A thunder strike through the dark night, illuminating a corner of the sky. Under the lightning, giant clouds slowly flew toward a large river, covering the empty paddy fields of the local village. The farmers, who just secured the last yields of the crops, hit their bulls as hard as possible, pushing the lazy animals pulling the carts to the settlement.
As the river's stream reveals the size of the frost, we notice an area with several hundred houses built around a cliff by the river. Carts after carts, the villagers march home with their crops through the main gates. A few dozen men with spears and bows patrol alongside the roads, looking at the surrounding region with wary eyes.
"Hurry up, peasants. We need to go to the tavern after this!" A guard, standing at around two meters tall, shouts at a few farmers who stopped to have a chat. "Don't be worried too much, Captain Wolf! Have a drink, not every year can we have an abundant harvest like this!" A guard walking behind him opens his gourd and offers it to the captain, only to earn back a fiery gaze. "If I ever see you drink wine on duty again, Husk. I will break your arms and feed you to the dogs."
Scared, the group of guards continues their duty on the road, without uttering a single word. The moon rises above the trees, giving a faint light upon the last farmers who entered the gates. When the carts are inside, Wolf signals the guards. The heavy metal-reinforced oak doors are slowly closed and locked, separating nearly a thousand residents in the settlement from the wilderness.
"I want men on the watch towers, and three groups of 10 men patrol the walls. I got news that the Brotherhood attacked a few trade caravans 10 miles from here, they might try something sneaky on us." Wolf gave his command to a group of guardsmen nearby while removing his helmet. "You can count on us, Captain." The guardsmen salute before scattering into the darkness. The fire pits alongside the palisades are lit up, giving the settlement a sense of security.
Carefully putting his helmet on the table, Wolf makes his way to a water bucket in the corner of the guards' tower. Washing his face and hands, he lightly bites his lips. He gently touches a scar that goes across his face. It still itches, after all these years. I hate that I could not give him a painful death.
Changing into his casual clothing, Wolf walks out of the tower with a short sword at his waist – a privilege of the Captain of the Guardsmen. Seeing his men patrolling alongside the palisades with confidence and discipline, Wolf smiles gently. No man makes a better soldier than a true Norse.
The settlement's tavern lies right next to the town center. It is run by a family of four people: the father, a former member of the Shieldbearers, the mother, an exceptional dancer, and two daughters with great curves that drive men mad. Today, fresh banquets of flowers and lanterns are hung all over the shop, with music from the violins creating a lively space for the people.
"Wolf, over here. Come and join us." A man yells out to Wolf, who just walked in.
Seeing the man, a big smile appears on the face of the captain. They exchange a firm handshake before Wolf is dragged to the table, where 6 other men are waiting. They are all big and muscular, with great moustaches – the Norse beauty standards for a warrior. Seeing Wolf, all of them stand up.
"Selina, can you bring us a jar of your famous honey mead to celebrate this hero!" The man calls out to a girl with blonde hair serving tables. A bunch of farmers are making jokes, attempting to put a smile on the face of the beauty.
"Coming right up, Adam." Selina waved back at the man before hurrying back to the kitchen, leaving the group of drunk farmers in distress. "I did not expect to see you guys in town around this time!" Wolf sits down, takes a bite from the roasted pork on the table.
Adam sits down right in front of Wolf, looks at the captain happily, like a child meeting his hero. For outsiders, it is quite a scene to see: A Nanban man dressed in aristocratic clothes made from fine linen sits on the same table with 6 men wearing light armors and a big man wearing peasants' rags.
- "I got a big order from the Lord of this settlement. Also, I want to visit you, Wolf." Adam the Merchant opens his pocket, gives a few gold coins to Selina, who has just brought a jar of mead to the table. The man laughs when he sees Wolf's blue eyes looking at the behind of the waitress, who is rushing back to the kitchen to help her parents.
- "I am not used to that kind of life anymore, Adam. I just want to settle in this town and try to live a peaceful life." Wolf said while gulping down the mead.
- "Do not joke with me, Wolf. Last year, I saw you beat a grown bear to death with your bare hands. I traveled hundreds of miles in this weather just so I could recruit you as my Blademaster." Adam speaks. The winds outside growl, and more thunderbolts strike through the dark nights.
- "I will pay you handsomely, Wolf," Adam smirks, throwing a bag of gold coins onto the table, attracting greedy eyes from the farmers.
"I told you, Adam. I owned the lord of this settlement; I will not leave him for any money in the world." Wolf speaks calmly, giving Adam an intense gaze, the same gaze that scared the shit out of his underlings before.
Seeing Wolf's gaze, Adam signs. These Norses, always stubborn like the rocks in this land. Pour more mead into everyone's cup, Adam raised his voice:
"Then let's toast to my friend Wolf, to the Gods of the Trade and the Land." "TOAST" The mercenaries cheer, leaving Wolf with no choice but to raise his cup and let the warm, sweet honey mead pour into his stomach.
Drops of water start to fall from the sky, accompanied by cold winds rushing down from the north while the group chats. The First Blessing, the Norse call the rain – an optimistic name to describe a rain that marks the start of winter. Finishing the meal, Adam and his men stand up. The tavern is nearly empty, with only the group left and a few drunk men snoring in the corner.
"We will have to go for now, Wolf. I will tell you more stories about the Southern Cities when I come back." Even though he just drank enough wine to make two men sleep, there is no sign of alcohol on the face of the Nanban trader.
"You guys are going now? In this weather? Why don't you stay for a night? Lord Ingstad's hospitality is well-known in this land." With a red face, Wolf asked.
"Sorry, Wolf, we need to travel down to the Tosa Harbor before sunrise. The Shogunate wants to establish a deal with the Nanban League, I can't let my competitors take over the deal." Adam replies.
"When will you come back?"
"We will be back in Spring with more seeds and tools. Make sure that Lord Ingstad runs the mines smoothly, the nobles to the South and West are willing to pay a hefty sum for Sulfur."
Hearing the word, Wolf suddenly stands with fear in his eyes. Seeing his reactions, Adam's face saddened:
"Yes, war is coming, my friend. I hope that the Gods will be by your side." "Do you think war will come here?" Wolf asks, his fists tighten, crushing his cup as if it's made of paper.
"I do not know, Wolf. We traders, unfortunately, cannot prevent wars from happening; we can only try to make a profit out of it." Adam speaks calmly, signaling his men to prepare the saddles.
Wolf sits down and breathes heavily. Scenes of blood and steel appear in his head, making him want to scream out. Why do we have to keep killing each other? How many more Norse must die? Wolf feels a firm hand put on his shoulders. Looking up, he sees Adam looking at him with weary eyes.
"It seems to me that the legendary Wolf the Berserker is afraid of bloodshed more than anyone I have ever met."
Leaving a wooden case on the table, Adam and his men leave the tavern. The group mounts their horses and rides toward the gate, where the guards happily let them pass through with a few silver coins. Wolf stares blankly through the window of the tavern into the sky, where the moon can still be seen behind the rainy clouds.
Opening the case, Wolf found a musket, decorated with embedded golden linings and rubies. Aside from some gunpowder and bullets, there is a handwritten note from Adam:
"If you ever need help, show this musket to a member of the Nanban League. They will help you."
Looking at the kitchen, Wolf can see the golden hair of Selina, who is washing the dishes. The girl looks back at him occasionally, before blushing and returning to the dishes. His grip tightens around his sword's handle. If war is inevitable, I will protect this place at all costs. Even if he comes, I will kill him with my own hands. Standing up, Wolf leaves a gold coin on the table before leaving. No one will destroy what I have come to love.