Things were going very smoothly.
Otto took a sip of the ale in his glass, feeling very pleased with the success of Kawei's marriage.
Lilia is a bit younger, but at least she has a more elegant temperament than other village girls. She is like a carefully cultivated flower, more fragrant and beautiful than those wild flowers in the wilderness.
Even if this child married Kawei and became the wife of a blacksmith, could she still maintain this elegance? I'm afraid it's impossible.
After all, the axes seized from the deer herders during Operation Winter allowed Otto to determine that Kawei's family, at least six generations of blacksmiths, had been working with ore and charcoal for generations.
"My lovely daughter, you and he will get married tomorrow. Listen, he is a very rich young man, and you will be happy if you marry him." Kaya continued to comfort her daughter.
Lilia could only completely accept this. One hundred silver coins were used as a betrothal gift, and her marriage was taken away by others.
At least the young big brother doesn't look bad.
Otto finished the wine and signaled the waiter in charge to refill the wine.
Then his eyes focused on a cute little character - Svetlana.
"Hey, Rigus," Otto said casually.
"Yes, chief."
"I didn't expect your little daughter to come too. We haven't seen her for half a year, and she is even more beautiful."
Ligus looked embarrassed. To be honest, he really didn't want his daughter to appear in the chamber. He responded respectfully and with strong politeness: "Great leader, maybe when my little daughter grows up, she should marry one of your tribe."
"Of course! That's what I meant!" Otto knocked on the table, "Rigus, you are such a smart man."
clever? Helplessness is more appropriate.
Ligus suppressed the embarrassment and helplessness in his heart, and said tentatively: "She is only six years old, she is too young. Even according to your tradition, she was engaged at the age of twelve. Even...even if it is a special situation, She can get married at the age of twelve. There are still six years left before her marriage. Could it be that, great leader, you can't wait any longer?"
"Haha? Rigus, do you think I want to arrange a marriage for a child?" Otto shrugged and replied sincerely: "Although it is different from what you understand. Yes! I just want to marry your Svi Talana has made a marriage decision.”
"ah?!"
The incident happened so suddenly that Ligus was so shocked that he felt his heart was about to stop after being frightened many times in one day.
The Rus took away their eldest daughter, and at least gave her an astonishing betrothal gift.
This time the leader of Ross is crazy! Are they going to take away all the girls in the manor? What kind of world is this?
Also surprised were the girls' mothers. Kaya was able to marry her eldest daughter to this young man named Kawei. Marrying a strong and wealthy young blacksmith would also be considered her eldest daughter's happiness.
She ignored etiquette and rashly questioned Otto: "Chief, my little daughter is really too young."
Peravina hurriedly translated the words to Otto, which made Otto continue to laugh.
"I understand, you actually think that I am going to arrange for a little girl to get married now? How is that possible?!"
After Peravina translated in Slavic, Otto used the very few Slavic words he knew, stretched out his bearded head, stumbled and solemnly explained: "Listen! My Rurik, will Marry your Svetlana.”
There was no need for an interpreter anymore, Rigus heard everything clearly.
"Rurik? He is only seven years old!" Rigus said.
"Of course. Do you still think that your Svetlana will marry a much older man when she grows up? Do you understand, Rigus? My only son will be your little daughter Husband. You have to accept this."
Ligus, who was stiff and aging, stared with his eyes wide open. After listening to Peravina's clear translation, he could only respond with "yes".
He was flattered in his heart!
The scene suddenly became quiet, and Ligus forced himself to think calmly before realizing what a blessing this was.
"Great leader, my little daughter...she became Rurik's head wife?"
"Yes. His real wife will always be your Svetlana."
"Rurik must also become the leader of your Rus people?!"
"Yes." Otto continued to nod.
Ligus stood up directly, left his low wooden table, staggered to Otto regardless of his aging body, and knelt down directly, "Ah! What a great favor!"
"Get up, Rigus. Go back to your seat and let's talk."
"Yes." Ligus went back obediently, feeling grateful in his heart.
In the meeting hall of White Tree Manor, all adult manor residents fully understood the meaning of the leader of the Ross people.
In fact, everyone knows that the two daughters of the manor chief, like other manor girls, have almost no possibility of taking charge of their own lives.
