[quote=@Odin]
That cold night had taken its' toll not only on Najla, but also on Ketill. He laid there, huddled under a set of furs, his eyes closed but his mind working at full power. For hours on end now he had felt uneasy - an uncomfortable feeling, something similar to what he'd felt before during visions but this time, much darker, more brooding. Were the forces of Hél arriving to unleash the Worlds End? The sound of metal scraping against the floor could be heard, though neither Najla nor Basim was awake at that time to hear it. Someone else, however, was. When the feeling became too much, Ketill would slowly open his eyes, looking in the direction of Basim. Where any man would have been startled, and screamed, Ketill kept his peace, even when he stared directly in this monsters' eyes. What it was he could not tell - it resembled nothing like any of the creatures from Audrun's sagas. It was tall, hunched and it seemed clad in shadow. It almost seemed like it wore the shadow or darkness as a cloak, manipulating it to hide itself from all but the most discerning eye. And now, it was hunched over Basim. 

Ketill's grip on the axe tightened, though he had no intent to get up and fight this beast. Bear or not, he was no match for the supernatural. But close his eyes and go back to sleep? That was something he could not do either. Slowly his breaths slowed down, either from paralysis or fear. But then Najla got up, and in that brief moment where Ketill's eyes moved to see Najla, the figure disappeared. Najla moved to the door, and Ketill's eyes remained locked onto her, unable to move, the axe still close to his body. She felt it too? After a brief moment, where Najla opened the door, spoke some words, and then closed the door. 

When Najla turned to the point where she could see Ketill, he closed his eyes quickly. There was no reason for her to know what he'd seen or that he was awake - rather, she focused her attention on Basim, who seemed to have awoken when Najla moved around. Though the creature was gone now, Ketill would not find sleep nor rest that night.

[hr]

Ketill held up a dried root to his mouth while he listened to Najla and Basim go back and forth. He pushed it into his mouth and chewed on it, slowly, while Najla voiced her concerns. Typically he'd have told her to keep it to herself, but he could no longer command her in that way, and since she was living there now, it'd feel dishonest to ignore her feelings - trivial as they may have seemed to him. She did not think he was a fool - that much was certain - so she was only stating her feelings to make them clear, [b]not[/b] to give him advice. She spoke of trust and Ketill did not react, though he disagreed with her. He did not trust them, but he needed them. They were manpower that they did not have before. While these men hunted or farmed, he could tend to other things. It was that simple in essence - but would it work out that way, that was the question. Ketill had been gone for so long in these regions that he could scarcely remember how to ensure loyalty from these men. But that did not mean he did not have an idea.

[i]“You should know before anyone else, Najla,”[/i] he responded to her notion that it was not the strength of his decisions that would determine the outcome in this situation, continuing swiftly as he removed the root from his mouth, [i]“Djinn's do not sleep. If you are afraid of a dagger across your throat in the middle of the night, rest easy.”[/i] His mouth curled into a grin - not the humorous kind, but the kind that was intended to mock or show off some personal enjoyment out of what was said. [i]“I'd rather die to a sword or knife - fast and with honor - than starving to death in the winter because our farmland did not have enough hands to produce enough food. I do not expect a sultana like yourself to know, but starving is very... very slow. And painful.”[/i] He extended his hand and made a claw-like gesture, gripping the air and slowly pulling it out towards him. He was mimicking something, clearly. [i]“Like a bear pulling out your innards one inch a day.”[/i]

The entire situation was a simple equation, one that both Najla and Basim could understand - especially because someone simple like Ketill understood it. Whether they took these people in or not, sooner or later they'd have to gather more people. Either that or.. start a family. With that thought Ketill glanced at Najla, but pushed that thought away quickly. No, taking people in would be easier. Besides, it wasn't like these people were going to live on his lands for free. That much was understood, whether it was said or not. But that raised a whole other set of problems.

[hr]

When the men returned they did so with a bountiful amount of meat. At the very least they could be sure that they weren't freeloaders or amateurs. These men had survived the winters so far, perhaps by going to Broacien, but they had also picked up the northern skills. A valuable asset, especially in the time period to come. They also brought with them the partial solution to the new 'problem' Ketill had found. Farming in the heath would be time consuming, as they'd have to clear the heath and with the ground still hard, that would prove to be a problem. Furthermore, the lack of water would also prove to be problematic - although not a farmer, Ketill had been in Broacien for most of his life, and any Broacienien can tell you exactly what you need to farm. It was their lifeline, after all.

