As she followed Eirik through the front door, Las'Tai noticed the rest of the family getting up as well. Once outside, Eirik moved towards the large pile of firewood Las'Tai had gathered earlier and started stacking it up to build a fire. With the help of his family, they soon finished and Eirik grabbed the small barrel and the sack and moved them a safe distance away.

These preparations done, The fire was lit. It spread slowly in the beginning, but the lighting of several places quickly turned to small flames into a roaring fire. Taking a stand in with his back turned to the fire, facing his family and Las'Tai, Eirik started speaking.

"I thank you all for gathering with me as i Offer thanks to the gods." Turning around, He continued, "Odin, Allfather of the gods, strategist, General, King of Valhalla. I offer the best i have in sacrifice to you, in the hopes of gaining your wisdom and insight to see me through this coming conflict. Tor, Son of Odin, Protector of mankind, Greatest warrior in Valhalla. Grant me strength to crush my enemies. Tyr, Wisest of commanders. Grant me Clarity of mind to see through my enemies deception. Freja, Goddess of war and most beautifull of all women. Grant me the fury of all women, that i may drive the foe from my life!"

With these words, he threw the barrel and sack into the fire and his family started filtering away again.

Slowly coming up to Eirik, Las'Tai asked in a whisper "What was all this captain. What did you do here?"

Eirik responded in a low voice, "I sent a prayer and an offering to my gods. The barrel contained some of my own best mead and the sack contained a healthy portion of pork roast."

"So what happens now captain?"

"Now, Las'Tai. I intend to stand here and watch the fire carry my offering to the gods until nothing remains but ash and embers. During that time i shall ponder life, death and everything in between. You may join me if you wish. It will be around dawn before this fire burns down. Granddad will come out at some point and share a drink with us, and in the morning, the locals that have trouble with my actions will come and we will hold a Thing."

"What thing? And how will holding it solve anything?" Las'Tai asked, confused.

With a small laugh, Eirik explained, "*Thing* is the old norse word for a gathering of the influential local people, to discuss troubles or problems. Holding a Thing means i have called for this issue to be solved in a civil manner, through debate between adult people."

"That's more level headed than i would have expected from YOU, captain." She said with a smirk.

"Come on Las'Tai, you give me too little credit. I offered your mother peace before conflict, remember?? Besides, these are my people. I have known them all for as long as i can remember. I grew up in this place, in the very house we had dinner in a few hours ago. This, Las'Tai. This is as close to home as i will ever get in life." Eirik sighed deeply at this point. "And as long as i am who i am, i am not welcome here for more than short periods of time. Tomorrows debate will basically be me telling everyone to fuck off and mind their own business and that i will leave before trouble can come to them."

"If you know what is going to be said, why go through the trouble of calling this *"Thing* of yours?" She wondered.

"Because it is the right thing to do. These people deserve the chance to voice their concerns. Even if it is kind of redundant at this point." Eirik's eyes had not left the flames as they spoke. He was staring intently at the barrel and sack, the barrel having started to leak and the sack already black and burning around the pork roast inside.

On an impulse, he drew his blade and moved it slowly through the fire, letting the flames lick the cold steel.

"Why do you do that?" The curious lizard next to him asked.

"I remind the steel where it came from. Fire turned iron ore into this beautifull alloy steel i am holding in my hand. By reminding the steel where it came from, i hope to have some of the intensity captured in the blade."

Las'Tai didn't understand. How could a dead thing like a knife be reminded of anything?? It was just a tool.

"If it get's cold, do not hesitate to go back inside. I understand if this becomes boring and cold. I need to wait here." Eirik said, finishing their conversation. Las'Tai didn't leave though, instead choosing to huddle closer to the large fire and wait.

As the hours passed and the darkness slowly turned to light, the fire slowly died out and became smaller. As the sun crested the hill, their surroundings became more visible, Las'Tai noticed large rocks forming a circle around the dying fire. Glancing up at Eirik, he had still not moved. If not for his eyes roaming over the embers and the slow rise and fall of his chest as he breathed, he might have been a statue for all she knew.

At some point a bell started ringing somewhere in the land an soon after, the first person arrived at the fire and took up a place in front of one of the stones. over the next 15 minutes, the circle was slowly filled with people as they arrived and took an open spot. As the last on arrived, Eirik finally looked around.

Seeing the newcomers he turned around so he once again had his back to the fire and looked expectantly at the people that had gathered.

'"Good morning Eirik, and thank you for giving us the chance to talk this over" The man speaking was big and burly, but his tone of voice was soft and friendly.

"And a good morning to you as well Bjørn. I trust the forge is still running well?" Eirik replied in as friendly a manner.

"Indeed it is, but i don't think you called us all here for pleasantries. What is this business all about Eirik."

Taking a deep breath, Eirik prepared himself for the coming conflict.