Chapter One

 

Vidar the brute, Lord of Nirvana Territory, eventually succumbed to the wounds he received when he was attacked as he walked through the stand of small spruce trees on the other side of the river from Nirvana House. He was gently laid in his final bed the second day after his lungs had expelled their final breath and his big heart ceased to beat. They were all there. Most notably, front and center was Queen Freya of Norgland. She was once just a village girl he rescued and brought through the Black Winter and unknowingly delivered back to the Kingdom of Norgland. Mikel, captain of the palace guard, stood at the queen’s right hand. The members of his house, Nirvana House, stood either side of the queen and Mikel. The members of the village were next and then all those who attended to the queen’s needs when she traveled. Finally the thirty members of the palace guard that the captain of the palace guard had brought with them to Nirvana House. The thirty were to provide security for the queen as she traveled from the capital, Oslav, to the nirvana by the river. 

The young priest who traveled with the queen in case she had a spiritual need officiated the service but he was woefully unprepared for such a large crowd. He stumbled several times with his words as he read from the holy book of the great God of the south but it did not matter. Unless one of them was standing next to him his words could not be heard over the cries and moans of sorrow of those attending. When the young priest was finished with the service he asked if there was anyone who would like to say some words about Lord Vidar.

Thora, Vidar’s right hand after he was severely injured when he was attacked, stepped forth. Unfortunately, her grief was such that it kept her from speaking. Eventually she was embraced by Blomst, master of linens of Nirvana House, and was then led back to where she had been standing. The priest looked to Queen Freya but she shook her head and she made no attempt to wipe away her tears. The priest dismissed them and slowly they wandered away. It was just before the sun was to set that Mikel sent four of his palace guards to shovel the terra that was to be his blanket as Vidar the brute rested in his final bed.

Tove, the master of his kitchen, was in her kitchen staring into the flames inside the main hearth of the kitchen. She sat on the floor with her arms wrapped around her shins and her chin resting on her knees and made no attempt to prepare meals. Tove left the preparation of meals up to those of the palace guards in the cooking tent. Blomst, the master of his linens and his deep platonic love, sat alone in the courtyard and stared across the river to the rise that led up into the stand of spruce trees. She cried silent tears and she sincerely believed that she was going to die as well because her heart was so broken that it would cease to beat. Mirakel, the master of the stable, and his assistant Stefan kept to themselves in the stable. They had work that needed to be done because animals of the stable cannot look after themselves. Tola, the master of housekeeping, stayed in her room on her bed wrapped tightly in a felt blanket. The queen sat in his chair in the common room of Nirvana House and her grief was such that no one but Thora had the courage to approach her.

She stood in the doorway and said, “He is not gone. Yes, Vidar lies in his final bed many arm lengths from the common room of his house but he still lives. He lives on in the hearts of all those he championed. You, my queen, were the first. I am uncertain exactly what link I am in that chain, but he also lives on in me.”

Queen Freya looked up and found Thora’s eyes. “You are to accompany me to Oslav where I will title you Lady Thora of Nirvana.”

Thora shook her head. “This is not possible, women are never titled.”

The queen produced a weak smile and wiped the tears from her eyes with the sleeves of her dress. “Vidar used most of his last words to convince me otherwise and in the end I had to agree with him. So, you are to accompany me to Oslav where I will title you Lady Thora of Nirvana.”

Chapter Two

 

Odissa, the queen's associate, a girl of fourteen summers, helped prepare and dress Thora to receive her title. 

“I am a little nervous and afraid,” confessed Thora.

Odissa smiled. “I suspect you are more than just a little nervous and afraid but I assure you it will be alright. You are not alone, Queen Freya and I have your back. Trust us just as you trusted Vidar and you will not be disappointed.”

A moment later Mikel knocked at the door and was received. As soon as he saw Thora it was evident that he approved and he smiled. “I have the very distinguished pleasure to escort Thora of Nirvana House to the throne room where by Queen Freya she will be titled Lady Thora of Nirvana Territory.” He held out his arm.

They took the long way around and entered the throne room from the main doors. They approached the throne with Thora a step behind Mikel. When they reached the throne Mikel took a knee. “I have escorted Thora of Nirvana House here at your request for the purpose of bestowing upon her the title of Lady of Nirvana.”

Thora stepped forward and took both knees beside Mikel.

Mikel continued. “Thora is here to accept the transfer of the guardianship of Nirvana Territory from Lord Vidar who is no longer with us. Your servant kneels before you and when instructed she will stand a titled lady.”

