The United States of Vinland: The Landing (The Markland Trilogy) (13 page)

Frae
smiled and was glad to see Seta’s face also soften.

Shadows
appeared in the doorway behind Ulfarr, quickly replaced by Gudrid and Halla,
who came in after the infant. Gudrid held Seta’s two young, one in each arm,
the babes wrapped in furs. Halla carried her own fur-wrapped, days-old newborn
– the hall’s most recent – as well as Frae’s.

Frae
stepped forward and knelt to meet Ulfarr as his unsteady progress forward
slowed.

Gudrid
smiled and asked, “It seems like a lot of furs and skins, but we shall never
have enough, as we will always need new clothes against the cold, and rugs
against the night. What do you think we need most of all?”

Frae
and Seta answered at the same time, “Boots.”

Ulfarr
giggled at the sudden sound.

All
the women laughed, even Seta.

Ballr
travelled with Eskil and Torrador on several of the original rafting trips, as
they explored their immediate surrounds on the fjord. One thing the lean
Icelander noted on those first ponderous journeys, in a time before they
discovered Lakeland and built Godsland’s small boat, was that the water’s
currents delivered a good amount of driftwood along certain channels and
shores.

The
most favoured shoreline, as fate would have it, was the long one opposite
Godsland, located on the other side of the ridge from Lakeland, on the same
shore where Thoromr had stood, challenging them as they passed.

Regardless
of being on the same side of the fjord as Lakeland, the shoreline was a long
way out and not an easy trek to Thoromr’s own hall. This made it a tempting
target, particularly farther in, where the gravel beaches, woods and steep
slopes seemed an even greater distance from Lakeland.

Besides,
Ballr had long ago begun to reason that a piece of driftwood was not like a
standing tree. The wood could come from anywhere, wash up on a beach, to then
be taken away by the next tide or storm. Driftwood did not belong to anyone
aside from the man who could grab it.

Ballr
eventually fell into handling much of their needs for timber, for he enjoyed
working with wood and confronting the challenge of trying to build whatever
Godsland required. Through his efforts, their hall and its fittings were
completed, and a shed, fences, drying racks and several armfuls of tools were
constructed. The arrival of Ari in spring meant Ballr had readymade help
because the Lakelander previously felled timber in the homeland and was no
stranger to carpentry. So, during the last part of spring and through much of
summer, the two men took to searching the fjord’s shoreline for usable
driftwood, seeking out the best logs and other worthwhile timber that could
easily be bundled and then floated back down the fjord.

Due
to their shapes, certain pieces became tools, while the larger pieces converted
into frames, beams, planks and posts for new buildings or drying racks.
Torrador and Steinarr wanted timber suitable for not only making another small
boat, but also wood they could use when they tried their hands at constructing
a proper ship. Anything left over was destined for the hall’s ever-hungry fire
pit, which would eat through any woodstack, regardless of how large, during the
next winter.

Over
the busy summer, Ballr also became a father to a young boy they named Brandr.
Halla had endured a difficult delivery, but Mother and babe were well now. The
episode was the only time he had been idle, waiting for her to recover and
escape the birthing bed. Once she declared herself fit, he went back to his
toil.

Summer
waned, and the weather finally began to turn. The new babe and coming winter
made Ballr more determined than ever to gather what timber they could,
providing plenty to keep the hall warm when the deep snows came.

His
work was never ending, for the hall would always need more. They had cleared
the barren and wind-blasted island of Godsland of its best timber by the end of
the previous winter, so a constant and broader wood harvest was necessary.

By
the end of summer, they had also exhausted the easy timber to put to water and
float down to Godsland hall. Ari and Ballr increasingly needed to trek farther
into the fjord for fallen timber, seeking to harvest the standing trees that
suited their needs. They used the one small, iron-headed hand axe they had and
the smaller stone axes.

The
work was not easy.

Good
timber, in lengths thick and long, were a rarity in Godsland, even before their
arrival, so all of the people considered Ballr’s work as important as fishing
or the efforts at the bog iron works. Only the women’s tending of the gardens
and preparation of winter stores trumped the toil of others in importance.

By
the time the colours of fall had found the trees of Markland, Alfvin had
smelted enough iron to forge a few small axes and issued a knife to each of the
men. Word also spread that his next work was almost done, but what it was had
been shrouded in secrecy.

