Chapter 19 - Arroch's Audience IV
When Arroch awoke, he found that he had been asleep at the small table. The stuffed chair had proven quite comfortable, and he had lain his head on his arms and fallen asleep. The high mad king, that he had been talking and eating and drinking with all through the night, first planning and finally laughing and drinking with? Was gone. He had been replaced, by Wulfgar. Who was now sitting across from him at the little wooden table.
"Good morning, Arroch. I would naturally ask if your audience with the high king went well, yet, I can now guess. I see a nearly empty tray of food. I can smell the fine-mead in the tea cups. Do not trouble yourself, Arroch… I have already rinsed out the cups. I have some morning tea water boiling. I have taken the liberty of making us some eggs."
"Oh. I praise you, Wulfgar. Some tea… would be a fine thing."
"Yes. After a night of drunken revelry, something with no mead in it, is a good thing, is it not?"
"I would not call it drunken revelry, Wolf. My plan? We… went over it, again and again. Yes, there was fine-mead, yet, much food as well."
"Oh, aye. I am sure of it. I spoke with the steward before you were awake. It would seem that you, and the king, went on some sort of late night pantry raid. You two? Got into the steward's prized fig barrel. Arroch… do you often have fresh figs?"
"Not often. Only at some festivals…"
"Aye. Before I could conduct matters with the steward, as is our custom, I had to hear all about the missing figs. I also got an examination on how I am supposed to have magically appeared here last night, and played tricks upon the steward's tea cup, switching out the tea for fine-mead. Which, by the way, the steward hates the fine-mead that me and the king much prefer. Yet, the steward likes the tea, that both he and I prefer. That calmed him down a bit."
"Wulfgar… that…"
Wulfgar smiled.
"I am having sport with you, Arroch. The steward called me a 'snake eyed bastard', for switching out his tea cup late last night. Apparently, I dropped something here, and I returned late in the evening to retrieve it. Whereupon, I am told, I played the tea trick on him."
"Wolf. I… met both of them last night. The steward, and… the North Star. Both… I… yes, I was a little nervous. I might have blamed you, in my haste for words, when the steward suddenly examined me about his tea cup."
Wulfgar just regarded him, with what Arroch assumed was his amused face.
"I understand, Arroch. I am well used to having dealings with the both of them. They are quite a pair. Are they not?"
"It was… well, it was something different, than what I expected. Surely."
"I am sure it was… here, man. Yer tea… now mind you, this tea has a good deal of cat-mint leaves in it. They settle the stomach some. You don't mind a strong mint, do you?"
"Sounds like a fine-plan to me. Thanks…"
"I made some pot eggs. I first made some pork bellies, nice and crisp. I mixed them up in the pot eggs. I am not sure how you like yer eggs, so…"
"No, that sounds wonderful, Wolf…"
Wulfgar went out the door, and brought back a tray. With a pot full of scrambled eggs and dried smoked meat all through it. And, crisped and crushed but formerly cured bacon. A little bit of some unidentifiable greens dried and crushed through it as well.
They both ate, while Wulfgar regarded Arroch's progress.
"Here, have another cup of tea to wash it down… the cat-mint, I find, is a small remedy if one does not get too far into his horn the night before."
"It… is a fine thing…"
"Now, Arroch. As you could guess, food is never any sort of a problem here in this great-house. Other things, can sometimes be more of a matter. Yet, the steward already informed me of the new and improved plan."
"Do you… approve?"
"Aye. It is starting to sound like a fine-plan, I must admit. The steward? He likes you, by the by."
"Oh, that is good. I assume."
"Not a bad thing, I would think. The steward also tells me, that the North Star spoke well of you. You do continue to impress me of late, Arroch."
Arroch just eyed him quizzically.
"It is a compliment from my right hand, Arroch, not from my left hand. I myself, am slightly amazed you handled your… audience… as well as it must have gone for you."
"Yes. It, took some… getting used to. At first."
"Oh, aye. I am sure it did. There was a time, Arroch, when I first met both the steward, then, the North Star. I understand your… matter."
"Now, Arroch… you have been acting… different lately. Not in a bad way, I might add. Simply… different. Would you like to talk about it?"
"Wolf… I mean you no insult. Odin himself knows, I both respect and fear you, in equal measures. Yet… I would not wish to… discuss such matters."