Queen Freya stood and looked around the room. She saw the faces of Vidar’s good friends Agni, Valse, Gulla, and Knud and was pleased they had attended at her invitation. “I stand here with both a most sorrowful heart and a most joyous heart. My champion, my servant, and my friend had his life cut short because of attackers on the terra of Nirvana Territory. I was fortunate to have been with him when he took his last breath. Before he took that last breath he requested of me that I title this one on her knees before me now to take his place. It is most unusual for a woman to be titled lady but he judged her worthy and made for her such a case that I could not deny his request.”

Queen Freya looked to Mikel, he stood and then stepped forward with his hand extended. She took his hand and he assisted her down the two steps to the stone floor of the throne room. Mikel then stepped aside.

“Do you freely accept the offer of this title?“

“Yes,” replied Thora.

 “Do you agree to protect and serve Nirvana Territory?

“I do.”

“Will you endeavor to continue to grow the village in the shadow of Nirvana House and continue the work of the lord who served before you?”

“This I swear.”

The Queen turned and motioned for Odissa to step forward. Odissa had a blade in her hand and passed it to Queen Freya. The queen withdrew the blade from its sheath and held it above her head. “This blade was forged by Agni, the palace’s first blacksmith and Lord Vidar’s most dear friend, and he stands just there.” She motioned with her head to where he stood. “It is the fourth blade he has forged since swearing he would never forge another. I am alive today because he forged the first for my hand at Lord Vidar’s request. He forged the second at my request for Lord Vidar’s hand for the titling of Lord Vidar. The third I commissioned for the hand of Odissa, the queen’s associate. This, the fourth one, he forged for the hand of Thora who Lord Vidar determined was worthy to stand in his place. 

“I cannot end my appreciation for this blade without mentioning Valse the tanner and his wife, Gulla. Agni forged the blade but these two provided the sheath that holds it. These two are not only bound together by the bonds of the great God of the south, they work together, they are tradesmen and artist, and their talent and the quality of their work is on a par with the palace’s first blacksmith. They stand just there beside Agni the blacksmith.”

The queen placed the flat of the blade gently on Thora’s left shoulder.

“I, Queen Freya, do solemnly place upon you the title of lady and you will be henceforth referred to as Lady Thora.”

She moved the blade to her right shoulder.

“You entered this throne room as my friend but stand and be known by all of the Kingdom of Norgland as Lady Thora.”

Queen Freya indicated Thora was to stand. When she was on her feet the queen sheathed the blade and passed it to Lady Thora.

Thora smiled. “It is the place of the captain of the palace guard to escort the queen to the great hall, but since he has a wife in attendance, would the queen object if she was escorted by Lady Thora and Associate Odissa?”

The queen smiled and shook her head. “She would not.”

Odissa hooked her arm through the arm of the queen on her left and Thora on the right. As they walked and when no one could hear them the queen turned to Thora and asked, “You endeavor to be just like him, do you not?”

Thora smiled and replied, “That was my desire in less than a quarter of a turn of a sandglass after I first met him.”

“I cannot fully accept that he is gone,” said Odissa.

A few heartbeats later the queen said, “He is not. Thora told me that he lives. He lives in us and in our hearts. It is our responsibility to keep him alive.”

Chapter Three

 

The queen took her seat at the head of the table. Mikel sat at her left hand and his wife, Rana, next to him. Lady Thora, as guest of honor, sat at her right hand and Odissa sat next to her. Rana extended her hand. Thora immediately reached out and grasped it and gave it a squeeze.

“How is life in the capital?” asked Lady Thora.

Rana forced a smile. “I am adjusting. I will not edit the truth and tell you that I do not miss him, or Nirvana House.”

Lady Thora cast her eyes down. “It will not be the same at Nirvana House without him.”

Rana smiled but tears welled up in her eyes and slowly ran down her cheeks. “It feels like it was such a very long time ago since I had last told him that I loved him. I was not there at his house when he took his last breaths so I did not get the opportunity to tell him I was going to miss him for the rest of my days and I was not there when was placed in his final bed.”

Queen Freya said, “Rana, do you not fully understand just how much he loved you?”

“Yes. Oh certainly yes,” she replied. “But that knowledge does not make my heart ache any less.”

“I tell you all honestly that there is no one’s heart that aches any more than mine,” said the queen. “I shared the entire Black Winter with him at the nirvana by the river and I was in Nirvana’s common room with him when his lungs expelled their last breath. I was with him when he took that last breath but I was no more prepared for it than any of you. If I was honest I have to tell you that I truly believed that he was invincible. When it was just him and me he fought a bear and gray wolves and survived. When he was placed in his final bed, I made the decision that I would become him.”