Girls' marriages are controlled by their parents. It is perfectly normal to give up their daughters' marriages for some food and some fur goods. Since Novgorod is not rich here, the man will not provide much dowry in marriage, and the woman's parents will not ask for much dowry.
Because the current situation of both families is always highly similar, they are both farmers cultivating some wheat fields. So much so that many manor families actually exchange marriages with each other.
In the wealthiest manor families, the daughters of the manor chiefs basically marry the sons of other manor heads. There are indeed some cases where the head of a manor without a male heir will marry his daughter and recruit a son-in-law, who will then inherit the position.
In the memory of Novgorod people, there is no record of the daughter of the manor chief marrying a Varyag! Not to mention, there is a record that the daughter actually married the biological son of the Varyag leader.
grace! A huge favor!
As long as this marriage is successful, Baishu Manor will be willing to pay tribute. Because of this marriage, White Tree Manor will definitely receive a strong security guarantee from the Ross people.
In this way, White Tree Manor, which has a numerical disadvantage, can rely on the strength of the Ross people to resist the threat of the most powerful Pine Needle Manor.
It was cold and damp outside, but the barns built on stilts remained dry. A large number of young people from Ross, who had been paddling for a day, ate their brown bread and fell asleep hastily. They know that they will marry a local girl as their wife, and the big leader has personally discussed this matter with the locals.
The barn was warm, and the atmosphere in the council chamber was even more fiery.
It was on this rainy night that Otto decided to marry his only son Rurik. The faces of the Ross people and White Tree Manor people present were all filled with smiles.
It was this incident that puzzled the person involved, Svetlana.
She opened her beautiful eyes wide and looked at her father for a while, then at the leader of the Rus people, and at her sister with a complex expression.
The way she looked left and right was very cute, and it seemed to indicate that she still didn't know what was going on.
Otto simply waved his thick hands and called: "Svetlana, come!"
The little girl immediately turned her head deftly, and the brown braid on the back of her head was also shaken.
"Come! Come to me."
Otto showed a kind expression from the bottom of his heart. Facing a cute little thing, even a rough man would often show affection.
Adults always feel that the Russians must not be provoked to anger, otherwise they will go crazy and be thousands of times more terrifying than black bears and wild boars.
But how did the little girl know?
Even if I heard what the adults said, that the Russians were dangerous. This was not the first time Svetlana saw the Russians. From the time she could remember, there was no memory of the Russians using violence in her mind.
Over the years, when the Russians came to collect tributes, they basically took the tributes and left quickly. The two sides were generally very harmonious.
Young Svetlana did not think Otto was a dangerous person at all, seeing the smiling face in the other's thick beard. Wary? Doesn't exist at all.
She is innocent and innocent. As the apple of her parents' eye, she is very well protected and does not know the complexity of the world.
She jumped up to Otto, and out of childish naughtiness, she directly grabbed Otto's beard and braids.
"It's really strange, uncle, does your hair also grow on your neck?"
"There are a lot of braids on my chin, but none of them are as long as mine."
She naughtily pulled her beard in front of Otto, which really scared Rigus at a loss: "Ah! Chief, she didn't mean it. She is still a child."
After apologizing, Ligus hurriedly scolded: "Lana! Don't be so presumptuous."
The little girl was startled, and quickly let go of the beard in her hand, and sat down next to Otto obediently. She still turned her head slightly, glanced at her small mouth, and still noticed Otto's beard out of the corner of her eye.
So, how does Otto feel?
Angry?
"Hahaha! Rigus, you are too harsh on your daughter! She is still a child." Otto not only didn't mind, he was quite happy.
Ligus hurriedly continued to apologize: "Great leader, I am guilty. I should further educate her on etiquette."
"It is necessary to learn some etiquette. She will be my son's wife, and since she is the girl I chose, I now regard her as my child."
"Oh, that's really her luck." Ligus let out a sigh of relief, but after calming down, he still felt a little aggrieved in his heart.
"Haha, actually you don't know, my Rurik doesn't like scratching my beard. He always dislikes my dirty beard and his clothes being unclean. He has huge talents, it's simply not like It’s a child! I’ll tell you the truth, if my son was seventeen years old instead of seven, I could give him the position of chief.”
