Chapter 15

The priests had come out because this was a battle and men had died. The Germans loved battle even if it meant that families went fatherless. The children and wives may have other sentiments but they would not be far from what the male of the household thought. When considering other battles I enquired about our sovereign and found that Clovis had still not arrived and I was worried even more.

When all the weeping was done we made the walk back to Hildestun. Astrid and Dagmar rode beside me. They insisted that I ride a horse and a wagon would not be good enough. Their eyes were glassy and I knew what had caused it. I would not be surprised if an epic was not now being composed by a man that wanted to curry favour with the court.

I had been asked a great many questions but one of the most popular was the number of men I had slain or wounded. My reply was usually, "Too many to remember and too many to want to remember." They couldn't understand this. To kill an enemy was a great accomplishment to these people.

The rescued children were legally my slaves but the Germanic people didn't usually take advantage of the situation. I intended to treat them as children that were loved and cherished. Even if that meant educating them. I didn't know what the new ones thought of Jón or I but we would have to learn this soon.

Jón seemed to think the same way I did or at least mostly. His hormones still affected his judgment but he was coping well.

There were few crowds in the city since most of the people were out at the battle site. I looked back and I could still see the pall of smoke drifting northward.

Once we entered the castle there was another religious service conducted by the priests over the great battles. Helga got a bath ready and during a lull in the festivities Jón got as clean as he could. Astrid and Dagmar fussed over his arm. They both would have done a lot more but they had no time. Jón came down dressed in his finest clothes. His smile was because Forni was upstairs getting his own bath and the maid Angelika was doing the honours. He was a celebrity now and may get lucky himself.

The priests seem to try to make up for lost time and dragged the ceremony on and on. Jón had not been completely oblivious to his father's efforts at controlling the priests and when he could he got up and thanked them for what they had done. With the meal ready, he used that as an excuse to conclude this part of the priests' plans.

When the meal was over, the tables were cleared away and then it was only foot room for the great hall filled to capacity and with no firemen to say nay to the numbers. Jón had to say in detail what he had done. To promote the quarry operation he started before leaving the city.

It was a long talk and it had not even reached the point of the attack yet. Jón stopped his lecture just as he sent off his men to fight at the ambush site.

Jón was on his feet and added, "I am tired and need a drink. I also need to take a piss. We will start up again in twenty minutes." With just a smile he left even though hundreds of people were waiting on his words.

At the appointed time, he came back and said to the assembled people, "I would like Fálki and Albrecht to tell their parts since they were the first to confront the enemy."

The two men were happy to step in. Neither were shrinking violets about discussing their fighting ability. They talked much more animatedly and gave a lot of plugs for the saddle and lance. They acted out every movement they made and gave every nuance to their actions. They at least took turns and had to drink beer to cool off when the other had the floor.

Fálki attributed his survival to the Gauls wanting to know about the saddles and lances. If they were dead they could say little. This was borne out when they were beaten by the Gauls to find answers. They continued on until Fálki found out that Jón was behind him.

"It is your turn to talk now. The rest is your doing."

"Thank you for your help. You speak much better than I do. Your words, voice and actions let me feel exactly what went on. I think that tonight I will like to get some sleep. Tomorrow evening I can continue and then continue again the next evening."

There was a lot of groaning and calls for Jón to give a bit more but he was firm. This was the same as when I was a boy. The serial western had the cowboy precariously holding on by his fingertips to the cliff he fell over. The next week we would find out how he survived only to be threatened by another brush with death.

Astrid and Dagmar didn't object in the least and hustled Jón up the stairs. Instead of going into his own room he was pulled in to Astrid's. Jón was well aware of this happening. That was why he sent off Forni for the night. The boy was sad but Jón was able to say, "Tomorrow for us."

Astrid started to take off her clothes and Jón asked, "What of the prince?"

Dagmar said, "He had been sore recently and we are giving him time to heal. We found one of our guards that has not outgrown his childhood. He takes care of Egill when we are unable. The two seem to have grown fond of each other."

