The ceremony needed witnesses. After Arik woke up, he ran to his uncle's house without hesitation and picked up Rurik who was still sleeping.
"Ouch! Brother, what are you doing? It's just dawn now. I have to wait for the sun to rise before going to the hillside."
Arik shook his head: "I know about you, and I will teach you fighting skills in the future. Now I need your help."
Otto, who was still sleeping soundly while lying on his side in the animal skin, was awakened by the noise. He started to work slowly and saw his eldest nephew looking in a hurry, and Peravina standing cautiously behind his nephew.
"Arik? Are you in a hurry with your brother?"
"Yes! I need witnesses about that ceremony."
When Aric mentioned it, Otto completely understood.
He quickly got up, grabbed a piece of salted venison from the clay pot and stuffed it into his mouth. At the same time, he put on his deerskin coat and tied it tightly with a cowhide bag.
He chewed it hard, then swallowed it, and said quickly: "Niya, I'm going to finish the sword burying ceremony, and you can prepare breakfast first. I'll be back as soon as I go."
At breakfast this morning, all the newlyweds were doing some rituals, which were actually part of the wedding.
Those small families who do these things with their immediate family do not need the presence of a priest to authenticate them.
Only when there is a formal wedding, the tribe members will gather in large numbers at the stone ship altar.
Arik is Otto's nephew. This morning's sword burial ceremony, he brought his son Rurik to participate as a witness.
Otto was the leader after all, and soon, his close friends also became Arik's witnesses.
A simple and short ceremony suddenly became grand.
Just in front of Ogier's grave, Arik and his wife Peravina knelt down on one knee.
Then, Arik dug a long pit with a bronze shovel that reflected the golden light. Finally, Peravina used a pair of hands to break open the earth, and dug out the broad-edged iron sword that had been polished to a brilliant shine by the assault. came out and finally gave it back to Arik.
Liuli held his father's rough hand and glanced at it, only to see tears welling up in the corners of his father's wide-eyed eyes.
"Dad, you're crying."
"Ah! Yes." Otto tried hard to control his emotions and hold back his tears. "Rurik, the year you were born, your uncle died in the war. You must remember that it was the Danes living in Gotland who did this, and we had a grudge against them. Finally, your brother grew up. , he already has the right to take revenge."
Rurik's mood was a little complicated: "We...we must take revenge?"
"It was the Danes who provoked the war against our southern allies, and we are also part of the Siyan Alliance. My child..." Otto subconsciously touched his son's face: "In the future, our alliance may launch a counterattack against them. Remember. , a good leader cannot betray the alliance, but must show bravery in the alliance on behalf of the Russian people. You must remember that cowardice means betraying the alliance, and the result of betraying the alliance will be sanctions. Therefore, we must express our gratitude to Gotland revenge."
Rurik listened silently. At this moment, he knew very well that the tribe was part of the Swedish Thiya tribe alliance. My father's words were very serious. Therefore, as the leader, my father will lead his own warriors and allies to form an alliance to fight against the Danes?
This is inevitable! This is their way of life.
A ceremony is over, and after another whole day, tomorrow night, when the clouds disperse, the fluorescent Aurora and the bright moonlight illuminate the sky. Under the witness of the Valkyrie, the largest collective wedding of the Ross tribe in decades will be held. conduct.
The appointed day has finally arrived!
As the winter sun gradually sinks below the horizon, the stars begin to dominate the sky.
It's too early now, leaving enough time for the newcomers and priests.
"Check a lot of things, grab my antlered helmet, let's go."
With a hoarse voice and a cane, Priest Vilia left her longhouse, followed by dozens of junior priests.
The priests carrying wooden boxes, pottery altars, or other ritual vessels were carried on their backs.
They wore small antlered helmets during the ceremony. Only one of Vilia's most trusted priestesses named Bona was holding the largest antlered helmet.
There is no doubt that this Bona is the successor chosen by Vilia.
