Chapter 55: 055
The next two weeks with the slaves I spent preparing the materials for the construction of a new settlement and the preparation of farmland, I also carved statues of Weles, Perun and Mokosz, they were not large and magnificent, but they were enough at the beginning.
Another thing I remembered about the show and had to deal with was the outbreak of the plague in Kattegat. It will take place in ten to twelve years during which the daughter of Lagerth and Ragnar and daughter Siggy died.
I will have to change the habits of norsmen, because although they kept their cleanliness, they lived in their houses with animals. Human and animal excrements, food scraps were also a problem ... I decided to call my Skutilsveinr and huskarls for a conference.
We all sat at the table, Itta gave us food and a beer.
- I have some important things to discuss. First the easier ones. We currently have 10 ships, Floki, you and your father how many can you build over the winter?
- (giggle) Ulf, four maybe five, but four are more likely.
- It won't add much to our raiding abilities, but it's better than nothing ... and I have other ways to get ships.
- Leif, you, Tostig and one-eyed Arne, when the harvest is over, the three of you will become Rathningar. Every boy from 7 years of age and men up to 50 years old must train in combat during the winter. If any girls and women want to join, they are welcome ... We always try harder in their presence. Trainings will take place four times a week. One day for the sword, one for the spears, one for the ax and one for the bow ... additionally encourage them to participate in football matches to improve their condition and endurance.
My order was a bit of a surprise, because although the norsmen trained, their trainings were not that frequent and so intense. I had to dispel their doubts.
- Our next raids will be bigger and more difficult. That's why I don't want our people to lose their lives stupidly. Valhalla is for brave warriors, not for fools who don't know which side of the sword you fight.
I don't know if my words or something else convinced them more, but everyone nodded.
- Now we have to discuss the more serious matters ... our way of life must change. People can't live in the same house with livestock and we have to deal with the waste in Kattegat.
Now everyone was even more surprised and didn't really understand what I was talking about.
- I have talked with many slaves, especially those of greater importance like priests, traders ... There are diseases in the world ... plagues that kill entire settlements. These plagues arise largely due to dirt and excrement. The presence of rats, fleas and lice makes these diseases more dangerous.
I explained to them the idea of toilets to be set up in several places of the Kattegat and every two days the slaves would empty them and take the contents a few kilometers from the settlement to the forest or other place and dispose of it there ... It was not the best solution to the problem, but for sure the best in all of scandinavia. I also explained to them my idea of pigsty, stables and barns. Of course, this will require house and road reconstruction... I was going to harden the roads anyway, and if possible, make them of stone and put ditches next to them for drainage.
After we finished discussing this issue, Erik asked about my plans to expand the Katregat, which I mentioned earlier.
- Ulf, you have many strange and crazy ideas ... how do you want to fortify the Kattegat?
- Erik, we'll build a stone wall around the settlement ...
- Stone?
- Yes, we will only have to bring or buy a mortar to connect the layers of stones ... The wooden wall can be easily burned. Stone will last longer. We also need to enlarge the port, now we can unload two ships at the same time, I would like it to be increased to ten.
- Ulf, it's gonna take a lot of work, we don't have enough people to do all of this.
- Erik, There are many people, they just don't know yet that they want to work for us.
- They want? Who are you talking about?
I took out my wooden map and pointed them to a certain village.
- I'm talking about them, we will give them a choice of work or death ... so they will want to work. We don't have time for long raids this year, and this place is close by. We'll send ten boats. We will take everything of value and limit the killing of residents. Even an old man can dig ditches, and if he dies in the process, it is not a big loss.
Everyone understood my intentions, in a world where strength is law, you have to be the strongest ... feelings and sentiments only interfere.
- When we go on a raid?
- You go, I'm not taking part in this raid. I have to take care of things here ... and when? as soon as possible, it doesn't take a lot of supplies, and the settlement is close ... and most importantly, their ships must be ours. I said I know how to enlarge our fleet.
Our conference was over, I assigned tasks to my people, and now I was able to focus on other projects ... making stirrups, die and stamps.
Jarl Sigvard is unlucky that I remembered him and he will pay for actions he has not yet committed.
(Lagertha / Siggy POV)
- Lagertha, I would like to be a servant in your home and for your family, if you let me.
- Siggy, you can stay, I would do the same if your husband killed Ulf ... to protect our baby.
- Thank you...
- You don't have to thank me, even if you didn't become a servant in this house ... You would be safe ... Ulf is not vengeful.
(End POV)
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