4 IV. The Family (1/2)

The main room was not so large but seemed anyway the widest zone of the house.

From the chimney, it was possible to see two other rooms, both on the back of the hall, one on the left and one on the right, immediately next.

Through the first one, Dag could spot a big bed and two smaller ones: everything was tidy and clean, Asa should have been a careful housewife.

The second door was half opened, so, curious, he started moving in that direction, when the woman came back, opening the door.

Dag stopped and feigned to warm his hands next to the fireplace.

”Don't be worried dear child, this is your home now, feel free. But take a bath first” chuckled Asa.

Then she hung the bucket on the fire, in the chimney and after a few minutes, the water started boiling.

”Why are there two small beds? Do you have kids?” answered Dag.

”Yes, I have. A boy and a girl”.

”And where are they now?”.

Asa chuckled again: ”you're so curious, aren't you? I don't know you yet, but I like your spirit”.

The woman smiled, for the first time since Dag met her, then she passed a hand through Dag's blonde hair. Her hand was not like Earth women's hands, seemed stronger and heavier.

Perhaps, without seeing, it felt like a man touch.

”Eirik is with his father in the woods, Gridd is at the town market. I sent her to buy some straw for the cows. They will be happy to find out they have a little brother now”.

”Is Gridd gone alone at the market? Is it not dangerous? The town is far from here” answered Dag.

In the meanwhile, Asa moved to the corner of the main room and emptied the bucket in a big barrel. The water was so hot that some vapor arose from its bottom, floating in the air.

Then she brought the bucket with her to repeat the process.

”It may be dangerous, yes. If you're weak. My daughter is probably stronger than me, she's being training to become a warrior. Every day in the morning, she goes to the Arena, and trains with the other warriors... then, when she comes back home, she helps me managing this house and our animals” said Asa, proud of her daughter.

”Taya said you're not a great warrior before… what happened? Did they test your combat skills in the Arena?”

”Yes, Taya did that. She threw me in the center of the arena just after my arrival on this Planet. I've been beaten by a boy bigger and taller than me, it was unfair!” whined Dag.

”Hahahaha, unfair! Ohohoh, my poor little boy…is there anything fair in this life? Listen, you can choose how to spend your time okay? You can study the archives at the Jernhest library, you can learn a job, you can become a good tailor or blacksmith, you can do whatever fits your skills! But if you choose to become a warrior what you have to do is to win. No matter if you do so fairly… you just win. Life can be cruel sometimes… and so is War”.

Asa opened the door again, to reach the well, when Dag saw a man in a distance, walking slowly to the house.

”Asa!” called frightened Dag.

She turned her head in that direction: ”don't worry child, I know him. He's your father”.