[ Tae ]

“That’s a lot of wood… wonder how much we’ll get for that.” Said Tae as he wiped the sweat from his forehead.

[ Eric ]

“Depends on how many will be left.”

[ Tae ]

“Left? What are you plotting this time?”

[ Eric ]

“I already ended my plotting. I used you to gather wood for my new home.”

[ Tae ]

“You did what!?”

[ Eric ]

“I used you. Kind of. When I’ll build my new house you’ll finally have an entire building for yourself!”

[ Tae ]

“You mean this entire shack?”

[ Eric ]

“YUP!”

[ Tae ]

“I’m moving in with you…”

[ Eric ]

“No, you don’t! If you want your house just build one.”

[ Tae ]

“Then I need materials for that…” Said Tae as he looked at my wood… MY WOOD!

[ Eric ]

“If you want wood I can sell you some…”

[ Tae ]

“Wait… I was the one who helped you with that!”

[ Eric ]

“I know.”

[ Tae ]

“So give me some of it!”

[ Eric ]

“Nope.”

[ Tae ]

“Why not?!”

[ Eric ]

“Because you helped me without the intention of getting paid.”

[ Tae ]

“Because you tricked me!”

[ Eric ]

“I did? How do you know? Do you feel all right?” I asked Tae as I checked his temperature. “Would you look at that? Your forehead is really hot. Maybe you’re sick…”

[ Tae ]

“I’m sick of you!”

[ Eric ]

“Don’t know that sickness. Is that a Korean name for sickens?”

Tae just left without a word. Didn’t annoy him that much in a long time. It was probably the first time that he was that pissed. He might finally not be that naive. The downside of that will be that I no longer would be able to use him…

Don’t know much about building houses but it went well… I think. I don’t know if it was stupid or not but I build a wall like it were a puzzle. One joint with another by a hole. It seemed stable so I left it like that. I left the front wall for later because I don’t know how I would get the doors and I need to somehow enter this building. For the floor, I decided to buy planks. I connected them almost the same way as the walls. The only thing missing are doors, windows, furniture, and a roof above my head.

To see if I can get doors, windows, and furniture or know where to look I went to Galmar to ask him about it. Haven’t seen him in a long time and probably not gonna see him for a long time because he wasn’t at the marketplace even his stand wasn’t there.

[ Eric ]

“Excuse me. Do you know anything about Galmar? Usually, that was his spot.” I asked the man that had a stall right beside Glamar’s place.

[ Merchant ]

“Like merchants do he just switched places to get new merchandise and sell the current one. He might be back in around two months or so.”

[ Eric ]

“Huh. Got it. Thank you very much.” I said as I gave him a bronze coin.

Looks like I’m going to improvise with everything. The furniture won’t be a problem but doors and windows are another story. I built walls of my own so I can figure out everything else. The bed might not be comfortable because things like pillows or at least fur are hard to get in here.

I would say that I did a good job with doing chairs and table but how do I do a toilet? I rather not piss in the forest like I did while living in the hut… While I was figuring out how to build a shelf my tattoo began to itch and shine a little.

[ Eric ]

“Don’t tell me… He is here!”

There was not much time to think. I just ran out of my house and went to the village. I was hoping for that guy to just hide somewhere but no he definitely wasn’t hiding. By the entrance to Astvar’s residence, there was a guard with a cut throat and one with a hole on side of his head. People were looking and panicking but no one dared to enter the building. Whatever happened it definitely scared them all.

Once I stepped into the building I saw more dead bodies. One guard with his face crushed into the staircase. One was hanging on a metal chandelier with his blood dripping down on the carpet. It looked like that guy was going toward Astvar’s room. I came running to his room but once I came in there was Astvar with a knife in his chest… He was… He was dead. The knife was embedded in his heart.

I felt the itching slowly fading. Once I looked out of the window I saw a boat sailing away from the dock with a figure that was covering himself with a grey cloak. Once again that man escaped from me and again, he took something from me and those close to me. I felt like going after him but he was too far to go now.

While I closed Astvar’s eyes Hakon barged in. He froze in place. He was shocked to see another family member dying. Now… He was alone. Seeing me, Hakon grabbed me and pressed me to the wall.

[Hakon]

“Did you do it?!”

[ Eric ]

“Why would I? When I came in… He already had a knife in his heart…” After those words, Hakon slowly put me down.

