Sinric the Wanderer

"So it is. Seeing off the long dark nights outside."

He might even find a willing girl himself, rare as it is he cares to look for one.

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Sinric returns with drinks, including a brandy for Childermass. "A good way indeed to celebrate the turning of the tide. By sharing the joy of being alive."

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"It's the time when the work outside gets less and less, people stay at home and batten down for the winter," Ragnar says. "It's a good time for,finding warmth together."

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"You remembered", he says to Sinric. "Aye, it is no time to be travelling."

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Sinric gives a confused little smile. Of course he remembered. It pays to notice and recall such things.

He rests a gentle hand over Ragnar's heart as he settles himself in Ragnar's lap, unashamedly cuddly as a cat. "The time to travel will come soon enough."

Edited Date: 2015-11-09 10:33 am (UTC)

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Ragnar is holding Sinric securely in his arms, all the lewdness gone in favour of warmth and affection. "We remember," he says. "I am heathen still, and..."

He shrugs. He won't presume to state what Sinric believes.

"It's a time for closeness and cuddling in long, dark nights," he says, hands stroking Sinric's rather tousled curls.

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He was only referring to Sinric remembering his choice of drink, but of course Ragnar wasn't there then.

"And lighting a good fire."

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Sinric hums. "The fire in my city will not be lit till the longest night and will burn for three months. To warm the people through the coldest part of the year."

He sobers suddenly, realising Constantine will not light it, nor Sinric be there to see it.

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"What kind of miraculous fire is that?" Ragnar asks, as he hasn't heard about that one, either.

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"Not a miracle, I would guess. Only tended day and night."

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"Tended well and with great care, from stores for fuel built up over the rest of the year." Sinric smiles.

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"How large is that fire?" Ragnar asks. "And I can't imagine it would replace ordinary home fires. What is it good for, then?"

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"Not everyone", Childermass points out, "can afford firewood, or has trees they have a right to cut down."

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Sinric laughs softly and shakes his head. "It is set in the forecourt of the grand arena. There any man may come and warm himself and be fed, or be given food for his family. Even in the coldest months, while the fire burns, no man need be without hope."

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"Oh," Ragnar says, "that is a very good custom!"

He scratches his beard.

"I should do something like that, in Kattegat."

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"That is the town you have charge of?" He nods. "Every place has poor and needy."

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"It was started by my Lord's grandfather and a tradition I hope his son will maintain." Sadly, he has very little conviction Leo cares for the people well enough for that.

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Ragnar nods, scratching his beard and pondering.

"Yes," he just says.

One can positively see him thinking.

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"If his son does not want to risk an uprising, he will. The people do not take kindly to traditions being taken away, still less when it might leave them starving."

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Sinric snorts dismissively and shakes his head. "Leo doesn't value the care of the people."

He turns to watch Ragnar's expression, watch the gears turning behind his eyes. "It might be harder for a small village. Much of the food and fuel is paid for donation and small taxes on the arena but I guess you would have less people who might need feeding."

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"And only the people who really need it would come," Ragnar says. "While making sure there is no shame attached to it. Bringing food in and distributing it has worked well in this bad winter."

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"Then Leo is a fool", Childermass says bluntly. "Do you have the means to buy food?"

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Sinric has no answer to Childermass' very correct statement but to sip his drink and lean a little into Ragnar for comfort.

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