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KuroFai - Touching the Viking (Chapter VII)
September 1204
The smell of the crisping autumnal air permeated the expanse of space of the Mokona. The scent of nutmeg and fresh baked apples and cinnamon from when Fai had been cooking in the kitchen flowed through the lower decks, and the chilled nipping air of the sea from above. sakura’s cold had receded and while Fai taught sakura about how to cook the desserts He had been currently making in the cast iron skillet so she could make them on her own one day, Kurogane was keeping up training Syaoran. The Youth was maturing, and not as antisocial as before, and He contributed that in large part to the daughter of the Witch just being His friend. He didn’t have anyone His age to talk to, albeit the occasions when they went to port, and He wasn’t all that chatty as His mother was the type to really chat, but she had been taken away early. Kurogane loved His Son dearly, and did His best to look out for Him. Fai was similar, but not. Fai took care of Him, of everyone equally weal. There was a certain element about Him that He could guess where the point of dangerous to the point of deadly - a fine line - was, and dodge it with as little as the breadth of a hair. There was a certain extent of peril He led them into, while allowing themselves to be responsible for their own weal at the same time. Kurogane noted that He was normally all smiles, be it with children or teasing Him or battling an army, the smile hardly changed but they didn’t have to; His eyes spoke for Him.
Fai landed the Mokona in a friendlier port - temporary removal of the figurehead was proof of that - where trade caused the land to be quite prosperous. Vikings and other traders were freely welcomed to come and go into port. The umhall’s leader taxed all of the citizens’ wares. Ale food and property, anything and everything sold by the town, a small portion went to Him. Fai thought it was a fairer way than to tax people the same amount, even those who couldn’t afford to pay it because their wares didn’t sell as easily. If the town was taxed the same amount for each individual, some would collapse quickly under rising debts while others would hardly be inconvenienced. This way, if someone’s wares did not sell, it was not the end of their world.
When they disembarked from the safety of the vessel, Fai noticed a glimpse of fur as his feline Seishirou chased the mouse and followed it off of the ship, into the port lands.
While at this port, Fai shopped about, trading wares with the townsfolk and gathering more information. Syaoran went with and listened, so that He may learn to barter and gather information like Fai.
Kurogane watched the interactions between the local civilians and Fai, as Fai chirped pleasantly, with a light laugh in His voice as He gathered information, including where the locals recommended was the best tavern around. Getting instructions to a local establishment, Fai thanked the locals graciously, before leading most of His small crew there, having Kurogane carry back the wares first before joining them. Kurogane lightly grumbled that it was “such a pain” even as He did as Fai asked of Him.
Fai made lively chatter with other customers, and let them tell tales of their own, while the two children and Kurogane hardly spoke, only spoke when addressed for comment. Kurogane didn’t have much to add to the conversation, and since He was claimed as property until a debt was considered repaid, then the only people His input mattered most to was the children and Mother of the ship. At one point in the meal, sakura spoke in hushed tones with Fai, asking permission for something, and getting it, to a degree.
Yet while back aboard the Mokona, sakura shared stories with the Father and Son, spake of Gods and goddesses, of the worship of Yggdrasil, the trunk visible in the night sky, of the Aesir family, descendants of Odin, spake of His wife Frigg, goddess of childbirth, spake tales she had heard that were not writ down in either of the two books they possessed. she spake of freya, the goddess of love and sex and that around the time of harvest, freya would cry tears of gold, at the absence of her harvest-Husband, spake of her twin, Frey, God of the Sun and the rain and the fruitfulness of the lands, and the valkyrjas, demigoddesses who claimed those great Warriors slain in battle. she spake of the twin gods Ull and Ulla, the Gods of Hunting and Skiing, of Fjorgyn and fjorgynn, of Njord and Nerthus, of shergerda and irpa, of Od and oth, Od who was married to freya. she spake of Bragi, the God of poetry...
she shared many tales with Syaoran of the Gods and goddesses and their lives while Fai overheard and distracted Himself by working on making the Father and Son a new pair of socks with the undyed wool He had purchased in the port. The harsh season of winter would be there before they knew it and whilst Fai and sakura could survive on the freezing waters due to a very powerful ally Fai never revealed, He felt somewhat conflicted. Kurogane and Syaoran were land raised and there were several ports that welcome a Vikings stay during the frozen months yet He had never docked at one during those frozen months like the others. As sakura told Them, they had never stopped at a foreign port for longer than a fortnight. And to take them back to the lands of before would be to prove He was a liar. He wasn’t sure He was ready for that.
