Read Online Norse Valor by Constantine De Bohon - Free Book Online

was scowling.
    “Don’t tell me you can eat this,” she demanded. “I almost
broke my tooth on it.”
    “Give it to me, Auga.” Vakr took the odd object and handed
it to Svana. “What is this thing? When it was given to us, I thought it a small
ball for children to play with. It appears to be darkening.”
    Svana giggled. “It’s a black walnut. You need to smash the
husk for the nut inside.”
    “A nut?”
    “Yes, Vakr, a nut. It tastes very good. But the husk is full
of black die. It stains. If we grind down the nut inside we can add it to the
cornmeal and pemmican and it will be very nutritious. It would appear by your saving
one Native girl, her people have saved an entire village.”
    “I am fearful there will be no hope for my little Joka,”
Baldr said sadly.
    “Who is Joka, Vakr? And what is Baldr saying?” Svana asked.
    “He fears for his youngest daughter. His mother says she
can’t keep the gruel down,” Vakr explained.
    “Gee, I wonder why, blah,” David mumbled.
    Vakr hadn’t noticed him before. David was standing near Ing
and Baldr. Baldr scowled at him and David gave him a brilliant smile. Vakr
would have to make sure the men became friends otherwise there would be too
much fighting. They would need to learn to hunt together. That meant they would
need to learn to trust one another.
    “Tell Baldr I’ll heat some of the pemmican. It’s
concentrated for high energy. If it’s only malnutrition the child suffers from,
this should help,” Svana said.
    Vakr relayed her message. Baldr looked relieved. Then upset.
“My wife needs to know how to cook this.”
    “I’ll teach her. It can be eaten in the small round cakes
it’s in but perhaps it would be best warmed in this cold,” Svana said.
    Vakr translated.
    “And what is it you want in return?” Baldr asked uneasily.
    “No more fighting with my brother. Also I want help with
your language,” Svana said.
    Vakr chuckled while he explained her demands. Baldr looked
over at David. David looked back with a grimace.
    “If he hugs me, I’ll kick his leg again,” David grouched.
    “What of the rest of the load?” Ing asked. “There are other
things in baskets we have no knowledge of.”
    “I took Svana for a tour. She seemed to know everything down
there. I’m certain she will know of their uses,” Vakr said. “She also knew the
strange spices we were given.”
    “Spices?” Ing asked.
    “Yes it would appear the odd grass isn’t odd grass,” Vakr
said.
    “Are you done with your little meeting?” David complained.
“My nipples are so damned cold I feel like I could be used in a beer
commercial.”
    Vakr’s eyes rose and Svana smiled. Vakr had no idea what a
commercial was, but he could see Svana shivering.
    “Bring your porridge pots to my home and Svana will show you
how to make dinner for your families. Tonight no one goes to bed hungry!” Vakr
yelled.
    Cheers resounded all around him.
    “Tomorrow we will plan a hunt. With your warriors returned,
I promise you not one more of our people will starve.”
    Again cheers sounded. It appeared he had redeemed himself.
Smiling with renewed hope, Vakr jumped to the ground and assisted Svana. For a
moment, he held her in his arms. He grinned down into her upturned face until
he noted her wet eyes. Svana was glancing around at the people as they
dispersed. Perhaps sixty in all, a few more or less. She absently fingered the
material of the leather outfit she now wore. The dress she wore on his vessel
had been beautiful, but far from practical in the biting cold. She had thanked Ari
for its use and given it back to him for his wife. Now Ari had no wife and Vakr
could see her eyes following his friend as he took his son inside. For a
fleeting moment, Svana’s eyes fled to each individual hut. Tendrils of smoke
flittered about. Svana shivered and the corners of her lips tugged downward.
She was decidedly frightened of something. Vakr was concerned.
    “Svana?”
    “Where am I?” she