Chapter 4

CHAPTER FOUR

STEVE

I woke up to the sound of Reykr's snoring. Our tent was tiny, but that hadn't stopped him from sprawling outlimbs everywhere, leaving me pressed to the far side, with one of his hands hanging over my face. While it was nice that I was warm, I didn't really appreciate his attempt to smother me in his sleep.

"Hey." I shoved his hand off my face, and he mumbled something about breakfast. "You know, you aren't the best tent companion," I groused at him. He just rolled over and continued snoring.

I struggled out of my bedroll and slipped on my tunic and pants, pulling my boots over them. I ducked outside the tent, leaving Reykr. Tyr was already tending to the fire, heating a somewhat beaten up pot of gautr over it. Everyone in the tribe loved gautr. I thought it tasted like rotten fruit. I hoped that the Fyrifírar would have at least a few more breakfast offerings. I'd seen enough gautr for a lifetime.

I approached the fire with my hands outstretched, enjoying the warmth coming off of it.

"Oy," I called to Reykr, still in the tent, "If we get going we can reach Fyrifírar by the end of today."

Reykr emerged fully dressed. "What is the plan, boss?"

"Will you stop? We all know you are actually in charge here. I am just the face of the operation," I sighed.

"And as the face of the operation, what do you suggest?" Reykr continued, mocking.

I glowered at him. "We should walk our hestrs in, so we are showing we are coming peacefully and not with some battle plan. When I last saw Agnarr and Piper, Agnarr told me he was set to become the new jarl with Piper at his side, as jarlin. We should ask to speak with either Piper or Agnarr, to show respect for their joint leadership. If they ask to take our weapons, we should give them up willingly as a display of trust."

"Are you serious? You want to go into an unknown tribe on foot and let them take our weapons?" Reykr growled in disbelief. "I think we should agree on this as a group."

"Fine, let's talk it out. Tyr, Berit!" I called to them where they stood, tending to the hestrs, "We're trying to make a plan."

"Alright, what's the plan?" Tyr, the youngest, said as he dusted his hands feed off his hands.

Before I could start, Reykr interjected, "Steve wants us to walk our hestrs in and lay down our weapons as a show of coming in peace," he said derisively.

I sighed. "That isn't exactly what I said," I grumbled.

To my surprise, Berit spoke up, "I think that sounds fair, given how things went with Vátrfírar. I think if we approach this differently, we may have more success. Also, didn't you say that Agnarr and Piper came looking for baldrian just before the cold season?"

"Yes, and our healer Revna gave them a supply to last at least six mánuthurs with Lodin's permission."

"So don't they sort of owe us at least the opportunity to talk?" Tyr followed up.

"Já," Berit agreed, nodding, "This isn't like Vátrfírar. Agnarr and Piper know us and know we have helped them, even when we don't have the most welcoming reputation. I think your plan is reasonable."

Reykr looked around, realizing he was outnumbered, and threw up his hands. "Fine, fine. We shall arrive peacefully and give them our weapons. But only if they ask for them ."

"That includes the knife in your boot, too, you know. Nothing like breaking someone's trust by insisting you're unarmed and then sliding one extra knife out of a sock."

Mom had this saying I never quite understood— if looks could kill . I wasn't quite sure, but I believe this look that Reykr was giving me was accurate. As we reached the fork, we slowed to a stop. It wasn't long before a large male orc approached us. I placed Epli's reins in Reykr's hands and strode to meet him. I intentionally slowed my gait and placed out my hand. We grasped wrists in the traditional orkin greeting.

"Hello, I am Brandr, one of the guards of Fyrifírar" he said solemnly.

"I am Steve. We come as visitors from Snaerfírar."

Brandr's eyebrows shot up. "Steve? The Steve?" he questioned.

I looked from side to side, confused, as if there could possibly be another Steve standing next to me, "I guess? I am the only Steve I know from my tribe." Maybe they had a Steve in their tribe.

To my even greater surprise, Brandr pulled me into a bone-crushing embrace before letting me go to take a good look at me, "You are exactly as Agnarr described you. He and Piper will be so thrilled you are here. Come, come, let's get you all settled. Introduce me to your fellow travelers."

After introductions, Brandr gave us the opportunity to shower and provided us with some fresh clothes, then escorted us to Agnarr's cabin. Before we even reached the double doors, they were flung open and Agnarr stepped out.

"Brandr, the other guards informed me the Snaerfírar arrived over an hour ago. Have you been interrogating them?" he asked sarcastically.

"No, I let them bathe and gave them fresh clothes. I thought they might want to freshen up before meeting the jarl of Fyrifírar." Brandr rolled his eyes.

However, instead of reprimanding his subordinate for giving him lip, Agnarr shook his head and punched Brandr's shoulder familiarly. The jarl motioned at the rest of us to follow him inside.

"Just so we're clear, we would have happily accepted you into our home in travelworn clothes," he called over his shoulder as he led us through the entryway.

