived at the cabin. Never once during the long winter had he ever found Sigurd at home during the day. “She is ready to launch. I had thought to try to do it myself, but today I could hear Leila’s words as clearly as if she’d been standing next to me. ‘Don’t be such a stubborn oaf,’ she said, and I suppose she’s right. Be here at dawn.”
“I will,” Jarl said, barely able to control his excitement.
Sigurd nodded and walked inside the cabin, closing the door behind him.
“I have never seen anything like this,” Jarl murmured as he turned to Sigurd in wonder. “The bear, the bull.” He turned back to the ship and his fingers traced over the symbols.
Sigurd watched him closely as Jarl continued to examine the scales. He was close to the lovers now. They were right in front of him, over the heart of the dragon as Leila had wanted, but Jarl continued past them, noting the details of all the others—the eagle, the fox, the horse. It was as if the lovers were invisible to him.
Sigurd smiled. Leila had been right. Jarl was not yet ready to see it. But he would in time. Of that Sigurd was certain; Leila would see to it. When she put her mind to something, no man would be able to resist her for long. “She is The Treasure Huntress,” he said.
Jarl nodded. “She’s perfect, as is her name. I’m only sorry Leila could not see it.”
“She saw the most important parts, and I will describe the last to her when I see her again in Valhalla.” He noted Jarl’s doubtful gaze. “She is in Valhalla,” Sigurd said with conviction. “You knew her only as gentle and weak, but when she was younger, she was fierce—a shield-maiden with no equal. Many an opponent fell to her blade.” He smiled seeing the memory. “Men were afraid of her, but to me, she was the most perfect woman the gods had ever created. I thought to have no chance with her, of course. I was a decent fighter, but not a great one. My skill lay, well...,” he glanced at the ship, “in other forms. But the gods must have taken pity on me, or maybe they knew that by giving me a woman so far beyond my reach that I would cherish her with the proper honor she deserved. That is the only reason I can possibly think of that an average man like me was chosen by a warrior goddess like her. And she was a warrior. Even in the end, she fought as no other could.”
Sigurd shook his head. “But I digress. Building this ship made her last days—our last days so much better, and I thank you for that. She thanked you for that. You gave us something far more valuable than your coin, so you owe nothing further. Leila wanted you to...” He paused as he searched for words. “She wanted you to get more than you bargained for,” Sigurd finished with a strange enigmatic smile.
“Even at the original sum, I will have already received that. This ship is easily worth ten times what we agreed,” Jarl protested. “I do not wish to start off with bad luck from a cheated purchase.”
“It is I who have changed the sum so there is no cheating, and it will not be without cost to you. There is an additional stipulation. When you lose the desire to seek further riches, you must gift the ship to someone else. Someone worthy of her. She cannot sit idle and forgotten at a dock, nor can she ever be sold. She must forever serve a captain who is driven to hunt for true enrichment—in whatever form that takes for him.” He smiled the strange smile again. “This edict must be passed down to each captain who follows you. You must swear to it, as must they. It is not negotiable.”
“I swear. But I would swear it, and still pay you the agreed upon sum.”
Sigurd shook his head. “It is what Leila wanted.”
Jarl nodded. “Very well, but know that it is only under protest that I accept.” Jarl paused, his eyes drawn back to the ship’s sleek lines. “What will you do now? Begin another? I must say when people see her, they will flock to your doorstep.”
“I will never build another ship.”
“You say that now, but when you are over...”
“Jarl, a man hones his craft during his lifetime. Every ship I have ever built was an improvement on the last.” He looked at The Treasure Huntress. “I could never build another ship even close to her equal—much less improve upon her. When you realize you have reached your zenith, it is time to quit. There will be no satisfaction and no joy in building something inferior. And The Huntress....” His voice trailed away momentarily. “With Leila, I built something that exceeded my wildest fantasy. Anything else would be a disappointment. I have hung up my tools for good, and there they will stay.”
Jarl wanted to argue—to point out that even what Sigurd considered to be his inferior boats were far superior to any others. It was why he had come—why he had refused to take no for an answer. But he could see in Sigurd’s eyes there would be no point. His decision was made. Perhaps when his grief had passed, he might change his mind.
“Others will still come...as I did.”
Sigurd shrugged. “They will be turned away. Leila was the only reason I accepted your offer. She is gone now, and the next will not be met with such favor or kindness. You can tell that to any man who asks you. They will not be welcome here.”
“As you wish. But I fear they will not believe me. They will think I am only trying to