"That is good, now I have to ask some delicate questions. First, what are we going to say when the king comes back?"

Dagmar just stared at Jón and Astrid said, "Nothing I guess."

"That may not be enough. Second when was the last time you had your menses."

"That is none of your business," she said indignantly.

"It is if I could be the father of your next child."

She came to a decision and said, "It finished six days ago. Are you happy?"

"I am happy. You are not pregnant and will not be getting that way tonight. What about you Dagmar?"

"Ah, three weeks ago."

Astrid looked at her slyly and I said, "I detect something odd in your response. Now have you both bathed today?"

Dagmar said quickly, "We can but it will be just with a cloth."

"Get some warm water and I will help you clean. It was fun last time."

I got a smile and she hurried out of the room. Astrid started to take off her clothes and I said, "That means you to. I like squeaky clean women or ones that were that way recently."

"I am clean."

"You may be but not squeaky clean. You are not afraid of water, are you?"

"No."

"Then I want to see you clean. Now move woman. You will start late then argue that you haven't got your share."

Astrid started to put on her the clothing she had taken off. Dagmar came into the room carrying two wooden buckets of warm water. She said to Astrid, "I think you may want one of these too. Jón is a bit particular now."

Astrid said, "I am already clean."

"If you want Jón to play you better do it." Dagmar hurriedly started to undress and sat on a stool then jumped up and got some towels. Only after Dagmar had begun did Astrid start to remove her clothing again.

Jón was not sure how to proceed but wanted to try. I said, "Take your clothes off slowly and fold each piece nicely and place it on the stool in the corner. The idea is to tease the women. They want you but you have to make them want you more."

"But I am still a boy?"

"You are a young man now. You kill your enemies and that makes you a warrior. You have killed many so that makes you a great warrior. Women see this as an indication that the children you give them will be the same. In their dreams, they want to get pregnant. In the part they use for conscious thought they only want to have fun. Now remember this next part very well."

"What?"

"They think a powerful warrior has great power in his loins. They expect you to last so you can please both of them. That means that when you get really excited you have to try to pull back and let them have their orgasm. Since you are young your seed will not be plentiful and the chances of a woman getting pregnant is less; not impossible. The second thing is that you recover faster if you do not shoot your seed. You can get back into having fun."

Jón did as I asked and even flashed himself as if he didn't know what he was doing. He walked over to Dagmar that was furiously cleaning her body. With me using only words I had him use the cloth and his bare hand to clean the woman's body. She was even encouraged to squat over the bucket and Jón used his hand to clean her very well.

Dagmar groaned and had to hold onto her lover to stay in the awkward position she was in. His thumb entered her vagina and he used the heal and top side of his thumb to caress her clit. When the orgasm itself crept up on her Jón used his other hand to pull her face to his so they could kiss. Dagmar was very passionate now and fell to the floor. I helped Jón guide her to a comfortable position and avoid spilling the bucket. All this was done without losing lip content.

When she was down safely, Jón just pulled himself forcibly away a few centimetres and then began to kiss her eyes. He had to then move his body because it was painful on his knees on the floor and Dagmar had been holding his wounded arm with a lot of force.

His kisses led to her chest and the same as last time ignored her upright nipples. Jón's hands were busy though kneading one breast while the other moved down her abdomen.

Dagmar flexed her stomach and spread her legs to allow him even more access. Jón was coached enough to avoid the clit now but to come close. Dagmar groaned in want and I think she didn't even feel the floor beneath her.

Jón climbed over her leg with difficulty and slid down her body. He started at the right knee this time and sucked and licked his way to the hairy juncture. This was too much and Dagmar panted, "There oh there! Do it."

I could feel Jón being happy to be in control of the woman and ignored her pleas. He spent a considerable time fending off her hands while avoiding the gyrations of her pelvis that brought her clit close so many times.

