The United States of Vinland: The Landing (The Markland Trilogy) by Colin Taber Page B

priests!”
    Eskil’s
eyes blazed at the comparison, but he withheld his anger. “That will do for
now. Go.”
    “I
will take the raft and the sheep.”
    “We
will trade the raft for one of your sheep.”
    “They
are my sheep and you will not have any of them!”
    “If
you want our raft, and half your people are staying behind in Godsland, then
this is the way it will be. I will even let you take your father’s axe.”
    Thoromr
cursed, “The sheep are mine, and not yours to take!”
    “As
the raft is ours. I think your own men would argue for some portion of
ownership of the sheep. If they wish to stay here with us, as they are welcomed
to do, that means two of the thralls will remain as well. Alfvin and Ari cannot
come empty handed to our hall.”
    “That
is a quarrel for you to have with them, if indeed they are not coming with me.”
    Eskil
lost some of his calm as the exchange continued. “You will not leave here without
our blessing–unless you mean to swim the frigid waters of the fjord. I offer
you the raft as the means to go in peace and to even take a sheep, but you will
return my token by leaving the other animal, as you will also be leaving behind
a great many mouths to feed.”
    Alfvin
spoke up, “It is a fair trade and a kind enough offer after the hard words
Thrainn and you have used in soiling this hall.”
    Thoromr
sneered. “And who are you to judge such a thing?”
    “A
man once of Lakeland, now welcomed into Godsland, with his thrall and sheep.
You shall not take that away from me.”
    Ari
also spoke, “Look about you, Thoromr. Look at all they have built and done! The
tales they tell; of landing as the storm died about them to reveal a world of
green touched by golden light at the foot of a runestone!”
    “It
is merely a tale!”
    “This
is where we should be, working together so all survive. Why do you not see?”
    “I
will have none of it. If it is so important to you, I will trade a sheep only
so I can journey from here.”
    Eskil
relaxed. “Good.”
    Torrador
supported him. “A fair trade.”
    “Then
carry it for me.” And he made for the door, dragging his woman behind.
    From
there he stopped and turned, looking to the raven banner hanging on the wall.
With a sneer, he hissed, “This hall of ravens may have slaughtered a wolf, but
I shall build up a hall across the water that will house nothing but wolves fed
on fury, who shall one day return to repay you and your sour hospitality.”
    Eskil
shook his head. “Go, Thoromr, return to your hall with no more bitter words.”
    It
was dusk when they left – Thoromr and Trion, with Thrainn’s body, two thralls
and a lone sheep. Few words were spoken as they poled off into the deepening
night. The only sound to come back across the water was that of harsh laughter
as the two Norsemen exchanged a joke of ill temper.

Part III
    -
    The Rift

Chapter 8
    -
    Spring
    The
last of the snows melted, revealing the land springing into green life. While
the thaw might have come and gone, the bitterness of the opening disagreement
between ravens and wolves lingered. The Godsland Norse tried to put the sour
events behind them, setting themselves to work, but Eskil feared the quarrel
would haunt them for a long time to come.
    The
skraeling women responded well to a gentler hall. The first tentative bonds of
trust grew as they worked alongside Gudrid and Halla, reinforced by softer
dealings with their men, Alfvin and Ari. The two former Lakelanders seemed
relieved they were free of Thrainn and his bloodstained hall.
    While
Ari and Alfvin initially spoke little of life with Thrainn, Thoromr and Trion,
they were more than full partners in their labours as they worked to ensure a
place in the Godsland hall. One of the first things they did outside their
daily chores of fishing and gathering firewood was help Torrador and Steinarr
build a small boat. They fashioned the craft out of salvaged timber planks to
replace the raft traded to Thoromr as part of