That
is until one autumn night, when the first snows were due.

In
a rare moment outside of winter, all the Godslanders gathered in the hall to
feast on fresh hare. Because the weather was beginning to turn, the men stayed
closer to home; those trapping and hunting for meat and furs no longer ranged
so far to camp overnight, similar to those searching for timber or seeking bog
iron. So on that night, Alfvin stood before the group, holding his hands behind
his back.

Silencing
the room, Eskil asked, “Alfvin, what do you hold behind your back?”

Alfvin
presented an object wrapped in the raven banner. “I have a gift of iron for two
of our men.”

All
cheered, for while the object was not huge, it clearly was bigger than a blade,
and came at the end of a long handle.

Eskil
knew something of what lay under the banner, having asked Alfvin if he could
make such a thing. Despite that knowledge, he was still surprised at how
quickly Alfvin had been able to forge the item.

Expectant,
they all looked to Alfvin, including Frae and Seta, who had long ago begun
eating alongside the Norse.

With
a flourish, Alfvin pulled the banner away to reveal a wooden handle that ended
in a rough, but more-than-workable large axe head. “For our woodsmen!”

Both
Ari’s and Ballr’s eyes widened with surprise as their friends cheered, although
Eskil did not miss Seta flinch at the sight of the axe.

Halla,
nursing their son, sat beside Ballr and leaned over to whisper in his ear
before urging him to stand with Ari and accept the axe.

Neither
of the men needed much encouragement.

Ballr
rose and wiped his food-greased hands on his pants as he stepped over to
Alfvin, nodding for Ari to join him as he called out, “By Thor, I could fell a
giant with it, but for now, tall timber will simply have to do!”

They
all laughed when Alfvin placed it into Ballr’s hands, Ari beaming a rare smile
as he stood beside his grinning friend.

Ballr
marvelled at it, admiring his fellow’s efforts to make such a thing.

Eskil
said, “The giants will have to wait, but not the trees. I hope we can now
expect too much wood to burn this coming winter!”

And
all those about them called out their agreement.

––––––––

A
ri
and Ballr went out the next day, both eager to use the new axe, hoping to
retire some of the rougher tools they had been forced to use. Alfvin waved them
off, along with Gudrid, Halla, Seta and Frae, as they set out on their boat,
wrapped in new furs for warmth against the cooling weather and fog.

Leaving
Godsland behind, they turned their focus to the journey ahead, continuing
across the waters of the fjord. The sky was not to be seen, except for when the
grey mist briefly parted before again moving to smother the day in overcast
gloom.

The
weather was turning and all knew that one of the coming nights would soon
deliver the first snows, just as the rain and sleet at this time of year
frequently plagued the days. Preparations for winter were well underway, but
much still needed to be done. Stores of dried fish and cured meat were ample,
but Ballr worried they needed more wood. The hall held more bodies now,
including the babes, and warming the large space required a good stockpile of
cut fuel. In truth, they had barely had enough over the previous winter. Ballr
badly wanted this coming bleak season to be different.

They
headed out and crossed the fjord, following the opposite shoreline, seeking the
best woods. The journey took them past Lakeland’s territory, but Thoromr’s hall
and vale were a good distance away, hidden behind the steep ridge that made up
the fjord’s looming side and acted as a wall.

A
flock of waterbirds near the shore quieted as they watched the men pass
near-by. Many of the local birds learned the Norse were happy enough to ignore
them one day, or to kill them or take their eggs the next. Some of them
anxious, they gave into caution and took to their wings, flying farther down
the channel.

Ari
watched the wooded shoreline with a frown.

Ballr
asked, “What is wrong?”

“Nothing.
I am simply thinking back on our dark beginnings back there.” With a flick of
his head, he indicated the area over the ridge.

Ballr
shrugged. “We all struggled at the beginning, full of worry and fear. You are
with Godsland now.”

Ari
gave a slight nod with the dip of his head, a smile almost daring to mark his
stoic face, yet his eyes never left the thickening woodlands along the shore.
“Those first days were bloody and dire.”

“It
cannot have been good.”

“No.
Sorry, I should not have begun talking about it.”

“It
is alright.”

Ari
nodded thanks for his friend’s understanding.

