Orn and Briga emerged in the dining room of Jarl Sigtrin’s keep. All eyes turned to the pair, as their conversations tapered off.

  Venna’s eyes flashed as she half raised, only to be stopped by Vylder’s rough but gentle hand on her arm.

  “How was Brudermen, son?” asked Vylder mildly.

  “It was fine,” replied Orn.

  Briga snorted and gave a bemused, sideways glance at Orn as she shook her head.

  Venna’s eyebrows raised in a silent statement that expected elaboration.

  Briga sighed, as Orn looked at her with a slight pleading expression which she promptly ignored.

  “He led the king’s forces to recapture the capital, and instead of doing what I expected; make a plan and lead from safety, he lead the charge and got himself crushed by a Kula berserk in full transformation.” She quickly held her hands up as she explained, “He is all right, as you can see, and I can assure you, whatever you are thinking, I have already told him at great length.”

  Venna gave Briga a penetrating look as she asked, “Why didn’t you wake us? Why didn’t you bring us as well? Or at least take Vylder with you-”

  “Dear, the boy is becoming a man. We will always support him and be proud, but he needs to learn lessons on his own.” Vylder interrupted her burgeoning tirade.

  “At the expense of his life?” she asked Vylder, as she scowled at him. She turned to Orn and said, “I thought we agreed that you wouldn’t go off on your own and be heroic, taking stupid risks!”

  Vylder tried to interject, “Sweetie-”

  “No! No. You listen to me, boy. You have no idea how truly unique and important you are. You are still mine until you turn sixteen, and you will hear me. You do nothing, and I mean nothing, unless you talk to your father and I first. Do you understand me?”

  Erik looked away with a grimace as he signalled to Selti that it would be wise to leave.

  “You stay right where you are Erik,” said Venna, without taking her eyes off Orn. Her gaze then moved on to Briga. “And as for you, young lady, you and I are going to have a long talk about what it means to be a part of this family, understood?”

  Briga stood there gaping as though she had just been slapped. Her face flushed and she began glowing, as she trembled. She then surprised everyone except Venna. She buried her face in her hands and began sobbing.

  Orn cast a reproachful look at his mother as he tried to place a consoling arm around Briga, who shrugged it off as she fled.

  “Mother, that was-”

  “That was what, Orn?” Venna asked with a raised brow. “Go on. Finish that statement,” she dared him.

  Orn stared at her for several moments before he turned and went after Briga.

  “You get back here now!” Venna shouted after him.

  She made to follow, but this time, Vylder forced her back down into her seat. As he gave her a stern look.

  Venna looked at him, her face red, and pinched into a severe scowl.

  “Of course you are right, Venna, but now was neither the time, nor the place. You embarrassed them. That was a conversation better held privately. I’ll go talk to them, you will stay here.”

  “I will talk to them.”

  “No,” Vylder said with uncharacteristic sternness. “You will stay, I will go.”

  Venna made as though to retort, but seeing her husband’s resolute face, she held her tongue, and nodded as she looked down.

  Vylder wiped his hands with a napkin and placed it on the table, stood and left the room.

  Sigtrin, Brenda, and Selti made their excuses and filed out after him, while Erik moved to the chair that Vylder had vacated. Without a word, he placed his arms around Venna. She tried to pull away, but he gripped her tighter. She struggled initially, and then realising it was futile, she broke down, weeping into his shoulder.

  Orn returned to his room, and found Briga, face down on his bed sobbing. He sat down next to her, and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.

  “Are you all right?” he asked in a soft voice.

  “She hates me now,” she wailed into his pillow.

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  “She doesn’t. My mother get’s angry when she’s afraid, and we made her very afraid, that’s all. She loves you. If she didn’t love you, she wouldn’t be this upset.”

  There was a light rap on the door, before it opened with Vylder peering in. He entered and sat down near the foot of the bed. He looked at Orn with a neutral expression for several moments and then he finally said, “You two hurt your mother deeply. She is a strong, brave, smart, and capable woman, but she does not know how to deal with this kind of pain.”

  “I know, but we needed to-”

  “I’m not finished, Orn. Now I know there are things happening in the world that are greater than us, but please, you need to let us know what is happening before you go. We are your parents, and we deserve that much.”

  Briga had settled somewhat and sat up facing them. She sniffed and wiped the tears from her face with the back of her hand. She didn’t look Vylder in the eyes as she said in a shaky voice, “I’m sorry.”

  Vylder wrapped her up in his huge arms and held her. “It’s all right. You are impulsive, and act before you fully think through consequences. The fact you went off without telling her is what upset her the most. Not to mention Orn’s recklessness nearly getting him killed again. It worked out this time, but it very well may not have.”

  Vylder let her go and gently lifted her chin so she would meet his gaze with her sad eyes, and said to her, “We love you Briga, that will never change. I’ll let you two compose yourselves, and I will talk to your mother, then I will send her to talk with you, all right?”

  After a half hour or so, Venna entered the room with her head bowed, and sat down on the bed, without looking up. In a subdued voice, she asked, “Can you please give us a moment, son?”

