Ships docked one after another, and the eager people on the shore took the cables thrown from the ships and pulled them hard, forcing the ships to run aground.
The people on the boat also jumped into the sea water one after another. They stepped on the land of their hometown, and it didn't matter that their leather boots were slowly poured into the sea water.
After the ship landed, a large amount of cargo began to be unloaded immediately.
The bearded Otto looked like a weather-beaten warrior. He stepped deeply on the solid sand of his hometown and welcomed the warm embrace of his tribe.
The beach was very lively for a while.
"Big Chief, you are finally back!" The speaker was Harold Johnson, who came over enthusiastically with open arms.
"Oh, my friends. I heard of your battle, a great victory indeed."
After saying that, Otto opened his arms and embraced his old childhood friend warmly.
Afterwards, he held Haro Zuosen's shoulders, pointed to the box he was carrying with his right hand, and proudly explained his achievements, "Look, this is the tribute we brought back. You have achieved great victory, and so have we." "
When it comes to this matter, Harold Johnson does have many questions to ask.
"Big Chief, is everything going well with the construction of our new Fort Ross?"
"Of course! Over six hundred people have already settled there. I think we could move some more people. Perhaps New Roseburg would be better than our current home."
"What a good news." Haro Zuosen hurriedly put his head close to Otto's ear. "There is another good news, big boss. I have prepared a big gift for you."
"Gift? Oh, you are so thoughtful."
"Yes, a gift that will make people happy."
"Is it a large amount of silver coins?" Otto asked knowingly.
Harold Johnson was startled, "Huh? How do you know?"
"Haha." Otto happily patted his old friend on the shoulder. "Maybe you shouldn't do this. It seems that everyone on the expedition has no objection. Okay, I will accept your gift."
Who doesn’t like money? Legend has it that Harold Johnson prepared perhaps more than 20,000 or more silver coins as a gift for himself. If he had such a heart, he would be happy to accept it.
In the bustling loading dock, Rurik and his mother eagerly got out of the crowd.
"Dad! You're finally back!" Rurik walked over with a smile, his eyes not only paying attention to his father's beard, but also to the large number of ships behind it. Because all the boats were full of people.
My son always deliberately keeps a golden ponytail, which he often combs for appearance. His face is also much fairer than other children. Looking at his simple and decent linen clothes and the sword hanging on the side of the small belt around his waist.
Although my son is eight years old, he already has the heroic spirit of a warrior.
Otto could only pick up his son to satisfy his family happiness, and he was not limited to any understanding, and kissed his son's little face.
However, Rurik was made very uncomfortable by his biological father's stubble.
Sitting on Otto's strong arms, Rurik asked, "Dad, have you completed our agreement?"
"Those servants?"
"Yes, I need at least ten people."
"They're all there." Otto pointed at his flagship with his big hand, and could not help but frown slightly. "Oh, that's kind of bad. Looks like those kids are nowhere near as brave as you."
Rurik squinted his eyes. He was in a higher position and could see more or less the details of the flagship.
There are still many people on the ship who have not yet disembarked. Most of them are furling the special scale sail of the big leader's flagship.
There was also a group of little guys who looked just plain overwhelmed.
Suddenly, Rurik saw strong young men starting to drive away the smaller ones impatiently.
If you look closely, you will see that those so-called little people are really children.
"Oh, your servants have finally started to disembark." Otto said proudly.
"My servant? Dad, did you really get me a bunch of children?"
"What? You gave me a request, and now you have any objections?"
"Okay. So, it looks like they're all a bunch of girls?"
Otto said casually "Ten girls and one boy. They are about your age."
"Then put me down quickly and I'll go take a look!"
Otto was a little surprised. It was already more than two months ago, but his son was not like ordinary children, who would try their best to act coquettishly when they saw their father reunited after an absence.
Come to think of it, my son is indeed no ordinary person.
During the entire return voyage, the servants who would be given to Rurik were placed on the flagship. The lives of these children were temporarily under the supervision of Otto and taken care of by Peravina.