"Arroch? I am quite aware, as you can imagine after all these years, what goes on in these walls… well. I will simply ask you plain, then it will no longer be a matter. Arroch… do you feel you are going… a little mad?"
"Wolf. I could swear, that I just now told you, that I did not want to discuss such matters."
"No, no you did not. First, I asked you if we could discuss the slight differences I have seen in your behavior. I swear, you are a slightly different man, between when you left on that handle merchant errand, and your return. Now, I asked if we could discuss your difference in behavior. You said you would prefer not to. Then? I asked you if you were worried you were going a little mad. To which you answered, that you did not want to discuss the matter."
"Now then. Since you are answering both questions with the same answer, I can now only assume the two are somehow related, are they not?"
"Wolf. Your politeness? Is all but legendary. Yet… yet… here we sit, obviously about to discuss, that which I do not want to discuss. Whisk yer sword across my throat if you must, but, there we have it. And I mean no insult. If the chance for there being no insult to the Wolf, has not passed me by."
Arroch got himself another cup of the strongly minted tea.
"Well? I am still alive. I must believe we are going to discuss, that which I do not want to discuss. Let's root up that soil, then."
"Arroch… I am not insulted. I am also not displeased. Yet… Arroch, do you not see the differences I am talking about? Ox… I have known you as a young man, and I have known you as a big-man. I have also gotten to know you as a Heyermannen."
"And what of it, then? You asked me if I saw the difference. Would the Wolf be so polite as to provide some example of this great difference? Perhaps then, we could both stand on the same soil. But a simple example, I would beg of you."
Wulfgar simply sat back, and sipped his tea. Regarding Arroch.
"Arroch? An example then. Here is a fine example. Arroch, I am well aware of the fear most of the men regard me with. I wish there were a simpler way for me to instill respect in place of fear, yet, there we have it. Arroch, I will say it plain then… you have miraculously lost your fear of me. Do not worry, I am fine with it. You are respectful about it, yet… surely, now that I mention such, you now see… you would never have been short or glib with me, previously."
Arroch furrowed his brow.
"I had not noticed."
"Well, I did. You asked for an example? There, you have it. There's more. All little and tiny things. That do add up, and I am curious. Eira, for instance. Now, I am aware that you have enjoyed her cast iron egg pot over yer thick skull, twice in your life, I believe."
"Yes. I was concerned about her mannen, and how they spoke and treated her. She entertained me with her egg pot. Twice, on different occasions."
"All right then, Eira was taken aback. Apparently, right after coming back from command? You suddenly had the sack to tell her to put her teeth together. Now, she said you did it politely, and that it was for her benefit. She did say, that shortly after? You were born out correct, and that you prevented her making some great error."
"So, all was well then."
"Aye. It was well. Notice, Arroch? You would have never told Eira to put her teeth together, even politely, at least not as long as I have ever been around you. By Odin himself, I swear, I pay attention to Eira when she threatens me with her cast iron pot."
"Now, it was also Eira… that simply gushed on several occasions, about your desire to put your new man ahead of your own interests. Trust me, I can understand the Bear looting the ox and his oxling's coin purses, yet… you sought to clean his purse out, only to FarstGeft yer new man a small farm. To pay her uncle more than he wanted for his couple of acres he no longer had the sons to work."
"Wolf, are you to provide me with some example that you do not approve of? Or, are you complaining that I am finally doing what you approve of."
Wulfgar just sipped his tea.
"Arroch. You don't see it, but everyone else? They do. Even yer men. All of their gossip, is how wise of a decision maker you suddenly have become. Did you take a drink of some fairy water, from some magical spring, on yer trip then? Can I have a cask of it on yer next errand, so that I can have more Heyermannen I approve of."
"This… this is not the matters that you claimed we were going to discuss."
"No, no it is not. We started, that I asked you if you felt you were going a little mad."
"A man suddenly concerned with others, before himself, and you think that be madness? A man makes some better decisions, and that be madness."
"Arroch, I am pleased in nearly all ways with you. I would simply know, the reason for the sudden and better change. You have changed slowly over the last several years… all for the better, I must say. Yet this? Is quick."
"Wolf, do you think I am mad?"
"Arroch, I am simply surprised and pleased. The question is, do you think, that you are going mad."
"Wolf. I told you, that I did not want to discuss it. I still do not. I… would not call it madness. I would call it… I do not know what? Yet… you said… you were pleased with it. Can you not be pleased and simply enjoy yer pleasure of it?"
