Jarl Sigtrin’s ship glided along the water at an unfathomable speed, as it rode a perpetual wave and constant wind generated by Gereld and Orn. They arrived at the Fludavera dock before the sun set the day after they had left. Erik had her arm around Selti, who was suffering a little from the strain of frequent travel.
They made their way directly to the palace. When they arrived at the steps to the palace proper, Viggin was waiting anxiously for them on the steps. The normally reserved grand duke dismissed his servants as the carriage arrived and opted to greet them himself. He led them all into the palace, expressing his relief and gratitude that they had completed their monumental task so efficiently.
Once they had reached the room where Viggin had first learned of his older sister’s identity, he noticed ‘Brigeeth’ for the first time. “And who is this delightful creature? I have not had the pleasure.”
Venna stepped to Briga and introduced her. “This is…”
Briga dropped her illusion and stood before Viggin in her full divine glory. The prince fell back onto his seat, his eyes wild with shock and his face had drained of all colour. “You… you…” He pointed at her, his mouth opening, but no further words would come to him.
Briga flashed him a warm, gentle smile, took his outstretched hand and lowered it as she chided him. “It is rude to the point, Grand Duke Viggin Uldenson.” She turned her head to look at Venna. “You might as well finish your introduction.” She then moved to stand beside Orn and took his hand in hers.
“Your Grace, I have the pleasure of introducing you to Briga, Goddess of our hearts and Orn’s betrothed.”
Viggin had stopped gaping. However, the shock had redoubled as he regarded Orn, who stood blushing, discomforted by the additional scrutiny. “I think I need a drink. I can think of nothing else that can help flip the world back right side up.”
“Oh, come now, Viggin, it is not such a big issue.”
“But what does that mean for Orn? He is supposed to attend the king, but his marriage…”
“It means he is outside of all that nonsense. Besides, he has other things to attend to. It is kings who will need to attend to him.” She stated this as a matter of fact, not to make anyone feel small.
Briga looked deep into the prince’s eyes. “What we faced in the Nevan capital is far worse than we had feared. From the attack on my beloved’s home, all the way until now, led us to the machinations of demons. This is a peril that goes far beyond the boundaries and hierarchies of man. Erik must come home, but worry not. He will be your heir, attend you and enter your service…” The Goddess cast an affectionate glance toward Selti. “After he is married. I have decided I will officiate and bless their union in the absence of their priest, who now dines in my father’s hall with warriors of the ages. The ceremony will be on the beach near their home in two months. I believe that will be ample time for all those wishing to attend to make their arrangements.”
Vylder cleared his throat before he voiced his tentative objection. “Um, lady Goddess? Isn’t that for we, his parents, to decide and arrange?”
She turned to him and gave him a warm smile. “Do you not want them to be married?”
“Well, I… I never said that, but…”
“So then it is decided.”
Vylder looked at his wife, who shrugged in response. “I’m fine with it. We have a lot of work to do at home, and much to organise. I think it will be a relief to relax a little and focus on our home.”
Viggin had recovered his composure somewhat. “Um, why would you need to do that, won’t you be moving here?”
“Well, yes, but we still want to clean and prepare our home for our long absence. It is still our home, no matter where we live.”
“Ah, well, since you put it that way, allow me to send along some of my guard to help with any labour work that you need.”
“Most kind of you, many thanks.”
Orn placed his hand on the table and looked at Viggin. “We still have the two prisoners to consider. And where is Mswali?”
“Mswali is currently at sea, learning how to sail like a Halderman. Before you say, he asked. He said he wanted to learn. I’m guessing being on our ships aroused a thirst to know about them. Commendable, since he is one of us now. And as far as our Nevan… contemporaries, I will leave their fates up to the people of your parents, as representatives of your village.”
“Well, I don’t want my father taking vengeance. It is empty.” Orn gave his father an apologetic look, as his Vylder avoided his gaze. “I’m sorry, father. Your Grace… uncle, I think the ship’s captain should face trial and sentencing officially at the thing. This other, I think he should serve a term of hard labour and if he survives, then we should press him into service on our ships so he can come to know us, the people he would see as so far beneath him, that he believed he could make us slaves.” As Orn spoke those last words, he looked to Briga, who returned an almost imperceptible nod.
“Sound advice, young Prince Orn. I will give it due consideration.”
“We also have newly appointed Senator Darius with us. I figured since Your Grace and His Grace of Skord were here, a trade treaty between our three peoples could happen.”
“Would you like to take a seat here, Orn?” Viggin stood up as he smirked while patting his chair. Orn blushed and looked at his feet. “I’m only teasing, nephew. That is wonderful, and please, Senator and your lovely wife, Appolina, my apologies for my lax in manners.”
“Not at all, Your Grace.”
“We very happy to here. Graticum, thank you.”