When it looked very close Jón pulled back to the other knee and began her descent on more time. Dagmar cursed and plead but did all this loudly because of her great need.

With a suggestion from me, he held Dagmar's knees and looked around at Astrid. She was unabashedly squatting and rubbing her own clit. Her face showed great need.

"Come here Astrid, and squat over Dagmar."

She must have been close to her orgasm. She didn't move her feet, only her hand moved quickly. Jón got to his feet and pulled and pushed Astrid into position then pushed on her shoulders to squat much closer to the floor. Her eyes grew very wide as Dagmar began to lick where Astrid's hand was.

Jón went back to his position he had with Dagmar and now used his hand to caress her opening. In the process it got very wet. He used one finger but then it became two then three. The thumb was turned so that when at full penetration the thumb pushed on her clit.

Jón began to read the signs and worked his hand faster and faster and Dagmar flexed her body violently. He was able to watch Astrid as the feelings changed with the sensations she was having on her own clit.

When the explosion came, Astrid fell forward to put her hands on the floor on both sides of Dagmar's hips. Jón had some trepidation but I urged him to both continue the action with his hand but to put his other hand around Astrid to kiss her lips.

Astrid responded with a groan and moved one of her hands to hold Jón to her. Dagmar was heard to scream and thrust up violently but Jón followed her movements with his hand and Astrid began to shake soon after.

Jón slowed his movements down then stopped completely. Again I got him to pull back from Astrid slowly then he took his damp fingers and pushed them gently into her mouth one at a time to get cleaned. When Astrid had done this Jón bent forward again and kissed her.

Astrid had a worried look on her face and whispered, "Why did you do that?"

"Because I wanted to kiss you."

"I mean your fingers."

"Dagmar never told me but I knew that the two of you were lonely and helped each other. Forni and I do the same thing. Now let's get up so Dagmar can breathe."

The two got up but needed each other's assistance. They used their hands to help Dagmar to her feet. Jón said, "That was the warm up. I guess we can begin on Astrid now."

Astrid looked pleased at the aspects of more sex and Jón manoeuvred her to the side of her bed and got her to sit on the edge. Jón bent down and grasped her ankles. The left arm hurt but he tried to bring the feet up. Astrid assisted and ended up laying on her back with her legs spread wide.

Astrid was already hot and Jón moved in quickly. Her hands came out quickly to hold his head in place as she groaned her need for him to continue.

Jón used his right hand to slide into her channel and soon her lubricants and saliva were flowing. When he attacked her clit his finger gained entrance to her rectum. Astrid either wanted the stimulation of his tongue so much that she ignored the other intrusion or simply put up with it. Later after the finger had gained full access he saw that she was not as responsive to this as Dagmar.

Jón took his hand away then used both hands to remove Astrid's grasp of his head. From Jón's emotions I knew he enjoyed this immensely. He pulled back completely to see Dagmar playing with herself the same way Astrid had.

"Sit on her, Dagmar. We have to muffle any loud noises."

There was some hesitation and she said, "But..."

I made an assessment and told Jón. He said, "But you don't like it or but Astrid doesn't like to eat you?"

Dagmar said with an embarrassed look, "She only likes it a little."

Jón used his thumb on Astrid and stood. When Astrid looked at him he said, "Dagmar and you are important to me. I will try to treat you both fairly but you have to do your part. Will you please Dagmar while I please you?"

She enjoyed the thumb moving but she took a while and said, "I guess but you have to continue."

"I intend to."

He turned to Dagmar and said, "You better climb on now." Dagmar was unsure but did as she was asked. When she wiggled into position with a sigh Jón asked, "Is she a screamer?"

It took a few seconds before she said, "I have not heard any."

"Let's try."

The three worked for hours on each other. Jón's arm throbbed but he didn't quit. The women orgasmed quite often and Jón emptied himself into their mouths and rectums but not their vaginas. He wasn't going to be like Clinton and not count this as sex but more along the lines of avoiding a pregnancy until he had a chance to verify their menses.