Agnarr seemed very unpretentious and mellow, very different from the leadership I was used to. We followed him to a large dining table with platters of meat pies and other pastries. Agnarr waved to indicate that we should all sit while he passed around the food. It took quite a bit of restraint not to stuff an entire meat pie in my mouth. It was delicious. Once everyone had taken some food, Agnarr spoke.

"I must admit, after your skirmish with Magna and his followers, I am surprised you still decided to visit, given his thoughts on humans, I wasn't sure you'd still want to come."

He looked at me as if already aware I was behind the reason for the visit.

"Ah, well, we're sorry about that." I wasn't sure if he was pleased with how we dispatched of the older orkin.

"Don't be," Agnarr said seriously. "You convinced them of what we couldn't—that humans should be treated as equals. Magna and his followers are still earning their place back amongst us. Our tribe is at peace now, so I promise you won't encounter any intolerance like his here."

"Uh… sweet? I mean, thank you, that is high praise coming from you," I said, not sure how to respond to such a compliment.

"Sweet?" Agnarr asked, confused.

"It's American slang, babe," a voice came from behind me. "It means awesome."

I turned to see Piper. She gave me a big grin. "It was pretty sweet the way you handed their asses to them."

That phrase was new to me, but I gathered her meaning. Piper looked well. Much better than when I'd seen her at the beginning of the cold season. Her face was fuller, happier, and her wavy hair hung longer past her shoulders.

"Good to see you again, Piper. You seem well." I grinned back at her.

"I am very happy," she said, locking eyes with Agnarr in a way that was, frankly, obscene.

I looked away, blushing. At moments like that, I was painfully aware of my lack of experience with females. I'd never had anyone I wanted to look at the way Piper and Agnarr looked at each other.

"So, Lodin told us to expect you. I can't say I am surprised you chose to come before the snows melted," Agnarr said.

"That was my idea. Our guards tend to get restless during the snowy season and I was anxious to start building relationships with other tribes. Now that I had no…" I trailed off. I wasn't ready to explain my own personal reasons for coming.

"Now that you had no…?" Piper asked, picking up my sentence where I'd trailed off.

Reykr cleared his throat. "Steve has been eager to visit the other tribes of Niflheim for a fair few many árs, but our tribal leadership has always been able to come up with one reason or another as to why he should stay in the safety of Snaerfire. They are very protective of him—he's a beloved member of our tribe and one of our most valuable trackers. But Steve decided that this winter was the time. We are the lucky ones he specifically selected to join him on this endeavor. I believe your human females might have something to do with why these two came." He nodded to Tyr and Berit

"Well, we welcome the opportunity to learn from our brothers from the north, but I'd be wary of the human women. They are a force to be reckoned with," Agnarr said, taking a sip of his drink. "Is there anything, in particular, you are looking to find out?"

I could tell Agnarr knew this was more than just some peacekeeping, relationship-building endeavor. He could tell this trip was personal for me. I sighed and decided the truth was the best option.

"My mother passed long ago, and my father died recently. It seemed like the right time to step out and explore the other tribes."

Agnarr studied me, saying nothing. What was the look in his eyes—sympathy? I placed my hands in my lap, unsure of what else to say. I felt as if I had just bared my soul to the table. We sat in silence for a moment, and it was Piper who finally spoke.

"Steve, I am afraid we don't have any half-orkin here. But what Agnarr told you at the beginning of winter was true. We have twelve human women. We also have a tribe that has agreed fully and completely to the integration and acceptance of the humans. Even if you aren't certain what you are looking for, you are welcome to see if you find it here. Even if you only stay for a season."

"You'd let us stay a season?" I asked, stunned.

"There are only a handful of you, and I am sure you are willing to work to earn your keep," Agnarr said. "But why don't we see if you like it here before you make any long-term commitments?"

"I think there are some empty rooms amongst the single males, though some of you might have to take on a roommate," Piper said.

"Oh, that shouldn't be a problem," I said. But I felt the eyes of my tribemates on me. I didn't know if they wanted to stay for a season. "Even if we only stay a short time, not sleeping on the ground would be great," I finished lamely.

"Well then, let's get you settled in before the evening meal. We can get your belongings taken to your rooms and we may need to pull an extra bed in from storage. Brandr, can you get their packs from the stables and I'll show them to their rooms?" Agnarr asked.

"At your service, Jarl Agnarr ." Brandr saluted.

"Will you give it a rest!?" Agnarr growled.

"Never."

The jarl stood and ushered us out of his home, stopping to envelope Piper in a hug. "See you at dinner, Jarlin Piper," he teased.

"You're insufferable," she said with a laugh as she waved us all out. "I look forward to introducing you all at dinner."

I was sharing a room with Reykr, but it was fine. I had my own bed and there was no guard standing outside our door as there had been in Vátrfírar. Reykr, Tyr, and Berit decided to nap until dinner, given that none of us had slept well on the road. But my mind was restless. Instead of trying to sleep I quietly slipped out of the room. Maybe I could do some exploring on my own.