"<i>Anlaf, I am as pleased as anyone that humans have surfaced again, but you know what this could mean</i>," Gunnar advised, sitting across the fire pit from the Earl. Another man, Horrik, sat beside him. The two men were trusted advisers to the Earl - though Gunnar was always the more outspoken one. "<i>If Earl Ivar learns of it, he may cause us grief."<br/>
</i><br/>Anlaf tapped a finger against the mug in her hand. Her dress that day was a combination of dark cyan and black, with a wide, black leather belt cinched around her middle. The arms of it had intricate embroidery that ran up the length of them. A gold chain, crusted with jewels hung around her neck. While she did not always like when Gunnar spoke his mind, she appreciated his advice and insight. The man was rarely wrong.<br/><br/>"<i>It is no secret that the humans he has come across have been enslaved,"</i>she admitted after a moment, before taking drink from her mug.<br/><br/>"<i>He has taken them by force from others before</i>," Horrik finally spoke up, leaning forward in his seat.  "<i>Granted, those were small communities with little in the way of population or leadership</i>."<br/><br/>"<i>My lands stretch well beyond Ivar's. We have more warriors, stronger ones. Ivar knows this</i>." Anlaf set her mug aside, settling in her seat and laying her arms on the armrests of her chair.  "<i>He will not attack outright. No doubt he remembers our last border dispute</i>."<br/><br/>The last time Anlaf went to battle with their nearest neighbor, it had been a crushing defeat for Ivar. He wanted more land and thought that because she was a woman, Anlaf would be unable to command an army well. He had not known her in the old days, when war was common and her skill as a leader was well known. She had been a shieldmaiden before anything else, proving her metal in conquests and wars among their people.<br/><br/>"<i>Then perhaps he will try to bargain for them</i>," Gunnar suggested. "<i>To pay with gold, what he does not wish to pay with blood for.</i>"<br/><br/>"<i>That seems far more likely. But, if he is denied, he will consider it an insult and will likely bring violence anyway</i>."<br/><br/>Anlaf listened to the men once more, then nodded her agreement. "<i>More scouts should watch our border</i>," she decided. "<i>In case Ivar decides to try and be brave. I'm certain that if he does not know about the humans already, he will soon</i>." As she stood from her seat, the men did as well. "<i>I trust you two to keep a watchful eye over my city and my lands.</i>"<br/><br/>Both Gunnar and Horrik bowed their heads respectfully.<br/><br/>"<i>I intend to take to the docks</i>," she announced, and someone brought her fur-lined cloak to her, helping secure it around her shoulders. "<i>Ships from the east are due in today - soon if they are not here already.</i>" With their meeting dismissed, Anlaf took her leave. As she crossed the hall to the main double doors, a pair of guards fell in step, flanking her.  As she stepped outside, Anlaf stopped for just a moment to breathe in the fresh, morning air.<br/><br/>Kaupang was bustling with people carrying on about their daily lives. The most noise came from the marketplace just to the south of the longhouse. The market was always the most lively part of the city - folks peddling their wares and haggling with customers. The rest of the city still had plenty of life to it, though, as men and women worked, and children played.<br/><br/>As Anlaf turned to take the road that led down to the docks, she was surprised to see a fresh - still startlingly familiar - face working in the gardens of her home. "Good morning," she greeted Saga cheerily as she approached. "I see you have found yourself work in my household?"