“As did I,” added Thora

“As did I as well,” added Odissa.

Servers began to enter with large trays filled with earthen cups sitting atop long stems and placing them upon the table in front of all those seated. Another server came along behind them and filled the cups with wine from a pitcher. When the servers finished their work Mikel waited about twenty heartbeats, then stood with his earthen cup of wine and waited until there was silence in the great hall.

“The last time we celebrated a titling in this great hall it was for Lord Vidar of Nirvana Territory and that toast that was given to him was by Huldran who was then the captain of the palace guard. This toast is for the new head of Nirvana Territory, Lady Thora, but since Huldran is no longer with us, the toast is being given by me, Mikel.”

His words were interrupted by the moderate clapping of hands.

Thora smiled but deep in her heart she regretted she had not yet joined Nirvana House and therefore not in attendance when Vidar was titled.

“I lived there in training for the position I now hold when Lady Thora first arrived at Nirvana House. I tell you without reservation she embraced Lord Vidar with her whole heart and constantly endeavored to make him proud of her. Our queen has chosen to not share the words that he spoke to her to convince her to title Lady Thora but I suspect those words would reflect his firm belief that Lady Thora shared his vision of what was to become of Nirvana Village and Nirvana Territory. 

“I recently returned from Nirvana Village and those of his villagers I spoke with replied to my inquiries in much the same manner as Queen Freya spoke in the throne room. They had a most sorrowful heart and a joyous heart. They were heartbroken that their champion, Lord Vidar, had taken his final breath but they were also most relieved that Lady Thora was chosen to be their new champion to accept his title and take his place. I am not sure that I can properly explain the magnitude of this revelation. If you have not been to the village that stands in the shadow of Nirvana House then you will never fully understand the extent Lord Vidar was loved and appreciated. Nor will you understand the extent to which Lady Thora is loved and appreciated.

“All you really need to understand is that Lord Vidar chose her. There has never been a greater endorsement of worth more than his. I agree and I toast this most fine lady and ask you to join me.” 

The room stood on their feet and toasted Lady Thora.

“It is now your turn,” said the queen after they had retaken their seats.

Lady Thora stood and the room immediately fell silent.

“It was a complete surprise to me that Lord Vidar named me to stand in his place. I am not convinced that I am worthy but the queen and my friends insist that I am.”

Lord Tomasson stood, the most wealthy man in all of the Kingdom of Norgland, and a ripple of whispers spread across the whole room. “If he chose you,” said Lord Tomasson, “then you are more than worthy”

Rana, wife of the captain of the palace guard stood up and said, “If he chose you, then you are more than worthy”

Agni the blacksmith, in the back of the room, stood up, “If he chose you, then you are more than worthy”

Odissa stood up and said, “If he chose you, then you are more than worthy”

The queen stood and said, “If he chose you, then you are more than worthy and this is why on this day you have been titled Lady Thora.”

The great room erupted in loud applause that lasted for a very long time. When Lord Tomasson, Rana, Agni, Odissa and the queen retaken their seats and Lady Thora was left standing, she smiled a nervous smile. “I have heard it said that Lord Vidar held an unprecedented ability to judge a person’s character and it appears that a number of people in this room who knew him agree. I thank them for their endorsement but I must remind them that I now stand in his shadow and Lord Vidar cast a very large shadow.

“Without me realizing it he prepared me for this day. I have no idea why he did such a thing or what exactly it was that he saw in me. I will admit that on that first day I arrived at Nirvana House he embraced me with enthusiasm and there were words that he spoke only to me that meant more to me than I am able to properly express. I will not share these words because he meant for those words to be just between us. I will tell you that it was that first day after he greeted me and welcomed me to Nirvana House that I decided that I wanted to follow in his footsteps, to be just like him.

“Lord Vidar was a most amazing man. I...I do not have the words to properly explain exactly why he was so amazing.” Thora looked at the queen. “Our sovereign, having shared our Black Winter with him under his wing, might be more capable to explain it but I doubt even our Queen Freya has command of the words necessary. So stand and raise your glass one more time for the man who no longer breathes air but is still alive in our memories and our hearts.”

All those in the great room stood and made a toast to Lord Vidar.

Chapter Four

 

During the celebration of her title in the ballroom Lady Thora was approached by a very distinguished and well dressed man. When they faced each other he smiled but she did not.

“You have done well, daughter,” he said.