As the afternoon faded, Kurogane chopped up some wood before putting a couple pieces under the cooking pot, right into the fire cooking their dinner. Using the stoker, He poked them into place, flames licking at the wood before the logs caught enough fire He wasn’t worried about them going back out and Kurogane set the poker down before stirring the stew inside. With that part taken care of for now, He went on to do other chores around the ship.
After dinner, Syaoran asked questions about the tales sakura shared with Him, to learn more about them, and she answered each one to the best of her abilities, while they did small work around the ship.
From Moon’s Day to Tyr’s day and Tyr’s day to Odin’s day, sakura shared those stories with Syaoran about the Gods and goddesses, and on Thor’s day, she spake of a land instead, a land that had grassy meadows all year long, a terraced irrigation system that had never faltered and streams that got bigger as they went to the port of town, and used, making chalice wells with waters most clear that the stones beneath could always be seen, where townspeople would take a golden or silver chalice and drink the waters from the wells.
A land that was decorated with stones for the horses and people to walk upon and each home had its own walls decorated uniquely, the windows were filled with stone so see-through, the clouds that rolled up from below and went through the town even during the afternoon were visible as they floated leisurely with the wind. Locals claimed if you tossed a child up into the wind, they would float away. It was a land rich with all sorts of resources. sakura spake the land was blessed by the gods and had not struggled with large strife for hundreds of years, conflicts easily resolved between the peoples, and any large disputes were settled in court.
Temples were erected to pray to the many gods that had blessed the lands, and the sea around, and the people, each deity having their own temple.
In the middle of the land was a palace built of white rocks with towering pillars to support the weight. A golden layer encrusted with precious stones, making elaborate paintings, made the outer and inner walls radiate. Windows as high above the floor with panes made with the colors of the rainbow.
A land with places with fire that always burned, where lakes were either frigid cold or bubbling hot, there was little in between. A land where the villages among the mountain range were docile as the grazing cattle. A land where sands were fine and golden brown or shades of ivory and some were gathered to make time counting pieces while others were made into building blocks for much of the homes there. A land where music filled the streets as bards played their tunes every afternoon and all the day on Sun’s day. A land where medicine was forged and markets were stocked with the abundant resources.
Syaoran asked more about that, and sakura continued to explain about the land until Fai interrupted. “The land was, but it was betrayed and so it fell below the ocean.” sakura discontinued any more telling of those lands that day.
On Freya’s day, the stories paused for most of the day, as Fai had them set sail. As they got ready to retire for the evening, ribbons of lights came to life across the sky. sakura explained they were the spirits of the animals departed. Vibrant greens and gentler blues and purple danced through the heavens. Fai was entirely quiet about this as He watched the sky, and Kurogane spent minutes shifting His own gaze between the lights and the children and Fai before ushering them all to bed. On Wash day, Fai kept sakura too busy washing clothes and the animals to share stories, stories too painfully close to the truth.
Two days after leaving the last port, Fai was looking for something. That day, it appeared it was Seishiro, His feline, who had returned to the ship carrying a dead mouse. Why He insisted that all the animals be washed then lingered as an unasked question. So far. But when Fai appeared holding Seishiro, Kurogane shook His head, "Is it really worth the trouble to catch Seishiro... for a bath?"
Fai held Seishiro by the scruff of His neck with one hand. Fai's arms were pretty scratched, and His sleeves and His backside had some claw-made rips into them that were fresh, some having welts of blood. But Fai was not releasing the other just yet. He turned to face Kurogane, and there was a glint in His eyes that Kurogane almost never saw there.
"Yes," Fai said solidly, "Yes, it's very worth it." And Kurogane held no doubts that Fai solidly believed those very words. The urgent, panic that held some volume in His voice told Him more than the words themselves. As if it twere a decision that would affect if someone lived or died.
Kurogane let out a sigh, and began to move closer. "After His bath, I'll clean those for you." Kurogane said, lightly pointing at Fai's arms, indicating the scratches.
"There's no need for Kurogane; I can take weal of myself," Fai began.
