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This place turned out to be a dangerous one. It was perfectly fine in the
beginning, but it seemed that the Custodians wanted to take this time to
remind the family that there is no such thing as safety. The first few years
were peaceful, which lulled them into a false sense of security. For the
last seven years after that, however, they faced raid after raid from rival
Danes who wanted what they had. Ronan couldn’t leave. He had to stay and
protect their land. They considered picking up their door, and moving
everyone again, but that wasn’t what a true Norseman would do. He would stay
and fight. He always thought he would eventually go off a-viking and seek
out the battle, but he clearly didn’t have to. It always found them. He
didn’t usually know if he and Vith were fighting other players, or NPCs, but
it didn’t matter. Their responsibility remained the same: defend the home,
protect the girls and the child.
Leif is ten years old now, which is older than Talus was when he started
showing signs of an antisocial disorder. Leif is a completely different kid,
just as Gia promised. He is gentle and thoughtful. He eats meat, because he
has to, but he doesn’t go on hunts. Ronan found him with a rabbit once,
which gave him a powerful flashback to that day with Talus, but Leif wasn’t
hurting it. He was holding it on its back like a baby, and petting its neck
and chest. It made Ronan wonder whether this was the right world for him.
Was he simply not built for it? Did he deserve to try something more his
speed, like Raindome? Or maybe something else with a lot of animals, like
Canopydome? It doesn’t have to be on Castlebourne either. They could take
him to Earth, or one of the other colonies. They just didn’t know. It has
been hard to explain to him that none of this is real. They no longer have
the flexible display to illustrate the technology that they’re missing here.
He might have to see it for himself so he can make a decision.
Isavet is not like Talus or Leif. She grew up to be a fierce girl,
who looks just like her mother, but acts just like Ronan, specifically when
he’s fighting the raiders. Over the years, she has talked about seeking
revenge against their attackers. Ronan and Gia wouldn’t let her go; not
because she was a girl, but because she was too young. They always said,
though, when she came of age, if she wanted to go a-viking, they would let
her. Has that day finally arrived? Was this the last straw? Even Ronan is
feeling legitimately angry about it, and he better understands just how
contrived this world is. That’s a funny word to use for it, though, when
you’re standing before your own house as it’s burning down, including the
door that you fought to protect for so many years.
Everyone is angry, except for young Leif. He never got attached to the
house. He prefers unsettled nature anyway. But Isavet is on a whole other
level. She stands with the flames to her back as the wood crackles and
crumbles to the ground. She tenses up and screams her head off. She knows
this is a simulation. She knows that no one genuinely holds anything against
her. But she’s fully engaged. She holds nothing back. Life is really black
and white for her, and motivation doesn’t matter. She had a house, she had a
door, and now she has neither. She’s going to get revenge now, whether her
parents help or not. This is happening. So Ronan and Gia better get on
board.
The next day, after the fires have died down, and the ruins are now only
smoldering, Ronan hands Isavet a pack of supplies. “You’re an adult now,
girl. I don’t want you running off, looking for trouble. You are not ready.
Your anger alone will not get you through this. You will train first. You
will seek help. I can no longer leave. I must stay with your brothers and
mother. If you want this, you need to do it right. In there is a map to the
nearest city, and a name. Stay away from the mercenary camps. They will not
help you. They will take more than they give. We have a blacksmith friend in
Hedeby who will teach you what you need to know. I had intended to go to him
myself, but never got the chance. If you give him my name, he will give you
a room and lessons.”
“Thank you, father,” Isavet says. “I will find you when I can. Unless I die,
but it will be a noble death. I promise you that.”
“We’re headed farther north,” Ronan explains, “to the tip of Danmörk. The
seas are rougher. It will be a tougher daily life, but it’s remote, and
raiders will have little reason to attack. We will rebuild.” He looks
around, in case anyone is watching, which is ridiculous, because they’re
pretty remote already. The raiders won’t return to claim their spoils until
later. “It’s near the wall. You always wanted to see it. You can there. That
is incentive to return to us.”
“Okay, father. Goodbye.”
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