"Arroch. I could previously have counted on one hand, the number of times you have ever called me simply 'Wolf'. You almost always have called me 'Wulfgar', or some respectful version of 'the Wolf'… yet again, a new Arroch. Do you not see it? As everyone else sees it."
"Yet, you do not complain. Can you not simply enjoy the results, then?"
"Arroch. I will say it plain, then. You do know, as everyone, that the high king is mad, correct?"
Arroch looked around, suddenly scared.
Wulfgar smiled.
"Worry not. The steward is away on an errand. We have no servants. We are alone. It is no matter."
"Wolf? I permit you to ask me, if I think I might be going a little mad. I am yer Heyermannen, of course, you would be concerned. Yet… I will not insult the North Star such. That? Is final."
"Arroch. Fine. Can I simply take yer oath on something?"
"Must we? We have other, much more weighty matters to attend to, Wolf. Do we really have time for this?"
Arroch simply stood up. Held his palms out, but at his sides.
"Go on, then…"
Wulfgar drew his thin sword quickly, and whisked it across Arroch's face. Not an inch in front of his nose. He did it twice more, in rapid succession. Arroch didn't even blink.
"Yes, Wolf. Yer sword arm? It is better than my own. Ye knows this already. Get yer fun out of you, then."
Arroch moved away off to the side of the wooden table. Continued to hold his palms out and down.
Wulfgar pushed his sword forward. Arroch stepped aside. A normal and basic move on both their parts, if they were practicing. Wulfgar lunged. Arroch stepped back, and to the side.
"Wolf, do we really have to play right now?"
Wulfgar swished his sword at Arroch's head. Not at full speed, yet, not slowly. Arroch just leaned back.
Wulfgar pointed his sword at Arroch, and fixed him with his famous deadpan eyes. His snake eyes. Arroch just stared back at him. Not challenging him. Simply… annoyed?
"Arroch… I want yer oath, if ye be mad or not. Now."
"Wolf? Ye are my Heyermannen! I can not lie to ye! I have taken oaths! Fine, ye wants to hear it? Ye hears it, then. Aye, in me pictish tongue then, ye cold blooded man… aye! I feel, I be mad! And? I would have the whole of the kingdom, show this madness, as well! Ye were pleased with me? Enjoy it then, man! My… works… are… true. Are they not?"
Wulfgar simply shook his head, and sheathed his sword. Sat down. Picked up his tea cup. Drank some.
"Yes, Arroch. Yer works? They are true. Now, will you please sit down."
"Aye. If play-time is over, fine."
And Arroch sat down. Sighed. Regained his composure, although he hadn't raised his voice much. He had just been slightly irritated, it would have seemed.
"I mean you no insult, Wolf. You must understand that."
"No insult taken."
"Is this matter… closed, then?"
"Oh. Aye. You have caught the high king's madness. I have seen it before."
"Are you displeased with yer high king?"
"Most certainly not. I serve my mad king, in all ways. You know that much, Arroch."
"Then… are you insulted or displeased with me?"
Wulfgar sighed.
"No, I am not displeased. I am not insulted. I simply can not believe the sack you have now."
"Wolf. I mean you no disrespect."
"Oh, Arroch. It's fine, man. I honestly, do not know how the North Star does this."
"Does what."
"Arroch? The steward, and the high king, before your errand? They both barely knew your name. You were simply… and do not take offense to this… you were a regular new Heyermannen, who was coming along quite well, I thought. A few bumps in the early road of it, then you worked out fine."
"All was well, then."
"Aye. Well… and predictable. You know, I am sure? I like things to be predictable. I think of a predictable thing, as a thing I can depend on."
"And…?"
"Very well. You were on yer errand? The North Star, starts going on about how he is talking to you. How you had quality. I have heard this… before. There are certain things, when dealing with the steward and the high king? That one simply overlooks. As we both know."
Arroch was as quiet as ever before.
"Aye. The wise steward… the North Star… they have some… peculiar relationship. It is obvious."
"Well, that is putting it mildly, Arroch… The steward? Thinks he is mad, and hides it from the kingdom as best he may. The high king? Arroch, he believes himself to be Odin, himself… I mean, honestly."
"Wulfgar… so, how do you explain it."
"How? He is a mad king! How else would one explain it!"
"Wulfgar… I have heard it from your own lips. You would have yer mad king. That his works are true…"
"Aye. True as anything, ever. He truly displays the very wisdom of Odin, himself. It is uncanny…"
"What of it, then."