[i]“We found a suitable place to live,”[/i] Grettir, the leader, told him. [i]“Not too far away - with a river, and also plenty of forest to cut down for the houses.”[/i]

Ketill had originally intended to just build a new house next to the old one, and use that new house himself alongside Basim and Najla, but the thought of such a location was a bit too enticing to pass up on without investigation. He nodded at Grettir, and gestured to Basim and Najla. [i]“Your brother and friend can stay with them for now, you and me will go see this location.”[/i]

Grettir nodded at this and gestured to his own companions while Ketill went to get his bearcloak. Although he was far from it, in his mind he had already established himself as the leader of these regions - not that there were any peasants to defer to him as such. One could call Ketill many things, but for once he had a long term plan in his head now. And that plan included gathering land, men, boats and weaponry. 

As he gathered his items, he briefly went by the stash the three men had brought along from Broacien. Without glancing back, and with no second thoughts, he pulled an item from the stash, before walking along to Najla and Basim.

While he gathered his items, he also kneeled close to Najla and Basim. Without saying anything he clandestinely passed along his [url=http://www.christianfletcher.com/_Media/hpim2811_med.jpeg]seax[/url] to Najla. He was sure there were some questions as to how he obtained it, but those would have to wait. These knives were a staple tool in Broacien, but a valuable commodity in the North, where iron and steel tools were rare. Whether Najla or Basim had seen him take it, he didn't know, but he simply raised his finger to his mouth to shush them. [i]“Hide it,”[/i] he urged her, though he also knew she didn't need to be told twice. After that, he rose to his feet and looked over at Grettir. [i]“Ready.”[/i]

The two of them moved out and made their way to this location, which would be a long walk away. An hour was relatively 'short' for the north, however, so Ketill knew not to complain. During the trip, the two conversed idly to keep themselves occupied, stopping briefly to look at some tracks, before continuing on their way. 

[i]“What are your plans?”[/i] Grettir asked, causing Ketill to pause a moment as he glanced to the right, away from Grettir. Ketill wasn't sure about the man yet, and he knew better than to give away the details of his plans to everyone. However, it would also set bad blood by keeping the men in the dark, especially the leader of this 'pack.'

[i]“For now I wish to build a home. Some place that isn't just a house, but is mine. Stake a claim, that sort of thing.”[/i]

Grettir nodded at this, prodding at the snow underneath his feet with a stick he found on the way. [i]“When we met, you said you fought for this land. I won't stake a claim here out of respect for your battle - and also, because I know I can't fight you.”[/i]

[i]“Much appreciated,”[/i] was the only reply Ketill could come up with then. He wasn't sure what the man was going for or trying to say. A brief pause followed, until the man continued.

[i]“As we live on your land, I suppose that makes you our 'chief.' I don't know about the others, but I've never lived under a chief before. Always been a free man, myself.”[/i] Grettir paused briefly, a mist coming from his nose as he breathed out. [i]“I suppose that also means that you will give us orders now. I have nothing against that. As long as you are fair.”[/i]

Ketill's face remained stoic, as if he'd already seen this coming, or already knew the answers. [i]“That is for Audrun to decide,”[/i] he began. He was clearly a very loyal man, first to the Monarch, and now to the Old Gods. Maybe the same could be said for his companions and followers - maybe. [i]“I am not one to take away your freedom. If you decide tomorrow that you will leave, I won't stop you. And if I need your council I will seek it.”[/i]

[i]“Very well, chief,”[/i] Grettir answered, face still as solemn as when he started the conversation. [i]“We're here.”[/i]

[center][img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/379379520785874956/391627646628265985/image.jpg[/img][/center]

Not a word had been lied about the area - it was suitable as could be. Ketill had to look around briefly, checking the soil mostly, and noted that it was fertile and easy to work with. However, it wasn't exactly Broacienien soil - plentiful, that is. It came in small patches, the rest of the soil was average at best. However, there was ample clay near the river, which was always useful. The location was kind of impressive, really. Much better than their current location, and if Ketill managed to get a powerbase, there was lots of space for expansion. 

Upon the low hill in front of him, that's where he'd build his house. So, then it was decided - they would go here together to build the new house. And then they'd build the house for the others. 