“You are most welcome. Oh, please, ladies, avail yourselves of our steam room and baths. I am certain your time at sea has been very tiring. While my facilities probably won’t compare to the great baths of your homeland, I am certain you won’t be too disappointed.”
At this, Appolina’s smile broadened as her eyes lit up, and she turned to Venna, shooting her a meaningful look. Briga dropped Orn’s hand and joined the ladies as they excused themselves from the room. Brenda and Selti, who had remained quiet, voiced their thanks to Viggin and excused themselves as well.
Viggin smiled while bowing until the ladies had left, and then stood, spreading his arms to address the men in the room. “Now, gentlemen. Let us drink!”
All the men in the room became visibly more relaxed as Viggin called for mead. “After the ladies have finished in the baths, then we shall go avail ourselves of the facilities.”
From that point, the conversation drifted to more personal matters and matters of little to no consequence. The drinks flowed, and the men became noisier. After they had retired to their rooms, Orn stumbled into his and collapsed on the bed. In a drunken haze, he looked around after noticing the bed was empty. He spotted her standing in the corner, arms folded, tapping her foot, a deep scowl on her face. “Really Orn? Are the words ‘no thank you’ not in your vocabulary?”
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“Please Briga, it’s customary.” Orn slurred his words, as they were half-spoken into the pillow.
“I will be going.”
“Where are you going, dear?”
“Oh, don’t you dear me. I am going to stay with Selti. We will discuss this in the morning.” She crossed the floor in a huff as she muttered under her breath. “I mean, really, I am a Goddess, you would think it would not be too much to ask for my man to exercise some restraint when he…” Her voice trailed off as she moved down the hall towards the suite that the Sogards were staying in.
Erik stumbled in, struggling to suppress his laughter. He pressed his finger up to his lips, as he leant against the wall unsteadily. “Sh, we have to be quiet or they’ll all come to tell us off.” He then half sat, half fell onto Orn’s bed, and passed him a tankard. “I brought you a gift.”
Orn looked at the cup, and his face visibly paled. He snatched the tankard, and groggily rolled over slightly and threw it out of the window. “Are you trying to get me into more trouble?”
Erik lost all control, laughing so hard he fell off the bed, his tankard bouncing across the floor, but miraculously after only spilling a couple of drops, landed right side up. This made the older brother laugh even harder. It wasn’t long after that both boys were snoring, Orn on the bed, Erik where he had fallen on the floor.
In the morning, the sun shone through. Orn squinted, straining against the bright light, and the pounding inside his head. Coming into focus was Briga’s smiling face. The smile, however, did not reach her eyes. Although he was struggling against the exaggerated brightness of the room, he could tell her smile displayed anything but happiness to see him. “Please, Briga, can we do this later?”
With a volume that was louder than necessary, she spoke directly into his ear. “Oh no, we will be busy later. We need to do this now.”
“Ugh, too loud!” He reached over and pinched her on the thigh.
She jumped up and yelped in surprise and then looked at him with indigence. “What are you doing?”
“If I can get some tears, we can have the talk. But I can’t when I feel like this.”
“Well, you should have thought of that before engaging in a night of carousing.”
“You’re beautiful when you’re angry.” He levelled his most charming smile at her.
She tried to maintain her scowl, but the corners of her mouth were twitching. She picked up a pillow and launched it at his head, which he didn’t bother trying to block. “Idiot.”
“Please, Bree, my head hurts.”
“Yes, I am aware. Come, get some breakfast, but you’ll get none of this.” She pointed to her eye. “You can suffer, because you did this to yourself.” She lifted her nose in the air and stomped out of the room. Once she had left the room, Orn sat up and grabbed his head. When he stood up, he felt as though the room was spinning, but he kept his feet. As he passed his brother, he nudged him with his foot.
Erik responded with a long, loud, cheery flatulate. The sound roused him slightly, causing him to mumble into his arm. “Huh? Mm, yes please, another slice would be good.” He further mumbled something incoherent, smacked his lips and went back to snoring. Orn rolled his eyes and left the room to see what he could have for breakfast. As he walked along the hall, he felt his stomach heave slightly. Leaning against the wall, he took some deep breaths to settle it down and continued to the dining hall.
The atmosphere in the dining hall was half lively, half subdued, with the men sporting injured, sheepish looks, while the women looked upon them haughtily as they continued to have, what seemed to be, purposefully loud conversations among themselves. Orn winced as he entered and took a seat next to his father, who, unlike the other men, seemed no worse for wear.
The discussions revolved mostly around what everybody would do when they arrived home, what dresses they would wear for the upcoming wedding, and how to decorate the area to make it wonderful, all the while casting reproachful glances at their menfolk, which on the whole, were not entirely undeserved. Once Orn had finished his breakfast, he gathered up some food for Erik and stopped to kiss Briga on the head as he passed. She gave him a sardonic smile, wordlessly telling him she loved him, but was still mad.
