Vikings: Nordic women

Chapter 41 Hair for Gold Beans

The gold in Margaret's hand was like a golden devil's contract, sparkling with alluring light under the sunlight.

The Jewish slaves' eyes were like a cat attracted by a toy stick, and they could not help but follow the movement of the gold.

Margaret stood up straight, holding the gold in her hand, stretched out her boots from under her skirt, raised them slightly, maintained the posture of standing on one leg, and put one hand behind her back in a gesture of at ease.

Her intentions were obvious, and although this was unacceptable and even extremely insulting to the Norse, Catholics considered it a form of oath.

When Rollo, the Duke of Normandy, pledged his allegiance to the King of Franks, he had to kiss the king's boots. Franks were the successors of the Western Roman Empire, and their territory included the seat of the Catholic Pope.

"Mistress, I, Abraham, your hunting dog swear allegiance to you. As the continuation of your life and limbs, I swear loyalty to you! So God bless me!" Abraham, the leading Jewish young slave, kissed Margaret's boots under the contemptuous gaze of the two guards to symbolize his respect and obedience to the mistress.

The other Jewish slaves knelt on the ground, kissed the tops of her boots, and held out their hands to her, apparently not forgetting to ask for the golden peas.

However, what they received was not gold, but a piece of bread with meat pie in it.

Of course Margaret would not give them the gold, because even if she did, they would not thank her, but would thank God and then treat her as a fool in the landlord's house.

She never expected them to be grateful.

The Jewish slaves looked up at Margaret blankly, a hint of disappointment flashed in their eyes, but they immediately came to their senses and frantically devoured the bread in their hands.

"Only this piece of food is free. If you can't come up with something that interests me, you won't get any food!" Margaret's meaning was very clear. Their loyalty was only worth a piece of sandwich.

"I won't keep a bunch of good-for-nothings, understand?" Margaret reached out and drew the sword from the guard's scabbard.

When the Jewish slaves saw her suddenly draw her sword, they leaned back involuntarily and quickly put their hands in front of them in fear, as if they were afraid that she would suddenly kill them.

Margaret smiled, cut off a lock of hair, and handed a golden strand to each of them, placing it in their open hands: "Go and prove to me your ability to make money. No stealing, no robbing, and bring me items of a certain value before dark!"

The Jewish slaves looked at each other and nodded, while Abraham stared at his hair with a flickering gaze.

He looked at the guard and said, "Sir, I want to exchange this hair of the most distinguished lady in the territory for the golden cabbage beans in your hand. I don't think you will refuse, right?"

The guard stared at the shameless Abraham in astonishment, and looked uncertainly at Margaret, who had a strange expression on her face but was enjoying the show.

He handed over the golden beans as if he had eaten a fly, took the strands of her hair from Abraham's hand, and glared at him with murderous eyes.

Margaret didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She swore that if she hadn't been there, the guard would have definitely struck him with a sword and killed the shameless man who had blackmailed him!

"Mistress, I have completed my mission!" Abraham raised the golden beans above his head flatteringly, then knelt on the ground and handed them to Margaret.

Margaret did not take the golden pea, but took off the ring on the necklace, put it on her finger, and handed the loose and ill-fitting oath ring to him: "I allow you to become my vassal, Abraham, your talent makes me look at you with admiration!"

Abraham did not hesitate, took Margaret's hand and kissed the vow ring. He seemed to be well aware of the Norse customs.

"Go get me an armband!" Margaret ordered the guard.

Seeing this, the other slaves hurried forward, gathered around the other guards, and followed their example to sell Margaret's hair.

The tall guards retreated one after another, holding their pockets, looking at the group of Jewish slaves who were generally of normal size with disgust. "Get lost!" The guards almost wanted to run away.

"Sir, this is Miss Sunshine's hair. It represents sunshine and hope..." A Jewish slave looked at the hair fascinatedly, "It also has a special fragrance!"

"Oh, sir, look at how beautiful this hair is. It seems to be the most beautiful creation of the Aesir. It is a treasure far more precious than a golden pea... You can take it away with just a golden pea!"

"Sir, as a loyal guard, you don't want the young lady to think that her hair is not as valuable as golden peas, which would affect her opinion of you, right?"

Who would have thought that a group of people from a merchant nation would actually blackmail pirates who made a living by robbing.

The guards were so angry that their lips trembled.

Under Margaret's watching gaze, the guards reluctantly handed over the golden beans she had just rewarded them.

"Miss Duti?" They looked at her, hoping that she would give them justice.

Margaret covered her mouth with her hands and laughed happily. This scene was so funny. The invincible Huscarz Knights on the battlefield also suffered a setback.

She originally wanted to compensate the guards who were staring at her with aggrieved expressions, but then she changed her mind and thought it would be better to let them suffer a little loss so that they would remember it.

She was so stupid that she was taken advantage of by someone else. If the news got out, it would be a disgrace to her. People who didn't know her would think that she had specially selected idiots to form an army.

"Get a few more arm rings and make sure each of them has one. Now they are servants of the lord's hall, not slaves!" Margaret smiled, looked at the guards with an inexplicable expression, and turned and left.

Abraham, who was stared at with murderous eyes by the guards, shuddered, hurriedly called his companions, and hurriedly followed her pace.

The guard behind him wanted to follow, as if looking for an opportunity to beat them up, but was pulled back by his companions, who shook their heads and rejected the idea.

Abraham breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the guards who had not caught up.

"Give them all to me, quickly!" He took the golden peas from his companion and asked her flatteringly, "My mistress, these golden peas are dedicated to you! We want to ask you for a piece of land as our home!"

Margaret's eyes narrowed. Is this the beginning of developing capital in her territory?
This method of getting something for nothing and the speed at which capital was generated were so outrageous that she was a little afraid.

promise?

Isn't this like planting a time bomb on your own territory?

But if they don't agree, sooner or later someone will be willing to sell them land and houses for these golden beans.

How to do?
After thinking for a while, Margaret grabbed the golden peas from Abraham's hand and put them into the inner pocket of her sleeve.

She shook her head.

Under Abraham's disappointed gaze, thinking she had refused, she turned her head and said, "Come on!"

(End of this chapter)