Alric and the Wolf Ch VI

By Robbie Ashmore

After a fine meal of bacon and eggs, Alric stretched out on the floor next to the wolf. Alric was lying on his back with his hands behind his head and looking around the farm house. It was a snug little home with a nice table, some big comfortable chairs, a fine feather bed, a bear skin on the floor (which they were laying on) and a huge otter pelt tacked above the fireplace. The otter pelt was very old and ratty and looked out of place. So Alric asked Soden about it.

“Hmmm…oh…..that.” Soden said scratching his chin, “Well that is another tale all-together, and one I will not go into now. But it does bring me to our reason for being here.” “This farms previous owners met with a little..uhhhh…let’s just say bad-luck. Their crops had already been planted; and are now ready for harvest. I must be away for a while, and I would like you to take care of this for me. The wheat must be cut and threshed, and carrots and turnips must be dug up and gathered. If you look out behind the home you will see a barn. Inside the barn there are three bins. One is for turnips, one is for carrots and the last is for grain.”

“Winter is coming soon young Alric and hay must be cut to last the cattle and horses through the time of snow.” “There is a friendly Tomten who watches over the farm at night and if you leave him a bowl of soup from time to time, you should be safe here.” “The work will be completed when the bins are full and the floor of the barn is as deep in hay as you are tall. I know that this is a lot of work, but it will give you some time to recoup and build your muscles for the next quest. I didn’t want to say anything, but you are a bit scrawny. If you think you are too weak and small to take care of the farm, just let me know; there is a young girl who lives just over the next hill and I will ask her to do it.” Alric looked at his arms, he was twelve years old now, almost thirteen, his arms were long and covered with ropey muscle. “Scrawny?” Alric thought. “A girl?!?” Feeling insulted by Soden, Alric jumped to his feet and puffing out his chest said to Soden; “Yes Master Wolf, I will take care of the harvest, and we shall see who is scrawny!” “Are you sure young Saxon?” The wolf asked, hiding his smile behind a huge paw. “The girl only lives about two hours walk from here and I’m sure she wouldn’t mind coming over here in the evenings, after she finishes her own chores of course, to take care of this for me.” “You have my word.” Alric said “As long as when the harvest is complete you will come back straight away and let me get on with the quest.” “Then it is a deal young Saxon!” said Soden sticking out his paw. Alric reached out and shook it; Soden then winked at him and disappeared.

Alric was left standing there feeling a little dizzy. Wondering what had happened to make him agree to this?!? He would have to remember in the future that Soden was very tricky. He had grown up on a farm, and had helped the monks at harvest time and he was well aware of how much work was involved. “Oh well” Alric thought “A deal is a deal.” Alric went outside to look around; there was a fine field of hay stretching out behind the barn. Off to the West side of the barn was a huge field of turnips and on the East side was a field of carrots. In front of the house was a field of golden wheat. Alric went to the field and started digging up the carrots, he dug all day; each time he got a wheel-barrow full he would push it to the barn and dump them into the bin.

His hands were starting to blister from all of the work, but he kept going and finally when the sun started to set, he went inside for the evening. He had just settled down to a bowl of soup, when he heard a knock on the door; and a voice yell, “Hello the house!” Putting down his soup he walked to the door and pulled it open; and standing there were two familiar faces. “Hello” said Hugin. “Can we come in?” said Munin. “Yes, Yes of course” said Alric stepping back out of the way. “It is good to see you both, come in and be welcome.” “Nice place’…….’you have here” Hugin and Munin said in that annoying way they had of one starting a sentence and the other finishing it. “Oh..thank you, but it is not mine” said Alric. “I am only looking after it for Soden.” “Ahhhh yes, we…… knew the former owners” the Ravens said, then added, “Do you have’………’anything to eat” “Yes, I’m sorry Hunin; I’m sorry Munin; where have my manners gone? Please sit down, I was just having some soup.”

Alric made the Ravens each a bowl of soup. The Ravens ate the soup and then they sat back and told Alric news from all over the lands, and all across the worlds. The Ravens loved to gossip it seemed. After some time the Ravens hopped up onto the chair back and went to sleep. Alric was exhausted. He climbed into bed and was soon fast asleep himself. When he awoke the next morning Hugin and Munin were preparing to leave. “You’ve no need to rush off” said Alric “I am going out to dig some turnips today, and you are welcome to watch.” “Oh no we……must be going” Hugin started and Munin finished. “Well then my good Ravens, fare you well, until we meet again” Alric said. Alric dressed and headed out to the turnip field. He knew that he must get started if he was ever going to complete the harvest. This day was much like the one before. Digging all day and putting the turnips into the bin.