It is a blessing for everyone to leave their parents and go to a distant place to be a servant of a noble and kind peer. It is a blessing for everyone to follow this noble man who has been blessed by the god of the Varangians.
Along the way, Peravina used these words to calm the children's worries.
Those girls, they knew they were being sold as goods by their parents. Of course, sadness and uneasiness cannot be healed instantly, so Peravina had to promise a better future, such as being able to have enough food every day as a major promise to make them confident in the future.
Only the little boy Kamne whose parents died, everything no longer mattered to him. He only has a very simple request, as long as someone gives him a bite of food, anything will do.
Rurik stood on the ground again, with Rumia standing cautiously behind him.
At this moment, Arik had already stepped forward and stood in the water up to his calves, spreading his hands in an expectant expression.
"Peravina, my baby, come down and I'll catch you."
"Okay... okay. But." Peravina turned her face away and stopped those people who were about to throw the child directly off the boat.
Then he hurriedly turned his head and said, "Aric, let the children get off the boat first. These children are all my people, and they will be your brother's servants from now on. Please do me this favor first."
"Huh? Okay." Arik didn't think much, "I'll catch those kids."
It is entirely because of Peravina's painstaking guidance that the eleven children from White Tree Manor have lost a lot of psychological fear. What's more, because she claimed that the person who was escorting her off the boat was her husband, the children took it for granted that the eldest brother was one of their own.
Arik, to be honest, he didn't like these kids.
There are boys and girls here. They are not as clean as their younger brothers, and the clothes they wear are particularly shabby. What was worse was the hair, which was so loose that he was put off.
In fact, it’s not the children’s fault. Of course they like to be cleaner. However, everyone suffered from the long voyage along the way, and almost every child vomited at least twice due to seasickness.
Their diet at White Tree Manor was quite adequate, and their faces were only getting worse after being tired from traveling. Only when the children stepped through the shallow water, stood barefoot on the sandy beach, and felt like standing on land again, did they feel happy. The dizzy little head has recovered somewhat.
The kids, really didn’t even have shoes.
Because after the child's parents got the silver coins, they gave the child to the Rus. Because of poverty, the child only had clothes made of burlap, which were crooked to keep out the cold and to cover up shame. As for shoes, forget it!
The group of children came ashore one after another, and not far away, cousin Arik also personally picked up his wife. To prevent his wife's boots from getting wet, the cousin gave her a princess hug and carried her to the shore.
In this situation, Rurik secretly praised their family affection.
Of course, Peravina didn't know it at this time, but because of Arik's military exploits, her family was already completely wealthy.
Rurik then called to Rumia, "Let's go, my head maid. Go meet those children."
"yes!"
A high-spirited little boy, accompanied by a girl wearing huge silver jewelry, approached him. The bewildered children were originally gathering together to talk, but when they saw each other approaching, they subconsciously gathered together and said nothing.
Haha, nervous? It's okay to be nervous.
Thanks to my deliberate study of some ancient Russian, I should be able to explain it clearly with these girls from Novgorod.
Now Rurik is very confident in himself.
He walked over and said loudly in the Novgorod dialect of Old Slavic, "Children, I am Rurik, and I am your master."
However, they did not make a clear statement for the time being. Instead, they held each other's hands and stared wide-eyed as if they did not dare to act rashly.
Rurik was also unambiguous. It seemed that he needed to scare these children.
He immediately pulled out his sword, and after the clear sound of metal friction, the sword pointed directly at them.
"My servant, kneel down!"
The children would never have imagined that they would actually hear the local accent in this foreign land. During the voyage, the children already knew their destination. It turns out that this beautiful and clean boy holding a sword is his master?
This command is full of majesty.
The first girl knelt down, and then all the girls knelt down. In other words, they almost lie on the ground to show absolute humility.
At this moment, there was only a little boy with a slightly dirty face and a thin body, as if he was really unruly, still standing with his little mouth pouted.