“I have indeed. I have gone from surviving on scraps from the palace kitchen’s trash and seeking refuge in the palace stable to rest my head. Now I am Lady Thora of Nirvana Territory because a brute named Lord Vidar embraced me and welcomed me into his house when my own pa would not. He embraced me because he believed we had something in common.”

“What was that?” he asked.

“That we both suffered great injustice because of our countenance.”

“That is all behind us now.”

Thora smiled. “Yes, it is.”

“We have a lot of catching up to do,” he said.

Thora shook her head. “No. No, we do not. Did you not hear the words I just spoke? You shunned me and refused to accept me back into your house and I was forced to survive on scraps from the palace kitchen’s trash and I slept in the palace stable. The brute from Nirvana House welcomed me into his house with open arms and built me up.”

“What services were you required to perform to achieve your place in his house?” he asked.

“I was required to work to the best of my ability,” replied Lady Thora with a straight face, “and I was not permitted to edit the truth. I eagerly tell you that I longed for him to embrace me, wrap his strong arms around me, and place a most gentle kiss on the top of my head. I never before experienced that kind of pure love, even from my pa. So you need to walk away from me. I detest what you have implied and my station now says that I can have you thrown from this room. I have no desire to do that any more than I desire for us to do any catching up but be assured that I will do it.”

Mikel walked up behind Thora’s father. “Is this man bothering you Lady Thora?” he asked.

Thora found his eyes and smiled at Mikel. “No. He was just congratulating me on receiving my title and he is leaving. He has some place other than here that he is required to be.”

Mikel returned the smile. “Does he need an escort?” he asked.

Thora turned and looked her pa in the eye. “I do not know. Do you?” she asked.

“I do not,” he replied and backed away.

Mikel followed him until he left the ballroom and instructed the guards at the door that he was not permitted to re-enter.

Odissa approached Lady Thora. “Who was that man? Even though you were smiling I could tell he made you most uncomfortable.”

“That was my pa.”

“I am sorry?”

Thora laughed, “My pa did not do right by me, he punished me severely for events of which I had no control. When Aksel, the beast who was king, was defeated and those who were taken from the street or from their homes to serve at his pleasure were set free he refused to take me back into his house because I was defiled. We share a bond Odissa. The Lord of Nirvana House embraced me, he embraced you, and he embraced the queen so all three of us share the legacy. We are obliged to carry on the legacy of Vidar, lord of Nirvana territory.”

“Who speaks of the legacy of Vidar?” asked the queen as she approached.

“We do,” replied Thora and Odissa in one voice.

“What is this legacy that you speak of,” asked the queen.

Odissa laughed and replied, “We would tell you but we do not have all night and also because I believe our queen already knows the answer.”

Queen Freya smiled and stepped between them, turned, then draped her arms over their shoulders. “Oh yes, I know the answer. I knew the answer before he met either of you but that does not make either of you any less for it. I like this phrase. I like the phrase Vidar’s legacy. Part of this legacy will be his last wish. He wanted the three of us to unite because of the things he believed the three of us could accomplish, wonderful things.”

“What wonderful thing are we to do first?” asked Odissa.

“Not here and not now where ears could hear the words that are best kept between us,” replied the queen.

The queen removed her arms from their shoulders, stepped in front of them and turned to face them. “Do you want to retire to my personal quarters where we can speak without being overheard?”

Odissa and Thora smiled and nodded their agreement to retire from the celebration.

The queen turned, stepped forward and clapped her hands above her head. When the music stopped and the room was silent she said, “This has been a very long day for young women who are used to being in their beds shortly after the sun sets. I, Odissa, and Lady Thora all excuse ourselves but encourage you to continued to celebrate the titling of Lady Thora.”

Mikel stepped forward, extended his arm to escort the queen to her private quarters. Odissa and Lady Thora followed behind them and there was very loud applause as they exited the ballroom. 

“You are excused,” said the queen to Mikel when they arrived at her door.

“I will send palace guards to stand at your doors,” said Mikel.

“Thank you, Mikel,” replied the queen as she closed the door to her personal quarters.

Chapter Five

 

They took their seats, the queen sat on one side and Odissa and Thora on the other facing her.

Odissa said to Thora, “Mikel is recognized as the most accomplished with a blade in Norgland, this young queen is considered the second, and I am considered the third. They have no idea about you.”

“Will you be willing to accept training?” asked the young queen.

“Yes,” Thora replied without hesitation.

“Why?” asked Odissa.