Kurogane then hit Fai with one of the blonde's own lines. "What about those on your back? You can’t reach them, and injuries sustained are best treated before they turn into bigger problems." Turnabout is fair play, as far as Kurogane was concerned. The Blond had used His about gender; He used the Blond’s about injuries.
“Really, Kurogane...”
"Just shut up already, and give Seishiro His bath.”
Fai didn’t need to be told twice as He headed for the washroom with the cat.
The next day, Fai made a detour from his coursed out route and stopped Mokona in a small port town called Fate Hills. At port, there were two girls, helping at port. They welcomed them excitedly, wearing dresses similar to what the women of his family wore in fall. If it weren’t for the obvious differences, He’d have thought they were back near the Nihon Isles.
“Welcome to Fate Hills,” the two girls said perfectly in sync, coming over to greet the four of them.
“Ah! Welcome back Fai of D, and sakura, Fai-daughter..!”
“Why thank you…” Fai said smiling friendly at the girls.
“It seems you have Two others amongst yourselves. Will They be joining yourselves here?”
“Ah, yes… yes they are… We have… Kurogane, Suwa-Son and Syaoran, Kurogane-Son, as well,” Fai grinned.
“Very well … we’ll be sure to pass along the word.”
Fai was casual as He asked about the latest news there, seeming way too friendly with the girls, while Kurogane watched the other, not showing any interest in the two young women. Instead, His gaze fell on Fai as He chatted with the women. It didn’t seem very important, just village gossip. Instead, He just paid attention to their body language. Fai acted comfortable, but He also seemed a bit… off. No doubt He was hiding stuff again.
sakura had been the one to really notice that Kurogane’s interest was in her Mother, and she grinned with a bright smile. she just hoped things were going weal between her Mother and Syaoran’s Father. she quietly wished her Mother would, or had, come to love Syaoran’s Father; she quietly giggled as she thought to check on how They were coming along. Fai had made her a promise, and she intended to see it through.
Syaoran eyed sakura questioningly, before she winked at Him, and mouthed without voice to the Boy. Help me join them together. Syaoran looked at her with a soft bewildered look, gesturing with a finger as He spoke in the same fashion ‘your Mother with my Father?’ and sakura nodded, in agreement. ‘Aye. my Mother with your Father.’ she mouthed. He looked frozen as He thought about it but mouthed ‘I will do my best to help you’ to sakura. sakura smiled, filled with good intentions and a little trouble.
After Fai had gathered information from the girls, He bid them farewell, before sakura tugged on Fai’s coat sleeve. “Mother… how long will we be here this time?” she asked in a most innocent fashion.
“Till the full moon. We’ll leave the day after.”
sakura nodded, thinking, and Kurogane turned His gaze towards her, “Mother…would it be okay if I took Syaoran alone for a while? I would like to practice something with Him.”
Kurogane was a bit surprised, and raised an eyebrow. Practice… what?
Fai looked towards His daughter and then to Syaoran, before placing a hand on His shoulder. “Do you agree?”
Syaoran nodded, “Aye, I agree.”
“Very well, you may.” Gesturing for them to leave, He only offered a parting, “Stay safe.”
“No worries, Mother. I have my skillet, and Syaoran has His sword. We’ll keep each other safe.” sakura said, as it was drilled to always have a weapon handy, then took Syaoran’s hand and ran off, more or less, carting Him after her.
Fai smiled as He watched the children leave further into the port town, before turning His attentions to Kurogane. “Kuro-sea, may I ask a favor of you too?”
Historical Corner:
Apples, cinnamon and nutmeg:
Based slightly on an apple pie for cast iron skillets and rissoles of fruit, which a known recipe uses figs, raisins, slightly sweet red wine, apples, pears, appropriate powders - spices themed for the fruit - sugar cinnamon clove mace nutmeg ginger etc, whole spice - spices such as anise grains of paradise etc. Certain ingredients, for example - chocolate and vanilla were much harder to obtain because of the rarity, so anything like hot chocolate with vanilla would have been considered more a drink worthy of presenting to royalty and the gods. For those interested, here’s a website for olden recipes: http://www.godecookery.com/mtrans/mtrans.htm
The Gods and goddesses: As I have been trying to do since learning of the method, Male Gods are capitalized while female goddesses or demigoddesses are lowercase, same with other names. Plural Male plural female, plural mixed company. Most of these Gods and goddesses come from old Norse mythology while some stem from other roots. One thing to note, according to Norse mythology, the All-Father, Odin, gave birth to many of the Aesir and his foreknowledge echoed the Norse warrior’s fatalism: death is inevitable but word-fame lasts forever. Odin’s wife frigg was of Aesir while jord or fjorgyn was of Earth, and mother several other Gods and goddesses. Freyr and freyja are Vanir hostages, given to Aesir after Ragnarok, whom brought magical treasures that proved useful to the gods. Njord was a sea-god and also given to Aesir.