The journey back to the homestead was much more lively, as Grettir felt more inclined to converse with Ketill about the future mostly, and Ketill was more willing to indulge him, if only to keep him content.

[hr]

During the time Ketill and Grettir spent away from the homestead, one of the two men that stayed behind had taken to preparing food. For once it seemed neither Najla nor Basim would be forced to do it - either a good or bad thing, depending on your view on the matter. It left them with free time to do something, but the truth was becoming more and more plainly visible - there was not much to do. Unlike the sultanate, it wasn't possible to indulge in the usage of mind altering herbs, or drinking alcohol. Ultimately the boredom proved to be too much for Basim, as he got up and went to help the man with the cooking. 

Although interactions were minimal, they were friendly enough. The man mostly asked questions about the sultanate, although it seemed more like he thought Basim was lying, and that he was simply indulging into Basim's made up fantasy story. It made sense, though. For many northerners, even the existence of Broacien was a half-myth. The fact that there was a land with no water and only sand was hard to believe, let alone that people lived there. [i]“And these horses with two bumps on their back, you ride them into battle?”[/i]

[i]“Sometimes. Mostly they are for the caravanserai.”[/i]

[i]“The ca-ra-van-serai..?”[/i]

[i]“It's like a marketplace, but bigger, and its' used to trade with other cities, not just your own city.”[/i]

[i]“Right, right. You expect me to believe that there are places where everyone lives together, in a small area, and the owner of that land is okay with that?”[/i]

[i]“Well, he is okay with that because he levies a tax. And they are his citizens, and he is their ruler.”[/i]

[i]“.. taxes?”[/i]

[i]“They... pay him money, or other goods. Some families give him a sheep, or a horse, or multiple.”[/i]

[i]“Ah! So like a tribute!”[/i]

[i]“I suppose you could say that - though, its' more the tribes that pay a tribute.”[/i]

[i]“There are sand-tribes?”[/i]

[i]“Quite a few. Ketill himself has seen them, and fought against them. You can ask him.”[/i]

Grettirs' brother Arngeir had been the one conversing with Basim, but at the mention of Ketill, it was not Arngeir, but Hádski who piped up and replied. The man had been busy carving out a long stick into a sharpened stake - for a pitfall trap, but neither Basim nor Najla would be expected to know that - and with a firm and strong pull he carved out a long piece of wood from the end. It seemed the mere mention of Ketill bothered him. [i]“Oh, he did, did he?”[/i] 

Arngeir glanced at the man, before looking back at Basim. [i]“Just ignore him,”[/i] he remarked, passing some of the meat to the boy. [i]“He's got a temper. He's got something against those from Broacien. Thinks Ketill is more Broacienien than Northern. As far as I'm concerned, it's your blood that determines where you are from, not where you live.”[/i]

[i]“I see,”[/i] Basim replied, carefully glancing at Hádski before looking back to his cooking. [i]“Well, anyway, yes, he did fight them. Once while I was there, and I suppose before that as well.”[/i]

As if on cue, the conversation was cut short when Ketill and Grettir entered the home again. They'd been gone for a while, and it seemed they had taken their time too. Supposedly that was part of the Northern life as well, since everything happened slowly and deliberately. 

That same night, when gathered around the fire to eat, they would discuss the future plans. Ketill took the forefront, laying out his plans so that everyone knew what to do. As the 'chief' it was sort of expected of him, although Najla and Basim would surely not see him as a chief - at least, he thought so. 

[i]“There's a hill there, which I want to use for my house. The location is suitable enough, and the raised nature of the hill gives it a good defensible position. But besides that, the land behind it is fertile.”[/i]

[i]“Defensible..? Against what?”[/i] Arngeir asked, raising a root to his mouth immediately after to chew on it while listening to the explanation. 

[i]“Right, you've been to Broacien, so you have seen at the very least the large stone castle. I want something like that - it'll be impossible to have a stone castle, obviously, but one of wood should be doable. Not quite as large. Just a fortified longhouse. The hill would make it harder to climb up, and it will allow us to shoot down with bows and to throw stones and javelins if we need to.”[/i]

[i]“Right, but who in this area would even be bothered? Nobody lives here for hours on end,”[/i] the man continued. His logic was sort of sound, but Ketill knew from his own experience that 'new' power in a region typically attracted more than a bit of unwanted attention.