The priests walked solemnly, and they soon met a group of people holding torches, headed by the leader Otto himself.
"Great priest, look." Otto pointed his hand: "The deer has been brought here, we can do things at any time."
"Now! Let's go to the altar first!"
"As ordered." Otto tilted his head slightly to show respect, then made a gesture and ordered his men to lead the deer.
Villa suddenly asked: "Those young couples should arrive as soon as possible. When Aurora flashes, the ceremony will begin immediately."
"I have ordered them to go ahead of time."
Hearing this, Vilia let out a sigh of satisfaction. She gave one more instruction: "Remember, they must be there. Of course they can hold the wedding ceremony on their own at other times, but tonight's ceremony is very important to them. Valhalla will judge our actions, those Newly married couples who do not participate will be punished by Odin."
"I completely understand!" Otto nodded deeply, "I will seriously implement this matter."
I'm afraid, this is pure superstition, which is exactly what they believe.
Vilia was full of awe for Odin and Valhalla. She imagined that because of her pious work for so many years, her life would finally reach its peak, and her respect for Odin would eventually be recognized, and her soul would be with her after death. Will enter Tianyu, and finally parade in the night sky as a new Valkyrie, inspecting her beloved tribe.
For those young people and the common people of the tribe, the night was really full of joy.
Only the priests remained absolutely vigilant, fearing that some omission might blaspheme Odin.
But tonight the Ross tribe fell into a sea of joy.
On the snow-covered hard dirt roads of Fort Ross, a large number of bonfires were lit, and the singing and dancing tribesmen spontaneously lit torches soaked in pine oil.
They have been deliberately collecting pine tar, firstly to use it as an adhesive and anti-leakage agent for the gaps in ships, and secondly to make torches.
There are stars in the sky, and the Rossberg Sound is also starry.
The newlyweds who are about to participate in the ceremony wear the simplest clothes of the tribe under the thick fur coats.
Tonight, Arik put on a plain suit made of pure linen and a knee-length skirt made of linen. His newlywed wife Peravina was even more simply dressed in a long dress.
All newlyweds dress up similarly. If it were summer, they would be able to cope with this look. But in winter, if they no longer wear thick fur coats, people will get sick quickly.
It is the ceremony that requires this, forcing the newlyweds to dress in absolute simplicity.
Before the priest arrived, more than a thousand people were crowded near the stone boat altar. Hundreds of torches and more than twenty bonfires illuminated the woods in this area. The flames finally brought some warmth, making the simply-dressed newlyweds feel much better.
Tonight, Arik did not become special because of his identity.
He, his wife Peravina, and even his immediate family are waiting anxiously.
He waited for the priest and his uncle, and looked up at the sky, expecting Aurora to appear.
Finally, when people began to see a fire dragon approaching the stone ship through the woods, everyone knew that the priests had arrived.
The bonfire toasted everything near the altar to a comfortable level and brought enough light. Today was a big ceremony after all. Otto put on a full set of armor, and his wooden shield covered with copper for enhanced defense reflected golden light. The same is true for the warriors behind him, as if they are about to step into the battlefield, their heroic spirit brings cheers from the onlookers.
As Vilia, wearing an exaggerated antler helmet, entered the altar on crutches, her astonishing image gave the ignorant people a huge shock, and the excited crowd quickly fell silent.
Villa first looked up at the sky, with a smile on her lips.
She concluded with her rich experience that Aurora was about to flash and stay for a long time tonight.
She suddenly said to Otto: "Chief, please ask everyone to step back, and then ask all the newlyweds to gather. I want to do an inventory first."
Otto could use his powerful and vicissitudes of voice to issue orders to his people with high spirits.
Everyone, no matter how high or low, understood. Niya also held the hand of Rurik, who specialized in "watching dramas" and drinking honey water. As the crowd continued to retreat, they knelt down on one knee. Everyone was like this.
Only the newlyweds approached the stone boat altar, waiting for the priest's personal inspection.