“Because I was raised in a house of means but when the palace guards came and took me away to hand me over to the beast, King Aksel, no one stopped them or even voiced an objection,” she replied. “I no longer have him to stand before me to protect me but I am determined that no one will ever put their hands on me again without my consent so I must be capable of defending myself.”

“Have you ever even held a blade?” asked Odissa.

“Other than when Queen Freya handed me my blade when I was titled, I have not,” answered Thora.

“When it is just the three of us I am just Freya,” said the queen.

Thora nodded and smiled. “The palace has many of the same rules as Nirvana House.”

Freya returned the smile and nodded.

Odissa looked and found the queen's eyes. “I will accompany Thora back to Nirvana house and I will aggressively train our sister.”

“Start with practice blades to teach the lesson and then use real blades to determine just how well she has learned the lesson. When she returns to the capital I will engage with her with the blade forged by Vidar’s friend Agni the blacksmith in the courtyard in front of the new recruits so they will spread the word that our sister is also to be feared.”

“Do I just teach her the lessons or the just use of a blade?” asked Odissa.

“He taught me and he then challenged me to teach you in the same manner as I was taught. I require you to teach Thora in this same manner. Omit nothing.”

“It was not how he trained Mikel, the captain of the palace guard,” challenged Odissa.

“You are correct. Vidar was teaching Mikel how to keep to the peace and to be just,” replied the queen. “We are different. The three of us were not born men and yet we hold authority over them. For now, they are afraid of us. Mikel says there are those who witnessed me challenge Vidar in the courtyard with practice blades. They have never forgotten it and they speak of it often. Odissa, you engage the recruits before they are accepted into the palace guard and then each of the veterans once a summer and you are yet to be bested.” Freya found the eyes of Thora. “A long time ago during the Black Winter when Vidar was training me he spoke to me about perception. If you were afraid you were not permitted to allow the look in your eyes to betray you to the one you faced. The very best way to prevent this was to be well trained and to be confident in your ability.”

Thora replied, “I understand.”

“What are we to do first?” asked Odissa.

“We are going to find out who is responsible for injuring him and ultimately his murder,” Thora replied.

“This I already know but I have no proof of it,” said the queen. “Vidar told me that it was his belief that it was the lord who had pillaged my village at the beginning of the Black Winter so I had our ambassador to Sintland make inquiries. Vidar was correct, there is little doubt that it was the action of the same lord that pillaged my village because it is very well known throughout all Sintland of this lord’s anger at Nirvana House but again there is no proof. Vidar took the lives of three scouts in my defense when I was under his wing and one of them was that lord’s first born son and he has not been able to let go of his anger and his need for vengeance has taken a most powerful hold of him.

“The king of Sintland is concerned the aggressions taken by this lord in Nirvana Territory inside the borders of Norgland might be seen as reason to end our peace agreement and a provocation to begin warring again. He has asked what I would like to have done. So far I have not replied because I believe there are many more things that we do not yet know. Odissa and I are convinced that Harald, the nephew of Asgot, master of Norgland’s treasury, was involved in the attack on Vidar, our champion.

“I have inquired and no member of Nirvana House ever remembers Harald ever being at Nirvana House. But, after the incident on the path to Nirvana House Huldran was approached by several palace guards who volunteered that Harald had frequently asked questions about Nirvana House. He always prefaced his inquiries by a desire to verify the truth of the whispers about Nirvana House so those who replied to him were not suspicious of his motive for the questions. When he asked why he had not volunteered to go to Nirvana House he said that his pa was a drunkard and that six or seven days was too long to leave his ma to her own devices.”

“Tove would certainly agree to Harald’s involvement,” said Thora. “She was there that day on the road to Nirvana House when Harald revealed himself for the traitor that he was and she has not forgotten the look in his eyes when looked upon our champion.”

“What are we to do?” asked Odissa. “He has not been seen in Norgland since that day.”

“I am required to see Asgot tomorrow and I will discretely inquire where Harald’s ma and pa were married. The church keeps detailed records so we can go to the church and review these records. We might find something useful or perhaps even telling.”

“That is indeed a good place to start,” said Freya. “I am certain that Harald was involved in the attack of our champion. Those that set upon him knew too much. They not only knew the place where Nirvana House stood but they also knew that he frequently took walks alone across the river in the stand of small spruce trees where he could be alone and think.”

“How is it that none of his attackers were identified?” asked Thora.

“There was nothing to identify them,” explained Freya. “None of their blades had a forger's mark and they carried nothing that spoke of who they were. Even their tunics were plain, as those worn by every common man of Norgland and Sintland, and they had not carried a single coin of Norgland or Sintland. Vidar did say that there was one of them standing over him with a blade ready to put an end to him but he was ordered to hold and told that he was to be maimed and not killed. The one who gave the order sat on a warhorse and there were two crests in his tunic. One was the crest of Sintland and the other he recognized but did not know from where.

