Ayenwatha knew from the Midragardan’s reactions that Eirik had never seen or heard of anything like the type of clothes that the otherworlders wore.
He watched with keen interest as the helmed warrior passed onward from Logan, and drew to a halt before Erika. The striking, dark-haired woman briefly introduced herself, as Logan had, though unlike her companion she elicited a slight inclination of his head.
“Your clothes may be strange… and you may not be from our lands, but your mere look threatens to slay me where I stand,” Eirik gently commented to her in reply. “Beautiful and strong… one of the Twelve Sisters you could well be.”
Erika’s face reddened a little in embarrassment at the sincere compliment, though Ayenwatha was all but certain that she had no idea as to who the Twelve Sisters were.
If she had known, Ayenwatha was confident that the shade of red now flushing her skin would have been even deeper. It was a very high compliment to be compared by a Midragardan leader to the deeply revered female Wizards, patrons of Eirik’s homelands for ages.
Erika had no verbal reply for the stout warrior, but Ayenwatha could sense that she was flattered and understood the genuine nature, if not the particulars, of the warrior’s words.
Eirik smiled softly, and moved past her to stand near to Mershad. He then regarded Mershad closely for several moments after the latter had formally introduced himself. Mershad looked very uncomfortable under the close individual inspection, his eyes glancing downward and staunchly averting the appraising gaze of the Midragardan.
“Like those from Saljuka… you are indeed like a Sunlander,” Eirik commented, after a few more moments had passed.
Ayenwatha understood the reference.
The Midragardan was comparing Mershad to a certain kind of people that Eirik had encountered during his many foreign travels, ones that he had shared several tales about with Ayenwatha. Judging by those engaging and highly descriptive stories, Ayenwatha believed that he could see where Eirik found a resemblance in Mershad to the Sunlanders that lived in the far north.
“Mostly a good people, at least as I have found them to be,” Eirik continued. “They have long enjoyed much trade with Midragard, and with those of our kin who settled long ago in Kiruva. I have not met many Saljukans in my life, but the ones that I have met have been fair enough in their dealings with me.”
As if perceiving the signs of increasing discomfort in Mershad that Ayenwatha was seeing, the Midragardan quickly added, “Know that they are well spoken of among my people, and take my words favorably.”
Mershad merely nodded at Eirik’s assurances and mustered a nervous grin, though his eyes continued to remain downward.
“I have heard it said that silver flows in rivers deep in their lands,” Eirik then continued. “Their reputation as bold and capable warriors is also oft spoken of. I know that they are very zealous when it comes to matters of their Great Prophet. And they must have courage in their blood, for their people have spread to a great many lands upon the face of this world. Maybe you hold some of their qualities, Sunlander. It would not be a bad thing.”
Ayenwatha noticed that Mershad’s eyes widened at the open mention of the Great Prophet. Ayenwatha took the distinct response carefully to mind. There was something to be learned about Mershad and his homeland, or world, within that spontaneous reaction.
Mershad looked as if he greatly desired to ask some further questions of the Midragardan. Ayenwatha wished that Mershad had, as he wanted to see if something more could be learned about Mershad in an exchange with Eirik, but such an interaction would have to take place at some other time. By the time that Mershad appeared to have finally mustered himself up enough to venture a query forward, Eirik had turned his attention away towards another of the group.
Eirik strolled a couple of steps to the right, coming to face Derek. Ayenwatha could see something similar in the presence of the two men, from their stout postures to the iron looks held in their eyes.
The Midragardan and the otherworlder both had the confident aura and subtle wariness of experienced warriors. The scrutiny was mutual. Ayenwatha had a strong sense that each man was left with a respectful impression of the other.
Eirik’s eyes continued to meet those of the one that Ayenwatha considered as the most stalwart of the newcomers.
The Midragardan warrior remarked, “Many in the Sunlands have a likeness such as yours, ones with the darker skin and a different appearance from that of your friend here. I have heard tales of places even farther away to the northern reaches of the Sunlands, far to the west. It is said that great tribes of brave warriors, with the darker skin and a similar look to you, live in lands of ferocious beasts and a blazing sun.
“The look in your eye is that of a warrior, even if I have not yet witnessed your skill at arms. If you are from another world, I am certain that men would be the same there as in ours, and that one who is not a warrior could not easily deceive one who is.”
Ayenwatha could see the briefest flickers of curiosity and agreement in Derek’s eyes.
Eirik then turned towards Janus, Kent, and Antonio, regarding each of the last three without much comment, other than to share a brief greeting and introduction with them.
He did linger a little longer before Janus, and the hint of a frown briefly crossed his face. Ayenwatha found the Midragardan’s reaction strange, as it was one of perplexity, rather than one born of any discomfort or annoyance.