After all, Otto drank several glasses of ale. Novgorod wine took longer to ferment, which accidentally made the alcohol content higher.
The slightly drunk Otto couldn't help but give his son more praise.
His big hand covered Svetlana's little head, causing her to turn back suddenly, her eyes widened and she burst out laughing.
"Svetlana, can I introduce you to a brother? He is just a little older than you."
After Peravina's gentle translation, the little girl answered very happily: "Okay. I also want a playmate."
"Very good. Your sister is getting married. Do you know what marriage means?"
"I know." Svetlana raised her young hand without hesitation and pointed at Kawi who was sitting on the side: "My sister wants to live with that big brother. We women are like this. That's it... that's it. I really don’t want to be separated from my sister. But..."
Her happy mood suddenly dropped, then she shook her head and asked in a childish voice, "Uncle, is the brother you introduced to me my husband?"
There were many nouns in what she said, and Otto knew what they meant.
Otto was overjoyed with surprise. He didn't expect that this child, who seemed innocent and talkative, really understood important things in life.
"Yes. Are you willing?" Otto asked.
Svetlana curled her lips and turned to look at her biological father and said, "If my father agrees, I will agree. Will I never be able to see my sister again?"
Speaking of this, the little girl's expression became obviously depressed.
"Silly boy, how could this happen?" It was Peravina who said this, and her existence was to assist.
"real?"
"Of course. Your husband's name is Rurik, and he is one year older than you. You see, that big brother (referring to Kawei), he is Rurik's good friend. You and Rurik are also good friends. Wedding We'll be a family after that. You can see your sister any time in the future if you want."
The words of the eldest sister of the same race must be true, and Svetlana's depressed mood disappeared.
"Is my future husband called Rurik?" She turned and looked up at Otto.
"Yes, you can also call me daddy from now on."
"Oh? Then I have two dads."
The girl's words made everyone laugh, and the meeting hall was filled with warmth.
In this situation, Rigus couldn't help but wonder, if the Russians always had such a kind attitude, would their reputation as plunderers still exist? Although they are indeed marauders, at least now they are starting to play by new rules. The new rules are good for the estate.
Svetlana had never seen the violent and terrifying side of Otto, and she naively thought that the bearded uncle was quite kind.
She sat obediently at Otto's feet. To Rigus, it seemed like they were a father and daughter. This scene is both gratifying and sad.
Otto said happily: "I am so happy today, as if I have forgotten all my fatigue. Rigus, your two daughters have agreed to marry us Russians. I am touched by your manor's cooperation."
"Oh, thank you so much for your kind words, my master."
"No!" Otto raised his hand, "If your daughter marries my son, our relationship will be different! You and I should be brothers, and now I have a new idea!"
As soon as these words came out, Ligus was frightened again. He quickly said: "Great leader, I will meet any request you make. Even...even if it is more women, I will try my best to provide it."
"Hey, no need. Today we want you to swear an oath that your Svetlana must marry my son Rurik."
"Yes!" Rigus replied firmly.
"She is too young. When she reaches twelve years old, I will bring my Rurik to complete the engagement ceremony." After saying that, Otto looked at Lilia who was sitting not far away. , "Just like the case with your eldest daughter. When Svetlana turns fifteen, my Rurik will marry her."
"yes!"
"Listen." Otto emphasized his voice: "Even if we all die of old age, this marriage must be implemented. Anyone who asks for a marriage from your daughter, you must refuse. If...if you make the wrong decision, that is A humiliation to us Rus people. When the time comes, even if I die of old age, my people will take revenge."
This is a straightforward threat!
Riguus immediately straightened up as if on pins and needles and solemnly promised: "We will abide by our engagement. My little daughter will only marry your son."
Otto nodded with satisfaction, and his attitude became kind again: "Very good, my friend. I can tell that Svetlana will grow into a beautiful girl, and her beauty may attract the attention of other manors. If someone If you dare to propose marriage, you must categorically refuse it. Tell us about it later. We Russians will organize an army to combat this malicious provocation, do you understand?"
"yes!"
Obviously, his little daughter has become the first link between White Tree Manor and the powerful Ross tribe to establish a close relationship. It was as if Svetlana had become a sacred object that the Russians kept in the White Tree Manor and could not be tarnished.