“Huldran was so intent on determining who these attackers were so that those responsible might be punished that he had several of them removed from the final beds where Mikel and Mirakel had placed them so that he could examine them for himself. He found nothing and it further fueled his anger. He wanted to take some of his best, cross the river, and track them but Vidar was most insistent that Huldran get me safely away from Nirvana House. He was convinced it was a trap to lure me to the nirvana by the river where an attack would put an end to our champion and to me.”

“I think Thora’s plan to inquire of Asgot where his younger brother was married has merit,” said Odissa.

“I do as well,” added the Queen. “I had Mikel make some discrete inquiries. Asgot had two brothers. One was older and did not survive his early childhood years and his younger brother who is the father of Harald. He also has a sister that has devoted her life to the church of the great God of the south. He was unable to find out anything about Harald’s ma. She is not particularly friendly with any of her neighbors but Mikel came to the conclusion this is the fault of her husband and not her.”

Chapter Six

 

The door to Asgot’s office was open and he was writing in one of his legers. Lady Thora waited a moment before knocking, steading her nerves. The master of the treasury’s attitude toward Nirvana Territory and its house was well known and she was not sure how she was going to be received. She decided that waiting would not change it and lightly tapped her knuckles on his door.

The moment he saw her standing in his doorway he smiled, stood, and gestured  that she should enter. “Please have a seat and make yourself comfortable.”

“Thank you,” she replied as she sat.

“It is very nice to finally meet you,” he said as he took his chair. “I want to thank you for your invitation to your titling ceremony.”

Thora smiled and replied, “It was my pleasure but I confess I did not see you. To my defense, I admit that I was quite nervous at the ceremony and I kept my eyes focused on the queen.”

“Unlike your Lord Vidar I am short in stature so I do not stand out. I attended the ceremony and I attended the feast but I did not attend the ball. At first it was not my intention to attend the feast but I am quite pleased I did. You were endorsed by Lord Tomasson, the palace’s first blacksmith, the wife of Mikel, captain of the palace guard, the queen’s associate, and finally by the queen herself. I have been reading your reports for some time and they are very concise and accurate so, even though I did not stand, I will tell you that you had my endorsement as well.”

“Thank you, your endorsement means a lot,” Thora replied with a smile.

“Tell me how Nirvana Village will continue under your hand.”

“I suspect it will be much the same. There are now more than twenty-five families and most of them are quite productive.”

“What steps will you take to ensure they are all productive?”

Thora smiled. “I think you misunderstand. We have several families who are people of means that retire to Nirvana Village during the warm spring, summer and fall months and return to the capital when it is not so warm.”

Asgot was nodding and smiling. “I was not aware of this.”

“There are wagons leaving the village daily and they are always full. They arrive back with basically raw materials. The bounty of the harvest this fall was beyond all expectations. The village communal icehouse is full and so are villager’s pantries. This means the tradesmen can concentrate on their trades without distraction. 

“One of our carpenters is doing very, very well. After Lord Vidar had recovered enough from his injuries and could sit in a chair, I commissioned this carpenter to design and then construct a sturdy chair with wheels so that he would not always be confined to his room. This carpenter is constantly improving his design and they are being sold in Oslav and two other cities to homes where a family member is older and feeble or recovering from an injury like Lord Vidar. He cannot make them fast enough and has hired his own wheelwright and taken on a second apprentice to assist him.”

“I sincerely hope that he is compensating you since it was your commission that brought him this good fortune.”

Thora smiled. “He is indeed. I receive several large copper coins for each one he sells and we are also paying taxes on these profits that have further enhanced the flow of coin from Nirvana House to Oslav.

“The alehouse is doing fairly well and is also paying taxes. Drunkenness is not at all well received in Nirvana Village so the majority of its profit comes from its kitchen. I have eaten several meals there and the food being served is acceptable. The meals prepared by the master of the kitchen of Nirvana House are far superior.

“As you are well aware, the members of Nirvana House began putting some of their coin in a pot long before the first villagers arrived. The intent was to help finance the growth of the village. Young eager tradesmen would not have the finances to build but they could borrow from this pot with little or no interest and concentrate on their trade without pressure. This pot was full to the point of overflowing and was no longer being used. This is why I sent this coin to Oslav for safekeeping by the master of the treasury. Shortly before Lord Vidar left us I suggested to him that we approach the members of Nirvana House about using the coin in this pot to build an inn. He endorsed the suggestion and all the members of Nirvana house who had placed coin into the pot agreed. Your assistance in sending coin from our pot as needed to pay for the inn’s construction has worked marvelously. The inn is nearing completion and we have great hopes for its profitability beginning next spring.