  Orn nodded and left the room, and went back to the dining room to get something to eat.

  After Svein Sogard’s ship arrived mid-week, Sigtrin and Brenda held their wedding. At their requests, they had a simple ceremony with a small group of family and friends. The rest of the week passed by uneventfully as members of the royal family and other dignitaries arrived. Venna and Briga had fully reconciled as they threw themselves into preparing for the coming wedding.

  Towards the end of the week, Marius’ ship arrived. Jarl Sigtrin and his new family, the Sogards, the Avdlaks, and the royal family waited on the docks for their arrival.

  When Darius stepped off the gangplank with his wife, Appolina, Venna raced up to them and wrapped her in a tight embrace, as Vylder, with a little more restraint gripped Darius’ forearm in the fashion of warriors.

  Appolina’s face streamed with tears of joy as she hugged her friend. “We have missed you much, dear Venna. It has been too long.”

  “I missed you too.”

  Following Darius and his wife came Marius and his wife. He was welcomed by all. He sought out Vylder and Venna and said, “It is good to see you doing well. You remember my wife, Nadia.”

  “Ban Gadgia, um, hello,” the lady said haltingly.

  “Welcome,” said Viggin.

  Marius, was swept away by the men of the royal family, leaving Nadia standing awkwardly by herself.

  Thayn’s buxom blonde wife, Duchess Ilsa, surrounded by her three girls approached the Nevan woman and in flawless Nevan, said, “Welcome, Nadia. Come, meet my daughters. This is Ferdi, my eldest…”

  “Hello,” said the nine year old Ferdi as she curtsied.

  “This is Vanja…”

  “Hello Miss Nadia,” said the seven year old.

  Ilsa then picked up the little one who recently turned five. “And this little terror is Heidris.”

  “Mama, she’s pretty. I like her nose.”

  Nadia tilted her head, a curious expression crossed her features as she looked from the little girl’s face to Ilsa’s.

  Ilsa translated, which caused Nadia to laugh delightedly. “Would you like to swap? I have always wanted a cuter nose,” said Nadia through Ilsa.

  “No!” exclaimed Heidris emphatically as she giggled. “Noses don’t come off. That’s silly.”

  Nadia beamed as she replied, “What a smart girl you are.”

  The other women surrounded Nadia and herded her to the awaiting carriages, as they engaged her in conversation.

  Orn and Erik followed with Vylder and Darius.

  The night before the wedding Erik was pacing around the main hall of Sigtrin’s keep.

  “Nervous?” asked Thayn.

  Erik replied, “No, I just want to get it over with. Why do we have to make all this fuss about it?”

  “Son, getting married is for both of you, but the wedding is for the woman. It is mostly her day, so she can know that you value her, and to demonstrate that she will be cherished. You are about to merge your lives into one life, like two seeds planted together. You will grow together, and as the tree of your love matures, you will bare fruit that will hopefully leave your tree to make trees of their own. This is the life, son,” said Vylder.

  “Wow,” said Thayn.

  “That was surprisingly deep and philosophical. That’s a side I never knew you had. Well you never had that side while you were mercilessly showing how inadequate of a combatant I am,” said Viggin with a wry smile tinged with surprise and admiration.

  “Well, with age comes wisdom, Viggin. You’ll get there someday,” quipped Vylder.

  The rest of the men chuckled.

  “What is this drink called again?” asked Marius.

  “It’s mead. We make it by fermenting honey,” answered Thayn.

  “We should consider trading our wines for this. I can see this being popular,” said Marius.

  The Uldensons groaned collectively.

  “No shop talk. We’re here for the wedding,” said Ulden.

  Erik looked at his grandfather, who looked back at him. With his eyes he conveyed silently his condolences to the king.

  Ulden’s eye became glassy momentarily as he smiled, tilted his head and slightly raised his mead horn. “Just remember, on the night, be kind, be gentle and allow her to set the pace. And if she isn’t ready, you have your whole lives, so don’t force it. It will happen when it is supposed to.”

  Erik blushed at the bluntness of the king’s advice, while the other men nodded sagely in agreement.

  Then Thayn, with a cheeky smile started saying, “That is, unless she-”

  The men collectively shouted, “NO!” They pelted Thayn with their mead cups, as they all erupted into laughter.

  In the dining room, the ladies’ conversation was a lot more demure and restrained, but no less graphic. Lots of solicitous advice, giggling and blushing.

  Selti’s eyes were wide, and her cheeks flaming.

  Finally Venna said, “All right ladies, no need to frighten the girl. Selti, while it is not the most important thing, it is significant. But it is also a beautiful thing. The physical expression of your love for each other is nothing to be frightened of. Just remember, if you feel too tense, and feel that you aren’t ready, you can wait. It will happen when it’s supposed to.”

  The corners of Selti’s mouth twitched into a nervous, but grateful smile.

  “Oh, and drink some, but not too much,” offered Nadia via Ilsa.

  The women all laughed, which caused Nadia to cast a confused glance toward Ilsa, who explained what Venna had said.

  Nadia put a hand over her eyes, shaking her head, as she laughed off her momentary embarrassment.