Vikings: Nordic women

Chapter 6 Lords' Hostility
Ouni's fingers gently wrapped around the ash stick. Its coolness spread across her palm like morning dew, and its extraordinary flexibility was as light as a ribbon, giving her inner determination and courage.

She took a deep breath, and the smell of charcoal and rust in the air, like the call of ancient craftsmanship, made her thoughts clearer.

This white wax rod, as the key to the steel-frying method, will gradually carbonize during the stirring process. It acts as a guardian, protecting the molten iron from excessive decarburization when it comes into contact with oxygen.

She gently leaned against the ash stick, her blue pupils like the deep ocean, staring at the mountains of charcoal and scrap iron, which were witnesses of history and hopes for the future.

Turning her head, she looked at the already lit furnace. The heat from the flames ignited the flame of adrenaline in her body. Her heartbeat quickened, beating against her chest like a drum, and she even felt an urge to go to the bathroom. Even washing her hands was unable to calm her excitement.

"May everything go smoothly and you will be successful immediately!" Ou Ni bowed left and right, muttering to herself, praying to various gods for blessings.

However, just as Eunice and the boys and girls were about to start smelting iron, the lord's steward and two Viking warriors suddenly broke into the courtyard. Their arrival was like the prelude to a storm, breaking the tranquility of the courtyard.

The visitor's eyes swept over everyone and finally stopped on Ou Ni. Her figure stood out in the crowd. She was wearing a headscarf and stood in an arrogant posture, just like the unique "at ease" style of the Chinese people in later generations. Her uniqueness made her stand out in the crowd.

The man stared at her for a while, then spoke: "Ouni Field, right? Lord Yael wants to see you! Follow me!"

Ou Ni's feet moved slightly. She was a little slow to react and frowned in confusion.

The man seemed uninterested in Eunice's hesitation, and after delivering his message, he turned and walked away, only stopping when she failed to follow him immediately.

"What are you waiting for?" He turned around, his voice carrying an unquestionable command, as if disobeying him was an unforgivable crime. In this territory, besides the lord and his lady, he had the highest status. As the third most important person, he was indeed qualified to show such arrogance.

Ouni briefly explained a few words to the worried crowd, and then followed the visitor away. Along the way, the breeze blew gently. Although she was anxious, the headscarf prevented her from feeling the comfort brought by the cool breeze.

She walked silently, her fingers entangled nervously, following closely behind the three people, her eyes full of worry, and she kept thinking in her mind whether she had done something wrong. She knew very well that this sudden summons was probably not a good thing.

After passing through the town, the breathless Ouni was taken to the lounge behind the hall of the lord's house. There, she saw a familiar face, her eyes widened, and a hint of surprise surged in her heart.

Harold?
Harold was wearing a gorgeous outfit compared to that day, sitting in the corner, and it was obvious that a conversation had just taken place. She and Harold looked at each other, both of them were filled with deep doubts, as if asking each other: "Why are you here?"

Lord Avarsun was wearing a gorgeous white bear fur coat, holding a dagger in one hand, gnawing at the meat on the plate with his head down. His majesty needed no words, it was enough to make people feel oppressed.

With just one glance, Ouni felt her hands and feet were cold, as if they were wrapped in ice.

The housekeeper pressed Eunice's head roughly, trying to force her to kneel down, but she cleverly twisted her body and sat down on the ground.

"Kneel down!" The butler's voice was stern, but Ouni's heart was beating like a drum. She tried hard to suppress her inner panic and forced herself to look directly into the lord's eyes, even under such oppression.

"My lord, she is here!" The butler walked to Lord Avarson Yar and reminded him softly, not daring to utter a word, as if the lord was a blind man and did not see that Ouni had arrived.

Lord Avarson Yar stood up, stretched out his oily hands and rubbed them casually on the butler, without giving him any respect at all, and went straight to Ouni.

He sniffed and unabashedly followed the scent to the top of Eunice's head.

Ouni screamed in her heart, she has mysophobia, don’t let those greasy hands that can’t be wiped clean touch her, not even her clothes!

"Ernie Fielder?" he asked, pacing around her. "Why are you wearing a turban?"

"You're too ugly, I'm afraid you'll scare people!" Ounnie was not afraid at all, she tilted her head and looked straight into Yaer's eyes.

She glanced at Harold who was sitting there, a little confused. She had asked around for Harold's whereabouts when she took in orphans before, but couldn't find him.

So here he is!

Ernie was filled with questions about Harold's relationship to Avarsson, his appearance, and the puzzling similarities between them, especially the identical hairline. Unfortunately, she couldn't get answers from anyone.

"But that's not what I heard. Someone called you a beauty from Fensaril. You are smart, but you are not honest!" Lord Avarson's words made the atmosphere tense in an instant.

The butler at the side immediately understood what was happening and stepped forward, rudely pulling off Eunnie's headscarf and throwing it on the ground. His behavior was tantamount to complete betrayal.

Avarsson stared at Eunice's face, and for a moment he was stunned. His breathing became heavy. Harold, the butler, and even the two Viking warriors all stared at her with puzzled expressions on their faces.

"Raise your head!" Avarsun's voice broke the silence, and the other four people quickly returned to normal, pretending nothing had happened.

Ouni took a deep breath and raised her shoulders slightly. She tilted her head expressionlessly, and looked directly at Avarsun with her blue eyes.

"I know your father, 'Forked Beard' Feld. Your appearance is beyond my expectation, but this is not an excuse for me to let you go." Avarson changed the subject and asked, "Someone reported that you intended to oppose me? I will give you a chance to defend yourself. Do you have anything to say?"

"What are you against?" Ou Ni asked back, her eyes wandering between several people. She had no idea of her own "crime".

The atmosphere became tense. At this critical moment of life and death, Ounnie's brain was working rapidly and she forced herself to stay calm.

"You have to ask yourself, what are you against me? You gathered a group of orphans, and you want to challenge me?" Avarsun turned back to his seat, sat down on the table, and crossed his arms across his chest. "Am I right?"

"I'm just a woman, I can't do anything!" Ouni shook her head. Her defense seemed to say something, but it also seemed to say nothing. She felt that her defense at this moment might be useless. It would be better to use the opposite argument. Anyone who is not stupid knows that she will not do this. That is courting death.

Avarsson thought for a moment and did not object.

He uncrossed his arms, strode towards Eunice, and grasped her chin in front of her questioning and horrified eyes: "I'll give you a chance to live. Are you willing to be my second wife?"

Lord Avarson's voice was like ice, and every word made Ouni feel oppressive.

She clenched her teeth and tried to make her voice sound calm: "I will never be your wife."

"Robert, my brother!" Harold seemed to have been touched on a sore spot. He stood up suddenly and walked towards the two of them, anxiously saying, "She..."

"Shut up, you have no right to speak here, go back and sit down!" Avarson glared at Harold and pointed at his original seat.

Harold was neither standing nor sitting, and he just stood there for a while.

He angrily threw the sword to the ground. The sound of metal colliding echoed in Ounnie's ears. He was about to leave angrily.

"Stop, are you angry with me? Pick up the sword!" Lord Robert Alvarezunjar stood up and looked sideways at Harold who was about to leave.

Harold stopped and turned around to pick up the sword. "You know I like her. Since childhood, my father has favored you. He gave you the position of Yael and everything else. Now you want to snatch the person I like?"

(End of this chapter)