All this talk about the gods and Aesir will come back to have greater significance in the next chapter.
The valkyrjas: The olden word for the valkyries. demigoddesses that sometimes assisted mortal Warriors and some falling in love with mortal Heroes. valykrjas appear both mortal and supernatural. Fai’s previous wear in the beginning chapter had more to do with the valyrjas than what is normal for other women. More on common dress code - pun unintended - in following chapters.
Name of the Days: Before Mon-, Tues-, Wednes-, Thurs-, Fri-, Satur-, and Sun- day, they were known as Moon's Day, Tyr's Day, Odin's Day, Thor's Day, Freya's Day, Wash Day and Sun's Day.
Socks were available, whilst those super poor and unable to buy any might use hay grass or moss to line His shoes, Norse socks were nálbinding (needle-binding) together with undyed wool. They were great for keeping feet warm. You could step in snow in your socks and still have warm feet. Although if you did that, then you usually had to stick your socked feet near fire to dry them.
At the tavern: back then, technically for Kurogane, He would have been more of a bondsman rather than simply a slave, although neither is fully apt, both being acceptable ways to look at His position right now. A bondsman is one who could not pay their debts and had to work for their creditors until they were able to do so, while slaves were often captured or traded for. Due to the deal He agreed to with Fai, after their rescue-capture, Kurogane would be listed as property, and able to earn back His freedom under limiting circumstances.
Multiple Viking books used, including The Vikings: A History by Robert Ferguson and A Dark History: Vikings by Martin J Dougherty.
The smell of the crisping autumnal air permeated the expanse of space of the Mokona. The scent of nutmeg and fresh baked apples and cinnamon from when Fai had been cooking in the kitchen flowed through the lower decks, and the chilled nipping air of the sea from above. sakura’s cold had receded and while Fai taught sakura about how to cook the desserts He had been currently making in the cast iron skillet so she could make them on her own one day, Kurogane was keeping up training Syaoran. The Youth was maturing, and not as antisocial as before, and He contributed that in large part to the daughter of the Witch just being His friend. He didn’t have anyone His age to talk to, albeit the occasions when they went to port, and He wasn’t all that chatty as His mother was the type to really chat, but she had been taken away early. Kurogane loved His Son dearly, and did His best to look out for Him. Fai was similar, but not. Fai took care of Him, of everyone equally weal. There was a certain element about Him that He could guess where the point of dangerous to the point of deadly - a fine line - was, and dodge it with as little as the breadth of a hair. There was a certain extent of peril He led them into, while allowing themselves to be responsible for their own weal at the same time. Kurogane noted that He was normally all smiles, be it with children or teasing Him or battling an army, the smile hardly changed but they didn’t have to; His eyes spoke for Him.
Fai landed the Mokona in a friendlier port - temporary removal of the figurehead was proof of that - where trade caused the land to be quite prosperous. Vikings and other traders were freely welcomed to come and go into port. The umhall’s leader taxed all of the citizens’ wares. Ale food and property, anything and everything sold by the town, a small portion went to Him. Fai thought it was a fairer way than to tax people the same amount, even those who couldn’t afford to pay it because their wares didn’t sell as easily. If the town was taxed the same amount for each individual, some would collapse quickly under rising debts while others would hardly be inconvenienced. This way, if someone’s wares did not sell, it was not the end of their world.
When they disembarked from the safety of the vessel, Fai noticed a glimpse of fur as his feline Seishirou chased the mouse and followed it off of the ship, into the port lands.
While at this port, Fai shopped about, trading wares with the townsfolk and gathering more information. Syaoran went with and listened, so that He may learn to barter and gather information like Fai.