Otto continued; "There is thunder outside, and the thunder and lightning are the power of God. Our God has witnessed this marriage contract, and it is legal. You cannot break the contract, and we cannot break the contract. If you break the contract, the Ross army will Come and attack. If we break the contract, the gods will punish us."
In the era of ignorance, people from all walks of life generally believed in gods. Signing a written document may not be as effective as a verbal oath.
"I'm very touched by your cooperation. I'm very happy today. Just like this, I only want half of the 20,000 pounds of wheat you paid tribute."
"Ah?" Ligus picked his ears hard: "Really, did I hear that right?!"
"Yes! Because of your cooperation on the marriage issue, I need to give you further rewards. This spring, you need to pay a tribute of ten thousand pounds of wheat. As for the missing part, I will ask for it from Pine Needle Manor."
Rigus and the other members of White Tree Manor didn't like Pine Needle Manor very much.
Rigus immediately stated his position: "Okay, Pine Needle Manor is greedy. Great Russians, we are happy to give you tribute. But Pine Needle Manor, they also ask us to pay tribute. The Russians are our masters, now, Pine Needle Manor We must also be our masters. Do we need two masters?"
"Are they getting worse?!" Otto looked displeased on the spot.
Ligus took advantage of the situation and continued to fan the flames: "Maybe they have been disobedient for a long time."
"I understand." Otto nodded deeply, already thinking about an idea in his mind: "They need to pay for their arrogance! They must pay more tribute this year, otherwise when autumn comes, I will organize a thousand people Raise their estates to the ground.”
What the leader of Ross said was not bragging at all. Ligus knew that they could really do it. To be fair, because of the engagement of his youngest daughter, Ligus was saying that because of this marriage, as long as the White Tree Manor did not take the initiative to break the engagement, he would be able to get the blessing of the Russian people. If the Russians really wiped out the Pine Needle Manor, wouldn't their White Tree Manor become the strongest in Novgorod?
In his heart, he very much hoped that the Russians would take the initiative to attack. Even if he asked others to send troops, Ligus couldn't say anything at all.
He remained silent on the matter, and was full of praise for Otto's reduction of half of the wheat tribute.
"Great leader, please rest assured. I believe this rain will only last one night. If it stops raining tomorrow, I will organize the beautiful girls in the manor, and we will prepare the wedding according to our ceremony in the manor, just like Like last fall.”
"Okay." Otto was overjoyed. He and his main men were all sleepy, and their inadvertent yawns proved their fatigue.
"I'm tired. I don't ask for much. Just find us a dry barn."
"No, great leader, I will provide you with comfortable housing. As for that young man." Ligus looked at Kawei, "Your name is Kawei. Kawei, why don't you stay with my eldest daughter tonight?" bedroom."
Hearing this, Kawei was cheered up. After making sure that Bai Shu's translator had said the right thing, and seeing his fiancée's shy and bowed head, he immediately stood up like a spring: "Okay! I'm very willing. .”
Although it was somewhat against the etiquette of marriage, Rigus knew that he must now find ways to please the Rus and their chiefs. This was due to political considerations on both sides.
Besides, this Kawei is really unusual. He is a blacksmith. There are so many people in White Tree Manor but there is no blacksmith!
Rigus has lived for such a long time, and he can see that this Kawi is obviously different from other Russians. Don't look at this man's warrior attire. The murderous aura of a warrior does not exist at all! So even though such a person is from Russia, he is also the kind who talks best.
After all, the eldest daughter is her wife. Now that he has obtained his wife in advance, looking at his beaming face, Kawei is already full of gratitude.
The eldest daughter may be able to find her own happiness, and the manor will definitely get a batch of metal utensils at a very cheap price because of this blacksmith son-in-law.
Metal farm tools, more possessions will definitely bring happiness to the manor.
Ligus thought calmly, if the engagement of his youngest daughter could bring security to the White Tree Manor.
Then the eldest daughter's current marriage will bring a lot of metalware, which will be a guarantee of a good harvest.
Tip: Enter "giant panda literature" in the search engine to find this site, thank you.
Chapter 143 The engagement between Rurik and Svetlana