Rurik was not angry. He had seen too many little boys with overwhelming self-confidence. In the end, they all fell to the ground with his arms in their arms and became submissive.
He pointed his sword directly at the boy and continued to ask in Old Cyrillic "You are my servant! Why don't you kneel?! What is your name?"
"My name is Kamne." The boy answered decisively, "Are you my master? Can you give me food?"
"Eat? Are you hungry now?"
Rurik didn't think much and took a small bag from his waist. In this bag was a small handful of dried fish that could grind teeth. Rurik threw the bag directly, and he was surprised to find that the child who called himself Kamne caught it perfectly. It was as precise as catching a baseball flying from a distance.
Kamni got the bag and immediately smelled the smell of fish, which was equivalent to the smell of food.
The child had no scruples. He opened the rope and saw the dried fish inside, and then opened his mouth to eat it. The salty taste didn't give him any discomfort, it was a strong mental stimulation. Salt! Kamni had almost forgotten what saltiness was.
After all, after his parents were killed by bears, he was basically reduced to a poor person who was eating the food of hundreds of families. In order not to starve to death, he even ate grasshoppers alive.
The salty feeling was simply the taste of happiness, and tears flowed from the corners of Kamne's eyes.
Rurik saw the child enjoying the food, and then asked, "Is it delicious? Your name is Kamne? Kneel down now! And all you girls, kneel down!"
No, the seemingly unruly Kamne is almost lying on the ground now, even though his mouth is still chewing hard.
Ah, his body is so lacking in salt.
Rurik's sword struck the scabbard, and not far away from him, Arik, Peravina, and even his parents, a group of clan members, all became spectators of this "master training a servant".
A young boy scolding a group of servants who are basically the same age?
The tribesmen who lacked entertainment and conversation were very happy to see this scene.
Many people are already talking about it, saying things like Rurik trains his servants well.
Rurik looked lightly at the tribesmen. Since everyone is watching, okay! An opportunity for self-expression is present.
Therefore, Rurik said loudly in his childish voice, "My servants, you surrender to me now, and you will work for me in the future. You must obey my orders unconditionally, and I will reward you with daily meals." , I will reward you with comfortable new clothes and a warm house. Now, all stand up!"
These orders were all announced in ancient Slavic. While the children heard them clearly, they still felt a sense of intimacy.
Especially the way Kamne eats dried fish has made all the girls salivate.
They stood up one after another, and Rurik also sheathed his sword.
Rurik walked over, gathered with the group of children, and observed the children's faces up close.
Both boys and girls, they all have brown hair, many of which are close to blonde.
This is different from yourself.
Through the reflection in the water, Rurik could accurately determine that he really had bright blond hair and blue eyes.
Although he had just knelt down, the bolder Kamne asked, "You are my master, how can you speak our language. You are obviously a Varyag."
"Your name is Kamne?"
"yes."
"Watch the way you speak. I am your master! You have no right to question me." Rurik grabbed Kamni's rough collar by the collar, and his sudden move startled the child.
And this is just a deterrent.
Rurik let go of his hand and did not explain much for the time being. He shook his neck and ordered, "Eleven of you, follow me now."
After all, the master is the master, and the master is a noble being, just like the manor in his hometown, the head of the manor is a noble being.
There was also Lilia, the eldest lady of the manor, who was also in the same boat as him.
In fact, Kawei jumped off the ship first when it docked, and then took Lilia down, took his wife and went straight to his blacksmith shop to announce the good news. As for sharing the tribute? Now, are those tributes more important than your own wife?
The children had no one to rely on. They never expected that their master would be kind and majestic. The most important master was obviously older than them, and his words were full of local accent.
Obviously, the master Rurik does not like everyone to ask questions.
They follow their master closely, specifically, like a big brother.
Kamne clearly felt that he would benefit from following Rurik. For this benefit, just keep your mouth shut.
For this food, shut up and do more.