As they gathered in the throne room to make their farewells, Briga turned to Orn. “I will rejoin you on your way back to Sofjorland.” She kissed him, and then gathered Darius and Appolina, taking them directly to their home through a side door.
Erik, who had finally arisen, touched Orn’s shoulder. “Do you think she could just take us like that?”
“It will only take us a day and a half by boat, Erik. Besides, there are some things she has to do in Raugus.”
“All right, all right. Don’t get your trousers in a knot. It was just a thought.”
“Wow, that’s three in a week, Erik. That’s got to be a record.”
Erik turned to thump his brother, only for the pair of them to be separated by a pair of large, meaty hands. “That’s enough, boys. I mean, for heaven’s sake, in front of His Grace? Really?” Vylder moved between them and addressed Viggin. “That reminds me. Can you send Mswali to our home?”
Orn affected a bemused smile. “How did breaking us up remind you of that?”
“Shut up, if you know what’s good for you.” Vylder threw him a surly look, but there was no actual heat behind it, as both father and son suppressed smirks.
“I shall tell him as soon as he returns.”
“Thank you, Your Grace.”
ᚲᚺᚱᛟᚾᛁᚲᛚᛖᛊᚱᛁᚾᚾ×ᛟᚱ×ᛟᚱᚾ
The office of the praetor in the city of Raugus opened for a special session. Darius sat at his desk. His son-in-law, Fronus, stood to one side, learning all he could about governing a city and handling legal matters. Without looking up, Darius scribbled a note on a piece of parchment and said, “Bring in the prisoner.”
The town watch member brought the dishevelled man to stand before the praetor. After scribbling a few more notes, Darius finally raised his eyes to look upon Flavius. He glared at the man for a few moments until he achieved the desired result. Flavius began squirming under the scrutiny and gave a wan smile. “Your Honour, please. What is this about? I am an innocent man, a legitimate businessman. Why am I detained?”
“Innocent? Maybe. We shall have the quick of it. You ask why we detained you. No doubt the detaining watchmen would have informed you of the charges, so I find it difficult to believe that you don’t know why you stand before me. Not an auspicious start to these proceedings, to begin with a blatant lie.”
“B-but, your honour…”
Darius held a hand up. “I have all the evidence I need to have you executed and strung up in the square for all to see, for the charges. Proven charges, I might add, that are levelled at you. Your dealings elevate your charges, considering what was involved, to be on par with treasonous dealings. You not only purchased men captured illegally from a nation, we have a treaty with that expressly forbids any incursions into their territory. Your ‘legitimate business’ resulted in the deaths of two of those captives. These activities put us on the brink of a potentially ruinous war with a group of nations who have total dominion over the waves. I believe the war would have ended in stalemate, but at what cost? Now surely, you must see the depth of the mess you find yourself in.”
“I was not responsible for those deaths. I wasn’t even here!”
“Regardless, you held those men captive, and so you are ultimately responsible. Now you have a reprieve. You will not be executed. I will sentence you to one of two options. Flavius Dasilla, you will be taken from this place and put to work on the roads of the empire, where you will remain in bondage for ten years. Or you will be taken from this place and enrolled in the legions for ten years. The choice is yours. Be grateful that you are not to be executed. What is your choice?”
After thinking about it for several moments, Flavius' shoulders finally slumped and he mumbled, “Legions”
“Good. Flavius Dasilla, you are still a relatively young man, and what you have received, despite how you feel about it now, is a gift. A second chance to remake your life. Watchmen, remove him from my sight.”
ᚲᚺᚱᛟᚾᛁᚲᛚᛖᛊᚱᛁᚾᚾ×ᛟᚱ×ᛟᚱᚾ
It was late morning some three days later when Briga, the Avdlaks and Sogards finally found themselves on the path that ran along the fence line of Mr Hagen’s property. He was over by his house, tilling the soil for his wife’s vegetable garden. He looked up and saw them and waved them over. His wife, a plump lady in a light orange dress with flaxen hair, came out to join him. She was in her late forties, with visible greying of her hair. Her face lit up when she saw the two families.
“Oh, it is so good to see you! It’s been too long.” Mrs Hagen stepped around to stand by her husband. “We thought you had left for good. We have been taking turns keeping an eye on your places. They are pretty much just as you left them.”
Venna climbed down from her horse and hugged the lady. “Thank you so much. How can we ever repay you?”
Mr Hagen waved the question away. “Doh, don’t you worry about that. After all that you did that day, it's the least we could do. Oh, please take these. I just picked them from the garden. I can pick some more.” He handed them a bunch of different vegetables.
“No, Derrik, don’t be a duffer. Brenda, Ven dear, come join us for dinner. After all that travelling, I am sure you could do without worrying about cooking. So, come by this afternoon.”
Venna felt delighted as she hugged the woman once more, nodding. “Thank you, we will come.” She mounted her horse, and the family rode on. They were finally together again and finally home.