[i]“Raiders, chiefs, anyone. More people live here than you'd think - remember that the man who lived here originally managed to get friends together within a day or so, so clearly there are more people around here. It might seem long on foot, but with a horse, who knows?”[/i]

Arngeir nodded at this, and Grettir seemed satisfied too. But Hádski seemed bothered at it all. [i]“Right, so you get your new house, what about us?”[/i]

[i]“What do you mean 'us?'”[/i] Grettir interrupted, his eyes fiercely on Hádski. Ketill knew better than to stop them now. He'd sensed some hostility from Hádski before, but hadn't said anything about it - neither had Grettir or Arngeir, possibly hoping that Hádski would settle down. But it seemed that Hádski had more than a few grievances. [i]“You can have your own house - me and Arngeir will live together, and you can live on your own. Isn't that what you wanted? A place for yourself?”[/i]

[i]“And who are you to decide? Weren't you, Arngeir, the one who said we'd defer to Ketill? I thought you'd given up your leadership, but here we are, listening to some Broacienien swi-”[/i]

[i]“Hold your tongue, Hádski. That's no way to speak about our chief. Continue and I'll be forced to invoke holmgang..”[/i] Grettir seemed certain of his choice, and the threat of holmgang seemed enough to stave off Hádski's insults, but not his critique.

[i]“Fine, I'll live on my own. But I never swore an oath to this.. Ketill. As far as I'm concerned, I'm a karl, a free man. I'll do as I please.”[/i]

Now it was time for Ketill to finally speak up, his voice strong as ever. Unsurprising to Najla and Basim perhaps, he spoke in that fashion which he had used against them before - full of conviction, with something that said it was either his way or no way at all. [i]“I never said you weren't free. I told Grettir the same - if you decide to leave tomorrow I will not stop you. If you stay, I expect you to pull your weight. Nothing more and nothing less. Whether you live with Grettir and Arngeir or alone is up to you, but for the sake of efficiency, we will still end up sharing a house for a while.”[/i]

[i]“Right,”[/i] Hádski begrudgingly answered, seemingly having given up his chase of confrontation and being content with what little he had achieved here. At the very least he'd made it clear where he stood specifically. And so had Grettir. Arngeir seemed caught in the middle - he resembled Basim in that same way, not being able to pick a side, though ultimately it was only natural that Arngeir would side with his brother. Anything other than that would be like betraying your own blood. 

[i]“And, what about our roles?”[/i] Grettir asked, poking the fire with a half burnt stick. 

[i]“We just do what it takes. First, we should get a house up. After that, I suppose I'll work on the farm - I've spent enough time in Broacien to know how it works, give or take.”[/i] Ketill's eyes glanced over Hádski momentarily, wondering whether he should ask him to teach Basim to hunt, but that seemed like a bad idea. It was an accident waiting to happen, so he turned to Arngeir instead. [i]“If you have time, please take Basim hunting. I taught him the basics of how to track animals, but he needs to learn how to shoot a bow too.”[/i]

Arngeir nodded at this. He was a capable hunter, perhaps not as good as Hádski, but more than good enough to help Basim on his way. Hunting with a bow was either something you could, or couldn't do. It was now time to see if Basim was capable beyond the basics. 

[i]“Then it's settled,”[/i] was all Ketill had to say in conclusion.

[hr]

It took them a week to fell the trees they needed to clear the area, an additional week to gather more logs, and then two weeks of labor to put it all together. In the end, the house was ready - it was similar in style to the former home - but larger and with separated rooms. The woodwork was simple for now, but they could easily improve it later, when they found a craftsman. After all, neither Ketill, nor Grettir, nor Arngeir was a skilled woodcarver, and even if Hádski had been, there was no way he would've helped them. The house was carefully built up from a set of wooden pillars they'd driven into the ground - this was the most backbreaking and intensive work, because the poles had to be set into the ground to provide any sort of strength to the longhall. The one thing that set it apart from the old house was that they gave the building a wooden floor - if not for comfort then for the sake of preserving the warmth of the fire. 

The house consisted of a large entry hall, with a stone firepit in the center. Ketill was rather proud of it, for he had meticulously measured it out three to four times before digging the first moat that would later become the pit. It was about five meters long and exactly one meter wide. However, it wasn't meant for cooking - more so illumination and comfort in the winter and during feasts. The wooden flooring merged almost seamlessly with the stone pit precisely because he had measured it out so carefully. Even if he wasn't a craftsman or a builder, it could not be said that he was an expert amateur. From the pit there would be about three meters to the wall, giving ample space to put benches and tables later. For now, it was empty space, as they'd had no time to build furniture yet. 