"Arroch. I can understand, that the steward, and the high king… well, the high king, I suppose… he thinks he is Odin reborn… and, in his madness? He somehow forces himself to show such wisdom as to attempt to prove it."
"And? What is wrong with that, then. True works, are true works. Look at all he has accomplished, in but a half a lifetime."
"Aye. It amazes me still, to this day. If I could only account, for how he does this… what he did to you… he said he was talking to you, while you were on errand, mind you… then? You come back from that errand? A changed man."
"Wulfgar. Is it such a bad thing?"
"Nay, it is a good thing, I would suppose."
"Wolf?"
"Aye…?"
"Are you insulted, or are you displeased… that I no longer fear to look into yer eyes? I mean no disrespect of it."
"No. As I said, you suddenly have a great sack between yer legs. I would have all my Heyermannen that are true, to show such, if I could. May I ask then, how this happens? This is not the first time I have seen this… sudden change, I will have you know."
"Wolf? Yer eyes? You know what the men call it… yer snake eyes?"
"Aye…"
"Last night? I held audience with the North Star himself. The steward retired to bed. I was alone with the great man all the night. I had to look into his eyes all night. Wulfgar, please, take no insult of it…"
"What, then. You have my leave of it, as if you now need such… go on… swing yer new sack around."
"I remember thinking to myself. That after looking into those eyes? Wulfgar's snake eyes, would forever be a happy memory."
"Oh. He did… he did that thing with his eyes? Did he not? He did!"
"Aye. That and more."
"Do not tell me about all of it. No details. I will not hear it…"
"What is the matter then, Wulfgar. You… are his best friend. Everyone knows that…"
"Arroch, just because I am best friends with the madman, does not mean that I approve of madness. I simply refuse, to be… it is no matter. Are we both well, then?"
"The Wolf asks the ox, if all is well? Aye. How could it not be well. Ye are my Heyermannen, Wulfgar. I trust you with my life."
"How is this. You no longer fear me."
"Oh, that. Let me say this. I fear you not nearly so much anymore. I suppose, perhaps no more than Eira fears you. Yet? My respect for you? Has grown ten fold, if not more. I am no great reckoner, or, I might pick a better number for it. You have my oath on that matter."
"Let me guess. You believe that… well… you know…"
"Aye. We are led by Odin himself. He lives in Stuart, the wise steward. And? Both of them? Believe in you, Wulfgar. Odin himself? Respects yer counsel, man. How could I not be humbled by that… I ask you."
Arroch then explained his "same village" theory to Wulfgar. Asked what he thought of his reckoning it both ways, had he not covered both possibilities of the matter.
Wulfgar raised his tea cup, and bid Arroch silently to do the same.
"To madness, then."
"Aye, to madness!"
Wulfgar chuckled.
"They do say, a true madman? He can't be stopped."
Arroch chuckled with him. His chuckles turned into laughter.
It was the laughter of a madman. He enjoyed it. Wulfgar smiled, and shook his head slightly. Enjoyed his tea.
"Well then, that matter is settled. Do you wonder what errand the steward is out on?"
"Little would surprise me, at this point. Believe me, Wulfgar."
"Aye. The steward is holding audience with Eira and her three ladies. He is attempting to explain to them, that the North Star? Would ask of them, to go on a command."
"And?"
"And, if that goes well? He is going to ask yer new oxling, Ryeamund? To pick out big-men that he thinks would be a best fit, for passing as woodcutters, and smith helpers. Ryeamund would spend a little while training them on the matter. And? To select others, that he feels would make… 'fine strong farmer's sons', were his exact words. He charged me? With locating various Ravens. To act as merchants, among other things… judging by how long we have been waiting? He is enjoying some success in the matter, I would suppose."
Arroch reckoned it in his head. The divinely inspired plan? Was coming together, and with more than he had ever hoped for.
"Arroch?"
"Yes, Wulfgar…"
"There is a certain gentle humor to all of this."
"What would that humor be, my cunning wolf?"
"I mentioned the gold being all but pilfered, right out of the North Star's own coin purse, the war villages it is funding, did I not?"
"Aye."
"You do realize, that those war villages… are not idle things. The kingdom? Is being secretly prepared for open war, in time. It is coming."
