"To'rvaler went to Staes Dy'refaksr. He was greeted at the gate by his cousins Bjarg and Hes`eri'er, who said,

  “Good morning To'rvaler, what business do you have here?”

  “I'm here to call Bj?rnar to court at Tcise'gawting.”

  The twins looked at each other apprehensively. “Are you sure you want to do this?” They asked,

  “Don't stand in my way, cousins, lest you get caught in my wake.” To'rvaler pushed past them to the middle of the farmyard and called Bj?rnar. He came out of his temple.

  “Good morning To'rvaler. What do you want?” He asked;

  “Bj?rnar Ejri'ks'on, I summon you to Tcise'gawting for the pillaging of Wa'bu'n's village, for the manslaughter of six members of Wa'bu'n's band, and for the kidnapping of four more.”

  “Are you sure you want to take up this case against me, boy?”

  “I'm betrothed to the sister-in-law of a member of Wa'bu'n's band. I've taken up the case in his stead, and I'll see it through to reconciliation.”

  “Good! Then I look forward to meeting you and those Holtmaear at Tcise'gawting. Now get off my property.”

  * * *

  For two weeks, at the end of So'lm?'nt1, court cases were heard and judged at Tcise'gawting. It has been so ever since the first summer the settlers arrived in Vi'nland.

  There was a nook in the cliff at Tcise'gawting which opened into a semi-circular area. Here, a platform was raised, and railings were installed on the ledges in the cliff all around it. This was where the law was recited and court cases were heard, for it was the only place where one could stand in the middle of a group of people and be heard by all.

  In those days, the law wasn't written down, but was instead memorised by the law-speaker. The law-speaker recited one-third of the law in front of the whole assembly each year of his three-year term, so that the whole law was recited by every law-speaker even if he served only one term.

  It was the fifth meeting of Tcise'gawting when To'rvaler summoned Bj?rnar to court (the year being 1004 on the Christian calendar). To'rvaler brought the elders and young men of Wa'bu'n's band, along with U'scna'bew, Na'n?myswa't, and some of the young men from their band. When the law-speaker was finished reciting the law, To'rvaler demanded their case be heard.

  “I'm not sure,” said the law-speaker, “if foreigners can bring a case before the ting. There's no precedent.”

  “According to my understanding,” said To'rvaler, “this is the first and only ting in all of Ka'nehda. Every one of us here is a Ka'nehdask: orc, orc-man, or man. We left our precedents behind in Norway with the king, it's time to make some new ones.”

  “We may have left the king behind, but not the whole law. Law and order must be kept or society will fall apart.”

  “Let them bring their case.” said Bj?rnar. The law-speaker thought on this and answered,

  “Very well. Since the defendant agrees, we'll hear the case.”

  Those involved in the case went out on the platform before the assembly. To'rvaler stated the case as it was: that Bj?rnar and his allies had looted and burned a Holtmaer village for the slaughter of his horses. There were six manslaughters and four kidnappings to answer for, as well as property damages. The members of Wa'bu'n's band were called as witnesses, as well as Bjarg and Hes`eri'er. Bj?rnar and his allies acknowledged everything was done just as it was stated.

  Neither Bj?rnar nor Wa'bu'n's band spoke the pidgin. He'lgi translated all Danish speech into the pidgin, which U'scna'bew translated into the Holtmaer tongue.

  “Wa'bu'n's band would like to sue for a peace with no award, except that the captives must be returned.” To'rvaler finished.

  Bj?rnar took up a response: “The killing of the horses is a grave offence against me, and an offence against a priest of Fr?yr is an offence against Fr?yr himself. You all know that it's legal to kill for horse theft. Surely you understand an offence of this magnitude must be repaid. I consider the deaths and the looting to be sufficient payment for the killing of the horses.”

  Ma'sci'dgew said, “Caribou Man sent those animals to us because we were starving.”

  “The law is the law, regarding horse theft.” Said Bj?rnar,

  “Your grievance with Bear Chief is well known.” U'scna'bew said, “Maybe Caribou Man took it upon himself to set it right. Maybe he led your horses to their death to make restitution for your crime.”