On the far side of the hall was a small alcove, with empty space. The space was about a meter deep and four meters wide, though there were two pillars constructed there to hold up the roof. In the alcove Ketill intended to build a raised platform for his throne, and a potential other throne. However, for now the space remained empty. 

To the left of the hall would be a door leading to a five by three room - later, the guest room would be constructed here. For now, it was used as a temporary storage for any items they had brought over from the old homestead. Further down the hall, a second door led to the makeshift kitchen, which had a pantry attached to it for convenience. Although it remained empty for now, it was clear that the rooms had been carefully planned. 

On the right side would be a door in the middle of the wall, which led to a hallway that was host to the various rooms that were needed. Najla and Basim each had received a private bedroom, which was a definitive step up from the communal 'rooms' they had before, which were barely rooms at all. The wicker woven walls had been exchanged for real, hard wood walls.

The outcropping that was the hallway also led to a rather natural location for a farm. In the corner outside between the hallway and the main hall, Ketill had begun a farm plot that he deemed large enough for those living with him, and then some. Although it wasn't for a lack of space that he couldn't do anything with it yet - more so, a lack of seeds. The limited amount of foods the three men had brought down from Broacien with them offered enough to build a meagre farm with for now, using leftover rye, oats, some cabbage and even leeks and turnips. And although it was neither the luxurious foods from the Sultanate nor the large amounts from Broacien, it would do its' job of getting them through the winter. 

Hádski had already gotten to work on his own home, foregoing to help of the others. He decided to dig out a rather shallow home for himself in a small hill near the forest. It was certainly smart, Ketill had to admit that - it meant a lack of work for him, since he just had to dig it out, build it up with wood, and then throw the earth back onto the roof. It was excellently insulated, which provided him with warmth during the winter. Admittedly a design like that would've been impossible for Ketill, since there were too many people he needed to host. 

[center][img]https://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2011/03/Grass-Covered-Sod-House.jpg[/img][/center]

The man continued to isolate himself, often taking off to hunt on his own, sharing the meat only because he had to and not so much because he wanted to. It was not quite a problem yet but Ketill knew that at some point it would be a problem. 

The brothers Osmundrson however had become great helps, with Arngeir frequently taking Basim hunting. Whatever labour was lost because of Basim's absence was made up for by Grettir, who seemed more than eager to help Ketill. Together they worked on the farm, and began construction of the house for the two brothers. They needed a much smaller design and so, it would not take more than two weeks to construct the basics. For a lack of nails, they simply had to use northern woodcarving methods to construct the houses - truthfully it was hard labour, but it paid off, as the houses were just as strong if not stronger than those built with nails. Ketill had not known this technique, but after Grettir had shown him, picked it up rather quickly. Making the logs interlock was rather clever, and also meant minimal work in terms of upkeep.

As for Najla, Ketill left her to her own devices as much as possible. Although he wasn't hateful to her, he still only barely managed to tolerate her presence. He kept a careful eye on her whenever he needed to, as he was afraid she'd simply fall back into her lazy attitude, but this seemed unwarranted for the most part. For the most part, now that the work was picking up, she would be left on her own for a lot of the time. 

[hr]

It would be three months total before the work had been completely finished for only the homes - with both Ketill's long hall completed, the Osmundrson brothers home, as well as Hádski's small shack. The farm was doing well enough, and Ketill had even managed to get Najla to do some work in it - whether it was willingly or because of him ordering her, he wasn't sure. The pantry was well stocked, and for once Ketill had no reason to worry about the winter. 