"Aye. I have suspected as much. Ever since yer described the too hard of coin matter. What of it, then? Where lies the humor in that. Pickles will be caught in the middle, that is no laughing matter, Wulfgar…"
"No, the dry humor I find?"
"Yes?"
"The North Star had some sport with me over it. He likes to point out his… let us call it, his uncanny ability to be wise on matters, shall we?"
"What matter, then?"
"Well. You would not know it, yet, we have four districts, all down about the south-lands? Where this problem, does occur. And? We have four oxen. We have four scratch cats, all high reckoners, all in coin to the same oxen. All of the oxen? Are familiar with the general area, from their handle merchant details. Then Ryeamund? You oxen plucked him and brought him up, and he brings great information, that he did not even know was so valuable, that I might see the true problem was even greater than I had first imagined."
"Where is the dry humor. It is all most fortunate, is it not?"
"Aye. Four of everything? Sudden information, just when it was most critical to get a jump onto this matter? As I said… it is uncanny."
"And, yet you do not believe."
"Arroch? I gave up long ago, worrying about it all. You must understand, I was a young man. I sought adventure. I had heard that a high reckoner, and not a man of the sword, was going about. Trying to rally the pickles to rise up against a useless drunkard, a truly wicked petty king."
"Aye."
"The steward? Well, you know well enough of him. He claimed, that some man lived in him, and was bidding him to do all this."
"Aye. We all know the story of the Great Forging."
"I thought, we were all doomed to failure. That is? Until… I saw what we now call the North Star. Leading the men into battle. I decided, that it did not matter. He was clearly a madman, it is obvious. Yet… the effect he had on the men? That would have been enough, and yet…"
"Yes, Wulfgar, go on…"
"The man, and I mean the North Star, mind you. Not the steward, certainly… he gave me a code. To live by. So that… I would not… let us say, so I would not misuse my… VinterBluden gift."
"And? You live by it still, do you not? Have you not seen great profit from yer code? Has not the kingdom grown into something truly great?"
"Aye. My amazement, after all these years. That a madman, can truly believe he is Odin reborn… and can display such wisdom, in all things. It is uncanny."
"Wulfgar? Me. You. We are on different paths, that both lead to the same village. His works are true."
"Aye. Arroch?"
"What matter, then."
"Do you feel, that you and your oxen… will be able to examine those four petty kings? That will, most likely, be what matter this all comes down to, in the end. Unless the course of this river changes suddenly."
"I assume, the Wolf indicates… the taking of… trophy."
"Aye."
"I feel I can. I do not doubt Ryeamund. He? Might well want to do it with no weapon, what his petty king has done, to his father and mother. Little Rye? Might well pop the man's head off with his bare hands."
"And… Theyer… Sooth…?"
"Wulfgar? They are kingsmen. They will have more kingsmen with them. Ravens about. I honestly think the bigger question, is the girls."
"What? They all have sword arms. Particularly Eira, you know this, Arroch. She is yer cousin."
"Aye, you went the exact opposite way on the matter. I was more thinking, of Eira examining a petty king. With a cast iron egg pot, in the man's own throne room."
They both chuckled at the mental image.
"Wulfgar?"
"Yes."
"Could either you or the steward, make some attempt, to impress upon the girls… the… importance of following orders? In particular, the importance of being commanded to stay their hand, when needed? If you take my meaning."
Now it was Wulfgar's turn to chuckle.
"Funny you bring that matter up. I was saying as much to the North Star. I saw him before the steward woke up. His words on it?"
"Aye."
"If any man discovers a way to make a woman obey his commands, at all times, and in all ways? Odin himself would be happy to be granted this mighty wisdom."
Arroch and Wulfgar decided to go look at some maps, to best see where to try to locate the Ravens at. It appeared as if there was a central densely wooded and hilly area, that would be about right. More or less, in the middle of the four problem districts.
Arroch could not believe he was in war council, with the North Star and the North Star's right hand man. That his great-house? Was most likely, going to get four crowns nailed up on the fireplace mantle.
Well, three at least. Ryeamund? Was likely to stuff one up his own petty king's ass, after he tore the man's head off with his bare hands. It was a jest, yet… Ryeamund had been taking on color from eating a steady diet of meat and hearty food and drink all winter.
The man looked to be gaining a pound every week, it seemed. He still had yet, to show anything resembling fat or gristle on him. The quiet man was simply a complete beast.
Eira had hit that nail right on the head, hadn't she?
She had first, if even in jest, called him Odinson.