Eirik has news

“Back already, runt?” Sigefrith asked Eirik. “I gather that letter had important news after all? Not bad, I hope.”

“It depends for whom,” Eirik said as he sat.

“What is it?”

“My uncle, he write to say that the father of the girl I marry is dead, and she is orphan now. And so they want me to come and marry her now.”

“Oh! That’s important news. And bad news for the poor girl, eh, runt? But good for you?”

“I don’t know. I don’t want to be married yet, but so,” he shrugged. “She is very rich.”

“That’s some consolation,” Sigefrith said dryly. “I suppose you will be staying there.”

“I go to live in my father’s house, with her money.”

“And her.”

“Her too,” Eirik smiled.

“So! Bad news for me, too. I should have liked to have kept you here. The mere sight of you with your sword would be enough to turn back a regiment of Normans.”

“I like to stay, while I am not married. But married, I like to go where there is things to do. I shall have ships.”

“You miss the sea?”

“Every day.”

“You will take your sister, of course? Does your uncle have plans for her already?”

“I think he have a man he want her to marry. But I think he want her to marry his boy Olaf, but they are too close cousins, so if the Church say no, then she marry the other man.”

“Hmm.” Sigefrith paused and rubbed his beard thoughtfully. “Have you told anyone about this yet?”

“Only Sigefrith.”

“Excuse me a moment.” Sigefrith got up and went to ask his steward to send for the young knight. “I should be grateful,” he said as he went back to sit before Eirik, “if you don’t mention this to anyone yet. We shall ask the same of Sigefrith.”

“Why?”

“It would better serve my interests if no one knew that you mean to leave. I often find that when one has no clear reason to tell of one’s plans, it is best to say nothing. You would be astounded at the quantity of things I know that no one else suspects,” he said, tapping his forehead meaningfully. “Will you promise that to me?”

“I do anything you say. But do I tell my sister?”

“Better not tell your sister. You know how girls are at keeping secrets.”

Eirik grinned.

“We shall keep it between the three of us for the moment. When had you thought to leave? Does Tryggvason give a date?”

“No date. But I should like to go soon, in the summer. It is the best time.”

“Soon is always the best time for this sort of thing.”

“Marrying?” Eirik laughed.

“That depends on whom you ask. At the moment I’m happy enough to believe that no time could be too soon. The girl’s father might – and did, in my case – disagree.”

“Eadie’s father might disagree, but my bride, her father say nothing now.”

“So! Sooner is better. Let’s try to get you out of here before Lady Hilda is confined. Otherwise I fear that Sigefrith will want to accompany you, and I want him here.”

“That’s so! I wish he could come, but so, if you need him, I go alone. Soon for the going, but I try to wait for the marrying so long as I may,” he winked. “There is a lot of girls in Nidaros I don’t know yet.”