Finished, Eirik walked back towards Ayenwatha and slowly shook his head. The two of them strode several paces away from the others, so that they could speak together in confidence.
“I cannot say anything for certain,” Eirik stated in a low voice, when they had walked far enough to assume that they could not be overheard.
“Then you can tell me nothing?” Ayenwatha asked, speaking in the Midragardan tongue, a look of disappointment rising to his face. He had hoped dearly that the well-traveled Eirik would have some sort of insight or a few answers regarding the party of seven strangers. Eirik’s inconclusive reaction only deepened the mystery.
“I know of nothing like this, from any of my travels,” Eirik replied in a low voice. “In the color of their skin, and in appearance, a few of them are akin to the people of distant lands to the north. But I do not think that these people came from those kingdoms. It may indeed be that they are, as they have claimed, from another world.”
“Then what do you counsel, my friend?” Ayenwatha asked Eirik pensively, looking past him towards the outsiders. He wondered what Eirik’s brother Gunnar would be thinking, as Gunnar was more inclined towards the prophetic tales that so intrigued Ayenwatha. “Could they be the ones that are spoken of?”
“Who can say that they are not? Protect them, and keep them with you, if you think that there is a chance that they are these people,” Eirik stated. His eyes then narrowed, “And these amulets from the Wanderer? What of these gifts? Do these guests of yours truly not speak our tongues?”
“There is no doubt about these gifts of the Wanderer. Without the amulets they understand nothing, and without them I cannot understand a word that they say,” Ayenwatha said.
“The Wanderer… in the Five Realms, giving gifts to otherworlders,” Eirik stated with a contemplative look.
Ayenwatha then fixed Eirik with an unwavering gaze, and his voice carried certitude in its even tone. “These seven know nothing of the things of our world. I have watched them very closely in all manner of things. They are truly strangers to all the things of this world. I can see it in their eyes, in their words, and in their great discomfort with the most simple of matters. I am certain of this. Everything is a wonder to them.”
“So I noticed when I first set my eyes upon them. The look that they gave my men and ship was one of sheer amazement, like it was something they could hardly believe they were seeing. Can seven people falsely imitate such a sincere reaction?” Eirik replied with a shrug. “If they are from another world, then there is some true purpose with them being here. And for what it may be worth, I also share your view that they are not of the Unifier.”
“Then what should we do while we shelter them?”” Ayenwatha asked.
“I would teach them the ways of this world, as much as you can, if I were you. Time is a luxury that none of us have, so I would not delay,” Eirik advised him firmly.
There was no sense of doubt in the Midragardan’s voice. His words were filled with conviction, and Ayenwatha knew that did not come carelessly with Eirik, the son of Atli.
“As for the ways of this world, I will help you get them started now,” Eirik said, casting a quick glance off in the direction of his ship, River Wolf. “I think that the things of Midragard might be a little more comfortable for them than the things of your tribes.”
Ayenwatha wondered as to what Eirik was getting at, as the Midragardan then turned, took a few strides away, and called out to a few of his men. The men hustled up to Eirik, receiving some rapid instructions from him before continuing on to the longship. They strode up to the interior of the vessel via a long gangplank, which ran from the shore to the top strake about mid-ship.
A few moments later, a couple of the men were carefully moving back down the gangplank, carrying a large, rectangular wooden chest with them. Two others followed behind with a second, similar chest. The small group carried the chests on over to where Eirik and Ayenwatha stood.
At a nod from Eirik, the warriors placed the iron-banded chests upon the ground, unlocked them, and opened them up. Inside of the chests were some of the colorful, brocaded tunics that the Midragardans typically wore.
“Do not attract attention, when you do not have to, Ayenwatha. Clothes similar to these are worn in many lands,” Eirik stated to his friend, who immediately understood the gesture. “The differences are much less with these, than with clothes fashioned of buckskin with quill decoration. Certainly much less than what they have on their bodies.”
The sight of men and women in woolen tunics was a lot more common across the surface of Ave, especially regarding a group whose members represented many different ethnic heritages. A group of non-tribal people wearing the manner of clothing highly particular to the Five Realms would definitely be peculiar, and would ultimately invite unwanted attention.
“A good suggestion,” Ayenwatha remarked.
“Do I not always have good suggestions?” Eirik responded with a light chuckle.
“Then I have one for you,” Ayenwatha said, pausing for a moment as his lips turned in a grin, before adding, “Can you and your men join us for a feast in the village?”
Eirik gave a long, wistful sigh.