Ballr
changed the subject. “This will likely be our last trip out this season, but I
do not think we should go too far. The weather is chilled and changeable, and
the fog disagreeable.”

Ari
met Ballr’s gaze. “This shore is the closest for good timber.”

The
Icelander choked off a nervous laugh, not certain what Ari was suggesting; did
the woodsman really want to tempt fate and go ashore this close to Lakeland?

Ballr
answered with a shake of his head, and said, “We will go a little farther on
before we land. Soon enough, we will be outside Lakeland’s borders, beyond the
island and point, as Eskil told Thoromr.”

“On
the day Seta accused the brute of being a sheep murderer?”

Ballr
laughed, relaxing.

Ari
chuckled. “I wish I had seen it. I asked her about that day when I heard the
tale. She was very pleased with herself.”

“She
should have been.”

Ari
grinned.

Ballr
continued, “Eskil wants us to keep well away from Lakeland’s lands, but their timber
stands well, and their shores seem to catch the best driftwood.”

“It
is an injustice!”

Ballr
agreed with a nod, but said, “We will continue on to where Eskil told him he
could not claim. If it looks to be quiet, we can land there.”

Ari
showed no reluctance. “We only need one more good load. Once done, we will not
be back until spring, as we will be spending the rest of the season helping
with other chores closer to the hall and cutting up what we have already
brought back to Godsland.”

They
rowed on in silence for a short time, the thinning fog rolling over them.

Then,
with his gaze still focused on the mist-shrouded trees, Ari said, “I hated that
hall. If I did not worry about the slumbering beast of Thrainn’s anger, I
worried the thralls would cut our throats at night, if the one of us on guard
fell asleep.”

Ballr
did not have an answer for such a confession.

“I
was glad to get out of there, and in truth, could not have found a better hall,
with more honest people, to come to; people who have also made me most
welcome.”

“You
are welcome.” Ballr answered, meaning the words.

Ari
took his eye off the shoreline for a moment to meet Ballr’s gaze. For once his
voice was soft and thoughtful, “And Seta.”

“She
is also welcome, as is Frae and Alfvin, and all the children. The sisters are
good for our hall; they know this land.”

Ari
nodded.

They
rowed on in silence, but as they did, Ballr noticed Ari’s search of the nearby
shoreline never stopped.

The
mist continued to thin, improving visibility, but never completely cleared.
They moved further along the shoreline, passing the thin islands and the point
where Thoromr had once challenged Eskil. Eventually they came ashore, beaching
the boat where two different thickets came close to the water’s edge. While
both men were eager to try out the new axe, they would mainly be going for
driftwood, or perhaps felling one or two tall, but young, trees if they found
something suitable. Of course, any tree to be cut needed to be close to the
water, as they would have to haul the timber into the fjord before floating it
to Godsland.

Looking
about, the hillside came right down to the shoreline, the slope steep and its
rise high. All wooded, initially by birch and other trees, but eventually by
pine and fir as the hillside climbed.

Ari
and Ballr quickly collected and floated the best driftwood lying on the ground
by the shore. They used the new axe on occasion to free any entangled or
snagged logs; the work was hard.

After
collecting the easy wood, they stopped and checked over the surrounding
standing trees. The hall needed long and straight trunks for beams, building
frames and drying wracks. Older saplings were ideal. Felling such trees did not
take long, even with a stone axe, and neither did their stripping, in
preparation for rafting them back to Godsland.

Ari
pointed out a group of young pines not far up the steep slope that stood at the
right angle to fall down and reach the fjord. “We should take some of those.”

Ballr
looked at the timber and then the mist-haunted hillside. No one else was about,
the sounds of water birds the only thing to disturb the peace. “The axe will
make a lot of noise.”

“By
the time someone in Lakeland hears our chopping, if they can, and sets out to
investigate, we will be on our way.”

Ballr
was unsure, but the fog, even if thinning, would help stifle some of the noise.

Ari
grabbed the new axe. “Come, we have to try this thing out on standing
greenwood. We are not in Lakeland; we passed that boundary long ago.”

Ballr
gave in and nodded.

Ari
smiled and put the axe on his shoulder as he turned and headed up the slope. “I
shall bring a tree down, and I shall do it for Godsland.”