The Sage of Einar

At night Einar who was preparing dinner using the morning butter watched with curiosity as a little girl entered the kitchen.

Laura, who was curious to see Daddy Einar's invention, entered the kitchen because she knew that with her inside no one would tell her anything.

When Laura looked at papa Einar opened her hands and ran towards him with the intention of hugging him so Einar stopped what he was doing and bent down to hug little Laura.

"What are you doing in the kitchen Laura, are you hungry or were you looking for me?"

Laura nodded her little head "I was looking for you, Papa Einar because I wanted to taste the butter you made and I also wanted to ask what I can do for Daven since tomorrow will be the day he was born.

According to what he told me, his parents gave him a small necklace or a special meal as a gift, but I don't know what I can give him. "

Einar patted Laura's head. "Since you want to give Daven a gift, how about tomorrow I help you make a sweet little muffin to give him as a gift.

As for tasting the butter, I can give you some food I'm preparing, just keep it a secret from the other kids.

Because they may feel bad if I just give to you and not give to them, you can promise me, Laura. "

Laura nodded and gave Einar a smile "You can tell I will never tell them that you gave me food with butter. Even Daven won't know about this."

Einar smiled and carrying Laura, he placed her on a chair, after which he took a fish and began to remove the scales with a knife.

Then he opened it and removed the entrails to later rinse the inside with boiled water.

Seeing the fish perfectly clean, Einar placed two garlic and sea salt in a small mortar, which he began to crush to form a pasty mixture.

In which he placed a tablespoon of unsalted butter, to later begin to mix the pasty mixture.

Joyfully smelling the aroma of garlic and butter, Einar washed his hands so he could spread the mixture on the fish.

After coating the fish completely with garlic butter, Einar placed it on an iron pan and with a little seal fat began to sew the fish.

The incredible aroma made Laura who was waiting in her seat smile and move her feet because despite having eaten, her stomach began to make noises of hunger.

After allowing the fish to completely fry, he placed it on a plate and put some boiled salicornia on one side.

When he placed the plate in front of Laura and some silverware, Laura thanked Papa Einar and began to cut a piece of the meat from the fish.

Before eating it, she smelled it a bit and felt that it must taste too good, so when she took her first bite.

She almost cried with joy because the mild flavor of the butter and the strong flavor of the garlic were in perfect balance, so she unconsciously began to eat at full speed.

When Einar saw that Laura was eating fast, Einar ruffled her hair "Don't eat too fast Laura, you can choke on fish bones.

Remember that no one is pressuring you to eat quickly, so you should eat calmly. "

Laura who raised her small head looked with tears in her eyes and a big smile at Einar.

"Papa Einar, I'm trying, but your food is so delicious that I just have a hard time containing my urge to take another bite."

Einar laughed because the face he could see on Laura reminded him a lot of Erika when she ate hamburgers with bacon.

"Very well, keep eating calmly as I have to prepare food for my parents and for Kassia and Helmi who are waiting for me.

When you finish eating, remember to place your wooden plate and cutlery in the sink, if you need to drink something you can have a glass of milk. "

Laura, who had her cheeks full of fish that made her see how a little squirrel nodded and continued eating.

After finishing the food on her plate and drinking a good glass of milk, Laura stroked her small stomach and looked up at the ceiling.

'Dad and Mom, I ate a little more today than usual, but it was the most delicious thing I have ever tasted.

 

The taste of fish can only be something that would be served in Valhalla, I have to be thankful that Papa Einar takes such great care of us. '

After this, Laura got up from her chair and put her dishes in the stone sink in the kitchen.

"Papa Einar, I'm going to sleep because eating made me very sleepy. See you in the morning."

Einar who was cleaning some fish nodded "Sleep well Laura and remember to wash your teeth with charcoal otherwise you will have a cavity and your tooth will have to be pulled out."

Laura smiled and left the kitchen to go to the bathroom to brush her teeth because she was afraid of cavities that Papa Einar said.

When Einar finished cooking dinner for his family, he brought the dishes with Juni's help.

To Einar's surprise, everyone's reactions were very similar to Laura's, with the exception of him, although the taste of the fish was quite pleasant.

He knew that if he just had a little more seasoning, he could make a meal that much more enjoyable.

'It may take many years to be able to make a meal that imitates the flavors I remember, but seeing all of them happy, I feel that I am on the right track.

 

I just have to take care of these smiles so that no Viking or enemy can harm them ... '

In the morning Einar who was sleeping woke up when he heard a knock on his door.

Taking care not to wake Kassia and Helmi, he got up and started walking to the door. When he opened it, Laura was surprised that she was standing at the door who smiled at him and waved her hand to greet him.

"Good morning Dad Einar, sorry for bothering you so early, but I wanted to ask if we can make Daven's gift."

Einar smiled and nodded "Put on a coat, gloves, and your fur boots as we have to go to the cowshed for milk and to the chicken coop for some eggs."

Laura who was quite happy ran to the great room because it would take everything necessary to get out.

Seeing her running so happy, Einar put his hands and on her waist 'That little Laura in the future will be a very good leader.

 

I just have to guide her on the right path so that she can achieve great things, who knows, maybe in the future she will be a pillar for my family. '

After this Einar gently approached his wives and told them what he would prepare for them, so the two women looked at him fondly as he changed.

When he finished dressing, Einar left the great room accompanied by little Laura who was holding Einar's hand.

The first place they were told was the chicken coop that Einar had built a few weeks ago, in which all the chickens and roosters of the tribe were found.

When they arrived, the first thing Einar did was open the door of the henhouse and at that moment Laura looked curiously at the sleeping chickens.

Einar, seeing Laura's curiosity, smiled "Because it's cold, the chickens sleep a little more but now look at how I get the eggs."

Using his hand, Einar gently lifted a hen and took two small eggs that were there. He repeated this process until he had a dozen eggs.

Laura, when she saw that they had finished, pointed to the other hens, "Papa Einar, why do we only take the eggs from the hens on the left and not from the right."

Einar smiled and stroked one of the sleeping chickens, which she liked the caress she received in its plumage.

"Why every 21 days we have to let the hens protect their eggs so that there are more chicks.

In the case of the hens on the right, they are in the process of incubating their eggs, while the hens on the left will only lay eggs for us to consume.

It may sound extreme, but it is a good deal for chickens as they obtain food and avoid being attacked by animals.

While we have food and meat from them. "

Crouching down, Einar looked seriously at Laura "Always remember that we should only kill animals when it is for our survival in self-defense and when we are going to eat their meat or use their body to obtain material.

We must never end the life of an animal just for fun since that makes us despicable beings because killing without aim is only a sign that we do not appreciate life.

Remember, it is easy to kill but difficult to create life, if you can maintain a balance in how you live nature will be your best ally. "

Laura, who was trying to understand what Einar had said continued to follow him in silence.

Upon arriving at the cow stable, Einar showed Laura how to take the cow's udders to obtain milk.

After getting enough milk, Einar let Laura try it.

Laura followed the words of Papa Einar. At first, she could not make the milk come out of the cow, but after a while trying.

She managed to make a jet of milk come out of the cow's udder. With joy, Laura tapped herself on the breast and caressed the cow for allowing her to milk her.

With all the ingredients ready, the two of them started walking towards the great hall.