When evening came, Alric prepared some vegetable soup (careful to place a small bowl out for the Tomten) and settled in for the night. He had just started his meal when he heard a knock at his door. Placing his bowl upon the table, he got up and opened the door. Standing just outside was a middle-aged man and his wife. The man quickly removed his hat and said; “Pardon me young sir; my name is Hans and this is my wife Elsa, we are alone on the road and seeking shelter for the night.” “My name is Alric and my home is yours” Alric replied “Can I offer you something to eat?” “That would be nice Alric. We have some bread and cheese that we can add to what-ever you have” said Hans while removing his pack and reaching inside to bring out some bread.

Hans and his wife sat down at the table with Alric. They finished off the rest of his soup and soaked up the juice with the hard bread that Hans had provided. Hans then asked Alric: “What news have you heard of the world around?” Alric told them all that the Ravens had told him, and both Hans and Elsa shared what news they had heard as well. They finished the evening by singing some old songs and Elsa even recited some poetry. Then being weary, Alric went to bed as Hans and Elsa curled up on a pallet by the fire. The next morning after Hans and Elsa had left; Alric thought, “I must make another pot of soup, and dig twice as many vegetables if I am to keep having visitors.” Alric redoubled his efforts on the farm, and almost every night he had visitors of some sort. Warriors, traders, farmers, bards and nobles; each stopping to spend the night and then leave early the next day. At times Alric thought that any gain he was making was being quickly eaten away by feeding his unexpected guests. But still he invited them in; and each guest brought something to add to the evening; be it song, poem, news, food, silver or mead. No one came empty handed; and each left with a hand-shake, smile and a full stomach.

Slowly, after many weeks, the work was nearly done. Alric had indeed grown very strong. For work on a farm is hard. Swinging the scythe to cut the hay and wheat had given him big muscles in his shoulders and back. Digging the vegetables and pushing the cart had built up his arms and legs. Those were happy days, but Alric was becoming anxious and ready to get on with his quest. One morning Alric awoke to find a heavy frost upon the ground; and knew the first snow would soon follow. As he started out that day he was met by three young men about to knock on his door. “Good morning” Alric said. “Good morning” the tallest one replied. They were a few years older that Alric himself, maybe 16 and each was carrying a scythe. “My name is Dan and these are my brothers, Stan and Lan.” Alric nodded to each of the brothers saying, “My name is Alric” “We are mowers” Dan said. “We travel from farm to farm and help cut the hay. We work for food, lodging and a few silvers. We are on our way to the farm just over the hill to cut the hay, but we will be back this way in just two or three days, if you would like to hire us to help you.” Alric had a few silvers that had been left to him by his guest. Even though he had told them there was no charge, they insisted on a gift for a gift and claimed he would insult them by not accepting. He was very tired and had a lot of hay left to cut. But did he have time to wait a few days? Soden had said that the barn must be full before the first snows; and Alric could feel the snow upon the wind.

“I wished that I could” Alric said “But I’m afraid that I don’t have the time. I gave my word that I would have the barn full before the first snow.” “I understand. But we will check on you when we come back through. A good day to you Alric” Dan said with a slight bow. “Fare you well Dan, Stan and Lan” Alric said. Alric headed out and started to work; cutting, stacking and hauling the hay. He worked all day with hardly a break. Night was coming on and still he was not finished. He could see the hills in the distance beginning to turn white and knew that the snows were upon him.

So on and on he went. His hands that had become callused were starting to blister again; but still he continued. Each time the thought of quitting entered his mind; he would remember his father and mother, and imagine them looking down on him. They had heard him give his word, and his father had always told him that a man who breaks an oath is no man at all. So he kept going.

