The village of Fjell bustled around Arnulf as he walked up the steep path from the quay where his merchant ship Foam Breaker lay moored. Further along the rocky beach below, he saw a large ship was being launched. Much to his dismay, he saw that it wasn't a trading knorr like his own, but one of the fierce dragon boats favored by the nobility of the north lands on their summer raids. At least his voyages were ones of trading and bartering, rather than plunder and pillage!

He pondered his current cargo of spices, fabrics, gems and glass from the lands to the east and south of Fjell. His recent trip had taken him to Finnmark and Bjarmaland--also known as the lands of the Rus--to the busy port of Staraja Ladoga and even Novgorod. Naturally, part of this trip had been overland through portages between the rivers of the slavic lands. In Novgorod itself, he had good fortune in meeting with some Khazar merchants who brought news and goods from Constantinople itself! He found the one-god beliefs of the Khazars just as confusing as those of the byzantines, though they claimed to be followers of Moses rather than the sacrificed lamb of the Romans. Give me the simple ways of the northmen! was the thought running through his mind as his attention was drawn to a confrontation between a man and two women.

As always, he thought it best not to interfere in private affairs, but he did note the uncommon beauty of one of the women...one who shortly found herself prostrate on the ground after being struck. He saw that though she was subdued, she was by no means cowed--a trait he found most intriguing! He must make a point to discover the identity of this fierce valkyrie...once his discussions with the local merchants were finished.

He found that his contacts were all off to see the launching of the drakar, and that proper business would be forced to wait for a time...perhaps tomorrow morning according to the thrall who was watching the merchant's stall. He would be welcome to be guest to Rurik, one of the richest local farmholders--and potentially Arnulf's best customer. It was only a moment before he accepted the offer, knowing that he must find a suitable gift for his host according to custom. He had just the thing on board the Foam Breaker, and went to fetch it--a small glass cup that came all the way from Isfahan in Persia, according to the Khazar who had sold it to him.

"By the way, who was that beautiful woman I saw arguing with the tall fellow outside as I came up the street?" He tried very much to feign indifference. "I find it hard to mark such spirit in a woman."

The thrall snorted. "That one...she's Sigyn...always arguing and causing problems for her brother Haakon. She's lucky he didn't kill her this time!"

"Her brother, eh?" and as he went off to fetch the guest-gift from his ship, he added to himself...Not married then.... and found himself whistling merrily as he made his way back to the harbor shore.