Kurogane watched the interactions between the local civilians and Fai, as Fai chirped pleasantly, with a light laugh in His voice as He gathered information, including where the locals recommended was the best tavern around. Getting instructions to a local establishment, Fai thanked the locals graciously, before leading most of His small crew there, having Kurogane carry back the wares first before joining them. Kurogane lightly grumbled that it was “such a pain” even as He did as Fai asked of Him.
Fai made lively chatter with other customers, and let them tell tales of their own, while the two children and Kurogane hardly spoke, only spoke when addressed for comment. Kurogane didn’t have much to add to the conversation, and since He was claimed as property until a debt was considered repaid, then the only people His input mattered most to was the children and Mother of the ship. At one point in the meal, sakura spoke in hushed tones with Fai, asking permission for something, and getting it, to a degree.
Yet while back aboard the Mokona, sakura shared stories with the Father and Son, spake of Gods and goddesses, of the worship of Yggdrasil, the trunk visible in the night sky, of the Aesir family, descendants of Odin, spake of His wife Frigg, goddess of childbirth, spake tales she had heard that were not writ down in either of the two books they possessed. she spake of freya, the goddess of love and sex and that around the time of harvest, freya would cry tears of gold, at the absence of her harvest-Husband, spake of her twin, Frey, God of the Sun and the rain and the fruitfulness of the lands, and the valkyrjas, demigoddesses who claimed those great Warriors slain in battle. she spake of the twin gods Ull and Ulla, the Gods of Hunting and Skiing, of Fjorgyn and fjorgynn, of Njord and Nerthus, of shergerda and irpa, of Od and oth, Od who was married to freya. she spake of Bragi, the God of poetry...
she shared many tales with Syaoran of the Gods and goddesses and their lives while Fai overheard and distracted Himself by working on making the Father and Son a new pair of socks with the undyed wool He had purchased in the port. The harsh season of winter would be there before they knew it and whilst Fai and sakura could survive on the freezing waters due to a very powerful ally Fai never revealed, He felt somewhat conflicted. Kurogane and Syaoran were land raised and there were several ports that welcome a Vikings stay during the frozen months yet He had never docked at one during those frozen months like the others. As sakura told Them, they had never stopped at a foreign port for longer than a fortnight. And to take them back to the lands of before would be to prove He was a liar. He wasn’t sure He was ready for that.
As the afternoon faded, Kurogane chopped up some wood before putting a couple pieces under the cooking pot, right into the fire cooking their dinner. Using the stoker, He poked them into place, flames licking at the wood before the logs caught enough fire He wasn’t worried about them going back out and Kurogane set the poker down before stirring the stew inside. With that part taken care of for now, He went on to do other chores around the ship.
After dinner, Syaoran asked questions about the tales sakura shared with Him, to learn more about them, and she answered each one to the best of her abilities, while they did small work around the ship.
From Moon’s Day to Tyr’s day and Tyr’s day to Odin’s day, sakura shared those stories with Syaoran about the Gods and goddesses, and on Thor’s day, she spake of a land instead, a land that had grassy meadows all year long, a terraced irrigation system that had never faltered and streams that got bigger as they went to the port of town, and used, making chalice wells with waters most clear that the stones beneath could always be seen, where townspeople would take a golden or silver chalice and drink the waters from the wells.
A land that was decorated with stones for the horses and people to walk upon and each home had its own walls decorated uniquely, the windows were filled with stone so see-through, the clouds that rolled up from below and went through the town even during the afternoon were visible as they floated leisurely with the wind. Locals claimed if you tossed a child up into the wind, they would float away. It was a land rich with all sorts of resources. sakura spake the land was blessed by the gods and had not struggled with large strife for hundreds of years, conflicts easily resolved between the peoples, and any large disputes were settled in court.
Temples were erected to pray to the many gods that had blessed the lands, and the sea around, and the people, each deity having their own temple.
In the middle of the land was a palace built of white rocks with towering pillars to support the weight. A golden layer encrusted with precious stones, making elaborate paintings, made the outer and inner walls radiate. Windows as high above the floor with panes made with the colors of the rainbow.