Jón slept in the next morning but the two women were bright eyed and bushy tailed. They smiled down at the sleeping boy as they let him stay in bed. They even bent down to bestow a kiss on his cheek then Dagmar did one to his still erect organ.

Jón went back to his own room and found it empty. He already assumed that Forni would be staying at the forge.

At my insistence he changed clothes to work in but still be slightly above the rest. One of his shirts were simple and I wanted to use it as a pattern but there were no buttons. Buttons in fact were very rare. Some even in my time had been made of shells but could also now be brass or wood. The clothes I wanted to make was the camouflage material the American Army used. It was multicoloured and utilitarian. This was one of the reasons I was so happy to take the cotton bolts from the Gallic chieftain's tent.

Helga had a smile for Jón and fed him herself to make sure he got enough. "You are just as brave as your father. Once he hears about you, he will be very proud."

"Thank you Helga but I did have an advantage."

"What was that?"

"I was dressed in black and my skin was all coloured black too. There were a lot of Gauls and only one me so I could shot at any noise and not hurt my side. They had only one target and I kept moving. In a way I had them outnumbered." She laughed at his joke and patted him on the shoulder.

The barracks were fairly full because the men from the first battle had found their way back. The Gauls were billeted here to keep an eye on them and to nurse the wounded. Jón walked around from friend to foe and talked to everybody as if they had fought for him.

Jón found Albrecht recovering from his experiences but had a smile on his face. His words were not as good as his mouth was still swollen. The talking last night didn't improve his features but did inflate his ego.

Jón said, "Have the corpsmen been washing their hands before treating you?"

"Corpsmen?"

"I am afraid I am transferring my slaves to the army for a while. A corpsman is a person that treats the wounded but is not a full doctor. The doctor is valuable and he waits close to the battle for the wounded to be brought to him. One day a flying machine will land close to the wounded men and then it will fly quickly to a medical facility."

"Fly? You are dreaming."

"I make a lot of silver betting people. If I remember right, you owe me a day's work."

"I haven't proved this yet."

"I will prove it soon and I am going to start teaching."

He assumed I was talking about war and said, "All you need to know is how to use a bow or throw a spear."

"Tell me Albrecht, did you sit on a horse and use your lance to kill your opponents?"

"You know I did."

"Was it easier with the saddle you had and the lance you used?"

Albrecht didn't answer and Jón said, "Is your mouth too sore to talk?"

"Your weapons were better."

"Good. Now you admit that my saddle and lance ideas are good. Now tell me what you think of my woodland camouflage and my black night suit. Did they help me?"

"They sure did."

Part of this may be just a way of minimising Jón's contribution by raising the value of the clothing. Jón said, "Then I have good clothing that wins battles. Now did my sword and knife work better than the heavy weapons pour opponents used?"

"Opponents? They are our enemies."

"You are mistaken. They were our opponents. They didn't hate us they only fought because their King Celyddon told them to. The Gauls are just a branch of the Pict peoples and it is the Germans that are the ones that like to fight. Why is it that the Romans like to get our people into their army? Perhaps it is our good cooking."

"We do like to fight more but it is good because it strengthens all of us. I do not know what we would do if we had to live like the Romans."

"You will have to learn. What will you do when you have conquered the entire world?"

He had no answer but Jón waited then asked, "What about my weapons? You forgot to answer."

"What about them?"

"Are they far superior to what everybody else has?"

"Yes," he said but it sounded like it had to be dragged from him.

"So there is more to learn that a bow and a spear. Perhaps a dozen boys with the training can destroy a legion. Pretty soon there are no more legions. Maybe we should have only six boys so the battles are a bit fairer."

"You made your point. There is more to learn and I guess you could teach it."