Astvar’s death hit me hard but not as hard as him. Might be because he wasn’t my father or Hakon is just a very emotional guy. He leaned against the wall and tried to make up his mind. Figuring out what to do now.

[ Hakon ]

“Before anything, we should make a funeral for my father. Everything else can wait for now…”

[ Eric ]

“I’ll do whatever I can to help.”

[ Hakon ]

“Thank you… and sorry for accusing you…”

[ Eric ]

“Probably I would do the same if I saw some foreigner standing right by my friend's dead body. Don’t beat yourself up for what you did.”

Hakon did what was needed to do. He announced Astvar’s death and got preparations ready for the funeral. Everyone cried because of the news. Few guards were known for being tough it was almost clear that they were hiding their tears under helmets before everyone.

The ship was almost ready to swim away with Astvar’s body. People were putting many things into the ship like coins, flowers, and bow with arrows. In his hands, he had his favorite sword. They put some hay on the ship for fire. Before everything was ready the sun was slowly setting.

[ Eric ]

“Hakon. I know I wasn’t here for long but let me make a request.”

[ Hakon ]

“You’ve been here short yet you have done so much. What request do you have?”

[ Eric ]

“I know this kind of funeral is appropriate for Vikings but let’s make two funerals. I don’t feel that good knowing that everything will be burned just like that… In my world to keep them ‘close’ we make a grave where we bury the body. I know that you need to burn a whole body so he would be whole on the other side but let’s keep a part of him in here…”

[ Hakon ]

“I see your reasoning but we must stay true to our tradition and the will of the gods.”

[ Eric ]

“What if it’ll only be some hair? Nothing that important like a hand or even a finger but always something.”

[ Hakon ]

“Hair you say? Well… I’ll allow that much because I also like that idea. Something so small like that is good. At least something. You can cut part of his hair before we send the ship into the sea meanwhile I’ll need to make a speech…”

I cut some of his hair. Enough to see them at first glance and not too much so his hair wouldn’t look weird. Meanwhile, Hakon tried to get his spirit ready for what he is about to say.

[ Hakon ]

“My father, Astvar Golden Edge was a good jarl for this village. Even though he wasn’t born here… he decided to rule this place with a kind heart and gentle hand. Thanks to him we survived more than twenty winters. He achieved so much on the battlefield that I’m sure he was taken to Valhalla by Valkyrie! It was a cowardly move by the murderer to kill someone like Astvar while he was weak in his bed. Drink to your heart’s content in Valhalla father…“ Said Hakon as he looked toward the sky knowing that his father is somewhere out there.

The boat was pushed into the sea. Everyone went silent and let the boat slowly drift away. One of the guards took a bow with an arrow set on fire. He took a deep breath and let go of the string, making the arrow hit the deck of the boat. All the people watched the burning boat until it sunk down into the deep waters. Now it was time to prepare a “grave” for Astvar. Although I wanted to do it today it was already dark but I couldn’t sleep at all…

With a little help from a local blacksmith, Taliar. We prepared a stone urn that will hold the peace of Astvar’s hair and a pillar that will hold it with a sign “Astvar, First and Great Jarl”.

With Hakon’s permission, we put it in front of Jarl’s house. I couldn’t put my feelings into words so I placed my fist on my chest by the heart. First followed Tae and Hakon but when I looked back I saw the whole village doing the same gesture. They all slowly brought flowers and placed them in front of a pillar.

They never did a funeral like that but it seems like they are willing to accept that kind of keepsake of dead ones. This village is truly… nice place to live in this world… I’m sorry Astvar that I couldn’t thank you for all you did for me. You don’t know how much you helped me with those simple gestures of kindness. Giving me a simple home. Giving me well-paid work… And keeping a secret about the one who blessed me. I can only promise you a few things.

First… I’ll try my best to protect this village the one that you loved. The one that became my home in this world that I was dragged into. Like you, I want these people to live in peace without anything to worry.

Second… I’ll help your son as much as I can. Since he became Jarl so suddenly he might be lost but I’ll help him with making the right decisions.

…And my last promise… I promise… No! I can assure you that I’ll find the person who killed you and MAKE HIM PAY FOR WHAT HE DID! FOR WHAT HE DID TO YOU AND FOR WHAT HE DID TO SKYGE’S FAMILY! I WILL KILL HIM!!!