  “Those animals belonged to Fr?yr!” Bj?rnar shouted, “No god or mortal can steal them without facing the consequences!”

  “But they came willingly. They gave themselves so we could eat because we're good hunters who always respect the animals we hunt.” Answered Ma'sci'dgew,

  “I don't care about respect or wild gods—when wild men attack and eat my livestock, I'll do what I must to right that wrong!”

  To'rvaler stepped between them and said, “Bj?rnar, what about the captives? Will you release the captives and send them back to their families? This is all the prosecution asks for peace to be made.”

  “No.” Answered Bj?rnar, “Although the killing of the horses has been avenged, how can it be guaranteed that they won't do something like this again? These Holtmaear are nomads with no livestock. They don't understand or recognise the difference between livestock and wild animals. If I let them do as they please, how can I be sure they won't attack my herd again? They might attack anyone's herd—even yours, To'rvaler. No, we'll keep the captives as a guarantee of good behaviour.”

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  To'rvaler asked if the prosecution would accept this.

  “We will never accept our women being held captive by an enemy.” Wa'bu'n replied,

  “I'll never accept A'lawa being held by the one who killed our mother!” Ma'sci'dgew added fiercely,

  “Then I'm afraid no deal can be made.” Bj?rnar said when their words were translated to him;

  “What if they paid a ransom for the captives?” suggested To'rvaler

  “This might be acceptable, depending on the ransom.”

  Wa'bu'n and those of her band discussed this suggestion at length, but finally she said, “We won't stand for this. We'll never pay for the return of those who rightfully belong to our band already.”

  Bj?rnar said to Ma'sci'dgew, “That's too bad. It looks like your sister will be staying with me, then.” Then he added, “Don't be sad. I treat my tral'ir2 better than many a man treats his huskatnar.”

  He'lgi translated for U'scna'bew: “He treats his female slaves better than some treat their paid house servants.”

  “He'lgi, tell him what he actually said.” To'rvaler commanded,

  “That is what he said.”

  “He'lgi, that's not what he meant, and you know it.”

  “Under the circumstances, To'rvaler—”

  “Under the circumstances, He'lgi, tell them what he actually meant.”

  He'lgi closed his eyes and sighed. Finally, he told U'scna'bew; “He's going to use A'lawa for his own pleasure, at his whim.” To'rvaler continued eyeing him; “And probably already has.” He finished.

  When U'scna'bew translated this for Ma'sci'dgew, the young man flew into a rage. He reached for his bow, but To'rvaler grabbed his arm.

  “Weapons must not be drawn at the ting.” He turned to Bj?rnar; “Can I persuade you one last time to release the captives?”

  “You cannot.”

  “Very well. Then there's nothing left to be said.”

  * * *

  When they left Tcise'gawting, Ma'sci'dgew and Na'n?myswa't spoke in low tones in the Holtmaer tongue. To'rvaler walked close to them and understood enough to overhear them planning to attack Staes Dy'refaksr that night.

  “You don't want to do it at night.” He told them;

  “Why not?” Na'n?myswa't asked,

  “Listen to me closely. No matter what comes of this feud, never kill a Vi'nlandisk at night. A killing at night is a murder, and murderers don't get atoned for, they get outlawed. If you're declared murderers, your chance at making peace at the ting will be gone.”

  “We already had our chance and he refused it.”

  “There'll be another chance, but you must do exactly as I tell you.”

  To'rir Hro'eolvs'on just so happened to be nearby, so he approached them and understood enough to say, “If you're after Bj?rnar, then I'm in.”

  * * *

  At Ma'mwajtu'n that year, the marriage of To'rvaler and M?nu'tjew was postponed for one year, but they spent hours talking and walking around the camp together. Ma'sci'dgew and Na'n?myswa't went around to the young men of all the bands there and gathered support. About thirty men joined them.