“Ah, you would beckon to me with this. It is such misfortune that I must return immediately to attend to our trading goods,” Eirik exclaimed, shaking his head resignedly. “I do not have to ask my men to know that we all would love a feast in your village. For my own part, I would very much like to visit with your new guests some more. I cannot accept what you offer, but not because I do not wish to. Perhaps on my return, we can feast and share further tales together.”
Ayenwatha looked at his friend and nodded, understanding that Eirik had already spared valuable time to heed Ayenwatha’s summons.
“I was told that you were already trading in these lands when our messengers found you. Did trading go well on this visit?” Ayenwatha asked him, raising an eyebrow.
Smiling, Erik gestured back towards his ship. “We have some trading vessels, which are waiting for our return at the mouth of this river before we continue onward. They are full, and we are forced to use space on my ship for the overflow. Yes, it has gone well for both parties, Midragardans and the tribes alike. Many useful goods of iron have passed into the possession of your people, and more furs coveted in lands to the east and north will be going along with us.”
“That is very good to hear, and I thank you for delaying your return journey, in order to give me your wisdom,” Ayenwatha remarked, appreciatively.
He knew that the Midragardans, with vessels loaded with trade goods, would be quite eager to be on their way to their intended destinations.
Eirik lingered for a moment longer, a friendly grin spreading on his face as he turned to face the seven outsiders. He took several steps in their direction. There was no need to summon their attention, as their eyes were all turned towards the large Midragardan.
His voice rose, and carried strongly as he addressed them, “Do not be concerned, seven of another world. In Ayenwatha, you are in the care of a most honorable and brave warrior. It was my pleasure to meet all of you, and it is my hope that we meet again, in future and better days.”
He then turned his attention back to Ayenwatha, and the two spoke together in hushed voices. Their expressions were serious as they imparted a few final important messages for each other; Eirik promising to convey tidings of the otherworlders to Gunnar, and Ayenwatha pledging to see to the practical education of the seven.
Before parting, they embraced each other once more, the smiles of friendship coming back to their faces.
Eirik gestured and called out to his full ship crew, and they fell in together as they walked briskly back towards the narrow longship. Once most were aboard, a few men loaded the gangplank onto the ship. The men took a few moments to set weapons down and place shields in the outer railing on the sides of the longship. When finished, they attended to the task of pushing the vessel off of the shore and into the water.
A chorus of grunts and moans accompanied the exertion of well-seasoned muscles straining against the substantial bulk of the timber ship. With a unified team of warriors working diligently, they slid the elongated boat into the water, proceeding to climb aboard with the help of their compatriots.
Oars were removed from the upright racks and set into place through a line of holes in the side strakes, as the men took their places atop chests set at intervals along the length of the ship. The oar holes were aligned efficiently with the exterior rack that held their round shields in place, allowing for the oars to be used with the shields lining the batten.
Lowered into the water, and rowed in unison to the beat of a chant, the ship was turned to align with the river and propelled forward, moving smoothly along the water’s surface. The keel cut through the water with a natural grace.
Ayenwatha and the rest of his party remained on the edge of the shoreline, until the ship had glided far down the river. The ship passed around a wide bend and was out of sight in just minutes, right after Eirik gave a final wave from the vessel.
Shifting his attention back to the seven, Ayenwatha commented, “Eirik is a true friend, and he has traded with our people for many years. The Midragardans are a strong people, and are loyal servants of the Creator. They are masters of the seas and rivers.
“They have become good brothers to our people, though it was not always so. Maybe we shall someday go to see their own lands, but for now we will have to be content with tales. Eirik is right. You must learn about our world, about our people and about others… so that you better understand us, and so that you better understand our world.”
“We would like that, very much,” Erika replied with undisguised eagerness in her voice.
“As much as possible,” Logan added quickly, also looking very hungry for more knowledge of their new world.
“And we would like to sample all of your foods as well, maybe many times to make sure that we understand them well. I want to study the turkey and deer meat more carefully… and maybe we can study some ales from all the cultures that you know of,” quipped Kent, smirking playfully. “For my part, I want to be an expert in the food and drink of this world.”
A light-hearted laughter broke out first among the outsiders, and then among Ayenwatha and the tribal warriors, as Kent’s humor quickly dawned upon them. Ayenwatha smiled broadly, glad for the sudden levity.
“We will take your learning of ales much slower than you might like. You should have gone with Eirik if you wished to know more of ales,” Ayenwatha replied teasingly to Kent, with easy-going laughter. “But for now, it is probably best to return to our village.”
“And you tell me this, right after Eirik’s boat goes out of sight? How fair is that, Ayenwatha? How can I hope to learn about the ales of your world?” Kent retorted, with an exaggerated shaking of his head, as guest and tribesman alike laughed again, this time in unison.