winked at me with those eyes, and I shivered.
“Are you cold, Ermentrude?”
“Ne, I will be fine once the sun rises above the trees,” I assured him. I was looking forward to snuggling with him in the evening, by the fire, though. I tried to think about how it would be—sleeping in the tents, or out in the forest, under the leaves, with him close by. A warmth crept up my spine, as I imagined Gerulf holding me safely in his arms.
“Ermentrude, what else did your father say about the Venethi?” Gernot, Gerulf’s brother, asked, as I returned from my daydream.
“Um . . . let’s see . . . I remember Att-a telling us how they live on floating islands in the middle of great lakes. They use boats to travel between the surrounding land and their homes. They also have large families and live in houses that rest on wooden posts,” I informed him.
“Are they friendly? Or, do you not know this, because the Gutthiuda have never traded with them?” Gernot asked with concern.
“I wouldn’t worry too much, as my father has been in their villages, and he lived to return to us. Of course, that was a long time ago, and things may have changed. Now, more people encroach on their land, so I’m sure they must be vigilant, as are the Gutthiuda and Gepids. At least, they allowed us to settle near them, without too much argument. I think they know what our people did to the Rugii tribe that lives along the sea coast, when our people first migrated to Gothiscandza. King Berig was our king in ancient times. He led us to this fertile land so we could prosper. We have the right to live on this land, just as they do. The Gutthiuda claimed the land where no one else had settled, so it belongs to us.”
“You know your past, Ermentrude,” Alfons spoke in an agreeable tone. He was the younger brother of Gerulf and Gernot.
Erwin, the older brother of Anselm, decided to speak. “Ermentrude, I like the way you demand respect for your people and yourself. Men do not respect someone who does not command respect. I always insist that people respect us for our determination to defend our land and our people. I like you, Ermentrude. I am happy that Gerulf has your friendship.”
“Thanks, Erwin. I am happy that Saskia has a good friend in Anselm, as well,” I chirped.
Gerulf and Anselm grinned at these exchanges, looking as though they were a little too happy themselves. Their faces flushed a bit, as they shifted their weight on their horses. Were they pleased that their brothers liked Saskia and me?
“We hope that we are able to find women so talented and lovely,” Gernot said, “So, Ermentrude and Saskia . . . when you return home, speak well of us to the young women in your village. Maybe you have a friend, or a sister who wants friendship from some brawny brothers?” Bruno nodded his head in agreement. His face began to redden.
Saskia laughed at this and declared her willingness to help them all find suitable partners. Perhaps they would leap over the bonfire of next year’s summer solstice with their girlfriends. I felt as though my heart would leap, if Gerulf ever asked me to jump over the fire with him. I would ride to the end of Middle Earth with him.
Before long, we realized that the sun was at its highest point in the sky. It was a hot day, and we were getting thirsty. We decided to stop for a meal. We found some shade under a clump of trees, once we passed through a wide gap between two enormous boulders. Our eyes examined the tops of the hills for any sudden motion.
“I am a little wary, whenever I see cliffs and hills above us, now. I feel as though someone is watching, ready to shoot us with their arrows,” I revealed, with a queer feeling in my stomach. I spread my blanket and opened a basket of food.
“Ah! That reminds me. Did anyone discover which tribe the prisoners came from? Did Saskia have to threaten them with her ax?” Anselm asked, laughing and squeezing Saskia’s arm, as he sat down beside her. Saskia elbowed him in the ribs. “Ugh!” Anselm mimicked being in severe pain.
Bruno answered the question with a serious look on his face, “They were a small band of Cotini. I believe they are Celtic. Their arrows were tipped with iron from their mines in the mountains. I have never seen their mines though.” Gerulf asked Bruno if any of the prisoners told the Gepids why they had attacked us. Bruno continued, “They were worried we might be looking to settle near their mines and steal their iron.” He rubbed the top of his hair and ran his fingers through the long, greasy strands, as he stood beside Anselm.
Anselm thought for a minute, “I guess we should be careful, when we ride from now on. There could be enemy scouts around, watching us, thinking we are trouble.”
Saskia added, “Well, if they think they see trouble, they’ll surely have trouble—with us!” She rested her hand on her sword, which lay by her side, as she sat on a blanket, gnawing on some meat. Her back leaned against a tree; her long legs stretched out before her. Anselm’s right hand was settled on her leg. His sword and knife were by his side as well. They made a well-matched couple—hunters at heart.
Gerulf came over to sit beside me. I handed him a strip of dried deer meat, saying, “We will have to search for something to feast upon tonight—at the latest, tomorrow. I hope we find some small scurrying beasts. I want to practice throwing Saskia’s ax again. I may show you what Saskia taught me at camp.”
“I’m sure everyone wants to see your ax-throwing. Just make sure you are to the side of us. We do not intend to become victims,” Gerulf said.
I thumped him on his chest with the back of my hand, saying, “Not unless you are a small beast!” He laughed.
We remounted our horses and hastened to leave this lovely spot . . . a summer storm was brewing to the west. Gloomy, black clouds loomed over the peaks, threatening to rain and perhaps hail on us. We sought shelter under any overhanging rocks that would not wash down upon us, but there wasn’t any such refuge.
Lightning cracked the sky open, as a shell was raggedly split. Punaraz’ thunder spoke, to warn us of some evil event to come. Gerulf took the lead, racing ahead into the lower sloping pasture, dotted with small, craggy trees standing lone guard. Enormous boulders sat as giant game pieces, wedged into the hillocks.
Gerulf shouted over the noise of the grumbling clouds, “Let’s seek refuge under those giant rocks, before Hal-ja (hell) lands on us!”
We were eager to settle our horses near to us and calm them. We were certain of being pelted by hail and sleet from the storm so we flattened ourselves against the shelter of the boulders, with blankets wrapped around us and our heads. The hail from the tumultuous storm collided with the granite rocks; mostly deflecting onto the ground. The green hillocks were quickly covered in white pellets and would prove to be slippery. The storm did not hesitate to give the land, and us, a thorough thrashing. I felt sorry for the horses, which we had covered with skins and blankets. Their legs had to bear most of the punishing weather. We waited for the dark clouds to pass, taking their wrath with them. Had Punaraz battled an enemy; his hammer striking their shields? His voice was thunderous, in the stories I had heard.
At last, the storm passed, a troublesome traveler, eager to menace Middle Earth in its path. It drifted over the land to the east. We shook out our blankets and stomped our leather boots, asserting ourselves as survivors of the punishing storm. Brunhilda nudged me, and I hugged her neck and patted her withers. I felt she was relieved the storm had passed, as well.
“You really love Brunhilda . . . and I believe she loves you, also. There’s nothing such as a horse for friendship, when you have no comfort from another being. I never thought about giving a name to my horse, but since you