  The summer drew onward and it came near the time when Holtmaear move on for their late summer caribou hunt. One day, Bj?rnar went with Agvaler to Tcise'gawting to trade with merchants from overseas. He left Halto'r in charge of the homestead. Halto'r set an orc in the tower and Hes`eri'er at the fence gate, while he himself went into the longhouse to drink with his friends.

  Ma'sci'dgew had set a man to watch the homestead, and when he saw these things, he left and came back with the warriors. The women and girl taken in the raid were being kept in different homesteads. The warriors split up, eight men to each homestead. Ma'sci'dgew himself led the group attacking Staes Dy'refaksr, with Na'n?myswa't and To'rir coming with him. To'rir had no sword, only a spear and knife, so Ma'sci'dgew gave him a club and he left the spear behind.

  They approached the homestead from the cover of the rye field nearby. One man went ahead when the sentry in the tower was looking in another direction. He climbed the fence and then climbed the tower and knocked the sentry unconscious with a club. The other men climbed the fence. One hit Hes`eri'er in the head from behind with a club, then they went into the longhouse.

  In the main room, lounging around the table, they came upon the Vi'nlandiskar. Halto'r was partying with three of his friends there, including Bjarg. Several orcesses and orc-women were there: some were Bj?rnar's family, and others were huskonar serving them drinks. A'lawa was in Halto'r's lap, and he was touching her. They all jumped and stared in shock when seven Holtmaear an an orc-man burst in the door.

  “Holtmaear?!” Halto'r cried, “Where'd you come from?” He drew his sword, but Ma'sci'dgew put an arrow through his neck before he got it out of its sheath. The three others grabbed axes or knives and charged. One fell with an arrow through the knee and To'rir beat another with his club until his brains spattered on the floor. Bjarg hacked one of the men's arm off with his axe, then swung it wide and cut another's head off. He swung at Na'n?myswa't on the return stroke, but the man ducked and buried his tomahawk in Bjarg's belly. The orc-man fell to his knees, and Na'n?myswa't finished him with a knife across the throat.

  The orc-man who'd been shot through the knee was killed by one of the men. They took A'lawa and left.

  The other raids that day went similarly, and all four captive members of the band were rescued. In total, they lost three men killed and five wounded, but killed thirteen orcs and orc-men, and wounded seven more. All of this was done in daylight, and none of the females were violated or property stolen or damaged. When all was done, they retreated to U'scna'bew's summer camp and left for the winter.

  Before leaving, Ma'sci'dgew told To'rir to keep the club. He went to Gi'sls'tae rather than going home. Not long after To'rir arrived at Gi'sls'tae, a huskater called To'rvaler to the gate. “What is it?” To'rvaler asked the huskater;

  “It's one rider.” He replied. An individual on horseback was riding toward the homestead from the direction of Staes Dy'refaksr. Hes`eri'er rode up to the gate and stopped. His saddlebags were full and he wore a sword at his side and a blue cloak around his shoulders.

  “Welcome, Hes`eri'er.” To'rvaler said;

  “Don't stand in my way cousin, lest you get caught in my wake.” Hes`eri'er said. With that, he kicked his horse and rode into the woods. After news of Bjarg's death, Hes`eri'er was called Ejneri'er3.

  It was almost sunset when a group of riders arrived at Gi'sls'tae led by Bj?rnar.

  “Welcome, Bj?rnar.” To'rvaler said,

  “Don't play innocent with me, To'rvaler!” Bj?rnar roared, “I know you put them up to this!”

  “What do you intend to do about it?” Asked To'rvaler, one hand on his sword. “Have you come to summon me to the ting?”

  “No.” Replied Bj?rnar, “Not yet.”

  1: /So'lm?'nt/ ['so:l.m?:n.θ]: Sun-Month, the third month of summer on the Vi'nlandisk calendar, roughly lining up with late June to late July.

  2: /tral'-ir/ [θ?ɑl:i?]: Slaves or indentured workers, used here in the feminine form.

  3: /Ejn-eri'e-r/ ['ejn.e?i:.e?]: One or Lonely Rider.