LITMIR.BIZ

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Arnold, with a keen eye for the enemy, and Bertram, with a raven’s wisdom for planning attacks,” Adalwulf said, “and this is my amusing Uncle Vaclav, who will try to trick you when you least expect it, so beware of him.

      Everyone laughed at Uncle Vaclav, even his wife, Gunda. She had more precautionary advice, such as, what to do when using the latrine in the darkness of the morning. I knew she was trying to scare Arnold and Bertram just a little. They merely chuckled, with amused glances at Adalwulf and Uncle Vaclav.

      Mama wrapped her arms around her sister and commented, “These warnings won’t frighten two brave men, such as Arnold and Bertram.” They both agreed with my mother.

      “After fighting the enemy, sleeping out in the dark for months, enduring cold winds, Uncle Vaclav’s jovial pranks promise to be welcome amusement for us,” Bertram declared.

      Father was excited that the family was together again, and in the company of Arnold and Bertram.

      “Let us celebrate the victory of the Gutthiuda! May our summer festivities begin!” He raised his mug and drank a long draft of mead, to make up for his long absence from home. I settled for a long swig of milk with my aunt and her children.

      Mama drank a generous amount of mead herself, feeling content to see her husband and son again. “Here’s to feasting on the midday meal! Let’s eat before the food runs out!” . . . just as my other uncles and aunts arrived with their brood of eight children.

      “Oh ho! So you’ll not be saving some food for us, now?” shouted my Uncle Wolfram, as he entered the crowded room.

      “What a sad welcome, to see all of you eating up the meal before our very eyes!” commented my third Uncle Reiner, who already looked as though he had eaten a cow, judging by the size of his paunch.

      I hurried to serve my cousins portions of food on small platters set on stone seats as they gathered on the floor. The adults sat upon the benches at the large table, once they had grabbed a chunk of meat or the leg of a bird. Our faces were lit by the fire, with stains of grease and butter around our mouths. Crumbs stuck to the small faces of my cousins. I smiled at them, and they smiled back.

      “Please help yourselves to anything you like, as long as it’s not my women!” Father said, “and be sure not to make off with sheep tonight, under the pretense of seeking warmth!” as he winked at Arnold and Bertram.

      I glanced at them and noticed they were both discreetly stealing glances at me. I wondered what they were thinking. They were very handsome, with their strong, broad shoulders, and thick necks. I felt slight pleasure from their admiration but I was not familiar with them, and thought it would be wise of me to be cautious.

      Arnold and Bertram were speaking to Adalwulf by the storage shelves. I returned to the conversation with my aunts, concerning preparations for the summer festival.

      “Adalwulf, it has been a long time since we have had such good company and drink,” Arnold remarked.

      “Your sister, Ermentrude . . . is she of age to become acquainted through conversation?” Bertram asked Adalwulf, with his head cocked to one side.

      “Bertram and I are keenly interested in your sister. She is a beautiful girl. Is she clever? Does she have character?” Arnold wanted to know.

      “You will be here long enough to become well acquainted. Ermentrude will be the judge of who she wishes to engage in further conversation,” Adalwulf said.

      “Perhaps she will even agree to courtship?” Bertram eagerly suggested.

      Adalwulf was surprised by their candidness. He didn’t quite think I was old enough at fifteen, to be courted by his two older friends. He had to think before he answered.

      “Aah! Now the truth appears!” he said to his two friends, “You returned home with me just to meet my pretty sister!” He winked an eye at them. “I will agree to your speaking to my sister, only when I am present, you fiends,” as he laughed over a sip of mead. They clinked their mugs in agreement.

      Adalwulf hooked his arms with theirs and slowly advanced toward me. He wagged his head sideways at me, which was the signal for me to excuse myself from the group of women and talk to him and his friends. I was nervous about talking to them and answering their questions.

      “Adalwulf, do not bother me with your war stories. I want to enjoy myself without stories of bloodshed and mutilations,” I spoke earnestly.

      “Ermentrude, I will not fill your head with stories of battle this time. I want to introduce you properly to Arnold and Bertram, since they wish to learn of your esteemed abilities. If you desire to reveal your passions and interests to them, I will not stand in the way, in any manner. What do you think, Ermentrude?”

      “Hmmm . . . I suppose it would be agreeable to become further acquainted with them, but not too familiar, as to become improper. You should always be present during our conversations, Adalwulf,” I insisted.

      Arnold and Bertram grinned at being allowed to entertain Adalwulf’s sister . . . me! I was uncomfortable, as I had no experience with them. I regarded them as strangers, despite Adalwulf’s familiarity with them. On the other hand, Father knew them and had agreed to their visit here. I thought it would be acceptable to talk to them.

      “So, Arnold and Bertram, have you no families to return to after the war? I have never seen you around the Wisla River before. Are you Gutthiuda, or of another tribe? Are your families living near our village?” I thought to bombard them with questions, to determine from their answers, how much I would reveal about myself.

      Arnold answered me first. “We are from a Gutthiuda village further up the Wisla. We will travel up the river next week to see them.

      Bertram spoke next, “Ermentrude, we heard about your admirable qualities from Adalwulf. Your beauty is far beyond his descriptions of you. When we first saw you, we felt we must become better acquainted.”

      My jaw dropped a little. “I am flattered, but I am merely a young girl of fifteen years. What do you want to know about me?”

      “We only want to know you better, Ermentrude. What interests you? What are your passions? ” Bertram said, straining his voice over the noise of the family talking.

      “I suppose we will have time to become acquainted, soon enough, lovely Ermentrude,” Arnold chimed in. “Let’s visit tomorrow when less family is about.”

      Adalwulf seemed surprised at the attention I was receiving from his companions. He wanted me to have a proper suitor, and either of these men would be acceptable to both our father and himself. Adalwulf also knew that I was a free spirit and had no interest in any man, even though I was of age for betrothal.

      I was more inclined to wander the land, on horseback, across the Wisla’s lowlands and through the forests of the Carpathian Mountains, than to settle down with a husband. I still had dreams of battling the enemy. I was not willing to stay at home anymore. I was trained with weapons just as Adalwulf was trained at a young age. I could defend myself. All women knew these skills, just as they knew how to sew and cook. I was quite young when I had held my first sword and shield.

      My family talked and sang many songs of our ancestors’ brave deeds that night. We listened to stories, that a few of my younger cousins had never heard told before. Their faces flushed with excitement, and their eyes opened wide hearing stories about slaying an enemy. The next day, they would be eager to spar with their weapons.

      Arnold and Bertram were shown to a corner bed, to share that night after the festivities. I attempted to sleep in bed with Ava, but I could only think of tomorrow.

      Early, as the darkness crept away, I awoke to the sound of voices shouting outside. I listened; I thought I heard a hearty laugh. I noticed sounds of thumping wood and clashing weapons or tools, followed by more shouts and laughter. Being curious, I got out of bed, with my hair a mess, and stepped outside, with a woolen blanket wrapped around me. It was midsummer; it was chilly with a damp fog. Leaving the shelter of the house, I saw that it was beginning to grow light outside.

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