Ketill was about to work on a new bed, to replace the makeshift stack of furs he'd been sleeping on, when excited yells from outside alerted him. [i]“Ketill! Ketill!”[/i] the voice yelled, though the distance and walls prevented him from hearing who exactly it was. He held on tightly to his axe as he moved to get outside, and as he got closer, he realized it was in fact Basim yelling out to him. Close behind him was Arngeir, who had taken Basim hunting for the fourth time this week. There was no rush in Arngeirs walk, so Ketill realized that nothing dangerous was happening. Closely behind Arngeir walked a third figure - one that he didn't recognize. A newcomer? [i]“Ketill, we met someone while we were hunting. We went to some new location to check for tracks, and stumbled upon him there at a river. He says he's a craftsman!”[/i]

[i]“I see, good job then,”[/i] Ketill replied, still warily looking the man up and down. But even the extra attention was unwarranted. The man was old, too old to pose any real danger right now. [i]“Heill og sæll, what brings you here?”[/i] Ketill asked the man as he came closer, his mind already wondering whether the man wanted to trade or live here. 

[i]“Heill og sæll,”[/i] the older man replied, extending a hand to Ketill, who took it and shook it firmly. All the commotion drew out Grettir, who had been working on the inside of his home. [i]“Your friends here told me you were building a village.”[/i]

[i]“You could say that, yes. Why, are you interested?”[/i]

[i]“I am, though I must admit it has been a long time since I have lived close to anyone but my wife. Our last neighbors were taken by a band of raiders, and ever since then I've not heard of a soul.”[/i]

[i]“A nasty fate that is,”[/i] Ketill answered, [i]“though the Gods favored you for allowing you to remain unharmed.”[/i]

[i]“Indeed, it is so. I haven't much to offer to your village I'm afraid - I'm not wealthy, nor do I have a large family to provide hands for your farm there. But I can carve wood, and I know my way around a hammer and saw.”[/i]

[i]“That's good - I can neither carve wood nor am I exceptionally proficient with a hammer and saw. You said you have a wife - no children?”[/i]

The older man smiled at that and shook his head - no children. [i]“Me and her are quiet folk, we don't like to have too much company, but I'm afraid I'm getting older and if I die, there won't be anyone to take care of her. I'm afraid children were never destined for us - it seems the gods had different plans for us. We live a ways to the north, if you follow the river it should not be more than a half-day travel.”[/i]

Ketill nodded at him, then gestured to Grettir. [i]“Go with him and help him carry whatever he needs to take here. He can sleep in my house while we build a new house,”[/i] he ordered, and Grettir gave a firm nod before stepping over to the old man. Ketill then looked over his shoulder towards the farm, hoping to find Najla there. He called out to her if he had to so that she knew she was required. [i]“Najla, prepare some furs in the main hall - two sets to sleep on would be enough. Basim, you make some space in the storage area for his items. I'll go and see where we can build this new house.”[/i]

And so, they added another face to their growing village. It would be late after sundown when the two newcomers arrived alongside Grettir. They gratefully took their space and loaded off their items quickly - mostly tools for the mans' carpenting work.

[center][img]https://i.pinimg.com/564x/95/dd/c6/95ddc64b353b0e09a4e193c3a339ed37.jpg[/img][/center]

The addition of a carpenter made work all the more easy - besides a supply of nails the man had salvaged from his home, he was also far more proficient at carpentry and as such, was much quicker when it came to making furniture. Within two weeks he was able to fill Ketill's house with furniture - a very large bed for Ketill, and two decent sized beds for Najla and Basim each. Each of them also had a set of shelves made to store items in - not that there were many items to store yet - and a table with two chairs each. 

During these two weeks Ketill would get Arngeir and Grettir to work on the mans' new house, which was halfway its' completion when Ketill and the carpenter got started on his alcove. The raised platform was easy to make, but the [url=https://i.pinimg.com/736x/6a/95/f4/6a95f491a2482c7a6ad060fc844a37b1--green-man-wooden-chairs.jpg]throne[/url] would prove to be much harder. The carpenter's skill was not in question, but in order to make something worthy of a chief, he'd need at least more time - to find the right wood, etcetera. At least, so the man claimed. 

The carpenters' wife had been helping in the farm, as well as assisting her husband. She primarily occupied herself with tasks that Najla was also performing, so it was only natural that she was often around Najla, whether it was during the time spent on the farm, or cooking. 

Although it went rather awkwardly at first, the woman was quick to introduce herself. [i]“I'm Síf,”[/i] she told Najla while emptying a wooden bucket of water over the farm, spreading it as much as needed. [i]“Since we'll be staying here, I suppose it'd be good if the two women here got along - I suppose having been with the men for so long must've been... interesting.”[/i] It was clear from the tone that the woman still wasn't quite sure about living in this place, perhaps because she wasn't sure if she could trust these people. 
[/quote]