Yes an interesting chapter, reminding the reader of the very real difference in status and power between Einnis and Eoin - how vulnerable Eion is and how much he needs Einnis's protection.
Eoin is vulnerable and cannot act freely, yes - but in a way Einnis is just as constricted, by his perccieved honour, by vows made, by obligations to kin and clan, by social structure and the requirement and conditioning to prove himself a "man" at all times... They're in a difficult place, we'll see what happens next. Thank you for reading!
Thank you for the positive feedback. Can't say very much about what happens next,I'm afraid, but it's sure enough that they stand at an important crossroads now.
By Freya’s fine and firm behind I say - fuck those boisterous Viking men ... I´d kind of love to see Frey kick his ass for that insolence, but since he´s a norse god he´ll probably just laugh ...
“Maybe I do, and maybe I don’t, Einnis Eldhug,” Ketil said challengingly. “What of it? You’ll be much better off without this miserable being who has witnessed you working like a thrall yourself, like a poor wretch without kin or clan. He shouldn’t be allowed to spread such tales of you around, and you know he will, if given the chance. Thralls have no honor, they keep no secrets. Before you know it, people will start calling you Einnis the Thrall-turned! Your renown will be ruined, and the clan will suffer. It’s doubtful Helga Hauksdottir would abide calling a man of such dubious fame her brother-in-law.” That´s rich! I want to stomp Ketil into the muddy ground. Sure, in tight- knit communities there´s no room for a lot of individualism, but if your whole renown will be ruined by not killing one thrall it maybe wasn´t much of a renown to
( ... )
Methinks Ketil protests a bit too much about the whole danger-to-the-clan's-renown issue. Sure, he *is* very genuinely worried about that, social climber that he wants to be, but there is another element: He is jealous. The way a man like Ketil sees the world, hampered and restricted as he is by his upbringing, culture and lack of individualism; the thralls are not even worthy of note, the free-men who serve him are his underlings to be kept in their proper place, and the lords and farmers in his community are his competitors for fame and riches. Only his closest male clan members are available for him to experience human companionship with and to let his guard down. Except that his only brother holds himself aloof and distant, for reasons that Ketil (perhaps thankfully) doesn't really understand, and instead Einnis is able to laugh freely with, and show care for, a mere thrall. The way I'm thinking, Ketil isn't conscious of all this, not being given to much introspection, but he wants his brother's openness and honest attention (and
( ... )
Poor Eoin.... I try to understand the times, but I cannot stop wondering: why do they all think so less about their thralls ? Just because they lost a battle and are now prisoners ? What if the situation was reversed, that would reduce them to lower forms of life all of the sudden ?! That's what I would like to see: for the roles to change and Ketil to find himself at Jaran's mercy ! Thank you, cannot wait for more !
They think less about their thralls because that's probably the easiest way to defend holding humans as cattle: Defining the thralls as less than humans, and acting accordingly. Most Norse thralls were born as thralls in the home country, not taken in raids in foreign lands, so Eoin being foreign isn't the main source of the contempt - his being a *thrall* at all is.
That thralls were held in very low esteem unfortunately is confirmed over and over in the laws of the time, in the Norse poems and sagas and so forth. Under the laws the thralls had no legal protection, they were property. And in general they were "under-class" rumoured to be cowardly, stupid, and possessive of every less desirable human characteristic. It was a hard and unforgiving time and a rigid class-divided society.
I like your idea about Ketil finding himself at Jaran's mercy - I doubt Ketil would learn anything from it though, he's pretty block-headed!
I guess we have better don't forget that Eoin is a slave, far from his own country and totally dependent of Einnis. Einnis is a Norseman and he has to respect the culture and uses of his time. He was lucky to save Eoin from the paws of Keitel and his men, but how long is he going to be able to care for Eoin. This is an amazing work and your description of that sun down was wonderful. Thank you so much. Martha
I'm happy you liked the sun scene! You're very right that Einnis is facing issues that are completely overwhelming, and he has to hide his worries and troubles which makes it even more stressful, for him as well as for Eoin. Thank you for your comment, Martha!
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I look forward to more.
Cheers
Tui
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They're in a difficult place, we'll see what happens next. Thank you for reading!
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I'm glad Einnis was able to take Eoin with them and not leave him with the mean Ketil's men but I still worry - what will happen next???
Great chapter, even if angsty:)
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“Maybe I do, and maybe I don’t, Einnis Eldhug,” Ketil said challengingly. “What of it? You’ll be much better off without this miserable being who has witnessed you working like a thrall yourself, like a poor wretch without kin or clan. He shouldn’t be allowed to spread such tales of you around, and you know he will, if given the chance. Thralls have no honor, they keep no secrets. Before you know it, people will start calling you Einnis the Thrall-turned! Your renown will be ruined, and the clan will suffer. It’s doubtful Helga Hauksdottir would abide calling a man of such dubious fame her brother-in-law.” That´s rich! I want to stomp Ketil into the muddy ground. Sure, in tight- knit communities there´s no room for a lot of individualism, but if your whole renown will be ruined by not killing one thrall it maybe wasn´t much of a renown to ( ... )
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Thank you, cannot wait for more !
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That thralls were held in very low esteem unfortunately is confirmed over and over in the laws of the time, in the Norse poems and sagas and so forth. Under the laws the thralls had no legal protection, they were property. And in general they were "under-class" rumoured to be cowardly, stupid, and possessive of every less desirable human characteristic. It was a hard and unforgiving time and a rigid class-divided society.
I like your idea about Ketil finding himself at Jaran's mercy - I doubt Ketil would learn anything from it though, he's pretty block-headed!
Thank you for reading and commenting!
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Thank you for your comment, Martha!
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