A land with places with fire that always burned, where lakes were either frigid cold or bubbling hot, there was little in between. A land where the villages among the mountain range were docile as the grazing cattle. A land where sands were fine and golden brown or shades of ivory and some were gathered to make time counting pieces while others were made into building blocks for much of the homes there. A land where music filled the streets as bards played their tunes every afternoon and all the day on Sun’s day. A land where medicine was forged and markets were stocked with the abundant resources.
Syaoran asked more about that, and sakura continued to explain about the land until Fai interrupted. “The land was, but it was betrayed and so it fell below the ocean.” sakura discontinued any more telling of those lands that day.
On Freya’s day, the stories paused for most of the day, as Fai had them set sail. As they got ready to retire for the evening, ribbons of lights came to life across the sky. sakura explained they were the spirits of the animals departed. Vibrant greens and gentler blues and purple danced through the heavens. Fai was entirely quiet about this as He watched the sky, and Kurogane spent minutes shifting His own gaze between the lights and the children and Fai before ushering them all to bed. On Wash day, Fai kept sakura too busy washing clothes and the animals to share stories, stories too painfully close to the truth.
Two days after leaving the last port, Fai was looking for something. That day, it appeared it was Seishiro, His feline, who had returned to the ship carrying a dead mouse. Why He insisted that all the animals be washed then lingered as an unasked question. So far. But when Fai appeared holding Seishiro, Kurogane shook His head, "Is it really worth the trouble to catch Seishiro... for a bath?"
Fai held Seishiro by the scruff of His neck with one hand. Fai's arms were pretty scratched, and His sleeves and His backside had some claw-made rips into them that were fresh, some having welts of blood. But Fai was not releasing the other just yet. He turned to face Kurogane, and there was a glint in His eyes that Kurogane almost never saw there.
"Yes," Fai said solidly, "Yes, it's very worth it." And Kurogane held no doubts that Fai solidly believed those very words. The urgent, panic that held some volume in His voice told Him more than the words themselves. As if it twere a decision that would affect if someone lived or died.
Kurogane let out a sigh, and began to move closer. "After His bath, I'll clean those for you." Kurogane said, lightly pointing at Fai's arms, indicating the scratches.
"There's no need for Kurogane; I can take weal of myself," Fai began.
Kurogane then hit Fai with one of the blonde's own lines. "What about those on your back? You can’t reach them, and injuries sustained are best treated before they turn into bigger problems." Turnabout is fair play, as far as Kurogane was concerned. The Blond had used His about gender; He used the Blond’s about injuries.
“Really, Kurogane...”
"Just shut up already, and give Seishiro His bath.”
Fai didn’t need to be told twice as He headed for the washroom with the cat.
The next day, Fai made a detour from his coursed out route and stopped Mokona in a small port town called Fate Hills. At port, there were two girls, helping at port. They welcomed them excitedly, wearing dresses similar to what the women of his family wore in fall. If it weren’t for the obvious differences, He’d have thought they were back near the Nihon Isles.
“Welcome to Fate Hills,” the two girls said perfectly in sync, coming over to greet the four of them.
“Ah! Welcome back Fai of D, and sakura, Fai-daughter..!”
“Why thank you…” Fai said smiling friendly at the girls.
“It seems you have Two others amongst yourselves. Will They be joining yourselves here?”
“Ah, yes… yes they are… We have… Kurogane, Suwa-Son and Syaoran, Kurogane-Son, as well,” Fai grinned.
“Very well … we’ll be sure to pass along the word.”
Fai was casual as He asked about the latest news there, seeming way too friendly with the girls, while Kurogane watched the other, not showing any interest in the two young women. Instead, His gaze fell on Fai as He chatted with the women. It didn’t seem very important, just village gossip. Instead, He just paid attention to their body language. Fai acted comfortable, but He also seemed a bit… off. No doubt He was hiding stuff again.
sakura had been the one to really notice that Kurogane’s interest was in her Mother, and she grinned with a bright smile. she just hoped things were going weal between her Mother and Syaoran’s Father. she quietly wished her Mother would, or had, come to love Syaoran’s Father; she quietly giggled as she thought to check on how They were coming along. Fai had made her a promise, and she intended to see it through.
