Thanking the smith for his time, you set out on your way.
The sun is getting low in the sky when you meet with the rest of your family — including Kerr and Stigmar as your in-laws — and prepare to head home.
It'll be a short journey back to Steinby and a bit more after that to reach Kerby, so you settle in for a ride in the now-empty wagon. Drifa sits across from you, fast asleep as she leans on her father's arm. The day must have tuckered her out, poor thing.
Minna sits next to you, across from Sten and her daughter. She fiddles with an impressive comb, the teeth made from silver and the handle from gleaming iron — No, wait. That's not iron. You frown as you study it, failing to come up with an answer. Whatever it is, you know it's not iron.
Minna seems rather nervous, like she thinks that it might be taken from her at any moment yet can't bear to put it away. The comb disappears into her sleeve as she meets your eyes before quickly glancing away. It spends the rest of the ride home hiding in her dress.
Looks like you helped her make up her mind.
Steinarr, Kerr, and Stigmar guide the ox pulling the wagon. Stigmar, the elder brother of Stigr, is seventeen years-old and much like his younger brother is armed with shield and spear. He's a quiet boy, from what you recall from the few times you've met him. He's a lot like Eric in being rather intelligent, though he's certainly more of a warrior than your brother.
Apparently, Stigmar fought and killed two highwaymen and wounded three others last year. You know the story well, it had spread across the valley like wildfire and earned him orthstirr. They ambushed him, both of the Glebssons, and a trio of boys from Asvir when they were travelling to Jurgdby by foot. There had been nine of them, or so the story says, and after Stigmar killed and wounded so many of their number they turned tail and fled.
A hefty sax hangs at his side, supposedly a gift from the Jarl of Jurgdby himself as a reward for helping reduce the bandit problem in the region. A red gem draws the eye to the handle as it shines and glitters in the sun.
Steinarr and Kerr talk of matters relating to the highwaymen. Apparently, some of Kerr's calves have gone missing. He suspects the bandits for the crime, after all a group of them had been spotted moving through the Hading by Gleb Glerasson, one of the other farmers in the valley, when he'd been out hunting.
Of course, the Burissons are offered as an alternative to bandits, though no one's grumbled about them doing much of anything since Lori died. You hope that his death scared them off, but your heart knows that to be a fool's dream.
What do you want to do?
[ ] Question Minna over her comb (Hard Hugr (Silver-Tongue))
[ ] Ask Stigmar for details on his feat.
[ ] Ask Steinarr and Kerr for more information on the bandits.
0~0~0
AN:
No moratorium and a 2 hour voting period.
