Dragon Bride

Chapter 15 Woad, Knife and Sword

Vada sat brooding with his friends, "Damn them both!" he finally said.

"Not getting your way with the pretty thralls anymore," Bo teased.

"Somehow everyone knows about what happened at the bonfire and all the women are shunning me. Even the mama's are watching me with suspicion bordering on hatred."

"That was really stupid of you," Gorm said, "what would you have done with her when you finished with the girl child."

"I'd have drowned the little chit," Vada said smoothly. "It worked on her aunt and uncle a few years back and on a few others here and there. Not even my father knows. He never will. The man is weak, I'm not. I always get what I want."

"Things will blow over," Halfdan said smoothly, "you'll be king by spring."

"True enough, pay some men and while you're in Denmark. Have them cut my dear brother and father down. I'll give you the money. King Sven will be blamed. You can dispose of the hired men. Then come home. I arranged for you to travel as my dear brother's guard."

"Remember your promise to me," Gorm said.

"Yes, yes," Vada waved dismissively at Gorm, "I will restore the old order and you can sacrifice the little redhead to your dragon god."

"You're not even a believer, are you," Gorm said with disgust.

"I believe in power, if your gods will aide me I will restore the old religion. I get what I want and the gods get what they want. The little slut gets what she deserves."

"Won't you be in Denmark with your father?" Berger asked.

"No I'll be here. I've got plans for Karlie and her pretty little sister. Karlie's sad demise will entertain the fools and the spectacle of her death will quell any opposition. Unni will make me a fine little wife."

"If she refuses?" Berger asked.

"I'll let Gorm sacrifice her to."

******

Bjorn and Eric had carried the large cooking pot outside. The fire had burned down to a bed of hot coals. Gretchen and the women of the household had washed the woad leaves and cut them into small pieces. They stuffed the pot full of the leaves, added hot water and Eric and Bjorn lifted it on to the coals. The water quickly began to steam and the mixture was allowed to simmer. Then Eric and Bjorn lifted the pot and placed it into the stream of cold water to rapidly cool. As the water cooled Karliene and Unni began to use strainers to carefully remove the leaves. Once that was completed and the water cooled Eric and Bjorn again lifted the pot and carried it out of the stream to settling it on the coals again. Gretchen then mixed a measured amount of fire ash in boiling water and poured it into the pot. They whisked the pots content until it became a frothy brew and poured it into several small bowls with lids so the dye could settle out.

"How much woad dye do we have now?" Unni asked.

"Enough to give us more than a years supply and to sell on market day," Gretchen said.

"What's this secret ingredient you keep teasing about," Bjorn asked. "The blues you achieve are so much brighter then others I have seen."

"We call it evening sky blue," Karliene said.

"Can I divulge our secret ingredient," Unni asked.

"Only if Bear swears to keep it secret," Karliene said grinning.

"Your secret is safe with me," Bjorn said solemnly.

"It's girl pee!" Unni said laughing.

"You pee in the pot?" Bjorn asked.