Syaoran eyed sakura questioningly, before she winked at Him, and mouthed without voice to the Boy. Help me join them together. Syaoran looked at her with a soft bewildered look, gesturing with a finger as He spoke in the same fashion ‘your Mother with my Father?’ and sakura nodded, in agreement. ‘Aye. my Mother with your Father.’ she mouthed. He looked frozen as He thought about it but mouthed ‘I will do my best to help you’ to sakura. sakura smiled, filled with good intentions and a little trouble.
After Fai had gathered information from the girls, He bid them farewell, before sakura tugged on Fai’s coat sleeve. “Mother… how long will we be here this time?” she asked in a most innocent fashion.
“Till the full moon. We’ll leave the day after.”
sakura nodded, thinking, and Kurogane turned His gaze towards her, “Mother…would it be okay if I took Syaoran alone for a while? I would like to practice something with Him.”
Kurogane was a bit surprised, and raised an eyebrow. Practice… what?
Fai looked towards His daughter and then to Syaoran, before placing a hand on His shoulder. “Do you agree?”
Syaoran nodded, “Aye, I agree.”
“Very well, you may.” Gesturing for them to leave, He only offered a parting, “Stay safe.”
“No worries, Mother. I have my skillet, and Syaoran has His sword. We’ll keep each other safe.” sakura said, as it was drilled to always have a weapon handy, then took Syaoran’s hand and ran off, more or less, carting Him after her.
Fai smiled as He watched the children leave further into the port town, before turning His attentions to Kurogane. “Kuro-sea, may I ask a favor of you too?”
Historical Corner:
Apples, cinnamon and nutmeg:
Based slightly on an apple pie for cast iron skillets and rissoles of fruit, which a known recipe uses figs, raisins, slightly sweet red wine, apples, pears, appropriate powders - spices themed for the fruit - sugar cinnamon clove mace nutmeg ginger etc, whole spice - spices such as anise grains of paradise etc. Certain ingredients, for example - chocolate and vanilla were much harder to obtain because of the rarity, so anything like hot chocolate with vanilla would have been considered more a drink worthy of presenting to royalty and the gods. For those interested, here’s a website for olden recipes: http://www.godecookery.com/mtrans/mtrans.htm
The Gods and goddesses: As I have been trying to do since learning of the method, Male Gods are capitalized while female goddesses or demigoddesses are lowercase, same with other names. Plural Male plural female, plural mixed company. Most of these Gods and goddesses come from old Norse mythology while some stem from other roots. One thing to note, according to Norse mythology, the All-Father, Odin, gave birth to many of the Aesir and his foreknowledge echoed the Norse warrior’s fatalism: death is inevitable but word-fame lasts forever. Odin’s wife frigg was of Aesir while jord or fjorgyn was of Earth, and mother several other Gods and goddesses. Freyr and freyja are Vanir hostages, given to Aesir after Ragnarok, whom brought magical treasures that proved useful to the gods. Njord was a sea-god and also given to Aesir.
All this talk about the gods and Aesir will come back to have greater significance in the next chapter.
The valkyrjas: The olden word for the valkyries. demigoddesses that sometimes assisted mortal Warriors and some falling in love with mortal Heroes. valykrjas appear both mortal and supernatural. Fai’s previous wear in the beginning chapter had more to do with the valyrjas than what is normal for other women. More on common dress code - pun unintended - in following chapters.
Name of the Days: Before Mon-, Tues-, Wednes-, Thurs-, Fri-, Satur-, and Sun- day, they were known as Moon's Day, Tyr's Day, Odin's Day, Thor's Day, Freya's Day, Wash Day and Sun's Day.
Socks were available, whilst those super poor and unable to buy any might use hay grass or moss to line His shoes, Norse socks were nálbinding (needle-binding) together with undyed wool. They were great for keeping feet warm. You could step in snow in your socks and still have warm feet. Although if you did that, then you usually had to stick your socked feet near fire to dry them.
At the tavern: back then, technically for Kurogane, He would have been more of a bondsman rather than simply a slave, although neither is fully apt, both being acceptable ways to look at His position right now. A bondsman is one who could not pay their debts and had to work for their creditors until they were able to do so, while slaves were often captured or traded for. Due to the deal He agreed to with Fai, after their rescue-capture, Kurogane would be listed as property, and able to earn back His freedom under limiting circumstances.
Multiple Viking books used, including The Vikings: A History by Robert Ferguson and A Dark History: Vikings by Martin J Dougherty.