"Thank you but I need help. We cannot get in a line and stop the enemy. We will die as quick as you if not quicker. We use little or no armour. Our job is to fight in the forest and come on small groups and destroy them. You are a man that has practised with his sword for a long time. Now you are good. We have to practice fighting at night and fighting in the forest. Our clothing and weapons will be different. That will not help us in the open."

"I can see that. But you need us to break their men up into groups that you can chew on."

"That is a very good way of saying it. I have thought of another weapon and you may want to try it out."

"What is it?"

"My sword and knife are very strong. What if the smith takes the same metal and makes armour. It will be lighter and thinner but still able to stop not only a sword thrust like a shield but an arrow too."

"Now that is good."

"That will not conflict with your idea of going out and fighting and enemy that is not as well armed as you?"

He had to think for a while and said, "That is something we have to ask the priests."

"Ah, priests. Thor had a magical hammer. Was he hesitant to use it even though it was superior to all other weapons?"

"No."

"Then how is that fact that my armour is better than the usually used a matter for the priests?"

"I guess not. How may I get some?"

"We need to harvest the ore. We need lots of it. Then we have to make a lot of charcoal. At the same time I want all the ashes saved and I do not want them to get wet."

"Why?"

"Ashes and fat make soap. Soap keeps you clean and the germs I mentioned will not bother us as much. I think if you were good with numbers, you would find that most men die in a large war from disease not from the enemy. Think of a long siege and how the people actually die inside and outside the castle walls."

"You may be right."

"Then being clean may be a partial answer, the same as using a latrine like the Romans do. They have been fighting for over a thousand years and in that time they had to learn a few things. Being clean and orderly helps. Discipline and training do a lot more. Having the will to win or overcome odds is sometimes a deciding factor."

"You want us to fight like the Romans?"

"I want you to win battles. It is the Romans hiring us with their gold while they sit back. They are smart. Is it not right that we become smart too?"

"They are weak."

"Weak? They could destroy all of us if that is their will. You can destroy some of them but in the end you, your family, your clan and all of the German people will die or become slaves. Our king, Clovis taught us to fight the best way and that is like the enemy but we have to do it just a bit better. Charging at the enemy while waving a sword will get you killed. Better to think of ways to let us win not just die."

A lot of people had been listening and some of those were the Gauls. Their part in our struggle was not stressed because we wanted them on our side when the battles came.

Jón went to the forge next. People stopped him all the time wanting information. He had learned from the time with the assassins that he had to put this off so everybody could hear.

Sander was outside when Jón came near and he thumped Jón on the back for what he had done.

"It was just like the sagas. You by yourself defeated a whole camp of Picts."

"I did have help Sander. We killed all the officers and nobody knew how to organise the rest to get me to leave."

"But you killed hundreds."

"I killed or wounded fifty in the camp. It is like being on a high ridge and shooting sheep below. I am not proud of what I had to do. I had to stop the Gauls from attacking our people and this was the only way."

"You are not happy to have killed so many?"

"Would you brag that you shot fifty sheep when they were penned up?"

"No."

"Then neither am I. Now tell me about my people."

"Before I do that, some of your iron and charcoal was delivered and I did as you asked and started the process. It was harder without the three boys. I convinced the smith to hammer out the metal so it was thin. You said it was alright for him to learn of what we are doing."

"You did very well. We need all the steel we can get and now people will see the benefit of it."

The man smiled at the compliment and added, "The boys are sore. At least the men used pig fat. The rest are a dull lot. They hide in the corner all the time. They were used too."

"Did you learn their names?"

"No."

"Then they know that you are a man in authority. How do they know that you will not hurt them?"

"Because I said I would not."

"Is everybody to believe you? They were hurt and they saw many around them killed. Perhaps when they were taken as slaves their family were butchered. Try to see things through their eyes."

Sander looked to be a bit ashamed and this was a good sign. He may try in the future. Sander and I soon found our original people and they crowded around Jón as if some of his fame would wear off. Jón spent time talking to them and especially those that had gone out with him to the quarry.