“It is our intention that the inn will also have a kitchen but will serve much higher quality meals than the alehouse and the master of my kitchen has taken on two apprentices. One of these three is destined to take control of the inn and its kitchen. So as to not compete too heavily with the alehouse our inn will purchase its ale and wine from the alehouse, but only serve alcohol during its dinner and evening meals. 

“I have spoken with a great many of the villagers about creating a festival in late summer. My master of stable and one of the village blacksmiths have become great friends and they share a passion for hunting. This is the source of the taxes for the dried and spiced reindeer meat that is being sold in Oslav. As they wandered in search of game they came up an immense area where cloudberries grow with abandon. My master of kitchen excels in her creativity with cloudberries so we have decided to call it the Cloudberry Festival. I am hoping that my friendship with the queen will encourage her to announce our festival in full court which will entice many visitors to the nirvana by the river and fill the rooms of our inn.

“We are hoping that the lad Urik, who left us to become a priest, will soon receive his white collar and return to us and stay at Nirvana House while his church is being constructed. Nearly every time I am in the village they ask if there has been any word of when he can be expected. 

“I confess that I too miss attending services on the great God of the south’s day of rest. Asgot do you attend?” she asked.

He had not expected to be asked a question and it startled him a little. “I do. There is something inspiring about the services in the cathedral.”

“Was this where your brother and his wife were married?” she asked with her eyes open wide.

“No,” Asgot scoffed. “They were wed in a little church just around the corner from the hovel where they live and I had to give them the coin to pay for that.”

“I am sorry,” apologized Thora. “I did not know or I would not have asked the question.”

“Not to worry, Lady Thora. I may not have the ability to judge character as well as your Lord Vidar but I assure you I know you did not speak the words with malice.”

Thora smiled. “Do you have any questions for me?”

Asgot returned her smile. “I do not. I am most pleased with what has been accomplished out there at the edge of the kingdom.”

“I can claim responsibility for practically none of it. The work was all done by Lord Vidar and I am but following in his footsteps. He was the one with vision and he spent many hours walking alone in the stand of spruce across the river. It was during these moments of solitude when he planned each stage of the village's growth. He was working out details of what was to come long before any of the villagers arrived."

Asgot smiled. "I was most hard on your Lord Vidar in the beginning. I felt that he was doing nothing and Nirvana House would continue to be a drain on the kingdom's treasury. I did not know any of this."

"One of the rules of his house was that you were always expected to do your best. He made no rule that he was not willing to hold himself up as an example."

Thora smiled and stood to leave and Asgot got up from his chair. He escorted her to his door. Just before she stepped outside his office he said, "This was a most pleasant meeting. I wish they were all like this."

"I agree," she replied with a smile.

Moments later she stepped through the main doors of the throne room where Queen Freya was holding court. She made eye contact with Freya and gave her a discreet nod to confirm she discovered where Harald's ma and pa were wed. The queen held up her hand to silence the man who was speaking and motioned for a page of fourteen summers to approach. She whispered something to the page and after he had left to deliver her message the queen gestured for the man to continue.

The page found Thora waiting for him just outside the door. "The queen requests that you go to her associate’s office, collect her and attend to the business you had discussed.”

Thora smiled and thanked the page.

Chapter Seven

 

Odissa and Thora exited the palace and were quickly approached by Mikel of the palace guard.

“What is the destination of Lady Thora and Associate Odissa?” he asked.

“We are going to visit a small church,” replied Thora.

“Would the queen’s associate care to explain why she feels that it is necessary to carry her blade in a sheath that is strapped to her waist when her intention is to visit a church?”

Odissa smiled and replied, “It is to keep the drooling young men of the city from approaching and attempting to entice us with their charms.”

Mikel laughed. “Your reputation with the use of the blade at your waist will certainly accomplish this. Still, be careful.”

Odissa and Thora continued on and as they walked Thora explained how she was able to get Asgot to reveal where his brother and sister-in-law were married without arousing suspicion. Meanwhile, Mikel made straight for the palace guard’s room and, for their safety, sent a squad to follow them at discrete distance so they would not be noticed.