Alric worked all through the night and into the next morning. And just as he placed the last bundle of hay into the barn the snow began to fall. Alric looked down at his hands. They were both raw and bloody. He hung the scythe upon the barn wall and staggered into the house. As tired as he was, he could not help smiling. For Alric was feeling the sense of pride that only a working man can feel, when he has done what he set out to do. The harder the work, the greater this feeling is. And so it was, that as the sun came up and the snow came down, Alric climbed into bed; dirty, bloody and tired; and was happy as he went to sleep. Alric slept the whole day and night through. When he woke up, the sun was just starting to rise, his hands were bandaged and he was lying upon a straw mat at the back of a cave. “A cave?!? How did I get in a cave??” Alric thought and quickly sat up to look around.

There was a fire burning near the mouth of the cave, and stretched out beside the fire, chewing on a huge bone, was Soden. “Soden!” Alric called, running to throw his arms around the Wolf’s neck, “You may not believe this, but I have really missed you!” “Ah” said Soden, patting Alric on the back, “I have missed you as well. Now please ease up on my neck a little. It seems you have grown very strong while lazing about the farm; and I could use some air.” Alric laughed at that and did ease up, but not before squeezing just a bit harder first. (He had not forgotten that Soden had called him scrawny!) “It is good to see you Master Wolf; I have completed the harvest, I met a lot of people and now I am ready to continue my lessons and continue the quest” said Alric excitedly, while grinning from ear to ear. “So soon?” asked the Wolf “I would have thought you would want to take a break from questing for a while, since you have just completed the longest and most likely hardest part of your quest.” Alric had been standing next to Soden and just fell back onto his rump, with his mouth hanging open.

“But…but…but…” “Yes Alric you fell on your butt” said Soden with a laugh. “B-but I was only working, there was no adventure involved…and what lessons did I learn?” Alric finally managed to get out. “Why only the hardest and possibly most important lesson of all young Saxon; it is certainly the one you will use the most in your life.” “You see Alric, life is an adventure, but when we are faced with grave dangers and life threatening situations, it is easier to be heroic. Those situations inspire us, they make our hearts pump and blood boil. But the simple man, who has to work hard every day to keep his family alive; he has no crowds cheering his arrival, no bards will sing of his deeds, but still he must go on. His family is relying on him. Is he any less a hero? We all long to complete some grand and glorious task; but Alric it is our duty to complete small tasks as if they were grand.” “You have learned Hard-work Alric. This lesson will carry you far. A man must be willing to work to keep his oath, complete a task or care for his family.”

“Too many do just enough to get by. If you are not willing to work harder than those around you, how can you expect to rise above? A man must always be willing to do all that he can do. We should never do something half-way, If you have a job to do, then do it, and do it to the best of your ability; and this applies to everything in our lives. We should put forth an effort to make things better every day; including ourselves. Work hard to educate yourself. Be better today than you were yesterday. We should fulfill our duties everyday with care and pride; and this takes hard-work.”

“Also Alric you have learned Self-reliance. There is no magic solution to your problems. The answers to your problems are within you. We have to take responsibility. You cannot wish or pray yourself into a better life. Being self-reliant means; accepting responsibility for your own life; your own decisions; and refusing to lay the blame for your failures on someone else. You knew that the harvest was your responsibility, and you met that challenge, although it was hard.”

“And lastly Alric, you learned Hospitality. Hospitality is very important. We must always welcome those of our kith and kin, who have a good heart; and treat them like family. Always be willing to help others. In this way, no matter how far we are from home we can expect the support of others around us. We have to be there for each other. This time it was you who had a roof and food to offer, the next time; who knows? It may be you out on the road, and a fire and company is welcome indeed. But never enter empty handed Alric! You must offer something; news, song, or mead in exchange for the hospitality of your host.”

“So you see Alric you have learned fine lessons indeed.” Alric had sat there listening to all Soden had to say. Once again he was overcome with a sense of pride. He had completed another leg of his journey, and was a better man for it. All that the Wolf had said was true. He had learned the value of hard-work, self-reliance and hospitality….and had not even realized he was doing so. He stood up stiffly and offering Soden a deep bow, said:

“Thank you so much for offering me the chance to learn these things. Thank you for being my guide. I can see where these lessons will help me in my life. I am truly in your debt Master Wolf. How will I ever repay you? For I have learned life should be an equal exchange between friends.” “Don’t worry young Alric; the time will come when I ask something of you. Until then I am happy to help such a fine young student.” And with that Soden dropped more wood onto the fire and he and Alric sat, talked and laughed until well after dark, when the Northern lights appeared, painting a beautiful tapestry across the sky.