It took an hour to get them calmed down but they would not be the same again. Dina and Aagt's eyes glowed at seeing Jón as if they were looking at Thor himself.

Jón said, "I need Dina and Aagt to help me for a while." The girls perked up a bit more. "Lets go talk to those that recently joined us." There was a little frown but they followed Jón to the back wall where the four girls and a boy were huddled.

Jón sat on the floor and the girls got on each side of him.

"Hello, my name is Jón. Last you saw me, I was dressed in black and had black all over my face and arms. I am sorry that I had to fight in front of your eyes but it was necessary to get my people to safety."

Jón smiled and looked at the boy and said, "Tell me your name and a bit about you."

The boy didn't speak. He may not understand the language or still be too frightened. Jón said in a quiet voice, "I am not a person that will hurt you. This girl here is Dina. She came to help me make good iron to make tools. The girl here is Asgt. She too is helping me make equipment. They have not been with me long and I have not hurt them."

The boy still didn't speak. He was also at the far left and not near the girls. The girls though huddled together. Jón asked the girl closest to the boy, "What's your name?"

She too didn't answer and Jón said, "You are going to stay with me for a while and I have to have names. I cannot say 'you' to each of you without a lot of confusion. A name now will not hurt you and the sooner you tell me the sooner we can get to be friends. Now please tell my your name."

The girl looked down and whispered, "Arienh," but it was very low. I had to tell Jón what the name was because he had not heard it.

"It is nice to meet you Arienh. I don't want you to be afraid. Do you know how old you are?" She just shook her head.

"Can you cook?" Again there was a head shake but it was more perceptible.

"Can you pick up a bull and throw it over a fence?" The girl's eyes got large but didn't even nod.

"You didn't shake your head. You must be very strong to throw a bull." Now he got a violent head shake.

This type of conversation lasted an hour but he found out all the names. One girl was able to give the names of the boy and one other girl that would not give this information.

Guinevere the more talkative one claimed to be Celtic and had come with their chief to this land to fight. Some of her neighbours had spoken a language much like the German I now knew. Her parents had sold her she thought but children didn't always get the right information. She was cute and then again all of the children were comely. It went without saying why the chief didn't have a wife or older women with him.

When he could get no more information from them Jón said, "We are going to go to the bathroom then get cleaned up and after that we are going to get something to eat. Helga is the mistress of the kitchen and she cooks for a lot of people. She does a very good job and her cooking is good. Now let's stand up and get started."

Jón got up and so did Dina and Aagt but the others remained hidden in their blankets.

Jón kept his voice low and kind and said, "When we met I gave orders. I killed your chief and master. That makes me your chief now. I am ordering you to stand. Last time I called people to help. I can do that again if I have to. Now stand so we can get started."

Guinevere was the first and she helped up a younger girl beside her and then the rest stood. Jón led the two girls and the newcomers to the kitchen but stayed out of the hustle and bustle of the main room. When Helga came over he said, "Good day, Helga. I have found some children that need help. They are dirty, they wear dirty blankets, they were abused by a man and they are no doubt hungry. Is there some kettles that you are not using that we can fill with water and heat up? We need the washtub and some soap too."

"It sounds like you are going to find the people to do the work. Then you know where the wood is. You better get the fire burning hotter. We have the kettles but they will be needed soon for the cleaning. The wooden buckets are in the corner and you know where the well is."

"Thank you Helga. Is there some soap?"

"There is but we need more. We have been saving the ashes and grease and there is enough."

"We will make some later but we need some soap now."

"I will give you some."

In the side room the washing facility was set up. Jón asked Dina, "Dina, you have to take a bath first so they know what is happening to them."

"I just had a bath a week or so ago."

"Dina, now," Jón said as he pointed to the tub.

The girl stripped and got into the tub. It was cool. There were streaks on her body where some of the soot had worn off. Jón removed his shirt and washed Dina's hair for her. At my suggestion he made horns with her hair as a way of making this less serious.