They found the little church on a crowded narrow street without difficulty but they had some difficulty in convincing the priest he was required to open the church records to the queen’s associate. Thora began to feel frustrated and suggested that they return to the palace and, since they were conducting the queen’s business, request the queen speak to the holy one and request he direct this priest to open his church’s records. This notion that his actions would cause a disruption in the holy one’s day immediately ended the priest’s objections and he led the ladies into the church vestry.

At the back of the vestry the wall supported a large series of pigeon holes. In each of the pigeon holes there were rolls of parchment paper. 

“Each of the pigeon holes represent a year that begins with the winter solstice with the oldest being on the top left,” explained the priest. He pointed to the middle of the sixth row down. “On this parchment are the records of this year. If you are looking for a record in the past you are but to count back from there.” He turned to leave but turned back. “The older the parchment the more brittle it becomes. Please be most delicate with them.”

Odissa and Thora assured him they would and he left them to their search. They found what they were looking for on the third parchment they read. Harald’s ma was born in Sintland, and the name of the town was Norrberg, the territory seat of Norrberg Territory. In Norrberg Territory there was once a village called Lyslung. Lyslung was the village where the queen was born. Asgot was indeed not the source of Harald’s hatred for Lord Vidar, it was the woman who gave birth to him.

In their excitement they nearly forgot to thank the priest. Thora placed a small silver coin in his hand, thanked him again, and told him his assistance was invaluable in answering the queen’s inquiry.

It was still early in the day and even though it was late in the year it was a very warm and sunny day so they decided they would take a leisurely stroll past the house where the traitor Harald was born and raised. As they neared the house they were noticed by a group of men wearing long cloaks draped over their shoulders covering their tunics. The men exchanged looks and words and then quickly approached Odissa and Lady Thora. When they were nearly upon them they pushed their cloaks back over their shoulders and drew blades the cloaks had concealed.

“Get behind me,” ordered Odissa as she drew her blade and stood with the blade at the ready to face them.

Lady Thora backed away not believing what was happening. Odissa engaged the first and dispatched him to terra in just several anxious heartbeats. The rest of them began to surround her until one got directly behind her.

“Odissa, there is one of them at your back,” Thora yelled.

The one at Odissa’s back spun around on his heels and swung his blade. It sliced Thora across the middle of her belly. The cut opened wide and her insides began to show. Odissa put an end to him even faster than she had the first. There were four left and she dispatched two more of them before the squad of palace guards who had been shadowing them entered the fight. The last two decided they would rather flee than continue to fight but they were chased down. Odissa, seeing her blade was no longer needed, ran to Thora’s side and rolled her over onto her back.

“You are injured,” said Thora. She attempted to smile but could not quite manage it.

Odissa quickly looked and realized that her arm had been cut just below her left shoulder. “It is just a scratch.”

“It bleeds a lot for it being just a scratch.”

“Thora, I am sorry. I was not able to defend you and I am so sorry,” Odissa said. Tears were streaming down her face.

“It is not your fault, there were six of them and I was of no assistance at all. Even Vidar was not able to defend himself against many attackers. You fought well and I am so incredibly proud of you. I am also incredibly proud that last night you called me sister in the queen’s private quarters. It was the last highlight of a most wonderful day.”

“I am so looking forward to accompanying you to Nirvana House to teach you the skill of a blade,” replied Odissa.

“You are not permitted to edit the truth. If you accompany me back to Nirvana House it will be to place me in my final bed. Promise me that you will endeavor to finish what we started here today.”

“This I promise, but the three of us will finish it together.”

“No, that will not happen. One day has to be a record for shortest span for a lord or a lady. It is how they will remember me.”

“That is not how I will remember you. It is not how Freya will remember you. It is not how those of Nirvana House will remember you, and it is not how those of Nirvana Village will remember you.”

Lady Thora did not reply and after a few heartbeats Odissa gently extended her bloody left hand and closed Thora’s eyes.

“I will send one of the guards to the palace for a physician and a carriage,” said the guard in charge of the squad.

Odissa stood, taking deep breaths through her nose to calm herself as she was taught by Freya. “We are not in need of a carriage. We are in need of a wagon and felt blankets to place under her and to cover her so that the residents of the city do not see her in such a state.”

“Alright, but we need to get you back to the palace so that a physician might see to your wound.” replied.

Odissa smiled, “I tell you now that I will not leave my sister’s side. I will accompany her body in the wagon back to the palace. I will not leave her body’s side until I know that it is being properly cared for. Do you understand?”

The guard nodded and took a step back.

Odissa realized that she still had her blade in her hand and that as she spoke it was raised to the ready.