The labor intensive spring gave was to less demanding summer. Cows still need milking, cheese needed to be made and grain ground for bread making but the planting was done. Bjorn worked each day with the hoe to control weeds, mowed the pastures for hay and spent time fishing with Eric. Then the catch needed cleaning, salting and drying for storage. There was an ageless rhythm to their labor. The summer days were long and pleasant with the sun never really setting long. Peat was cut and dried for fuel and stacked near the long house. The flax as also cut and bundles were placed to soak in a small stream that passed by close to the long house. Karl assisted his father cut and bundle the flax. His bundles were small but Eric praised his help. The flax would be left to soak in the stream held down by large rocks for at least two weeks then taken out and stacked upright near the long house to dry.
Karliene and Unni spent a lot of time gathering berries, plants for making dyes and other medicinal plants. The green beans were harvested continuously and set out to dry for storage. Evenings were filled with music and quiet conversation as the wool was spun on hand spindles or worked on the ever present looms.
Karliene was standing just outside the door after the morning meal. Bjorn had just stepped outside when Karliene started spitting. She gasped when she realized she had been caught. "Didn't want you to see that Bear."
"That you spit?"
"It wasn't very lady like... I was brushing my teeth." She held up her tooth brush.
"Very nice tooth brush. I usually chew on a twig of hazel and use that. Works well but I'll be spitting out pieces of wood for some time."
"I have an extra tooth brush, I'll give it to you." She dashed back into the house before he could voice an objection. She returned to his side carrying a tooth brush.
"I'll pay you for it," Bjorn said.
"Here use my cleaning powder," she handed him a small bowl with a pestle in it.
"I use salt too, when I have it."
"It's salt with a single clove bud. I ground it up." She offered him her bowl.
"Aren't cloves expensive?" Bjorn asked.
"Yes, but not just one bud. Go ahead give it a try," she said smiling at him. Bjorn rinsed his mouth and his new tooth brush and dipped in into the bowl. Then taking his brush began brushing his teeth.
"Well, what do you think Bear?"
He finished brushing and spat and rinsed and spat again. "I liked the taste, salty and earthy."
"And no tiny peaces of wood," Karliene added teasingly.
"Thank you," he whispered.
"You're not done Doofus, one more step," Karliene said with a bright devilish smile.
"What step? I..."
"You HAVE to KISS me, Bear!" so he did, a long lover's kiss. Karliene moaned softly then giggled. Then smiling coyly she looked into his eyes biting her lower lip.
"What?" Bjorn said laughing at her.
"Your breath, it smells so nice," Karliene whispered. Then she puckered her lips and stood on tiptoe for a second kiss.
"Shall we take a nice quiet walk?" he said after a second kiss.
"I'd love to Bear but it's laundry day. And it's my turn to grind the grain for bread. I hate doing the grinding." Bjorn took her hands in his kissing them.
"You have complained how it hurts your hands. I'll do the grinding for you for a price."
"What would like?"
YOU ARE READING
Dragon Bride
FantasíaKarlie walked numbly and quietly. She shivered as she was barefoot in the deep snow as the king's son and the high priest marched her to the sacred grove. Tonight she would be sacrificed to appease the dragon. The entire community walked with her, s...
