014

It didn't take much time to sculpt something what looks similar to bowling pins and bowling balls. However, the badminton racket was more of a challenge, crossing the tendons through wood was a tedious task, I got it all done in four days, but only because I was a little lazy, Now I needed an excuse to visit the farm again, if I only showed up with these toys, it could damage my image. I decided to wait a few days, until then I went back to my daily activities and duties.

Seven days later I visited Arne again, under the guise of arranging delivery, it was so stupid that I was surprised myself that I hadn't come up with a better lie.

However, the gods favor me, there are now completely new opportunities. When I got there, Arne was sitting at home with a broken leg, it turned out that while hunting a wild boar, the animal attacked him and it was unfortunate that Arne was too slow. He was glad to see me, he had someone to drink with.

- Ulf, what brings you to me today?

- I wanted to discuss some more things, but it doesn't matter now until you recover.

- I don't know if you've heard, but apparently a berserker has appeared in the area, provoking conflicts with farmers and artisans, challenging them to duels. He hasn't killed anyone yet, injured a few people, he won all the fights and made quite a lot of money from it.

I read about such incidents in the sagas once, it was nothing unusual. Someone just took advantage of the loopholes in the law, I did a similar thing with my father.

- I am the first to hear about something like that in this area, but it's good to know. I'll have to be careful when a stranger visits me.

We talked about a variety of topics, and it wasn't even an hour when Lagertha returned home. She greeted me and when she was about to go to her duties, I stopped her.

- It's good that I can see you, recently you asked me about football, there is a package next to the entrance to the house, it's a gift for you.

Lagertha left the house to see her gift, and I turned to Arne, drank a beer, and went back to our interrupted conversation.

After a few minutes she came back surprised with the package in her hands.

- Ulf, what is this?

I took the package from her, I put its contents on the table and started explaining to her.

- These are bowling pins, you set them, and then from a distance you have to roll the balls to knock them over, and these are badminton rackets, each person takes one and with their help they bounce the shuttlecock between themselves. The best way to do it is through some kind of fence or mesh.

I explained the rules to Lagertha, of course aside from those that make no sense and make the sport boring. She set up the bowling pins immediately and started testing them by making me play with her ... and she kicked my ass.

- You see, just because I came up with something doesn't mean I'll be good at it. If you want to test badminton then do it with your mother, I had a few beers with your father.

She obeyed me and started to talk her mother into playing. Arne was curious to see what it would look like, so I helped him hobble in front of the house.

At first they both played a little awkwardly, but after a few minutes they felt more confident and there was a lot of laughter. I sat outside with Arne and we sipped our drinks.

- Ulf, how did you get the idea?

- I don't know, I just sat down, thought and came up with it. I've always had a lot of weird ideas. Perhaps because I lived in the forest for seven years and had to deal with everything alone ... Arne, do you know this man? He is standing a little further on the left, leaning against a tree.

- No, this is the first time I see him around here. Perhaps he is curious about this new game.

- Maybe, but he doesn't look like someone who lives off making pots, but one who lives off smashing them.

I was right, after a few minutes the man approached us and his attitude showed that he was here to cause problems. He was perhaps in his thirties, with a large scar on his face that ran from his left temple to his cheek. About my height, 170 centimeters tall. His voice was harsh and low, and he wore a chain mail, and had a wolf skin thrown over his shoulders.

He looked at me, then at Arne.

- This is your farm?

- Yes

- And these women?

- My wife and daughter, why do you ask and who are you?

- My name is Knud the Red. I wonder how such an "argr" can have such a daughter, she probably isn't yours.

It was an open provocation, after which Arne could only challenge him to a duel, unfortunately with a broken leg his chances were close to zero ... the only chance for Arne to win was if Knud fell on his sword. Lagertha and her mother heard the exchange, before Arne spoke, I decided to take over the duel ... and win in the eyes of my future wife.

- Knud the Red, I think I heard about you. Wasn't you the one who got caught fucking a pig?

- You ...

- Sorry, I was wrong ... it was your wife, in the light of the day it's hard to tell one from the other. I wonder how you were not disgusted by going to the pigsty with her ... I mean bed.

I was challenged to a duel, to be held in three days, at crossroads.

- Ulf, you didn't have to do this ...

- Arne, under normal circumstances, you would have won, but your leg is broken. That is why he has chosen you as his target. You'd like to risk your wife and daughter's future by fighting him now ... anyway, I need to stretch my bones.