The Sage of Einar

In the center of town Laura, Daven, Dorete, and Borg were playing the game of hopscotch.

Laura, who had correctly thrown the stone to the box with the number 3, got too happy and started jumping in the different boxes.

Until number 10 arrived and it was, then that Dorete began her turn.

"You did very well Laura, but let me show you how you can be even better."

Holding the stone in her hand, Dorete scratched her nose and tossed it over the square with the number 4.

The small stone turned and to Dorette's bad luck it did not stop in the center of the square and therefore Dorete could only sigh and bow her head to make way for Borg's turn.

Borg who saw little Dorete retreat with his head down could only shake his head and prepared to throw the rock in the 5 box.

Trying to hold his breath and controlling his strength in his hand, he threw the stone, which fell within the limits of square 5 and square 4.

So he felt a small fear that the stone could not reach its destination, but unlike Dorete, he had not had the necessary luck.

He was able to breathe easily when the stone at the end stopped in the middle of square 5, but despite that, he did not relax completely.

Because he still had to jump through the squares and avoid touching any of the lines, if he did, luck would have been useless with the stone.

Swallowing a bit of saliva, Borg got into the necessary position and started jumping the boxes one by one, maintaining a stable speed.

But at the same time that he was fast enough that it didn't look like he was cheating.

While he was jumping, some children in the village noticed that the children whom Herald Einar had adopted were playing a strange game.

So with curiosity they approached where they were and silently began to see how they were playing.

Borg, who was about to reach box 10, felt a bit uncomfortable by the stares of the other children who were coming around him, despite that he managed to finish his turn.

Daven who had seen the performance of his three friends could only feel a little sad since he was barely in box 2.

This is because for him it was not difficult for the stone to stay the square he wanted. The problem was that when he started to jump he always stepped on the line or tripped.

With the stone in his hand and prepared for the worst, Daven threw the stone with the force necessary to make it stop within square number 2.

Knowing that he had finished the most complicated part, he clenched his fists tightly and tried to jump the boxes, avoiding at all costs touching the lines.

He passed box 1, 2, and 3 without any problem, but when he arrived at box 4.

He lost the balance of his feet and ended up falling on the cold ground, where he could only sigh with some sadness.

But for his fortune, he did not stay long on the hook as Laura helped him up.

"Come on, Daven, you must remember the words of Papa Einar.

If you fall you get up and if it hurts, you wake up in pain, you cannot stay on the ground for long because you can get sick.

You also know well that if you get sick things will not be so simple, since that means that you will be in bed for a long time before you recover. "

Daven was holding back tears and nodded. He gave Laura a smile "You don't have to mention sad things, look I just got up and I guess it's your turn to play."

The children of the village were extremely ecstatic to see the game that Laura and the others were playing.

They stayed for a while before they drifted away, and by themselves will begin to mimic the game as they remembered it.

Before long, in many of the small streets, the children removed the snow and made some somewhat crooked squares in which they put the same symbols that they had seen on Laura's hopscotch.

Although most of them couldn't count and had never seen an Arabic number, it didn't stop them from copying the hopscotch shape to the best of their ability.

The members of the tribe were working and doing their daily activities.

They were surprised to see that the children were playing something completely strange and different from their conventional games.

Most of the adults-only showed some curiosity at the beginning, but when they saw how childish hopscotch was, they just shook their heads and continued with their activities.

But instead, the slaves who had some small breaks were very curious about the children's play.

So in just a few hours hopscotch began to be played by the whole tribe, with the only difference that the version for the slaves was made by betting some food.

When the news about Hopscotch reached the great hall, Einar was quite incredulous because unlike the chess he had taught children to play.

The simple hopscotch had been able to reach adults and children.

'I never thought it would have such an impact. I ask me if it would be a good idea to do some extra games.'

Einar thought for a moment but soon after he gave up most of his thoughts, although he stopped at only two.

'Football and American football, I think the two sports are the only ones that can be done at the moment.

Making the soccer ball is quite simple, you just have to make a leather ball filled with some cereals or soft but heavy material.

While the American football ball is not complicated to make, but the quality would not be adequate to be able to play correctly.

But it is much better than letting the children play dangerous Rugby, that game is too horrible for my taste.

In the future children may be able to kill their enemies without blinking, but that does not mean that they should break bones or lose an eye in childhood. '

Drawing on a sheet of paper Einar made the sketch a round leather figure, he also drew on the paper the folds that the ball should have to sew them and that it was ready.

Looking with joy at the drawing he had made, he nodded silently and stroked his beard 'I think for the moment I will just let football become popular.

It is a simple sport, but I am sure that it will be the pillar for children to begin to create friendships with each other.

Maybe when they're older and I can find a way to make a decent ball, I could teach them football.

It will be a good way for them to learn to follow orders and improve their teamwork when it comes to rugby.

Maybe it's better never to let it show up though… '

Einar, who was thinking about some bad things, was interrupted when the door to his room opened and Helmi and Kassia entered.

Which were somewhat tired since they were preparing together with Elin and Juni, the dinner that would be served tomorrow since at night it would be New Year.

Einar, seeing the tired faces of his wives, smiled disinterestedly and got up to help them take off their clothes while giving them a massage.

Helmi who was quite tired and had her eyes slightly closed enjoyed the massage that Einar was giving her on her shoulders.

So she rested her head on Einar's chest and let him indulge her.

"You know, Elin is following your recipe for gelatin and bread to the letter.

I had to grind a lot of fish bones to make the necessary gelatin. "

Einar who was massaging Elin's soft shoulders just leaned down and kissed her forehead.

"It's a shame my mother won't let me help you if I'm not sure you two won't be so tired.

But luckily for you two, her husband knows how to treat you when you two have a hard day at work. "

Helmi opened her eyes and tenderly looked at Einar before raising her hands to take Einar by the neck, so she could lower him and kiss him.

When they kissed, Helmi looked fondly at Einar and pointed to Kassia, who was lying on the bed quite tired.

Understanding what she meant, Einar approached Kassia and began to massage her feet.

Kassia who was quite tired felt her aching feet quickly recover as Einar squeezed them with the necessary force.

The little massage that started from her fingers to her calves made Kassia relax too much.

So it did not take long for her to fall asleep. Seeing that his massage had helped her, he settled her on the bed and covered her.

To later also accommodate Helmi, who had also already fallen asleep, seeing them sleep so quietly also gave her some sleep.

So he got out of bed and blew out the candle he was using to light the room before laying down on the bed and staring at the ceiling.

As he thought about everything he had experienced since he became Einar, he regretted many things but looking at the two women next to him.

He promised himself that he would take care of them and everything around him.