The Viking Slave

Chapter 3: Learning

Astrid lay perfectly still on a fur pallet in the corner of the dark room, showing only shadows on the wall from the small white candles scattered all along the house. Hot tears rolled down her face as she cried for the first time in a long while as the thoughts haunted her mind, causing her to break slowly on the inside. Nothing could dull the pain that was in her heart, no matter how strong she tried to be. She felt Jezebel's hot breath on her neck, reminding her of Beatriz being beside her. It had finally dawned on her that everything was gone. She tried hard to dull the thoughts that crept into her mind she could never change the fact she was a slave now-that would never change. This was her life, realizing that she would have to accustom to this new world.

Somewhere amongst all of the tears, her eyes fell heavily asleep where she did not wake till morning to the sound of a horn blowing. Astrid stood quickly, slipping on her soft leather soled shoes and tied the strings, connecting the flaps together at the top. She rushed to the middle of the house where Erick's throne was, even though there was no sign of him. Knute stood with the red haired man, that assisted him on the boat, ready to begin the day once again with the exception that this time they would be training the newly brought slaves. They were talking amongst themselves, laughing and cutting up, as they drank from their large, wooden cups.

Astrid stood still beside Jezebel, who was shaking nervously.

"I am so scared." Jezebel whispered, taking Astrid's hand into hers that was trembling. "This should be the other way around. I am the closest thing to a mother you have now, I should be the one that is comforting you. Not you comforting me." She chuckled, wiping a tear from her eye.

Astrid glanced over at her with a friendly comforting smile, squeezing her hand slightly.

"You are fine Jezebel. Just be thankful we are together." Astrid replied, turning her eyes back towards Knute and the other man, who were now finished with their beverages.

"Astrid!" Knute called out, motioning her towards him with a wave of his hand.

Astrid released Jezebel's hand, only to have her grab it forcefully once again.

"You can not go over to them!" Jezebel cried. "You do not know what they will do to you!"

"I will be fine, I promise." Astrid patted Jezebel's shoulder in assurance. "I am the only one who can speak their language. If you want to live with less fears and live period, I have to work with them. You have to realize that."

Astrid hesitantly strolled over to be in front of the men. They stared at her intently, watching each move that Astrid made.

"What do you need sire?" Astrid piped up, stepping closer to them.

No response came, just silence and awkward stares. Astrid's cold stiff glare never left the burly men.

"You will be learning our way of life today." Knute said, breaking the silence. "Gustavo will accompany you today teaching you what to do. Good luck Astrid." Knute clasped his hand around her small arm, giving her smile before he walked away leaving her standing in front of Gustavo.

Gustavo stood tall and masculine. His dark red hair fell to past his shoulders tied in a tight braid. The sides of his head was shaved in a short burr. The beard he sported was a lighter red than his hair color and well-groomed.He wore a orange tunic with a lighter orange vest that covered over the linen material of the tunic, which was held down by three leather belts which supported all of his needed materials, such as a knife, comb, and his spiritual objects. The loose trousers that he wore were a sage green color, wrapped at the bottom with woolen leg wraps met by his boots. His forearm was covered with a tribal tattoo. Upon his wrist he wore a bracelet which resembled the one that the earl possessed.