065

(Floki / Torstein POV)

- They are beautiful ... (giggle) majestic ... and beautiful... I've never seen anything like...

- Floki ... Floki !!!

- Yes, Torstein?! You are as tiring as a fly ... that flies by the ear (giggle).

- I asked you if you know who made them? You don't have to repeat that they are beautiful ... I can see it for myself.

- Torstein, how little you see ... Ulf made it... Tyr, Freya and Allfather.

- How do you know? Did you see or did he tell you about it? He's been busy all the time lately ... would he have time to sculpt?

- Torstein, I'm a carpenter too, these lines, details, chisel marks ... (giggle) I know Ulf's tools ... his furniture and ornaments ... look at Freya's full breasts ... someone who loves Gods made these statues.

(End POV)

I got up rather late, the sun was already high in the sky, I ate breakfast and went to see my work in the daylight ... A large crowd gathered around the statues, judging by their expressions they were surprised, but also pleased, a few people greeted me, and the questions immediately started ... as I didn't want to explain one by one, I went to the center and spoke to everyone.

- People of Kattegat, these statues were made by me. I've been working on them for the past six months, they are a sign of appreciation for the changes that have taken place in this settlement ... for better harvests, for better raids, for more wealth we have. Let us be grateful to the Gods who sent us this ...

Then I asked the priestess to perform the ritual and make the appropriate sacrifice ... my task was done ... and with Freya's breasts in front of my eyes, I thought about Itta and that she was training too little lately.

I was sitting in the kitchen at the table, sipping one of the sweetest wines looted in the west, and Itta was kneeling in front of me, pleasing me with her mouth. Suddenly Siggy entered the kitchen and was a little embarrassed at the sight of us ...

- Jarl Ulf, everyone is assembled and waiting only for you.

She already wanted to leave ...

- Siggy wait a minute ...

Siggy looked at me not knowing what I might want from her.

- ...Give people something to drink and eat, Itta will finish her duties soon, it won't take long ... A few minutes later I was on my way to the main hall, I sat down at the table, my closest people were sitting next to me ... I gargled my throat with wine.

- The last six months I've been busy and didn't do a lot of things, but each of you got assignments last year ... I'd like to know about the progress and is there anything that requires special attention? Another thing is winter training. What is our people's progress and does anything require my attention? Floki, I'll have a few questions for you about my fleet and new ships ... but first ... Skål!

- Floki, we'll start with you, what did you manage to do over the winter?

- (giggle) ... We built seven new ships, the Christian slaves helped me improve (giggle) the rudder and the sail, but our techniques are different.

- I understand, but maybe they will be useful. Their techniques are different, but that doesn't mean they have to be worse. Floki, one more thing ... we need a dozen small boats to move between the islands ... now Leif and One-Eye, how are people training?

- Ulf, big improvement compared to last year. There are also a few who stand out from the rest.

- One-Eye, you got a few test crossbows and some for using them. What do you think about them?

- Deadly at 90 to 125 meters, it can penetrate a thick shield and hurt the enemy. You can also keep it loaded for longer, compared to your bow. The tactics you devise, row fire or volley fire, are effective, but only with a large number of crossbowmen. Loading also requires more effort.

- Try to convince people to use this weapon, one bolt can do more damage than a few arrows ... how about horseshoes, stirrups and saddles?

- People are not used to horse fighting, these things make it easier, but we lack experience and horses.

Then it was the turn of the others, each of them reported on individual projects. The three slave islands were almost finished. Each of the islands was a separate industrial district. Blacksmiths, weavers and alcohol producers each had their own place ... and most importantly, they weren't directly in Kattegat ... I didn't want some Spartacus here.

- Everything looks good, from the larger projects we have to complete the construction of the wall ... When it is finished, it is near the settlements we conquered. We will build alarm towers, in the event of an attack, just set fire to such a tower and we will know that something has happened ... then we will transfer most of the slaves to the mine. Houses and farms will be built there, and the rest will mine copper.

- Ulf, are you planning any raids this year?

- Rollo, I have to think about it, if it's going to be raid, it's one big. I have the right goal, but I'm not sure if we have enough people ... we can offer a Danish slave to participate, if they help us, they will be free ... if they survive, of course.

At this I finished our meeting, we drank a cup of wine and everyone went to their duties ... I was sitting in a chair thinking about this raid, when suddenly Lagertha called me.

- Ulf, you can put Yrsa to sleep, she's very grumpy today.

As a good father and exemplary husband, I couldn't say no to my wife ... I mean I could have refused her, but tonight Lagertha would have refused me.

I went to our bedroom, where was also our daughter's cradle ... I sat down next to her and started to sing.

"Oj, zaria ty, zoriuszka, zoriuszka wiecz'erniaja, Oj, liuli, liuli, zoriuszka wieczerniaja.

Zoriuszka wieczierniaja sołnyszka waschożeje, Oj, liuli, liuli, sołnyszka waschożeje.

Wysako sounce wschadi a dalioka swietila, Oj, liuli, liuli... a dalioka swietila.

I na lies i na polie, i na sinieje morie.

Oj, liuli, liuli...

Tak na siniem-ta morje, tam liażała dosteczka. Oj, liuli, liuli...

Dosteczka dubowaja, pieriekładka sasnowaja. Oj, liuli, liuli...

Tak po etaj-ta dosteczkie nikto nie chażewał. Oj, liuli, liuli...

Da nikto nie chaż'ewał, nikawo nie ważewał. Oj, liuli, liuli..."