( Now it is Björn's turn to wrinkle his nose, looking entirely the barely nineteen years of his youth. The corners of his mouth lift up, and suddenly he is smiling at her. )

You couldn't have known. Besides, that is only a recent development. In the beginning, we were farmers. Then my father won a duel and became an Earl. Another, and he became King.

( He is proud of this, that much is apparent. But it is all incredibly new, and her fine manners are lost on him in part. Tilting his head, he asks: ) Why do you do that?

( Ah, so he's right, too! His triumph lights up his eyes, and he grins. ) So you are Christian! A Saxon priest is all-but part of my family. He told my sister and I much about his God.

Would you speak of your land with me? I would like to hear more.